Yang Xun

Biodata

Power Progression

Background and History

Early Life and Family

Yang Xun was born into a collateral branch of the Lujiang Yang Clan. His father had served as a military officer on the Zhao Kingdom’s frontier, and Yang Xun also served as a frontier officer before entering the Qianji Sect. He later assisted Sui Liushu in clan-building campaigns that included household massacres 12 113.

His relationship with his son, Yang Zhi, deteriorated after Yang Zhi fell in love with his father’s young concubine. Father and son eventually refused contact, and Yang Zhi later died in the Cave of Myriad Beasts. Yang Xun concealed the family scandal, but the loss left him deeply regretful and largely extinguished his cultivation ambitions 11 14 57.

Duty Officer of the Quenching Room

Yang Xun spent decades supervising the Quenching Room on Crimson Flame Peak. His workshop supplied bone material for the peak’s manufacturing operations, and missed quotas threatened the stipends and rewards of its duty officers. He also expected the Engraving and Forging Rooms to shift responsibility for production shortfalls onto him 12 13.

Despite his intimidating manner, he was comparatively humane toward the Mortal Laborers. After Jiang Yi’s secret catalyst improved production, the workshop became more desirable than the neighboring workshops; Yang Xun increased workloads without driving the laborers excessively 32.

Taking Jiang Yi as His Grandson

Jiang Yi initially cultivated Yang Xun’s favor deliberately, using the Heavenly Book to learn his preferences and grief. His practical contributions, youthful behavior, and words resembling Yang Zhi’s drew Yang Xun’s attention. Yang Xun promoted him to inspection work, excused him from daily labor, and offered a route toward the Inner Peaks 12 13.

Their relationship became an acknowledged grandfather–grandson bond. Yang Xun ordered his attendant to address Jiang Yi as “Young Master,” supplied cultivation notes, and committed his savings to Jiang Yi’s development. By the time Jiang Yi reached the fourth level, Yang Xun no longer regarded him merely as a substitute for his lost son 22 32.

At Three Harmonies Ward, Yang Xun secured materials for Jiang Yi’s Water Pool and Fire Marsh ritual and endured the Lu family’s condescension to obtain them. He then waited outside Jiang Yi’s meditation chamber for five days without leaving. Jiang Yi’s successful breakthrough and subsequent explanations of the fire-control method renewed Yang Xun’s own hope of advancement 53 55 56 57.

Inner Peaks Patronage and Sui Liushu’s Betrayal

Yang Xun used his old connection with Sui Liushu to secure Jiang Yi’s Inner Peaks sponsorship and Xu Yan’s assistance. He disliked the ingratiation this required, but Sui was the highest-ranking cultivator he could approach 82.

That connection later endangered him. Jiang Yi discovered that Sui had placed Yang Xun under a heart-stirring technique and was cultivating him as Dao Ginseng to restore damaged Primordial Essence and prolong his life. After Jiang Yi broke the influence, Yang Xun wanted to confront Sui alone rather than implicate his grandson 112.

Instead, the two prepared a counterattack. Yang Xun feigned gratitude, cooked for Sui, and kept him company over wine, using a needle to stab himself through his robe when necessary to remain alert. During the final ambush, Ren Water Heavy Turbid Qi weakened Sui’s Ding Fire cultivation, Yang Xun contained him behind the Bright Flame Mirror, and Jiang Yi killed him 113 118 120.

Jiang Yi subsequently directed that Sui’s preserved natal Qi be given to Yang Xun. This Dao Ginseng nourishment supplied the cultivation reserves that helped him overcome the seventh-level Divine Gate 122 144.

Expedition into the Ghost Kingdom

Yang Xun accompanied Jiang Yi and Han Li into the Ghost Kingdom to obtain Yin-aspected resources for Liu Huan. He learned the Breath-Concealing Technique from Jiang Yi and guarded him with the Black Sha Pagoda Lock while Jiang Yi absorbed Yin Qi at a shrine 154 155.

Ghost Granny later captured Yang Xun and attempted to force him into marriage. By questioning her servant, he learned that such marriages could steal a living person’s allotted fate and allow ghosts to evade punishment in the living world 158 159.

After the fat girl rescued him, she questioned him about his companions while searching for her lady’s Fated Person. Believing another predatory ghost marriage threatened Jiang Yi, Yang Xun attempted to destroy his own Origin Gate rather than reveal his grandson’s whereabouts. She restrained him before he could kill himself, and Jiang Yi subsequently appeared 161.

After emerging from the Bottomless Abyss, Yang Xun repeatedly recited scripture and remained withdrawn when Liu Huan spoke of Jiang Yi’s apparent captivity. Liu Huan nevertheless reaffirmed his promise to make Yang Xun an elder of Fate-Watching Peak 187.

Appearance

• Face: Long and fierce-looking, with sparse eyebrows and a habitually stern expression 13 14.
• Hair and beard: Initially white; advancing cultivation gradually turns some of his hair black again 13 112.
• Clothing: Wears the black robes of a service overseer while supervising the Quenching Room 13.
• Rejuvenation: Although over eighty, he retains vigorous Qi and Blood. By the time he approaches the seventh level, he appears barely past fifty 22 112.

Personality

Yang Xun’s harsh exterior conceals a cautious, emotionally vulnerable man. The Heavenly Book describes him as fierce outwardly but timid within. He dislikes lateness, ostentation, and glibness, preferring steady work and practical conduct. His patience as a teacher and comparatively restrained treatment of laborers contrast with his frightening appearance 12 13 15 32.

Family affection is his strongest vulnerability. Losing Yang Zhi leaves him longing for the company of children and grandchildren, and he delights in Jiang Yi’s small gestures of care. His support becomes materially costly: he spends retirement savings on ritual materials, considers selling property, and conceals the financial strain from Jiang Yi 22 33.

He is protective rather than possessive. He warns Jiang Yi against exhausting his foundation, hides his extraordinary Dao Wisdom from potential exploiters, and avoids drawing him too deeply into the Lujiang Yang Clan. Nevertheless, he accepts that a younger cultivator must eventually stumble and learn independently 32 57 70 96.

His tenderness does not make him merciful in combat. A former soldier and veteran demonic cultivator, he approves of decisive killing against enemies and readily uses their remains to replenish Law Artifacts. In old age, however, guilt over his violence and his failures toward his son and first wife becomes a genuine obstacle to cultivation 75 113 144.

Abilities and Skills

Ding Fire Cultivation

Yang Xun cultivates fire-aspected Spirit Chance and uses Ding Fire True Flame against hostile techniques 20 75.

• Overwhelms the tavern’s bandit cultivators with streams of flame and fire-snake-like attacks 74.
• Suppresses the obsolete blood-fiend and yin-demon methods practiced by Zheng Qing 75 76.
• Distinguishes between using blood-baleful Law Artifacts and making those inferior methods the foundation of one’s cultivation 76 77.

Lesser Forging Origin Fire-Control Art

Yang Xun reaches great mastery, but not perfection, in the Lesser Forging Origin Fire-Control Art. His command of it helps him maintain his workshop position and earn recognition from visiting Inner Peaks disciples 13 22.

• Produces surging heat and dragon-shaped flames during bone-material processing 13.
• Provides Jiang Yi with personal cultivation notes and explanations of the art’s mastery stages 22.
• Gains new understanding from Jiang Yi’s extended expositions and later practices the upgraded Lesser Origin Fire-Control Art 39 56 59.

Law Artifact Refinement and Control

Yang Xun can consecrate, replenish, and wield multiple Law Artifacts 72 74 75.

• Uses blood Qi and corpses from defeated bandits to restore artifact potency 75.
• Prepares fine horses as nourishment for the Yin Horses summoned by the Black Sha Pagoda Lock 72.
• Uses the Blood Soul Mirror to check for dangerous nearby entities and the Black Sha Pagoda Lock to defend Jiang Yi from ghosts 155.
• Cannot stop the tiger-headed Fierce Baleful Beast with the lock alone; Jiang Yi intervenes after completing his breakthrough 155.

Breath-Concealing Technique

Yang Xun learns this technique in one night under Jiang Yi’s guidance, aided by the sharpened perception and thought gained from crossing the Divine Gate 155.

• Covers himself in Yin Qi and conceals his living breath.
• Makes his body appear cold, stiff, and corpse-like.
• Allows him to pass among lesser ghosts without immediately exposing himself as a living cultivator 155.

Resource Refinement and Sect Knowledge

• Blood Money: Offers to refine it from supplied Blood Qi for the Ghost Kingdom expedition 154.
• Ritual preparation: Sources costly materials and arranges Jiang Yi’s eighth-grade Water Pool and Fire Marsh ritual 39 53.
• Cultivation instruction: Explains meridian manifestations, Spirit Chance, Dao-lineage hierarchies, and the formation of cultivation clans 15 21.
• Sect history: Knows the origins of the Qianji Sect’s fiend-suppression duties and the disaster that caused the Merit Oversight Court’s abandonment 98.

Equipment and Resources

• Bright Flame Mirror — Uses it to contain Sui Liushu during their ambush 120.
• Five Yin Bag — Obtains it from Lu Ting’s collection as a gift for Jiang Yi and later helps restore its potency. It holds five ghosts usable for labor and combat 69 74 75.
• Blood Soul Mirror — Another gift for Jiang Yi; uses Essence Blood to locate living beings within dozens of li. Yang Xun also borrows it for reconnaissance in the Ghost Kingdom 69 155.
• Black Sha Pagoda Lock — Summons a swift Yin Horse and can suppress flying swords and ritual banners. Although presented to Jiang Yi, Yang Xun also refines and wields it 69 72 155.
• Nine-Insect Wine — A treasured brew made with over a hundred medicinal ingredients, intended to kill bodily insects and nourish the organs. He opens it for a feast with Jiang Yi 39.
• Property and investments — Holds shops, residences, market shares, and income from clan Spirit Fields and spiritual ponds. His accumulated wealth exceeds one million Talisman Money, but much of it is not readily available as cash 33 60.

Relationships

• Jiang Yi — Acknowledged grandson, beneficiary, and later cultivation guide. Yang Xun gives him his initial protection and resources; Jiang Yi reciprocates by improving his cultivation method, providing pills, defeating Sui Liushu, and helping him cross the Divine Gate 22 59 99 120 144.
• Yang Zhi — Deceased biological son. Their estrangement and Yang Zhi’s death leave Yang Xun with enduring guilt and shape his attachment to Jiang Yi 11 14 57.
• Sui Liushu — Former superior and patron who becomes his mortal enemy after attempting to consume him as Dao Ginseng 82 112 120.
• Liu Huan — Qianji Sect master. Authorizes Yang Xun to receive Sui’s natal Qi and promises him an elder’s position on Fate-Watching Peak 122 187.
• He Laohun — Longtime workshop acquaintance comfortable enough to joke with him. Accompanies Yang Xun and Jiang Yi to Three Harmonies Ward 5 45.
• Lu Ting / Old Master Lu — Resource supplier and social rival. Yang Xun tolerates his household’s insults to secure ritual materials, while Lu resents Yang Xun’s later breakthrough 53 59.
• Han Li — Junior associate who accompanies him into the Ghost Kingdom and addresses him as “Uncle Yang” 154 155.

Notable Quotes

“Since you're willing to call me Grandpa, I certainly won't treat you poorly or let you lose out.” 32

“As his elder, I've done everything I could to pave the roads that needed paving, offer the help that needed offering, and give the warnings that needed giving. What remains is for him to stumble, run into walls, and learn his lessons himself.” 96

“When my grandson arrives, he'll slaughter every last one of you evil ghosts!” 158