Li Qinglian

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Li Qinglian (李青莲)
Alias(es)	Gentleman Sword
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Great White Sword Sect
Occupation/Role	Great White Sword Sect’s chief senior brother; one of the Great Chu Dynasty’s Eight Great Geniuses; sword cultivator
First Appearance	56

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Sword Force — Initiation	156	Revealed during his Great Dynasty Tournament battle against Xiang Wentian, gathering the surrounding power of heaven and earth into his sword attacks.
Ten Thousand Swords Art — Minor Accomplishment	157	His secret ultimate art could form a vast river of sword shadows with power comparable to a Middle True Essence Realm strike.
Sword Force — Perfection	296	Li Qinglian disclosed his breakthrough to his father, Li Fuhuan.
Core Elixir Realm — Fifth Revolution	355	Reached this realm after nearly a year of cultivation and combat in the True Martial Secret Realm.

Background

Li Qinglian was already renowned across the Great Chu Dynasty as the “Gentleman Sword,” a title earned through his gentle conduct, courtesy, and hatred of evil. While traveling the jianghu, he reportedly rescued many people in need. He was also counted among the dynasty’s Eight Great Geniuses and had placed sixth in the previous Great Dynasty Tournament. 56 57

After exploring a True Essence Realm cave residence in the Blackwater Mountains, Li Qinglian encountered Ye Yun beside a stream. He openly shared food and wine with him, invited him to use the more familiar address “Big Brother Li,” and quickly formed a friendship with the younger cultivator. 56 58

Appearance

Li Qinglian is described as a handsome swordsman with a refined and approachable bearing. Despite his fame, he behaves casually around acquaintances. 56

• Carries a treasured sword used to perform the Ten Thousand Swords Art. 156 163
• Keeps a wine gourd at his waist. 58
• His composed, elegant swordsmanship gives him the bearing of a “sword immortal.” 156

Personality

Li Qinglian is courteous, warm, and notably free of arrogance. He readily shared a meal with Ye Yun despite their initial unfamiliarity and treated him as a younger brother rather than beneath his status. 56 57

His “Gentleman Sword” title reflects more than reputation. During the Great Dynasty Tournament final, he proposed a three-move contest rather than exploit Ye Yun’s broken right arm, considering a conventional victory dishonorable. 162

Although usually mild-tempered and relaxed, Li Qinglian becomes decisive when his friends are threatened. After Tuoba Tian and Wu An ambushed him in the True Dragon Society, he immediately counterattacked; later, he fought to protect Ye Yun’s chance of remaining in the competition. 300

He is also an enthusiastic drinker, becoming playful and boastful whenever wine is involved. 58 151 169

Abilities & Skills

Sword Force

Li Qinglian has mastered Sword Force to the Perfection Realm. His Sword Force enhances the sharpness and destructive power of his sword qi while allowing him to draw upon the surrounding power of heaven and earth. 156 296 301

• Reached Sword Force Initiation by the Great Dynasty Tournament. 156
• Used Perfected Sword Force to suppress both Tuoba Tian and Wu An with continuous sword qi. 301
• His swordsmanship was considered among the strongest of the Eight Great Geniuses even before his later breakthroughs. 57

Ten Thousand Swords Art

The Ten Thousand Swords Art is the Great White Sword Sect’s secret, unpassed-down ultimate martial art. Li Qinglian launches his treasured sword into the air, where it multiplies into countless sword shadows that descend upon his opponents in overwhelming formations. 156 163

• At Minor Accomplishment, its power was comparable to a Middle True Essence Realm martial artist’s attack. 157
• Its sword shadows can form a waterfall-like barrage or a vast Sword Qi River. 156 301
• In the Great Dynasty Tournament final, Li Qinglian warned that he could not fully control the technique’s power. 162
• He used the Sword Qi River against Tuoba Tian and Wu An when his True Essence was nearly exhausted, making it a desperate final gamble. 301

Soaring Sword Step

Li Qinglian employs the Soaring Sword Step as a movement technique, pushing it to its limit to evade attacks and reposition during battle. 300

Combat Endurance

Li Qinglian can sustain high-intensity combat even while injured or low on True Essence.

• Continued fighting Tuoba Tian and Wu An after being ambushed from behind. 300
• Maintained pressure on both opponents through Perfected Sword Force despite having less than thirty percent of his True Essence remaining. 301
• Reached the Fifth Revolution of the Core Elixir Realm while surviving the prolonged dangers of the True Martial Secret Realm. 355

Equipment

• Treasured Sword — His primary weapon and the medium for the Ten Thousand Swords Art. 156 163
• Wine Gourd — Carried at his waist and shared with Ye Yun during their first meeting. 58

Relationships

• Ye Yun — Friend, drinking companion, and respected rival. Li Qinglian proposed the three-move pact to avoid exploiting Ye Yun’s injury, later conceded the Great Dynasty Tournament championship to him, and continued seeking a future rematch. 56 162 163 169
• Ling Chen — Fellow traveler from the Shattered Lands. The two explored the True Martial Secret Realm together and were rescued by Ye Yun after being hunted by Zhou Wu’s group. 355 361
• Xiang Wentian — Fellow Great Chu genius and tournament rival. Their Sword Force-versus-Fist Force battle forced Li Qinglian to reveal the Ten Thousand Swords Art. 156
• Tuoba Tian and Wu An — Opponents in the True Dragon Society. They ambushed Li Qinglian while he was attacking Ling Chen, prompting him to fight both at once. 300 301
• Li Fuhuan — Father and sect master of the Great White Sword Sect. Li Qinglian revealed his Perfected Sword Force to him before the True Dragon Society final. 296
• Lu Qingyu — Emissary who escorted Li Qinglian, Ye Yun, and Ling Chen toward the True Dragon Continent. Li Qinglian was shocked by Lu Qingyu’s death and later helped guard the flying ship. 328 329

Story Role / Major Arcs

1. Blackwater Mountains encounter — Meets Ye Yun after returning from a ruin expedition; their shared fish and wine establish an immediate friendship. 56 58
2. Great Dynasty Tournament — Battles Xiang Wentian, unveils the Ten Thousand Swords Art, then faces Ye Yun in the final under a voluntary three-move agreement. He concedes after Ye Yun gains the decisive advantage. 156 162 163
3. Post-tournament reunion — Drinks with Ye Yun at Spring Breeze Pavilion and promises a future rematch. 169
4. True Dragon Society — Reaches the final five, protects Ye Yun’s position, survives an ambush by Tuoba Tian and Wu An, and secures the third qualification to travel to the True Dragon Continent. 298 300 303
5. Journey to the True Dragon Continent — Travels with Ye Yun and Ling Chen under Lu Qingyu’s guidance, then assists in operating the white jade flying ship after Lu Qingyu’s death. 315 328 329
6. True Martial Secret Realm — Joins Ling Chen in exploring the realm, suffers pursuit and injury at Zhou Wu’s hands, and is saved by Ye Yun from a Giant Python Phantom Beast King. 355 360 361
7. Path of Heavenly Prodigies aftermath — Survives the trial and credits Ye Yun’s help as crucial to his success. 396

Notable Quotes

“Once you feel loneliness someday, you'll find yourself wanting to drink without realizing it. You should know that what we drink isn't called wine—it's called loneliness.” 58

“I will remember today's kindness. If you need anything in the future, just speak. I, Li Qinglian, will certainly do everything in my power to accomplish it!” 361

Trivia

• Li Qinglian placed sixth in the previous Great Dynasty Tournament, though Ye Yun believed his actual combat strength should have ranked among the Eight Great Geniuses’ top three. 57
• He praised Ye Yun’s grilled fish as comparable to food he had eaten in the Imperial Capital. 57
• He considers wine a remedy for loneliness, while Ye Yun initially found his liquor overwhelmingly strong. 58