Han Su

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Han Su is an Earth Spirit Root disciple of the Dongting Immortal Sect. As a child, his family was destroyed after his father offended a petty villain: his father died after being framed, his mother took her own life, and Han Su escaped through a dog hole. After years of wandering, an old Daoist recognized his aptitude and recommended him to the Dongting Immortal Sect. 23

He first meets Xu Changqing at Xu's Grade-One Spirit Field, where he detects that its Earth Qi has been partially siphoned away. He offers to replenish it in exchange for a share of the harvest; after negotiation, the two agree on one-tenth and seal the arrangement with a talisman contract. 3

Han Su's restoration of the field's Earth Qi later clears Xu of Zhang Er's accusation of cheating during the assessment. Recognizing Xu's potential and appreciating the public recognition this brings him, Han Su tears up their contract and seeks a longer-term relationship as a buyer of Xu's spirit rice. 6 7

After becoming a formal disciple, Han Su struggles to secure stable work and spirit-rice supplies. His earlier partnership with Lin An proves unreliable, prompting him to offer seasonal soil-loosening services to Xu for fifty jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice. 21

Xu's continuing support, including Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice, Spirit Rice Wine, and timely notice of the Earth Vein's thirty-eighth-level eruption, becomes central to Han Su's rapid progress from Middle Qi Refining to Qi Refining Perfection. Although he obtained immense attribute-less spiritual qi during that opportunity, he failed to absorb Yellow Qi and remained blocked before Foundation Establishment. 88 124 143 144

Han Su later became an established Earth Vein worker and mining overseer, with the Li Family's support allowing him to organize an Earth Spirit Root team for land reclamation, construction, and related work. His domestic life with Li Xianglin eventually deteriorated, however, and they separated; Xianglin remained in the Central Region with their child. 604 693 878

As Earth Vein disturbances grew increasingly severe, Xu Changqing offered Han Su a place in the Spirit Melody Sect, promising him responsibility over its Earth Vein and spirit-mine affairs. Han Su accepted the offer, viewing it as an opportunity to use his specialized experience in a place where he would be trusted and valued. 879

Personality

Han Su is practical and profit-minded. His first proposal to restore Xu's field is opportunistic, but he accepts Xu's firm terms once he realizes that overreaching could cost him the deal. 3

He gradually becomes sincere and dependable toward Xu. He gives up a contract worth one hundred jin of spirit rice to demonstrate goodwill, honors his seasonal work arrangements, searches the Rogue Cultivator Market for a suitable Wood Spirit Root technique, and prioritizes Xu's jobs over other soil-loosening work. 7 31 37

Despite hardship, Han Su is ambitious and resilient. He endures dangerous Earth Vein labor and seeks to improve his Earthdraw Formula, hoping to reach Middle Qi Refining and eventually absorb Yellow Qi. 23 48

Han Su is cautious with information that could endanger Xu. After borrowing spirit rice from Xu, he conceals the loan from mocking fellow miners because he considers them untrustworthy and fears they could expose Xu to trouble. 58

He is deeply loyal and emotionally attached to Xu, whom he considers a benefactor and family-like figure after years without parental care. Xu's rescue from Mo Cha's poisonous fire and continued reassurance further strengthen this bond. 143 263

Although he remains insecure about his ordinary aptitude and limited prospects, Han Su is increasingly realistic about his circumstances. He values positions where his Earth Spirit Root skills are useful and where he can retain dignity, rather than relying on the Li Family or entering an environment where he would be disregarded. 879

Abilities & Skills

Earth Spirit Root

Han Su possesses an Earth Spirit Root, giving him a sharp perception of Earth Qi and making him suited to Earth Vein work. 3 23

• Detects when Earth Qi has been siphoned from a spirit field. 3
• Replenishes depleted Earth Qi to restore soil nourishment and improve growing conditions. 3
• Can endure Earth Vein pressure better than cultivators without Earth Spirit Roots. 23 48
• Requires Earth Vein cultivation and deep Earth Qi to temper his body and improve his technique. 23
• His Earth Vein tempering and body-cultivation path greatly strengthened his physique; after reaching Qi Refining Perfection, his skin became crystalline yellow and his body markedly more robust. 143
• Uses his Earth Spirit Root specialization in mining, land reclamation, soil preparation, and construction work. 144 604 693

Earthdraw Formula

Han Su uses the Earthdraw Formula for spirit-field maintenance and earth shaping. 3 48

• Draws scattered earth spiritual energy into a spirit field to replenish its Earth Qi. 3
• Loosens and turns hardened soil, including frozen Grade-Two Black Soil. 23
• At the second layer, controls earth-energy concentration and changes soil shape to form earthen nests. 48
• Before reaching the second layer, prolonged use on frozen Grade-Two soil caused severe cold and mottled white patches across his skin. 23
• At the second layer, can crack and overturn frozen Black Soil much more efficiently, though prolonged exposure to its yin-cold qi still requires rest and recovery. 56
• Uses refined Earth Spiritual Power for precise excavation, including digging cellars, fish ponds, and large damaged Spirit Field zones. 144 264 693

Construction and Earthworks

Han Su's Earth Spirit Root cultivation makes him a capable builder and excavator in addition to a spirit-field worker. 144 186

• Excavated a cellar beneath Xu Changqing's kitchen after reaching Qi Refining Perfection. 144
• Constructed Xu's two-story stone residence and expanded its underground area into two basement levels. 186
• Designed and excavated a divided fish-and-turtle pond with separate deep- and shallow-water sections. 264
• Approved Xu's plan to excavate and replace irreparably damaged Spirit Soil rather than slowly restore its chaotic Earth Qi and Earth Veins. 693
• Led an Earth Spirit Root team that reclaimed fields, built houses, and could undertake feng shui formation work for influential clients. 604

Rogue Cultivator Market Procurement

At Xu Changqing's request, Han Su searches the Rogue Cultivator Market for Wood Spirit Root-compatible techniques. 31

• Obtains a fragment of the high-grade Ironwood Armor Art for Xu Changqing. 37
• Later acquires books and cultivation methods for Xu, including Records of a Hundred Herbs, Woodgrain Biography, and the fire-attributed Blazing-Oil Method. 104
• Respects Xu's privacy and does not probe into the reasons behind Xu's requests for Wood and Fire Spirit Root materials. 104

Relationships

• Xu Changqing — Client, fellow disciple, benefactor, and Han Su's most reliable partner. Han Su restores Xu's depleted Earth Qi, later tears up their initial contract, and continues providing soil-loosening, construction, and market-search services for spirit rice and wine. Xu's resources and warning about the Earth Vein eruption help Han Su reach Qi Refining Perfection, while Xu later saves Han from poisonous fire. Han Su considers Xu a family-like figure and accepts his invitation to eventually oversee the Spirit Melody Sect's Earth Vein and mines. 3 7 31 37 143 263 879
• Lin An — Former client and unsuccessful partner. Han Su assisted Lin An's farming efforts, but Lin An failed to fulfill his contracts and was taken by the Punishment Department. 3 21 31
• Zhao Xin — Water Spirit Root disciple who worked alongside Han Su for Lin An's assessment crop. 10
• Shan Fei — Earth Spirit Root Sect leader who confirms that Han Su is a formal disciple still working in the Earth Vein. 48
• Yang Zhenyue — Earth Vein steward who treated Han Su's competition injury as a serious internal crisis and intended to seek underground ice spring water before Xu provided superior Iceheart Jade-Flask Wine. 262
• Li Xianglin — Han Su's former Dao companion and the mother of his child. Her Li Family support helped Han establish himself in the Earth Vein, but their relationship grew increasingly strained and they eventually separated; she remained in the Central Region with their child. 530 604 693 879
• Mo Cha — Formal Disciple Grand Competition opponent who severely injured Han Su with toxic fire during the repechage round. 261 262

Story Role / Major Arcs

Outer Sect Assessment

• Detects the loss of Earth Qi in Xu Changqing's field and replenishes it for one-tenth of the harvest. 3
• His testimony establishes that Xu's successful spirit-rice yield was supported by legitimate restoration of the field, undermining Zhang Er's cheating accusation. 6
• Cancels the talisman contract after Xu's promotion, choosing to build goodwill with a promising formal disciple. 7

Seasonal Spirit-Field Cooperation

• Seeks a stable seasonal contract with Xu after recognizing that his association with Lin An was unprofitable. 21
• Struggles to loosen Xu's frozen Grade-Two field because his Earthdraw Formula has not yet reached the second layer; Xu allows him to rest and completes the remaining work himself. 23 24
• Receives fifty jin of Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice for his completed work and is hired to seek Wood Spirit Root spell manuals at the Rogue Cultivator Market. 31
• Brings Xu the Ironwood Armor Art fragment and completes summer soil loosening under a renewed talisman contract. 37
• Borrows 250 jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice and 20 jin of Spirit Rice Wine from Xu to prepare for the Formal Disciple Grand Competition, signing a Spirit Talisman Contract and concealing the loan from fellow miners. 56 58
• Gives priority to Xu's fields over his mining quota because Xu's Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice accelerates his cultivation. 88
• Continues to assist Xu with five mu of Spirit Fields even after Xu's rapid rise in status, remaining anxious whenever he fears their long-standing cooperation may have ended. 231 306 331

Earth Vein Labor

• Continues mining in the Earth Vein when he cannot complete his mining quota, despite the exhausting and sunless conditions. 48
• Reaches the second layer of the Earthdraw Formula and offers to construct earthen shelters for Xu's Pearl Chickens and yellow dog. 48
• Is alerted by Xu to the Yellow Qi eruption on the thirty-eighth Earth Vein level and cultivates there for nearly ten days. 124 143
• Uses the eruption's attribute-less spiritual qi and his accumulated resources to reach Qi Refining Perfection, but misses the chance to absorb Yellow Qi. 143 144
• Eventually establishes himself in the Earth Vein, organizes an Earth Spirit Root work team, and becomes Mining Overseer Han. 604 878

Construction and Household Support

• Excavates a cellar beneath Xu's kitchen after becoming dissatisfied with having missed the chance to work on Xu's newly added field. 144
• Builds a two-story stone house and two-level underground area for Xu, receiving Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice, Spirit Rice Wine, and a Flying Paper Crane as payment. 186
• Makes a full recovery from Mo Cha's toxic fire after Xu administers Iceheart Jade-Flask Wine, then helps design and excavate Xu's fish-and-turtle pond. 261 263 264
• Later assists Xu with reclamation work and supports the practical excavation-and-replacement solution for disaster-stricken Spirit Fields. 604 693

Formal Disciple Grand Competition

• Enters the Formal Disciple Grand Competition in pursuit of advancement and the possibility of overcoming his limited prospects as an Earth Spirit Root cultivator. 56
• Suffers severe injuries in the first repechage match against Mo Cha, whose toxic fire nearly reaches Han's internal organs. 261 262
• Recovers after Xu gives him a carefully rationed dose of Supreme-Grade Iceheart Jade-Flask Wine, which suppresses and extinguishes the poisonous fire. 263
• Continues seeking a Golden Core breakthrough despite the expense of resources and his awareness that, at best, he may only form a Human-Grade Golden Core. 693

Future Spirit Melody Sect Role

• Confides to Xu that the Earth Vein is effectively his only home, despite the growing disturbances and his fear that he may eventually have to leave. 879
• Accepts Xu's invitation to join the Spirit Melody Sect and oversee its Earth Vein and spirit-mine affairs if the Dongting Earth Vein can no longer be guarded. 879

Trivia

• Han Su initially asks Xu Changqing to keep calling him “Junior Brother” even after becoming a formal disciple. 21
• He hopes to one day absorb Yellow Qi, a high-grade Earth Qi said to appear as yellow mist in the Earth Vein; a single wisp weighs ten thousand jin. 23
• His peers mock his poor judgment in choosing clients because of Lin An's failed contract, though Xu's reliable payments later give him a stable source of spirit rice. 48
• He secretly denied borrowing spirit rice from Xu when fellow Earth Vein disciples mocked him, believing that revealing the loan would expose Xu to unreliable people. 58
• After his first meeting with Han Xin during the pond project, he self-deprecatingly introduced himself as “merely an insignificant Earth Spirit Root disciple.” 264
• Decades later, Han nostalgically recalled that helping Xu loosen soil and channel Earth Qi had once been the work he most looked forward to. 1036