Li Su

Biodata

Feature	Detail
Name	Li Su (Dharma name: Xuankong)
Alias	White-Clad Buddhist
Species	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Songshan Shaolin Temple (formerly); later returned to secular life 38
Status	Alive (returned to secular life) 38 47
First Appearance	Chapter 1: Rebirth? Or Transmigration?

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 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.

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.

Power Progression

Stage / Technique	Achievement	Chapter
Arhat Fist – Circulation Realm	Qi traverses the Six Meridians (Twelve Standard Meridians); internal energy circulates autonomously and grows without active cultivation; body strengthened to shatter foot-thick bluestone; marrow-cleansing and tendon-changing process initiated.	10 11 12
Arhat Gong (Arhat Divine Art) – Learned	Received visualization transmission of the Arhat; began refining qi, condensing it into a more solid and domineering form; started forging the Arhat Golden Body; practice requires highly nourishing medicine or meat substitute.	13 14 16
Arhat Golden Body – Minor Accomplishment	Arhat True Qi can repel external elements like snowflakes; meridians become incredibly sturdy, reducing damage from energy strikes; foundation laid for learning advanced techniques like Formless Calamity Finger with greater ease.	18 22
Formless Calamity Finger – Mastered Five Layers of Force	Mastered all five distinct layers of true qi (Forward Spiral, etc.) but struggled to fuse them into one; recognized as one of the most formidable finger techniques; cultivation requires immense focus and control.	20 21
Arhat True Qi – Great Completion (Main Meridians)	Main channels fully permeated with Arhat True Qi; secondary paths improved but not yet perfected; cultivation nearing the end of the current Arhat Divine Art stage; daily practice now two to three repetitions of Arhat Fist suffice.	30

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.

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.

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.

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.

• 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.