Chang'anzi

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Chang'anzi (长安子)
Alias(es)	Guardian True Person — an officially bestowed title 182
Gender	Male 13 34
Affiliation	Truth-Seeking Abbey; Heaven and Earth Academy 66 68
Occupation/Role	Fourth-generation Daoist of Truth-Seeking Abbey; disciple of Xuan Ye; cultivator serving at Heaven and Earth Academy 20 56 68
Cultivation	Feathered Transformation Realm 303
Status	Alive at his latest documented advancement 303
First Appearance	Chapter 4 — brings supper and shares Spirit Crane eggs with Xuanming 4

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Third Essence Refining Realm — initial attainment	20	Retrospectively stated to have reached the third realm before turning twenty, before the injuries that damaged his cultivation.
Cultivation regression	13	Severely injured after secretly leaving the mountain to investigate Xuan Ye's death; survives, but loses cultivation.
Body-tempering gains	18 19	Can shatter a thousand-pound boulder with one punch. After a year of training, his physical strength alone approaches that of a third-realm cultivator.
Restoration of cultivation capacity	19 20	Xuanming's yin-yang treatment repairs his organs, meridians, and dantian, curing his lingering affliction and restoring painless circulation of magical power.
Second Realm — reentry	25	Rebuilds his Dao foundation with the Yin-Yang Method as its core.
Third Essence Refining Realm — jade-liquefying	34	Reaches the realm again with a seventh-grade superior Dao foundation. Also attains minor mastery of the Numinous Aspect Body-Refining Method.
Body-refining breakthrough	41	At Cloud Heaven Peak's 120th step, breaks through a bottleneck in his Spirit Aspect Body-Refining Art, increasing physical strength and spiritual perception.
Qi Refining — True Person	150	Confirmed to have become a True Person on a superior Dao foundation; the precise breakthrough chapter is not provided.
Golden Core — True Person	264	Returns from his travels as the third fourth-generation Golden Core True Person of the abbey, after Li Zizai and Chang Ning.
Sacred Embryo	286	He and Chang Ning condense their sacred embryos in succession. Their combined strength makes even Li Zizai cautious.
Feathered Transformation	303	Advances alongside Chang Ning during the widespread breakthroughs brought about by the world's improved balance of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity.

Background / History

Chang'anzi grew up without either parent. Xuan Ye raised him, becoming a father figure as well as his cultivation master. As a child, Chang'anzi climbed trees to steal birds, caught fish in rivers, and stole his elders' spirit food. Xuan Ye punished his mischief by day but secretly applied ointment to his wounds at night 13 41.

Xuan Ye's unexplained death became a persistent wound in Chang'anzi's life. His state of mind deteriorated, and he secretly left Floating Cloud Mountain to investigate. An accident during that journey gravely injured him and caused his cultivation to fall 13.

Following his master's instructions, Chang'anzi looked after Xuanming whenever he could. Their daily association lasted six years by the time Xuanming began teaching him the improved Eight Trigrams Sword Art. Before Xuanming entered the Dao, Chang'anzi accompanied him in scripture reading and calligraphy to win his confidence and ease his unhealthy habit of studying late into the night 11 49 64.

Appearance

Half a year of Xuanming's severe physical training transforms Chang'anzi from a softer boy into a burly, muscular young Daoist with rugged features 18.

• Build: Broad and powerful, with bulging muscles visible beneath his Daoist robes 34.
• Features: Strong and sharply defined 34.
• Equipment: Carries a conspicuous heavy sword strapped to his back during the Dao Origin Assembly 56.

Personality

Chang'anzi's flippant manner conceals strong attachments and considerable resolve. He enjoys gossip, deliberately keeps Xuanming in suspense, and steals spirit food to share with him. Yet he is also attentive to his martial uncle's health and gives him space rather than constantly intruding 4 5 11 49.

His determination becomes clearest during rehabilitation. Although the earliest training leaves him swollen, bruised, and crying beneath his blankets at night, he returns punctually the next morning. He accepts increasingly painful exercises because he trusts Xuanming and wants to uncover the truth about his master's death 18 19.

He values honesty over an appearance of perfect virtue. On Cloud Heaven Peak, he acknowledges jealousy, fear, and mixed motives rather than denying them. Later, even after learning who caused Xuan Ye's death, he restrains his anger because a reckless attack would endanger both himself and the abbey 40 64.

Success does not erase his gratitude or sportsmanship. He credits the abbey publicly, avoids drawing unwanted attention to Xuanming, treats defeated opponents respectfully, and accepts an honorable defeat without resentment 41 56 58 59.

Abilities & Skills

Eight Trigrams Sword Art

Chang'anzi masters the abbey's original sword art sufficiently to receive Xuanming's improved version in private. He subsequently crosses the threshold of the New Eight Trigrams Sword Art 11 13.

• Uses the Eight Trigrams Sword Formation to contain and weaken Sunlight Daoist's blazing-sun transformation before forcing him off the platform 58.
• Keeps the formation intact through repeated attacks from Night-Illuminating Daoist, despite sustaining wounds 59.
• Gains profound Sword Dao insights from the final stages of Cloud Heaven Peak's trial 41.
• Cannot overcome Night-Illuminating Daoist, who dismantles the formation and defeats his final strike 59.

Numinous / Spirit Aspect Body-Refining Method

An improved abbey technique taught by Xuanming, also translated as the Spirit Aspect Body-Tempering Art. It combines visualization with the union of mind and flesh to strengthen blood, qi, and physique 34 59.

• Xuanming's upgraded method has approximately one-fifth of the effect and power of the Eight Outer Visions True Method 34.
• Chang'anzi becomes one of its best practitioners in the abbey through punishing physical training 34.
• Manifests a Spirit Aspect resembling Xuanming during his final attack against Night-Illuminating Daoist 59.
• Minor accomplishment allows him to withstand the sword intent Xuanming seals inside his body 60.

Heavy-Sword and Unarmed Combat

His fighting style emphasizes fundamentals, overwhelming force, and decisive attacks rather than elaborate movements 18 56.

• Trains by hauling logs, carrying water, and swinging a heavy sword without magical power 18.
• Practices beneath a freezing waterfall and swings his sword underwater 18.
• Defeats his first two opponents in the martial finals with a single punch each 56.
• Combines fist and sword, then spirit and flesh, in his strongest Assembly attack 59.
• Defeats several fourth-realm Essence Refining opponents while still in the third realm 61.

Yin-Yang Foundation Establishment

After recovering from his injuries, Chang'anzi studies the Yin-Yang Foundation Establishment Manual under Xuanming 20.

• Rebuilds his foundation around the Yin-Yang Method 25.
• Forms a seventh-grade superior Dao foundation, giving him potential second only to Xuanming within the abbey at that time 34.
• His exceptional Assembly performance exposes the likelihood that he possesses a superior foundation-establishment method, attracting dangerous interest 61 63.

Calligraphy and Talisman Drawing

Five years of concentrated calligraphy practice provide the foundation for his talisman skills. Xuanming teaches him that writing, painting, and talismans share the same underlying principles 49.

• Practices talismans between cultivation sessions while preparing for the Assembly 49.
• Places 15th in talisman drawing at the Dao Origin Grand Gathering 49.

Sealed Sword Intent

Before the journey to Fengyang Commandery, Xuanming seals sword intent inside Chang'anzi as a hidden emergency safeguard 34 60.

• Its constant erosion causes pain, but also tempers his physique, blood, and qi 60.
• Provides a means to study sword intent and improve his swordsmanship 60.
• Releases it against a Primordial Heaven flood serpent, severing its tail 60.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Heavy sword — His principal weapon and a Dharma Artifact by the Assembly. Its training weight increases from thirty pounds to fifty, then one hundred; no final combat weight is specified 18 56 58.
• Two protective jade talismans — Given by Xuanming before his departure for Heaven and Earth Academy, with instructions to keep them on his person for emergencies 66.
• Ancient oil lamp — Purchases the damaged Spirit Artifact for two Magic Coins after bargaining down from ten. He later presents it to Xuanming, who begins refining it 49 118.
• Yellow Bud Pill — Earned through his fifth-place overall Assembly finish. He agrees to let Xuanxu use it to attempt a Qi Refining breakthrough 59.
• Qi Refining True Person's cultivation insights — Another reward for his Assembly placement 59.
• Eight Trigrams Mirror — Xuanming provides one for him through Xuan Yang as protection 81.

Relationships

• Xuan Ye — Master and surrogate father. Raised Chang'anzi and asked him to care for Xuanming; discovering the truth behind his death drives Chang'anzi's early ambitions 13 41 64.
• Xuanming — Martial uncle, caregiver, and principal later mentor. Restores his damaged cultivation, teaches his sword and body-refining arts, and supplies protective measures for his journeys 11 20 34 66.
• Chang Ning / Changningzi — Initially resents him for stealing her Spirit Chickens and receiving favored instruction. Their frequent sparring rivalry eventually develops into a Dao-companion relationship 12 19 286.
• Changqingzi — Close friend and fellow Assembly competitor. Their friendship begins with a fight; they later share ambitions, train together, and enter Heaven and Earth Academy 21 39 66.
• Xuanxu — Abbey head and protective elder. Supports his Assembly participation, receives his prize pill, and shields him during the return-journey assassination attempt 23 59 60.
• Goodhearted Daoist — Sportsmanlike rival whose body-tempering strength matches his closely. Both express interest in sparring again after Chang'anzi wins 58.
• Night-Illuminating Daoist — Overwhelmingly stronger Assembly opponent. Praises Chang'anzi's skill and restraint, acknowledging that the final attack forced him to use half his strength 59.
• Chu Yunfei — Ally in the proceedings against Wang Sheng; afterward explains the aristocratic politics that made securing Wang Sheng's death difficult 72.
• Wang Sheng — The man identified as responsible for Xuan Ye's death. Chang'anzi helps expose his crimes rather than attempting an impulsive personal attack 64 68 70.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Rehabilitation under Xuanming

Chang'anzi asks for help attending the Dao Origin Grand Gathering so he can enter Heaven and Earth Academy and investigate Xuan Ye's death. Xuanming initially dismisses his emotional appeal, but quietly accepts the task of training him 13.

The rehabilitation combines a year of progressive physical conditioning with a painful restorative treatment. Xuanming suspends him at the bottom of a pool and uses yin-yang energies to reconcile the life and death energies in his damaged body. When the treatment succeeds, Chang'anzi regains healthy meridians and a functioning dantian, allowing him to rebuild his foundation 18 19 20 25.

Dao Origin Grand Gathering

Event	Result	Details
Dao debate — Cloud Heaven Peak	2nd place	Reaches the 150th step after rejecting a counterfeit self, breaking through his body-refining bottleneck, and enduring attacks on his soul 40 41.
Talisman drawing	15th place	Applies the principles learned through calligraphy and Xuanming's instruction 49.
Martial trials	Defeated by Night-Illuminating Daoist	Defeats Goodhearted Daoist and the higher-ranked Sunlight Daoist before conceding to the eventual champion 58 59.
Overall standing	5th place	The only contestant from a small Daoist lineage in the top ten; earns cultivation insights and a Yellow Bud Pill 59.

His unexpected performance brings the abbey widespread attention. It also makes him a target: conspirators order the Draped Robe Tower to assassinate both him and Xuanming 42 43.

During the festival between competitions, Chang'anzi avoids a disguised seller's attempt to lure him away with the promise of matching oil lamps. Rather than pursuing the apparent bargain, he asks Fei Bai for a discreet investigation and follows the elders' advice to leave the matter alone 49 50.

Ambush and Academy Departure

On the journey home, a Draped Robe Tower assassin targets Chang'anzi with Soul-Tethering Threads. Xuanxu kills her using sword intent supplied by Xuanming. A flood serpent then attacks, and Chang'anzi releases his own hidden sword intent to sever its tail; the serpent is ultimately killed by heavenly lightning 60.

The abbey suspects the serpent was being manipulated to abduct him and obtain his superior foundation-establishment method. Xuanming responds by promising further protection 63.

Before leaving for Heaven and Earth Academy, Chang'anzi gives Xuanming chicken soup and receives two protective jade talismans. He leads his three departing companions to Sword Cliff, where each leaves a sword mark before saluting the remaining disciples 66.

Justice for Xuan Ye

Xuanming reveals that the Chu clan has traced Xuan Ye's death to Wang Sheng. Chang'anzi accepts that immediate retaliation would be suicidal and could disrupt the abbey's plans, but asks to participate when the opportunity comes 64.

After becoming familiar with Academy work, he joins Changqingzi, two other abbey Daoists, and the Chu clan in a campaign exposing Wang Sheng's crimes. He also hands over an infiltrator who had spent more than a decade passing information from the abbey. Wang Sheng is ultimately put to death, and Chu Yunfei later explains why securing that outcome required more than simply exposing his wrongdoing 68 70 72.

Later Abbey Responsibilities

Chang'anzi receives the title Guardian True Person and incense offerings following the Imperial Court's rewards to the abbey 182.

As the sect grows, he warns Changchunzi that rapid advancement has allowed some members' ambitions to drift. He argues that the abbey must remain united to endure, supporting stronger rules and internal reform 271.

His later cultivation proceeds alongside Chang Ning. The pair become Dao companions, condense sacred embryos, and eventually enter Feathered Transformation together 286 303.

Notable Quotes

“I grew up without a father or mother. Master raised me. I want to enter the Heaven and Earth Academy and uncover the truth behind his death.” 13

“I was indeed jealous. Everyone feels jealousy. What matters is how you restrain it.” 40

“I have a sword that can slay demons and evil.”
“I have a sword that shall protect the Truth-Seeking Abbey.” 59

Trivia

• His chicken theft becomes an unlikely aid during Cloud Heaven Peak's identity trial: the imagined memory of Xuanming scolding and striking him jolts him out of the illusion 41.
• Xuanming and Chang'anzi have eaten three of Chang Ning's Spirit Chickens by the time she confronts them 12.
• Chang'anzi's farewell sword mark helps establish the custom of departing Daoists leaving their sword intent on Sword Cliff 66 101.