Li Yao

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Li Yao (李窈)
Species/Race	Human; formerly a frail mortal before entering the path of immortality 102
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Fuyang Chamber of Commerce; Primordial Beginning Temple 75 102
Occupation/Role	Seeker of immortality; disciple of Ren Qing 93 102
Status	Alive; residing at Fortune-Life Martial Hall after Ren Qing removed the hidden scripture from her soul 102
First Appearance	7

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Immortality seeker and thangka wielder	7 8	Activates the Duoji True-Seeking Thangka with her own blood, identifying Three Incense Lady and witnessing the trace of a second, unknown immortal.
Painting Immortality Method cultivator	40	Has only recently begun cultivating the method while sheltered at the Fuyang Escort Agency.
Mortal shell cast off	75 102	Her cultivation grants her an otherworldly bearing and allows her to extend her life beyond the illness that had nearly killed her.
Enlightened Primordial Beginning Temple disciple	98 101	Enters the Imperial Court Scroll, is restored alongside the other entrants, and receives Ren Qing's enlightenment.

Background & History

Early life and the Immortal Ascension Assembly

Li Yao was born with a crimson mole between her brows. When she was five, she suffered soul-loss syndrome; her father took her to Great Sun Lapis Lazuli Temple in the Western Regions. The journey was catastrophic: members of their group died along the way, and only Li Yao and her father reached the temple. An old monk secretly helped them leave and called her a “Buddha Child.” Li Yao later repressed these memories until the hidden influence within her soul resurfaced 102.

By eighteen, Li Yao was critically ill. Her father spent nearly half of the Fuyang Chamber of Commerce's assets to obtain the Western Regions' Duoji True-Seeking Thangka and send her to Water Mouth City for the Immortal Ascension Assembly 7 102. Though physically weak, she refused to rush blindly into Wish-Fulfillment Abbey; instead, she used her blood to activate the thangka and identify the immortal presiding over the gathering 7 8.

The thangka revealed Three Incense Lady, whom Li Yao considered comparatively benevolent, but it also exposed a second, unknown immortal far beyond her expectations. When Song Baizhou's actions at the abbey became increasingly violent, Li Yao withdrew rather than risk entering the assembly 8.

Betrayal and survival

With her life nearly exhausted, Li Yao consumed a Corpse Dew Life-Extending Pill, accepting that she would die within ten days if she failed to obtain immortality. Zhang Qilin, her longtime servant, then betrayed her: he drugged her and intended to offer her to Zhou Can in exchange for an immortal method 16.

Li Yao survived the pawnshop incident, recovered Zhou Can's human-skin records, and detected the aura of the unknown immortal again with a Clear Sight Talisman. The discovery strengthened her conviction that joining an immortal sect was her only path to survival 17.

She later bought Black River Martial Arts Hall after sensing a distant immortal trace and external-martial-arts aura among its new disciples. Her search eventually led her to Ren Shanshi and the strange events surrounding Fortune-Life Martial Hall 23 76.

At one point, Li Yao's flesh, blood, and bones collapsed into human skin; Hu Nizhou intended to refine that skin into a false body. Li Yao nonetheless later reappeared alive and continued cultivating the Painting Immortality Method 52 75.

Fortune-Life Martial Hall and Primordial Beginning Temple

Li Yao developed a close familial bond with Yun Niang and Ren Shanshi, addressing them as aunt and uncle. She brought an extravagant dowry from the Fuyang Chamber of Commerce for their marriage and attempted to shield Yun Niang when the betrothal letter released hostile, eye-like tangyuan 75.

After witnessing the half-demon disciples, the guarded rear courtyard, and Ren Shanshi's overwhelming martial ability, Li Yao concluded that Ren Qing was likely the immortal she had been seeking. She became determined to enter his sect, while trying not to exploit her connection to Yun Niang and Ren Shanshi for preferential treatment 76 93.

Li Yao acquired a Great Dao Diagram and allowed rumors about it to spread, using misinformation to draw attention away from herself. She inferred that the twelve diagrams were connected to Fortune-Life Martial Hall's twelve apprenticeship places 93.

When the Imperial Court Scroll appeared at the martial hall, Li Yao entered it willingly. Her body and soul collapsed into heaven-and-earth aura, after which Ren Qing restored and enlightened her alongside the other entrants 98 101.

Western Regions scripture incident

A Buddhist scripture hidden as an insect egg within Li Yao's soul awakened after her enlightenment. It temporarily altered her appearance and threatened to transform her into something else. Ren Qing discovered the parasite, extracted it, and instructed her to remain at the martial hall 102.

The incident restored Li Yao's memories of the Western Regions and caused the crimson mole on her glabella to vanish. She now suspects that the father who returned with her may not have been the same person who entered Great Sun Lapis Lazuli Temple with her 102.

Appearance

Li Yao was initially ravaged by illness, appearing nearly skin and bones with visible veins, severe coughing, and a dim crimson mole between her brows. The Corpse Dew Life-Extending Pill turned much of her hair white and left her bleeding from all seven orifices 7 16 17.

After cultivating the Painting Immortality Method, her illness was no longer visible and her movements carried an otherworldly air 75.

• A crimson mole was present on her glabella from birth until the Buddhist scripture incident 7 102.
• Her body can assume a human-skin state; she has transformed her arm into a thin sheet of skin to cast a spell 52 75.
• During the scripture's awakening, her face became unnaturally round and solemn, resembling a Buddha image 102.

Personality

Li Yao is cautious, observant, and intensely determined to survive. At the Immortal Ascension Assembly, she refused Zhang Qilin's suggestion to charge into Wish-Fulfillment Abbey without understanding the danger, choosing instead to observe and use the thangka first 7.

Her desire for immortality is rooted primarily in survival rather than greed. Even while dying, she intended to share any immortal opportunity with the Fuyang Chamber members who had accompanied her 16. She remains willing to take calculated risks, but she recognizes when a situation exceeds her ability to control 8 52.

She is also protective of those she considers family. When the betrothal letter endangered Yun Niang, Li Yao immediately placed herself between Yun Niang and the threat despite exhausting her divine sense 75.

Abilities & Skills

Duoji True-Seeking Thangka

A Western Regions thangka activated through Li Yao's blood.

• Reflects the true visage and aura of immortals 7 8.
• Allowed Li Yao to identify Three Incense Lady and detect a second, unknown immortal 8.
• The thangka scorches more quickly when observing a stronger immortal presence 8.

Painting Immortality Method

Li Yao's principal cultivation method.

• Allowed her to cast off her mortal condition and extend her life 75 102.
• Grants transformations involving human skin; her arm can become a thin skin-sheet for spellcasting 75.
• Her body previously collapsed into human skin, leaving her consciousness vulnerable to Hu Nizhou's false-body refinement scheme 52.

Divine Sense and Spiritual Perception

Li Yao developed a faint divine sense during her cultivation.

• Detects traces of immortals and unusual supernatural presences 17 23.
• Perceived the hostile phenomenon emerging from the betrothal letter when ordinary guards could not 75.
• Can cast spells through her transformed skin, though doing so can exhaust her divine sense 75.

Items

• Duoji True-Seeking Thangka — A worn Western Regions thangka purchased at enormous cost by her father; activated with Li Yao's blood to reveal immortal visages 7 8.
• Corpse Dew Life-Extending Pill — A flesh-colored pill that briefly prolonged her life at the cost of severe physical deterioration 16 17.
• Clear Sight Talisman — Used to sense the aura of the unknown immortal after Zhou Can's death 17.
• Great Dao Diagram — Acquired through Wu Chu; Li Yao believed it was her opportunity to enter Ren Qing's sect 93 98.
• Betrothal letter — Released malicious eyeball-like tangyuan before being swallowed by a toad within Fortune-Life Martial Hall 75.

Relationships

• Ren Qing — The unknown immortal Li Yao initially sought through the thangka. After discovering his connection to Fortune-Life Martial Hall, she pursued entry into his sect; she later formally addressed him as “immortal elder” and identified herself as his disciple 8 76 93 102.
• Yun Niang — Li Yao's aunt-like confidante. Li Yao brought her a lavish dowry and tried to protect her from the betrothal letter's attack 75 79.
• Ren Shanshi — Addressed by Li Yao as uncle. His martial talent and proximity to Ren Qing helped lead her to Fortune-Life Martial Hall 75 76.
• Wu Chu — Her guard and subordinate, entrusted with assisting new martial-hall disciples, obtaining the Great Dao Diagram, and spreading misleading rumors to protect Li Yao 23 93.
• Zhang Qilin — Her former loyal servant, who betrayed and drugged her in pursuit of Zhou Can's immortality method 16.
• Su Huo — A fellow seeker who followed Li Yao into the Imperial Court Scroll after witnessing her enter it 98.
• Hu Nizhou — Attempted to use Li Yao's human skin as material for a false body 52.
• Black Lady — A bear demon who had taken Li Yao as her offspring; Li Yao was later found unconscious and afflicted with Bear Poison at the Fuyang Escort Agency 40.

Notable Quotes

“I want to live. Father has already nearly bankrupted the family for my sake. I can't die for nothing in a foreign land.” 52

“I should hurry up and become immortal. Maybe then I can clear up my doubts.” 102