Xiang Lingfei

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiang Lingfei (项凌飞)
Alias(es)	Junior Brother Xiang; Master Xiang
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	River-Breaking Fist Academy; registered with the Liu Family
Occupation/Role	Martial artist; disciple of the River-Breaking Fist Academy; Liu Chuzhou's subordinate
Status	Deceased — died during a backlash from Longevity Blessing Paste addiction 66
First Appearance	Chapter 12

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
First Blood Martial Artist / Blood Creek Realm	23	Reached First Blood after only half a month at the River-Breaking Fist Academy, despite having practiced stance work for only seven or eight days.
Second Blood Martial Artist / Blood River Realm	57	Broke through after training obsessively to recover from Chen Jing surpassing him; publicly displayed his breakthrough at Chen Jing's housewarming banquet.

Background & History

Xiang Lingfei entered the River-Breaking Fist Academy as a newcomer with superior bone structure. Fei Feng regarded him as exceptional, personally taught him stance techniques, and made an exception to let him temper his blood energy in the middle courtyard before becoming an official disciple 12 14. His rapid First Blood breakthrough reinforced his reputation as the academy's foremost prodigy 23.

He registered with the Inner City Liu Family after becoming a First Blood Martial Artist. The Liu Family supplied him with sixty taels of silver and ten catties of exotic beast meat each month, but this patronage also made him wary of anyone—particularly Chen Jing—receiving greater favor from Liu Chuzhou 30 34.

Seeking further benefits, Xiang Lingfei volunteered to represent Zhuangyu Restaurant against Guan Shan. He expected their fight to be staged in his favor, but Guan Shan abandoned the arrangement and sent him flying with a single punch, publicly humiliating him 32. Chen Jing then defeated Guan Shan, deepening Xiang Lingfei's resentment 33.

After Chen Jing reached the Blood River Realm, Xiang Lingfei's confidence turned into open jealousy. He derided the other disciples' effort as worthless without talent, yet Chen Jing's advancement eclipsed the natural ability on which Xiang Lingfei had built his identity 37 38. He later reached Second Blood himself and attempted to reclaim attention during Chen Jing's housewarming banquet, but Chen Jing defeated him in a spar using only the River-Breaking Fist 57 58.

Liu Chuzhou eventually introduced Xiang Lingfei to Longevity Blessing Paste as a medicine that could help him break through cultivation bottlenecks. He became dependent on it, sold his possessions, borrowed money, and repeatedly sought more paste from Auntie Hong at the Drunken Spring Pavilion 62 63.

After stealing from Chen Jing, Xiang Lingfei was lured into breaking into Chen Jing's home to obtain supposed Longevity Blessing Paste. His addiction had left his blood energy chaotic and his combat ability severely diminished; Chen Jing subdued him and pressed him for information 64 65. During the resulting withdrawal backlash, Xiang Lingfei revealed that Auntie Hong worked for Liu Chuzhou and that the Liu Family used the paste to control Outer City martial artists. He died moments later 66.

Appearance

Xiang Lingfei initially carried himself with polished confidence, often presenting a measured smile and carefully composed demeanor before crowds 32.

During his addiction, his appearance deteriorated sharply:

• Became noticeably thinner, with slumped shoulders and an unnaturally pale complexion 62.
• Walked unsteadily and struggled to meet others' eyes while asking Chen Jing for money 62.
• During withdrawal, suffered blurred vision, trembling, weakness, and severe physical distress 63.
• His final confrontation left him with an unfocused gaze and a near-mad expression driven by craving 65.

Personality

Xiang Lingfei was proud of his superior bone structure and rapid cultivation. Fei Feng's early favoritism strengthened his belief that innate talent mattered more than discipline; he openly dismissed less gifted disciples as people doomed to stagnate regardless of their effort 37.

He was also calculating and opportunistic. He registered with the Liu Family while attempting to obtain support from Zhuang Tao, and he accepted the duel with Guan Shan because he expected it to improve his standing with both patrons 30 32. His desire for recognition made him intensely possessive of the attention and resources he received from the Liu Family.

Chen Jing's rise exposed Xiang Lingfei's insecurity. He feared being replaced after Liu Chuzhou attempted to recruit Chen Jing, and each of Chen Jing's breakthroughs intensified his jealousy and resentment 34 37 38.

His eventual addiction revealed a weak resolve beneath his pride. Though initially cautious around Longevity Blessing Paste, he succumbed after experiencing its cultivation-enhancing effects. As withdrawal worsened, he abandoned his reputation, borrowed and stole money, and ultimately considered killing Chen Jing for access to the drug 63 65.

Abilities & Skills

Martial Talent

Xiang Lingfei possessed superior bone structure and unusually rapid early cultivation progress.

• Became a First Blood Martial Artist after only half a month in the martial hall 23.
• Was considered the academy's “raw jade,” receiving personal instruction and exceptional attention from Fei Feng 12 13.
• Reached the Second Blood Realm after a period of extreme training motivated by Chen Jing's advancement 48 57.

River-Breaking Fist

As a disciple of the River-Breaking Fist Academy, Xiang Lingfei trained in its stance work and blood-energy cultivation.

• Fei Feng personally instructed him in the academy's stance techniques 12.
• His cultivation reached the Blood Creek and later Blood River levels 23 57.
• His form became erratic when jealousy and frustration disrupted his focus 38.

Mountain-Opening Fist Technique

Xiang Lingfei used the Mountain-Opening Fist Technique in his duel with Guan Shan.

• His strikes were described as ruthless and precise, carrying force capable of splitting stone 32.
• He initially fought Guan Shan evenly before losing composure upon learning the planned match had been betrayed 32.
• His reliance on a staged victory left him unprepared for a genuine contest 32.

Limitations

• His combat judgment deteriorated under emotional pressure; Guan Shan defeated him after disrupting his expectations 32.
• Chen Jing defeated him while using only the River-Breaking Fist, despite Xiang Lingfei having reached Second Blood 58.
• Longevity Blessing Paste left his blood energy disordered and reduced him to a state weaker than an ordinary First Blood Martial Artist 62 65.

Equipment / Items

• Short blade — Drawn during his final, desperate attack on Chen Jing 65.
• Longevity Blessing Paste — An addictive substance he consumed in pursuit of cultivation progress; its withdrawal and backlash ultimately killed him 63 66.

Relationships

• Fei Feng — Master. Fei Feng favored Xiang Lingfei for his superior bone structure and regarded him as the disciple most likely to inherit the martial hall's legacy 12 70.
• Chen Jing — Fellow disciple and rival. Xiang Lingfei resented Chen Jing's rapid rise, lost to him in a spar, then stole from and attacked him while addicted 37 58 65.
• Liu Chuzhou — Patron and manipulator. Xiang Lingfei served Liu Chuzhou, who introduced him to Longevity Blessing Paste and used the substance to control him 30 63 66.
• Zhuang Tao — Potential sponsor and senior brother. Xiang Lingfei sought a subsidy from Zhuang Tao while already receiving Liu Family backing, earning Zhuang Tao's distrust 30 32.
• Guan Shan — Opponent who exploited Xiang Lingfei's desire for a staged victory and publicly defeated him 32.
• Auntie Hong — Supplier of Longevity Blessing Paste at the Drunken Spring Pavilion. She refused him more paste without payment and easily subdued him when he tried to take it by force 63.

Notable Quotes

“On the path of martial arts, talent is the foundation.” 37

“Without that talent, all your effort is just a waste of energy!” 37

“I've fallen to this point; no one can save me!” 65

Trivia

• Fei Feng later described Xiang Lingfei as the disciple he had held in the highest regard and believed could have returned to cultivate at the Canglan Sect 76.
• His death exposed the Liu Family's use of Longevity Blessing Paste to control martial artists in Red Rock County's Outer City 66.