Steward Li

Biodata

Power Progression

History

Red Rose’s Death and Jing Wen’s Departure

Steward Li had sheltered Red Rose and Jing Wen for years. According to Jing Wen’s account, Li also gave Red Rose a Qi-Gathering Pill that helped her overcome a bottleneck and advance beyond middle-stage Qi Refining 2.

After Red Rose died, Jing Wen presented Li with a superior-grade flying sword, fifteen middle-grade spirit stones, and three bottles of Qi-Nourishing Pills. Li accepted the offering and enrolled him in the Reconnaissance Squad after learning that he had entered Qi Refining through Red Rose’s transferred Baleful Bead. Jing Wen then secured permission to escort her coffin to Jing Prefecture, using filial grief, flattery, and promises of repayment. The offering cost him more than ninety percent of his family’s wealth 2 3.

Jing Wen’s Return

Four years without news led Li to assume that Jing Wen had died during the journey. When Jing Wen returned displaying fourth-layer cultivation, Li interrogated him and applied spiritual pressure to test his explanation. Jing Wen claimed to have spent the intervening years cultivating with herbs left by Red Rose. Li found no obvious flaw, but resented the possibility that Red Rose’s remaining possessions had been withheld from him 40.

A gift of spirit stones and three bottles of Golden Marrow Pills eased his anger. After Jing Wen promised further benefits and alchemical assistance, Li granted him the Fiendish Demon Art despite its usual seventh-layer eligibility requirement, undertaking to report the exception to headquarters. He also supplied the cult’s rules and ordered Jing Wen to capture its designated targets 40.

Li initially placed Jing Wen in reconnaissance and instructed him to learn the Heavenly Eye Technique. Persuaded by Jing Wen’s stated desire for combat experience, he agreed to arrange hunting missions and privately resolved to protect this prospective loyal subordinate 41.

Green Maple Inn and Its Aftermath

Li led eight cultivators against three approximately seventh-layer rogue cultivators at the Green Maple Inn, insisting that the targets be taken alive. Hoping to keep all the credit, he had declined to seek another stronghold’s assistance. The targets proved more difficult than expected: one escaped, another was killed, and Li was seriously wounded 42 43.

Jing Wen returned with the only living captive and falsely blamed the deaths of his two fellow pursuers entirely on the rogue cultivator. Li accepted the account because he believed Jing Wen was only at the fourth layer. He ordered the fallen members’ bodies recovered for the blood sacrifice, accepted the captive’s Storage Bag as a gift, and awarded Jing Wen an extra ten percent of contribution points. With manpower dwindling and mission quotas tightening, he decided to cultivate Jing Wen into a trusted right-hand man 43.

Li subsequently permitted Jing Wen to miss a blood sacrifice while cultivating and invited him to a hunt involving other strongholds. By Jing Wen’s next visit, Li had reached the eleventh layer. Pleased with Jing Wen’s apparent advancement to the sixth layer, he accepted him into the Hunting Squad 45 46.

Appearance

Steward Li is tall and imposing, with gaunt fingers, a beard, and a sharp, intimidating gaze 2 42 46.

• Clothing: Dark purple brocade at his introduction, black brocade upon Jing Wen’s return, and a new brocade robe after his eleventh-layer breakthrough 2 40 46.
• Accessories: A bronze waist bell and a blood-red jade pendant bearing flickering runes 2 40.
• Scent: His departure leaves a waft of sandalwood fragrance 2.
• After the failed hunt: His face is pale and his voice weakened by his injuries 43.

Personality

Li’s patronage is strongly transactional. He appreciates gifts, gratitude, and obedience, and regards Jing Wen’s promises of future benefits as grounds for special treatment. His welcoming manner can conceal contempt: while approving Jing Wen’s request to bury Red Rose, he privately dismisses the youth as glib. He also feels entitled to most of Red Rose’s possessions 2 40.

He combines intimidation with calculated favors. His interrogation establishes authority before he grants Jing Wen an early cultivation manual, while rewards and protection help draw the youth into his circle. His ambition also clouds his judgment: seeking sole credit for the Green Maple Inn operation leads him to underestimate the targets and suffer serious losses 40 41 42.

Although suspicious of unexplained absences, Li is vulnerable to convincing displays of loyalty and weakness. He mistakes Jing Wen’s concealed cultivation and staged obedience for genuine dependence, eventually viewing him as both capable and trustworthy 40 43 46.

Abilities & Skills

Divine Sense and Spiritual Pressure

Li uses divine sense to inspect people and possessions, and spiritual pressure to intimidate subordinates 2 40.

• Examines offerings and Storage Bags to assess their contents and value 2 43.
• Probes Jing Wen during questioning for signs of deception 40.
• Fails to uncover Jing Wen’s hidden cultivation, accepting his displayed fourth- and later sixth-layer strength 40 46.

Remote Manipulation and Voice Transmission

• Draws a cloth bundle, pills, and spirit stones into his hand with invisible force 2 40.
• Uses spiritual power to transmit instructions to cultivators outside the main hall 43.

Stronghold Administration

Li controls assignments, hunting operations, rewards, and access to cultivation resources within his base 40 41 43.

• Can arrange an exception to the Fiendish Demon Art’s normal eligibility requirements, subject to reporting to superiors 40.
• Decides which outpost members are selected for sacrifice if the stronghold supplies insufficient captives 43.
• Explains that Blood Pills retain their potency for about one month, then deteriorate until becoming ineffective after three months 43.
• His approval is required for members to conduct independent capture operations under the cult’s rules 45.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Silver cord — Launched from his sleeve toward the scar-faced rogue cultivator’s throat during the Green Maple Inn battle 42.
• Bronze waist bell — Remains still at his introduction, marking his late Qi Refining cultivation 2.
• Blood-red jade pendant — Emits a sinister crimson glow and carries flickering runes; its function is not established 40.
• Golden Marrow Pills and Blood Pills — Resources Jing Wen associates with Li’s advancement to the eleventh layer 46.

Relationships

• Jing Wen — Subordinate and prospective confidant. Li supplies protection, opportunities, and rewards, unaware that Jing Wen is manipulating him and using his position to investigate the cult. Jing Wen also plans to help Li reach Foundation Establishment as a test of whether such advancement is safe within the organization 40 43 44.
• Red Rose — Former member under his protection. Her death gives Li the opportunity to recruit her son and receive most of her remaining wealth 2 3.
• Ge Hong — Cult member who relays Li’s hunting invitation to Jing Wen and explains the requirement for Li’s approval of independent operations 45.
• Wang Zheng — Veteran member of Li’s base. At the peak of the ninth layer, his strength is described as second only to Li’s within the stronghold 44.

Notable Quotes

“A thoughtful lad. What I appreciate most is someone clever enough to repay kindness.” 2

“Enough! Remember, we need them alive.” 42