Lu Li

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Lu Li (陆黎)
Alias(es)	Lu Huayuan; “Overlord”; “Lu Renjia”; “Hou Sanwa” 16 28 29 23
Gender	Male
Age	16 at the time he enters Golden Gate Martial Academy 4
Affiliation	Golden Gate Martial Academy; Road Patrol Bureau / D Battalion 4 43
Occupation/Role	Martial artist; Banner Commander of D Battalion, Subordinate Eighth Rank 43
Residence	Lu Residence, Lantern Alley, Blackwater City Inner City 21 23
Status	Alive; continuing the Martial Examination 50
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Early Branch Force	8	Perfected his foundational Bagua arts through enlightenment, but insufficient nourishment initially prevented further Internal Force growth. 8
Peak Ring Force	11	Completed the Eight Trigrams Moving Stake and advanced through Branch Force to the peak of Ring Force in seven days. 11
Early Fusion Force	11	Qi, blood, sinews, and bones began functioning as one; his movements naturally carried force. 11
Initial Sinking Force	13	Force settled into his dantian, giving his attacks dense, layered power. 13
First-Gate Martial Artist — First Skin Tempering	20	Reached Gate-Breaking and began cultivating Primordial Unity Force. 20
Fourth Skin Tempering — Fifth Layer of Primordial Unity Force	25	Returned from a year within the lamp’s domain with perfected Form-Intent Stance and greatly enhanced skin, recovery, saber skill, and movement. 25
Fifth Skin Tempering	32	Completed the fifth round smoothly through his refined Primordial Unity Force and foundation. 32
Eighth-Tier Lower Bone Aptitude	34	Opened an aperture and improved from his originally Lower Ninth Grade Root Bone. 34 47
Seventh Layer of Primordial Unity Force	50	Xingyi Stance evolved from the Form-Intent Secret Stance; his breath control, internal nourishment, and explosive power increased sharply. 50
Eighth Layer of Primordial Unity Force	50	Gained outward force release, Primordial Unity Qi healing, poison expulsion, and the ability to neutralize weaker opponents’ force. 50
Ninth Layer of Primordial Unity Force	50	Awakened from enlightenment at the ninth layer while remaining at Fifth Skin Tempering. 50

Background

Lu Li was born in Ox Family Village of Twin Willow Town. His father was a hunter, but both parents died while Lu Li was young; he was subsequently cared for by fellow villagers, Old Li, and his aunt’s family. He spent three years performing exhausting labor—including straw-sandal weaving and sedan-chair carrying—to save for martial training. 1 4 8

Half a month before the story begins, Lu Li’s memories from a previous life awakened. This gave him a clearer understanding of Great Yong’s violent class structure and convinced him that martial strength was his only reliable path out of poverty. He also discovered the mysterious Qingyun Glazed Lamp within his mind. 1

Chen Hai and Ma Xiaoling helped him gather the final funds for his apprenticeship after seeing the physical toll of his labor. Lu Li entered Golden Gate Martial Academy with ten taels of silver and became Shen Gangfu’s disciple despite being judged to possess exceptionally poor bone aptitude. 3 4

Appearance

Lu Li initially appeared dark-skinned, thin, exhausted, and prematurely worn down by years of labor. Martial training, medicinal baths, and nourishment gradually reshaped him into a lean, compact young man with a calm but oppressive bearing. 3 8 37

• Originally frail enough for Chen Hai to fear his body would fail before he could train. 3
• Develops taut muscles and a restrained sharpness compared to a saber still in its sheath. 8
• His lamp-driven advancement once leaves him gaunt and skeletal, an appearance he deliberately uses to conceal his true strength. 25 26
• After opening an aperture, his depleted physique recovers and becomes sturdier than before. 34
• Often disguises himself as an elderly man or adopts other identities to avoid recognition. 27 31

Personality

Lu Li is cautious, disciplined, and intensely practical. Even while impoverished, he refuses Baldy Jiao’s predatory loan rather than trade temporary progress for a debt that could destroy his future. He is willing to endure humiliation, hunger, and physical pain for long-term advancement. 1 5

He is also protective of those who showed him kindness. His concern for Old Li, Ma Xiaoling, Chen Xuan, and Chen Hai repeatedly outweighs his instinct for self-preservation, though he avoids making promises he cannot safely keep. 8 10 21 22

Lu Li conceals his strength whenever possible and carefully evaluates social and political risks. However, he will not accept repeated humiliation or allow violent predators to threaten his family and allies. His first killings leave him shaken, but he resolves that surviving in Blackwater City requires decisive action against those who prey on the weak. 9 12 15 45

Abilities & Skills

Qingyun Glazed Lamp / Celebratory Cloud Lamp

A mysterious lamp residing in Lu Li’s mind that periodically accumulates power for martial enlightenment.

• Provides heightened memory, perception, comprehension, and cultivation efficiency. 1 7
• Creates a mental training domain in which Lu Li can practice for approximately one year while only an instant passes externally. 8 25 50
• Allows him to permanently retain techniques and correct flaws through repeated, precise practice. 5 8
• Has enabled breakthroughs including perfected Bagua arts, Xingyi Stance, the Instant-Shadow Step, and high-level Primordial Unity Force. 7 25 50
• Cannot fully replace physical nourishment; excessive advancement can consume his qi, blood, and body mass. 8 25

Bagua Martial Arts

Lu Li’s first complete martial system, taught by Shen Gangfu. It combines circular footwork, moving stakes, evasive positioning, and direct killing strikes.

• Perfected the Eight Trigrams Fist Technique, Moving Stake, and Embracing-Circle Stake Art through enlightenment. 7 8
• Uses Bagua’s “circle” to evade, redirect, and control positioning, while delivering decisive straight attacks at vital points. 6 7
• Defeated Lei Zhengming by identifying flaws in his Bagua techniques and striking his diaphragm with Bagua Tucking Palm. 15
• Defeated the Fourth Skin Tempering fighter Rakshasa by trapping his weapon, circling to his weak side, and using Inch Force. 28

Saber Arts

Lu Li specializes in saber techniques and treats the weapon as an extension of his body.

• Perfected the Eight Trigrams Saber Technique in the lamp’s training domain. 25
• Developed “listening to force,” using weapon contact to assess an opponent’s strength and direction before redirecting or countering. 8
• Created the Eight Trigrams Instant-Shadow Step while comprehending the relationship between Bagua, yin and yang, solidity, and emptiness. 25
• Used Instant-Shadow Step, Hidden-Blade Intent, and Primordial Unity Force to defeat Su Meiyi’s Rolling-Step Blade Interception. 40

Resting-Step Hidden Saber

A secret art centered on concealment, stillness, divine intent, and sudden decisive attacks.

• Conceals breath, killing intent, and force until the instant of attack. 39
• Allows Lu Li to read and predict an opponent’s momentum while maintaining a stable defensive stance. 39 40
• Its technique “Void Silence Returning Wind” disarmed and subdued Captain Zhang’s Mountain-Rending Heavy Cleave. 42
• Its divine intent eventually became independent of the saber itself, allowing Lu Li to gather and release it freely. 48

Xingyi Stance and Primordial Unity Force

Lu Li cultivates Xingyi’s Five Elements principles through the Form-Intent Secret Stance, later elevated into Xingyi Stance.

• The Five Elements forms are Splitting, Crushing, Drilling, Cannon, and Crossing Fists. 25
• Xingyi emphasizes direct, close-range killing force rather than evasive or decorative movements. 21 25
• Xingyi Stance can influence the magneto-elemental current around Lu Li at Minor Accomplishment. 50
• At the Eighth Layer of Primordial Unity Force, Lu Li can release force beyond his body, heal with Primordial Unity Qi, expel ordinary poisons, and suppress weaker force. 50

Disguise and Hidden Weapons

Lu Li prepares for covert movement and asymmetric combat rather than relying exclusively on open martial contests.

• Uses Disguise Technique to create layered identities, including an elderly persona used to enter Blackwater City undetected. 27 31
• Has perfected Lime Powder and reached Great Mastery with darts. 37
• Designed and acquired three refined-iron flying knives from Wu Shoucheng. 37

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Cold Moon — A Hundred-Forged Folded Steel blade commissioned from Wu’s Weapon Forge; named by Lu Li and intended as his superior saber. 36
• Refined-iron flying knives — Three custom knives forged to Lu Li’s design. 37
• Overlord mask — Mask used to conceal his identity in the Deathmatch Arena. 28
• Road Patrol Bureau uniform and waist token — Issued when he became a squad leader. 24
• Banner Commander armor and ceremonial cap — Received upon promotion to command D Battalion. 43
• Protection Notices — Placards bearing Lu Li’s name; merchants display them in exchange for his protection and patronage income. 11 36 37

Relationships

• Shen Gangfu — Master and later personal master; Shen accepts Lu Li formally, shelters him from gang retaliation, and treats him like a son. Lu Li regards Shen as family. 16 20 32
• Ma Xiaoling — Aunt and guardian figure; Lu Li protects her, provides for her household, and relocates her to the Inner City after Chen Hai’s death. 3 21
• Chen Hai — Uncle-in-law and early benefactor; he gives Lu Li the money needed to begin martial training. His death becomes a source of Lu Li’s hatred toward Ironwood Hall. 3 47
• Chen Xuan — Young cousin; Lu Li acts as an older brother and promises to teach him martial arts when he is old enough. 3 40
• Old Li — Elderly caretaker and fellow villager who once shared food and brought Lu Li to Blackwater City; Lu Li repays him with shelter, wages, and a position guarding Lu Residence. 1 10 23 40
• Liu Rushuang — Innkeeper and protected associate; after initially steering Lu Li toward Baldy Jiao’s usurious loan, she becomes dependent on his protection and later moves into Lu Residence. 1 10 23
• Lin Lanyi — Young mistress of Liansheng Escort Agency and ally; she helps improve Lu Li’s bone aptitude, protects his secret, supplies cultivation materials, and asks him to call her “Sister Lanyi.” 27 34 35 41
• Zhao Kuo — Fourth Senior Brother; supports Lu Li’s training, explains the Protection Notice system, and defends him against Iron Wolf Gang accusations. 5 11 13
• Lei Zhengming — Former rival; Lu Li decisively defeats him in the outer-courtyard competition, after which Lei later apologizes for his arrogance. 15 31
• Su Meiyi — Aristocratic rival for the Martial Lecture Hall position; Lu Li defeats him in a decisive saber duel. 20 40

Story Role / Major Arcs

Poverty and Apprenticeship

• Works for three years as a laborer to save for martial training, refusing Baldy Jiao’s high-interest loan. 1
• Receives help from Chen Hai and Ma Xiaoling, gathers the ten-tael fee, and enters Golden Gate Martial Academy. 3 4
• Learns Bagua foundations under Shen Gangfu and rapidly advances through repeated training and lamp-assisted enlightenment. 5 8

Outer City Conflict

• Begins concealing his true martial skill while Blackwater City’s gangs battle for territory. 9
• Helps Old Li repay his debt and agrees to consider protecting Liu Rushuang. 10
• Ambushes and kills Baldy Jiao and his two henchmen after witnessing their exploitation of the poor. 12
• Draws the suspicion of Iron Wolf Gang and Ironwood Hall, though Shen Gangfu protects him by exposing his seemingly poor natural aptitude. 13 14

Rise in the Inner City

• Becomes Shen Gangfu’s personal disciple and enters a four-month contest with Su Meiyi for Golden Gate Martial Academy’s Martial Lecture Hall place. 16 20
• Moves Ma Xiaoling and Chen Xuan into the Inner City, purchases Lu Residence, and seeks sustainable income for cultivation resources. 21 22
• Joins the Road Patrol Bureau, relocates Liu Rushuang and Old Li to Lu Residence, and becomes a squad leader. 23 24

Deathmatch Arena

• Enters the Deathmatch Arena under the identity “Overlord” to finance medicine needed for improving his physique. 27 28
• Wins four consecutive deathmatches while concealing much of his true ability and earns thousands of taels. 28 29
• Uses the arena’s life-and-death battles to refine his combat judgment and understand ruthless fighting methods. 29 32

Martial Lecture Hall Contest

• Gains the Resting-Step Hidden Saber secret art and quickly develops its divine intent. 39
• Defeats Su Meiyi by neutralizing his saber chains with Hidden-Blade Intent and Instant Step before countering with Primordial Unity Force. 40
• Secures Golden Gate Martial Academy’s Martial Lecture Hall position, causing Ironwood Hall and powerful local families to reassess him as a serious threat. 41

Road Division Promotion and Martial Examination

• Defeats stronger Road Division officers during a combat-based assessment and becomes Banner Commander of D Battalion. 42 43
• Begins discreetly building a force on Little Mist Mountain through Wang Boxing and former academy disciples. 45
• Faces assassination planning by the Three Gangs and Four Families during the Martial Examination. 46 49
• Takes first place in the Heart-Questioning Stake trial, then uses the Essence-Sinking Platform and the lamp’s enlightenment to elevate Xingyi Stance and Primordial Unity Force. 49 50

Notable Quotes

“Either do not offend anyone, or if you do, kill them first.” 12