Li Su

Biodata

Background

Li Su, a man who had graduated from university and suffered a tragic loss in his previous life, suddenly wakes up in his high school classroom, seemingly reborn or transmigrated. He quickly realizes that this world is fundamentally different from the one he remembers: martial arts novels are taught as authentic history, and the entire society revolves around entering mysterious "World Fragments"—concrete realms born from those very novels—to acquire power, wealth, and status. The world changed after a catastrophic event known as the Great Cataclysm, which reshaped reality and fused fictional martial arts worlds into existence. Li Su's past life was marked by mediocrity and heartbreak: he was a poor student, often beaten by his strict parents for his failings, and after he caused trouble, his parents died in an accident, leaving him with lifelong regret. Now, reborn with the plot knowledge of countless wuxia novels, he is determined to seize this second chance, become powerful enough to protect his family, and avoid the fates that destroyed him before. The new world is a harsh, competitive arena where the college entrance exam itself is the gateway to World Fragments, and success depends on one's ability to learn ancient martial arts, navigate dangerous worlds, and claim ultimate techniques before others do.

• Li Su's past life ended in sorrow: he was a university graduate who had been a mediocre high school student, frequently punished by his homeroom teacher "Devil Yi" and subjected to "mixed doubles" beatings from his parents 1 4. His parents died in an accident because of his actions, leaving him to drink himself unconscious and cry until his tears ran dry, with no chance to ever serve them again 4. This loss drives his determination to become a "child of other people's families" in this life and make his parents proud 4.

• The new world is the result of the Great Cataclysm, an unexplained catastrophe that created World Fragments—entire worlds drawn from martial arts novels, which can grant incredible power and knowledge to those who enter and complete them 3. These fragments contain the cultures and civilizations of the Sui, Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties, with the Northern Song being the most stable and suitable for development 7.

• Martial arts novels are treated as real history, forming the core academic subject in schools. Students study classical Chinese, acupoints, meridians, ancient linguistics, etiquette, and the biographies of legendary figures like Murong Fu and Pang Ban, all of which are essential for survival inside World Fragments 1 5.

• The college entrance exam is the moment when students enter World Fragments through diamond-shaped gates. They must choose a world bubble (e.g., Northern Song, Southern Song, Sui and Tang) and then become Raiders, risking their lives for power and wealth 6 7. Admission to universities depends on "World Resolution" and ability ranks, making competition fierce 2.

• Inside a World Fragment, time flows differently, and Raiders must learn martial arts from scratch. Top-tier ultimate arts are scarce—once someone learns a technique and brings it out of a fragment, no one else can cultivate or extract it, creating an intense race to claim the best skills 5 12. Over centuries of raiding, many legendary arts like the Nine Yin Manual and the Small Formless Skill have already been taken 5.

• Li Su's World Resolution directly enhances the speed and effectiveness with which he cultivates techniques. World and character resolution stack with his own aptitude, making his comprehension of martial arts and Dao methods extraordinarily abnormal 8 10.

• Li Su himself enters the Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils world half a century before the story begins, as a mute junior monk named Xuankong in the Shaolin Temple 8 9. He quickly learns that patience and steady cultivation are key, and that the true power of Shaolin lies not in flashy techniques but in the accumulation of internal energy over time 11 12 33.

• Over his subsequent fragment journeys, Li Su repeatedly encounters worlds whose plots diverge from the novels he remembers. These deviations greatly increase both the rewards and the danger: he has learned that changing a story before possessing sufficient strength can produce “bug”-like enemies and an extraordinarily high death rate 637.

World Fragment Entry

Li Su’s entry into the world fragment of the Northern Song was driven by a calculated, long-term ambition rather than impulsive desire. After reviewing the available options, he dismissed worlds he deemed too dangerous—such as the one containing the Evil King, Heavenly Blade, and Wanwan—concluding that his current survival skills were insufficient. Instead, he settled on the Northern Song of the Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils era, a stable and prosperous realm where legendary top-tier cultivation techniques like the Nine Yang Divine Skill, the Northern Dark Divine Skill, and the Muscle Tendon Change were all present 7. Crucially, he understood that he could not choose the person he would possess; nearly ninety percent of possessed bodies were orphans or paupers, so he focused on location, picking Mount Song 7 9. With a deep breath, he pressed his hand against the chosen destination, and his body trembled and vanished 7. He awoke in an unfamiliar bed, his small body only about six or seven years old; upon touching his head, he discovered it was bald and covered with scars—he was a monk 8 9. A young fellow disciple called him “Xuankong” and brought him a steamed bun, confirming he was in the Songshan Shaolin Temple as a member of the “Xuan” generation—the same seniority as the future Abbot Xuanci 8 9. Realizing the story would not begin for another fifty years, he resolved to stay in the Shaolin Temple for that entire period, focusing on steady cultivation and avoiding the pursuit of fame or premature conflict 9 10 31. His motivation was not to become the world’s greatest, but to acquire enough strength to eventually intervene in the tragedy of Xiao Feng and save A Zhu, while patiently laying a foundation in Shaolin’s martial arts 10 12 33.

• World Selected: Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (Northern Song dynasty era of the wuxia multiverse).
• Time Period: Approximately half a century (fifty years) before the main storyline begins—around 1040 AD, when the future protagonists Duan Yu and Xuzhu are decades away from their adventures 9 12.
• New Identity: Xuankong, a young mute monk (initially feigning muteness to avoid exposure), a disciple of the prestigious Xuan generation at the Songshan Shaolin Temple, with Xuanci as his senior brother 8 9 11 19.

Subsequent World Fragment Journeys

After completing his Shaolin period, Li Su continued to enter increasingly dangerous and high-level fragments. He established First Tower in a Sui-Tang world and became involved in the contest for the realm, rather than merely collecting techniques. As First Tower’s master, he declared that he would unify the Sacred Gate within one year, challenged the Yin Empress and Evil King in Luoyang, and sought to support Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling rather than rule over them as a conventional king 123 138.

He later entered the Lotus Lantern world and spent years in Mount Shu under the identity “A-Su.” Although initially a menial fourth-generation disciple, he continuously nurtured the intent of the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords until it fused into his bones and soul. His cultivation insights spread throughout Mount Shu and even reached Kunlun, while his sword intent helped reshape the balance between the righteous and demonic paths 225 230 243.

In later worlds, Li Su acquired inheritances connected to the Three Sovereigns, the Seven Sages, the Interception Sect, and the Journey to the West setting. He has also entered the Nine Provinces Continent under the identity Li Hao, first appearing as a body cultivator affiliated with the Heavenly Corpse Sect before joining the Azure Luan Sect. These journeys forced him to cultivate several systems simultaneously—including martial arts, Dao arts, body cultivation, immortal methods, and ancient Witch Clan battle arts—rather than rely on a single path 335 456 628 1367 1530 1802.

Power Progression

Abilities

Li Su’s martial foundation is built upon several Shaolin techniques, each refined to a level far beyond what his age would suggest. His rapid progress is largely attributed to a unique talent derived from his World Resolution—a comprehensive analytical comprehension of the martial arts world he inhabits. This ability grants an extraordinary bonus to his understanding and aptitude for any technique he studies, effectively allowing him to perceive the essence of a martial art after only a single demonstration or brief practice 10 21. In practice, this has made learning even the most notoriously difficult Shaolin arts—such as the Formless Calamity Finger and the Arhat Divine Art—feel intuitive and straightforward, while also enabling him to improvise new moves on the spot during sparring 24 21. His personality aligns naturally with the martial arts he practices, further amplifying the synergy between his talent and his cultivation 10.

As Li Su entered higher-order fragments, this comprehension extended beyond conventional martial arts. He has rapidly grasped Daoist, Buddhist, demonic, immortal, sword, body-refining, and Witch Clan methods, often learning arts that would take ordinary cultivators decades or centuries in days, months, or a few years 456 632 1535 1802.

Arhat Divine Art (Arhat Gong / Arhat Golden Body)

The Arhat Divine Art is the core internal and physical cultivation technique Li Su practices, comprising both the Arhat Gong (a visualization meditation method that refines true qi) and the original Arhat Fist (which nourishes energy and tempers the body). The technique produces Arhat True Qi, a highly volatile, "hard," and domineering form of internal energy that is fiercely exclusive—it automatically repels external forces and even elements like snowflakes or rain from touching the skin 18 16. The true purpose of the Arhat Gong, however, is body refinement: it uses the sharp, needle-like Arhat True Qi to repeatedly "grind" the practitioner’s meridians and flesh, forging the Arhat Golden Body 22 16. This self-grinding process is painful—circulating the energy feels like pricks, slices, and stabs—but it builds an exceptionally resilient physique 16. Li Su reached the minor accomplishment stage of the Arhat Golden Body relatively quickly, at which point his Arhat True Qi could no longer be easily disturbed by external probes and his flesh gained a palpable defensive quality 18. He estimates that at Great Completion, the Arhat Golden Body will be roughly on par with the Nine Yang Divine Skill at Small Completion 25.

• Applications: Provides a powerful passive defense—bruises and minor injuries heal to "seven or eight parts" by the next morning 25. The exclusionary nature of the qi creates a near-physical barrier that blocks attacks and keeps the body clean. The strengthened meridians make learning other techniques that rely on true qi application significantly easier, as the pathways are far more durable 22. The Arhat Golden Body serves as the ideal foundation for mastering Shaolin's supreme arts like the Indestructible Diamond Divine Art or the Muscle Tendon Changing Classic 30.
• Limitations: The Arhat True Qi is mediocre in raw destructive power compared to techniques like the Great Strength Vajra Palm 18. The cultivation process is extremely painful and slow—the old monk Kongming noted that achieving progress in the Arhat Divine Art is rare, with few successes in the past thousand years 15 21. The technique is also expensive to practice: it requires highly nourishing medicine (or meat as a temporary substitute) to sustain the body's refinement 16. Moreover, the energy's volatility makes it difficult to handle without proper emotional control—impatience can lead to cultivation deviation or even death 34.

Cotton Palm

The Cotton Palm is a unique palm technique that Li Su learned from the Scripture Library. It stores hard internal force while manifesting softness externally, making its strikes silent and windless—as if tapping lightly, yet delivering astonishing internal impact 24. The technique consists of six basic forms that can be linked into longer sequences to generate "cotton force." Li Su mastered the basic palm force after only a few attempts and demonstrated remarkable improvisational ability, creating new moves on the spot during sparring with Xuandu 24.

• Applications: Effective for sparring and concealed attacks—the silent, soft appearance hides destructive internal power, making it difficult for opponents to gauge the incoming force. The palm forms are coherent and adaptable, with no obvious flaws, allowing for continuous, unpredictable combinations 24. Once the palm force reaches Great Completion, it can be triggered spontaneously without needing specific moves, granting fluidity in combat.
• Limitations: The Cotton Palm requires precise true qi control; the technique only works when the practitioner can correctly push Arhat True Qi through the palm forms to generate the cotton force 24. While excellent for close-quarters combat, it lacks the ranged lethality of finger techniques or the raw destructive output of heavy palm strikes. It also requires significant internal energy to sustain the subtle force during extended battles.

Formless Calamity Finger

The Formless Calamity Finger is one of Shaolin's most formidable and notoriously difficult finger techniques. It involves nurturing five distinct types of true qi on the five fingers and then fusing them into a single strike, unleashing all five layers of force simultaneously at a single point 20 21. The technique has multiple realms, with the initial mastery being the Five-Finger Realm and the highest being a single finger containing all five energies. Li Su quickly mastered all five individual layers of force but struggled—and eventually succeeded—to fuse them into one, achieving the Two-Finger Formless state 21 28. His success with the technique was accelerated by his Arhat Golden Body minor completion, which made the process much easier than usual 22.

• Applications: Devastating offensive power—even a partial fusion (Two-Finger Formless) forced back a powerful White-Clad Buddhist from Putian Shaolin, who recognized it as a lethal strike 28. The finger strike is silent and invisible, delivering pressure that feels like "a blade of death against the throat" 28. It can be used at range; Monk Tianming demonstrated scorching a prayer mat from ten feet away 20. The technique is considered one of the world's premier finger techniques, comparable to the Six Meridians Sword Qi in potency 21.
• Limitations: Extremely difficult to master—requires intense focus and control to nurture and blend five separate energies; most practitioners never reach full fusion 21. The technique demands a very strong internal energy foundation; finger techniques are generally unsuitable for beginners because the fingers are easily injured without sufficient qi protection 18 20. Even Li Su found the fusion step challenging, and he deliberately concealed his true level of mastery from Master Tianming to avoid causing jealousy among peers like Xuanbei 22. Additionally, the technique's power is heavily dependent on the user's Arhat Golden Body—without it, the speed and ease of cultivation are drastically reduced 22.

Indestructible Diamond Divine Art (Nascent Stage)

During his later cultivation, Li Su began practicing a nameless technique that exhibited the characteristics of the Indestructible Diamond Divine Art—Shaolin's supreme defensive art, typically reserved for the Chief of the Bodhidharma Institute and a candidate for Abbot. The technique formed a protective "Force" (later understood as Gang Qi) that tightly bound the volatile Arhat True Qi, changing its sharpness from an outward prickliness to a concealed, far more dangerous edge 34. As this Force developed, scales formed beneath his skin, and the defensive capabilities of his flesh strengthened rapidly 34. The art is described as having effects of being "unbreakable, immune to all poisons, indestructible, and supreme in rigidity" 34.

• Applications: Drastically enhances physical durability, allowing the user to withstand powerful strikes that would otherwise damage internal meridians. The Gang Qi provides a formidable protective barrier that can be projected externally. The art also purifies the body against toxins and poisons 34. Success in this technique essentially guarantees the practitioner's status as a future Abbot of Shaolin, and it is said that once mastered, one can "go anywhere in the world" without fear 30 34.
• Limitations: Extremely high cultivation requirements—only the best disciples can even attempt it, and even Li Su, with his talent, does not expect to reach such heights easily 30. The technique's cultivation is a slow, grinding process that demands immense patience; Buddhist martial arts prohibit impatience as it can cause "deviation and scattering of cultivation, or even death" 34. Furthermore, the art is exclusive to the Bodhidharma Institute's leadership, so Li Su could only access it through extraordinary circumstances. At his current stage, the technique is still nascent and far from full mastery.

Nine Yang Divine Skill and Dao Heart Demon-Planting Technique

Li Su later cultivated the Nine Yang Divine Skill together with the Dao Heart Demon-Planting Technique. Nine Yang strengthened his already formidable ultimate-yang foundation, while the Dao Heart Demon-Planting Technique altered his temperament and gave him increasingly profound perception of minds, life, and environmental change 106 118 125.

As the Dao Heart Demon-Planting Technique advanced, Li Su ceased to perceive air and living phenomena as intangible abstractions. He could observe oxygen and carbon-dioxide changes through plants and animals, sense fluctuations of life, and move toward producing tangible effects through spiritual power rather than merely influencing another person’s mind 125.

• Applications: Enhances perception, mental pressure, spiritual influence, and combat intuition. Its mature use can make even Song Que suffer losses, while its ultimate-yang nature lends Li Su an unusually dominating and emperor-like presence 106 125.
• Limitations: The demonic method affects its practitioner’s disposition. Li Su consciously suppresses its influence, recognizing that its nature can intensify extreme emotions and desire 118.

Sword Dao and the Immortal-Slaying Four Swords

Li Su’s Sword Dao became one of his most defining higher-level paths. In Mount Shu, he spent years nurturing the sword intent of the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords through unchanging daily practice until that intent was engraved into his bones and fused with his soul 225. His understanding was sufficient to heal Li Ruoxue’s damaged sword heart, improve her sword principles, and leave even the future Mount Shu Sword Patriarch astonished by the rate at which his sword intent evolved 228.

He later refined the Green Duckweed Sword and the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords, inherited the Supreme Purity Dao Fruit, and could deploy the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation. At higher realms, this formation could suppress or severely injure large groups of Taiyi cultivators in a single strike 208 810 951.

• Applications: Provides overwhelming killing power, sword-intent suppression, healing or reinforcement of another sword cultivator’s sword heart, and formation-based battlefield control. Li Su can also learn and imitate sword arts with abnormal speed, as demonstrated when he replicated Pei Feng’s Fire, Wind, and Thunder Swords in minutes 1205.
• Limitations: His early Mount Shu breakthrough was delayed because the nurtured sword intent had become too deeply integrated with his soul; his cultivation could not simply advance without resolving this accumulated foundation 225.

Dao Arts and Sage Orthodoxies

Li Su has cultivated several supreme Dao lineages, including the Greater Purity Yin-Yang Qi, the Interception Sect’s Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, the Supreme Purity Dao Fruit, and the Heaven-Severing Hand. The latter was bestowed through Zhao Tianming’s command talisman and carries the Interception Sect creed and the power of creation 456 810.

His Dao Arts include Black Light White Thunder, Vajra Dragon Realm, Buddha Kingdom, Taiyin, and later the Black Tortoise-derived water principles he studied from the Longevity Formula. He can decipher techniques from inscriptions and natural phenomena, although he recognizes that innate divine waters and other powers far above his present realm cannot be forcibly cultivated without overwhelming his mind 152 184.

• Applications: Supports broad-spectrum combat through thunder, Buddhist, yin, sword, formation, and elemental methods. His multiple Saint orthodoxies give him unusually vast reserves and permit him to combine otherwise incompatible high-level paths 456 810.
• Limitations: Li Su’s exceptional height in cultivation does not automatically grant equal breadth. He has acknowledged that higher divine-ability combat requires experience, matching techniques, and sufficiently broad foundations rather than raw realm alone 217.

Nether Script and Ghost Immortal Body

The fully awakened Nether Script transformed Li Su’s soul into a more complete living structure. Crimson-gold bones formed within his soul, followed by nerve-like structures that linked its “skin,” “flesh,” and bones. This greatly increased his sensitivity to Dao techniques, divine abilities, and extraordinary particles, while fundamentally changing his racial nature into a ghost immortal body 967.

• Applications: Gives Li Su a vastly more resilient soul, heightened sensitivity to supernatural phenomena, and exceptional compatibility with Underworld authority. In Fengdu, he could use black mud and the Six Paths of Reincarnation to grind down even late Taiyi dead souls 956 967.
• Limitations: Advancing through late Taiyi still requires the slow accumulation and comprehension of innumerable minor and Middle Daos. Li Su estimates that completing this stage would take more than a century even at his cultivation speed 967.

Heaven-and-Earth Dao Body, Suanni True Body, and Ancient Bell Scripture

Li Su’s Heaven-and-Earth Dao Body grants an immense sea of qi, exceptional toughness, rapid physical growth, and the capacity to fuse with elemental and other powers 1440 1448. He later perfected the Suanni Art, creating the Suanni True Body and raising his combined physical strength to more than 1.18 million jin 1556.

The Ancient Bell Scripture further cleanses and stabilizes his Dao law patterns, tempers flesh and spirit through chaos intent, and compensates for the lack of time that normally separates a technically proficient cultivator from one whose arts have been honed over decades 1779.

• Applications: Makes Li Su extraordinarily difficult to injure, supports immense physical output, strengthens his Dao law patterns against penetration, and allows his body cultivation and spell cultivation to advance together 1467 1494 1779.
• Limitations: Body cultivation demands tremendous energy and nourishment. Li Su’s use of earthly baleful qi and advanced body methods has produced an extreme appetite, and certain arts require painful internal tempering 1367 1598.

Witch Clan Battle Art

Li Su learned the Witch Clan’s Nine-Form Battle Method to the Witch King level in a year, then identified its secret as a unique frequency capable of triggering Heaven-Opening True Intent. He later spent nine years mastering the forms individually and achieved transcendental mastery in the third realm, directly grasping the Heaven-Opening Prototype 1802 1810.

• Applications: Provides an exceptionally direct body-combat path, the ability to produce the Heaven-Opening Prototype, and insight into the shackled gate leading toward Taiyi cultivation through the physical body 1810.
• Limitations: The method requires long-term, repeated tempering and cannot be mastered merely by imitating external forms. Li Su deliberately mastered each form separately before attempting fusion 1810.

Personality

Li Su's personality is defined by a pragmatic, survival-driven mindset that balances strategic calculation with a deep-seated fear of death. Having lived a prior life, he approaches the dangers of the World Fragment with a mature, analytical perspective, constantly reevaluating his priorities and actions to ensure he accumulates enough strength to survive. While deeply loyal to his master, Monk Tianming, and his fellow disciples, he is not reckless; he avoids unnecessary combat until he is prepared, and his every move is weighed against the risk of permanent death in the World Fragment. He is introspective, often reflecting on his progress and emotional state, but his overriding instinct for self-preservation can push him into extremes of focus and, when necessary, cold-blooded violence. Beneath his composed exterior, the act of killing has shaken him profoundly, revealing a conscience that struggles with the harsh necessities of his environment.

• Pragmatic and Goal-Oriented: Li Su constantly assesses the most efficient path to power. He prioritizes mastering the Arhat Divine Art and the Unnamed Technique not for glory, but as tools for self-preservation. When he learns of the Song-Xia war, his mindset shifts from passive waiting to actively striving for strength to avoid being easily killed 33. He also chooses to focus on internal energy over combat skills early on, reasoning that "facing invincible internal energy, what did it matter if the Dugu Nine Swords appeared?" 18.

• Cautious and Risk-Averse: He is acutely aware of the dangers in the World Fragment. He declines sparring matches until he has sufficient combat experience, telling Xuancheng "In a while" to avoid being exposed 18. He is terrified of death from cultivation deviation, so he pours his heart into chanting scriptures to cleanse his state of mind 47. When Ming Yulong approaches him, he tries to hide in the corner and remain unnoticed, cursing his bad luck at being singled out 38.

• Strategic and Analytical: Li Su uncovers Western Xia's true invasion plan—a feint to the east to attack in the west—demonstrating intelligence and strategic thinking far beyond his apparent age 41. During sparring, he constantly creates new moves to counter his opponent, showing combat intuition and adaptability 24. He also analyzes the battle with Li Hui after the fact, understanding that the intense pressure forced him into a life-or-death state that allowed a breakthrough 49.

• Resilient and Determined: Despite the intense pain caused by the Arhat Gong's qi circulation (described as like being pricked with needles continuously), he perseveres and seeks guidance from Monk Tianming rather than giving up 15. After his near-death battle and vomiting from the emotional toll of killing, he immediately settles into stillness to cultivate, driven by the imperative to "Become stronger, become stronger quickly" 46. He also understands the value of balancing work and rest, adjusting his training schedule to avoid burnout 17.

• Loyal and Protective: He risks his life to save Monk Tianming from Western Xia soldiers, using the Indestructible Diamond Divine Art to protect him, demonstrating deep respect and loyalty 44. He also guides his fellow disciple Xuandu toward a "high-HP" path, helping him find his strengths and defeat Xuanci 24.

• Prone to Remorse and Emotional Distress: After killing for the first time, Li Su is overwhelmed by nausea and distress, vomiting upon remembering the act. Monk Tianming has to comfort him, understanding his emotional state 46. This shows he is not a hardened killer by nature.

• Self-Aware and Introspective: He frequently reflects on his own motivations and progress. He acknowledges that his talent bonus makes "hell-level" difficulty feel simple 33. He also recognizes his own lack of combat experience and decides to increase it through sparring, showing humility about his limitations 25.

• Playful and Relatable: Despite his serious goals, he has moments of dry humor and relatability. He internally grumbles about Xuanci's stubbornness, calling him a "bastard" and a "scoundrel" 25. He also feels exasperated when his master glares at him 47.

• Responsible Rather Than Power-Hungry: Although he repeatedly acquires the standing to become a ruler, Li Su is wary of authority for its own sake. He sees strength as a responsibility toward his family, companions, and humanity, and frames himself as a pioneer who walks alongside others rather than a king who rules above them 123 138 429.

• Respectful Toward Others: Di Ni identifies Li Su as fundamentally different from ordinary Raiders because he treats fragment inhabitants as equals rather than resources. He respects Song Que, pities Zhu Yuyan, and does not look down on others even after becoming vastly stronger than them 140.

• Protective of His Own: Li Su’s fearsome “Tyrant” reputation applies chiefly to enemies. His retainers, friends, and fellow students regard him as dependable because he protects those close to him, and he actively seeks to give Wang Meng a path into Military University and the Indestructible Diamond Divine Art 151 184.

• Capable of Ruthlessness: Li Su distinguishes sharply between allies and enemies. When threatened, betrayed, or faced with cultivators determined to kill him, he can act decisively and lethally, including killing Li Qing after she openly demanded his death and destroying groups of stronger opponents who attempted to ambush him 672 1640.

• Able to Reflect on His Excesses: Even after growing powerful enough to defeat masses of Taiyi cultivators, Li Su can recognize when anger or a desire to draw enemies out has made him reckless. He consciously examines his actions and corrects his approach rather than blindly indulging his strength 887.

Relationships

Monk Tianming

Monk Tianming was Li Su’s Shaolin master and one of his earliest trusted protectors. Li Su deeply respects him, seeks his guidance during painful cultivation, and risks his life to save him during the Western Xia ambush 15 44. Their bond remains formative even after Li Su returns to secular life.

Xuanci, Xuandu, and the Shaolin Disciples

Xuanci is Li Su’s fellow Xuan-generation disciple and sparring partner, while Xuandu benefits from Li Su’s practical advice on developing a durable fighting style. Li Su’s interactions with them reveal both his willingness to guide comrades and his tendency to hide his more abnormal progress to avoid jealousy and suspicion 22 24 26.

Wang Meng and Lü Qian

Wang Meng is Li Su’s childhood friend and one of his closest companions. Li Su trusts him enough to invite him into Military University and pass on the Indestructible Diamond Divine Art, while Wang Meng is repeatedly willing to stand beside him against stronger opponents 145 151 152.

Lü Qian is Li Su’s senior sister and retainer. She waits to enter World Fragments alongside him, gains benefits from his advancement, and shares a close, affectionate bond with him. Her cultivation can transform toward mana as Li Su’s own Dao-based cultivation rises 184.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling

Li Su views Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling with genuine affection and intends to guide them through the struggle for the realm. His ambition to unify the Sacred Gate is partially driven by a desire to create conditions in which they can grow and succeed 123.

Song Que, Zhu Yuyan, Shi Zhixuan, and Shi Feixuan

Li Su earns Song Que’s respect through his rapid growth and repeated exchanges with the Heavenly Blade. He seeks to resolve the cultivation problems of Zhu Yuyan and Shi Zhixuan rather than merely defeat them, eventually gaining Shi Zhixuan’s assistance 123 125 135.

His connection with Shi Feixuan is more complicated: she recognizes the force of his ideals but is troubled by Mercy Voyage Sword Studio’s actions against him 123 138.

Li Ruoxue and the Mount Shu Disciples

Li Ruoxue, wielder of the Heaven-Striking Sword and future Sword Patriarch, becomes deeply interested in Li Su’s Sword Dao after he helps restore her sword heart. She arranges for him to avoid dangerous missions and recognizes the extraordinary growth of his sword intent and sword principles 228 232.

Li Su also becomes a stabilizing presence for Mount Shu’s younger disciples. A Bao, the Azure Spirit Sword-bearing junior sister, and other disciples seek his company and counsel, leading Li Su to wonder whether he possesses a “fast-acting calming pill” aura 225 230.

You

You becomes Li Su’s close companion in the ancient human world and chooses to remain beside him rather than pursue the fastest possible growth elsewhere. After experiencing the Xi Sovereign’s inheritance, she resolves to grow stronger and fight the Heavenly Gods alongside him 329 335.

Su Xue

Immortal Su Xue recognizes Li Su’s Innate Dao Body and accepts him as her final disciple despite his unusual background and many enemies. She provides him with the Azure Luan Art, cultivation resources, and a protected place to cultivate; Li Su, in turn, is concerned when an external cultivation art bewitches her 1530 1533 1555.

Di Gongrui, Black Calamity, and Xie Luoshang

Di Gongrui recognizes Li Su’s Sky Firmament Art and repeatedly encourages him to join the Azure Luan Sect. Although she sees through many of his circumstances, their relationship is characterized by caution and mutual recognition 1484 1492.

Black Calamity initially regards him as a demonic-path recruit, then becomes suspicious when his righteous-path foundation is revealed. Xie Luoshang, meanwhile, recognizes the unusual purity and multitude of Li Su’s Daos; their brief meeting ends without conflict 1484 1451.

Plot Involvement

Early Training and the Outbreak of War

Li Su’s involvement in the plot began during his early training at the Shaolin Temple. Under the guidance of Monk Tianming, he sparred with his fellow disciple Xuanci, revealing new aspects of his Cotton Palm technique and demonstrating his defensive prowess 26. Over the next two years, Li Su excelled in the Arhat Fist and Arhat Divine Art, rapidly advancing his cultivation 30. The peaceful rhythm of temple life was shattered when news arrived that Western Xia had declared war on the Song Dynasty, assembling an army of 100,000 and marching toward Yanan Prefecture 31. Li Su was stunned, as his knowledge of the Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils timeline suggested a period of peace, but this world diverged. He witnessed the deep-seated hatred of his peers—especially Xuancheng, whose family had been slaughtered by Western Xia soldiers—and felt the pressure of the martial world’s expectations. Despite his own misgivings, Li Su knelt with Xuanci before Monk Tianming, acknowledging the need to defend their country 31. Monk Tianming presented three scriptures to Xuancheng and his group as a test for joining the mission, and Li Su’s World Book reacted to them, hinting at their high value 32.

Uncovering the Western Xia Plan

The Shaolin group journeyed to Yanan Prefecture, the gathering place for martial artists. Along the way, Li Su gained a new understanding of the utility of qi, as Monk Tianming led them over two hundred li per day 36. In Yanan, they met Guan Tiannan, Chief of the Beggar Sect, and were challenged by the Liao martial artist Tong Zhan 36. Li Su’s strategic importance emerged during a meal with Ming Yulong and a group of second-rate experts, including Murong Bo. Murong Bo analyzed the Song-Xia war, concluding that an attack on Yanan Prefecture was unlikely due to Song defenses, and that the Western Xia First Rank Hall’s actions would reveal their true intentions 40. Li Su, however, quietly deduced that the real target was Jingzhao Prefecture (Chang’an)—a feint to the east to attack the west. He shared this analysis with his master, Monk Tianming, who immediately alerted Guan Tiannan and Zhong E, son of General Zhong Shiheng 41. This intelligence led to the splitting of forces: one group, led by Monk Tianming, headed to Weizhou to intercept the Western Xia advance, while another group broke away to notify Xianzhou’s prefectural government 42. Li Su’s quick thinking and analytical skills proved crucial in shaping the counter-strategy.

The Journey and the Ambush

As Monk Tianming’s group neared Weizhou after a forced march, they stopped at a checkpoint for rest. Li Su, physically exhausted but experiencing rapid progress in his Indestructible Diamond Divine Art, sensed something wrong. He realized the soldiers at the checkpoint were not Song Dynasty troops but Western Xia soldiers in disguise. Without hesitation, Li Su used the Supreme Yang Finger to kill one of the disguised soldiers, revealing the ambush 43 44. This sudden strike exposed the Western Xia trap. A First-Class expert, Tuoba Xiong from the First Rank Hall, engaged Monk Tianming in a fierce battle, while Li Su saved his master by killing six other soldiers 44. Ming Yulong, despite being poisoned, fought off two Western Xia soldiers using her Shangqing True Qi 44. The chaos escalated into a desperate fight as the Western Xia captain, Li Hui, emerged to confront Li Su.

The Desperate Battle with Li Hui

Li Su and Li Hui engaged in a prolonged, life-and-death duel that pushed both fighters to their limits. Li Hui demonstrated formidable skills and murderous intent, forcing Li Su to rely on the Indestructible Diamond Divine Art and his growing martial prowess 44. The battle showcased their equal skill and unwavering determination. Ultimately, both sustained fatal wounds; Li Su fell unconscious, while Li Hui was also killed 44. This intense combat accelerated Li Su’s cultivation significantly. After regaining consciousness in Weizhou five days later, he discovered a massive increase in his internal energy, thanks to the Great Restoration Pill he had consumed and the life-threatening pressure of the fight 47 49. The battle with Li Hui became a turning point, honing his combat instincts and pushing his Indestructible Diamond Divine Art to new heights.

Aftermath and the Siege of Weizhou

Li Su awoke to disastrous news: the Song army’s plan to encircle and annihilate Western Xia had failed due to the incompetence of commanding officer Ge Huaimin, resulting in near-annihilation of Song troops. The martial artists in Weizhou lost faith in the Song army, and the Western Xia forces—led by Tuoba Xiong, Poison Wolf, and an unidentified First-Class expert—planned to lay siege to the city 48. Li Su felt disheartened by the Song Dynasty’s military leadership but resolved to defend Weizhou. He resumed cultivation, rapidly approaching the ten-year internal energy mark 49. The Western Xia Army arrived at Weizhou, and the atmosphere became tense. Commander Meizang Shici planned a multi-pronged attack, while Song commander Wang Yan suspected the involvement of the First Rank Hall 50. Li Su, now a Song officer, felt terror at the Western Xia’s reputation but remained determined. He and Xuanci continued their training, while other martial artists like Wang Jiantong and Xu Jing intensified their sparring 49 50. The stage was set for the siege of Weizhou, with Li Su’s growth and the fate of the city hanging in the balance.

First Tower and the Unification of the Sacred Gate

In a later Sui-Tang fragment, Li Su became First Tower’s master and openly entered the struggle for the realm. He announced that he would unify the Sacred Gate within one year, challenging the Yin Empress and Evil King to meet him in Luoyang. Rather than solely threatening them, he offered to resolve their cultivation defects if they accepted his challenge 123.

His declaration forced the martial world to reassess First Tower. Li Su’s aim was not merely expansion: he wanted to shoulder responsibility for the people and support Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling. His proposed political ideal—acting as a pioneer who walks with people rather than a king above them—moved Shi Feixuan, Shi Zhixuan, Zhu Yuyan, and Song Que 123 138.

Li Su later fought Song Que atop Song Family Mountain City. The battle ended without a decisive victor, but Song Que acknowledged that Li Su’s Dao Heart Demon-Planting Technique and overall strength had risen dramatically in little more than a year 125. Li Su also mastered the Narcissus Blade Art in one month, while Shi Zhixuan chose to assist him and Di Ni’s continued existence was revealed to the northern powers 135.

Military University and the Zero Fragment

Upon returning to World Island, Li Su’s transformed body and appearance initially caused even Wang Meng to struggle to recognize him. Yang Kai attempted to send him into a Zero Fragment to get him killed, motivated by jealousy and greed, but Li Su survived and easily defeated Yang Kai and a group of Commercial University students seeking the fragment 145.

At Military University, Li Su’s reputation grew after he defeated more than fifty Level One students during an orientation event. The News Department began calling him “the Tyrant,” while returning senior students, including Zhang Shengying and Ying Zhan, became interested in the freshman who had disrupted the campus balance 151. When Qian Fei provoked him, Li Su’s Dao Heart Demon-Planting Technique overwhelmed the older student with killing intent. Zhang Shengying intervened with the Bright Jade Art and persuaded Li Su not to kill him, beginning a relationship of mutual respect 152.

Mount Shu and the Lotus Lantern World

In the Lotus Lantern world, Li Su lived for years as a Mount Shu menial disciple known as A-Su. As his fellow fourth-generation disciples either advanced, left the mountain, or returned home, he became the final remaining member of his generation on the servants’ peak. His daily cultivation of the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords forged sword intent into his soul and prevented an ordinary breakthrough from proceeding 225.

Li Su’s writings, known as A-Su’s Cultivation Insights, spread throughout Mount Shu and later to Kunlun. His influence strengthened the righteous path, while his sword intent and the accomplishments of Mount Shu’s younger generation reshaped the world’s balance with the demonic path 230 243. He aided Li Ruoxue’s sword-heart recovery and became an increasingly important yet enigmatic figure within the sect 228 232.

The Three Sovereigns and the Human Inheritance

In an ancient human world oppressed by Heavenly Gods, Li Su became central to humanity’s resistance. He acquired the Sui Sovereign’s Sacred Flame and began developing the inheritance of the Xi Sovereign, whose power relates to the Eight Trigrams, writing, history, time, and humanity’s collective will 335.

Li Su formed a sphere of seven-colored inheritance light containing the will and faith of the human race. He intended to connect it to the Kindling Flame and grant its blessings to people who acknowledged themselves as inheritors of the Three Sovereigns. As the Flame of Inheritance expanded to a million people, Li Su granted authority for the first Human Race Flame of Inheritance Assembly to be convened 335.

Interception Sect, Fengdu, and the Heavenly Court

Li Su inherited Interception Sect legacies, including the Heaven-Severing Hand, and eventually became an acknowledged Dao Child. His Fifteen-Fire Golden Core, Seven Sages lineage, and immense reserves made him a major figure among the great sects 456 494.

After advancing to the Great Perfection of the Celestial Immortal realm, he confronted enemies at Mount Luojia and displayed phenomena so extreme that other cultivators questioned their own paths 598. He later fought through Fengdu City, opposed the Black Mountain Sect’s effort to contaminate the city, and used the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation to defeat ninety Taiyi cultivators in one strike 914 951 954.

Li Su’s Underworld campaign culminated in the complete awakening of the Nether Script and the evolution of his ghost immortal body. He subsequently approved preparations for an Interception Sect invasion and fortified base in the Heavenly Court, while becoming suspicious that the Book of Life and Death had deliberately permitted dead souls to accumulate power 967.

Journey to the West and the Seven Sages

In the Journey to the West world, Li Su recognized that the familiar plot was shifting. He observed historical events that did not align cleanly with his knowledge, including the appearance of Qin Shubao and Cheng Yaojin in a battle involving Liu Heita and Li Tang 628.

He cultivated the Shangqing Sect’s three core methods—the Supreme Purity Scripture, Supreme Purity Great Cavern True Scripture, and Yellow Court Scripture—simultaneously. He later reached the Dao Attainment Realm, gained elemental transformation abilities, and began seeking practical experience before the main pilgrimage plot unfolded 632 637.

Li Su’s later actions in this world included confronting the Heavenly Court, fighting Wang Lingguan for a week, and using the battle to improve his Earthly Fiend arts and achieve an indestructible body. The old Dragon King of the East Sea then manipulated events so that the Great Purity Moral Celestial Worthy’s empty shell struck Li Su with the Diamond Bracelet 987. Despite repeated plot deviations and powerful enemies, Li Su eventually confirmed his role as a successor of the Seven Sages by manifesting five Saint Supremes at once 1172.

Nine Provinces, Azure Luan Sect, and Primordial Spirit Emergence

In the Nine Provinces Continent, Li Su initially concealed himself as Li Hao and pursued body cultivation. He awakened the Heaven-and-Earth Dao Body, cultivated the Sky Firmament Art, and reached late Foundation Establishment with physical strength far beyond ordinary cultivators 1440 1474.

After the Heavenly Moon Grotto events, Di Gongrui directed him toward the Azure Luan Sect. Li Su passed the sect’s Dao Heart and cultivation examinations with abnormal speed, cultivated the Lesser Circulation Sutra in three days, and was recognized by Immortal Su Xue as possessing an Innate Dao Body. Su Xue accepted him as her final disciple despite his past affiliation with the Heavenly Corpse Sect 1526 1529 1530.

With Su Xue’s resources, Li Su completed the Azure Luan Art’s Foundation Establishment diagrams, opened 216 major acupoints, and began cultivating Golden Core mental acupoints. He also perfected the Suanni Art and developed the Suanni True Body 1535 1556. During escalating conflicts with peerless experts, his primordial spirit emerged, healed his injuries, and enabled him to slaughter numerous supreme opponents 1640.

Ancient Bell Scripture and the Witch Clan Legacy

After Yi Wuxin’s sudden death, Li Su obtained an incomplete Ancient Bell Scripture and four pieces of the Bright Lamp Art. He was then severely wounded by an unknown pursuer wielding one of Huaxia’s Ten Great Divine Swords and fled into the dense fog beyond Jiuzhou 1777.

Li Su discovered that the scripture fragment could regenerate and completed the Ancient Bell Scripture. The technique cleansed his flesh, spirit, and Dao law patterns with chaos intent, strengthened his defenses, and helped address the weakness caused by his comparatively short cultivation time 1779.

He later entered a Witch Clan trial, mastered the Battle Art to the Witch King level in one year, and manifested the Heaven-Opening Prototype. After nine additional years of focused practice, he reached transcendental mastery in the Nine-Form Battle Method’s third realm and found the shackled physical gate that could lead directly toward Taiyi cultivation 1802 1810.

• Significant Interactions
  • Li Su spars with Xuanci, showcasing his defensive adaptability 26.
  • Li Su observes Murong Bo’s analysis and forms his own deduction about Western Xia’s true target 40.
  • Li Su reveals his findings to Monk Tianming, who then alerts Guan Tiannan and Zhong E 41.
  • Li Su interacts with Xuancheng and other Shaolin peers, witnessing their hatred for Western Xia 31.
  • Li Su’s sudden strike kills a disguised Western Xia soldier, triggering the ambush 44.
  • Li Su saves Monk Tianming from soldiers, demonstrating loyalty 44.
  • Li Su battles Li Hui to mutual death, leading to a significant increase in his internal energy 44 47.
  • Li Su discusses the dire situation with Xuanci after the Song defeat 48.
  • Li Su reflects on his progress and continues cultivation with Xuanci as the siege approaches 49.
  • Ming Yulong waits for Li Su on the roof, though they do not interact directly 49.
  • Li Su challenges the Yin Empress and Evil King while offering to resolve their cultivation problems 123.
  • Li Su fights Song Que atop Song Family Mountain City, earning the Heavenly Blade’s recognition of his growth 125.
  • Li Su defeats Yang Kai and protects Wang Meng during the Zero Fragment incident 145.
  • Zhang Shengying restrains Li Su during his confrontation with Qian Fei, after which both form a favorable impression of the other 152.
  • Li Su aids Li Ruoxue’s Sword Dao recovery and becomes an important figure among Mount Shu’s younger generation 228 232.
  • Li Su shares the Xi Sovereign’s inheritance with You, strengthening her resolve to oppose the Heavenly Gods 335.
  • Li Su defeats ninety Black Mountain Sect Taiyi cultivators with the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation 951 954.
  • Su Xue recognizes Li Su’s Innate Dao Body and accepts him as her final disciple 1530.
  • Li Su confronts and defeats multiple Dao Mastery and Golden Core cultivators who attempt to kill him 672 1568.
  • Li Su acquires the Ancient Bell Scripture after Yi Wuxin’s death and survives a devastating attack by an unknown sword wielder 1777 1779.