Bai Chongshan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Bai Chongshan (白崇山)
Alias(es)	Mr. Bai; White Wood Mask; Elder Bai
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Ji Imperial Clan; Imperial Envoy Group; formerly associated with the Third Prince's estate
Occupation/Role	Imperial cultivator; former Ji imperial official; custodian of the Kin-Seeking Document and Blood Appraisal instruments
Status	Wanted by the Tai Xuan Sect; reportedly left the mountain after his arrest warrant was issued 52 53
First Appearance	Chapter 24, as “Mr. Bai”

Background / History

Bai Chongshan operated covertly within the Tai Xuan Sect under the identity of Mr. Bai, concealing his face behind a White Wood Mask. He blackmailed Zhao Chong through evidence of his illicit herb sales, then directed Zhao Chong to enter the ninth floor of the Scripture Library and obtain material connected to the Gold Blade and the Imperial Clan. He communicated through Grey Feather Paper Cranes and used the Hundred Herbs Shop as a contact point. 24

His agents falsified autopsy records, supplied Breath-Closing Powder, and arranged Zhao Chong’s escape from custody. Testimonies from Zhao Chong and Du Heng identified Mr. Bai by his pine-resin scent, burned right hand, masked appearance, and access to imperial materials. 24 27

Li Sanshun and Gu Qinghe matched these clues to Bai Chongshan, a sixty-seven-year-old former imperial official in the envoy group. Bai was responsible for the Kin-Seeking Seal, Grey Feather Talisman Paper, and the blood-appraisal disks brought to Tai Xuan Sect. 28

Appearance

Bai Chongshan is an elderly, short-statured man in his sixties. He typically minimizes use of his right hand and keeps it covered. 28 29

• Has age spots on the backs of his hands. 28
• Sustained a fire injury to his right hand ten years earlier while escorting imperial children. 28
• Wears a black leather glove over the injured hand. 30
• Used a White Wood Mask and changed clothing to conceal his identity as Mr. Bai. 24 27
• Carries the recognizable scent of pine resin. 24 28

Personality

Bai Chongshan is calculating, patient, and deeply opportunistic. He hides behind imperial procedure and the prestige of the Ji Clan while manipulating evidence, identities, and official orders for his own ends. When challenged, he repeatedly deflects blame onto subordinates, guards, scribes, or supposedly compromised instruments. 30 31

His composure deteriorates when his schemes are exposed. Rather than abandon a failed plan, he escalates: attempting to force Li Sanshun’s identification as the Third Prince’s descendant, dispatching misleading messages to the Imperial City, imprisoning Ji Jingyao, and stealing the Gold Blade’s Seal of Destiny rubbing. 32 33 49 51

Abilities & Skills

Fire-Element Cultivation

Bai Chongshan practices a fire-element cultivation method. His known fire-related combat use includes launching Fire Talismans while escaping through the main peak’s ventilation shaft. 28 52

• His cultivation realm is not stated.
• His right hand was severely burned in an earlier attack, limiting how he uses it. 28 29
• Relies heavily on talismans, guards, arrays, and prepared contingencies rather than direct combat. 49 52

Blood-Appraisal Forgery

As custodian of the imperial Blood Appraisal instruments, Bai used his access to manipulate Li Sanshun’s blood verification. 28 30

• Placed aged imperial blood and a Blood-Changing Pill residue in the imperial appraisal disk’s Ancestral Blood Slot. 30
• Hid a pre-written Blood-Revealing Talisman inside the disk’s base to force the result “direct descendant of the Third Prince.” 31
• Attempted to interfere with subsequent re-verification using a Grey Feather Paper Crane. 32
• His falsification failed when Tai Xuan Sect and Alchemy Alliance disks identified Li Sanshun only as imperial close lineage with an unconfirmed paternal line. 32

Imperial Seals and Array Manipulation

Bai exploited imperial seals and forged array components to exert control over the envoy group and Guest-Welcoming Peak. 49 50

• Held custody of the Kin-Seeking Seal, an imperial master seal. 28 49
• Used the seal alongside Ji Jingyao’s compromised private seal to take control of the Guest-Welcoming Peak array. 49
• Arranged for imitation orders and Blood-Vein Black Iron array components to be concealed in congratulatory gift crates. 50
• Altered all six of Ji Jingyao’s transfer orders after the delegation entered Tai Xuan Sect. 49

Covert Operations

Bai maintained a network of coerced accomplices, infiltrators, and death-sworn soldiers inside and around Tai Xuan Sect. 24 41 49

• Used Grey Feather Paper Cranes coated with pine resin and imperial cinnabar to transmit messages. 24 45
• Employed blackmail to control Zhao Chong, Du Heng, and others connected to the Old Infant Case. 24 27
• Ordered the silencing of fifteen people connected to the old imperial archives. 41
• Deployed death-sworn soldiers during his seizure of Guest-Welcoming Peak and escape attempt. 50 52

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Kin-Seeking Seal — Imperial master seal under Bai’s custody; used to control the delegation’s protective array. 28 49
• Imperial Blood Appraisal Disk — Tampered with using old blood, a Blood-Changing Pill, and a Blood-Revealing Talisman. 30 31
• Grey Feather Talisman Paper — Imperial message paper used to communicate with accomplices and interfere with verification. 24 32
• White Wood Mask — Disguise used during meetings as Mr. Bai. 24 27
• Seal of Destiny rubbing — Obtained by opening the Gold Blade’s sealing casket and pressing the Seal of Destiny pattern into soft wax. 51 52
• Fire Talismans — Used during his attempted escape from the main peak. 52
• Blank Fourth Imperial Grandson’s Mansion armor tags — Evidence of his infiltration of the imperial delegation. 52

Relationships

• Li Sanshun — Principal adversary. Bai attempted to fabricate Li’s descent from the Third Prince, later targeted him through tracking gifts, array traps, and the theft of the Gold Blade’s Seal of Destiny rubbing. 30 33 49 52
• Ji Jingyao — Nominal superior within the kin-seeking mission. Bai altered Ji’s orders, seized the Kin-Seeking Seal, and held him captive at Guest-Welcoming Peak. 49 50
• Gu Qinghe — Lead investigator pursuing Bai’s connection to the Old Infant Case; she helped expose his forged verification disk and captured evidence of his theft. 28 31 52
• Xu Zhenchuan — Co-conspirator in suppressing witnesses and exploiting the old imperial archives; their operations were connected through forged tokens and secret communications. 41 45
• Zhao Chong — Blackmailed subordinate who entered the Scripture Library’s ninth floor and later provided testimony about Mr. Bai. 24 54
• Du Heng — Coroner coerced into falsifying records and assisting Zhao Chong’s escape through instructions from the masked Mr. Bai. 27 28
• Qi Shouxuan — Tai Xuan Sect elder who set the trap involving the fake Gold Blade and issued the order for Bai’s arrest. 51 52

Story Role / Major Arcs

Old Infant Case

Bai is gradually uncovered as the masked Mr. Bai behind Zhao Chong’s coercion, falsified autopsy reports, Breath-Closing Powder, and the attempt to erase evidence surrounding the Old Infant Case. 24 28

Triple Blood Appraisal

As the imperial envoy group’s blood-appraisal expert, Bai tries to force Li Sanshun into the Third Prince’s lineage. His disk is discovered to contain old imperial blood, Blood-Changing Pill residue, and a hidden Blood-Revealing Talisman. 29 32

Imperial Gifts and Sect Conspiracy

After prematurely informing the Imperial City that the Third Prince’s lost heir had been found, Bai sends congratulatory gifts containing tracking materials, Message-Transmitting Insect Eggs, and array components. His operations become increasingly tied to Xu Zhenchuan’s attempts to destroy old archives and silence witnesses. 33 41 45

Guest-Welcoming Peak Rebellion

Bai turns openly against Ji Jingyao, seals Guest-Welcoming Peak with the Kin-Seeking Seal, declares the Imperial Grandson assassinated, and uses Ji as a hostage to stop Li Sanshun from inspecting the gift crates. 49 50

Gold Blade Theft and Exposure

Bai infiltrates the main peak, opens the Gold Blade’s sealing casket, takes a rubbing of the Seal of Destiny, and steals a deliberately substituted fake Gold Blade. He is cornered after Li Sanshun identifies the true trail among decoys, and the theft is preserved by an image-recording bead. 51 52

“Li Sanshun, I will count to three. If you touch another crate, Ji Jingyao will lose a finger.” 50

“Qi Shouxuan is hoarding imperial heavy weapons and plotting against the delegation's envoy. You lot are helping him surround and kill me—do you know what crime that is?” 52