Lanling King

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Lanling King (兰陵王)
Alias(es)	Shadow Blade; Shadow Guard; “uncrowned king of the shadows” 5 26
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiang Yi; Hidden Star Court
Occupation/Role	Summoned Hero; assassin; stealth operative; reconnaissance agent
Status	Active; carries a persistent shoulder-blade scar from the Yunnan Outpost mission 50
First Appearance	Chapter 5

Background / History

Xiang Yi selected Lanling King as his first Hero because of his lower summoning cost and his combination of stealth, reconnaissance, and silent lethal strikes. At the time, Lanling King’s projection appeared almost fully merged with ink-dark shadows, visible only through his cold eyes. Xiang Yi completed the summoning shortly afterward, bringing him into reality as a silent shadow assassin bound to his command 5 6.

Lanling King’s first mission was to infiltrate the office of the man who framed the Xiang family and retrieve evidence. He performed the task through shadow concealment and spatially destructive attacks, but returned badly wounded, establishing both his effectiveness and the physical cost of his operations 6 8.

He subsequently served as Xiang Yi’s primary intelligence gatherer, monitoring Zhang Tianlin, The Hand, Ghost Ward, and underground smuggling routes. During the Ghost Ward operation, he stole the Ten-Ring Pattern Kunlun Ancient Jade from a one-eyed dealer in less than half a second, then escaped the resulting lockdown 11 13.

Lanling King was critically wounded during the Black Serpent Gang’s assault on the warehouse. Special-alloy shot contaminated his core with Demon-Breaking Metal, forcing Xiang Yi to risk spiritual backlash to purify him. After witnessing Xiang Yi collapse from the effort, Lanling King swore a soul-bound oath: “my life is your shield,” raising his loyalty to 150% and granting the Unwavering Devotion status 14 15.

His later missions repeatedly placed him against The Hand and the Ten Rings Syndicate. He retrieved Pure Energy Crystals from an East Sea freighter despite poison, rune-chain injuries, and pursuit; survived further poisoning while securing Ten Rings intelligence; and was ultimately saved from a lethal Ten Rings toxin through Xiang Yi, Guiguzi, and A Ke’s efforts 20 21 26 30.

Lanling King later helped establish Hidden Star Court, infiltrated The Hand’s Yunnan base with A Ke, and remained one of Xiang Yi’s frontline protectors during the group’s escape from the Ancient One’s lingering dimensional disturbances 37 39 40 46.

Appearance

Lanling King is tall and lean, typically emerging from shadows in dark combat attire. He conceals most of his face behind a dark-gold mask or hood, leaving pale lips and cold, sharp eyes visible 8 15.

• Dark purple or black light-absorbing combat clothing 8 39
• Dark-gold mask; hood often obscures his face 8 50
• Deep-purple or crimson eyes, particularly noticeable when wounded or enraged 15 43
• Dark armguards and a dagger carried at his waist 6 13 50
• Persistent scar beneath the shoulder blade from the Yunnan Outpost operation 50

Personality

Lanling King is restrained, formal, and intensely mission-focused. He speaks sparingly, accepts orders without hesitation, and approaches infiltration with the precision of a professional assassin. Even while poisoned or severely wounded, he prioritizes completing Xiang Yi’s objective over his own survival 11 19 21 26.

His defining trait is absolute loyalty to Xiang Yi. Initially rooted in their summoner-Hero connection, this loyalty becomes personal after Xiang Yi nearly sacrifices himself to cleanse Lanling King’s contamination. Lanling King responds with a soul oath and treats his own life as a shield for his lord 15.

Though ordinarily cold and controlled, he shows clear concern when Xiang Yi is endangered. He remained at Xiang Yi’s bedside through the night after the purification, attempted to rise despite broken ribs when Xiang Yi faced S.H.I.E.L.D.’s mental scan, and immediately offered to eliminate Su Rui when he perceived her as a threat 15 42 43.

Abilities & Skills

Shadow Concealment

Lanling King can merge with ambient darkness, suppressing his presence and moving without sound.

• Stealth allows him to blend into shadows, greatly reduce his presence, and slightly increase movement speed for five minutes; it has a ten-minute cooldown and costs Xiang Yi minimal mental power 6.
• Can emerge from or dissolve into shadows without visible disturbance 6 8 43.
• Uses darkness and visual blind spots to infiltrate guarded locations, including Ghost Ward, the Zhang villa, cargo ships, and The Hand’s Yunnan base 13 19 26 39.
• Can lower his body temperature and heartbeat to evade detection while pressed against a wall 19.

Stealth, Reconnaissance, and Infiltration

Lanling King is Xiang Yi’s principal field scout and covert operative.

• Tracks criminal networks, smuggling routes, The Hand contacts, and black-market access targets 11 12.
• Avoids vibration sensors, infrared grids, surveillance-camera sweeps, pressure wires, and patrol routes 19 20 26.
• Disables sensor nodes with shadow needles and melts or bypasses locks using Shadow Power 19 20.
• His Shadow Power can probe objects and identify energy outlines through containers or cloth 13.

Shadow Blade Combat

Lanling King fights primarily with a dagger and close-range Shadow Power, favoring rapid lethal strikes.

• Executes silent assassination attempts from blind spots and shadows 13 39.
• Forms shadow energy into fine needles for lockbreaking, sensor sabotage, and precision attacks 19 20.
• Uses his Shadow Dagger to parry weapons and sever rune-covered chains 20.
• Can evade attacks through extreme body control, twisting at seemingly impossible angles to avoid poisoned darts 19.
• His initial manifestation left a smooth hole in a reinforced wall, with strange starlight around its edges, demonstrating destructive power beyond ordinary weaponry 6.

Shadow Mist

Shadow Mist is Lanling King’s bond skill with Guiguzi, created through the Covenant of Concealment.

• Produces a dense black mist threaded with pale-gold Xuan Weizi particles 19 21.
• Swallows light and sound, distorts spatial perception, and disrupts enemies’ senses and aim 19 21.
• Increases allied invisibility range by 30% and movement speed by 5% for 30 seconds; cooldown: 12 hours 21.
• Allowed Lanling King to escape an East Sea freighter with two Pure Energy Crystals despite guards and severe injuries 21.

Flashstep Shadow Kill

Lanling King can combine his shadow movement with A Ke’s assassination techniques.

• The joint technique tore open a spatial rift while attempting to break the Dimensional Shackles 48.
• Requires close coordination with A Ke and Xiang Yi’s mental guidance 48.
• Its use risks exposing their location through the resulting spatial disturbance 48.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Shadow Dagger — his primary close-range weapon; used to parry blades and cut rune-covered chains 20.
• Dark-gold mask — conceals most of his face 8.
• Dark combat attire / night suit — absorbs light and insulates heat during infiltration 8 39.
• Dark armguards — worn during stealth operations and thefts 6 13.
• Metal sliver — used for silent lock manipulation during a container infiltration 26.

Relationships

• Xiang Yi — Summoner and lord. Their relationship develops from a system contract into mutual protection after Xiang Yi saves Lanling King from core contamination; Lanling King’s loyalty reaches 150% under Unwavering Devotion 15 30.
• Guiguzi — Allied strategist and bond-skill partner. Their Shadow Mist combination skill provides concealment, sensory disruption, and escape support 19 21.
• A Ke — Fellow assassin and combat partner. They infiltrate The Hand’s Yunnan base together, protect one another from lethal attacks, and later perform Flashstep Shadow Kill 39 40 48.
• Ming Shiyin — Fellow summoned Hero. Lanling King helps support him after the backlash from his divination 33.

Story Role / Major Arcs

First Summoning and Evidence Retrieval

Lanling King is chosen as Xiang Yi’s first Hero and deployed to retrieve evidence related to the framing of the Xiang family company. His arrival gives Xiang Yi his first reliable weapon and source of covert intelligence 5 8.

Ghost Ward and the Kunlun Ancient Jade

He investigates Ghost Ward and The Hand’s local connections, identifies viable targets for a Ghost Ward token, and steals the Ten-Ring Pattern Kunlun Ancient Jade during Xiang Yi’s infiltration of the black market 11 14.

Core Contamination and the Oath

After taking special-metal shot during the warehouse battle, Lanling King’s core begins collapsing. Xiang Yi purifies the contamination at severe personal cost, prompting Lanling King’s oath of unwavering loyalty 14 15.

East Sea Freighter Operations

Lanling King infiltrates Zhang Tiankui’s villa and the East Sea freighter network, securing intelligence and two Pure Energy Crystals. These operations leave him repeatedly poisoned and critically wounded, but also unlock Shadow Mist with Guiguzi 19 22.

Ten Rings Poison Crisis

While retrieving documents from a trapped shipping container, Lanling King is struck by a lethal poisoned dart. Guiguzi temporarily seals the poison, A Ke retrieves the needed Vibranium fragment, and Xiang Yi uses it to save him 26 30.

Hidden Star Court and the Yunnan Trial

He helps build Hidden Star Court’s defenses, then joins A Ke in the assault on The Hand’s Yunnan base. He sustains severe poison and back wounds while shielding A Ke during the fight against Poison Fang and his guards 37 39 40.

Escape from the Ancient One’s Disturbances

During the collapse of the Kunlun outpost, Lanling King carries Xiang Yi through reality-warping mountain terrain. His old Yunnan injury tears open under the strain, but he continues the escape 46.

Notable Quotes

“This subordinate will not fail you.” 6

“From this day onward, my life is your shield.” 15

“Shadow is my body; the blade is your command!” 15

“By my soul, I swear this oath, until death!” 15