Cheng Xiao

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Cheng Xiao
Alias(es)	Little Cheng; Spirit Hall's Saint Son
Species/Race	Human; transmigrated adult in a child's body 4
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Spirit Hall (Saint Son); formerly Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy and Moonlight Pavilion
Occupation/Role	Soul Master, martial-soul theorist, commander of the Shadow Legion
Status	Active; was believed dead following the Beast Tide before reappearing in the Star Dou Great Forest 345
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Innate Soul Power Level 1	1	Awakens the mutated Black Pupil martial soul; discovers the conflicting Shadow King and Destruction King martial souls.
Soul Power Level 3	4	Reaches level 3 after two months of extreme physical training and Tai Chi practice.
Soul Power Level 10	9	Breaks through after two and a half years refining a Tai Chi Soul Power circulation route.
Soul Power Level 20	17	Reaches the Soul Grandmaster threshold; awakens the Shadow Domain while releasing both martial souls.
Soul Power Level 29	115	Breaks through after three days of combat training and the prior benefits of three immortal herbs.
Soul Power Level 40	172	Reports level 40 after rapidly advancing during the period surrounding his Shadow King inheritance.
Soul Power Level 46 — Soul Ancestor	183, 184	Reaches level 46 after absorbing the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's soul ring.
Four-ring configuration revealed	247, 260	Possesses two ten-thousand-year rings and a hundred-thousand-year third ring; uses Simulation to disguise the true configuration.
Soul Power Level 49	300, 301	Breaks through amid the Beast Tide after Qian Daoliu uses the Gold of Life to heal and empower him; continues toward level 50.

Background

Cheng Xiao awakened at Spirit Hall as a six-year-old with a mutated eye-type martial soul, Black Pupil, and only level-one Innate Soul Power. Behind this apparently poor awakening, he carried the Shadow King and Dragon Emperor martial souls, whose incompatible powers threatened his life. Rather than accept his apparent lack of talent, he entered Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy and imposed an extreme daily physical-training regimen on himself. 1

A transmigrator with an adult mentality, Cheng Xiao experimented with integrating Soul Power into Tai Chi. His repeated practice opened a Lesser Heavenly Circuit and connected the Twelve Meridians, increasing his Soul Power Affinity rather than directly raising his Soul Power. Tai Chi subsequently became both a cultivation method and a combat art capable of redirecting force and producing destructive strikes. 4 6 7

His first soul ring came from a roughly 580-year-old Soul Binding Vine, granting Touch of Soul Binding. As his strength grew, he obtained shadows from slain Soul Beasts, hired a Soul Ancestor team under the guise of an academy assessment, and concealed the true purpose of his hunts from most allies. 10 11 20 24

After revealing his twin martial souls, Cheng Xiao became entangled with Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin, trained at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and consumed several immortal herbs. His theories on Martial Soul evolution and beyond-limit soul-ring absorption drew the attention of Spirit Hall, which formally named him its Saint Son. 80 89 105

Appearance

By the time of his return to the Star Dou Great Forest, Cheng Xiao is as tall as an adult, with matured features, wheat-colored skin, and an unkempt appearance from two years of surviving in the forest's core region. 345

• His eyes turned completely ink-black during his initial martial-soul awakening. 1
• Dragon Emperor Martial Soul Possession manifests dragon scales and a destructive aura. 65 180
• He can alter his appearance, clothing, and apparent height through Tian Meng's Simulation. 281
• He often conceals his face beneath a hood when avoiding recognition. 345

Personality

Cheng Xiao is relentlessly self-disciplined and pragmatic. Even with level-one Innate Soul Power, he trained until physical collapse rather than accept conventional limits, then repeatedly modified his cultivation methods through observation and experimentation. 1 6

He is guarded, calculating, and willing to manipulate people when their help serves his goals. He pressured Tang San and Xiao Wu into assisting with a soul-beast hunt, deceived Zhu Zhuqing and Uncle Bai during his search for the Eight Spider Lances, and routinely hides his actual abilities behind half-truths. 4 9 152

Despite this ruthlessness, Cheng Xiao distinguishes opportunists from people acting on conviction. During the Beast Tide, the sacrifices of Spirit Hall's fallen Soul Masters ultimately moved him to use his power on their behalf, even though he felt little loyalty to Spirit Hall itself. 292 294

Abilities & Skills

Twin Martial Souls

Cheng Xiao possesses two mutually hostile martial souls concealed beneath his initial Black Pupil awakening.

• Shadow King / Asben — grants the Power of Shadow, shadow manipulation, and command over the Shadow Legion.
• Dragon Emperor / Destruction King Antares — grants dragon-type suppression and destructive power.
• The imbalance between the two souls is irreversible and can endanger Cheng Xiao's life. 1 17
• The Dragon Emperor is unrelated to the Dragon God's bloodline and is described as a power from beyond the heavens. 331

Tai Chi and Soul Power Cultivation

Cheng Xiao developed Tai Chi into a self-created combat and cultivation method.

• Modifies his Meditation Technique by circulating Soul Power through the Ren and Du Meridians.
• Completed a Lesser Heavenly Circuit and connected the Twelve Meridians. 6
• Raises Soul Power Affinity and therefore his potential ceiling, rather than simply increasing his current Soul Power. 6
• Grasp the Sparrow's Tail — releases force capable of blasting a bowl-sized crater into the ground. 6
• Cloud Hands — disperses and redirects an opponent's force; used to counter Xiao Wu's Soft Skills. 7

Shadow Domain and Shadow Legion

The Shadow Domain allows Cheng Xiao to extract and command the shadows of the dead.

• Initially affects dead shadows within a 100-meter radius and can store up to twenty shadows. 17
• Later expands to one hundred shadow positions; Cheng Xiao can summon shadows from Soul Beasts up to roughly nine to ten thousand years old. 115
• Shadow Soldiers retain their memories, strength, and clothing from life, but demonstrate absolute loyalty to Cheng Xiao. 171
• The Legion includes Yegrit, an armored greatsword-wielding Shadow Soldier who leads the army in battle. 158 247
• Cheng Xiao can sustain Shadow Soldier resurrection through Soul Power, though prolonged mass resurrection pushes his body toward collapse. 300

Stand Up

Stand Up creates or commands Shadow Soldiers and can conceal them within another person's shadow.

• Uncle Bai became a Shadow Soldier and was sent into Zhu Zhuqing's shadow without her detecting the change. 218
• Cheng Xiao planned to use concealed shadows to trace Tang Hao and Tang San. 218
• The skill's posthumous-consciousness effect attracts Soul Masters seeking survival after death. 251

Dragon Emperor Martial Soul

The Dragon Emperor grants Cheng Xiao overwhelming dragon-type suppression, but its Power of Destruction strains his sanity and body.

• Dragon's Fear — instills primal fear in living beings; higher lifeforms can resist it. 65
• Dragon's Might — suppresses dragon-type martial souls, including the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and helped Cheng Xiao defeat Yu Tianxin and Yu Tianheng. 103
• Martial Soul Possession was initially dangerous and short-lived, but Cheng Xiao steadily increased its duration through cultivation at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. 80 89
• He can communicate with the remnants of the Water Dragon King and Fire Dragon King's souls at the well. 71

Shadow Soul Skills

• Touch of Soul Binding — transforms any visible shadow into binding tentacles. Because a target's shadow follows them, fleeing alone does not escape the binding's starting point. Its hundred-year version can target only one opponent at a time. 11 192
• Shadow Concealment Prison — creates a defensive shadow prison. When shattered, its fragments can become a viscous substance that blinds and enters an opponent's body. 138
• Mental Storm — disorients enemies and disrupted Zhu Mo's forces during the Star Luo campaign. 174
• Soul Stripping — temporarily extracts a Soul Beast's soul from its body; Cheng Xiao later used it in an attempt to create a Spirit Soul. 183 308

Tian Meng Spiritual Skills

The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm provides Cheng Xiao with powerful spiritual abilities.

• Simulation — disguises Cheng Xiao's appearance and soul-ring configuration; can also imitate the pressure of a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast. 188 192 281
• Hypnosis — forms part of Cheng Xiao's proposed Spirit Soul method. 183 308
• Tian Meng's seal can replenish Cheng Xiao's Soul Power, though it cannot fully compensate for the Legion's extreme consumption in prolonged warfare. 300

Time-Space Reversal

Cheng Xiao's Time-Space Reversal can revert a target's body and soul to a childlike state, weakening their abilities.

• It is a near-domain-level spacetime skill capable of threatening Soul Sages. 183
• Possible counters include spatial escape or incapacitating Cheng Xiao so he cannot maintain the skill. 183
• Cheng Xiao used it when facing Tang Hao. 211

Evil God Orb Manipulation

The Evil God Orb allows Cheng Xiao to manipulate a special demonic soul ring and access additional Dark Demon Evil God Tiger abilities.

• Evil Ring / Shadow Ring — merges shadows into the demonic ring for a temporary Soul Power increase.
• The enhancement prevents Cheng Xiao from using soul skills for a month afterward. 218
• Shadow Armor and Shadow Blade — enable the use of Dark Demon Evil God Tiger abilities. 219
• Light Blades — launches dozens of wind- and evil-attributed blades that corrode and plunder life force. 219

Composite Soul Power and Resistances

Cheng Xiao's Soul Power fuses five distinct energies: Shadow, Destruction, Evil God, elemental, and Life power.

• This fused Soul Power can suppress unstable energy within another person's body. 232
• Aromatic Silk Beauty grants poison-neutralizing properties and suppresses the harmful aura emitted by his demonic ring. 85 138 218
• After consuming special herbs at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he gains immunity to ice- and fire-based attacks. 71

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Eight Spider Lances — External Soul Bone obtained from a Man Faced Demon Spider; later brought to Dugu Bo as a gift. 152 222
• Tian Meng Skull — Skull Soul Bone associated with Simulation, hypnosis, Soul Stripping, and Mental Storm. 183
• Left Palm Bone — Used to anchor himself against the shockwave of Qian Renxue's Sword of Divinity. 116
• Nine Rings defensive Soul Tool — Drawn into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well without being damaged by its destructive force. 89
• Mountain Dragon Ring — A relic item taken from Cheng Xiao by an unidentified man who bypassed his domain. 152
• Aromatic Silk Beauty — Immortal herb Cheng Xiao consumed for poison resistance and aura concealment. 85 243

Relationships

• Cheng Yu — His uncle and financial supporter; struggled with the cost of Cheng Xiao's cultivation but backed his ambitions. 17 20
• Tang San — Childhood acquaintance and recurring rival. Tang San remains wary of Cheng Xiao's scheming, while Cheng Xiao regards Tang San as a dangerous opponent whose hidden weapons require caution. 4 9 192
• Xiao Wu — Childhood friend who calls him “Little Cheng.” Their early sparring helped Cheng Xiao recognize Tai Chi's combat potential, though later encounters became hostile. 7 127
• Zhu Zhuqing — Initially deceived by Cheng Xiao during the Dreadclaw Bear incident, but later aids his search for the Eight Spider Lances. Cheng Xiao later promises to keep his word to her. 37 152 187
• Dugu Bo — Protector, mentor, and political ally. Dugu Bo shelters Cheng Xiao, supports his cultivation at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and pressures Spirit Hall to guarantee his safety. 80 105 241
• Ye Renxin — Elder ally and healer. Cheng Xiao diagnoses his condition, shares cultivation theories with him, and benefits from his Nine Heart Begonia healing. 48 80 108
• Ye Lingling — Close companion whom Cheng Xiao treats with conspicuous care. She worries over his safety and is overjoyed upon reuniting with him. 52 219
• Dugu Yan — Sparring rival and ally. Cheng Xiao defeats her with a self-created skill, but later grants mercy to Osler and Yu Feng at her request. 58 222
• Qian Renxue / Xue Qinghe — Possesses a Martial Soul resonance with Cheng Xiao. Their relationship combines mutual suspicion, political maneuvering, and an increasingly personal bond; Spirit City later prepares an engagement ceremony for the Saint Son and Saintess. 76 117 274
• Bibi Dong — Spirit Hall's Pope who recognizes Cheng Xiao's theoretical value, appoints him Saint Son, and later seeks to place him under her control. 89 105 260
• Hu Liena — Spirit Hall's Saintess and Cheng Xiao's hostile counterpart. She views his rapidly expanding influence as a threat to her position. 105 247
• Yegrit — Shadow Soldier and battlefield commander of the Shadow Legion. 158 247
• Qian Daoliu — Saves Cheng Xiao from Di Tian and sacrifices the Gold of Life to heal and empower him during the Beast Tide. 300 301

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Nuoding Academy — Awakens Black Pupil, begins extreme training, develops Tai Chi, and forms an uneasy childhood connection with Tang San and Xiao Wu. 1 4 7
• Soul Hunting Forest — Acquires his first soul ring and defeats Tang San in a contest of control-type soul skills. 10 11
• Star Dou Great Forest expedition — Hires Soul Ancestors to gather Soul Beast shadows, concealing his real objective behind an academy assessment. 20 24
• Heaven Dou and Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well — Gains Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin as allies, consumes immortal herbs, cultivates the Dragon Emperor, and publishes revolutionary theories. 71 85 89
• Saint Son appointment — Spirit Hall names Cheng Xiao Saint Son, making him a focal point of sect and imperial politics. 105
• Shadow King inheritance — Encounters Yegrit, endures a life-or-death trial, and gains the Shadow Legion. 158 161
• Heaven Dou–Star Luo conflict — Offers to stop a 20,000-man flanking force alone, then uses the Shadow Legion against Star Luo forces. 172 174
• Return to Shrek — Rejoins Shrek Academy as a level-46 Soul Ancestor and is used by Yu Xiaogang as a “whetstone” for the Shrek Seven Devils. 184 190
• Spirit City and Beast Tide — Defies Spirit Hall's elders, raises fallen defenders through his shadow powers, and helps defend Spirit City at immense personal cost. 260 294 300
• Disappearance and return — Is presumed dead after the Beast Tide, then reappears two years later in the Star Dou Great Forest under a changed appearance. 345

Notable Quotes

“I want to live!” 161