Xu Tianran

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xu Tianran (徐天然)
Alias(es)	First Prince; Crown Prince; Deposed Crown Prince
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Sun and Moon Empire imperial family; allied with the Holy Spirit Church
Occupation/Role	Former Crown Prince; political strategist and patron of Xu Tianxuan's throne bid
Status	Alive; physically disabled and deposed from the Crown Prince position
First Appearance	Chapter 8 (mentioned); Chapter 17 (direct appearance)

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Soul Sage / Seven Rings	48	Activates Martial Soul Possession and reveals seven Soul Rings during the ambush.
Soul Sage with Soul Douluo-level combat power	44, 48	His Purple Emperor Annihilation Heavenly Dragon Martial Soul allows him to contend with a Soul Douluo despite being above rank 70.
Seventh-level Soul Tool user	17	Uses a seventh-level Flying Soul Tool while in his early twenties.

Background / History

Xu Tianran was the First Prince of the Sun and Moon Empire and regarded himself as the imperial family's greatest talent in millennia. He cultivated diligently, handled political affairs, recruited supporters, and built influence while pursuing the throne. His stated ambition was to strengthen the empire, conquer the Douluo Three Kingdoms, and rename the continent the Sun and Moon Continent. 36 80

Emperor Xu Jing named Xu Tianran Crown Prince after three years had passed. Ministers aligned themselves with the new heir, while his brothers Xu Tianyu and Xu Tianshi offered insincere congratulations and concealed their resentment. Xu Tianran promised wealth and authority to his supporters upon his eventual ascension. 35 36

Xu Tianyu organized an ambush against him outside Mingdu with five Soul Douluo-level assassins, including Wang Yan, Song Zhan, Song Peng, Zhao Yuhang, and Li Fei. Xu Tianran survived two Level Eight Fixed Soul Cannon Shells only by activating his Ninth Level defensive Soul Tool, but the blast destroyed both his legs and left him unable to father children. 47 48 50

His guards and companions abandoned him during the attack, but the maid Ju Zi remained behind and used an Invincible Shield to protect him from a subsequent strike. Xu Tianyuan's arrival drove the assassins away and secured Xu Tianran's rescue. 51 52

Rumors of his impotence spread through Mingdu, causing officials and nobles to desert his residence. Xu Jing ordered an examination, then stripped Xu Tianran of the Crown Prince position; his inability to produce an heir made any claim to the throne untenable. 53 56 58

After his deposition, Xu Tianran sought an alliance with the Holy Spirit Church. He proposed elevating the weak Ninth Prince, Xu Tianxuan, as a puppet emperor, intending to govern as the real power behind the throne. To secure the Church's assistance, he offered political cover, imperial intelligence, and even half of the Sun and Moon Empire's territory. 66 79 80

Appearance

After the assassination attempt, Xu Tianran is confined to a wheelchair, having lost both legs and his fertility in the explosion. 50 66

• Uses a wheelchair following the destruction of his legs. 54 66
• Possesses the Purple Emperor Annihilation Heavenly Dragon Martial Soul, manifested as a purple dragon. 48
• Previously carried himself with the confidence and bearing of a crown prince. 36 48

Personality

Xu Tianran is intensely ambitious, proud, and vengeful. Even after losing his succession rights, he refuses to accept political irrelevance and remains determined to reclaim effective control over the empire. He intends to retaliate against Xu Tianyu and Xu Tianshi for threatening his position and believes power should be secured through planning, force, and ruthless elimination of rivals. 53 58 81

He is pragmatic when weakened. Although Zhongli Wu humiliates him and treats him as subordinate, Xu Tianran suppresses his anger to preserve the Holy Spirit Church alliance. He views the ability to “bend and stretch” as necessary for survival and future revenge. 66 80

His experience in the assassination changes his view of loyalty. The flight of his guards, maids, and Female Soul Sage leaves him distrustful and paranoid, while Ju Zi's sacrifice earns his gratitude and temporary confidence. 52 53 54

Abilities & Skills

Purple Emperor Annihilation Heavenly Dragon Martial Soul

A top-tier dragon Martial Soul that grants Xu Tianran unusually high combat power for his cultivation level. 44 48

• Allows him to fight across ranks against Soul Douluo-level opponents. 44
• Manifested alongside seven Soul Rings during the assassination attempt. 48
• Provides a purple dragon manifestation during Martial Soul Possession. 48

Political Strategy

Xu Tianran is an experienced imperial political operator who previously defeated his brothers in the contest for the Crown Prince position. 80

• Recruits ministers and promises future rewards to secure their loyalty. 36
• Identifies Xu Tianxuan as an ideal puppet due to the Ninth Prince's weak backing, lack of ambition, and indulgent lifestyle. 80
• Uses his knowledge of court secrets and high-ranking officials as leverage in negotiations with the Holy Spirit Church. 80
• Plans to weaken rival princes before they can consolidate their authority. 80

Resilience

Xu Tianran retains his political ambitions despite catastrophic injury, public humiliation, and deposition. 53 66

• Remains determined to become emperor even after realizing he can no longer father children. 53
• Endures Zhongli Wu's contempt without abandoning his plan. 66 80
• Adapts his objective from direct accession to ruling through a puppet emperor. 58 80

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Seventh-level Flying Soul Tool — used for rapid travel to Mingdu. 17
• Heavenly Dragon's Defense — rechargeable Ninth Level defensive Soul Tool that manifests as a purple dragon; destroyed while shielding him from two Level Eight Fixed Soul Cannon Shells. 50
• Storage Soul Tool — carried pills and Soul Tools, including his defensive trump card. 50 52
• Wheelchair — used after losing both legs. 54 66

Relationships

• Xu Jing — father and emperor; appointed Xu Tianran Crown Prince, then deposed him after his disability and infertility became known. 35 56 58
• Xu Tianyu — Second Prince and principal rival; orchestrated Xu Tianran's assassination, leading to Xu Tianran's crippling injuries. 8 47 50
• Xu Tianshi — Third Prince and rival; congratulated Xu Tianran insincerely after his appointment as Crown Prince. 36
• Xu Tianyuan — older clan cousin and commander of the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Legion; rescued Xu Tianran after the ambush. 50 52
• Ju Zi — former maid and trusted confidant; saved Xu Tianran with an Invincible Shield, later fled him after their relationship deteriorated. 51 54 67
• Zhongli Wu — Holy Spirit Church Master; entered a calculated alliance with Xu Tianran to support Xu Tianxuan as a puppet emperor. 66 79 80
• Xu Tianxuan — Ninth Prince selected by Xu Tianran as a puppet candidate for the throne. 80
• Wang Chen — member of the Wang Family aligned with Xu Tianyu; Xu Tianran sees Wang Chen's rise and apprenticeship under Kong Deming as a major obstacle to removing Xu Tianyu's support base. 115

Story Role / Major Arcs

Rise as Crown Prince

Xu Tianran becomes Crown Prince and quickly begins consolidating ministerial support. His position intensifies the rivalry with Xu Tianyu and Xu Tianshi. 35 36

Assassination and Crippling

Xu Tianyu's faction attacks Xu Tianran's convoy with five Soul Douluo-level assassins and two Level Eight Fixed Soul Cannon Shells. Xu Tianran survives but loses both legs and his fertility, while Ju Zi and Xu Tianyuan prevent his immediate death. 47 50 51 52

Deposition

Public rumors expose the implications of his injuries. Xu Jing has him examined and removes him as Crown Prince, leaving his former supporters to abandon him. 53 56 58

Holy Spirit Church Alliance

Xu Tianran negotiates with Zhongli Wu and the Holy Spirit Church, accepting an unequal partnership in exchange for the strength needed to challenge his brothers indirectly. He backs Xu Tianxuan as a controllable puppet emperor and seeks to regain power as regent. 66 79 80

Declining Position

Xu Tianran becomes increasingly alarmed after Xu Tianyu is named Crown Prince and Wang Chen becomes Kong Deming's direct disciple, making the Wang Family far harder to eliminate. 115

Trivia

• Xu Tianran's Crown Prince tenure lasts less than a month, described as unprecedented in Sun and Moon Empire history. 58
• He originally intended to kill both Xu Tianyu and Xu Tianshi after surviving the assassination attempt. 48
• He ordered the doctor who treated his injuries silenced to prevent confirmation of his infertility from spreading. 54