Linley

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Childhood and Hillman’s Guardianship

Linley grows up in the Baruch household in Wushan Town with his father, Hogg, and younger brother, Wharton. At six and a half, he practices alone in the hills behind the manor using a wooden sword made by his father. His persistence is exceptional, but his footing, wrist movements, and timing initially lack proper instruction 1.

After Wanghou transmigrates into Hillman, he begins correcting these weaknesses and gives Linley a refined-iron shortsword. He then selects Linley as the Divine Guardian System’s ward. Wanghou’s knowledge of the original story—including Hogg’s death and Doehring Cowart’s eventual destruction—motivates him to protect Linley from those anticipated tragedies; they are not events Linley has already experienced in this storyline 1 2.

Blackwind Valley and the Bloodline Test

Linley insists on accompanying Hillman to rescue hunters trapped by an Ironclad Berserk Bear. During his first real battle against a magical beast, he breaks from safety to save a threatened soldier, stabbing beneath the bear’s ribs. Hillman and the garrison finish the beast, and Hillman warns Linley against acting independently again 6 7.

Hogg subsequently teaches him the clan’s cultivation methods, while Hillman supervises weighted exercises and sparring with the garrison. Linley repeatedly adjusts his tactics after being knocked down and eventually forces Deputy Captain Tom back three steps with a battle-qi-enhanced strike 8.

His first Dragonblood Needle test ends in failure. Although devastated, he declares that he will become powerful even without an awakened bloodline. Hillman revises his training to balance progress with his developing body, while Hogg supplies clan body-tempering methods and medicinal meals 9.

The Coiling Dragon Ring

Hillman sends Linley to clean the abandoned rear quarters of the ancestral residence, deliberately creating an opportunity for him to find the Coiling Dragon Ring. The ring rolls out after an old wooden rack breaks 11.

When an accidental training injury spills blood onto the ring, Doehring Cowart’s soul emerges. With Hillman’s encouragement, Linley formally asks the ancient earth Saint-level Magus to become his teacher. Doehring accepts and promises to teach him both earth magic and stone carving 13.

After learning his first spell, Linley meets Bebe. The young shadowmouse leaps into his hand, and the ring releases energy that envelops Bebe. Doehring interprets the mouse’s affectionate behavior as choosing Linley as his master 14.

Admission to Ernst Institute

Hogg and Hillman accompany Linley to Fenlai City for the magic aptitude test. His results attract competing academy offers, but he accepts Ernst Institute’s invitation. His admission letter requires him to arrive before February 9 and undergo verification after enrollment 17.

The family relocates to Fenlai City to support his studies and Wharton’s education. Hillman then leaves to seek greater strength in the Magical Beast Forest, and Linley asks him to return safely 18 19.

At the institute, Linley forms close friendships with Yale, George, and Reynolds, develops a reputation for Flat Blade Style sculptures, and places in the top three of the New Student Martial Arts Tournament 41.

Advanced Study and Homecoming

By Yulan Calendar year 9993, Linley spends most of his time studying magic rather than attending banquets or outings. His results and daily performance earn unanimous instructor approval for access to the library’s fourth-floor ancient texts section. Doehring encourages him to search there for the lost earth spell Earth Pulsation 48.

Linley chooses to visit his family before pursuing those books. After finding Hiri’s letter at the Fenlai residence, he rides to Wushan Town and reunites with Hogg, Hillman, and Wharton. Wharton proudly announces that he can transform into a Dragonblood Warrior without external aids 49.

During the subsequent family discussion, Linley learns how Hillman obtained dragon blood and Blue Heart Grass for Hogg’s awakening. Hogg reminds him of their debt to Hillman, deepening Linley’s admiration for his guardian 50.

Appearance

Linley first appears as a small, thin boy with clear eyes and worn linen clothes. By eight, he has grown taller, lost his baby fat, and developed a tougher-looking face 1 10.

• Academy clothing: A dark-blue brocade student robe with earth-magic patterns embroidered around the collar 48.
• Build: Noticeably taller and broader-shouldered by his reunion with Hogg after two years at the institute 49.
• Signature accessory: Wears the black Coiling Dragon Ring against his chest 13 14.

Personality

Linley is stubbornly persistent. He continues practicing through aching arms, gets back up after repeated defeats in sparring, and refuses to let his failed bloodline test determine his future. His determination can become recklessness: at Blackwind Valley, he ignores Hillman’s warning to remain behind him when a soldier is endangered 1 7 8 9.

Despite his talent, he remains receptive to instruction and credits Doehring Cowart’s guidance for his rapid magical progress. He values a strong foundation, even when his teacher presses him to attempt more advanced techniques 14 48.

His ambitions center on his family: protecting them, finding his mother, and restoring the Baruch Clan’s standing. Even after the household becomes wealthy and his academic prospects improve, homesickness leads him to postpone research in favor of a reunion 16 17 48.

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship and Battle Qi

Linley combines precise basic sword techniques with pale-golden battle qi learned under Hillman’s supervision 2 6 10.

• Fundamentals: Trains in chopping, thrusting, rising cuts, sweeps, balance, and controlled force application 2 9.
• Blade reinforcement: Channels battle qi over his shortsword to increase its striking power 6.
• Weak-point attacks: Pierces the thinner protection beneath the Ironclad Berserk Bear’s ribs, driving his sword more than three inches deep 7.
• Combat training: Gains practical experience through weighted exercises and repeated garrison sparring 8 9.

Elemental Affinity and Spiritual Energy

His entrance examination establishes exceptional affinity for both earth and wind, average fire affinity, and spiritual energy eighteen times that of his peers 17.

• Earth affinity: Doehring considers Linley’s natural affinity greater than his own had been 13.
• Element gathering: Achieves in ten days what Doehring says took him three months 14.
• Wind magic: Reaches the fifth rank, though no named wind spell is documented in the supplied chapters 48.

Earth Magic

Earth is Linley’s most developed magical discipline, taught privately by Doehring Cowart alongside his academy studies 13 48.

• Earth Spike: Raises sharp spikes from the ground; progresses from a single half-meter spike to accurate repeated casting 14 15 16.
• Elemental compression research: Proposes compressing underground earth elements and releasing them explosively to challenge defenses 48.
• Earth Spike Burst: Doehring suggests a rudimentary version as Linley’s next experiment; successful creation is not yet documented 48.
• Earth Pulsation: A research objective recommended by Doehring, not an ability Linley is shown mastering 48.

Dragonblood Warrior Heritage

Linley possesses the Baruch Clan’s Dragonblood Warrior bloodline, but its initial stirring does not amount to a demonstrated full awakening 3 9.

• Practices techniques from the clan’s Dragonblood Secret Manual and receives inherited body-tempering instruction 8 9.
• Fails the Dragonblood Needle test despite sensing warmth and internal stirring during cultivation 9.
• No Dragonblood Warrior transformation by Linley is documented through the supplied Chapter 50 material 49 50.

Stone Carving

Doehring teaches Linley the Flat Blade school of stone carving alongside earth magic 13.

• His sculptures gain recognition at Ernst Institute, with some instructors reportedly interested in purchasing them 41.
• Devotes substantial attention to carving as well as cultivation 41.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Coiling Dragon Ring: A black ring found in the ancestral residence. It houses Doehring Cowart’s soul and is identified in Hillman’s knowledge as a damaged Sovereign Artifact. Linley notices warmth and slightly faster recovery from fatigue after wearing it 11 13.
• Refined-iron shortsword / Fine Iron Short Sword: Forged by Hogg, then cleaned, sharpened, and given to Linley by Hillman. Sized for his childhood training and used against the Ironclad Berserk Bear 1 2 7.
• Wooden and Ironwood training swords: Used for basic drills; Hillman specifies a light Ironwood Sword when adjusting training to avoid overstraining his growing body 1 9 10.
• Five-kilogram training weights: Worn during stance work and physical conditioning 9 10.
• Body Tempering Pill: Consumed under Hillman’s guidance to strengthen his physical foundation and improve battle qi circulation 6.

Relationships

• Hogg Baruch — Father and clan cultivation instructor. Supports Linley’s training, accompanies him to the aptitude test, and moves the household to support his education 8 9 17 18.
• Lina — Mother, whose disappearance motivates Linley’s desire to become stronger and find her. Hillman tells Hogg that Clayde arranged her abduction for the Radiant Church 15 16.
• Wharton Baruch — Younger brother. Linley treats him affectionately and praises his ability to transform into a Dragonblood Warrior 17 49.
• Hillman / Wanghou — Guardian, swordsmanship teacher, and father’s close friend, addressed as “Uncle Hillman.” Secretly chooses Linley as his system ward and arranges crucial opportunities for his development 2 3 11 13.
• Doehring Cowart — Earth-magic and stone-carving teacher, affectionately called “Grandpa Doehring.” Gives Linley unreserved instruction from within the Coiling Dragon Ring 13 16 48.
• Bebe — Shadowmouse companion who chooses Linley as his master and regularly accompanies his training 14 15 16.
• Yale, George, and Reynolds — Academy friends and dormitory roommates; Hogg describes the four as being as close as brothers 41.
• Hiri — Family steward who helps care for the household, informs Linley of the reunion in Wushan Town, and welcomes him home with his favorite mushroom soup 18 49.

Notable Quotes

“Father, Uncle Hillman, I'll become strong! Even if the Dragonblood Needle doesn't react, even if my bloodline hasn't awakened, I can still become a powerful warrior! I'll prove it to everyone!” 9

“I want to see whether I can create an earth attack spell of my own during the assessment and completely overturn everyone's stereotype that earth magic is only good for defense.” 48