Linley

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Childhood in the Baruch Clan

Linley is the eldest son of the Baruch Clan’s main line. His mother died early, and his father, Hogg, was often occupied with his responsibilities, leaving Linley to spend much of his childhood alone. He received etiquette lessons and enjoyed stories about the Four Ultimate Warriors, particularly the legendary heritage associated with his own family 3 10.

He met Loa at Baruch Mansion while the blacksmith’s adopted grandson was reading A Brief History of the Yulan Continent. Their discussion of the Four Ultimate Warriors led to further conversations, with Linley seeking out Loa for stories and sharing family anecdotes in return. Their friendship deepened when Linley joined Hillman’s training group and Loa helped him learn the Qi-Gathering Stance 10 11.

The Bloodline Barrier

Linley’s Dragonblood Warrior bloodline was too dilute to meet the requirements of the ancestral Dragonblood Secret Manual. Nevertheless, its presence caused his body to reject other battle-qi manuals. Unable to cultivate either way, he devoted himself to strengthening his body 17.

Following an absence from training, his efforts became dangerously tense and self-punishing. Loa confronted him while he was striking a wooden post in the rain, warning that destroying his body would not overcome his limitations. Linley admitted his frustration with things effort alone could not provide, then ended the session and returned home 13.

Despite this setback, Linley continued training with Loa. He helped Loa endure weighted mountain runs, learned more sophisticated swordsmanship from him, and declared his intention to leave Wushan Town, control his own fate, and fulfill a personal mission whose details he did not explain 17 18.

Discovering Another Path

While searching the Baruch ancestral home for valuables that might ease Hogg’s financial burden, Linley found an inconspicuous black ring beneath a collapsed bookshelf. He kept it despite its apparently crude appearance 21.

Witnessing Harris annihilate a mercenary group with magic changed his understanding of strength. Previously focused on physical toughness and powerful blows, Linley began wondering whether magic could offer a path beyond his bloodline restrictions. At Loa’s suggestion, he went to Hogg to ask how magicians were trained 22 23.

During Rudi and Dillon’s Saint-level battle over Wushan Town, Linley shielded Wharton from falling debris. Hiri covered both brothers as a storehouse collapsed, and Linley escaped with a superficial forehead wound. His blood soaked the Black Ring, briefly making its markings glow unnoticed 25.

While recovering, Linley appeared markedly more cheerful and told Loa that there might be more than one path forward. Loa privately connected this change to the ring and Doehring Cowart; Doehring’s role as Linley’s magical mentor is subsequently shown directly 27 41.

Fenlai City and the Ernst Institute

Linley traveled to Fenlai City with Hillman for the autumn magical aptitude test. There they reunited with Loa, whose advancement to Rank 4 Warrior surprised him. Although happy for his friend, Linley felt the slowness of his own physical progress. Doehring reassured him that their strengths and future paths were different, and Linley resumed meditation with renewed determination 40 41.

At the test, his exceptional results drew competing offers from several magic academies. He accepted the Ernst Institute’s invitation and received a red admission letter. After expressing regret that Loa would not pursue magic despite his own outstanding affinity, Linley accepted his friend’s decision and returned toward Wushan Town with Hillman to inform Hogg 43.

Appearance

Linley is a sturdily built boy, approximately two and a half years younger than Loa and about half a head shorter during their early training together 17.

• Hair: Described as brown when he first joins Hillman’s training group 11.
• Eyes: Dark, with a calm, deep gaze during his more withdrawn childhood period 17.
• Clothing: Initially wears a simple dark-brown training outfit of better fabric than the other children’s clothes; later appears in clean linen robes in Fenlai City 11 40.
• Temporary injury: Wears a clean forehead bandage while recovering from the destruction of Wushan Town 27.

Personality

Linley is curious and lacks the arrogance associated with his noble birth. As a child, he eagerly questions Loa about history and legendary warriors. He sincerely thanks him for help with training and asks for further corrections rather than expecting special treatment 10 11.

His determination can become self-destructive. Frustration over his bloodline limitations drives him to strain every muscle, hold his breath, and train through repeated injuries. Beneath his reserved manner lies a strong desire for independence: he wants strength sufficient to explore the world and determine his own future 13 17 18.

He is also receptive to instruction. Although initially frustrated by Loa’s superiority in sparring, he listens closely, experiments with unfamiliar methods, and quickly recognizes the value of finesse. His concern for others is equally concrete: he searches for valuables to help his father, accompanies Loa during mourning, and risks his life to shield Wharton 18 20 21 25.

Abilities & Skills

Physical Conditioning

Linley builds his strength and endurance through strenuous, consistent exercise rather than battle-qi cultivation 17.

• Performs push-ups, squats, sit-ups, frog jumps, and weighted running as part of his conditioning 17.
• Maintains steady footing and rhythmic breathing on steep, loose mountain trails, coaching Loa on uphill running technique 17.
• Carries herbal powder and clean cloth to treat the injuries accumulated through training 18.
• Remains short of Rank 2 Warrior when reunited with Loa in Fenlai City 41.

Swordsmanship

Hogg teaches Linley basic sword movements, while Loa introduces more detailed principles of practical combat 18.

• Initial style: Fast, powerful, direct attacks intended to overwhelm an opponent through strength 18.
• Tactical development: Learns to disguise targets, vary rhythm, and distinguish feints from committed attacks 18.
• Force control: Practices redirecting an opponent’s weapon and coordinating power through his feet, waist, shoulders, and arms 18.
• Limitations: His early attempts at these subtler methods remain awkward and leave openings 18.

Magical Aptitude and Meditation

Linley studies under Doehring Cowart and can enter deep meditation before his formal academy admission 41.

• His dual supreme-grade affinity indicates unusually efficient future magical-power refinement 43.
• Endures the testing array’s increasing Intimidation pressure until finally dropping to one knee 43.
• No specific mage rank or successfully cast spell is documented in the supplied chapters.

Dragonblood Warrior Heritage

Linley possesses the Baruch Clan’s Dragonblood Warrior bloodline, but it initially restricts rather than empowers his cultivation 17.

• Its concentration is insufficient for the ancestral Dragonblood Secret Manual 17.
• Its presence also makes his body reject other battle-qi manuals 17.
• He cannot initially achieve the ancestral transformation described in his clan’s legends 23.

Equipment / Items

• Black Ring — Found in the Baruch ancestral home. Made of an unidentified material, with an indistinct coiled engraving Linley initially compares to an earthworm. Its markings briefly glow when soaked with his blood. Loa later identifies it privately as the “Azure Dragon Ring” and a Sovereign Artifact; these identifications are presented through Loa’s thoughts 21 25 27.
• Wooden practice sword — Used for sparring with Loa to avoid the danger of sharp blades 18.
• Training weights — Sandbags on his legs and stones carried on his back during mountain runs 17.
• Herbal powder and bandages — Carried for treating training wounds 18.
• Ernst Institute admission letter — Red letter received after accepting the institute’s offer 43.

Relationships

• Loa — Childhood friend, training partner, and informal swordsmanship instructor. Loa supports him through his bloodline-related despair; Linley later accompanies Loa at Old Jack’s grave. They promise to pursue the wider world together, though their immediate paths diverge 11 13 18 20 43.
• Hogg — Father and lord of Wushan Town. Teaches Linley basic swordsmanship and clan history, emphasizes physical foundations, and answers his questions about magic 18 22 23 24.
• Wharton — Younger brother. Linley shields him during the storehouse collapse and shows a noticeably gentler manner around him 25 27.
• Hiri — Baruch household steward and protective elder. Shields Linley and Wharton from collapsing rubble and oversees Linley’s immediate recovery 25 26.
• Hillman — Warrior instructor and escort to the Fenlai City aptitude test. Requires Linley to train alongside the other children without special treatment 11 41 42.
• Doehring Cowart — Saint-level magical mentor. Guides Linley’s studies and reassures him when comparison with Loa unsettles his confidence 39 41.
• Bebe — Companion with whom Linley communicates mentally. Linley introduces him to Loa as a “good companion” and entrusts him to Hillman during the aptitude test 41 42.

Notable Quotes

“My body’s all I have.” 17

“I want to become strong enough. Strong enough to leave and see just how vast the outside world really is. Strong enough... to truly control my own fate one day, instead of being dragged along by it. And I have a mission I want to fulfill!” 17

“A sword isn’t just an extension of your arm. It’s also... part of your body and your thoughts.” 18

Trivia

• Loa recognizes Linley as the protagonist of the original Coiling Dragon and recalls his future as a Dragonblood Warrior and Hongmeng Transcendent. These are Loa’s memories of the original story, not achievements Linley has reached in the documented events 10 11.