National Preceptor

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	National Preceptor (国师)
Alias(es)	Yankang Imperial Preceptor; State Preceptor; “First Man Beneath the Gods”; Sage of Yankang 23 105
Gender	Male 37
Affiliation	Yankang Kingdom; Yankang Imperial Academy 23 37
Occupation/Role	National Preceptor, reformer, sword instructor, and founder of the Imperial Academy 23 107
Status	Active 109
First Appearance	Mentioned in Chapter 7; introduced in Chapter 23 7 23

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Divine Bridge Realm	105–106	A peak Divine Bridge cultivator whose realm had stagnated for ten years; Pharmacist’s grass root heals his hidden injuries and loosens the bottleneck. 105 106
Divine Bridge manifestation	107	Achieves enlightenment after Village Chief explains that the Great Dao lies within the body, manifesting a Divine Bridge that ends at a chaotic abyss. 107
Mortal path / Art of Humanity	107–109	Severs his Divine Bridge and abandons the path to godhood. His six Divine Treasuries consolidate into internal vital-blood force, allowing him to wield the Art of Humanity without borrowing heavenly power. 107 108 109

Background / History

When Yankang’s major sects and sacred lands monopolized cultivation arts, ordinary people were treated as laborers and denied access to divine abilities. The National Preceptor emerged as Emperor Yanfeng’s closest reform ally; together, they made cultivation methods public and suppressed sectarian resistance through force. 23 70

His reform philosophy holds that “the common people’s daily use is the Dao.” The principle was inspired by the Heavenly Demon Sect’s doctrine, though his application of it reshaped Yankang’s institutions through the Imperial Academy. 24 37

Before his visit to Crippled Old Village, he was regarded as Yankang’s stabilizing pillar, the world’s finest swordsman, and the foremost person beneath the gods. Despite this reputation, he recognized that the village elders possessed deeper attainments in their individual Daos and entered the village as a humble seeker. 23 105

Appearance

The National Preceptor is a thin, refined middle-aged scholar with slightly graying temples. He presents himself more like an academic than a martial authority, even when confronting enemies capable of threatening Yankang. 37 109

• Usually wears green, azure, or faded blue scholar’s robes. 37 77 108
• Carries a scroll while lecturing and may appear without a sword at his waist. 37
• After leaving Crippled Old Village, he returns to court in washed-out green commoner’s clothing marked by mud from the Great Ruins. 109

Personality

The National Preceptor is dedicated to reform, believing cultivation should serve the people rather than remain the privilege of sects, aristocrats, or gods. He is willing to use overwhelming force against those who attempt to preserve systems that deny commoners a path forward. 23 108 109

Despite his authority, he is notably receptive to knowledge from others. He heals and instructs Chen Xin after an assassination attempt, respectfully learns from Blind Man and Pharmacist, and kneels before Village Chief to seek an answer to the true Dao. 39 105 106

His experience in Crippled Old Village transforms his outlook. He abandons the protection of the Divine Bridge and chooses a mortal path grounded in self-cultivation, determined to see the world “with human eyes” rather than through the perspective of gods. 107 108

Abilities & Skills

Sword Dao

The National Preceptor is acknowledged as Yankang’s greatest swordsman and teaches swordsmanship through fundamental movements, calculation, and an understanding of natural principles. 23 24 37

• Teaches that thrusting, chopping, lifting, and hooking are the foundations of swordsmanship. 37
• Integrates Arithmetic into swordplay, calculating an opponent’s weaknesses, wind, light, shadows, and vital energy. 37
• His instruction humbles Chen Xin and enables him to break through to Rank 97. 39
• Uses sword intent to counter Yu Jun’s icy power and protect the Life Goddess, though the effort leaves him severely injured. 82
• His sword force is described as condensed divine soul and will released as physical cutting power rather than borrowed law or divine power. 81

Dao, Arithmetic, and Formations

He possesses profound command of principles, formations, and the interactions of natural energies. 104 105

• Uses an array diagram to effortlessly dissipate the Three-Headed Suanni’s fire attack. 104
• Disperses a combined wind, fire, and lightning attack with a single command, reducing it to an ordinary breeze. 105
• Can analyze cultivation systems and identify external divine cores as crude, parasitic sources of power rather than true self-cultivation. 106

Art of Humanity

After severing his Divine Bridge, the National Preceptor develops a power founded on his own body, soul, and vital blood. 108 109

• His vital energy returns to his six Divine Treasuries, further solidifying his Spirit Fetus. 108
• Rejects divine protection and refuses to borrow heavenly might or rely on gods. 108
• Uses condensed flesh-strength and martial will to break the combined killing arts of four sect masters. 108 109
• Neutralizes Poison Granny’s miasma and destroys Zen Master Kongming’s eighteen vajras with a finger-drawn line. 109
• Kills Pure Yangzi, Zen Master Kongming, Sword Master Feiyun, and Poison Granny with a single plain punch after dismantling their formation. 109

Cultivation Instruction

He is an accomplished teacher capable of guiding others through dangerous transitions between cultivation systems. 39 41

• Explains the principles of Yankang swordsmanship to Chen Xin and treats him as a fellow Daoist. 39
• Helps Chen Xin destroy his martial soul and soul rings, then assists his awakening of the Spirit Fetus Divine Treasury. 41
• Invites Chen Xin to join Yankang, study mathematics, and learn Yankang sword techniques. 40

Equipment / Items

• Sword — Drawn when confronting Yu Jun; also channels his sword intent through finger techniques. 81 82
• Scroll — Carried during his Imperial Academy lecture on the sword. 37
• Medicinal powder — Given by Pharmacist to clear his mind when reform efforts become obstructed. 108
• Waterskin — A parting gift from Qin Mu containing well water from the Great Ruins. 108

Relationships

• Emperor Yanfeng — Political partner and close ally in Yankang’s reforms; together they oppose sectarian monopolies and support the Imperial Academy. 23 40 109
• Chen Xin — Former assassin turned fellow Daoist and student. The National Preceptor heals, enlightens, and guides him into Yankang’s Divine Treasury system. 39 41
• Village Chief — Revered Dao teacher. The National Preceptor kneels before him to seek the true Dao and accepts his guidance toward internal cultivation. 106 108
• Blind Man — A senior whose Painting Dao inspires the National Preceptor; he respectfully acknowledges Blind Man’s superior understanding of principle. 105
• Pharmacist — A senior whose poison and Creation Dao humble the National Preceptor. Pharmacist’s grass root saves him from deadly poison and heals his hidden injuries. 105 106
• Butcher — A senior whose direct blade philosophy influences the National Preceptor’s response to enemies of reform. 108
• Qin Mu — A promising youth whom the National Preceptor praises for carrying Village Chief’s sword spirit; he invites Qin Mu to study at the Imperial Academy. 105 108
• Ling Yuxiu — Yankang princess and recipient of his cultivation guidance; she warns him of the danger awaiting his return from Crippled Old Village. 105 108
• Life Goddess — Temporary ally against Yu Jun. The National Preceptor intervenes to save her, while she spends her remaining power to support his injured body. 82
• Pure Yangzi, Zen Master Kongming, Sword Master Feiyun, and Poison Granny — Sect masters who ambush him to stop public cultivation education; he kills all four. 108 109

Story Role / Major Arcs

Yankang Reform

As Emperor Yanfeng’s principal ally, the National Preceptor dismantles the sects’ monopoly over cultivation and establishes the Imperial Academy to give commoners access to cultivation methods. 23 70

Chen Xin’s Enlightenment

Chen Xin initially attacks him, but the National Preceptor spares him, disperses his strongest strike, and guides him toward a breakthrough. He later assists Chen Xin in abandoning the martial-soul system and awakening a Spirit Fetus. 39 41

Defiance of Yu Jun

When Yu Jun brings a divine calamity upon Yankang, the National Preceptor confronts him as a mortal, declaring that Yankang will defy any Heavenly Dao that refuses to let its people live. He is badly wounded before Village Chief’s distant sword qi forces Yu Jun to flee. 82

Crippled Old Village Pilgrimage

After witnessing Blind Man’s Painting Dao and Pharmacist’s mastery over life and death, he enters Crippled Old Village to learn. Village Chief’s teachings reveal the limitations of external godhood and lead him to seek the Dao within himself. 105 106

The Broken Divine Bridge

The National Preceptor manifests a Divine Bridge only to find its route to godhood blocked by a chaotic abyss. Rather than despair, he severs the bridge and chooses to forge a new path through mortal self-cultivation. 107 108

Ambush and Return to Court

Four sect masters ambush him at Yankang’s border, believing his severed Divine Bridge has crippled him. He destroys their combined attacks and kills them, then returns to the Golden Luan Hall to silence officials demanding the dissolution of the Imperial Academy. 108 109

Notable Quotes

“If the Heavenly Dao will not let the people live, then Yankang will defy this Heavenly Dao.” 82

“Now that the bridge is broken, this junior’s feet have finally stepped onto solid earth.” 108

“But who told you that mortals should grovel before those clay-and-wood gods, wagging their tails like dogs?” 109