Yuanshi

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Yuanshi (元始)
Alias(es)	Second Brother; one of the Three Pure Ones
Species/Race	Pangu Orthodox; one of the Three Pure Ones 26
Gender	Male
Affiliation	The Three Pure Ones; direct disciple of Dao Ancestor Hongjun 35
Occupation/Role	Primordial cultivator; Quasi-Saint
Status	Active 49
First Appearance	Chapter 26

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Middle Great Firmament Golden Immortal	29	Had consolidated this realm before Hongjun's first Purple Cloud Palace sermon.
Late Great Firmament Golden Immortal	30	Broke through after comprehending Hongjun's teaching; expected to reach the peak with further seclusion.
Peak Great Firmament Golden Immortal	37	Displayed this cultivation while arguing that Hongjun's Three Corpses Severing Method was the orthodox Primordial Unity path.
Quasi-Saint	42, 43	Advanced through the Three Corpses Severing Method by severing his Kind Corpse with the Jade Ruyi; his Kind Corpse later traveled independently to Yingzhou Island.

Personality

Yuanshi places exceptional importance on origin, lineage, and orthodoxy. He considers the Three Pure Ones' Pangu heritage inherently superior and initially rejects Li Yi as a “wild Daoist” of uncertain background despite Li Yi's achievements against Luohou 26.

He is proud, competitive, and deeply sensitive to humiliation. Tongtian's successive breakthroughs leave him resentful rather than reflective; he blames Tongtian and Li Yi for embarrassing him instead of accepting that his judgment was mistaken 30 31. His confidence in Hongjun's path is further shaken when Li Yi exposes the limits of the Three Corpses Severing Method 45.

Despite his arrogance, Yuanshi can restrain himself when necessary. He suppresses his rage at Kunpeng's public insult rather than expose his disguised Kind Corpse, then secretly pursues Li Yi's teachings himself 42 43.

Abilities & Skills

Three Corpses Severing Method

Yuanshi follows Hongjun's Three Corpses Severing Method, using an Innate Spirit Treasure as a vessel for a severed corpse.

• Severed his Kind Corpse through the Jade Ruyi. 42 45
• His Kind Corpse can act independently and travel to distant locations. 42 43
• He considers the method simpler and more orthodox than Li Yi's Law Dao. 37
• Li Yi declares that the method is a dead end for anyone except Hongjun, leaving Yuanshi alarmed about his own future path. 44 45

Cultivation Combat

Yuanshi possesses combat strength far beyond ordinary Great Firmament Golden Immortals.

• At Peak Great Firmament Golden Immortal, he attempted to pressure Tongtian with his cultivation aura. 37
• As a Quasi-Saint, he pursued the Peak Great Firmament Golden Immortal Kunpeng for two years, repeatedly denying him escape before preparing a killing blow. 49
• He withdrew when Hong Yun's Mystic Yellow Treasure Seal knocked his Jade Ruyi away, recognizing that continuing the battle would not benefit him. 49

Concealment

Yuanshi can suppress his displayed cultivation through his Kind Corpse.

• Disguised the Kind Corpse as an ordinary Supreme Unity Golden Immortal while infiltrating Li Yi's gathering at Yingzhou Island. 43
• Maintained the disguise even after Kunpeng forced him from the inner seating area. 43

Equipment

• Jade Ruyi — Spirit Treasure used as the vessel for Yuanshi's Kind Corpse; later knocked away by Hong Yun's Mystic Yellow Treasure Seal. 45 49
• Hongjun's bestowed Supreme-grade Innate Spirit Treasure — Yuanshi receives one of the Supreme-grade treasures Hongjun distributes to his disciples. 48

Relationships

• Laozi — Eldest brother and fellow member of the Three Pure Ones. They initially share a belief in Pangu Orthodoxy and Hongjun's superiority, then secretly send their Kind Corpses to hear Li Yi's teachings. 26 43
• Tongtian — Younger brother and ideological rival. Yuanshi repeatedly belittles Tongtian's choice of Li Yi as master, but Tongtian's superior cultivation humiliates and later suppresses him. 30 37
• Hongjun — Master. Yuanshi becomes Hongjun's direct disciple and cultivates the Three Corpses Severing Method, though he secretly investigates Li Yi's teachings. 35 42 44
• Li Yi / Qiankun / Heaven-Earth Daoist — Rival Dao teacher whom Yuanshi initially dismisses as a wild Daoist. Tongtian's progress and Yuanshi's doubts ultimately drive him to covertly attend Li Yi's Sage Dao lecture. 26 42 44
• Kunpeng — Enemy. After Kunpeng unknowingly humiliates his disguised Kind Corpse, Yuanshi hunts him for two years and attempts to kill him. 43 49
• Hong Yun — Intervenes to save Kunpeng and repels Yuanshi's Jade Ruyi. Yuanshi retreats while holding a grudge over the encounter. 49

Story Role / Major Arcs

Choosing Hongjun's Lecture

When Hongjun and Li Yi simultaneously announce Dao lectures, Yuanshi argues that the Three Pure Ones should attend Purple Cloud Palace. He values Hongjun's ancient status, reputation, and association with Pangu Orthodoxy over Li Yi's demonstrated combat achievements 26.

First Defeat by Tongtian

After Hongjun's first sermon, Yuanshi advances to the Late Great Firmament Golden Immortal realm and confronts Tongtian expecting to prove his choice was correct. Tongtian instead reveals that Li Yi's teachings raised him to the Peak Great Firmament Golden Immortal realm, leaving Yuanshi humiliated and speechless 30.

Hongjun's Disciple

Yuanshi later requests formal discipleship from Hongjun alongside Laozi, Jieyin, and Zhunti. He embraces the Three Corpses Severing Method and believes its apparent simplicity confirms the inferiority of Li Yi's Law Dao 35 37.

Secret Visit to Yingzhou Island

Unable to ignore Tongtian's growth, Yuanshi secretly dispatches his Kind Corpse to Li Yi's Yingzhou Island. He publicly claims to be investigating heretical teachings for Tongtian's protection, but his true motive is to learn why Li Yi's Dao produced such results 42 43.

Kunpeng forces Yuanshi's disguised incarnation to surrender its place among the inner-circle listeners. Yuanshi suppresses his fury to preserve his cover, but vows revenge after leaving the island 43.

Doubting the Three Corpses Dao

At Li Yi's Sage Dao lecture, Yuanshi learns that the Three Corpses Severing Method cannot lead most cultivators to true Sainthood. Because he used the Jade Ruyi to sever his Kind Corpse, the revelation leaves him fearful that his path has already been cut off 44 45.

Pursuit of Kunpeng

Yuanshi eventually acts on his grudge against Kunpeng, pursuing him for two years and treating him as prey. Hong Yun intervenes to settle his karmic debt to Kunpeng, repels Yuanshi's attack, and forces him to withdraw without achieving revenge 49.

Notable Quotes

“As cultivators, if we do not judge superiority by our cultivation, then by what should we judge it?” 30

“The Primordial Unity Dao taught by your master is fundamentally wrong!” 37