Qin Tieya

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Qin Tieya serves as Liu Qingcang’s second personal disciple and assists the academy master with evaluating applicants. During Chen Mu’s Hundred-Blood Trial, he administers a punishing close-combat and bone-feeling assessment, striking and probing Chen’s body to test his endurance and aptitude. Chen earns his approval by enduring the assault and landing a counterpunch 4.

Although initially doubtful that the twenty-year-old, impoverished Chen Mu can afford martial training or advance far, Qin accepts Chen’s hundred-tael fee and gives him three days to gain entry into Rampaging Bull Force. He provides a temporary academy token and the copied manual, promising registered-disciple admission if Chen demonstrates progress 5.

When Chen returns after two days, Qin recognizes his apparent Body Tempering breakthrough and solid grasp of Rampaging Bull Force. He easily defeats Chen in a sparring test but approves him as a registered disciple, sponsors his initiation before Patriarch Liu Yunji, and explains the academy’s rules 21.

After Liu Qi—Qin’s Seventh Junior Brother and Liu Qingcang’s adopted son—is found murdered, Qin takes charge of the academy’s response. He recovers Liu Qi’s body, organizes a search party for Liu Qingcang, and leads volunteers to Clear River Ghost Village 22 23.

At Clear River, Qin reveals himself as a Meridian Opening martial artist. He protects the expedition against Refined Corpses, Corpse Kings, corpse venom, and Rakshasa Gate cultivators, ultimately remaining behind to cover Chen Mu’s escape with Liu Qingluo and the injured disciples 24 26. He later emerges from the village drenched in blood but without apparent external injury 31.

Following the Clear River incident, Qin recognizes Chen Mu’s political tact when Chen declines Liu Qingcang’s promised favor and is instead accepted as the master’s ninth personal disciple 32. He later investigates A-Ning’s disappearance, pressures the Red Whale Gang, and plans a cautious infiltration of Luo Family Fort rather than allowing Chen to rush into a likely trap 39 43.

Qin leads the disguised Heavenly Escort Agency convoy toward Luo Family Fort, refusing to be distracted by horse-bandit scouts and investigating a suspicious puppet troupe sheltering in a ruined temple. Though initially prepared to eradicate the supposed Rakshasa Gate troupe immediately, he restrains himself after detecting a Demon Race aura on Qin Xiang’er and recognizing that a transformed great demon could far exceed his ability to oppose 50 51 52 53.

After the Mangdang Mountain bandits attack the convoy, Qin destroys their formation with Astral Force and overwhelming barehanded attacks. The ensuing interrogation exposes the Blood-Character Order and the larger conspiracy surrounding the Beiliang Military Prefecture, after which Qin delivers the Dragon-Patterned Gold Casket to Qin Xiangjun of the Youzhou Demon Suppression Bureau and proceeds with Chen Mu toward Luo Family Fort 54 56.

At Luo Family Fort, Qin intercepts Fort Lord Luo Tianxiao and fights him directly, preventing the Meridian Opening expert from pursuing Chen Mu. He later manifests dragon-shaped fist intent through a secret technique, but is exhausted and injured when Wei Chen intervenes 60 61. Qin subsequently enters the Feng River Old Estate’s Northern Yin formation, reunites with Chen Mu within its secret realm, and fights beside him against ghost soldiers, Luo Tianxiao’s corpse-ghost form, the Black Law Judge, and Wei Chen 67 68 69.

When Liu Qingluo disappears at the Ghost Market, Qin searches for her alongside Chen Mu. His anxiety over his junior sister’s abduction nearly leads him to storm the water strongholds, but he accepts Chen Mu’s more cautious plan. After Chen Mu purchases Qingluo at the auction and discovers Daoist Li’s tracking mark, Qin escorts her out through a side passage, protects A-Ning, and returns the group toward the city 78 79 83.

During the later demonic disturbances in Everlasting Prosperity Town, Qin supports Chen Mu’s defensive preparations, sends investigators to military and government contacts, captures and interrogates a Demon Sect spy, and receives temporary command of a hundred armored patrol soldiers outside the city 93 98 99. He later joins Chen Mu in pursuing a demon trail to the Mass Grave and organizes a response to demon-beast attacks around Zhang Village 104 118.

After the Golden-Winged Blood Eagle is slain, Qin leads the remaining academy disciples and Zhang Village survivors north to assist Yuan Hong 126. Qin and Yuan then spend three days tracking Northern Barbarian soldiers and bandits before cornering them near the ancient Youyun Road. Their leader is Xuanzhen, a white-robed monk who summons the Eight-Armed Asura Manifestation. Qin and Yuan drive him back despite suffering severe injuries, kill his followers, and extract intelligence about when the Sky Wolfers will march south. They spend nearly two further days bringing the intelligence to the barracks, arriving shortly before Chen Mu 168. As plans are made to seek reinforcements, Qin proposes that he and Yuan investigate the Esoteric Sect monks’ movements in the Northern Capital, leaving the time-sensitive delivery of orders to Chen Mu and Qishan 169.

Appearance

Qin Tieya is an exceptionally imposing, nearly two-meter-tall martial artist with an inverted-triangle build. He is described as resembling an iron tower or a door guardian when standing before the academy’s trainees 4 21.

• Broad shoulders and arms “as thick as small trees.”
• Wears a pitch-black martial uniform while instructing disciples.
• Has sharp tiger-like eyes and thick brows.
• His booming laughter and roars are repeatedly compared to thunder 4 21.
• His muscular physique, coiling shoulder and arm muscles, and restrained blood essence distinguish him even among high-level martial artists 38.

Personality

Qin is stern, direct, and demanding. His assessment of Chen Mu is deliberately brutal, and his teaching style emphasizes discipline, practical breathing principles, and physical fundamentals rather than empty encouragement 4 21.

He initially views Chen’s lowborn background, age, and poverty as serious obstacles to martial advancement. However, he responds to proven ability and sincerity: Chen’s payment, rapid progress, courage, and battlefield conduct steadily earn Qin’s approval 5 21 23.

Qin is fiercely loyal to Liu Qingcang, Liu Qi, and the academy. Liu Qi’s death visibly shakes him, but he regains control quickly, arranges the recovery of the body, and personally leads the search for his master 22 23. He is also pragmatic about demon hunting, openly explaining that martial artists seek demons not only to protect civilians but also because demonic flesh and essence are necessary for cultivation beyond Body Tempering 23.

Although his first instinct is often to meet threats with direct force, Qin can exercise caution when an enemy’s identity or strength is uncertain. He investigates the temple troupe before committing the academy to a confrontation, candidly warns his juniors of the limits of his own strength against transformed demons, and follows Chen Mu’s strategic advice during Liu Qingluo’s rescue 51 53 79.

Qin is protective of younger disciples, particularly Liu Qingluo. Her abduction at the Ghost Market leaves him enraged and distressed, while later threats to civilians motivate him to organize demon-hunting operations even when the academy is already under pressure 79 118. During the frontier crisis, he volunteers to investigate the Esoteric Sect monks with Yuan Hong, taking on dangerous work while Chen Mu delivers urgent orders 169.

Abilities & Skills

Meridian Opening Cultivation

Qin Tieya has reached the Meridian Opening realm, placing him far above ordinary Body Tempering martial artists.

• Condenses qi into Astral Force, forming a visible protective barrier around his body.
• His Astral Force burns away ghostly yin entities released by slain Refined Corpses.
• Can overwhelm Refined Corpses and Purple-Scaled Corpse Kings through direct physical force 24 26.
• Is identified by Demon Suppression Bureau intelligence as a possible mid-stage Meridian Opening expert who has opened the eye, ear, mouth, and nose apertures 53.
• Uses his opened eye aperture to perceive the Fortune Aura surrounding living beings and recognize the distinctive aura of demons 53.
• Can unleash Astral Force strongly enough to repel rain before it touches him and terrify dozens of mounted bandits 54.

Azure Dragon Body Tempering Art

Qin cultivates the Azure Dragon Body Tempering Art, an advanced body-refining martial art that makes his bare hands and body into formidable weapons.

• His fists, palms, fingers, and claws can meet bladed weapons directly when reinforced with true qi.
• Fights Luo Tianxiao’s Azure-Wave Saber Art barehanded, repeatedly disrupting the fort lord’s saber momentum and numbing his palms 60.
• Can force blood essence beyond his body and manifest a dragon-shaped blood-and-qi phantom through a secret technique 61.
• His manifested fist intent can clash head-on with the Golden-Winged Blood Eagle’s wind blade, though the exertion temporarily drains much of his strength 126.

Unarmed Combat

Qin specializes in powerful fist, palm, and grappling attacks.

• Uses broad, swift punches with force likened to wind and thunder.
• Can test an opponent’s skeletal aptitude during combat through joint locks and clawing grips.
• Easily suppresses Chen Mu despite Chen secretly using part of his Body Tempering Third-Tier strength 4 21.
• Crushes a Refined Corpse leader’s head and destroys another Purple-Scaled Corpse King with his bare hands 24 26.
• Charges through the Mangdang Mountain bandits with fists that send both men and horses flying, rapidly breaking their formation 54.
• Tears the Baleful Intent core from corpse-ghost Luo Tianxiao’s chest, creating the opening for Chen Mu’s finishing strike 67.
• Joins Yuan Hong in driving back Xuanzhen, whose Eight-Armed Asura Manifestation leaves both senior disciples severely injured 168.

Rampaging Bull Force Instruction

Qin teaches the academy’s disciples the breathing and stance principles of Rampaging Bull Force.

• Stresses “sinking” the body’s force into a stable foundation.
• Instructs disciples to inhale deeply, open the chest and abdomen, and drive power upward from the ground.
• Evaluates Chen Mu’s proficiency and confirms that he has reached a level sufficient for registered-disciple admission 21.

Command and Demon-Hunting Knowledge

Qin is an experienced field commander during supernatural incidents.

• Organizes disciples into pairs and orders them not to investigate alone.
• Equips search teams with blades and signal arrows.
• Identifies the supposed water ghosts as Refined Corpses created by evil cultivators.
• Warns disciples about yin-energy contamination and corpse venom 23 24.
• Maintains marching discipline during the Luo Family Fort expedition, ordering the convoy to ignore bandit scouts and continue north in formation 51.
• Captures and interrogates a Demon Sect spy discovered outside Azure Dragon Martial Academy 98.
• Receives a Black Iron Token from Wu Yue, allowing him to temporarily mobilize a hundred armored soldiers for patrols outside Everlasting Prosperity Town 99.
• Coordinates academy riders in the pursuit of an escaped demon and later organizes demon-beast suppression around Zhang Village 104 118.
• Tracks Northern Barbarian soldiers and bandits with Yuan Hong, extracts intelligence on the Sky Wolfers’ impending advance, and brings it back to the barracks 168.

Demon Knowledge

Qin possesses practical knowledge of the Demon Race and the dangers of high-ranking demon beasts.

• Explains that demons above the ninth rank can condense an Inner Core and assume human form.
• Warns that transformed great demons may possess strength comparable to peak Innate Realm martial artists.
• Frankly admits that he could not withstand even several exchanges with a transformed great demon, prioritizing caution over pride 53.

Relationships

• Liu Qingcang — Master and head of Azure Dragon Martial Academy. Qin is Liu’s second personal disciple and remains devoted to protecting his master, disciples, and academy 4 22 26. He follows Liu’s secret instructions during the Luo Family Fort expedition and later awaits his master’s return amid the Everlasting Prosperity Town crisis 51 104. He and Yuan Hong bring intelligence on the Sky Wolfers’ advance back to Liu’s camp 168.
• Chen Mu — Junior brother and initially an applicant under Qin’s assessment. Qin accepts Chen as a registered disciple, promises to recommend him for formal entry after his courage at Clear River, and later leads the investigation into A-Ning’s whereabouts 4 21 23 39 43. As Chen’s power and judgment grow, Qin increasingly treats him as a trusted partner, fights beside him in the Feng River Old Estate, entrusts him with interrogation and investigative work, and accepts his strategic judgment during the Ghost Market rescue 67 69 79 98. After hearing of Chen’s new divine abilities, Qin expresses astonishment at his good fortune; the two later agree that, when they return from their separate missions, they will stand together against the enemy 168 169.
• Liu Qi — Seventh Junior Brother and Liu Qingcang’s adopted son. Qin is devastated by Liu Qi’s murder, retrieves his corpse for burial, and leads the search that follows 22 23.
• Liu Meng — Academy gate guard and expedition member. Qin commands him during the academy’s emergency response and relies on him to help organize disciples and investigations 22 23. Qin later protects him from the Golden-Winged Blood Eagle and continues deploying him in intelligence and field operations 98 126.
• Liu Qingluo — Junior sister and Liu Qingcang’s adopted daughter. Qin entrusts her rescue to Chen Mu when the Clear River ambush becomes overwhelming 26. Her Ghost Market abduction provokes intense anger and concern in him; after Chen Mu rescues her at auction, Qin escorts her away while concealing her identity from Daoist Li 79 83.
• Rakshasa Gate — Enemy evil-cultivator organization responsible for the Clear River ambush. Qin rejects their attempt to recruit him and stays behind to defend the wounded disciples from their corpse army 26. He remains determined to destroy its members for harming Liu Qi and plotting against Liu Qingcang 51.
• Qin Xiangjun — Youzhou Demon Suppression Bureau chief whom Qin initially encounters under the identity of troupe performer Qin Xiang’er. Qin detects her demonic aura but later learns she is a half-demon imperial official, turns over the Blood-Character Order to her, and recognizes the wider political danger surrounding the case 52 53 56.
• Luo Tianxiao — Fort Lord of Luo Family Fort and a Meridian Opening opponent. Qin prevents him from attacking Chen Mu, clashes with him using barehanded Azure Dragon Body Tempering Art, and later destroys the Baleful Intent core sustaining Luo’s corpse-ghost form 60 67.
• Wei Chen — Red Whale Gang leader and Half-Step Innate Realm opponent. Qin battles him at Xuandu Platform, is seriously injured by his blazing-yang cultivation, and holds him back so Chen Mu can prepare the decisive lightning technique 68 69.
• A-Ning — Chen Mu’s beloved and a person Qin helps protect. Qin accepts responsibility for her safety when Chen separates from the group to draw Daoist Li away, and later supports the academy’s defenses during the Demon Sect threat against Everlasting Prosperity Town 83 93.
• Yuan Hong — Third Senior Brother. After the Golden-Winged Blood Eagle is slain, Qin leads the remaining disciples and relocated villagers north to assist Yuan Hong 126. The two track a Northern Barbarian party, jointly drive back Xuanzhen despite severe injuries, and return with intelligence on the impending Sky Wolfer advance. They subsequently plan to investigate the Esoteric Sect monks in the Northern Capital together 168 169.
• Xuanzhen — White-robed Esoteric Sect monk who leads Northern Barbarian soldiers and bandits and summons the Eight-Armed Asura Manifestation. Qin and Yuan Hong drive him back but both suffer severe injuries in the fight 168.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Chen Mu’s Admission

Qin serves as Chen Mu’s first major academy authority. He conducts Chen’s aptitude test, provides the Rampaging Bull Force manual, confirms Chen’s rapid progress, and sponsors his registered-disciple initiation 4 5 21.

Clear River Ghost Village Expedition

Following Liu Qi’s death, Qin leads the academy’s response into Clear River Ghost Village. He exposes the truth about the Refined Corpses, protects the search party, and demonstrates Meridian Opening strength against the undead forces 22 24.

Rakshasa Gate Ambush

Qin faces multiple Purple-Scaled Corpse Kings, nearly a hundred Refined Corpses, and Rakshasa Gate cultivators. He orders Chen Mu to take Liu Qingluo to safety while he remains behind to protect the poisoned and unconscious disciples 26.

Search for A-Ning and Luo Family Fort

Qin handles the academy’s efforts to locate A-Ning, contacts the Patrol Office and Red Whale Gang through the academy’s influence, and insists on a disguised, evidence-based investigation of Luo Family Fort 39 43. He later leads the expedition out of the city under the cover of a Heavenly Escort Agency supply convoy 50.

Ruined Temple and Blood-Character Order

While traveling toward Luo Family Fort, Qin leads the convoy through the ruined temple encounter with Qin Xiangjun’s disguised party. He identifies the threat posed by the supposed troupe, destroys the Mangdang Mountain bandits when they attack, and helps uncover the Blood-Character Order linking the incident to the Beiliang Military Prefecture and Swallow Return Pass 51 54 56.

Luo Family Fort and Feng River Old Estate

Qin serves as Chen Mu’s principal protector during the assault on Luo Family Fort, directly engaging Luo Tianxiao while Chen clears the fort’s guards and kills Luo Dalong 60. He later enters the Feng River Old Estate’s collapsing Northern Yin formation, where he and Chen fight as a coordinated pair against ghost soldiers, corpse-ghost Luo Tianxiao, formation guardians, and Wei Chen 67 68 69.

Ghost Market Rescue

Qin accompanies Chen Mu and A-Ning to the Ghost Market after Liu Qingluo’s disappearance. Though grief and rage initially push him toward a direct assault on the water strongholds, he defers to Chen’s plan, helps secure Qingluo at auction, and escorts her away under the pretense that she is an ordinary slave in order to evade Daoist Li’s attention 77 79 83.

Everlasting Prosperity Town Demon Crisis

As supernatural murders and Demon Sect activity destabilize the city, Qin helps Chen reinforce Azure Dragon Martial Academy, investigate potential military and government involvement, capture a demonfolk spy, and organize academy patrols with temporary authority over a hundred armored soldiers 93 98 99.

Zhang Village Demon-Beast Hunt

Qin answers villagers’ pleas after demon beasts massacre nearly a hundred people around Zhang Village. He recruits Chen Mu for the hunt, protects Liu Meng from the Golden-Winged Blood Eagle, wounds the beast with a dragon-shadow fist attack, and enables Chen Mu to finish it with the Howling Moon Twin Arrows 118 126.

Frontier Intelligence and Northern Capital Mission

After heading north to support Yuan Hong, Qin joins him in pursuing Northern Barbarian soldiers and bandits. They corner the group near the ancient Youyun Road, drive back its leader Xuanzhen at the cost of severe injuries, and kill his followers. They extract intelligence about the timing of the Sky Wolfers’ southward march and deliver it to the barracks 126 168. As the academy plans its response, Qin proposes traveling with Yuan Hong to the Northern Capital to investigate the Esoteric Sect monks while Chen Mu uses Qishan’s speed to deliver urgent orders 169.

Notable Quotes

“If Master returns unharmed from this journey, I will recommend you for formal entry!” 23

“At the Body Tempering Realm, one needs only nourishing medicinal tonics and the grinding practice of stance work. But beyond that, only the essence and flesh of demons can be refined and absorbed to advance our cultivation.” 23

“Groups of two. Remember, do not travel alone. Find Master and send a warning signal immediately.” 24

“Junior Brother, follow me and kill!” 68

“Your senior brother alone cannot be everywhere at once. How about you and I enter the mountains together, slaughter those beasts, and bring peace to this place?” 118