Jiang Yang

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Jiang Yang (姜阳) 175
Alias(es)	Yang Jiang — used while working undercover as a masked cleaner 244
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Human Race; Third Cultivation University; formerly the Sacred Institute and Song Shanhe's personal disciple 176 224
Occupation/Role	Awakened; cultivator; former student; labor-reform participant; assigned to Third Cultivation University, where he is initially given cleaning work despite an intended combat-instructor post 175 240 242
Status	Active; registers to join humanity's campaign against the demons 249
First Appearance	Chapter 175

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Mid-stage Qi Refining	190	Reaches this stage through sustained cultivation of the Qi Refining Formula; his strength already exceeds that of many higher-year students.
Late-stage Qi Refining	203	Advances while confined to campus during Third Cultivation University's lockdown.
Great Perfection Qi Refining	221	Achieves great completion through a regimen of deduction, cultivation, eating, and sleeping before the Heavenly Prodigy Tournament.
Profound Rank Early Stage	223	Breaks through after clearing the 100th floor of the Human Sacred Tower and undergoing its hidden trial.
Earth Rank / Golden Core	231	Reaches Earth Rank over the following three years at the Sacred Institute.
Nascent Soul Early Stage / Heaven Rank	245 249	Identified as Nascent Soul Early Stage while working at Third Cultivation University; later registers for the anti-demon campaign as a Heaven Rank cultivator.

Background / History

Jiang Yang was an eighteen-year-old orphan and newly graduated Awakened traveling to a great city for university when a beast tide stranded him in the wilderness. A ferocious beast struck him, but he survived uninjured; when night fell and demons began roaming, he awakened the Strongest Deduction System and used its first simulation to seek a route to survival 175.

He entered Third Cultivation University and began cultivating the Qi Refining Formula. His initial progress was negligible, but he relied on deductions, system rewards, and repeated cultivation to compensate for his poor apparent talent 176 179. After initially keeping a low profile, he concluded that concealment only invited danger and resolved to become the greatest genius instead 185.

His reputation rose rapidly through arena challenges and repeated Human Sacred Tower attempts. He became Third Cultivation University's leading freshman, challenged upperclassmen, and ultimately reached the 63rd floor of the tower 185 186 192. He also reported suspicious activity and possible demon infiltration to Principal Zhao Ruiming, though his warnings did not prevent later attacks 195 210.

At the Five-School Grand Competition, Jiang Yang fought during a demon assault and was subsequently named Human Race Guardian, receiving one million contribution points 211. He later set successive Human Sacred Tower records, reaching the 100th floor at the Sacred Institute and encountering the phantom known as Saint Wu 222 223. Both Song Shanhe and Zhao Ruiming sought to accept him as a disciple; Jiang Yang ultimately chose Song Shanhe 223 224.

Three years later, Jiang Yang had reached Earth Rank, earned a strong reputation for slaying demons and devils, and was expected to join the United Council after graduation 231. Song Shanhe's later exposure and downfall implicated Jiang Yang by association, leading to a month of labor reform. Jiang Yang emerged determined to atone and serve humanity rather than remain defined by his former master's betrayal 240.

Although formally assigned as a combat instructor, Third Cultivation University initially placed him in miscellaneous cleaning work because of public hostility toward Song Shanhe's former disciple. He adopted the name Yang Jiang, wore a mask, and continued cultivating while refusing the system's attempts to turn his resentment against humanity 242 244. He later registered to participate in humanity's war against the demons, determined to fight openly for the human race 249.

Personality

Jiang Yang is cautious and highly survival-oriented. His earliest deductions repeatedly end in death, and he learns to avoid unnecessary risks, report dangers, seek protection, and prepare for likely threats 177 195. Even when hunting alone, he deliberately avoids drawing attention to himself 197.

He is also intensely ambitious. After becoming the Freshman King in a simulation, he rejects the idea of permanently hiding his abilities and decides to pursue the title of greatest genius 185. His fame matters to him, but it does not erase his concern for humanity; after witnessing demon attacks and later reflecting on Song Shanhe's actions, he commits himself to cultivation and human survival 211 240.

Jiang Yang remains resilient under humiliation. The system shows him a future in which students bully and kill him, apparently attempting to provoke him into hostility toward humanity, but he instead resolves to work for humanity's revival 242.

Abilities & Skills

Strongest Deduction System

Jiang Yang's system simulates possible future scenarios after he draws a talent card. He uses the results to identify dangers, test decisions, refine his plans, and obtain rewards from completed simulations 175 177.

• Simulations can end in Jiang Yang's death, but the experience allows him to alter later choices 177 195.
• Evaluations range from low ratings such as D to higher ratings such as B and A, with rewards varying accordingly 180 185 205.
• System rewards have included Marrow Cleansing Pills, a Perfect Marrow-Cleansing Pill, Tiger Embrace Fist, and a sword technique manual 179 180 185 205.
• The system later attempts to exploit Jiang Yang's resentment and push him against humanity, but he ignores its intimidation 242 243.

Luck at Work

A recurring system talent associated with Jiang Yang's simulations.

• He first draws Luck at Work as a purple talent during his initial simulation 175.
• He later draws an advanced golden version, only to find it duplicates a talent he already possesses 185 205.
• The talent contributes to unusual survival opportunities, but it does not prevent him from dying in failed simulations 195 205.

Qi Refining Formula

Jiang Yang cultivates the Qi Refining Formula after arriving at Third Cultivation University. Although he initially makes almost no progress, the technique becomes the basis of his later rapid advancement 176 190.

• The formula gives him a substantial advantage over opponents at the same realm 190 191.
• His cultivation becomes increasingly obsessive after he recognizes Wu Yan and other hidden talents as potential rivals 211.
• He resumes the formula after labor reform, describing its cultivation as refreshing 243.

Combat

Jiang Yang develops from a cautious freshman into a prominent demon fighter and tower challenger.

• Tiger Embrace Fist — A system reward used against a Profound-rank demon during an early field mission 180 182.
• Swordsmanship — He receives a sword technique manual through a B-grade simulation evaluation and trains with it to improve his combat strength 185.
• Demon hunting — He kills low-rank ferocious beasts with single sword strikes and later fights demons during large-scale attacks 197 198.
• Human Sacred Tower challenges — He rises from 13 floors to 63, then 95, and finally clears the 100th floor 179 192 209 222.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Spirit sword — Obtained through the deduction system; capable of producing sword qi when infused with spiritual energy 205.
• Longsword — Carried while traveling to United Great City for the Heavenly Prodigy Tournament 221.
• Mask — Worn while using the alias Yang Jiang during his cleaning assignment at Third Cultivation University 244.

Relationships

• Gu Yuan — Observes Jiang Yang from the beginning of his system awakening and continues monitoring his growth, system, and cultivation 175 191 242.
• Shen Yicheng — Fellow Third Cultivation University student and friend who openly admires Jiang Yang's strength 185 186.
• Zhao Ruiming — Principal who rewards Jiang Yang's tower achievements but remains suspicious of his rapid rise; later arranges his post-reform return to Third Cultivation University 192 240.
• Song Shanhe — One of two Saints who sought Jiang Yang as a disciple; Jiang Yang chose him, but the association later led to Jiang Yang's labor reform after Song Shanhe's downfall 223 224 240.
• Wu Yan — A low-profile system owner and rival whose Human Sacred Tower performance nearly matches Jiang Yang's; they later fight together during the demon invasion 208 211.
• Meng Wenqing — Principal of Fourth Cultivation University, whom Jiang Yang warns about suspected demon infiltration before the Willpower Grand Competition attack 210.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Beast Tide and System Awakening

• Is stranded by a beast tide while traveling to university.
• Survives a ferocious beast's attack and awakens the Strongest Deduction System at night 175.

Third Cultivation University

• Begins cultivating the Qi Refining Formula despite poor initial progress 176.
• Uses deductions and rewards to build his cultivation and combat ability 179 180.
• Becomes the Combat Academy's Freshman King and Third Cultivation University's leading freshman 185 186.

Human Sacred Tower and Demon Incidents

• Sets increasingly higher Human Sacred Tower records, eventually reaching the 95th floor 190 192 209.
• Reports suspicious activity to Zhao Ruiming and later warns Meng Wenqing about possible demon infiltration 195 210.
• Fights in the Five-School Grand Competition demon attack and receives the Human Race Guardian title 211.

Sacred Institute and Saintly Discipleship

• Clears the Sacred Institute's Human Sacred Tower to the 100th floor, becoming the first person in over five hundred years to reach that place 222.
• Breaks through to Profound Rank Early Stage and becomes Song Shanhe's personal disciple 223 224.
• Reaches Earth Rank over the next three years while repeatedly slaying demons and devils 231.

Labor Reform and Return

• Is punished through labor reform because of his connection to Song Shanhe, despite no proof that he served demons or monsters 239 240.
• Returns to Third Cultivation University but is relegated to cleaning work instead of immediately teaching combat 240 242.
• Takes the alias Yang Jiang and continues cultivating while rejecting the system's provocation 243 244.

War Recruitment

• Recovers from a period of unconsciousness and weakened vital energy 248.
• Registers as a Heaven Rank cultivator for humanity's campaign against the demons, resolved to clear his name through battle 249.

Notable Quotes

“Then he would become the greatest genius of all!” 185

“All pursuits were lowly; cultivation alone stood high.” 199

“Humanity Eternal!” 249