Xu Laoba

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Xu Laoba (旭老八)
Alias(es)	“Yonghe Station God”; “Skinny Mutt” 14 46
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Cao Xiaochun’s party; Third High School student 14 35
Occupation/Role	Class-changer; Cursed Mage / “Frail Mage” 14 34
Status	Active 46
First Appearance	Chapter 14

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Level 5	26	Xu Laoba and the group are described as generally being around Level 5 while considering whether to pursue the Ice Dragon’s lair.
Level 8	35	Reaches Level 8 with the group after they clear areas of the Snow Mountain dungeon, breaking the school trial record.

Background / History

Xu Laoba’s parents knew Cao Xiaochun’s parents. Although the original Cao Xiaochun and Xu were not initially close, Xu became attached to him after Cao called the police to rescue Xu from a punk who had been publicly slapping and intimidating him. Their friendship deepened after Cao’s parents died: Xu’s bank-president father used his influence to help Cao sell his family-company shares. 14

He awakened as a Cursed Mage, a class focused on weakening and curse-type spells. Though he initially considers Cao Xiaochun’s Gu Master awakening a devastating setback, he immediately offers to support him, hires a team to help him level, and is relieved to learn that Cao has already reached Level 4. 14

During the school dungeon examination, Xu and Li Wenbin are chased by snow apes after Xu impulsively steals a cub. The theft also yields a beast-hide map pointing to Ice Dragon Scasa’s resting place, drawing them into the Dragon Nest conflict. 22 25

Appearance

Xu Laoba is repeatedly compared to a monkey and is notably thin; Li Hanyi calls him a “skinny mutt” after witnessing his disheveled escape onto Cao Xiaochun’s eighth-floor air-conditioning unit. 14 45 46

• Has a “monkey face,” according to Cao Xiaochun’s first reaction when Xu arrives at his home. 14
• Is rib-thin enough for Li Hanyi’s nickname to stick immediately. 46
• Wears and favors dark-attribute gear suited to his spellcasting class. 34

Personality

Xu Laoba is fiercely loyal to Cao Xiaochun. He treats Cao as a brother, worries that classmates may target him for being a Gu Master, and repeatedly offers to stand up for him. 14 16 39

He is also reckless, greedy, loud, and shamelessly opportunistic. He steals a snow ape cub for no clear plan, wants to search the Dragon Nest for leftovers rather than report kidnapped students, and casually takes credit for Cao’s dungeon achievements because Cao allows him to brag. 25 26 37

Despite his impulsiveness, Xu is not cowardly when it matters. He accepts the dangers of the Dragon Nest, supports Cao’s increasingly ruthless path, and proposes becoming a “shield of darkness” for the team. 26 30

Abilities & Skills

Cursed Mage Spellcasting

Xu’s class specializes in curses and weakening effects, making him suited to suppressing opponents rather than directly overpowering them. 14

• Casts Weakness Spell and curses while fleeing snow apes with Li Wenbin. 22
• Uses Weakness Spell against Flame Mage Zhang Xiaohua, leaving her unable to effectively resist Cao Xiaochun’s group. 29
• His debuff-oriented class is valued for large-scale dungeon parties. 14

Dark-Attribute Casting

Xu’s Dragon Nest staff is explicitly suited to his “Frail Mage” profession and dark attribute. 34

• Benefits from increased casting speed. 34
• Gains an 80% enhancement to skill attack power through Blood-Dissolving Moon. 34

Equipment / Items

• Blood-Dissolving Moon — Platinum-grade dark staff that increases casting speed and skill attack power by 80%; Xu selects it from Ice Dragon Scasa’s treasure. 34
• Giant Armor — Platinum-grade dark armor that absorbs damage, with capacity scaling by the wearer’s level; Cao Xiaochun assigns Xu one set. 34
• Spatial Ring — Receives an extra spatial ring from Li Hanyi after the Dragon Nest loot division. 35
• Silver-grade helmet — Selects a helmet as his school reward. 45

Relationships

• Cao Xiaochun — Closest friend and “brother.” Xu’s family helped Cao after his parents’ accident; Xu consistently defends him, though he also relies on Cao’s strength and reputation. 14 16 30 37
• Li Wenbin — Frequent companion and dungeon partner. The two flee snow apes together and later discuss attending the same university; Li Wenbin openly wants to remain with Xu. 22 25 35
• Li Hanyi — Fellow party member. Xu jokingly calls her Cao’s “Second Sister-in-law,” creating an awkward moment between her and Cao. 46
• Han Mengmeng — His childhood betrothed; Xu is deeply afraid of her learning about his balcony incident. 46
• Hong Jianjun — Fellow member of Cao’s party; they cooperate through the Snow Mountain trial and support Cao during the entrance examination. 26 39 40

Story Role / Major Arcs

Gu Master Awakening Aftermath

Xu visits Cao Xiaochun after hearing that he awakened as a Gu Master, believing Cao may be depressed. He offers to take care of Cao and helps reveal that the Binuoxiu sisters’ disappearance has caused alarm in the Dark Forest. 14

School Dungeon Examination and Dragon Nest

After being excluded from Cao and Li Hanyi’s initial exam team, Xu agrees to meet Cao inside the dungeon. He and Li Wenbin later uncover the map to Scasa’s lair, join the group’s investigation, and unsuccessfully volunteers to command the operation before Cao is chosen instead. 18 25 26

Xu contributes his weakening magic during the ambush on Zhang Heng’s group, receives Dragon Nest treasures, and reaches Level 8 with the party. He then proposes that they remain a team at university. 29 34 35

Recognition and Entrance Examination

Xu publicly accepts credit for the team’s record-setting dungeon result, defending their accomplishment against classmates who accuse him of riding Cao’s coattails. 37

He later worries that examiner Zhao Hao will unfairly target Cao, but is reassured by the strength of Cao’s Gu-controlled forces. 39 40

Post-Examination Incident

Xu accidentally enters a couple’s home, escapes through a window, and becomes stranded outside Cao’s eighth-floor balcony. After being rescued, he embarrasses Cao and Li Hanyi by referring to Li as Cao’s “Second Sister-in-law.” 45 46

Notable Quotes

“Hehe, even villains need defense. Then I’ll be a shield of darkness in the future!” 30

“Damn, Xiaochun, you’re really planning to become some big villain, huh? But I’m clinging to your thigh no matter what. Don’t you dare leave me behind.” 30

Trivia

• Xu initially mistakes Cao Xiaochun’s closed curtains for evidence that Cao is depressed, only to accidentally expose the neighboring girl while opening them. 14
• His theft of a snow ape cub nearly gets him and Li Wenbin killed, but indirectly leads the group to the Ice Dragon’s lair. 25
• He accepts a second spatial ring immediately and proudly wears both rings “like a monkey that had won mating rights.” 35