Stone

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Jiang Xiangchun
Alias(es)	Stone (石头)
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Jiang Family of Clear Dew Mountain
Occupation/Role	Qi Refining cultivator; defender of Clear Dew Mountain; co-manager of Spirit Talisman Pavilion
Status	Alive 123
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Qi Refining First Layer	60	Had reached the first layer by age ten despite cultivating in an area with sparse spiritual energy.
Qi Refining Second Layer	67	Broke through while cultivating with the Wang Family.
Qi Refining Fourth Layer / Mid-Stage	81	Returned to Clear Dew Mountain with his wife and daughter after advancing to the Qi Refining Mid-Stage.
Qi Refining Fifth Layer	115	Reached the fifth layer; his physical body was comparable to a mid-stage First-Rank Spirit Beast.

Background

Stone is Jiang Fu'an's third child. At age four, he possessed Metal-Wood-Fire-Earth Four-Element Spiritual Roots, the blue-grade fate Rebirth from Death, and the purple-grade Devouring Physique. His fate can awaken latent potential in life-threatening situations, but at the cost of lifespan. 2

As a child, Stone was honest and intensely stubborn. He argued with other children because they denied that people should eat three meals a day, then was attacked by a group of boys on his way home. 1 He began martial training at five and practiced every morning without fail, first with a wooden saber. 15

His father later taught him techniques from a beast-hide scroll, including the Cloud-Soaring Steps, Wind-Thunder Saber Technique, and Heaven-and-Earth Toss. 24

Personality

Stone is filial and accustomed to deferring to Jiang Fu'an on major decisions. When Wang Zhiyue offered him daily Half-Spirit Beast meat and cultivation in the Wang Family, he did not answer immediately and instead said he would follow his father's decision. 37

He is highly competitive, earnest about training, and eager to prove himself in battle. His stubbornness can become recklessness: he repeatedly risks his lifespan through the Blood-Burning Curse when his family or home is threatened. 44 94 115

As he grows older, Stone becomes decisive and severe toward intruders. He allowed two thieves to finish harvesting Bloodfang Rice before killing them and taking their possessions, reasoning that this spared the Jiang Family the labor of harvesting the field themselves. 104 105 He is also confident in business, publicly advertising the Spirit Talisman Pavilion's exclusive talismans despite the risk of provoking competitors. 111

Abilities & Skills

Devouring Physique

Stone's purple-grade special physique converts what he consumes into useful energy with unusually high efficiency. 2

• Half-Spirit Beast meat substantially improves his cultivation; a full meal produces an effect roughly equivalent to one-tenth of a Qi-Nourishing Pill. 37
• He benefits especially well from Spirit Beast meat and medicinal pills. 56
• His body-tempering expenditure rises sharply as he grows stronger; Half-Spirit Beast meat becomes less effective at higher stages. 112

Dragon-Tiger Body Tempering Art

Stone cultivates the Dragon-Tiger Body Tempering Art alongside Jiang Fu'an. 72 83

• He and Jiang Fu'an perfected its second level, giving them bodies comparable to First-Rank Mid-Stage demonic beasts. 83
• By Qi Refining Fifth Layer, his physical body is recorded as comparable to a mid-stage First-Rank Spirit Beast. 115
• His physical resilience lets him withstand pressure and injuries that would overwhelm cultivators of the same realm. 93 114

Saber and Close-Quarters Combat

Stone prefers close combat, combining physical strength, agility, and saber techniques. 83

• Practices the Wind-Thunder Saber Technique and Cloud-Soaring Steps. 24 44
• His completed saber routine can be sustained for roughly half an hour at full spiritual-power capacity, though actual combat drains him faster. 44
• Fought Half-Spirit Wolves during the Beast Tide and assisted Jiang Fu'an against a First-Order Blazing Fire Eagle. 46 47
• Uses terrain and speed effectively, including during his duel with Lu Xuanfeng. 94

Heaven-and-Earth Toss

A concealed-weapon technique suited to Stone's strength. It can launch stones, coins, throwing knives, or similar objects using physical force or spiritual power. 24

• Split a wooden board from more than ten meters away with a thrown pebble. 39
• Used a short spear through a Half-Spirit Boar's forehead during the Beast Tide. 46
• Later received a mid-grade short spear specifically suited to this technique. 90

Blood-Burning Curse

A body-cultivation secret technique that reverses qi and blood flow to produce a major temporary increase in strength. 72 94

• Enabled Stone to repel Lu Xuanfeng's crimson flying sword and crack his high-grade golden-bell defense. 94
• Its cost is severe: after using it in the fight for Clear Dew Mountain's Spiritual Vein, Stone's hair turned more than half white and his hidden injuries reduced his lifespan by forty years. 95
• He used it again during the Rebirth Society ambush, suffering additional hidden injuries and a weakened period afterward. 114 115
• The Jiang Family's Food Therapy gradually treats the resulting hidden injuries, but does not heal them immediately. 99 115

Equipment

• Mid-grade short spear — Given by Jiang Fu'an; complements Heaven-and-Earth Toss. 90
• Mid-grade spirit boots — Grant lightness comparable to a Lightness Talisman and can be strengthened by pouring in spiritual power. 90
• Long saber — His principal close-combat weapon. 44 113
• Storage pouch — Carries weapons and supplies while traveling between Clear Dew Mountain and Moon Spirit Market. 113

Relationships

• Jiang Fu'an — Father and martial instructor. Stone respects his judgment, fights beside him during crises, and is repeatedly warned not to sacrifice his life for material gains. 37 44 47 95
• Jiang Xianghe (Seedling) — Elder sister. Stone stands with her against the Lu Family's demand for Clear Dew Mountain's Spiritual Vein; she attempts to stop his life-threatening duel with Lu Xuanfeng. 93 94
• Jiang Xiangyue (Yue'er) — Elder sister. The two compete during hunts and argue over whether luck counts as strength; Stone generally backs down when she asserts her seniority. 17
• Wang Zhaoyun (Zhao Yun) — Wife. Their marriage was arranged through a Jiang–Wang alliance; they later manage Spirit Talisman Pavilion together and have a daughter, Xuan'er. 60 74 110 115
• Wang Zhiyue — Mother-in-law and former Wang Family head. She initially tried to recruit Stone into the Wang Family, then arranged his betrothal to Wang Zhaoyun. 36 37 60
• Lu Xuanfeng — Opponent in the duel over Clear Dew Mountain's Spiritual Vein. Stone accepted the match despite Lu Xuanfeng's superior spell experience and magical artifacts. 93 94
• Bai Lan / Sister Bai — Rogue cultivator and Rebirth Society member who saved Stone from an assassination ambush. Their former hostility shifted into wary cooperation after she treated his injuries and revealed the contract on his life. 114 115
• Xuan'er — Daughter with Wang Zhaoyun. She waits for Stone's regular returns from Moon Spirit Market. 115

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Wang Family recruitment and betrothal — Wang Zhiyue repeatedly attempts to bring Stone into the Wang Family because of his cultivation potential. Jiang Fu'an ultimately accepts a betrothal to Wang Zhaoyun while retaining Stone within the Jiang Family. 36 37 60
• Beast Tide defense — Stone kills a Half-Spirit Boar, confronts a pack of Half-Spirit Wolves, and assists Jiang Fu'an in defending the family residence from the Blazing Fire Eagle. 46 47
• Return to Clear Dew Mountain — After advancing to Qi Refining Mid-Stage, Stone returns from the Wang Family with Wang Zhaoyun and their daughter. He takes a firmer role in safeguarding his household. 81
• Defense of the Spiritual Vein — Stone confronts Lu Xuanchen and duels Lu Xuanfeng to prevent the Lu Family from forcing the Jiang Family to sell Clear Dew Mountain's Spiritual Vein. He uses the Blood-Burning Curse and sustains devastating hidden injuries. 93 94 95
• Clear Dew Mountain guardian — Stone detects intruders, kills Rogue Cultivators attempting to steal Bloodfang Rice, and reports their spoils to Jiang Fu'an. 104 105
• Spirit Talisman Pavilion — Jiang Fu'an entrusts Stone and Wang Zhaoyun with the Moon Spirit Market shop. Stone promotes the pavilion aggressively and returns home regularly for Food Therapy. 110 111
• Rebirth Society assassination attempt — Eight Rebirth Society cultivators ambush Stone. He survives with Bai Lan's intervention, learns that Cosmos Pavilion manager Zhao Linlan commissioned his death for three hundred low-grade Spirit Stones, and returns to warn his family. 114 115 116

Notable Quotes

“I'll listen to Father.” 37