Ling Xiao

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Ling Xiao (凌霄)
Gender	Male 635
Affiliation	Rogue cultivator; disciple of Daoist Yong'an 660 682 686
Occupation/Role	Buddhist cultivator; Gu Sheng's sworn brother and traveling companion 635 657
Status	Active 704
First Appearance	Chapter 635

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Half-step Earth Palace Realm	665	Reveals a cultivation equal to Wang Chenyu's while defeating him in the Qinghe Holy Land assessment. 665
At least Earth Palace Realm, Mid Stage	674	Pan Zhuang identifies Ling Xiao's concealed strength after Ling Xiao effortlessly defeats Yu Tianyi. 674
Heavenly Palace Realm, Early Stage	691	Long Teng recognizes him as an early-stage Heavenly Palace cultivator after Ling Xiao intercepts his attack. 691
Heavenly Palace Realm, Mid Stage	691	Breaks through during his battle with Long Teng, allowing him to more firmly contend with the latter's attacks. 691

Appearance

Ling Xiao is a youthful monk whose outwardly carefree manner contrasts with an exceptionally resilient body. He can alter his appearance, physique, height, voice, and aura through an unnamed transformation method. 635 657

• Possesses black eyes that can appear emotionless and intimidating when angered. 674
• Frequently carries a wine gourd and can appear scruffy while traveling. 688
• Uses bone-cracking transformations to reshape his features and increase his height. 657
• His body can endure attacks that should seriously injure cultivators of comparable cultivation. 635 691

Personality

Ling Xiao is outspoken, playful, and highly competitive. His behavior often clashes with his identity as a monk: during his first encounter with Gu Sheng, he abruptly abandons their conversation to deal with the consequences of eating poisonous wild fruit. 635 He enjoys provoking opponents, takes visible pride in his victories, and is especially unable to tolerate insults from Qinghe Holy Land disciples. 661 663

Despite this recklessness, he is fiercely loyal. He repeatedly follows Gu Sheng into dangerous situations, warns him of potential threats, and willingly confronts stronger enemies to create an opening for Gu Sheng. 669 691 He can also accept Gu Sheng's tactical judgment when a direct fight would be suicidal. 688

Abilities & Skills

Physical Refinement

Ling Xiao's body is his defining combat advantage. Gu Sheng's full-force punch—expected to kill a cultivator below the Earth Palace Realm—leaves Ling Xiao with only a bump. 635

• Catches and breaks a peak Nascent Soul cultivator's saber with two fingers. 664
• Withstands Wang Chenyu's Azure Lotus Void Breaking Force with one hand. 665
• Crushes Pan Zhuang's natal spiritual blade barehanded. 674
• Endures repeated attacks from Long Teng, including blows powerful enough to shatter mountains. 691
• Uses direct, heavy punches to overwhelm opponents rather than relying solely on spiritual techniques. 663 674

Golden Alms Bowl

Ling Xiao wields a rune-covered Golden Alms Bowl as both a defensive artifact and an offensive weapon. 648

• Enlarges it into a barrier capable of covering a cave entrance. 678
• Uses it to break through the pressure barrier in Burning Heaven Valley. 682
• Filters and assists his absorption of solar essence while cultivating in Golden Crow Mountain. 682 686
• Launches it as a suppressive or striking weapon against enemy cultivators. 648 691
• Can be damaged or forced to its limit by attacks from substantially stronger opponents. 678 691

Movement, Talismans, and Formations

Ling Xiao supplements his physical combat with agile movement techniques, talismans, and knowledge of dangerous terrain.

• Reaches an initial grasp of the Nine Heavens Soaring Cloud Steps. 670
• Uses agile movement and pre-arranged talismans to restrain stronger opponents. 644
• Guides Gu Sheng through Ten Thousand Ghosts Ridge and leads him safely toward its depths. 642
• Exploits an ancient basin formation's Spirit Devouring effect to trap Luo Tian Sect cultivators. 642
• Demonstrates strong formation aptitude by completing Qinghe Holy Land's five-part formation assessment in 200 breaths. 661

Buddhist Techniques

Ling Xiao practices Buddhist techniques alongside his physical cultivation.

• Uses Buddhist techniques to accelerate himself when dangerous black shadows descend over the Blood River. 651
• Channels spiritual power through the Golden Alms Bowl for suppression, defense, and cultivation. 648 682
• Primarily cultivates wood-attribute techniques, making the Azure Spirit Ring particularly suitable for him. 704

Transformation Technique

Ling Xiao can reshape his body and conceal his identity through an unnamed method. 657

• Alters facial features, height, eyes, aura, and voice. 657
• Uses the technique to support his and Gu Sheng's cover as rogue-cultivator sworn brothers. 657 660
• Required three months to complete his first transformation. 657

Equipment

• Golden Alms Bowl — A runic Buddhist artifact used for barriers, cultivation support, suppression, and direct combat. 648 682 691
• Talismans — Used to disrupt enemies and support his movement-based fighting style. 644
• Wine gourd — Carried during his travels with Gu Sheng. 688
• Azure Spirit Ring — A wood-attribute Spirit Artifact given by Old Man Bai as a less conspicuous replacement for Ling Xiao's previous weapon. 704

Relationships

• Gu Sheng — Sworn brother, traveling companion, and trusted combat partner. Ling Xiao helps Gu Sheng return from an unfamiliar world, accompanies him through multiple dangerous regions, and risks his life to hold off Long Teng while Gu Sheng prepares Limitless Sword Qi. 636 657 691
• Daoist Yong'an — Master. Ling Xiao identifies himself as Yong'an's disciple and uses this relationship while cultivating in Burning Heaven Valley. 682 686
• Liang Yu — Acquaintance from the Qinghe Holy Land recruitment assessment. Liang Yu initially admires Ling Xiao's confidence, while Ling Xiao later regards his betrayal with particular cruelty. 660 661 690
• Wang Chenyu — Qinghe Holy Land opponent defeated by Ling Xiao after challenging his legitimacy in the selection competition. 665
• Pan Zhuang — Earth Palace Late Stage cultivator whose natal spiritual blade Ling Xiao crushes before Gu Sheng kills him. 674
• Long Teng — Powerful enemy whom Ling Xiao delays at great personal risk, breaking through mid-battle while protecting Gu Sheng. 691 692

Story Role / Major Arcs

Rescue and Ten Thousand Ghosts Ridge

Ling Xiao first encounters Gu Sheng after the latter is stranded in an unfamiliar world. Though their meeting is tense, Ling Xiao brings Gu Sheng back to Xinghong Spirit Domain and becomes his guide through Ten Thousand Ghosts Ridge. He identifies the damaged Tai Xu Divine Sword and helps exploit an ancient formation against Luo Tian Sect pursuers. 635 636 641 642

Qinghe Holy Land Recruitment

To evade pursuit, Ling Xiao and Gu Sheng enter Qinghe Holy Land's recruitment process under rogue-cultivator identities. Ling Xiao immediately attracts attention by provoking Holy Land disciples, then records a 200-breath completion time in the formation assessment. 660 661

In the subsequent competition, he defeats multiple challengers, including Jiang Dashan, Bai Xin, and Wang Chenyu. His public displays of strength secure places for his team but make him a target of Qinghe Holy Land's hostility. 663 664 665

Profound Nether Sacred Mountain

After entering Qinghe Holy Land, Ling Xiao and Gu Sheng become entangled in conflicts on Profound Nether Sacred Mountain. Ling Xiao reveals at least Earth Palace Mid Stage strength by defeating Yu Tianyi and crushing Pan Zhuang's natal weapon with his bare hand. 669 674

He accompanies Gu Sheng through cultivation, evasion, and pursuit by Qinghe Holy Land disciples. Their time at Golden Crow Mountain ends with both fleeing after the Heavenly Fire Red Lotus Pearl is stolen. 679 682 686

Flight from the Holy Lands

While pursued by multiple Holy Lands, Ling Xiao follows Gu Sheng into increasingly dangerous territory. He assists in confronting evil cultivators in Qinglan City, then makes a stand against Long Teng despite the vast difference in their cultivation. 688 691

During that battle, Ling Xiao uses the Golden Alms Bowl to delay Long Teng and breaks through to the Heavenly Palace Realm Mid Stage, buying Gu Sheng the time needed to activate the Taiji Seven Stars Sword. 691 692

Journey toward the Immortal Descent Realm

After escaping Qinghe Holy Land territory, Ling Xiao continues traveling with Gu Sheng toward the Zixia Holy Land's Immortal Descent Realm. He receives the Azure Spirit Ring from Old Man Bai and follows Gu Sheng's cautious strategy to avoid exposing their identities. 693 704

Notable Quotes

“A bunch of frogs in a well! If you've got the guts, come down here and spar with me!” 661

“If anything happens to Gu Sheng, I will make your life worse than death!” 667

“Brother Gu, I'm here to help you!” 691

Trivia

• Ling Xiao calls Ling Xiao his Buddhist name. 635
• His first transformation took him three months to achieve, while Gu Sheng learns the same method in one night. 657
• He is particularly sensitive about being called a “pig's head.” 674
• Gu Sheng considers Ling Xiao's greatest flaw to be his inability to ignore provocation. 661