Li Xiuwen

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Li Xiuwen (李修文)
Alias(es)	Awen; Li Awen
Species/Race	Human; transmigrator
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Four Seas Martial Arts Hall; resident martial instructor to Little Loudspeaker's family
Occupation/Role	Martial artist; formerly a barbershop worker
First Appearance	1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
No martial arts / No stage	1	The Incense Burner initially records no martial arts or cultivation stage.
Azure Membrane	10	Reached after seven days of Sea-Sand Stance training, aided by a Fish Ball; gains an azure skin membrane, increased strength, and substantial resistance to impact. 10
Purple Membrane	23	Breaks through after forty days of martial training; Sea-Sand Stance advances to Minor Accomplishment. 23 24
Black Membrane	43	Advances through sustained stance training and a Fish Ball; Sea-Sand Stance reaches Major Mastery, and his vitality and blood become roughly three times that of an ordinary person. 43
Snake Muscle / Second Gate	66	Completes his second transcendental transformation after bringing the Sea-Sand Stance to Complete Mastery; the former skin membrane merges into his flesh. 66

Background

Li Xiuwen's parents died early, leaving him without relatives in Prosperous State. He later crossed the sea as a stowaway, survived the Snake Den, and was ransomed by his uncle Chen Ziyi. Of the people captured alongside him, only Li Xiuwen, Zhao Dalong, Li Nanshu, and Ding Sheng escaped. 3 25

A month before the story begins, the original owner of his body was knocked unconscious by Brother Ji. Upon awakening, Li Xiuwen's past-life memories surfaced and an ancient Incense Burner appeared in his mind, marking him as a transmigrator. 1

He lived with his aunt Li Ying and uncle Chen Ziyi at Chen's Rice Noodle Factory on Longjin Road in the Walled City. Initially working at Wu Jun Hair Salon, he rejected an opportunity to join United Heroes, choosing instead to pursue martial arts as a path out of poverty and vulnerability. 1 3

After Night Heron Martial Arts Hall rejected him because of his age, Li Xiuwen paid to train at Four Seas Martial Arts Hall under Huang Sihai. His uncle initially opposed the expense but ultimately funded his first month of tuition. 3 4 5

Appearance

Li Xiuwen is approximately 1.8 meters tall. He retains a youthful face and can appear harmless or timid when concealing his abilities, despite becoming a formidable martial artist. 54 70

• Initially lean and somewhat undernourished, with a wiry build. 10
• Develops broad shoulders, compact muscles, defined abdominal muscles, and strong legs through cultivation. 10
• His physique remains streamlined rather than bulky, even after reaching Black Membrane. 43
• The Binding Armor Skill's minor completion causes him to shed much of his old skin, leaving him with smooth, jade-like skin that conceals his hard-qigong training. 54
• His activated Binding Armor Skill manifests black-gold mystic patterns beneath his skin. 55

Personality

Li Xiuwen is determined, pragmatic, and intensely ambitious. He pursues martial arts not for prestige alone, but to protect his family, escape poverty, and secure the ability to choose his own future. 3 20 65

He habitually keeps a low profile, presenting himself as timid or ordinary when doing so offers protection. This facade allows him to mislead opponents such as Brother Ji and Venomous Snake, while preserving hidden techniques for decisive moments. 18 27 47

Despite his willingness to kill threats to his family, Li Xiuwen is not indiscriminately cruel. He spared Liu Chun after defeating her in the first-floor martial meet, encouraged her to try again the following year, and arranged the cremation of the old madman who entrusted him with Heart Furnace Three Forgings. 48 50

His past-life experience in law makes him cynical about social advancement through education and attentive to the value of connections, resources, and practical power. 8 26

Abilities & Skills

Incense Burner

An ancient bronze-green incense burner within Li Xiuwen's mind records his martial arts, verifies his progress, and removes normal cultivation bottlenecks. 1 10 29

• Guarantees successful breakthroughs once he has accumulated sufficient progress. 10 43
• Records skill proficiency and martial stages. 6 17
• Allows progress to remain permanently verified even if he temporarily neglects a skill. 64
• Unlocks additional functions when Martial Arts Knowledge advances. 33 34

Martial Arts Knowledge and the Void Illusory Realm

Li Xiuwen gained Beginner Martial Arts Knowledge through studying anatomy, meridians, martial theory, and texts such as Miscellany from the Martial Tomb. 6 8

• Reached Minor Mastery in Martial Arts Knowledge, unlocking the Void Illusory Realm. 33 34
• The realm recreates familiar locations and people he has encountered, allowing him to spar against simulated opponents. 34 35
• Combat and movement-technique training in the realm produces roughly double the normal results. 34
• He uses it to analyze Night Heron disciples, repeatedly spar with Liu Chun, and develop tactics against Za Jiu. 35 49 63
• The realm cannot reproduce training methods such as the Binding Armor Skill. 34

Sea-Sand Stance

The foundational training method of the Sea Sand Style, taught by Huang Sihai. Its four levels are the Tidal, Flying Fish, Coiling Dragon, and Sea-Covering Stances. 8

• Strengthens his qi and blood, skin membrane, musculature, and overall physical foundation. 10 23
• Reached Complete Mastery before his transition through the Second Gate. 66
• Forms the basis for his Sea Sand fighting methods and later enables aura concealment through the Sleeping Shark Technique. 8 68

Sand-Turning Palm

The Sea Sand Style's foundational fighting technique, capable of combining hard and soft force. 13 29

• Reached Beginner level after a day of instruction. 13
• Reached Minor Mastery while killing Third Master, unlocking the second-level technique Surging Tides. 29
• Reached Great Accomplishment and developed the Hard-Soft Palm, including the Shark Shadow Strike. 41 50
• Reached Mastery before challenging the first-floor martial meet. 42
• Uses it to defeat Tian Er, Venomous Snake, Third Master, Liu Chun, and numerous Night Heron disciples. 28 29 38 50

Binding Armor Skill

A hard-qigong method from the Moving-Mountain Style, obtained from Brother Ji's hidden manual. It is a high-level external-training art said to lead toward the Tiger-Elephant Gate. 19 21

• Requires repeated strikes to the body and costly medicinal pastes or baths. 21 22
• Allows him to disperse much of a blade's force even at the beginner stage. 23
• Reached Minor Mastery after extensive external training, shedding his old skin and greatly increasing his body density and defense. 54
• At minor completion, a hammer rebounds from his body and a butterfly knife struggles to cut his skin. 55
• Functions as his principal hidden trump card; he avoids exposing it except in life-or-death situations. 23 49

Thousand-Wave Floating Radiance

An advanced Sea Sand movement technique personally taught by Huang Sihai after Li Xiuwen's victory over Tian Er. 38 39

• Reached Beginner level through Illusory Realm practice, allowing him to run ten steps over water without sinking. 39
• Reached Minor Achievement in less than two months. 63
• Enables rapid evasive movement across unstable terrain such as bamboo scaffolding. 63
• Gives him a tactical advantage over Za Jiu, who lacks a dedicated movement technique. 63

Heart Furnace Three Forgings

A spiritual cultivation art from the Heart Furnace School of Thousand-Buddha Mountain, entrusted to Li Xiuwen by the dying old madman. 48

• Tempering method for the mind, will, and martial intent rather than the body. 48
• Initially too advanced for Li Xiuwen's theoretical foundation, though he later enters its first level. 48 49
• He intends to use it to cultivate martial “presence” and potentially refine medicinal toxins into the three qi. 64 65

Sleeping Shark Technique

An advanced Sea Sand training method learned after Li Xiuwen enters Snake Muscle. 69

• Conceals his aura and makes him appear unremarkable or harmless in ordinary circumstances. 70
• Allows a sudden, explosive transition into combat, likened to a sleeping shark awakening. 70
• Reached Beginner level and helped stabilize his Snake Muscle realm. 69 70

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Butterfly knife — Folding blade purchased before his ambush on Brother Ji; later used in several confrontations. 17 18
• Short blade — Concealable foot-long blade carried for the Hesheng Tu–Thunder God Shed clash. 70
• Soul-Crushing Powder — Sea Sand Style hidden weapon; fine powder used to blind and disorient opponents. 13 29 47
• Moving-Mountain Style manual — Hidden booklet taken from Brother Ji, containing the Binding Armor Skill. 19
• Heart Furnace Three Forgings silk cloth — Hereditary martial-art text entrusted to him by the old madman. 48
• Portable communicator — Given by Little Loudspeaker for contact and emergency use. 60
• Fish Balls and Refined Fish Balls — Cultivation aids made from strange fish; they accelerate qi-and-blood growth but carry medicinal toxins. 10 44 58

Relationships

• Huang Sihai — Master at Four Seas Martial Arts Hall. Initially regards Li Xiuwen as a late-starting, low-potential student, but gradually recognizes his comprehension and supports his advancement. 4 24 68
• Li Ying — Aunt and maternal guardian. Supports his martial path, helps fund his training, and assists his Binding Armor Skill practice. 1 20 41
• Chen Ziyi — Uncle and guardian. Paid Li Xiuwen's ransom from the Snake Den and funds his early tuition despite financial hardship. 3 30
• Wu Jun / Brother Jun — Employer and fellow townsman at Wu Jun Hair Salon. Offers Li Xiuwen work and a potential connection to United Heroes. 1 7
• Chen Xun / Old Chen — Fellow disciple and martial-theory mentor. Lends Li Xiuwen Miscellany from the Martial Tomb and helps awaken his Martial Arts Knowledge. 5 6
• Li Shuzhen / A Zhen — Fellow disciple and friend. Initially treats him as a junior, later becomes a supportive peer and training companion. 5 23 38
• Cheng Kuiqiang / Big Silly Qiang — Fellow disciple and friend who repeatedly encourages Li Xiuwen despite misunderstanding his hidden progress. 5 23 37
• Liu Chun — Fellow disciple and rival. His early doubts about Li Xiuwen's aptitude give way to direct competition; Li Xiuwen defeats him to win the first-floor martial meet. 22 50 51
• Little Loudspeaker — Hesheng Tu Straw Sandal who intervenes against Za Jiu, later employs Li Xiuwen as her family's resident martial instructor. 56 60
• Chen Jia — Second-floor senior brother who explains martial “presence” and advises Li Xiuwen about the Enclave's factions. 52 63 64
• Brother Ji — Thug who previously beat and extorted Li Xiuwen; Li Xiuwen ambushes and kills him in the sewers. 3 18 19
• Za Jiu / Ninth Master — Dao Youming's confidant and recurring enemy. He tries to capture Li Xiuwen and covets the Binding Armor Skill manual. 56 58 60
• Zhao Dalong — Fellow Snake Den survivor and member of the hometown fellowship. 25 26
• Li Nanshu — Fellow Snake Den survivor and Southern Sky Martial Hall disciple. She recognizes Li Xiuwen's concealed martial ability but respects his choice not to reveal it. 25
• Longlegs Seven — Night Heron Martial Arts Hall prodigy and Little Loudspeaker's younger brother. Li Xiuwen repeatedly uses him as a benchmark in the Illusory Realm. 42 61

Story Role / Major Arcs

Entry into Four Seas Martial Arts Hall

After Brother Ji's extortion convinces him he can no longer remain weak, Li Xiuwen seeks martial instruction. Rejected by Night Heron Martial Arts Hall because he is twenty-one, he joins Four Seas Martial Arts Hall and begins learning anatomy, meridians, the Sea-Sand Stance, and Sand-Turning Palm. 4 5 8 13

Elimination of the Thirteen Guardians

When Brother Ji attempts to force him into drug production, Li Xiuwen prepares an ambush and kills him in the sewers. He subsequently defeats Venomous Snake and kills Third Master, ending the Thirteen Guardians of Longjin Road and taking their hoarded wealth to fund cultivation. 18 28 29 30

Rise at Four Seas Martial Arts Hall

Li Xiuwen rapidly reaches Purple Membrane, earns Huang Sihai's special training, and defeats Tian Er during Night Heron Martial Arts Hall's challenge. His victory earns him the Thousand-Wave Floating Radiance movement technique and recognition as Four Seas' most promising first-floor disciple. 24 38 39

First-Floor Martial Meet

After concealing his Black Membrane breakthrough and repeatedly training against Liu Chun in the Illusory Realm, Li Xiuwen wins the first-floor martial meet with a single decisive palm. He advances to Four Seas Martial Arts Hall's second floor as a formal disciple. 43 49 50 51

Conflict with Thunder God Shed

Li Xiuwen's past killings draw the attention of Za Jiu and Thunder God Shed. He survives an attempted abduction, receives aid from Little Loudspeaker, relocates his family closer to Four Seas Martial Arts Hall, and accepts a position as Little Loudspeaker's resident martial instructor. 55 56 57 60

Passage Through the Second Gate

After reaching the Membrane Gate's limit, Li Xiuwen ignores the risks associated with his inferior aptitude and attempts the Second Gate. Supported by the Incense Burner's guaranteed breakthroughs, he succeeds and enters Snake Muscle. 65 66 68

Hesheng Tu–Thunder God Shed Clash

As Hesheng Tu prepares to contest Longjin Road with Thunder God Shed, Li Xiuwen agrees to participate under a mask. He keeps a low profile during the armed clash while observing Dao Youming's baleful qi and following Za Jiu after discovering his attack on Liu Chun, A Zhen, and Big Silly Qiang. 66 70 71

Trivia

• Li Xiuwen worked in law in his previous life and dismisses it as a path dependent on background and connections. 8
• He considers Old Chen an invaluable source of martial knowledge and internally compares him to a “Wang Yuyan”-like experience resource. 6
• He prefers not to waste food, bringing untouched leftovers from the hometown gathering back to his aunt and uncle. 27
• His first appearance in Ming Pao is only a brief mention, but his aunt proudly preserves the clipping. 40