Elder Yan

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Technique Transmission and Secret Trial

Elder Yan introduces Gu Qingfeng and six other newly recruited outer disciples to the Dongkong Sect’s foundational teachings. He demonstrates its mining-derived greatsword technique, then teaches the accompanying Great Dongkong Heart Formula. His lesson lasts nearly two hours, with explanations repeated three times because some recruits cannot read 53 54.

The recruits are actually test subjects for a dangerous nameless manual recovered alongside a jade-entombed female Daoist in a sect mine. Earlier trials on miners caused madness and more than a hundred deaths or injuries. Elder Yan knows that the new outer disciples are testing the manual, which is disguised as ordinary sect instruction; Gu Qingfeng identifies its true nature as Daoist Chen’s Soul-Losing Sword Intent 54 55 56.

When all seven recruits show rapid improvement, Yan questions Gu Qingfeng and practices the method himself. He reports the apparent success to Zhang Dongzhi and demonstrates his new strength with the sect master’s sword. Zhang orders him to continue monitoring both the trainees and his own cultivation while withholding his own participation 56 57.

Mental Deterioration and Favoritism

The manual’s effects soon extend beyond physical strength. Yan begins kneeling beneath the stars, questioning life’s meaning and feeling that effort is insignificant beside the universe’s eternity. Although he recognizes that the troubled sect needs him, he becomes depressed and withdrawn 57 58.

After Zhang Jianqiang and Zhang Chao assault inner disciples, Yan refuses to provide justice. When the victims threaten to approach the sect master, he falsely claims that their ordeal was an authorized test of the newcomers. He later interrupts Wang Qing’s retaliation, strikes him aside, and carries the two outer disciples away, arguing that he cannot observe them if they are beaten to death 58 59.

Rebellion and Defeat

Confronted by Zhang Dongzhi, Yan abruptly declares that his loyalty belongs to the sect master’s wife rather than the sect master. He condemns Zhang for striking her and threatens to intervene if it happens again 59.

Their ensuing heavy-sword duel destroys Yan’s courtyard and sends dangerous shock waves into surrounding grounds. At the forty-second sword clash, Zhang disarms him, binds him with true essence, and slams him into a pit. The battle leaves Yan bloodied and incapacitated; its aftermath fuels fears of factional conflict and helps publicize the revised heart formula throughout the sect 60 61.

Appearance

Elder Yan is thin and gaunt, with severe balding. His clothing changes from practical, plain attire to white robes as his behavior deteriorates 53 59.

• Hair: Three cowlicks surrounding an especially prominent bald crown 53.
• Later attire: White robes resembling Zhang Dongzhi’s clothing closely enough to provoke speculation about his ambitions 59.
• Expression: Hollow eyes and a blank stare during his confrontation with the sect master 59.

Personality

Before practicing the manual, Yan is regarded as steady, dependable, and thoroughly loyal to Zhang Dongzhi. He repeatedly credits the sect master for his instruction, but his conscientious teaching is long-winded and less effective than Gu Qingfeng’s explanations. Despite his rank, he is willing to ask a junior for guidance when faced with results he cannot explain 53 54 56 57.

His treatment of the recruits exposes his moral indifference: he encourages Zhang Jianqiang by suggesting that greater strength would let him commit sexual violence without fear of retaliation. He also feels jealous when newly recruited disciples approach an elder’s strength almost overnight 53 57.

Cultivation turns his composure into depressive detachment, then exposes an obsessive devotion to the sect master’s wife. Zhang Dongzhi judges that Yan’s former temperament would never have allowed him to express such feelings so openly 58 59 61.

Abilities & Skills

Dongkong Great Sword Art

Yan practices the sect’s broad, force-heavy sword style, originally developed for mining 53.

• Swings a door-panel-sized greatsword with enough force to generate fierce winds 53.
• Uses Thrusting Force repeatedly during his duel with Zhang Dongzhi, sending sword energy through the ground and nearby buildings 60 61.
• After cultivating the manual, attacks continuously rather than using the style’s usual alternating tempo to recover true essence 60.
• Ultimately loses to Zhang’s superior coordination of Mind Force, true essence, and sword handling 60.

Daoist Chen’s Soul-Losing Sword Intent

The method Yan knows as the nameless manual grants rapid strength increases but destabilizes its practitioners’ souls and temperaments 55 56.

• Allows him to handle weapons far beyond his previous weight limit 57.
• Makes him so much stronger that Elder Feng—formerly his equal—believes he would lose to Yan within ten exchanges 60.
• Produces depression, withdrawal, and drastic changes in conduct 57 58 59.
• Its stated cost is progressive dissipation of the three souls and seven spirits, potentially ending in death through Soul-Loss; Yan’s death is not shown 55 60.

Soul-Shaking Roar

• Halts Wang Qing’s frenzied attack and shakes Gu Qingfeng’s soul despite his strengthened Mind Force 59.
• Resembles Divine Sense Realm power closely enough to prompt speculation that Yan has reached that realm 59.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Heavy greatswords — Owns multiple weapons, including a nearly man-tall sword resembling a thick door panel 53 60.
• Sky Stone Heavy Sword — Borrows Zhang Dongzhi’s treasured sword for a demonstration. It contains meteoric iron and sky stone and weighs more than three times as much as Yan’s usual sword 57.
• Nameless manual — Dangerous cultivation text distributed to the recruits under the name Great Dongkong Heart Formula 54 56.

Relationships

• Zhang Dongzhi — Sect master and longtime superior. Trusts Yan to supervise the experimental cultivation trial; later defeats him after his public defiance 57 59 60.
• The sect master’s wife (“Madam”) — Yan credits her with making his position possible. His devotion becomes openly obsessive, and he challenges her husband over his mistreatment of her 58 59.
• Gu Qingfeng — Initially Yan’s student, then the source of the explanation that lets Yan successfully practice the manual 53 56.
• Zhang Jianqiang and Zhang Chao — Experimental trainees whom Yan shields from punishment and Wang Qing’s retaliation 58 59.
• Wang Qing — Inner disciple whom Yan strikes aside while protecting the trainees, prompting Zhang Dongzhi’s intervention 59.
• Elder Feng — Previously comparable to Yan in strength; watches his duel without intervening and is shocked by his improvement 60.

Notable Quotes

“What do you think the meaning of life is?” 57

“Anyone who doesn't love Madam is unworthy of being my sect master!” 59