Ye Zhuo Daoist

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Ye Zhuo Daoist (业灼道人)
Species/Race	Human; severely mutated Sword Cultivator
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Zhi Shan Temple; Li Mo's allies
Occupation/Role	Sword Cultivator, taboo guide, and scavenger of Sword Tomb resources
Status	Alive; severely wounded during his most recently documented appearance 600
First Appearance	Chapter 383

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Spirit Severing Stage	383	Entered the Great Sun Sword Tomb upon first reaching the Spirit Severing Stage; shortcut cultivation left his body and soul severely eroded by Sword Intent.
Withered Body Stage — Perfection	383	Survived in secret for roughly three centuries despite being presumed dead by other Sword Cultivators.
Evil-Dispelling Sword Pellet	398	Successfully refined a Sword Pellet, deeply restraining his Sword Intent and restoring his formerly gaunt body and gray hair.
Sword Intent and Natal Flying Sword advancement	438	A Bodhi Fruit supplied by Li Mo advanced both his Sword Intent and Natal Flying Sword.
Strengthened Yin-Yang True Lord foundation	503	His unorthodox Art of Harvesting Yin to Nourish Yang restored him to a youthful appearance and raised his physical strength to that of several Spirit Severing Stage Body Cultivators.

Background

Ye Zhuo entered the Great Sun Sword Tomb when he first reached the Spirit Severing Stage. His reliance on shortcuts caused severe erosion of both body and soul by Sword Intent, and he later disappeared long enough that most Sword Cultivators assumed he had died. He instead endured for three centuries, reaching the Perfection of the Withered Body Stage. 383

Before meeting Li Mo, Ye Zhuo used the Human-Fox Sword Ghost's taboo, Not Like a Human, together with a Dual Cultivation Secret Art to suppress his worsening mutation. This arrangement was unstable: if he could not transfer the Human-Fox Flying Sword or reach the Five Qi Stage, he expected to be overwhelmed by the mutation. 383

Believing Li Mo to be weakened by qi deviation, Ye Zhuo tried to exploit him at Zhi Shan Temple. Li Mo immediately captured him, extracted information about the Human-Fox Daoist Temple, and destroyed it. Recognizing Li Mo's overwhelming strength, Ye Zhuo submitted and offered his knowledge of Purple Sun Hall's temples, taboos, and Sword Ghosts in exchange for protection and resources. 383 384

Appearance

Ye Zhuo is initially described as a scrawny, hunched Sword Cultivator who walks with the manner of a street thug. His body bears the visible consequences of Sword Intent erosion and repeated mutation. 383

• Hunched back and initially gaunt physique. 383
• Carries a half-sword, half-blade Natal Flying Sword at his waist. 383
• Later regains flesh and black hair after refining an Evil-Dispelling Sword Pellet. 398
• Has appeared with his Natal Flying Sword lodged in the crown of his head, using suspended animation to draw nourishment from it. 501
• Often adopts an overtly demonic appearance, including a human-skin robe, black coffin, white-bone gourd, and exposed intestines. 419

Personality

Ye Zhuo is pragmatic, greedy, and profoundly unorthodox. He regards conventional Sword Cultivators as rigid-minded and believes that deviant methods are the best means of surviving in the Great Sun Sword Tomb. His willingness to hide inside a Yellow Ox's stomach, exploit Sword Ghost taboos, and parasitize dangerous entities reflects a survival instinct unconstrained by dignity or orthodoxy. 383 388 522

He is also opportunistic and shamelessly flattering toward stronger allies. After Li Mo demonstrates his power, Ye Zhuo quickly reframes their relationship as one of mutual benefit and repeatedly seeks Corpse Wine, Dharma Treasures, pills, and cultivation methods. 383 384 419

Despite his self-serving nature, Ye Zhuo becomes increasingly dependable. He reinforces Zhi Shan Temple during Li Mo's seclusion, rescues Hundred Shuo Daoist from the cellar, assists Li Mo through Purple Sun Hall and Fire Spirit Hall, and shows unexpected compassion toward the Sword Ghost Xiang Zhi. 422 432 438 419

Abilities & Skills

Sword Cultivation

Ye Zhuo is a Spirit Severing Stage Sword Cultivator whose Sword Intent has been repeatedly damaged and strengthened through mutation, Sword Pellets, and unconventional cultivation.

• Uses Smoke and Fire Sword Intent. 391
• Refined an Evil-Dispelling Sword Pellet, an external organ akin to a Natal Flying Sword that restrains Sword Intent and supports his Sword Body. 398
• His Natal Flying Sword was later refined into an organ through his Dual Cultivation Method. 552
• His original Sword Art had obvious exploitable flaws until Li Mo refined and improved it. 391
• Cannot safely reveal his External Dharma Body at will because his severe mutations may prevent it from returning to his dantian. 383

Dual Cultivation and Mutation Suppression

Ye Zhuo specializes in Dual Cultivation involving Sinister Objects and Sword Ghosts, using it to suppress the damage inflicted by Sword Intent and sustain his body.

• Used the Human-Fox's taboo to forcibly suppress body-and-soul mutation. 383
• His proficiency with Yin-Yang techniques allowed him to hear Dao Lord Yang De's words without suffering the qi deviation that afflicted other cultivators. 469
• Practices the Art of Harvesting Yin to Nourish Yang, which restored his youth and strengthened his physical foundation. 503
• Requires Corpse Wine, Dharma Treasures, and other external resources to keep mutation under control. 384 469 557
• Corpse Wine could not heal his severe wounds during the events of Chapter 600. 600

Taboos and Sword Tomb Survival

Having spent centuries alone in the Great Sun Sword Tomb, Ye Zhuo has extensive practical knowledge of its Daoist temples, Sword Ghosts, and survival rules.

• Knows the weak points and taboos of numerous temples in Purple Sun Hall. 383 407
• Guided Li Mo through Tearing Fluff Temple and explained how to avoid provoking the Donkey Guest. 388
• Used livestock disguises and hid inside a Yellow Ox's stomach to infiltrate dangerous areas. 388
• Identified the taboo of the Night Wanderer God Mountain Patrol: thinking of a mountain while under its gaze causes one's flesh and blood to petrify. 388
• Assisted Li Mo in navigating Qingming Festival-related Sword Ghosts and the layers of the Bronze Mirror. 419 422

Blood Hiding Soul

Ye Zhuo uses Blood Hiding Soul to conceal himself, manipulate terrain, and restrain targets.

• Burrows it into soil to uproot willow trees. 419
• Used it to conceal himself from Sword Ghosts while trapped in Fire Spirit Hall. 431
• Uses it in conjunction with his Black Coffin to confine or transport Hundred Shuo Daoist. 422 423

Equipment

• Natal Flying Sword — Initially a half-sword, half-blade weapon; later cultivated into an organ and used to sustain Ye Zhuo through suspended animation. 383 501 552
• Black Coffin — A pseudo-Magic Treasure used for shelter, transport, and restraining Hundred Shuo Daoist. 407 422
• Lesser Luo Heaven — A pseudo-Magic Treasure Dharma Robe given by Li Mo; its erosive defect is offset by Ye Zhuo's Tai Yi Sword Body. 419
• Cushion Dharma Treasure — Given by Li Mo to suppress the risk of qi deviation. 469
• Evil-Dispelling Sword Pellet — A sword-body external organ that restrains Sword Intent. 398

Relationships

• Li Mo / Tai Yi — Initially attempted to take advantage of Li Mo, then became his guide, subordinate, and increasingly loyal ally after being subdued. Li Mo supplies him with Corpse Wine, Dharma Treasures, Bodhi Fruits, and cultivation resources. 383 384 438 552 557
• Human-Fox — Ye Zhuo exploited its taboo and Dual Cultivation potential to suppress his own mutation until Li Mo destroyed the Human-Fox Daoist Temple. 383
• Hundred Shuo Daoist — Fellow Sword Cultivator and companion at Zhi Shan Temple. Ye Zhuo advises him on refining the Evil-Dispelling Sword Pellet and later rescues him from the cellar. 398 438
• Dao Lord Yang De — Ye Zhuo uniquely endured her pseudo-Heavenly Dao influence due to his expertise in dual cultivation, gaining insight into Yin-Yang methods. 469
• Luo Yang — Elder who openly disapproves of Ye Zhuo's heretical side practices but accepts Li Mo's assurance that they will not damage his foundation. 502

Story Role / Major Arcs

Encounter at Zhi Shan Temple

Ye Zhuo detects Li Mo's Dao Body aura and attempts to exploit what he believes is Li Mo's weakness. Li Mo captures him before he can act, forces him to reveal the Human-Fox Daoist Temple's location, and destroys the temple. Ye Zhuo then becomes useful to Li Mo as a local guide familiar with Purple Sun Hall's dangers. 383

Infiltration of the Teaching Daoist Temples

He guides Li Mo through Tearing Fluff Temple and proposes hiding inside Yellow Oxen to evade the Donkey Guest and enter the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts. Although Li Mo replaces this crude disguise with refined aura-concealing tools, Ye Zhuo's knowledge enables their infiltration of Ju Xin Temple. 388

Zhi Shan Temple Ally

Ye Zhuo remains at Zhi Shan Temple during Li Mo's cultivation, refines an Evil-Dispelling Sword Pellet, advises Hundred Shuo Daoist, and helps sustain the temple's defenses amid Purple Sun Hall's collapse. 398 406 432

Fire Spirit Hall and the Bronze Mirror

Ye Zhuo accompanies Li Mo through the Qingming Festival calamity, assists in sealing and confronting Sword Ghosts, rescues Hundred Shuo from the cellar, and accepts responsibility for stabilizing the tavern while Li Mo confronts the Greater Night Wanderer. 419 423 432 438

Later Cultivation and Ascension Journey

Li Mo recognizes Ye Zhuo as the only cultivator at the port with a realistic chance of reaching the Body Integration Realm within a century and grants him substantial resources. Ye Zhuo later has his mutation stabilized with Corpse Wine and assists the group in repairing formations during their journey toward the Immortal World. 552 557

Notable Quotes

“Every one of them has a rigid mindset. To get resources, you have to use unorthodox methods. The more deviant, the more useful in the Sword Tomb.” 383

“An Evil-Dispelling Sword Pellet is nothing; This Old Daoist has plenty of methods.” 398