Qi Dao

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Qi Dao (齐道)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Notting Academy (former student; graduated early) 26
Occupation/Role	Weapon Soul Master; sword cultivator; former first-year dormitory boss 5 6
Martial Soul	Peerless Sword — a malignantly mutated Iron Sword Martial Soul 1 2
Innate Soul Power	Half-rank 1
Status	Alive; traveling with his parents toward Heaven Dou City when attacked by fallen soul masters 27 28
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Innate half-rank soul power	1	Awakens a cracked Iron Sword Martial Soul with a malignant mutation; resolves to follow the sword path despite the limitation.
Heart Sword State	9	Realizes a state in which his essence, energy, and spirit fuse, sharply increasing his strength, speed, and reactions for a brief burst.
Level 1 Soul Scholar	13	Breaks through after developing Peerless Sword visualization to improve his meditation efficiency.
Rank 10	15	Reaches the first major bottleneck after three years of cultivation and prepares to obtain a soul ring.
First soul ring — 600-year Ironclad Turtle	18	Absorption repairs the sword’s cracks into patterns and completes Peerless Sword’s first evolution.
Level 13, one-ring Soul Master	18	Advances directly to Level 13 after absorbing the Ironclad Turtle’s soul ring and gains Peerless Sword Body.
Rank 19	19	Reaches Rank 19 at age eleven, despite beginning with half-rank innate soul power.
Rank 20	25	Breaks through before leaving Notting Academy; requires a second soul ring to advance further.

Background

Qi Dao is a transmigrator who initially expected to receive an exceptional advantage in his new life. Instead, he awakened a plain, cracked Iron Sword Martial Soul with only half-rank innate soul power. After a brief period of despair, he concludes that martial soul quality is beyond his control, while his will is not; this realization becomes the foundation of his sword cultivation 1.

He names his martial soul Peerless, believing that he and the sword will one day stand unmatched. Carrying the summoned sword in a scabbard strengthens their connection and slightly improves his cultivation speed. Under Qi Mingyuan’s strict instruction, he develops practical swordsmanship centered on slashing, thrusting, relaxed control, and combat efficiency rather than formal technique 2.

Qi Dao enters Notting Academy despite Headmaster Hans’s expectation that his half-rank innate soul power will prevent him from ever reaching Rank 20. Yu Xiaogang likewise rejects him as a prospective disciple after reviewing his awakening certificate, prompting Qi Dao to resolve to prove his worth with Peerless 2 3.

Appearance

Qi Dao is described as handsome, with bright, spirited eyes and a composed bearing unusual for his age. By the time he reaches Rank 10, he has grown into a young man with a more developed physique 1 3 15.

• Usually carries the sheathed Peerless Sword at his waist 2 4.
• Peerless initially appears as a dull-gray iron sword marked by several cracks 2.
• Following his first soul ring absorption, the blade’s cracks become intricate patterns 18.
• Often adopts a calm, ready sword stance with one hand near the hilt 2 13.

Personality

Qi Dao is intensely self-reliant. He refuses to let his malformed martial soul or poor innate soul power define his future, choosing instead to cultivate through persistence, insight, and deliberate self-improvement 1 6. His confidence is not passive: he openly rejects Yu Xiaogang’s attempt to recruit him and declares that Yu is unworthy to teach him 12.

In combat, he is calm, focused, and ruthless when necessary. He does not fear stronger opponents, but he also recognizes the physical cost of his own trump card and trains specifically to compensate for it 7 9 10. Outside battle, he shows restraint and responsibility, taking Xiao Chenyu to the infirmary after defeating him and establishing quiet, orderly rules for the dormitory 5 6.

Qi Dao is also strategic about his future. Rather than blindly joining an organization, he weighs the benefits and risks of Martial Soul Hall, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, advanced academies, and service under Xue Qinghe before deciding to seek the Crown Prince’s patronage 20 21 26.

Abilities & Skills

Peerless Sword Martial Soul

Peerless is Qi Dao’s mutated Iron Sword Martial Soul. Its unusually deep connection to Qi Dao allows it to develop alongside his comprehension of the sword.

• Initially manifests as a cracked iron sword regarded as a useless malignant mutation 1 12.
• Responds to Qi Dao’s intent with tremors and fighting spirit 2 4 5.
• Warned him of Xiao Haijie’s surprise attack, leading to a sudden deepening of their connection 7.
• Gradually repairs as Qi Dao’s bond with it grows; its first major evolution occurs after absorbing the Ironclad Turtle’s soul ring 17 18.
• Can remain summoned in its scabbard, though doing so continuously consumes soul power 2 22.

Swordsmanship and Sword Aura

Qi Dao’s swordsmanship is built on practical combat training from his father, then refined through repeated duels and his own understanding of force, timing, footwork, and precision.

• Defeated the rank-three Xiao Chenyu before acquiring any soul ring, becoming the first-year boss 4 5.
• Severely wounded the much stronger Xiao Haijie with one strike while still possessing only half-rank soul power 7 8.
• Defeated Xiao Haijie again at Level 1 through explosive movement and precise thrusting, deliberately avoiding a fatal injury 13 14.
• Used only Peerless’s scabbard to overwhelm Xiao Wu in a sparring match 22.
• Countered Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass and wounded both of Tang San’s wrists to end their duel 23.
• Can release invisible sword aura from the blade’s edge, demonstrated during a spar with Qi Mingyuan 15.

Heart Sword State

The Heart Sword State is Qi Dao’s self-created burst state, formed when his essence, energy, and spirit become perfectly unified.

• Greatly enhances his strength, speed, and reactions for a short period 9.
• Lets him temporarily produce combat power several times above his normal level 9 25.
• Places immense strain on both his body and mind, leaving him weak and exhausted afterward 8 9.
• Requires physical conditioning and sufficient soul power to sustain safely 10.
• With Wang Rou’s enhancement, he uses the state to sever a careless Soul Ancestor’s arm 28.

Peerless Sword Visualization and Cultivation Optimization

Qi Dao visualizes Peerless during meditation to strengthen his mental power and improve his cultivation efficiency. He also uses early internal perception to study and simplify his soul-power circulation routes.

• Visualization restores mental clarity after internal observation and accelerates soul-power circulation 6.
• Allows him to examine the paths of soul power through his meridians before obtaining a soul ring 6.
• Removes unnecessary circulation routes over several years, increasing his cultivation speed by at least twenty percent 25.
• His improved cultivation rate becomes comparable to that of a soul master with roughly seventh-rank innate soul power 25.
• He stops further optimization because replacing the remaining routes exceeds his current knowledge and strength 25.

First Soul Skill: Peerless Sword Body

Obtained from a 600-year Ironclad Turtle, Peerless Sword Body is a temporary self-enhancement skill 18.

• Slightly increases strength and soul power 18.
• Doubles Qi Dao’s defense by one hundred percent 18.
• Its effectiveness depends on Qi Dao’s existing physical foundation 18.

Equipment / Items

• Scabbard for Peerless — Allows Qi Dao to carry his summoned martial soul at his waist and meditate beside it 2.
• Whale glue — Regularly purchased and consumed during his physical conditioning period 15.
• Gold cards — Receives a 1,000-gold-soul-coin card as compensation from Xiao Chenyu, later wins a wagered duel against Xiao Haijie, and is given 50,000 gold spirit coins by Xiao Chenyu before departing Notting Academy 10 14 26.

Relationships

• Qi Mingyuan — Father and first swordsmanship instructor. A Soul Elder by Qi Dao’s Rank 10 breakthrough; spars with Qi Dao and supports his plans despite concern for his safety 2 15 26.
• Wang Rou — Mother and a support-type Soul Master. She consistently encourages Qi Dao, assists in his soul-ring hunt, and enhances him during the battle against the fallen soul masters 3 17 28.
• Xiao Chenyu — Began as Qi Dao’s challenger, then became his loyal subordinate after losing their duel. He supports Qi Dao financially and helps arrange the rematch with Xiao Haijie 5 10 26.
• Liu Long and Ling Feng — First-year companions who support Qi Dao against Xiao Haijie and continue following his example in cultivation 7 18 20.
• Headmaster Hans — Recognizes Qi Dao’s potential, regrets not taking him as a disciple, and provides a letter of introduction for Heaven Dou City when Qi Dao graduates early 9 26.
• Yu Xiaogang — Rejected Qi Dao over his martial soul mutation and half-rank innate soul power, later sought to recruit him to study Peerless. Qi Dao rejects him publicly 3 12.
• Tang San — Initially avoided by Qi Dao; later challenges Qi Dao after Xiao Wu’s loss and is defeated, suffering wounds to both wrists 19 23.
• Xiao Wu — Challenges Qi Dao for the dormitory-boss position. Qi Dao defeats her while using only Peerless’s scabbard 22.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Rise at Notting Academy

Qi Dao enters Notting Academy after Yu Xiaogang rejects him. He refuses Xiao Chenyu’s demand to become a lackey, defeats him, and establishes himself as the first-year boss. He later badly wounds Xiao Haijie after the upperclassman attacks him without warning, revealing the Heart Sword State for the first time 3 5 7 9.

Building His Foundation

Unable to rely on his innate soul power, Qi Dao develops Peerless visualization and begins refining his meditation routes. He reaches Rank 10 after three years, hunts a 600-year Ironclad Turtle, and gains the Peerless Sword Body skill along with a restored, evolved martial soul 6 15 17 18.

Conflicts with Xiao Wu and Tang San

At Rank 19, Qi Dao remains the academy’s strongest student. He defeats Xiao Wu without drawing his sword, then defeats Tang San after Tang San challenges him in response. The victories reinforce his reputation while leaving Tang San and Xiao Wu isolated from their peers 19 22 23 24.

Early Graduation and Journey to Heaven Dou City

After reaching Rank 20, Qi Dao decides that Notting Academy can no longer meet his needs. He graduates early, accepts Headmaster Hans’s letter of introduction, and leaves with his parents to seek the Crown Prince’s patronage in Heaven Dou City 25 26.

Fallen Soul Master Ambush

During the journey, Qi Dao and his parents are attacked by three fallen Soul Ancestors responsible for massacring a village. Though initially afraid, Qi Dao resolves to fight. Empowered by Wang Rou and the Heart Sword State, he exploits an opening to sever one attacker’s arm 27 28.

Notable Quotes

“My sword and I will prove it all!” 3

“We sword cultivators fear no battle.” 7

“Thanks to you, I’ve gained a little insight.” 7

Trivia

• Qi Dao’s decision to carry his summoned martial soul in a scabbard is highly unusual because a summoned martial soul normally consumes soul power continuously 2 22.
• He was granted a separate teacher’s dormitory at Notting Academy and occasionally taught students practical combat techniques despite still being a student himself 18.
• Before obtaining his first ring, Qi Dao could already perceive his internal soul-power circulation, an ability he considers possibly connected to his two lifetimes or his awakening-day enlightenment 6.