Li Chuan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Li Chuan (李川)
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Pine Wind Martial Hall (formerly); Heavenly Blade Sect, Four Peaks; Golden Bone Martial Hall (offering instructor); Vajra Sect (Outer Mountain outer disciple)
Occupation/Role	Martial artist; Heavenly Blade Sect core disciple; Four Peaks chief disciple; Heavenly Blade Sect second chief disciple; Mountain Search Squad deacon; one of Sanyuan Prefecture's Six Elites; Vajra Sect outer disciple; novice alchemist
Status	Alive
First Appearance	1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Bright Force	13	Mountain-Holding Stance reaches Minor Achievement, completing his first breakthrough.
Dark Force	36	Mountain-Holding Stance reaches Great Success; he succeeds at Gate-Knocking on his first attempt.
Transforming Force	83 85	Clarifies Transforming Force as “dissolution and harmony,” perfects Through-Arm Fist, and defeats Zhang Chengfeng in the Seven Halls Tournament.
Embrace Dan Force / Core Formation	122 125 126	Splits his internal energy through the Mysterious Origin Twin-Life Art, then converts it into Geng Metal True Qi. He conceals the breakthrough until the Heavenly Blade Sect examination.
Early Core Formation; multiple meridians opened	124	Reveals hidden strength while killing Wei Niu, Wei Ma, and Thousand Peaks Sect Master Wen Boyuan.
Able to defeat a practitioner with three Main Meridians	144	Pours two streams of True Qi into Xuanlan and kills Wei Xiao in two strikes.
Middle Core Formation; four Main Meridians opened	154 155	Perfects the Heavenly River Blade Technique and reveals four open Main Meridians during the Four Peaks Grand Competition.
Middle Core Formation; five Main Meridians opened	168	His dual Geng Metal True Qi streams allow him to overwhelm ordinary cultivators with six open Main Meridians.
Middle Core Formation; seven Main Meridians opened	182 183	Gains finer, near-instantaneous control over increasingly sharp Geng Metal True Qi and can defeat Du Jiming with a single punch.
Late Core Formation; two strengthened True Qi streams	185 186	Reaches Late Core Formation after four months of cultivation; the second stream produced by the Mysterious Origin Twin-Life Art becomes a substantial source of combat power.
Heavenly River Blade Technique, Extreme Realm	187	Comprehends the Blade Stele Forest's inheritances, reaches the Extreme Realm in the Heavenly River Blade Technique, and develops Heavenly River Blade Force.
Four Peaks chief disciple	189	Defeats Yu Jing with one blade strike and succeeds her as Four Peaks' chief disciple.
Heavenly Blade Sect second chief disciple	198 199	Places second in the Dragon Gate Formation after defeating Cheng Xiuge, gaining a Dragon-Tiger Pill and recognition as the sect's second chief disciple.
Core Formation Perfection; Profound Nether Geng Metal True Qi	212 213 216	Refines the Great White Profound Yin Soul and develops Profound Nether Geng Metal True Qi, laying the foundation to fuse his opposing forces into Innate Great White True Gang. He is recognized among Sanyuan Prefecture's Six Elites.
Silver Bone body tempering	224	Absorbs Heavenly Horse Essence Blood and forms Silver Bone, massively increasing his physical strength and the power of his martial arts.
Sixth Grade Root	241	Improves his root bone again, expelling accumulated impurities and hidden injuries while sharply increasing his cultivation speed, medicinal absorption, and comprehension.
Gang Force	246	Breaks through from Core Formation Perfection to Gang Force on his first attempt, astonishing the younger generation of Sanyuan Prefecture.
Golden Bell Shield, Extreme Realm; River-Burning Blade Technique, Perfection	267 268	Perfects the supreme River-Burning Blade Technique and raises the Golden Bell Shield to its Extreme Realm, greatly expanding his offensive and defensive power as a Gang Force practitioner.

Background / History

Li Chuan is a modern man who transmigrates into the body of a young man of the same name in ancient China. The original Li Chuan had neglected martial arts, squandered family money while pursuing Jiang Ting, and left his household under financial strain as the Black Bear Gang threatened its shop 1.

Awakening with the Primordial Jade Record, Li Chuan resolves to reverse his situation through relentless practice. The Record tracks techniques and grants steady proficiency through repeated training, allowing him to overcome his inferior bone structure through accumulation rather than natural talent 1 3 8.

He enters Pine Wind Martial Hall, initially carrying the reputation of a wastrel. His sustained training changes Luo Zheng's opinion of him, earns Hu Yuan's respect, and gradually establishes him as one of the hall's most diligent disciples 5 8 12. He later becomes Liang Hangzhou's true disciple and rises from Bright Force to Dark Force despite widespread doubts about his aptitude 36 37.

Li Chuan becomes a Martial Scholar and gains countywide prominence after defeating Li Danyi and later Zhang Chengfeng. His reputation transforms Pine Wind Martial Hall from a mocked institution into a sought-after school, while his family benefits from his status 76 85.

After learning of Magistrate Wei's collusion with the Rebirth Sect and accepting Lu Qiuhan's offer, Li Chuan joins the Heavenly Blade Sect in Sanyuan Prefecture 80 97 99. There, he advances to Core Formation, chooses to become a core disciple rather than a deacon, and eventually gains appointment as deacon of the Mountain Search Squad 122 127 144.

Li Chuan's rapid rise continues after he becomes a core disciple. He wins the Four Peaks chief disciple position from Yu Jing, earns second place in the Dragon Gate Formation, and becomes a recognized member of Sanyuan Prefecture's Six Elites 189 198 212. The Flamefire Flower later raises his root from Third Grade to Fifth Grade, substantially improving his True Qi circulation, comprehension, and cultivation efficiency 190 191.

After winning the Heroes' Gathering and defeating Han Tuo, Li Chuan raises his root to Sixth Grade and becomes famous throughout Sanyuan Prefecture and neighboring prefectures. His subsequent first-attempt breakthrough to Gang Force further establishes him as the foremost rising figure of his generation 241 246.

Li Chuan later enters the Vajra Sect through its selection process. Although his rank and treatment there initially place him among ordinary Outer Mountain outer disciples, he begins cultivating alchemy, passes the Pill Hall assessment, and continues preparing for threats from rivals such as Zhu Xu and Wang Ling 263 265 267.

Appearance

Li Chuan is described as a slender youth whose body becomes robust and clearly muscled through training. Though he considers himself only refined rather than handsome, his martial reputation draws considerable attention 8 58.

• Developed clear, fluid muscle definition after intensive stance training 8.
• Has clear, dark eyes; his expression can turn cold when his family is threatened 85.
• His unleashed power at the Heavenly Blade Sect is compared to a humanoid tyrannosaur 107.
• Wields the cyan-rippled treasured saber Xuanlan after receiving it from Lu Qiuhan 113.
• His Jade Skin Technique evolves into a naturally clinging True Qi membrane after he begins cultivating the Golden Bell Shield, further reinforcing his body 139.
• Later replaces Xuanlan as his primary weapon with the mid-grade treasure weapon Frost Without Trace 166.
• His body becomes substantially stronger after forming Silver Bone; before adapting to his new power, he accidentally crushes a teacup with his hand 224.

Personality

Li Chuan is disciplined, practical, and highly focused on survival and advancement. He repeatedly chooses cultivation over fame, dangerous missions, and social distractions, including declining the Rebirth Sect extermination mission and a raid on a Yaoguang Demon Sect stronghold 48 115.

Having memories of a modern life, he is unusually composed in social situations and cautious about political maneuvering. He distrusts Qin Feng's false apology, recognizes the danger behind seemingly coincidental events, and avoids exposing his full strength without reason 50 60 124.

Despite his pragmatism, Li Chuan is deeply devoted to his family. His determination to train comes from a desire to relieve their hardship, and he promises to search for his missing father and uncle after joining the Heavenly Blade Sect 3 97. He also repays kindness, helping Hu Yuan when the former disciple falls into hardship and agreeing to assist Lu Qiuhan against Liu Kun 85 111.

Li Chuan remains wary even after gaining status, preferring to conceal his cultivation and decline opportunities whose risks outweigh their rewards 154 162 199. He is nevertheless loyal to genuine friends, repaying Chen Dengke's early assistance with blade instruction and maintaining concern for Yu Sinian despite their vastly different positions 155 217.

His growing fame does not make him complacent. He rejects banquets, factional overtures, and repeated marriage proposals to focus on martial improvement, while considering rare cultivation materials more valuable than vast quantities of silver 224 231 246.

Li Chuan is capable of calculated ruthlessness against persistent enemies. After Zhou Zelin repeatedly investigates and endangers him, Li Chuan kills Zhou and later sets the Zhou Household's destruction in motion without revealing his own involvement 217 252 254.

Abilities & Skills

Primordial Jade Record

A mysterious panel that records Li Chuan's techniques and ensures measurable advancement through diligent practice.

• Tracks each skill's realm and proficiency 8 23.
• Allows him to make steady progress regardless of his inferior aptitude 1 37.
• Enables simultaneous development of numerous techniques that ordinary disciples could not cultivate together 115.
• Its existence is concealed; Li Chuan gives conventional advice when others ask about his breakthroughs 20.
• His improved Fifth Grade Root allows him to reexamine previously accumulated practice and gain major bursts of proficiency from fresh insight 191.
• Can record non-martial disciplines such as alchemy, allowing repeated failures in pill refinement to become measurable progress 265.

Mountain-Holding Stance

Li Chuan's foundational body-training art and the basis of his early breakthroughs.

• Reached Minor Achievement to enter Bright Force 13.
• Reached Great Success to enter Dark Force 36.
• Polishes blood-qi and supports the fusion of Bright and Dark Force toward Transforming Force 67.
• Its sustained practice builds his physical strength, allowing him to lift a thousand-jin stone block during the Martial Exam 53.

Through-Arm Fist

Pine Wind Martial Hall's foundational fist art, characterized by unpredictable transitions between strikes.

• Uses punches, finger-sword strikes, elbows, and shifting rhythms to keep opponents guessing 29.
• Benefits significantly from sparring with Yu Sinian and Luo Zheng 23 38.
• Reaches Perfection before Li Chuan enters the Heavenly Blade Sect 83 115.
• Helps form the robust vitality later noted by Lu Yuan 113.

Thunder Shadow Leg

A powerful leg technique and one of Li Chuan's principal killing arts.

• Reaches Great Success immediately before the Martial Exam, increasing his strength and speed 51.
• Is used covertly in Qin Feng's death, preventing others from connecting the killer to Li Chuan's fist-focused public image 62.
• Reaches Perfection by the time Li Chuan is cultivating at the Heavenly Blade Sect 115.
• Can leave only a slight indentation in a Century-Old Sinking Wood training post 76.

Jade Skin Technique

A defensive body-tempering technique.

• Reaches Great Success through Blood-Strengthening Pills 76.
• At Great Success, Li Chuan believes even his own attacks would struggle to break his defense 76.
• Later reaches Perfection and becomes eligible for advancement 115.
• Its jade-skin foundation enables him to cultivate the Golden Bell Shield, evolving his external defense into a True Qi membrane 139.
• A legacy of the Jade Skin Madman includes the Golden Bell Shield, which Li Chuan intends to pursue once he reaches Baodan cultivation 98.

Golden Bell Shield

A Vajra Sect defensive art and the advanced path made possible by Li Chuan's Jade Skin Technique.

• At its entry level, it forms a passive Qi-Wrapped Membrane around his body that must be broken before an enemy can reach his skin 139.
• Its Minor Mastery corresponds to the Tendon Membrane stage; higher realms include Silver Bone and an Extreme Realm Qi shield capable of dispersing force on contact 139 174.
• Its reddish-gold defensive membrane withstands the corrosive black insects carried by a Yaoguang Demon Sect corpse, though the insects can partially pierce it 167.
• Reaches Minor Mastery while Li Chuan prepares to aid Lu Qiuhan against the Black Ridge Four Wolves 174.
• Forms Silver Bone after he refines Heavenly Horse Essence Blood, dramatically reinforcing his body and physical strength 224.
• Reaches the Extreme Realm by the time he begins undertaking Vajra Sect missions, giving him a major defensive advantage in Gang Force combat 268.

Geng Metal Art

Li Chuan's internal cultivation method following his transition into sect cultivation.

• Converts his internal energy into Geng Metal True Qi upon reaching Embrace Dan Force 122.
• Progress is supported by expensive resources such as Silver Marrow Soup 109.
• Forms one of his two streams of True Qi after cultivating the Mysterious Origin Twin-Life Art 122 144.
• Reaches its Fifth Layer after Li Chuan enters Late Core Formation 186 191.
• His True Qi becomes increasingly sharp and blood-red as he advances through Core Formation 183 185.
• After refining the Great White Profound Yin Soul, one stream becomes the more powerful Profound Nether Geng Metal True Qi 213.
• His future path is to cultivate an opposing Red Bright Geng Metal True Qi and eventually merge the two forces into Innate Great White True Gang 234 242.

Mysterious Origin Twin-Life Art

A rare internal art that enables cultivation of two distinct forces and, at Core Formation, two streams of True Qi.

• Purchased from Xiao Yuan 122.
• Li Chuan successfully splits his internal energy when the art reaches Beginner level 122.
• His two streams of True Qi greatly increase his total energy and combat power 144.
• Requires substantial resources; Li Chuan seeks Qi Strengthening Pills to continue cultivating it 148.
• At Major Accomplishment, the second stream grows from a minor reserve into a powerful force that can be combined with the first for overwhelming attacks 185.
• Reaches Perfection before Li Chuan's second Dragon Gate Formation attempt 201.
• Its two extreme-yang streams are inherently unstable; Zhao Ciyuan directs Li Chuan to seek opposing yin and yang Earth Treasures so that they may eventually form Innate Great White True Gang 180 212.

Heavenly River Blade Technique

A superior blade art cultivated after Li Chuan joins the Heavenly Blade Sect.

• Learns it through a sect lecture and later trains it with the Xuanlan saber 116 113.
• At Great Success, it is already superior to the techniques of most peers in the Four Peaks 142.
• Its full power is amplified by Xuanlan, more than doubling the force of his blade wind compared to his previous weapon 113.
• Reaches Perfection before the Four Peaks Grand Competition, enabling Li Chuan to identify and correct flaws in Chen Dengke's blade technique 154 155.
• Its blade intent surpasses Yu Jing's own mastery, allowing Li Chuan to defeat her in one slash and take her position as Four Peaks chief disciple 189.
• Reaches the Extreme Realm after Li Chuan studies the Blade Steles, producing the spiritual pressure known as Heavenly River Blade Force 187.

Shadowless Blade Technique

A high-level blade art that complements Li Chuan's Heavenly River Blade Technique with extreme speed and elusive attacks.

• Learns it from the Scripture Pavilion while preparing for Sinking Moon Valley 192.
• Reaches Major Mastery by the Dragon Gate Formation, allowing him to prevent Cheng Xiuge's attack and disarm him during the competition 197.
• Enhances the speed and lethality of his already perfected Heavenly River Blade Technique 192 197.
• Later reaches the Extreme Realm and develops Trace-Free Blade Force, allowing Li Chuan to wield two distinct Blade Forces in battle 225 230.

River-Burning Blade Technique

A supreme top-tier blade art chosen to complement Li Chuan's future Red Bright Geng Metal True Qi.

• Selected from the fourth floor of the Heavenly Blade Sect's Scripture Pavilion after Guan Shan grants Li Chuan unrestricted access 241.
• Even at Initiation, its power combined with Li Chuan's Blade Forces can cleave refined black iron steel 242.
• Reaches Perfection after Li Chuan uses a Blade-Enlightenment Stone and maintains an intensive Gang-Tempering Pill cultivation routine at the Vajra Sect 267.

Movement, Concealment, and Ranged Techniques

• Shadow Sha Step — Raises instantaneous explosive speed by 20%; reaches Minor Accomplishment 115.
• Phantom Shadow Step — A movement art similar to Shadow Sha Step that helps conceal Li Chuan's demonic-path cultivation; reaches Perfection and greatly improves his burst movement 154 197.
• Void-Gap Formless Step — A top-tier movement technique selected for its difficulty and potential. Li Chuan achieves Initiation in less than half an hour, astonishing Elder Ye 199 200.
• Withered Wood Hiding Spring Art — A highly difficult concealment art that scatters True Qi through the limbs and bones to blend one's breath into the body and surrounding dust. Li Chuan selects it for its superior concealment effect 225.
• Hidden Origin Art — Used to conceal cultivation; Li Chuan improves it after realizing his strength is becoming difficult to hide 114 115. At Major Mastery, it conceals his Middle Core Formation cultivation even from peers in the same realm 154.
• Mountain Exploration Record / Mountain Search Secret Record — A tracking and exploration technique that reaches Minor Accomplishment 115. Li Chuan later raises it to Major Mastery, enabling him to complete lucrative search missions with exceptional speed and recognize dangers from environmental traces 155 160.
• Green Snake Dart Art — A concealed-weapon art capable of stealthy, fatal strikes; Li Chuan recognizes its value after fighting Yaoguang Demon Sect members 142.
• Seven Edge-Concealing Charges — A practical fist art purchased for three thousand taels. Its compressed True Qi strikes are difficult to detect and penetrate targets with explosive force; it reaches Minor Accomplishment after Li Chuan defeats Du Jiming 160 179 183. He later perfects the technique through insights from Annotations on Fist Techniques 242.
• Snake-Fang Shuttles — A rare technique used alongside Li Chuan's movement arts to kill the masked Pill Hall assassins stalking him 217.

Profound Nether Sunken Abyss Record

An internal record used to separate and refine Li Chuan's dual True Qi streams.

• Enables his dantian to be divided into upper and lower regions rather than leaving differing True Qi attributes mingled together 212.
• Presses Profound Nether Geng Metal True Qi into the lower dantian, freeing the Upper Aperture for Red Bright Geng Metal True Qi 212.
• Allows the Great White Profound Yin Soul to transform one Geng Metal True Qi stream into Profound Nether Geng Metal True Qi 213.
• Establishes the basis for eventually fusing his yin and yang forces into Innate Great White True Gang 212 213.
• Its rapid advancement with Cold Jade Soup helps Li Chuan prepare for his Gang Force breakthrough 241 242.

Great Sun Radiant Heaven Record

A peerless internal art corresponding to the future Red Bright Geng Metal True Qi.

• Given to Li Chuan by Zhao Ciyuan after the latter learns that the Sun-Day Red Gold Sand will emerge at Emerald Mist Ridge 242.
• Requires Sun-Day Red Gold Sand to begin its intended cultivation path 242.
• Together with the Profound Nether Sunken Abyss Record, it serves as one of the two internal foundations for Innate Great White True Gang 242 268.

Insect Control Art

A demonic-path technique obtained through Zhou Yan's Heart-Eating Insect.

• Allows Li Chuan to control the Heart-Eating Insect, which can divide into smaller insects, consume essence and blood to evolve, and receive messages from the Yaoguang Demon Sect 187.
• Lets him impersonate Zhou Yan within the Yaoguang Demon Sect, potentially providing a covert channel into the sect's Sanyuan branch 187.
• The insect can merge into Li Chuan's flesh and remain concealed 187.

Basic Alchemy

Li Chuan's newly acquired pill-refinement discipline at the Vajra Sect.

• The Primordial Jade Record records his Basic Alchemy proficiency, allowing him to improve through repeated refining failures 265.
• Successfully refines a Body Strengthening Pill after more than a dozen failed furnaces, reaching Basic Alchemy Initiation 265.
• Passes the Pill Hall's alchemy assessment, giving him a potential alternative source of Contribution Points and cultivation resources 267.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Primordial Jade Record — His hidden proficiency-recording artifact 1 8.
• Xuanlan — Treasured saber awarded by Lu Qiuhan after Li Chuan defeats Liu Kun; suitable through the Embrace Dan stage 113.
• Frost Without Trace — A mid-grade treasure weapon purchased from the Xiao Family after Li Chuan recognizes that Xuanlan no longer fully suits his strength 166.
• Foundation-Cultivating Pills — Taken from He Chen and used to support further training 88.
• Blood-Strengthening Pills — Regular cultivation resource used to accelerate physical training 60 76.
• Silver Marrow Soup — Purchased to assist Geng Metal Art cultivation 109.
• Lead-Cleansing Pills — High-cost pills used to purify and sharpen his True Qi while opening Main Meridians 160 162.
• Dragon-Tiger Pill — Earned for placing second in the Dragon Gate Formation; substantially advances his Geng Metal Art 198 199.
• Golden Bell Shield legacy — A Baodan-restricted inheritance left by the Jade Skin Madman. Li Chuan later cultivates its Golden Bell Shield art through the foundation laid by his Jade Skin Technique 98 139.
• Sarira — Kept from the Jade Skin Madman's tomb because Li Chuan believes it may be valuable for future cultivation 142.
• Great White Profound Yin Soul — An extreme-yin Earth Treasure refined by Li Chuan to create Profound Nether Geng Metal True Qi and resolve the instability of his dual extreme-yang forces 184 213.
• Silent Ink Swallow — A detection item gifted by Shen Yanran that helps Li Chuan identify the masked assassins following him 217.
• Heavenly Horse Essence Blood — A body-tempering resource Li Chuan consumes to form Silver Bone 224.
• Heavenly Net — A high-grade treasure armor woven from Dark Gold Spider Silk and sent by Shen Yanran. It is light, flexible, and can withstand a Gang Force attack 231.
• Thunderclap Bombs — Self-defense explosives presented by Xu Jianshen following Li Chuan's Heavenly Blade Tournament victory 211.
• Azure Abyss Snake-Fang Shuttles — High-grade treasure hidden weapons gifted by Ning Shuang after the Heavenly Blade Tournament 211.
• Blade-Enlightenment Stone — An ordinary enlightenment stone that doubles the proficiency Li Chuan gains while practicing the River-Burning Blade Technique 267.
• Heart-Eating Insect — Zhou Yan's concealed demonic insect, preserved and controlled by Li Chuan through the Insect Control Art 187.
• Heavenly Blade City mansion — A prestigious residence gifted by the Bai Clan for Li Chuan's eventual use in bringing his family to the city 246.

Relationships

• Wang Xiumei — Mother. Her sacrifices motivate Li Chuan to train and improve the family's circumstances 1 3 139.
• Li Qing — Older brother. Li Chuan teaches him basic strength exercises; Li Qing is proud of Li Chuan and refuses favors that could burden him 3 76 85.
• Li Nian — Grandfather. He supports Li Chuan's martial training despite the family's poverty and attempts to protect the family shop from the Black Bear Gang 1 11.
• Liang Hangzhou — Master at Pine Wind Martial Hall. Initially doubtful because of Li Chuan's inferior aptitude, he comes to value Li Chuan's diligence, gives him resources, and promises to protect his family 37 97.
• Luo Zheng — Senior brother, mentor, and early benefactor. He teaches Li Chuan combat principles, supports his development, and remains one of Li Chuan's deepest bonds 20 90 91. Li Chuan later reunites with Luo Zheng at the Azure Sun Sect and secretly sends him a Realm-Breaking Pill and silver, preserving their friendship despite their vastly changed status 217 248.
• Hu Yuan — Fellow Pine Wind disciple. Initially distant, then follows Li Chuan's example; Li Chuan later helps him after he becomes a woodcutter 8 85.
• Yu Sinian — Sparring partner whose technical insight accelerates Li Chuan's progress; they share mutual respect 23. Years later, Li Chuan reunites with him at Golden Bone Martial Hall, teaches its disciples, and asks Gu Lianghong to look after Yu Sinian's future 217.
• Qin Feng — Rival and former fellow disciple. Qin Feng resents Li Chuan's rise, arranges his corvée labor selection, and plots revenge before being assassinated 37 50 61.
• Lu Qiuhan — Pill Hall master and sponsor. She offers Li Chuan entry into the Heavenly Blade Sect, assists his search for family, and rewards him with Xuanlan 80 113. Li Chuan later protects her medicine route by eliminating the Black Ridge Four Wolves and receives continued support from her and Lu Yuan 176 189.
• Liu Peiran — Ally, rival, and fellow Heavenly Blade Sect disciple. He warns Li Chuan about He Chen, provides intelligence, and is repeatedly driven to improve by Li Chuan's breakthroughs 85 87 127.
• Xiao Yuan — Heavenly Blade Sect disciple and Xiao Family Auction House member. He sells Li Chuan the Mysterious Origin Twin-Life Art and provides practical support during his breakthrough 116 122. He later leaves the Heavenly Blade Sect to return to his family business, though the Xiao Family continues to treat Li Chuan as an important ally 166 169.
• Chen Dengke — Core disciple who befriends Li Chuan in the Upper Courtyard and explains its social and resource hierarchy 129 132. Li Chuan later repays this early assistance by guiding Chen Dengke through a blade-technique bottleneck, deepening their friendship 155 182.
• Zhao Qinghan — Mountain Search Squad subordinate. After losing to Li Chuan in one strike, she accepts his leadership and develops a working relationship with him 134.
• Ren Ping — Mountain Search Squad deacon who becomes increasingly cautious and respectful of Li Chuan's strength 107 134.
• Elder Sun — Heavenly Blade Sect elder who approves Li Chuan's appointment as Mountain Search Squad deacon and values his ambition 144. He later recognizes Li Chuan's mountain-searching skill and remains an important source of missions and guidance 182.
• Zhao Ciyuan — Four Peaks Master. He recognizes Li Chuan's potential after his Core Formation breakthrough, advises him on the danger of his dual True Qi streams, and guides his pursuit of Earth Treasures and Innate Great White True Gang 127 180 212. He later gives Li Chuan the Great Sun Radiant Heaven Record and entrusts him with carrying forward the ancient patriarch's path 242.
• Yu Jing — Former Four Peaks chief disciple. Initially proud and distant, she is defeated by Li Chuan in one slash and relinquishes her chief disciple position; she later acknowledges that his Heavenly River Blade Technique has surpassed her own 189.
• Zhong Ziyin — Core disciple and close friend. He remains loyal when Li Chuan is ignored by stronger peers, shares vital intelligence about sect affairs and Zhao Yan's investigation, and consistently seeks ways to help Li Chuan 161 200 201.
• Bai Zhao — A calculating Four Peaks core disciple who initially seeks to use Li Chuan to obtain Dragonbone Grass. Her attitude changes as his status rises; she later lends him substantial funds for cultivation and publicly claims affection for him to block a marriage proposal 176 177 185. Li Chuan later repays the thirty thousand taels she gave him for the True Explanation of Blade Dao, Lower Volume, refusing to remain indebted for so large a favor 231.
• Bai Ming — The White Dragon King and Bai Zhao's father. He becomes a powerful supporter of Li Chuan, repeatedly teases the possibility of Li Chuan and Bai Zhao becoming a couple, and helps provide Li Chuan with a mansion in Heavenly Blade City 212 231 246.
• Shi Chongyue — First Peak disciple and former leading contender beneath the chief disciples. Li Chuan defeats him with one slash and severs both his arms, but spares his life; Shi Chongyue later abandons revenge and takes a teaching post at Silver Bone Martial Hall 184 186.
• Gu Lianghong — Hall Master of Golden Bone Martial Hall. He hires Li Chuan as an offering instructor, valuing the prestige of his status as the Heavenly Blade Sect's second chief disciple; after seeing Li Chuan's connection to Yu Sinian, he agrees to privately cultivate Yu Sinian 199 217.
• Shen Yanran — A cultivator who gives Li Chuan the Silent Ink Swallow and seeks his aid in a resource dispute against Chu Xi in the Devouring Bone Black Marsh 213 217. She later sends him the high-grade treasure armor Heavenly Net and recruits him to contest Nine-Yang Wood 224 231.
• Xiao Nianxue — A young Heavenly Blade Sect disciple with a concealed Ninth Grade Root. Li Chuan teaches her martial fundamentals and the Heavenly River Blade Technique, while her growing admiration for him makes him wary of romantic misunderstanding 224 234 242.
• Guan Shan — Heavenly Blade Sect Leader. He recognizes Li Chuan's accomplishments, grants him exceptional access to the fourth floor of the Scripture Pavilion, and supports his development while acting as a guardian to Xiao Nianxue 224 241.
• Zhu Zhongye — A Heavenly Blade Sect peak master who offers to reforge Li Chuan's saber and later accompanies him to Emerald Mist Ridge in pursuit of Earth Treasures 211 246.
• Kong Lingsu — Vajra Sect Pill Hall cultivator who introduces Li Chuan to Basic Alchemy, provides extra Body Strengthening Pill materials, and is astonished by his rapid progress 265.
• Zhou Yan — Former Four Peaks rival whose recruitment attempt Li Chuan rejects. His resentment leads him to attempt an assassination after Li Chuan reaches Late Core Formation, resulting in his death 128 186.
• Zhou Zelin — Zhou Yan's father and a Pill Hall elder. He repeatedly investigates Li Chuan over Zhou Yan's death, sends Meng Shu and two companions to surveil and frame him, then later seeks the Sun-Day Red Gold Sand at Emerald Mist Ridge 212 217 246. Li Chuan eventually kills him and covertly triggers the downfall of the Zhou Household 252 254.
• Zhao Yan — Zhao Feng's younger brother and the Cloud Wild Sword Sect's chief disciple. He investigates Li Chuan over Zhao Feng's death before being killed by an unknown assailant 200.
• Chu Xi — Cloud Wild Sword Sect prodigy and Zhao Yan's former lover. She suspects Li Chuan of Zhao Yan's death and becomes increasingly willing to act against him despite incomplete evidence and the potential consequences for both sects 231.
• Han Tuo — A leading genius of the Cloud Wild Sword Sect. Li Chuan defeats him at the Heroes' Gathering, severely shaking his confidence in his own exceptional potential 241 246.
• Zhao Guangyao — A Vajra Sect associate who informs Li Chuan of Outer Disciple obligations and warns him that Zhu Xu may exploit a mandatory mission to target him 267.
• Zhu Xu — A dangerous Vajra Sect rival aligned with Wang Ling. After learning of Li Chuan's talent for alchemy, he and Ding Luo decide that Li Chuan must be killed before he gains greater resources and influence 267.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Pine Wind Martial Hall

Li Chuan begins as a disgraced outer-courtyard disciple but transforms himself through the Primordial Jade Record and punishing training. He progresses from Bright Force to Dark Force, becomes Liang Hangzhou's true disciple, and gains recognition despite inferior aptitude 8 13 36 37.

Martial Exam and Anning County

After being targeted through corvée labor, Li Chuan enters the Martial Exam to break the deadlock. He shocks observers by lifting a thousand-jin stone, earns the Martial Scholar title, and becomes a figure of countywide influence 50 53 58.

Seven Halls Tournament

Li Chuan trains his arts to perfection, understands Transforming Force, and defeats Zhang Chengfeng in the tournament's final match. The victory elevates both his reputation and Pine Wind Martial Hall's standing 83 85.

Conflict with He Chen and Magistrate Wei

After He Chen investigates his family, Li Chuan uses Liu Peiran's intelligence to target and kill him, taking his cultivation resources. He later uncovers Magistrate Wei's conspiracy involving the Rebirth Sect and agrees to Lu Qiuhan's Heavenly Blade Sect proposal 85 88 80.

Heavenly Blade Sect

Li Chuan enters the Four Peaks as an outsider with a Third Grade Root and little backing. He faces prejudice, buys the Mysterious Origin Twin-Life Art, successfully reaches Core Formation, and becomes a core disciple 99 122 127.

Mountain Search Squad

Li Chuan survives exploitation and assassination attempts within the squad, hides his strength, and builds influence through wealth, missions, and combat. After killing Wei Xiao, he secures the Mountain Search Squad deacon position with Elder Sun's approval 103 107 144.

Four Peaks Grand Competition

Li Chuan perfects the Heavenly River Blade Technique, exposes his Middle Core Formation cultivation and four open Main Meridians, and defeats Lu Xi. He also helps Chen Dengke overcome a blade-technique bottleneck, allowing his friend to excel in the same competition 154 155.

Rise to Four Peaks Chief Disciple

After rapidly advancing through Middle and Late Core Formation, Li Chuan defeats Shi Chongyue and then Yu Jing, taking the latter's position as Four Peaks chief disciple. The position brings him superior resources, influence, and offers from martial halls and local powers 184 189 190.

Dragon Gate Formation

Li Chuan competes against the other Heavenly Blade Sect chief disciples in the Dragon Gate Formation. He reveals Major Mastery in the Shadowless Blade Technique, defeats Cheng Xiuge for second place, receives a Dragon-Tiger Pill, and gains recognition as the Heavenly Blade Sect's second chief disciple 197 198 199.

Heavenly Blade Tournament

Li Chuan wins the Heavenly Blade Tournament and receives major rewards from the peak lords and Guan Shan, including high-grade hidden weapons, Thunderclap Bombs, training-room access, and the opportunity to refine the Great White Profound Yin Soul through Zhao Ciyuan's peerless method 211 213.

Profound Nether True Qi

Following the Heavenly Blade Tournament, Li Chuan refines the Great White Profound Yin Soul and develops Profound Nether Geng Metal True Qi through the Profound Nether Sunken Abyss Record. This resolves the immediate instability of his dual extreme-yang forces and establishes his path toward Innate Great White True Gang 212 213.

Golden Bone Martial Hall

As Golden Bone Martial Hall's offering instructor, Li Chuan returns to teach martial fundamentals and unexpectedly reunites with Yu Sinian. His intervention earns Yu Sinian Gu Lianghong's attention and access to private instruction and cultivation resources 216 217.

Heroes' Gathering

Li Chuan forms Silver Bone through Heavenly Horse Essence Blood, reveals both Heavenly River and Trace-Free Blade Forces, and defeats the Mountain-Crushing Bull to secure Nine-Yang Wood. His later defeat of Han Tuo at the Heroes' Gathering raises his root to Sixth Grade and makes him renowned throughout several prefectures 224 230 241.

Gang Force Breakthrough

Using the greatly improved efficiency granted by his Sixth Grade Root and the Profound Nether Sunken Abyss Record, Li Chuan reaches Gang Force on his first attempt. The breakthrough shocks Han Tuo, Han Yi, and the major factions of Sanyuan Prefecture, which begin sending him lavish gifts and seeking his favor 241 246.

Emerald Mist Ridge and the Zhou Household

Li Chuan travels with Zhu Zhongye toward Haixing Prefecture to compete for Sun-Day Red Gold Sand at Emerald Mist Ridge. There he reunites with Luo Zheng and secretly aids him with a Realm-Breaking Pill 246 248. After Zhou Zelin's continued hostility culminates in conflict over the Earth Treasure, Li Chuan kills him and covertly causes the Zhou Household to be destroyed without publicly linking himself to the event 252 254.

Vajra Sect and Alchemy

After entering the Vajra Sect, Li Chuan faces the inferior treatment and hidden dangers imposed on selected Outer Disciples. He starts learning alchemy under Kong Lingsu, refines his first Body Strengthening Pill after repeated failures, passes the Pill Hall assessment, and perfects the River-Burning Blade Technique while preparing for his compulsory mission and Zhu Xu's likely attack 263 265 267.

Trivia

• Li Chuan compares the Primordial Jade Record to a tool that would have let him complete every mathematics question bank in his former life 4.
• He is known alongside Yu Sinian as one of Pine Wind Martial Hall's “Martial Arts Maniacs” because of his extreme training habits 23.
• He considers eating meat and medicinal resources essential investments in cultivation, even as their cost repeatedly strains his finances 20 29 89.
• Li Chuan refuses to join Zhou Yan's faction despite the benefits, preferring independent cultivation over being commanded by others 128 129.
• He maintains a habit from his former life of setting concrete goals and breaking them into specific actions rather than relying on vague ambition 200.
• Despite being one of Sanyuan Prefecture's Six Elites, he still addresses Yu Sinian as “Senior Brother Yu,” reflecting the respect he retains for their Pine Wind Martial Hall bond 217.
• He initially wonders whether his rapid alchemy progress means he is an alchemy prodigy, only for his first dozen or more furnaces to explode before he successfully refines a pill 265.