Li Sancai

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Li Sancai (李三才)
Alias(es)	Senior Brother Li
Gender	Male
Spiritual Root	Wood Spirit Root 35
Affiliation	Dongting Immortal Sect; affiliated with Li Lingbi's resource-gathering team 26 33
Occupation/Role	Formal disciple; spirit-field patrolman and assessment official; spirit farmer cultivating Spirit Rice and Rainbow Orchids 5 26 32
Status	Alive 40
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Background / History

Li Sancai was stationed in the outer spirit fields before Xu Changqing became a formal disciple. Already having cultivated the Evergreen Formula to its second layer, he was regarded as a capable senior brother with a detailed understanding of spirit-rice cultivation. When Xu sought help over his failing crop, Li identified insufficient nutrients, water, and spiritual energy, and advised three remedies: Water Spirit Root disciples' Minor Cloud-Rain Art, Earth Spirit Root disciples' soil loosening, or improving the Evergreen Formula. 2

As an assessment official, Li Sancai regularly patrolled the spirit fields and could accurately judge likely passers. During Xu's final outer-sect assessment, he avoided identifying Xu as a probable success in front of Zhang Er, then called Han Su to verify that Xu's field had legitimately received restored earth qi. 5 6 After Xu passed, Li advised him not to pursue Zhang Er's attempted exploitation, explaining that formal disciples' exploitation of outer disciples was an accepted sect practice backed by higher-ranking interests. 7

After his outer-field assignment ended, Li returned to the Spirit Field Core. He revealed that core disciple Li Lingbi was his cousin and sought Xu out to arrange a long-term supply agreement for Li Lingbi's attempt at forming an Earth-Grade Golden Core. 26 Xu agreed to provide at least 800 jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice each quarter in exchange for spirit stones and potential future benefits from Li Lingbi's success. 27

Li Sancai handled Xu's first delivery personally, accepting 800 jin of Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice and offering four Mid-Grade Spirit Stones at a rate he described as fair despite not matching the market price. 32 He subsequently recognized the rice as Xu's contribution to Li Lingbi's birthday and brought Xu into the inner circle attending the Water-Control Pavilion banquet. 33 36

Following Li Lingbi's departure for the Central Region, Li Sancai returned Xu safely to the Spirit Field Core. His reasons for recruiting Xu remain unstated, causing Xu to become wary of both Li Sancai and Li Lingbi's intentions. 37 Li later employed Xu to harvest his Rainbow Orchids and explained the rarity and value of Mutated Spirit Plants. 40

Appearance

Li Sancai is described as having a mature face. 2

• Wood Spirit Root cultivator. 35
• Wears formal-disciple attire when attending Li Lingbi's banquet. 35

Personality

Li Sancai is knowledgeable, pragmatic, and attentive to reciprocal benefit. He helps Xu diagnose crop problems and later explains that “many things are mutual,” linking his assistance to Xu's demonstrated farming talent. 2 26

He is also cautious about sect politics. Rather than encouraging retaliation against Zhang Er, he warns Xu to endure, conceal dissatisfaction, and guard against the broader network that permits exploitation. 7 His conduct in business is comparatively fair: although Li Lingbi's team receives rice below market value, Li Sancai explicitly avoids taking undue advantage in their first transaction. 32

Abilities & Skills

Evergreen Formula

Li Sancai has cultivated the Evergreen Formula to at least the second layer, granting him considerably finer perception of spirit plants than Xu possessed at the time. 2

• Diagnoses specific deficiencies in Spirit Rice, including insufficient nutrients, water, and spiritual energy. 2
• Recognizes when a spirit field itself is likely responsible for poor yield. 2
• Uses his understanding of cultivation to recommend appropriate Water and Earth Spirit Root assistance. 2

Spirit Plant Cultivation

Li Sancai is an experienced spirit farmer who manages both Spirit Rice and Rainbow Orchids. 32

• Identified Four-Leaf Clover's high water requirement and advised Xu to dig a water channel beside the plants. 26
• Cultivates Rainbow Orchids for talisman ink; the plants are supplied exclusively to the Water-Control Pavilion. 32
• Knows that Rainbow Orchid cultivation requires at least Late Qi Refining and connections within the Water-Control Pavilion. 32
• Understands that Spirit Plants may mutate under certain conditions, though he has personally seen this only twice. 40

Movement and Flight

Li Sancai demonstrated an unnamed movement technique impressive enough to leave Xu Changqing astonished. 27

• Operates a Flying Paper Crane for travel to Water-Control Pavilion and between the Spirit Field Core and his residence. 34 37
• Acts as Xu's guide through the sect's surrounding regions, including Beast Spirit Valley, Foundry Peak, and Water-Control Pavilion. 34

Equipment / Items

• Communication Talisman — given to Xu Changqing after Li returned to the Spirit Field Core, allowing them to arrange deliveries and invitations. 26 32
• Flying Paper Crane — used to transport Xu to Li Lingbi's birthday banquet and back to the Spirit Field Core. 34 37
• Rainbow Orchid fields — two mu of spirit fields near his stone house; the orchids are harvested every two months and refined into talisman ink. 32

Relationships

• Xu Changqing — Junior fellow spirit farmer whom Li advises, assists during the outer-sect assessment, recruits into Li Lingbi's team, and later hires to harvest Rainbow Orchids. 2 6 26 40
• Li Lingbi — Cousin and core-disciple patron; Li Sancai gathers resources and recruits suppliers for Li Lingbi's planned Earth-Grade Golden Core attempt. 20 26 27
• Zhang Er — Fellow assessment official whom Li openly dislikes; Li warns Xu not to escalate conflict with Zhang due to the sect's entrenched system of exploitation. 5 7
• Han Su — Earth Spirit Root disciple summoned by Li during Xu's assessment to confirm that Xu's field had received legitimate earth-qi restoration. 6
• Pei Mo — Fellow guest at Li Lingbi's birthday banquet; Li is wary of Pei's reputation for becoming violent while drunk. 35

Story Role / Major Arcs

Outer Spirit Field Assessment

• Diagnoses Xu Changqing's crop failure and supplies the practical advice that enables Xu to address his field's depleted earth qi. 2
• Serves as an assessment official and helps establish that Xu's successful harvest was legitimate. 5 6
• Warns Xu of the political danger in confronting Zhang Er after the assessment. 7

Li Lingbi Resource Team

• Returns to the Spirit Field Core after his outer-field assignment and offers Xu entry into Li Lingbi's team. 26
• Negotiates Xu's quarterly obligation of 800 jin of Second-Grade Spirit Rice, leaving a Mid-Grade Spirit Stone as a nonrefundable deposit. 27
• Receives Xu's first 800-jin delivery and formally treats him as part of the team. 32 33

Water-Control Pavilion Banquet

• Invites and guides Xu to Li Lingbi's birthday banquet at Water-Control Pavilion. 33 34
• Introduces Xu to Li Lingbi and explains that team members do not need to offer the same formal gifts as outside supporters. 35 36
• Expresses concern when Li Lingbi announces his journey to the demon-filled Central Region. 36

Rainbow Orchid Harvest

• Calls Xu to harvest his Rainbow Orchids and is highly impressed by Xu's Second-Grade Spirit Rice Wine. 40
• Explains the exceptional value of Mutated Spirit Plants: at least 1,000 sect points if submitted to the sect, or at least 100 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones when sold outside. 40

Notable Quotes

“Don't pursue the matter.” 7

“Formal disciples exploiting outer sect disciples is something the Immortal Sect tacitly permits. Even if you're dissatisfied with someone, you can only endure it, suppress it, and guard against them.” 7