Zhang Xiaofan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zhang Xiaofan (张小凡)
Alias(es)	Ghost Li
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Green Cloud Sect; Big Bamboo Peak; later associated with the Ghost King Sect as Ghost Li
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; one of the four guardians opposing the chaos origin
First Appearance	Chapter 17

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Fourth level, Jade Purity Realm	18	Though initially overwhelmed by a Wind Return Peak disciple, he channels two opposing inner powers through the Fire Poker and wins with a direct strike.
Fifth level, Jade Purity Realm	38	Reaches enlightenment before the Heavenly Tome inscription; his Buddhist and Daoist arts become initially harmonized.
High stage, Upper Purity Realm	116	Reappears after ten years as Ghost Li, possessing a cultivation level capable of standing alongside senior masters.
Perfected Heavenly Tome / Primordial Dao Mark	237	Unifies all five volumes of the Heavenly Tome, gains insight into karma, fate, time, space, life, and death, and reveals the way to resist the Outer Realm Demons.
Half-step Saint Realm	280, 281	Receives the Heavenly Emperor’s inheritance, fuses with the Fire Poker and Ancient Immortal-Slaying Sword, and becomes an executor of primordial laws.

Background

Zhang Xiaofan begins as an overlooked disciple of Big Bamboo Peak. A late starter in cultivation, he is regarded as clumsy and weak by many peers despite his persistence and unusually steady inner foundation. Li Xiaoyu’s encouragement during the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament gives him a rare sense of recognition and begins their lasting bond 17.

During the tournament, Zhang Xiaofan reveals the abnormal power within his Fire Poker. Though he appears outmatched, he draws on two conflicting energies within his body to defeat a disciple of similar cultivation, attracting suspicion toward both his weapon and his techniques 18.

His path becomes increasingly entangled with Buddhist, Daoist, and demonic teachings. He attains the fifth level of the Jade Purity Realm after encountering the Heavenly Tome, where the Buddhist and Daoist methods within him first achieve harmony 38. Later, he openly combines the Green Cloud Sect’s Taiji Profound Clarity Path with Heavenly Sound Temple’s Great Brahma Prajna to save Tian Ling’er from the Kui Ox, exposing his forbidden dual cultivation 55 56.

Following Bi Yao’s sacrifice to protect him from Daoist Daoxuan’s Ancient Immortal-Slaying Sword, Zhang Xiaofan falls into grief and eventually becomes known as Ghost Li, a powerful figure within the Demon Sect 70 112. His hope is restored when Li Xiaoyu reveals that Bi Yao may yet be saved, allowing Zhang Xiaofan to reclaim his identity and purpose 125 126.

Appearance

Zhang Xiaofan is first depicted as a thin, plainly dressed youth who stands uneasily apart from the other Big Bamboo Peak disciples 17. As Ghost Li, he adopts black robes and a colder, more severe bearing 176.

• Initially appears honest, awkward, and physically unremarkable.
• Carries the pitch-black Fire Poker, later associated with the Soul-Devouring Magic Rod 18 141.
• His later aura blends Taoist serenity, Buddhist compassion, and demonic dominance 176.
• After attaining the Half-step Saint Realm, his eyes are described as vast as the universe and containing the mysteries of the world 281.

Personality

Zhang Xiaofan is quiet, humble, and deeply affected by the judgment of others during his early years. He lacks confidence in social situations and is easily embarrassed, but possesses unusual resilience; even under sustained pressure, he continues to endure rather than yield 17 18.

His defining trait is devotion. He repeatedly risks himself to protect those he loves, most notably Tian Ling’er and Bi Yao. This devotion initially becomes an obsession after Bi Yao’s apparent death, but eventually matures into a broader sense of responsibility toward all living beings 55 70 234.

After becoming Ghost Li, he is more stern and withdrawn, yet his core character remains intact. Li Xiaoyu insists that, despite joining the Demon Sect, Zhang Xiaofan’s heart has not changed 160. By the time he unifies the Heavenly Tome, he has overcome the trauma of his past and accepts the burden of protecting the world 237.

Abilities & Skills

Three Schools of True Dharma

Zhang Xiaofan uniquely harmonizes techniques from Taoist, Buddhist, and demonic traditions.

• Taiji Profound Clarity Path — Green Cloud Sect’s supreme Taoist method 55.
• Great Brahma Prajna — Heavenly Sound Temple’s secret Buddhist technique 55.
• Ghost King Sect true arts — His demonic cultivation becomes integrated with his Buddhist and Taoist power 176.
• The fusion of all three powers enables him to produce a chaotic force far beyond ordinary sect techniques 55 217.

Fire Poker and Soul-Devouring Magic Rod

Zhang Xiaofan’s weapon initially appears to be an unremarkable black Fire Poker, but it contains destructive and energy-disrupting properties.

• Disrupts opponents’ spiritual-energy circulation during weapon clashes 18.
• Amplifies the fusion of Buddhist, Taoist, and demonic power 55.
• As Ghost Li, he wields the Soul-Devouring Magic Rod, whose baleful aura and Buddhist light attain equilibrium 176.
• Uses the rod’s chaotic power to consume the Ghost King’s afterimage and Dragon Subduing Tripod 217.

Heavenly Tome

Zhang Xiaofan gathers four volumes of the Heavenly Tome through his own unique method before ultimately unifying all five volumes with the Ancient Immortal-Slaying Sword 233 237.

• Reveals the fundamental laws of karma, fate, time and space, life, and death 237.
• Allows him to recognize the formation eye of the Star Dipper Grand Array 271.
• Forms the five-colored Primordial Dao Mark, representing the world’s fundamental Dao 237 271.
• Enables him to guide the land of death back toward life rather than merely destroy it 274.

Primordial Law

Through the Heavenly Emperor’s inheritance, Zhang Xiaofan becomes one with the Fire Poker and Ancient Immortal-Slaying Sword.

• Gains authority to command laws and mete out punishment on behalf of heaven 280.
• Attains the Half-step Saint Realm as an executor of the world’s laws 281.
• Wields the Primordial Immortal-Slaying Sword after its transformation 281.
• Uses Primordial: Unity to evolve an order capable of reshaping the world 285.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Fire Poker — Zhang Xiaofan’s original pitch-black weapon; channels his conflicting powers and possesses an eerie, devouring aura 18 55.
• Soul-Devouring Magic Rod — Weapon wielded during his time as Ghost Li 141 176.
• Ancient Immortal-Slaying Sword — Entrusted to him by Li Xiaoyu so he can unite the five volumes of the Heavenly Tome 233 236.
• Primordial Immortal-Slaying Sword — Transformed form of his Stone Sword after receiving the Heavenly Emperor’s inheritance 281.
• Witchcraft Fragments — One of the secret manuals that resonates with his cultivation and the Heavenly Tome 218.
• Ghost Path General Outline — A second secret manual that helps guide his search for the Ancient Well and supports his Heavenly Tome resonance 183 218.

Relationships

• Li Xiaoyu — Senior brother, mentor-like friend, and unwavering supporter. Li Xiaoyu encourages Zhang Xiaofan when others disregard him, repeatedly defends him, and entrusts him with the Ancient Immortal-Slaying Sword to save the world 17 59 233.
• Bi Yao — Beloved. Her sacrifice to save Zhang Xiaofan defines much of his later path; he enters the Space-Time Interlayer to rescue her and ultimately reunites with her 70 213 218.
• Tian Ling’er — Senior sister whom Zhang Xiaofan is determined to protect. He risks his life to save her from the Kui Ox 55 56.
• Lu Xueqi — Fellow Green Cloud Sect disciple and trusted companion. She joins the effort to save Bi Yao and later fights beside Zhang Xiaofan against the world-ending threat 213 285.
• Faxiang — Heavenly Sound Temple cultivator who becomes an ally in Zhang Xiaofan’s trial, rescue mission, and Heavenly Tome unification 57 213 236.
• Xiao Bai — Advisor and companion who helps Zhang Xiaofan understand the Space-Time Interlayer and Ancient Well 183 213.
• Daoist Daoxuan — Green Cloud Sect leader whose paranoia after activating the Immortal-Slaying Sword leads him to try to kill Zhang Xiaofan 69 70.
• Wan Renwang / Ghost King — Demon Sect leader and a source of temptation and conflict in Zhang Xiaofan’s life; Zhang Xiaofan defeats his afterimage using the Soul-Devouring Magic Rod 217.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament

Zhang Xiaofan enters the tournament as an underestimated Big Bamboo Peak disciple. He receives a first-round bye, survives ridicule, defeats a Wind Return Peak disciple with the Fire Poker, and unexpectedly reaches the semi-finals against Qi Hao 17 18 19.

Kongsang Mountain and the Heavenly Tome

As part of Li Xiaoyu’s expedition to Kongsang Mountain, Zhang Xiaofan explores the Ancient Bat Cave and Blood-Dripping Cave. The Heavenly Tome inscription raises him to the fifth level of the Jade Purity Realm and begins the harmonization of his Buddhist and Daoist cultivation 27 38.

Exposure and Trial

Zhang Xiaofan reveals his dual Buddhist and Taoist cultivation while saving Tian Ling’er from the Kui Ox. His secret causes a crisis between Green Cloud Sect and Heavenly Sound Temple, prompting Li Xiaoyu, Lu Xueqi, and Zeng Shushu to plan his defense 55 56 58 59.

Bi Yao’s Sacrifice and the Ghost Li Era

Bi Yao uses the Love Obsession Blood Curse to shield Zhang Xiaofan from Daoist Daoxuan’s strike. Believing her lost, Zhang Xiaofan descends into grief and becomes Ghost Li, later gaining fearsome power in the Demon Sect 70 112.

Rescue from the Space-Time Interlayer

After learning Bi Yao’s soul remains trapped rather than scattered, Zhang Xiaofan travels with Li Xiaoyu and their allies to the Ancient Well. He enters the Space-Time Interlayer, where his cultivation resonates with the Heavenly Tome and Bi Yao’s Golden Bell, allowing their reunion 183 213 218.

Unification of the Heavenly Tome

Li Xiaoyu identifies Zhang Xiaofan as the only person capable of uniting the five Heavenly Tome volumes. Protected by his allies in the Rebirth Pagoda, Zhang Xiaofan confronts his trauma, completes the unification, and gains awareness of the world’s deepest laws 233 236 237.

Final Guardian of the World

Zhang Xiaofan enters Kunlun with Li Xiaoyu, Lu Xueqi, and Bi Yao. After receiving the Heavenly Emperor’s inheritance and attaining the Half-step Saint Realm, he joins the others as a guardian against the chaos origin 279 280 281.

When their combined defense begins to fail, Zhang Xiaofan concludes that the world itself must be made whole through the complete Dao of the Heavenly Tome. He merges his body and Dao with the world, giving rise to the colossal greatsword Immortal-Slaying as the world’s final defense 285 286.