Biodata
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Xiao Haijie (萧海杰) |
| Alias(es) | Boss Xiao 13 14 |
| Gender | Male |
| Affiliation | Notting Academy — sixth-year student at his first appearance 7 |
| Occupation/Role | Battle Soul Master; leader of a group of upperclassmen 7 13 |
| Martial Soul | Wolf 13 |
| Innate Soul Power | Rank 4 8 |
| Soul Power | Rank 13, one-ring Battle Soul Master; last confirmed cultivation 13 |
| First Soul Ring | Hundred-year, yellow; grants Hunting Claws 10 13 14 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 7 |
Background / History
Xiao Haijie is the eldest son of Notting City’s lord and the older brother of Xiao Chenyu. As only one brother can inherit their father’s title, the two are locked in a contentious struggle over succession. 7
By age eleven or twelve, Xiao Haijie was already a prominent Notting Academy student. He possessed innate Rank 4 soul power, reached Rank 13 after obtaining a hundred-year first soul ring, and led fellow upperclassmen. 8 10 13
He had been a prominent figure at the academy since his first year and was known to nearly all its teachers. He obtained his first soul ring during the semester preceding his initial confrontation with Qi Dao. 9
By the time Xiao Chenyu reached Rank 25 at eighteen, Xiao Haijie was no longer interfering with his younger brother’s development. Without that interference, their father was able to help Xiao Chenyu obtain a suitable hundred-year second soul ring. The circumstances behind Xiao Haijie’s cessation of interference are not specified. 108
Appearance
An unusually tall and powerfully built boy for his age, Xiao Haijie resembles Xiao Chenyu in build and appearance. 7
- Around eleven or twelve years old and approximately 1.70 meters tall. 7
- Carries himself with an elevated, disdainful manner, often looking down at others. 7
- When possessing his Wolf Martial Soul, his muscles swell, his eyes turn pale green, and his nails sharpen into claws. 13
Personality
Xiao Haijie is arrogant, status-conscious, and contemptuous of those he deems weaker. He publicly belittles Xiao Chenyu for acknowledging Qi Dao as his boss and dismisses Qi Dao as a “loser” because of his half-rank innate soul power. 7
He relies on his age, cultivation, and family standing to intimidate younger students. When Qi Dao challenges him, Xiao Haijie attacks without warning rather than respecting academy rules. 7 9
His defeats leave him humiliated and fearful, but not repentant. After being gravely wounded, he privately vows to make Qi Dao repay the humiliation; following their rematch, he is shaken by how narrowly Qi Dao’s strike misses being fatal. 8 14
He initially attributes his defeat to carelessness and his failure to possess his martial soul or use a soul skill. After recovering, he spreads this explanation among the students. Nevertheless, he is cautious in practice during the rematch, using both martial-soul possession and Hunting Claws to avoid repeating his earlier mistake. 8 13 14
His concern for his father’s favor is closely tied to reputation: he believes his father will care less about his bullying than about the disgrace of losing to a student with half-rank innate soul power. Fear of further academy punishment also restrains him from immediately seeking another confrontation. 9 13
Abilities & Skills
Wolf Martial Soul
Xiao Haijie’s Wolf Martial Soul enhances his physical combat ability after possession. 13
- Increases his muscular strength and combat physique. 13
- Produces pale-green eyes and sharpened wolf claws. 13
- His hundred-year first soul ring further strengthens the physique associated with his beast martial soul. 10
- Even without possession, his physique greatly surpasses that of the half-rank Qi Dao; his surprise punch sends Qi Dao staggering seven or eight steps backward. 7
Hunting Claws
Xiao Haijie’s first soul skill is Hunting Claws. 14
- Greatly increases his speed in an instant. 14
- Enables a rapid claw assault with multiple strikes. 14
- Failed to overcome Qi Dao’s Heart Sword State during their formal rematch. 14
Power Progression
| Stage / Period | Soul Power / Status | Advancement or Demonstrated Ability | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martial-soul awakening | Innate Rank 4 | Possesses slightly better innate soul-power talent than Xiao Chenyu. | 8 |
| Semester before Qi Dao’s enrollment | One-ring Soul Master | Obtains a hundred-year first soul ring, enhancing his beast-martial-soul physique. | 9 10 |
| Initial confrontation with Qi Dao | Rank 13 | Demonstrates superior unpossessed physical strength, but suffers a severe abdominal wound from Qi Dao’s single sword strike. | 7 8 |
| Wagered rematch | Rank 13, one-ring Battle Soul Master | Uses Wolf Martial Soul possession and Hunting Claws; Qi Dao again defeats him with one strike. No increase in cultivation is recorded between the two fights. | 13 14 |
Relationships
- Xiao Chenyu — Younger brother and rival for their father’s inheritance; Xiao Haijie openly disparages him for losing to and following Qi Dao. Xiao Chenyu later arranges the wagered rematch to exploit his desire for revenge. By Xiao Chenyu’s eighteenth year, Xiao Haijie is no longer interfering with his cultivation development. 7 10 13 108
- Qi Dao — Enemy and repeated opponent. Xiao Haijie initiates their first confrontation and loses twice, first suffering a grave abdominal wound and later a shallow neck wound. 7 8 14
- Father (unnamed) — Notting City’s lord and an imperial baron. Xiao Haijie fears losing standing with him after the academy reports his bullying and defeat. His father scolds him and sends Qi Dao compensation through Xiao Chenyu. 7 9 10
- Headmaster Hans — Disciplines Xiao Haijie for bullying younger students and threatens to inform his father. 9
- Director Su — Rebukes him for abusing his seniority and strength, then losing to a first-year Soul Scholar. 8 9
- Teacher Wang — Infirmary teacher who treats his severe abdominal injury, stopping it from worsening but requiring him to rest for several more days. 9
- Upperclassmen followers — Support his authority and cheer for him during his confrontations with Qi Dao. Their confidence gives way to silence after his second defeat. 7 8 13 14
Story Role / Major Arcs
Confrontation with Qi Dao
After learning that Xiao Chenyu had accepted Qi Dao as his dormitory boss, Xiao Haijie mocks both of them and attacks Qi Dao with an unexpected punch. Despite having no martial-soul possession active, his physical strength sends Qi Dao stumbling several steps. 7
Qi Dao responds after gaining deeper insight into his connection with the Peerless Sword. Xiao Haijie charges again without summoning his Wolf Martial Soul and is severely wounded across the abdomen by a single sword strike. 7 8
The wound causes substantial blood loss and leaves Xiao Haijie feeling close to death. Director Su injects soul power into him before taking him for treatment. Despite his condition, Xiao Haijie blames his loss on carelessness and privately plans revenge. 8
His defeat also attracts Yu Xiaogang’s attention. Initially assuming that only a highly talented sword-martial-soul user could have inflicted such an injury, Yu Xiaogang seeks to investigate Qi Dao’s martial soul and subsequently offers to accept him as a registered disciple. Qi Dao rejects the offer. 10 11 12
Academy Discipline
Headmaster Hans and Director Su intervene, bringing Xiao Haijie to the infirmary. Although he calls himself the victim, the academy holds him responsible for using his strength and seniority to bully younger students. Hans states that he will inform Xiao Haijie’s father. 8 9
Teacher Wang uses his healing soul skill to prevent the injury from worsening, explaining that Xiao Haijie still needs several days of rest. Hans rejects Xiao Haijie’s claim to innocence, pointing out that an ordinary first-year student would have been the injured party had Qi Dao lacked the ability to defend himself. 9
His father subsequently scolds him over the incident, further damaging his position within the family. 10
Through Xiao Chenyu, his father also sends Qi Dao a gold card containing 1,000 gold soul coins as compensation. Xiao Chenyu then proposes exploiting Xiao Haijie’s dissatisfaction with the defeat to arrange a profitable rematch. 10
Wagered Rematch
Still unwilling to accept his loss, Xiao Haijie agrees to a public rematch arranged through Xiao Chenyu, staking 5,000 gold soul coins. This time he formally identifies himself as a Rank 13 one-ring Battle Soul Master, possesses his Wolf Martial Soul, and uses Hunting Claws. 13 14
The payment is arranged as a challenge fee that will be waived if Xiao Haijie wins. Although the amount is substantial even for him, he accepts because he believes his martial soul and soul skill will secure victory. He publicizes the duel widely, intending to restore his reputation by crushing Qi Dao before the academy’s students. 13
Qi Dao again defeats him with Heart Sword State-enhanced swordsmanship, deliberately limiting the strike to a shallow wound on Xiao Haijie’s neck. Realizing he was nearly killed, Xiao Haijie concedes defeat and gives Qi Dao the gold card. 14
The near-fatal nature of the strike prompts Hans and Director Su to restrict Qi Dao’s future sparring: he is told not to use the dangerous move against classmates and to avoid vital areas. Xiao Haijie’s followers, who initially believe he has won because he remains standing, fall silent when his defeat becomes clear. 14
Lasting Consequences
The money obtained from Xiao Haijie later helps Qi Dao finance a small business venture with Xiao Chenyu. Supported by Xiao Chenyu’s family connections, the venture steadily prospers and improves the Qi family’s finances. 15
Years later, students recalling Qi Dao’s earlier duels cite Xiao Haijie’s challenge when Xiao Wu confronts Qi Dao at Notting Academy. Both victories over the Rank 13 Xiao Haijie also appear in the background report read by Xue Qinghe, contributing to the Crown Prince’s recognition of Qi Dao’s exceptional early combat achievements. 22 37