Bai Zishan

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Pursuit of Bai Yunzi’s Legacy

Bai Zishan had previously wounded Bai Yunzi and sought to use him to achieve Foundation Establishment. After discovering that Bai Yunzi’s corpse had been buried, he concluded that Bai Yunzi must have left a successor. He regarded the Five Elements Eternal Spring Art as something that would ultimately benefit his own Geng Metal Earth Origin Art 23 24.

He traced the aura of the Five Elements Eternal Spring Art to Lu Mingyue. Mistakenly believing that she had cultivated it for ten years, he judged her third-layer cultivation unimpressive but thought sufficient resources could raise her to late-stage Qi Refining within a few years. A white sparrow then located her at the Dragon Gate Inn in Cangzhou Prefectural City 23 24.

Before entering the city, he transformed from a distinguished middle-aged man into an inexperienced-looking youth. He rehearsed several introductions under the name Bai Zishan, including claims to be a rogue cultivator or a member of a cultivation aristocratic family 24.

Journey Beyond the Pass

Bai Zishan approached Guo Ding and Yang Qin before joining them and Lu Mingyue on an Evergreen Escort Agency journey toward Taiping City. In public, he behaved like a timid novice. Privately, he waited for the couple to attack before the convoy reached the city, where the city lord’s strength would complicate matters 27 29 36 37.

When the couple cast Yellow Springs Nightmare, Bai Zishan broke free, disrupted their attack, and awakened Lu Mingyue. He instructed her to revive Meng Hai and the escorts, secretly intending to use the mortals as cannon fodder. Their combined fireballs held back Yang Qin’s ghostly soldiers, and the unusually powerful result excited his interest in the interaction of the five elements 31 32.

He killed Yang Qin with golden swords of Origin Power. When Guo Ding subsequently dragged him toward the Yellow Springs Ghost Coffin, Bai Zishan sent his azure flying sword behind Guo Ding and beheaded him, dissolving the spell. He then maintained the appearance of a frightened, exhausted survivor while Lu Mingyue tended to him 34 35.

Loss of Lu Mingyue’s Trust

Lu Mingyue initially trusted Bai Zishan more after the battle. However, reading Guo Ding’s and Yang Qin’s memories revealed that he had approached them first—behavior inconsistent with his shy persona. Meng Hai independently noticed the predatory quality of Bai Zishan’s gaze and warned her to be careful 34 36 37 38.

The arrival of a hundred-person caravan guarded by the Zongjian Escort Agency frustrated Bai Zishan’s hopes of traveling alone with her. He had deliberately chosen the smaller Evergreen Escort Agency because its weakness would make his own prowess stand out. Although he considered killing Meng Hai and the survivors, he abandoned that intention after Meng Hai flattered him and promised to erect a longevity tablet in his honor 37 38 39.

Lu Mingyue slipped away as the caravan entered Taiping City. Bai Zishan discovered her absence too late to recover her through divine sense. Furious but unwilling to expose his intentions, he paid Dugu Sheng’s party some silver and left rather than acting on his impulse to slaughter them 40.

Staged Rescue in Taiping City

Roughly ten days after their separation, Bai Zishan appeared during an attack on Lu Mingyue by two Mighty Warriors. His azure sword intercepted a greatsword aimed at her neck, but she repeatedly questioned why he was there. After she trapped the surviving attacker, she challenged Bai Zishan to kill him 48 49.

Bai Zishan considered abducting her but rejected the idea. Her City Patrol Office identity token, proximity to the office, and Steward Deng’s strength made escape uncertain. Forcibly taking her away would also disrupt the favorable cultivation conditions and monthly pill supply available to her in Taiping City. He instead killed the trapped warrior and offered to dispose of the bodies; Lu Mingyue refused 49.

The attack was subsequently revealed to have been arranged through the Zhang Family to help him win her favor. Bai Zishan paid the family’s young master two Lower-Grade Spirit Stones. When the young master questioned whether Lu Mingyue possessed something more valuable, Bai Zishan revealed his ninth-level cultivation and threatened him against further curiosity 50.

Appearance

Bai Zishan’s original appearance is that of a handsome, tall middle-aged man with star-like eyes, a deep gaze, and an otherworldly bearing 23.

• Clothing: Wears white robes in both his original appearance and youthful disguise 23 24.
• Disguised form: Makes his build slighter and changes his face into that of an unseasoned young man 24.
• Performed expressions: Uses stammering, bashful smiles, averted eyes, blushing, and apparent fear to reinforce his harmless persona 27 31 35 37.

Personality

Bai Zishan is calculating and patient beneath his reserved disguise. He expects gratitude and prolonged companionship to make Lu Mingyue fall for him, treating apparent romantic interest as a means of gaining her trust. His behavior after the escort battle—including feigned exhaustion and bashful concern—is deliberately maintained 34 35 37.

He is willing to sacrifice others for his aims. He intends to use the escorts as cannon fodder and repeatedly entertains killing mortals who frustrate him. Nevertheless, his cruelty is restrained by practical concerns: exposure, stronger opponents, the City Patrol Office, and the need to preserve Lu Mingyue’s cultivation prospects 32 39 40 49.

His deception is imperfect. He underestimates Lu Mingyue’s suspicion, assumes his staged heroics will inspire affection, and fails to anticipate her escape at Taiping City’s gates 37 39 40.

Abilities & Skills

Geng Metal Earth Origin Art

His cultivation method is the intended beneficiary of his pursuit of practitioners of the Five Elements Eternal Spring Art 23.

• Seeks to exploit that art to achieve Foundation Establishment 23.
• Recognizes “Five Elements Generating Each Other” when Lu Mingyue’s fireball combines with his own and grows dramatically stronger 31.

Disguise and Cultivation Concealment

Bai Zishan can alter both his physical appearance and the strength others perceive 24 31.

• Changes his face and build from middle-aged to youthful 24.
• Presents fifth-level Qi Refining power despite possessing ninth-level cultivation 31 50.
• Escapes Yellow Springs Nightmare, noting that it could have trapped him had he truly been only at the fifth level 31.

Elemental Spells

• Golden Light Technique: Forms a five-meter golden mirror that emits dazzling light, forcing Guo Ding’s eyes shut and interrupting his spell formation 31.
• Golden sword arcs: Cuts apart carriage bodies; golden swords of Origin Power also pierce and kill Yang Qin 31 34.
• Thick Earth Shield: Raises a massive earthen barrier to protect Lu Mingyue from Yang Qin’s Wind Array Wall 31.
• Fireball Technique: Slows the Netherworld Yin Soldiers. Its combination with Lu Mingyue’s fireball produces a blaze nearly ten meters across 31.
• Origin Power manipulation: Forms a large hand to lift Lu Mingyue and sends power into her body to awaken her 31.

Flying Sword Control

He remotely directs his miniature azure sword with precision 34 48 49.

• Circles behind Guo Ding to behead him while apparently being pulled helplessly toward the Yellow Springs Ghost Coffin 34.
• Deflects a Mighty Warrior’s greatsword and launches repeated rapid attacks 48.
• Exploits an exposed eye to penetrate a Mighty Warrior’s armor, then destroys his head with Origin Power 49.

Tracking and Movement

• Detects the distinctive Origin Power aura of the Five Elements Eternal Spring Art 23.
• Uses a white sparrow to locate Lu Mingyue’s lodging 24.
• Travels on a cloud and takes flight during combat 23 31.
• Uses divine sense to search for Lu Mingyue after discovering her disappearance 40.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Miniature azure flying sword: His life-bound magical artifact. About an inch long, it is also described as pale green and resembling delicately carved bamboo 29 35.
• Storage Bag: Holds the Spirit Stones used to pay the Zhang Family’s young master 50.
• White sparrow: A tracking aid that reports Lu Mingyue’s location; Bai Zishan stores it in a pouch at his waist 24.

Relationships

• Lu Mingyue — Target of his cultivation scheme. He courts her trust through apparent affection and rescues, while she gradually identifies his behavior as suspicious and avoids him 23 34 37 40 50.
• Bai Yunzi — Previous target whom he wounded and hoped to exploit for Foundation Establishment. Bai Yunzi’s buried corpse leads him to search for a successor 23 24.
• Guo Ding and Yang Qin — Cultivators he approaches before the escort journey and subsequently treats as expendable instruments. He kills both during their attack on the convoy 31 34 36 37.
• Meng Hai — Escort chief who detects his predatory intentions and warns Lu Mingyue. Meng Hai’s flattery helps persuade Bai Zishan to abandon plans to kill the surviving escorts 36 38 39.
• Dugu Sheng — Escort leader whose caravan frustrates Bai Zishan’s plans for private travel with Lu Mingyue; later conveys her farewell message after she escapes 38 40.
• Zhang Family’s young master — Paid intermediary in the staged Mighty Warrior attack. Receives two Lower-Grade Spirit Stones and a warning not to investigate Bai Zishan’s interest in Lu Mingyue 50.