Lin Zhishui

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Lin Zhishui (林止水)
Alias(es)	Senior Lin, Mr. Lin, Boss Lin 34 49 177
Gender	Male
Species/Race	Human incarnation of Pangu’s fundamental consciousness 172 175
Affiliation	He Mingxuan calligraphy and painting shop, as its owner 1 34
Occupation/Role	Calligrapher, painter, shopkeeper; the consciousness of the Three Realms’ creator 1 172 176
Residence	Apartment 301, Building 28, Purple Swallow Residential Complex, in Su City’s old district; shared with She Xilu 80 137
Status	Alive; plans to remain with She Xilu during Earth’s spiritual-energy revival 178
First Appearance	Chapter 1, “He Mingxuan” 1

Power Progression

• Lin’s development is not presented as a conventional sequence of heavenly-pass breakthroughs. Earlier assessments of his realm are often other characters’ deductions, not confirmed advancements 59 69 147.
• The historical awakening below precedes his modern shopkeeping life; it is disclosed near the end of the story 175.

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Historical awakening: mastery of the new Heavenly Dao	175	After countless mortal reincarnations, Pangu’s consciousness awakens as Lin Zhishui. His memories return, and he instantly masters the new Heavenly Dao; full awakening still requires merging with Pangu’s revived true body.
Artistic mastery independent of the Beloved Brush	142 148	Previously reliant on his special brush, Lin discovers that ordinary brushes now produce equally superb work. His improved ability removes his fear of being publicly questioned as an artist.
Comprehension of the Three Pure Ones’ Daos	160	Copying the scripture’s twenty-seven “Dao” characters produces three streams of clear qi embodying No-Mind, No-Self, and Nonaction. The streams unite; Lin subsequently succeeds in painting Outer Path Pangu.
Absorption of his primordial spirits	177	Lin confirms that he has absorbed Primordial Beginning and Primordial Origin. He can reproduce their auras to mislead the Heavenly Dao Will. The precise timing of the absorption is not given.

Background / History

Pangu’s Consciousness

Primordial Pangu created heaven and earth, then died from exhaustion. His body became the Primordial Land, his primordial spirit was reborn as the Primordial Heavenly Emperor, and his fundamental consciousness became Lin Zhishui. Lin eventually explains that these identities belong to one complete Pangu while retaining their individuality 172.

Aspect	Relationship to the complete Pangu
Primordial Pangu	The original creator of heaven and earth 172.
Primordial Heavenly Emperor	The rebirth of Pangu’s primordial spirit 172.
Demon Ancestor Primordial Beginning	The Heavenly Emperor’s second primordial spirit 172.
Outer Path Pangu	Primordial Pangu revived 172.
Lin Zhishui	The incarnation of Pangu’s fundamental consciousness 172 175.

Mortal Lives and Heavenly Law

In the experience Lin shares with the assembled powerhouses, he lives as a mortal snake catcher from Snake Stockade. He catches snakes with Xiao Chan, dreams of cultivation, and has been told that he lacks the necessary aptitude 173.

Across countless reincarnations, he remains vulnerable to cultivators and even the incidental shock waves of their battles. He eventually concludes that cultivation itself is not the problem: the problem is cultivation unrestricted by rules. This understanding precedes the awakening of Pangu’s consciousness and true body 175.

Lin’s intended new laws conflict with the existing Heavenly Dao Will, which has developed selfish desires. Because merging the new laws would dissolve that will, it resists integration and labels his additions the “Outer Path.” Lin denies intending either the Primordial Cataclysm or the extermination of cultivators 172 176.

Life as a Shopkeeper

In modern Su City, Lin runs He Mingxuan in a secluded alley and shares a rented apartment with She Xilu. By their early domestic chapters, they have been together for three years and have lived together for one. She saved him when they first met offline, and he regards remaining beside her as a firm commitment 1 5.

Lin initially attributes his extraordinary brushwork to the Beloved Brush rather than cultivation. He treats his customers as traditional-culture enthusiasts, their reverence as artistic admiration, and their valuable gifts as ordinary shop furnishings. His business concerns include attracting customers, avoiding refunds, and maintaining a convincing image as a reclusive calligraphy master 1 16 24 142.

His apparent ignorance is later explained as genuine unawareness while asleep. Nevertheless, information, futures, destinies, and karmic connections within the Three Realms affect his subconscious, allowing his ordinary conversations and choices to align with supernatural events 176 177.

Personality

Lin is playful, vain, and commercially minded. He enjoys devoted admirers, deliberately cultivates an enigmatic artistic persona, and privately congratulates himself on his looks and supposed insight into women. His confidence is less secure when Yan Shanshui’s ordinary calligraphy appears better than his own, forcing him to improvise criticism 16 26 33.

His teasing coexists with practical compassion. He cooks for She Xilu, arranges hearing aids and help for her nightmares, and seeks discreet protection when he believes her new connections may endanger her. He also lets Yan study without tuition after learning that she is an orphan, asking only for shop chores and care of the pine tree 5 7 8 27 80.

Lin is cautious about giving advice that could decide another person’s life. When Lu Qingfeng describes his dangerous path, Lin admits that he cannot judge whether it is right and instead encourages him to trust his heart. His observations about Guan Shiyin similarly distinguish uncertain motives from the real benefits of her charity work 79 102.

After revealing his identity, Lin remains affectionate and conversational rather than aloof. He acknowledges manipulating Boss Qiao through subconscious arrangements, apologizes, and insists that he still considered him a friend. His wish to experience love without overwhelming memories also explains why he wanted both himself and She Xilu to begin their relationship anew 172 176 177.

Abilities & Skills

Calligraphy and Dao Resonance

Lin’s calligraphy expresses Great Ways and preserves divine abilities within ordinary-looking writing. Xiao Sui identifies more than a dozen perfected Great Ways in his works; recipients use them for enlightenment, cultivation, healing, and combat 13 21 69 72.

• Concealment: Inscriptions or signatures can draw a work’s Dao Resonance inward, making it appear ordinary while preserving its mysteries for its owner 25 96.
• Cultivation support: His writing can gather spiritual energy and refine it into unusually pure spiritual power 72.
• Guidance: Studying his works helps Yan Shanshui overcome a water-cultivation bottleneck and gives Lu Qingfeng direction toward higher Sword Dao comprehension 21 23 108.
• Power limits: Youchan explains that calligraphy produced in the mortal world contains only half-immortal-level power. Its extraordinary effectiveness comes from the much higher comprehension embodied within it 95 132.
• Expendable abilities: A scroll’s stored divine ability can be consumed even though residual Dao Resonance remains 87.

Work	Recipient / Use	Documented effect
“Cross”	Old Master Cheng	Given when Cheng faces his greatest calamity; Lin believes he is encouraging recovery from a serious illness 1.
“Steadfast”	Han Suxin	Heals her injured soul and strengthens aspects of her cultivation; later pins a Zheng in place while the shop’s treasures destroy it 12 13 15.
“Retreat”	Cheng Buxiu	Contains powerful Dao Resonance and a concealed ability that Cheng regards as a safeguard 25.
“The Highest Good Is Like Water”	Studied by Yan Shanshui	Provides a clear direction for water cultivation and insight into major bottlenecks 21 23 33.
“She belongs to me. Please extend her your care.”	Written for She Xilu	Lin intends it as a recommendation supporting her career; Xiao Sui understands the surrounding request as support for entering the Lunar Abyss lineage 64.
“Thread upon thread accumulates into an inch…”	She Xilu	Refines spiritual energy into pure power; Youchan estimates a possible tenfold increase in cultivation speed and identifies a thread-weaving divine ability suited to restraint or defense 72 95.
“A sword’s keen edge comes from grinding”	She Xilu	Carries strong metal-element resonance suited to her Queen Mother of the West inheritance 72.
Lunar calligraphy scroll	Xiao Sui	Summons the Lunar Star and a fragment of Guanghan Palace. Its freezing moonlight destroys Fortune-Teller’s second primordial spirit 87.
“A hall of flowers intoxicates three thousand guests; one sword’s frost chills fourteen provinces”	Lu Qingfeng	Its sword ability gives Lu direction toward integrating his Sword Heart and advancing beyond a perfected Sword Dao 78 108.
“Having seen the vast sea, no other water will do…”	Venerable Dongyan	Contains a rare Way involving the Divine Soul and consciousness 112.
“Seize the opportunity; it will not come again”	She Xilu	Seizes an exposed karmic connection, enabling Nuwa to strike the weakened Demon Ancestor Mingye from afar 119 128.

Painting and Divine Artifacts

Lin’s paintings can function as Supreme Divine Artifacts despite being made with ordinary materials. Portraits provide vessels for powerful beings’ avatars, while landscape paintings can leave the shop and intervene in distant events 112 152 168.

• Nuwa Painting: Allows Nuwa’s avatar to protect She Xilu from Demon Ancestor Mingye 118 128.
• Queen Mother of the West Painting: Initially calls to Yang Hui, the original Queen Mother. After she relinquishes its call, it can connect to Bai Yueyao’s Divine Seat 152.
• Landscape scrolls: Five scrolls fly away from Lin’s shop and reach the confrontation with Hook God as colorful butterflies 168.
• Avatar limitations: Painting avatars have a time limit and normally require the painting’s spirituality to activate; they cannot be entered at will like a Demon Ancestor’s avatar 152.
• Artistic development: Lin initially cannot capture Outer Path Pangu’s “spirit,” but succeeds after copying the Three Pure Ones’ scripture 153 160.

Enlightenment Through Guidance

Lin’s apparently ordinary advice can resolve deep cultivation obstacles 42 79 80.

• Zhu Chenghuo: Credits a reclusive senior, identified by Yan as Lin, with guiding him to perfect the Fifth Heavenly Pass and saving his life 42.
• Lu Qingfeng: Recovers his original love of swords after Lin’s advice to follow his heart, integrating centuries of fragmented understanding into a perfected Sword Dao 79 80 92.
• Qing: The pine tree awakens after receiving Lin’s brush-washing water and later obtains the Fuxi Dharma Body inheritance 17 23 58.

Subconscious Influence over the Three Realms

Lin states that, as their creator, he can influence the Three Realms even while asleep. Their changing futures, information, destinies, and karma affect him without his conscious understanding 177.

• His everyday remarks can respond to supernatural circumstances he does not consciously recognize 176 177.
• He acknowledges that Boss Qiao was included in his subconscious scheme 177.
• His spiritual presence is undetectable to Youchan’s awareness; the Gloomy Eye also fails to perceive his primordial-spirit light 117 119.
• He can transport Little Eleven directly to the shop and immerse assembled powerhouses in an experience of his story 172.

Heavenly Law and Cosmic Authority

Lin understands the Heavenly Dao and Outer Path as originally connected systems. The latter consists of rules added after Pangu’s revival and remains incomplete, limiting the perfection attainable by Demon Ancestors 172.

• His proposed integration of the new laws would erase the self-serving Heavenly Dao Will 176.
• He explains that mortal discovery of cultivators attracts Outer Demons because the Heavenly Dao Will fears him encountering cultivation and awakening 176.
• He announces that the future Three Realms will retain the Heavenly Dao Realm but no longer have Divine Seats 177.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Beloved Brush — His most treasured tool and original artistic “cheat.” Lin suspects an ancient calligrapher’s spirit might inhabit it. The voice asking for rescue is ultimately identified as Demon Ancestor Primordial Beginning 142 177.
• Azure Sun Ruler / Bluestone Paperweight — Gifted by Old Master Cheng and used to hold paper down. It autonomously destroys the Zheng’s body 1 15.
• Two Principles Magic-Gathering Basin — A supreme treasure given by Lu Qingfeng and used as a brush-washing basin. It drains magical power and destroys the Zheng’s escaping spirit 11 14 15 78.
• Hidden Dragon Pearl — Cheng Buxiu’s apology gift, accepted by Lin as a crystal ornament. It prevents mortals from approaching an area several dozen yards across and is a component of the Hidden Dragon Illusory World Formation 24.
• Wordless Heavenly Book — An apparently blank ancient book given by Lu Qingfeng. Its paper resists water and gentle heat; Lin’s blood test reveals no writing 80 102.
• Antique Jade Flask — Given by Venerable Dongyan, who believes its immortal blood can unseal the Wordless Heavenly Book. Lin assumes it contains a chemical solution 112.
• The Changes of the Three Realms — An illustrated reference used for divine portraits, including Nuwa and Outer Path Pangu 118 153.
• Origin of the Three Realms — An illustrated geography book used as a reference for paintings of foundational lands 152 160.
• Supreme Scripture of No Mind, No Self, and Nonaction — Contains twenty-seven “Dao” characters in three groups of nine; copying them manifests the Three Pure Ones’ Daos 147 153 160.

Relationships

• She Xilu / Little Snake — Romantic partner and housemate, variously called his wife and fiancée. He promises not to abandon her, supports her through art and practical care, and later reveals that he erased her reincarnation memories so they could experience their story anew 5 8 80 172.
• Youchan — The ancient consciousness sharing She Xilu’s mind. Her theories about Lin evolve from an influential immortal descendant to the Primordial Heavenly Emperor and finally Pangu’s interconnected identities 59 69 168 172.
• Old Master Cheng / Cheng Wunian — Regular customer who reveres Lin’s work and gives him the Azure Sun Ruler. Lin mistakes his heavenly tribulation for illness and his farewell for death; Cheng actually ascends 1 59.
• Cheng Qiyue — Cheng-family customer whose search for her ancestor’s message brings her to He Mingxuan. Her expensive purchase makes Lin worry that her family will demand a refund 1 16.
• Cheng Buxiu — Initially attempts to seize the shop’s paperweight, then apologizes and becomes a reverent customer. He gives Lin the Hidden Dragon Pearl and buys “Retreat” 13 15 24 25.
• Han Suxin — Customer and psychologist consulted about She Xilu’s nightmares. She becomes a devoted admirer, receives “Steadfast,” and defends the shop during Lin’s absence 7 8 12 15.
• Yan Shanshui — Informal calligraphy student. Lin mistakes her cultivation-driven interest for a teenage crush, but permits her to study in exchange for cleaning and caring for Qing 27 33.
• Lu Qingfeng — Customer and sword cultivator transformed by Lin’s guidance. He gives Lin the basin and Wordless Heavenly Book, then personally protects She Xilu from the shadows 78 79 80 93.
• Xiao Sui / Xia Guyu — Celebrity customer and trusted protector of She Xilu. Lin understands her assistance as cultural-industry networking, while she treats his remarks and gifts as instructions from a supreme being 34 64 87 112.
• Qing / Little Pine Tree — Awakened pine outside the shop. Lin waters her with used ink water and later casually addresses her by name 17 58 150.
• Heavenly Dog — Dangerous Outer Demon kept as an ordinary white pet dog. Lin says that anyone claiming ownership must come to him personally 49 51.
• Little Eleven / Golden Crow Girl — Daughter of the Primordial Heavenly Emperor, though not Lin’s biological daughter in his current life. Lin initially mistakes her visit for a fan interaction; after revealing his identity, he confirms that calling him her imperial father was correct 136 137 172.
• Boss Qiao — Stationery supplier and friend. Lin apologizes for involving him in subconscious arrangements and hopes they will continue their ordinary business relationship afterward 96 177.
• Guan Shiyin — Philanthropist whose handshake with Lin is interpreted as a concealed supernatural mark. Lin sees an ordinary encounter, while Guan and her allies become afraid to provoke him 99 100 101.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Arc	Lin’s involvement
He Mingxuan and the Cheng family	Cheng Qiyue’s arrival establishes the mismatch between Lin’s commercial persona and cultivators’ interpretations. His calligraphy and shop treasures later defeat an Outer Demon without his presence 1 13 14 15.
Yan’s apprenticeship	Shelter from the rain leads Yan to discover the shop’s Dao-rich art. Lin grants her access to study while believing he is managing an unwanted crush 19 20 21 27 33.
Zhu Chenghuo and the Heavenly Dog	Lin’s help saves Zhu, whose gratitude introduces other renowned cultivators to him. Keeping the Heavenly Dog brings Lin into the Hidden Dragon Pearl conflict 42 49 51 69.
She Xilu’s cultivation and protection	His recommendation, cultivation writings, and arrangement with Lu Qingfeng support She Xilu’s advancement and survival 64 72 80 87 93.
Guan Shiyin’s perceived marking	A charity-event handshake frightens the Savior of the World’s circle. Xiao Sui attributes the disappearance of a foreseen attack on Lu to Lin’s intervention 99 101 103.
Qing City’s defense	The Nuwa Painting protects She Xilu, and his calligraphy enables a karmic counterattack against Mingye. Observers interpret the chain of events as a long-prepared scheme 118 119 128 131.
Artistic improvement and landscape scrolls	Lin gains brush-independent skill, copies the Three Pure Ones’ scripture, and creates paintings that leave his shop to reach the confrontation with Hook God 142 160 168.
Identity and Heavenly Dao revelations	Lin explains Pangu’s aspects, his mortal reincarnations, the Heavenly Dao Will’s resistance, and the subconscious origin of his arrangements 172 175 176 177.
Planned life after the conflict	He chooses a new role during Earth’s spiritual-energy revival: She Xilu will be a girl prodigy, Youchan her pet, and he a hidden genius inheriting an ancient painting Dao 178.

Notable Quotes

“Sometimes, only by taking a step back can you see the boundless sea and sky.” 25

“Regard the doubting eyes of others as so many ghostly flames, and boldly walk your road through the night.” 79

“In my heart, I still considered you a friend.” 177

Trivia

• Lin caps recommended shop prices at 129,600 yuan. He regards this as ordinary business pricing; cultivators interpret it as a meaningful restriction on the powerful spells he distributes 24 112.
• Cheng Buxiu’s purchase pushes Lin’s savings past 200,000 yuan, prompting him to celebrate with an expensive breakfast 25.
• When he says he is “playing chess,” he means Auto Chess, not the cosmic maneuvering Xiao Sui hears in the remark 34.
• Some of his supposedly profound guidance is borrowed from Faye Wong’s “Red Bean” and Shi Tiesheng’s writing 25 79.
• He initially considers himself an atheist despite privately recognizing the Beloved Brush as miraculous 142.