Sun Qing

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Sun Qing (孙青)
Alias(es)	Gang Leader Sun; Big Brother Sun
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Qinghe Gang — Gang Leader
Occupation/Role	Controller of Shuiyang Prefecture's water-transport lifeline; organizer of the Heaven's Pride Martial Tournament
Cultivation	Half-step Innate Realm
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 165

Background / History

Sun Qing rose from humble origins to become the leader of the Qinghe Gang, an organization with three halls and twelve branches. Under his leadership, the gang controls Shuiyang Prefecture's water transport and holds enough influence to stand above the prefecture's five yamen in practical status. His half-step Innate Realm strength serves as a deterrent against disruptive martial forces in the region. 153 173

Before meeting Li Chengfeng and Zhao Lie, Sun Qing learned of their rapid rise through the Qinghe Gang's connections. He judged that their involvement with the Third Prince's faction could become both a danger and an opportunity, and prepared the Heaven's Pride Banquet with the intent of using the coming upheaval to benefit the gang. 165 166

Sun Qing received Li Chengfeng and Zhao Lie with exceptional courtesy, giving them the Qinghe Gang's last two cups of Soothing Qi Tea—an aid to entering the Innate Realm. He then revealed the political struggle surrounding the imperial succession and offered to become their sworn brother, promising to face future dangers alongside them. 169 171

After they accepted, Sun Qing made Li Chengfeng and Zhao Lie honored elder advisors of the Qinghe Gang, granting them authority equal to his own and ordering gang members to assist them. He later supported Zheng Pandao's business expansion and cultivation, bringing the four men into a shared brotherhood. 171 172

During the Heaven's Pride Martial Tournament, Sun Qing hosted the Southern Six Sects' participation, handled the attempted assassination of Li Chengfeng by Fang Yun through negotiation rather than escalation, and helped shield his sworn brothers from the consequences of offending the Southern Heaven Sword Sect. 174 180 182 183

Following the tournament, Sun Qing became a principal guide in Li Chengfeng, Zhao Lie, and Zheng Pandao's soul cultivation. He accepted Li Chengfeng's Mountain Visualization Diagram, explained the nature of visualization methods, and helped Li recover from his tournament injuries with primordial qi. 206 207 210

Appearance

Sun Qing is a sturdy, agile middle-aged man with a full beard. His stern, imposing features and the bearing of a powerful martial artist give him an immediate air of authority. 166

• Full beard framing his face. 166
• Stern and imposing facial features. 166
• Carries the pressure and presence of a half-step Innate Realm expert. 169 173

Personality

Sun Qing is ambitious, calculating, and politically perceptive. He sees martial talent as an asset in the struggle between powerful factions, and his overtures toward Li Chengfeng and Zhao Lie are motivated both by sincere recognition of their potential and by his desire to secure the Qinghe Gang's future. 166 170 175

Despite this pragmatism, he values brotherhood and reciprocity. He does not accept Li Chengfeng's visualization diagram lightly, believing that an unequal exchange must be repaid, and he repeatedly offers cultivation guidance, resources, and personal protection to his sworn brothers. 171 172 207

Sun Qing remains conscious of the ceiling imposed by his background and realm. The presence of an Innate Realm elder leaves him questioning when a poor-born martial artist such as himself might truly cross into the Innate Realm. 179

Abilities & Skills

Half-step Innate Realm Cultivation

Sun Qing is a half-step Innate Realm martial artist, placing him above perfected Spirit Aperture Realm cultivators but short of a true Innate Realm breakthrough. 171 172

• His soul is condensed, his innate qi refined, and he has glimpsed the Heaven and Earth Apertures required for an Innate Realm breakthrough. 201
• His strength and status help maintain order in Shuiyang Prefecture, deterring even major forces from acting without restraint. 173
• He considers his combat ability sufficient to deal with “ordinary riffraff,” though he remains wary of true Innate Realm experts and powerful sects. 171 179

Divine Wood Visualization Diagram

Sun Qing possesses and cultivates a Divine Wood Visualization Diagram, a soul-cultivation method he considers superior to the Mountain Visualization Diagram. 206 208

• It strengthens the soul's recovery and resilience. 206
• It makes grievous soul injuries more difficult to inflict and enables faster recovery from spiritual damage. 206
• His advanced soul cultivation lets him receive visualization inheritances without the strict conditions required by inexperienced practitioners. 208

Primordial Qi Healing

Sun Qing can direct primordial qi of heaven and earth into another person's body to cleanse injuries, fatigue, and lingering damage. 207

• Restored Li Chengfeng to peak condition after his tournament injuries. 207
• Can use his cultivation to examine, advise, and support lower-realm martial artists. 172 210

Cultivation Instruction

Sun Qing is the most knowledgeable soul-cultivation authority among Li Chengfeng's circle. 206

• Explains the proper conditions for receiving a visualization-diagram inheritance. 206 208
• Teaches that visualization objects have distinct effects and that accumulating them strengthens soul power. 206
• Connects the development of essence, qi, and spirit, proposing that a powerful soul can nourish the body and true qi in return. 210
• Offers to personally spar with Li Chengfeng and Zhao Lie to temper their martial techniques after the Heaven's Pride Tournament. 172

Strategy and Leadership

As Qinghe Gang leader, Sun Qing directs large-scale business, security, and political operations across Shuiyang Prefecture. 166 173

• Prepared and hosted the Heaven's Pride Banquet and its martial competition. 166 174
• Guided Li Chengfeng and Zhao Lie to seek fourth-rank imperial offices rather than immediate wealth, judging official status essential to their survival in the succession struggle. 171
• Planned a Qinghe Gang branch near Green Mountain City to develop the Treasure Fish trade and prepare for the Third Prince's forces. 205
• Worked with Jian Wuchen to pressure the Lin Residence in court and through direct negotiations. 239

Items

• Soothing Qi Tea — Rare tea that regulates body and mind, nourishes innate essence qi, and aids entry into the Innate Realm; Sun Qing gave the Qinghe Gang's last two cups to Li Chengfeng and Zhao Lie. 169
• Essence-Condensing Pills — Aperture-Condensing Realm cultivation pills given to Li Chengfeng before his confrontation with Jian Wuchen. 176
• Divine Wood Visualization Diagram — Sun Qing's personal soul-cultivation inheritance. 206 208

Relationships

• Li Chengfeng — Sworn younger brother, honored elder advisor of the Qinghe Gang, and the talent Sun Qing most actively supports through political advice, resources, and soul-cultivation guidance. 171 172 207
• Zhao Lie — Sworn younger brother and honored elder advisor; Sun Qing supports his advancement and helps him pursue the path toward the Innate Realm. 171 200
• Zheng Pandao — Sworn brother whom Sun Qing aids by expanding his business and offering cultivation pointers. 172
• Wei Wu — Hall Master of the Qinghe Gang's Evil-Seeking Hall and a subordinate who advises Sun Qing to be cautious around Li Chengfeng and Zhao Lie. 166 169
• Chen Guangwu — Qinghe Gang branch leader whose connection to Zheng Pandao helped bring Li Chengfeng and Zhao Lie to Sun Qing's attention. 153 166
• Qian Anguo — Shuiyang Prefecture Martial Yamen commandant who cooperates with Sun Qing during the Heaven's Pride Tournament and the Southern Heaven Sword Sect incident. 180 182
• Jian Wuchen — Initially tied to the sect challenge threatening Sun Qing's plans; later works with Sun Qing as an ally against the Lin Residence. 175 239
• Qiu Jianfeng — Innate Realm elder of the Southern Heaven Sword Sect whose overwhelming status forces Sun Qing to proceed with caution. 174 179 182

Story Role / Major Arcs

Recruitment of the Twin Prodigies

Sun Qing identifies Li Chengfeng and Zhao Lie as valuable allies amid the Third Prince's political maneuvering. He uses hospitality, political disclosure, and the promise of sworn brotherhood to bind them to the Qinghe Gang. 169 170 171

Heaven's Pride Tournament

Sun Qing organizes the Qinghe Gang's Heaven's Pride Banquet, accepts the Southern Six Sects' participation, and works to turn the tournament into a source of fame and influence for Shuiyang Prefecture. 166 172 174

When Fang Yun attempts to assassinate Li Chengfeng, Sun Qing escorts the captive disciple to the Southern Heaven Sword Sect and presses for an explanation while avoiding an open clash with Qiu Jianfeng. 180 181 182

Brotherhood and Soul Cultivation

After Li Chengfeng's tournament success, Sun Qing helps turn the brothers' shared gains into long-term cultivation progress. He explains visualization methods, accepts the Mountain Visualization Diagram, heals Li Chengfeng, and guides the group in refining their soul power. 205 206 207 210

Preparation for Political Conflict

Sun Qing treats the Qinghe Gang's expansion, Treasure Fish trade, and alliances as preparations for the coming struggle around the Third Prince. He later joins Jian Wuchen in planning to weaken the Lin Residence through legal and direct pressure. 205 216 239

Notable Quotes

“If you two become sworn brothers with me, then should any danger arise in the future, I, Sun Qing, will naturally bear it alongside you.” 171

“At that point, you can make only one demand: join the imperial court and become officials of the court, asking for not a single coin more!” 171

“When will a poor-born man like me ever rise to prominence? How does one cross that step into the Innate Realm?” 179

Trivia

• Sun Qing's half-step Innate Realm status is based on his refined innate qi, condensed soul, and perception of the Heaven and Earth Apertures. 201
• He needed more than half a year of visualization cultivation before he could crudely command external spiritual forces, making Li Chengfeng's immediate soul-cultivation success particularly shocking to him. 209
• Sun Qing personally wrote Li Chengfeng's name first on the Heavenly Prodigy Ranking, making it visibly larger than Jian Wuchen's. 201