Xie Jinlin

Biodata

Background / History

Xie Jinlin is the eldest legitimate son of Xie Huaijin and Madam Shen, born one year before his second brother, Xie Jinghan. Celebrated as an exceptionally gifted swordsman whose cultivation surpassed that of his peers, he was regarded as the Xie Household’s qilin son and expected to inherit the family’s affairs. By the time of Xie Xuanyuan’s sixtieth-birthday banquet, he had reached Postnatal Realm Grade Three, placing him among the Upper Third Grade. 1 2 3

Seven days before the banquet, Xie Huaijin sent Jinlin to the Azure City Sword Sect to deliver an invitation to Elder He Zhaoming. Jinlin never arrived. During the banquet, Black Tiger Stronghold leader Wu Hen presented Jinlin’s severed arm as proof of his supposed death; later evidence established that he had been ambushed en route and taken alive. 1 3 7 8

Jinlin was imprisoned in a Blood Slaughter Sect stronghold near a Blood Pool. The sect used his abundant essence and blood to sustain the pool, while preserving his life as leverage against the Xie Household. Despite nearly ten days of baleful chill, shattered meridians, scattered cultivation, and torture, he remained alive and unbroken. 11 12

Xie Jinghan rescued Jinlin alongside Wang Tianfeng and Ling Yun, then destroyed the stronghold. Having survived the ordeal together, Jinlin, Wang Tianfeng, and Ling Yun swore brotherhood. 13

During the rescue, Xie Jinghan transferred Innate True Qi into the three prisoners to suppress the harmful forces eroding their bodies, halt their loss of blood and qi, and stabilize their lives. Wang Zhongze subsequently treated them with Foundation-Stabilizing Pills. At Ling Yun’s suggestion, the survivors performed their brotherhood oath on a mountain during the return journey, with Wang Tianfeng becoming the eldest, Ling Yun the second, and Jinlin the youngest. Xie Jinghan associated their bond with two prophecies concerning wind, clouds, and a golden qilin transforming into a dragon. 12 13

On the journey home, Jinlin was bewildered by Xie Jinghan’s newly revealed strength. Xie Yue explained the birthday-banquet attack and the other recent upheavals in the household. The injured men rested at the Wang family’s Golden Valley Garden in Yangluo Prefecture before continuing home, where Jinlin remained in the Xie Residence to recuperate. He later watched Xie Jinghan defeat Chu Ning in their sword duel at Wangjiang Terrace. 14 15 16 19

After recovering physically, Jinlin struggled with the permanent loss of his right arm. Encouraged by Xie Jinghan to preserve his sword heart and cultivate left-handed swordsmanship, he resolved to continue on the martial path. He subsequently departed for the Mystic Azure Sword Sect with Wang Tianfeng, under Chu Ning and Ling Yun’s care. 20

His admission was secured through Xie Huaijin’s repeated negotiations and generous gifts, aided by Xie Jinghan’s connections and Jinlin’s sworn brotherhood with Ling Yun. Before departing, Jinlin entrusted his grandfather, parents, and the rest of the household to Xie Jinghan. 20

By the time Xie Jinghan left the residence for Tiger Leaping Gorge, the Mystic Azure Sword Sect had reported that Jinlin and Wang Tianfeng had both been accepted as inner disciples under Ling Yun’s master, True Person Yin Zi. They enjoyed their master’s considerable favor and received abundant cultivation resources; Xie Jinghan speculated that the earlier prophecies might have contributed to this favorable reception. The two also arranged for a bottle of precious Sword Condensation Pills to be brought back. Their cultivation realms at this point were not specified. 32

Appearance

Following his recovery, Jinlin retains a straight, proud bearing despite the loss of his right arm. 20

• Wears an azure sword robe when departing for the Mystic Azure Sword Sect. 20
• His right sleeve hangs empty following the amputation. 20
• Even while critically injured in the Blood Pool, he kept his back straight and refused to let his pride bend. 11
• After his wounds healed, lingering desolation remained visible between his brows, reflecting his difficulty accepting the loss of his arm. 20

Personality

Jinlin is resilient, proud, and strong-willed. His severe torture and the destruction of his cultivation did not break his resolve, and he endured captivity while clinging to life. 11 12

Initially despondent after losing his arm, he ultimately chooses to keep cultivating rather than surrender his ambitions. His decision to enter the Mystic Azure Sword Sect reflects renewed determination to continue his sword path. 20

He values bonds forged through shared hardship, readily accepting Ling Yun’s proposal to swear brotherhood with him and Wang Tianfeng. His sorrowful farewells and request that Xie Jinghan care for their family also demonstrate his attachment to the household. 13 20

Abilities & Skills

Martial Cultivation

• Reached Postnatal Realm Grade Three, entering the Upper Third Grade while still young. 3
• Recognized as a direct-descendant genius of the Xie Household, with unusually deep foundations and abundant essence and blood. 1 12
• His cultivation was scattered after prolonged exposure to the Blood Pool; his later restored cultivation level is not stated. 12
• Became an inner disciple of True Person Yin Zi at the Mystic Azure Sword Sect and received abundant cultivation resources, though no subsequent realm advancement is specified. 32

Swordsmanship

• Possessed sword cultivation considered superior to that of his peers before his abduction. 1
• Intends to continue on the sword path despite losing his right arm, potentially through left-handed swordsmanship. 20
• Xie Jinghan encouraged him with the example of the one-armed swordsman Yang Guo, emphasizing that a firm true heart and an unextinguished sword heart matter more than intact limbs. This was guidance for Jinlin’s future cultivation, not evidence that he had already mastered left-handed swordsmanship or a heavy-sword technique. 20

Power Progression

Relationships

• Xie Jinghan — Younger half-brother and rescuer. Jinlin entrusts the Xie Household to him before leaving for the Mystic Azure Sword Sect. 2 13 20 Jinghan stabilizes his life with Innate True Qi and encourages him to continue sword cultivation despite his disability. 12 20
• Xie Huaijin — Father and head of the Xie Household; dispatched Jinlin to invite Elder He Zhaoming and later arranged his admission to the Mystic Azure Sword Sect. 1 20
• Madam Shen — Mother; her grief over Jinlin’s disappearance motivates the household’s search. 7 8
• Xie Xuanyuan — Grandfather; believes Jinlin may still be alive because Wu Hen brought only his arm rather than proof of death. 7
• Xie Jingming — Younger brother, also born to Madam Shen. 2 7
• Xie Zhiwei — Youngest sister and a cherished child of the Xie Household. 2 7
• Wang Tianfeng — Sworn brother, forged through their shared imprisonment and rescue from the Blood Pool. 13 The eldest of the three sworn brothers; later joins Jinlin as an inner disciple under True Person Yin Zi. 13 32
• Ling Yun — Sworn brother and Mystic Azure Sword Sect disciple; travels with Jinlin to the sect. 13 20 Proposes their brotherhood oath and becomes its second brother. Jinlin subsequently enters the discipleship of Ling Yun’s master. 13 32
• Chu Ning — Senior disciple of the Mystic Azure Sword Sect who agrees to look after Jinlin during the journey and within the sect. 20
• True Person Yin Zi — Master at the Mystic Azure Sword Sect. Accepts Jinlin and Wang Tianfeng as inner disciples, favors them considerably, and provides abundant cultivation resources. 32
• Wang Zhongze — Treats Jinlin and his fellow survivors with Foundation-Stabilizing Pills after their rescue and witnesses their brotherhood oath. 13
• Xie Yue — Household escort-agency leader who accompanies the rescue expedition and explains the recent events at the Xie Residence to Jinlin during the return journey. 8 14
• Wu Hen — Enemy responsible for ambushing Jinlin and severing his arm as part of a vendetta against the Xie Household. 3 8
• Blood Slaughter Sect — Imprisoned Jinlin in the Blood Pool, using him as cultivation fuel and a bargaining chip against Xie Jinghan. 11 12

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