Xu Qingtong

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Childhood in Upper Yang Village

Xu Qingtong grew up as the son of Xu Zicai, a teacher, and Chen Shi. He showed exceptional memory and divided attention from childhood: at five, he could draw different shapes with each hand; by seven, he could write different characters simultaneously. A wandering physician praised his potential but declined to become his teacher, instead giving his father a protective plaque bearing the name “Shentu” 1 2.

At eight, he suffered a fever that left him unconscious for three days and nights. In a dream, his furry-ball form was torn into two identical forms. After recovering, he developed extraordinary sight and hearing despite appearing physically unchanged to others 1.

Loss of His Parents

A poisoned stranger collapsed at the family’s gate. Xu Zicai died after helping him, and Xu Qingtong cremated both bodies to avoid further exposure to the poison. Among the stranger’s ashes, he recovered a mysterious pouch that he could not open 1 2 15.

Xu Qingtong and his mother sold their possessions and set out for Houtang Town to seek his maternal uncle, Chen Jialiang. At Black Wind Pass, bandits attacked them. His mother sacrificed herself to delay the bandit chief, allowing Xu Qingtong to escape into the woods. He survived with the determination to grow strong enough to avenge her 2 3 4.

While sleeping in a haystack, he encountered the stranger’s primordial spirit, Lu Mo, inside his Niwang Palace. Lu Mo attempted to possess him, but Xu Qingtong’s two primordial spirits overwhelmed him. The encounter revealed the existence of immortal cultivation 4 6.

Life with Chen Jialiang

An elderly farming couple treated his wounds, fed him, and supplied clothes before he continued toward Houtang Town. After more than ten days of travel, he reached Chen Jialiang’s Spring Rejuvenation Hall and was welcomed into his uncle’s household 6 7.

Chen Jialiang’s ancestral medicinal bath restored his strength and inspired an interest in medicine. Xu Qingtong began dispensing herbs and studying medical texts, eventually discovering the Five Elixirs Origin Refinement Art among the family’s books. Recognizing it as a cultivation method, he studied five-element theory and successfully began cultivating 7 8 9 10.

Appearance

Xu Qingtong is described as remarkably handsome, with fine, clear features and a resolute expression despite his youth 6.

• Youthful face: Still retains a trace of childishness during the Mist Valley Trial 42.
• Small, nimble childhood build: Helps him evade the bandit chief through wooded terrain 3.
• No visible change after his childhood illness: Although he feels that his head has grown larger, others see no difference 1.

Personality

Xu Qingtong is inquisitive, studious, and persistent. He investigates unfamiliar cultivation methods rather than accepting their limitations at face value, and repeatedly experiments to improve his talismans. Despite recognizing his poor aptitude, he resolves to cultivate steadily instead of chasing advancement beyond his abilities 9 14 21 26.

His caution develops through personal loss and encounters with hostile cultivators. He conceals his cultivation from outsiders, hides Lu Mo’s possessions from investigators, and plans defensive measures before entering combat. Even after trusting Dongfang Hui with his recovery, he withholds Xiao Qi’s unusual identity because revealing it could endanger the bird 13 15 24 45.

He is grateful to those who shelter and support him, treating Chen Jialiang, Gu Mingli, and Wu Zheng with deep respect. His compassion leads him to rescue Xiao Qi and protect Dongfang Hui, but he is capable of killing attackers and destroying evidence when survival demands it. He eventually avenges his mother and leaves the stronghold’s wealth to his uncle’s family 32 38 39 41 42 50.

Abilities & Skills

Dual Primordial Spirits and Divided Attention

Xu Qingtong possesses two primordial spirits within his Niwang Palace and can divide his attention between separate tasks 13 14.

• Writes different characters with both hands and memorizes lengthy books with exceptional accuracy 1 9.
• Studies jade slips while cultivating, or makes talismans while his other primordial spirit practices the True Origin Scripture 13 22.
• Uses one primordial spirit to assist in reshaping the other 14.
• Controls two magical artifacts while continuing to deploy talismans 38.
• Limit: Simultaneous qi cultivation and spell practice interfere with one another because they circulate magic power through conflicting routes 13.

Divine Sense and the True Origin Scripture

The True Origin Scripture, inherited through Dong Xuanzi’s black jade slip, refines the soul and teaches transformations of divine sense. Dong Xuanzi warns him not to transmit its teachings 13.

• His two primordial spirits and scripture practice give him divine sense more than twice as strong as that of cultivators at his level 27.
• Shapes divine sense into weapons, including a needle that pierces a teacup and spikes that stun opponents 24 26 39.
• Surveys the forest to a range of roughly one thousand feet during the Mist Valley Trial 34.
• Uses divine sense to detect spiritual qi in medicinal ingredients and examine storage items and jade slips before entering Qi Refining 11 12.
• Limits: His physical body initially appears to obstruct advancement to the scripture’s third level. Soul-defense treasures can block his attacks, and excessive expenditure can render him unconscious 27 42 45.

Five Elixirs Origin Refinement Art

His principal qi-cultivation method initially comes from Chen Yuanhua’s incomplete inheritance. Yu Xuzi later supplies the complete art 10 35 36.

• Absorbs spiritual qi from herbs and spirit stones, refines it into magic power, and uses it to temper his meridians and body 11 12.
• Cannot absorb metal-attributed spiritual energy because he lacks a metal spiritual root 12.
• Discovers that the complete method’s five-element transformations are essential to overcoming his slow progress 46.
• Improves cultivation efficiency by letting water generate wood and wood generate fire, while concentrating direct cultivation on fire and earth 46.
• Plans to refine a Sinew-Building Elixir to complete his spiritual roots once he becomes capable; this remains a future goal 46.

Talisman Making

Xu Qingtong finances his cultivation by producing talismans for the Jade Spring Commerce Association 20 22.

• Masters nearly every kind of low-tier talisman, including Fireball, Water Arrow, Shield, and Rejuvenation Talismans 20.
• Raises their power through additional magic power and the combined divine sense of both primordial spirits 20.
• After reaching second-layer Qi Refining, achieves success rates above eighty percent with his mid-grade talismans 22.
• Uses high-grade paper and cinnabar to create superior-quality mid-grade talismans from basic formulas; his Fireball Talismans rival the mid-grade Rain of Fire spell 26.
• Limits: His tested materials accommodate sixty percent more spiritual power than before, but repeated attempts at seventy percent fail. He does not yet know the formula for a Rain of Fire Talisman 26.

Heavenly Fire Body-Tempering Art

This method strengthens his physical body through painful medicinal treatment 31 32.

• First-level mastery protects his skin from a stroke of the unpowered Red Sun Sword 31.
• Second-level minor attainment lets him withstand a mid-grade Fireball Talisman without injury 32.
• Limit: Resistance to injury does not negate impact; the same fireball launches him through a wall 32.

Spells and Movement

• Turtle Breath Technique: Learned in one night; conceals vitality and presence from divine-sense probes 47.
• Object-Controlling Art: Mastered by the time he leaves to settle his mortal affairs 50.
• Flying Sword Technique: Learns through repeated attempts with the Red Sun Sword. It is nearly twice as fast as a Flying Talisman but rapidly drains his magic power 50.
• Fireball Technique: Uses it against a yellow wasp during the Mist Valley Trial 34.

Medicine and Survival

• Studies pharmacopoeias, medicinal ingredients, and medical theory under Chen Jialiang 8 9.
• Learns wilderness survival while traveling alone, begging for food or gathering wild fruit when necessary 6.
• Begins studying Yu Xuzi’s Alchemy Insights during his journey home; successful elixir refining is not documented in the supplied chapters 50.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Goumang Seal — Damaged magical artifact selected with Gu Mingli’s help. Serves both offense and defense but consumes substantial magic power 24.
• Protective armor — Obtained for the Young Talents Assembly; emits a green glow when activated and blocks Tian Zongfei’s surprise Water Arrow attack 24 25.
• Red Sun Sword — Fire-aspected sword forged by a Biluozong elder, purchased for 180 spirit stones. Used against the demon snake and later for flight 31 39 50.
• Seven-Star Bracelet — Yu Xuzi’s ancient treasure, forged by True Person Yuhua. Refined with soul blood and stored within Xu Qingtong’s body; its internal space holds possessions, Yu Xuzi’s remains, and Xiao Qi. Its attack and defense functions require at least Nascent Soul cultivation 36 48.
• Storage Bags — Recovers Lu Mo’s mid-grade bag but leaves it at his uncle’s home to avoid recognition. Later buys a low-grade bag for thirty spirit stones 2 20.
• Talismans — Carries self-made offensive, defensive, and recovery talismans; receives Flying Talismans from Guo Tianyu 26 50.
• Cultivation supplies — Uses spirit stones and Qi-Gathering Pills for advancement, and buys Qi-Replenishing Pills to restore magic power during competition 12 22 24.
• Inheritance texts — Possesses the complete Five Elixirs Origin Refinement Art and Alchemy Insights from Yu Xuzi 46 50.

Relationships

• Xu Zicai — Father and village teacher. Dies from the poison carried by Lu Mo; Xu Qingtong later returns to pay respects at his grave 1 15 50.
• Chen Shi — Mother. Sacrifices her life to secure his escape from the bandit chief; avenging her becomes an early driving purpose 2 3 4 50.
• Chen Jialiang — Maternal uncle and medical mentor. Shelters him, restores his health, and gives him access to the family’s cultivation inheritance 7 8 9.
• Madam Zhang — Aunt. Welcomes him into the household and provides new clothes after his difficult journey 7.
• Chen Ruoling — Older cousin. Helps settle him into the family; receives a fire-attributed spirit stone and agrees to keep his cultivation secret 7 12 13.
• Yu Xuzi — Cultivation master. Gives him the complete Five Elixirs Origin Refinement Art and Seven-Star Bracelet before dying 35 36.
• Gu Mingli / Shopkeeper Gu — Employer and elder-like supporter. Purchases his talismans, teaches him cultivator etiquette, helps refine his equipment, and supports his body tempering 20 21 24 25 31 32.
• Wu Zheng — Fellow shop assistant and close companion. Helps sell his talismans, obtain supplies, and test his tempered body 17 20 24 32.
• Sun Biao / Elder Sun — Brings him to Jade Spring Mountain and arranges shop employment after his rejection as a disciple 16 17.
• Xiao Qi — Double-Pupiled Bird rescued from a demon snake. Guards him, kills Lin Qian, and accompanies him outside Mist Valley 39 42 43 48.
• Dongfang Hui — Fellow trial participant whom he saves from Lin Qian. Nurses his injuries, shares his cave refuge, and grows close to him during their recovery and cultivation 41 42 43 45 47.
• Lin Qian — Tournament rival and later mortal enemy. Nearly kills him while pursuing Dongfang Hui; dies after Xu Qingtong breaks his soul-defense talisman and Xiao Qi attacks 26 41 42.
• Lu Mo — Hostile Biluozong cultivator whose attempted possession introduces him to the cultivation world 4 6.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Rejection and Life at the Commerce Association

Sun Biao takes Xu Qingtong to Jade Spring Mountain, but the sect regards his four spiritual roots as inadequate for discipleship. Rather than return to his uncle in disappointment, he accepts work at the Jade Spring Commerce Association. Talisman sales fund his cultivation, while Gu Mingli and Wu Zheng gradually make the shop feel like a home 16 17 20 22.

Young Talents Assembly

With Gu Mingli’s support, Xu Qingtong enters the Young Talents Assembly. He wins four initial matches, then defeats Lin Qian with a hidden divine-sense attack to complete the five victories required for qualification. His enhanced talismans and body tempering carry him through the elimination rounds to the top five 24 25 26 27 29 30.

Mist Valley Trial

A wasp swarm forces him into a lake, leading to his encounter with the imprisoned Yu Xuzi. He becomes Yu Xuzi’s disciple and inherits the Seven-Star Bracelet before discovering a concealed platform that allows him to escape the chamber 34 35 36 37.

He subsequently kills an Azure Sea Gate cultivator who attacks him, gathers trial herbs from the dead cultivators’ belongings, and rescues Xiao Qi from a demon snake. When Lin Qian pursues Dongfang Hui, Xu Qingtong intervenes and suffers a sword wound through the chest. His final soul attack breaks Lin Qian’s protection, allowing Xiao Qi to kill him 38 39 41 42.

During their cave refuge, Xu Qingtong revises his cultivation method and reaches fourth-layer Qi Refining. Before leaving, he and Dongfang Hui fabricate a story about escaping Howling Wind Wolves and conceal Xiao Qi inside the bracelet 46 47 48.

Settling Mortal Ties

Guo Tianyu gives Xu Qingtong an ordinary Identity Jade Token, to be exchanged for an Inner Disciple Jade Token upon returning to the valley. Xu Qingtong first obtains permission to settle his worldly affairs alone 50.

He visits his father’s grave, kills the bandit chief responsible for his mother’s death, and retrieves her remains with the intention of burying her beside his father. After a final visit to Chen Jialiang’s household, he quietly leaves a letter, a book, life-prolonging and beauty-preserving elixirs, and all the wealth taken from Black Wind Stronghold—enough to support the family for the rest of their lives 50.

Notable Quotes

“Mother, I won't leave you behind! Father is already gone. If I lose you too, what meaning would my life have?” 3

“So what if my aptitude is poor? As long as I hold firm to my resolve and keep walking with my feet planted on solid ground, even if I die of exhaustion halfway there, I'll die without regrets.” — Internal resolve after reaching second-layer Qi Refining 21