Lin Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Lin Yan (林砚)
Alias(es)	Stone
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Age	Eighteen when he chose to pursue martial arts 2
Affiliation	Yang Family Martial Arts Hall; Tang Family retainer; later associated with the Lin Family's Third Branch 15 44 445
Occupation/Role	Martial artist; former Tang Family herb-field guard; overseer of Tang Family territory in Sanshan County 20 46
Status	Alive; ranked among the Lin Family's foremost younger generation as of the grand competition 445
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Foundation Building / Rock Stance foundation	6, 8	Completed his foundation after three months of training and Qi-Nourishing Decoction. At this point, he discovered the Stone Waist Savage Spine Root Bone.
First Skin Tempering — Rough Skin	15	Completed his first skin tempering in under two months. Yang Qingfeng rewarded him with a twenty-year-old Blood Ginseng.
Second Skin Tempering	23	Reached the two-foot threshold of the Martial Dao Tree after intensive practice and Muscle Strengthening Paste; Ji Ming identified the fresh breakthrough from his swollen veins and surging blood-qi.
Third Skin Tempering	42, 43	Broke through after intense training and later confirmed the result to Yang Qingfeng. The breakthrough earned him recognition as an exceptional common-born martial artist.
Third Transformation of the Blood Exchange Realm	443	Reached the third Blood Exchange transformation before the Lin Family grand competition, gaining the strength to contest the top ranks.
Fourth Transformation of the Blood Exchange Realm	444	Revealed fourth-transformation cultivation while entering the Lin Family top ten; defeated Lin Mingchen with a single sword strike.
Top-two competitor among the Lin Family's younger generation	445	Stopped at the top two when True Gang Realm cultivator Lin Mingya declined to fight him; Lin Mingya acknowledged Lin Yan's fourth Blood Exchange transformation and three perfected Sword Intents.

Background

Lin Yan was raised by his aunt, Liu, after the deaths of his parents. Before he began training, Liu planned for him to use his literacy to obtain steady work, marry, and live an ordinary life. Lin Yan instead argued that rising grain prices and the cheapness of human life made martial training necessary for survival. His sudden maturity reminded Liu of his late father. 2

He retains memories and practical knowledge from a past life, having lived thirty-five years before arriving in his current circumstances. He initially used this knowledge cautiously, including ideas drawn from novels and reader discussions to improve his combat approach. 12 21

Unable to afford elite martial halls, Lin Yan gathered family savings and borrowed funds to begin training. He sought advice through his childhood friend Zhang Wei, eventually entering the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall under Yang Qingfeng. 5 8 15

Appearance

Lin Yan grows from a formerly frail youth into a tall, sturdy martial artist with a heavily trained physique. His skin develops a restrained, iron-like sheen through repeated tempering. 21

• Broad, muscular back and defined shoulder blades from constant training. 21
• Bronze-colored forearms after prolonged use of Skin Refining Paste. 14
• Can contort his body into unusual angles through the Stone Waist Savage Spine. 32
• Uses the Swallow-Digest Technique to suppress the outward signs of his blood-qi cultivation. 55

Personality

Lin Yan is disciplined, pragmatic, and intensely focused on cultivation. He rejects indulgence, including offers of wine, women, and personal service, because he considers comfort a threat to his progress. 20 21

He habitually conceals his strength and avoids unnecessary risks. Even after overwhelming Qian Jun, he refused Ge Hui's challenge because Ge Hui had reached a higher realm; later, he declined the Youth Martial Tournament to preserve his secret advantages. 14 51

Despite his caution, Lin Yan is decisive and ruthless toward people he judges irredeemably harmful. He eliminates gang leaders, corrupt families, and conspirators when they threaten his family, allies, or vulnerable civilians. 17 24 42 50 60

He values kindness and long-standing ties. He continues to treat Zhang Wei and Wang Tao as childhood friends despite their widening difference in status, visits Chen Lang to repay past help, and refuses to abandon Yang Qingfeng even when offered permission to transfer halls. 40 43

Abilities & Skills

Martial Dao Tree and Martial Fruits

Lin Yan possesses a Martial Dao Tree that records his cultivation, techniques, and progress. It lets him assess the relative blood-qi, realm, and technique development of others, often through physical contact. 14 16 34

• Consumes Martial Fruits to gain the accumulated practice and combat experience associated with techniques.
• Used two Martial Fruits to gain three years of Mountain Splitting Fist experience. 13
• Used four Martial Fruits alongside Blood Ginseng to absorb eight years of fist-training experience. 20
• Refined two Martial Fruits after killing Chen Hai, advancing the Startling Swan Sword Technique to the twelve-vein level. 59
• Identified the withering upper portion of Qian Zhengchu's Martial Dao Tree as a sign of declining blood-qi. 59

Stone Waist Savage Spine

Lin Yan's Root Bone grants explosive physical power and unusual bodily flexibility. He keeps its full nature secret and treats it as a trump card. 6 23

• Temporarily enhances strength and speed. 6
• Accelerates blood-qi growth and absorption of Skin Refining Paste. 11
• Enabled him to overpower Cao Peng's claw techniques with direct fist strikes. 17
• Allows extreme bodily distortion to evade weapon strikes. 32
• Can alter his apparent height as part of a disguise. 50

Mountain Splitting Fist

Lin Yan's foundational fist art and primary early-game combat method. His rapid mastery gives him efficient force generation, precise footwork, and the ability to exploit an opponent's openings. 13 14

• Defeated Qian Jun with one controlled punch during a martial-hall spar. 14
• Used mastery-level technique and Stone Waist Savage Spine power to kill Cao Peng. 17
• Developed fist intent, making him exceptionally dangerous against martial artists with comparable blood-qi. 32
• Could anticipate and dismantle Zhao Linyuan's attacks through superior technical understanding. 37
• Defeated third-stage martial artist Chen Zheng with three punches after deliberately concealing his full strength. 56

Startling Swan Sword Technique and Silk-Entwining Sword Intent

The Tang Family supplied Lin Yan with a copied manual for the Startling Swan Sword Technique after he became a retainer. 45

• Achieved sword momentum after thirty-eight years of cultivation time through Martial Fruit-assisted practice. 45
• Developed the Silk-Entwining Sword Intent, improving his control over blood-qi and the penetrating force of his sword strikes. 49 58
• His Sword Intent was recognized by the expert Situ Mu despite Lin Yan lacking a Sword Heart. 54
• Used a single sword stroke to sever Chen Hai's arm. 59
• Later possessed three perfected Sword Intents by the fourth transformation of the Blood Exchange Realm. 445

Earth Vein True Interpretation

A book gifted by his former teacher Sun Huairen that teaches the reading of earth energy, terrain, and plant growth to locate valuable herbs. 21

• Used it to locate ten-year-old ginseng and Soul Returning Grass in Great Fog Mountain. 23
• Allowed him to repeatedly gather cultivation resources without relying solely on family sponsorship. 23
• Influenced his decision to relocate to Sanshan County, where larger mountain ranges offered greater opportunities. 46

Swallow-Digest Technique

A breathing and circulation method given to Lin Yan by Situ Mu in repayment for a meal. 54

• Refines residual blood-qi and medicinal energy before they become impurities. 54 55
• Allowed Lin Yan to shed ten pounds gained from consuming large quantities of beast meat. 55
• Conceals his realm by preventing blood-qi from visibly manifesting through his skin. 55

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Custom double-weapon scabbard — Commissioned from the Lin Family Iron Works; conceals a long sword inside while also housing a blade, allowing Lin Yan to disguise his true weapon preference and strength. 46
• Startling Swan Sword Technique manual — A Tang Family copy of their superior-grade sword art. 45
• Earth Vein True Interpretation — Sun Huairen's guide to locating medicinal herbs through terrain and earth-energy patterns. 21
• Sword pellet — Used alongside his third Blood Exchange transformation during the Lin Family grand competition. 443

Relationships

• Liu — His aunt and guardian after his parents' deaths. Lin Yan protects her, improves the family's living conditions, and remains attentive to her concerns. 2 29 35
• Zhang Wei — Childhood friend who helped Lin Yan seek martial-arts guidance. Lin Yan continues to value their friendship after becoming a martial artist. 5 40
• Yang Qingfeng — Master at the Yang Family Martial Arts Hall. Yang teaches Lin Yan each stage of Skin Tempering and later offers him permission to transfer halls for better resources; Lin Yan refuses. 15 25 43
• Li An — Senior brother who guided him in using Skin Refining Paste and offered practical advice on cultivation expenses. 11 16
• Zhao Linyuan — Fellow disciple and martial rival. Their spar ends in a draw and establishes mutual respect, with Lin Yan's technique complementing Zhao's stronger blood-qi. 37
• Zhuang Zheng — Junior brother and later a Patrol Bureau officer. They cooperate indirectly against local gangs and maintain mutual respect. 35 36 41
• Tang Tang — Eldest daughter of the Tang Family. She supports Lin Yan with Muscle-Generating Pills, then recruits him as a retainer with herb discounts and access to superior martial arts. 39 44
• Qin Yin — Eldest daughter-in-law of the South City Lin Family. She sponsors Lin Yan's cultivation in exchange for his protection of the family's ironworks. 41 44
• Xia Mingtang — Tang Family martial artist subordinate to Lin Yan in Sanshan County. He handles information, logistics, and the aftermath of Lin Yan's conflicts. 49 56 57
• Chen Lang — Head Escort of the Might-Vast Escort Agency. He advised Lin Yan early in his martial path and later warned him about Guangping County's political dangers. 8 40
• Sun Huairen — Lin Yan's former teacher, who entrusted him with the Earth Vein True Interpretation. 21
• Situ Mu — Senior martial artist who recognized Lin Yan's Sword Intent and gave him the breathing method later called the Swallow-Digest Technique. 54

Story Role / Major Arcs

Entry into the Martial Path

Lin Yan begins as a poor eighteen-year-old determined to escape an ordinary life through martial arts. He gathers money, seeks outside guidance, completes his foundation, and enters Yang Qingfeng's martial hall despite the expense and social barriers facing common-born disciples. 2 5 8 15

Early Gang Conflicts

After Zhao Chuan and Zhang Dahai attempt to swindle him with an overpriced Blood Refining Pill, Lin Yan kills both men and disposes of their bodies. The experience hardens him and reinforces his resolve to act more carefully. 7

He later protects his neighborhood from the Clear Water Gang, then anonymously destroys Cao Peng and his men after learning of their extortion. 16 17

Tang Family Service and Rise in Guangping County

Lin Yan becomes a Tang Family martial artist assigned to protect herb fields in Qingtian Town. He cultivates relentlessly, gathers herbs using the Earth Vein True Interpretation, and reaches the second stage of Skin Tempering in under five months. 20 23

His growing strength draws attention after he defeats Cheng Zonghan in two punches. Tang Tang responds by sending him Muscle-Generating Pills and later offering him a retainer position. 38 39 44

Revenge against the Wang Family

Following his third-stage breakthrough, Lin Yan infiltrates the Wang Mansion and kills Wang Hao and Wang Heng, settling a prior grievance with the family. 42

Sanshan County Campaign

To avoid Guangping County's struggle between the Patrol Bureau and Four Seas Gang, Lin Yan volunteers to oversee Tang Family territory in Sanshan County. There he defeats Chen Zheng, kills Chen Hai, and eventually eliminates Qian Zhengchu and Qian Shuhang after uncovering their plot to manipulate and frame him. 46 56 59 60

Lin Family Grand Competition

Much later, Lin Yan emerges within the Lin Family as a rising talent. He wins the newcomer competition, enters the top ten with a single sword strike, reveals fourth-transformation Blood Exchange cultivation, and finishes among the top two younger generation contestants. 442 444 445

Notable Quotes

“I do not regret becoming your disciple, Master.” 43

“Take his corpse and get lost.” 56

Trivia

• Lin Yan initially had roughly fifty taels assembled from family savings and borrowed money, an amount Chen Lang described as barely enough to begin martial training. 8
• He packed away expensive theater snacks after rejecting Li Yu because he had paid three taels for the box and wanted to bring them home for his younger brother. 27
• He repeatedly refuses social indulgence because he believes a martial artist in his prime cannot afford habits of comfort. 20 21