Li Cheng

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Li Cheng (李成)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Li Family; Celebration Hall; associated with the True Yang Martial Sect through his family’s martial connections
Occupation/Role	Martial artist; Celebration Hall disciple; Martial Dao Trial examinee
Status	Alive and active as of Chapter 81
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Skin Tempering First Layer	5	Li Cheng is among the apprentices who break through ahead of Deng Qing, supported by family supplements, meat, medicinal wine, and other resources. 2 5
Skin Refining Second Layer	14	He breaks through after relying on his family’s abundant cultivation resources; Deng Qing learns that Li Cheng advanced two days earlier. 8 14
Seven Forms of Settling Solitude — Initiation	27	After practicing with Deng Qing for a month, Li Cheng reaches the Initiation stage in the family-associated sword art. 27
Skin Tempering Third Layer	47	Li Cheng competes at this realm during the martial exhibition in Dongting County. 47
Seven Forms of Settling Solitude — Refined Initiation	47	He uses the sword art’s principles to defeat Zhao Tang by disrupting attacks and striking openings between movements. 47
Martial Dao Trial — Grade C	69	He defeats three Grade-C Sword Examiners in seven, fifteen, and one move respectively. 69
Martial Dao Trial — Class B	70	He passes the Class B assessment after three difficult consecutive fights, including one victory while injured. 70
Seven Forms of Settling Solitude — Advanced practical understanding	70	His technique allows him to exploit openings and deceive opponents, but he is defeated by Song Que’s Shadow Saber in the next stage of his rivalry. 47 48 70

Background and History

Li Cheng is the young master of a wealthy family who came to Everjoy County to recuperate after suffering from a serious childhood illness. His condition eventually improved, allowing him to begin martial training. Although his family could have provided instruction, he entered Celebration Hall because of its reputation and because the institution was close to his residence. 8 27

His decision was also tied to his family history. Daoist Dinggu, a renowned swordsman and Li Cheng’s granduncle, created the Seven Forms of Settling Solitude after breaking with the Li Family. Li Cheng sought to master the sword art and restore his family’s forgotten connection to it. 26 27

Li Cheng advances quickly because his family can supply Ginseng Pills, meat, medicinal wine, and other resources. He initially progresses faster than poorer disciples such as Deng Qing, but the two become training partners after choosing the controversial Seven Forms of Settling Solitude. Li Cheng provides the training ground and food, while Deng Qing helps him practice and interpret the technique. 26 27

During the crisis surrounding Blackwind Ravine and Mountain God Temple, Li Cheng pursues the injured Zhou Fei to claim military merit. Zhou Fei uses a Blood-Burning Pill and nearly kills him, forcing Deng Qing and Li Cheng into an uneasy alliance. Li Cheng later kills Zhou Fei and takes his head to claim the county reward. 36 38

Li Cheng later seeks Deng Qing’s guidance after realizing that memorizing the Seven Forms is not enough to reproduce its deeper sword intent. Under Deng Qing’s instruction, he learns to gather his force, observe an opponent’s transitions, and attack during brief openings. He reaches Initiation and rewards Deng Qing with one hundred taels of silver and five Ginseng Pills. 39 41

At a banquet in Dongting County, Li Cheng defeats Zhao Tang but is then challenged by Song Que. Song Que’s Shadow Saber overwhelms him, humiliating him publicly and demonstrating the difference between Li Cheng’s refined sword principles and Song Que’s higher realm and deceptive saber technique. 47 48

Li Cheng later enters the Martial Dao Trial. He passes the Grade-C and Class B sword assessments through precision, endurance, and tactical deception, but does not achieve a Grade-A result after Deng Qing’s disguised identity defeats the examinees. 69 70 76 80

Appearance

Li Cheng is presented as a wealthy young master with an imposing and well-kept appearance. He commonly wears fine robes and carries himself with noticeable bearing, contrasting with Deng Qing’s humble clothing and poor background. 34 39 54

• Wealthy-family clothing, including blue brocade robes.
• A composed, distinguished bearing.
• Carries a sword and possesses several specialized weapons and tools.
• Accompanied or protected by household retainers such as Zhang Bo.
• His appearance and status mark him as a member of a powerful family rather than an ordinary county disciple.

Personality

Li Cheng is ambitious, resourceful, and accustomed to handling people through reason and incentives rather than blunt orders. When the group in North Warehouse needs someone to investigate the unrest, he offers Deng Qing payment instead of simply commanding him. 9

Despite his privileged background, Li Cheng is not portrayed as someone who casually bullies others with family influence. He values gratitude and defends Deng Qing when Zhang Bo suggests that Deng’s friendship is merely an attempt to gain a connection to the Li Family. 39

He is hardworking and disciplined. Deng Qing initially assumes that Li Cheng’s progress comes mostly from wealth, but later recognizes that Li Cheng trains relentlessly and puts in effort comparable to his own. 27

Li Cheng’s ambition also makes him competitive and occasionally frustrated. He struggles when Deng Qing rapidly surpasses him in the Seven Forms of Settling Solitude, but he ultimately responds with admiration rather than hostility. 27 41

His judgment matures through training. He begins as an impatient swordsman who rushes his attacks, then learns to wait for the instant when an opponent’s momentum changes. 40 41

Abilities and Skills

Seven Forms of Settling Solitude

The Seven Forms of Settling Solitude is a difficult sword art associated with Li Cheng’s family and created by his granduncle, Daoist Dinggu. It possesses a high potential but lacks a complete inheritance and reliable teacher. 26 27

• Reaches Initiation after a month of joint practice with Deng Qing. 27
• Uses gathered force rather than scattered, hurried attacks. 40
• Targets gaps that appear when an opponent changes movements or loses coordination. 40
• Defeats Zhao Tang by interrupting the momentum of his saber attacks. 47
• Passes the Grade-C and Class B Sword Examiner assessments through precision and tactical adaptation. 69 70
• Is overwhelmed by Song Que’s Shadow Saber, which conceals its true attack through overlapping saber images. 48

Family Martial Techniques

Li Cheng possesses secret hand techniques passed down through his family. Their rapid changes allow him to interrupt an opponent’s offense and attack vulnerable joints or openings. 47

• Uses deceptive, rapidly changing hand movements.
• Interrupts Zhao Tang’s offensive rhythm.
• Can fight effectively without relying solely on superior physical strength.
• Combines the family techniques with the principles of the Seven Forms of Settling Solitude.

Tactical Judgment

Li Cheng frequently relies on planning and negotiation rather than force alone.

• Offers Deng Qing compensation for investigating North Warehouse instead of issuing a direct order. 9
• Organizes a cooperative training arrangement for the Seven Forms of Settling Solitude. 26
• Pursues Zhou Fei’s head to improve his recommendation for the Martial Dao Trial. 37
• Uses his reputation to protect Deng Qing during the dispute at Great Fortune Rice Shop. 39
• Uses feigned exhaustion to lure a Class B Sword Examiner into an opening. 70

Weapons and Combat Equipment

Li Cheng combines swordsmanship with specialized tools and unusual combat resources.

• Sword — His primary weapon during the Seven Forms of Settling Solitude and the Martial Dao Trial. 27 69
• Ghost-Faced Bat — A controlled creature kept in a sealed bamboo tube and used to attack Zhou Fei. 34 36
• Sleeve arrows — Explosive projectiles used against Zhou Fei. 36
• Lung-Eroding Powder — A poison that creates dense toxic smoke and temporarily restricts an opponent’s movement. 36
• Ginseng Pills — Valuable cultivation resources used by Li Cheng and supplied through his wealthy family. 8 9

Relationships

• Deng Qing — Friend, training partner, and later swordsmanship instructor. Li Cheng provides Deng Qing with food, training space, money, and Ginseng Pills; Deng Qing helps him understand the Seven Forms of Settling Solitude. 26 27 39 41
• Zhang Bo — Family retainer, guardian, and combat evaluator. Zhang Bo is suspicious of Deng Qing and worries that Deng’s rapid progress could eventually threaten Li Cheng, while Li Cheng continues to trust Deng. 27 39 41 43
• Li Dashan — Master within Celebration Hall and a respected senior figure connected to Li Cheng’s martial path. 40 47
• Zhou Tie — Fellow Celebration Hall disciple and temporary companion during the North Warehouse assignment and later military operations. 8 9 34
• Wang Wei — Fellow disciple and companion during the North Warehouse assignment and Celebration Hall activities. 8 9 34
• Song Que — Rival whose rapid advancement leads to a public defeat of Li Cheng and a continuing conflict with Deng Qing. 47 48
• Zhou Fei — Enemy encountered during the Mountain God Temple battle. Li Cheng kills him to claim military merit after Deng Qing helps him survive the fight. 36 38
• Daoist Dinggu — Granduncle and creator of the Seven Forms of Settling Solitude. His legacy motivates Li Cheng’s pursuit of the sword art. 26 27

Story Role and Major Arcs

Celebration Hall and North Warehouse

Li Cheng is introduced as one of Celebration Hall’s most advanced young disciples. His early progress highlights the advantages of wealth and access to cultivation resources. During the North Warehouse assignment, he becomes the group’s practical leader and works with Deng Qing to protect the military supplies from looters. 2 8 10

The Seven Forms of Settling Solitude

Li Cheng recruits Deng Qing to practice the Seven Forms of Settling Solitude. Their arrangement gives Li Cheng a committed sparring partner and gives Deng Qing access to abundant food. The partnership gradually develops into friendship, though Deng Qing conceals how much faster he is progressing. 26 27

Mountain God Temple and Zhou Fei

Li Cheng pursues Zhou Fei for military merit but becomes trapped when Zhou Fei consumes a Blood-Burning Pill. Deng Qing intervenes to prevent Zhou Fei from killing him. Together they counter Zhou Fei’s strength through cooperation, poison, swordsmanship, and survival tactics. 36 37

Recognition and Rivalry

After Deng Qing gives Li Cheng the opportunity to claim Zhou Fei’s head, Li Cheng treats him as a genuine friend. He protects Deng Qing from Feng Xiao, seeks his swordsmanship guidance, and rewards him generously after reaching Initiation. 37 41

Dongting County Martial Exhibition

Li Cheng defeats Zhao Tang using the Seven Forms of Settling Solitude but then loses to Song Que’s Shadow Saber. The defeat exposes his remaining gap in realm and combat experience while intensifying Song Que’s rivalry with Deng Qing. 47 48

Martial Dao Trial

Li Cheng enters the Martial Dao Trial as a sword candidate. He earns Grade-C and Class B results through tactical swordsmanship and endurance, but ultimately fails to secure Grade A after the disguised Deng Qing defeats the participating examinees. 69 70 76 80

Notable Quotes

“If I am surpassed by a sword fanatic like him, it would not be shameful.” 41

“You have good talent. That much is obvious.” 26

“If the two of us practice together, we can at least spar, dismantle the moves, and test our strength.” 26

“So what if Deng Qing saw through it? So what if he understood the calculations? Is that not only human nature?” 39

Trivia

• Li Cheng entered Celebration Hall despite coming from a family wealthy enough to provide private martial instruction. 8 27
• His granduncle, Daoist Dinggu, was the creator of the Seven Forms of Settling Solitude. 26 27
• Li Cheng initially lacks an internal cultivation method, which limits his ability to understand the deeper circulation principles of the Seven Forms. 28
• He uses a Ginseng Pill as compensation when sending Deng Qing to investigate the unrest outside North Warehouse. 9
• He is wealthy enough to provide Deng Qing with daily meat, training space, one hundred taels of silver, and five Ginseng Pills. 26 27 41
• Li Cheng’s Class B assessment includes a victory achieved by pretending that his qi and blood are failing. 70
• He remains supportive of Deng Qing even after repeatedly being surpassed by him. 41 54