Yun Qingyao

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Yun Qingyao (云青瑶)
Alias(es)	Qingyao; Qing Yao; Qing Yao Empress; Granny Qing; Empress Yao; Ancestor Yao; Black Clothed Ghost King; Su Jiyuan
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Qingyun Sect; Heavenly Evolution Sword Sect; Moon God Palace; Xinghe Heavenly Court; Ghost Path Army; Underworld Hall; Wuyue Clan; Heaven-Prison Manor; Taiqing Yuan Celestial Clan; Heavens Alliance
Occupation/Role	Saintess of Jiangyun Kingdom; Lu Ren's master and later lover; Empress of the Central Sacred Dynasty; Wuyue Clan leader; Ghost Path cultivator; Ancestor Yao of the Ghost Dao Great World; master of the Underworld Hall
Status	Alive; Ghost Path cultivator; Mid Dao-Controlling Realm; Three-Leaf Realm divine soul
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Divine Sea Realm, seventh level	32	Revealed while protecting Lu Ren from Gu Yifan; defeats him with a dragon-shaped lightning sword.
Heavenly Gang Realm, third level	249	Awakens her Divine Bloodline and reaches the third level; saves Lu Ren from Luo Tian.
Heavenly Profound Realm	425	Has integrated the Divine Dragon Bloodline and becomes Sword Seeker Moon's disciple.
Universe Realm, ninth level, mid-stage	615	Reaches this stage while refining ten-thousand-year-old Black Dragon Saber Gold with Lu Ren's help.
Origin Venerate Realm, seventh level → Martial Emperor, third tier	959	Her power suddenly surges; defeats eight Female Evil Corpses and three Evil Corpse Sect experts with Sword Qi.
Divine Lord Realm, sixth level	1464 1466	Possesses a half-bloodline, half-Ancient Martial physique; her aura surpasses other sixth-level Divine Lords.
Divine Venerable Realm, eighth level	1729	Her aura has markedly improved by her reunion with Lu Ren in the Xinghe Heavenly Court.
Divine Venerable Realm, ninth level	1735	Breaks through by absorbing energy from a divine vein; divine dragon phantoms appear during the advancement.
Immortal body	2269	Her Divine Soul merges with an Immortal's corpse after her resurrection, granting her considerable potential power.
Ghost Path cultivator	3251 3470	Enters the Yin Realm to cultivate the Ghost Path and later commands a Ghost Path Army through Hell's Ghost Gate.
Late-Stage Nine-Step Supreme Realm	3913 3914	As Ancestor Yao, she possesses combat power sufficient to repel Crane Heaven Ancient Ancestor, a Perfected Dao Fruit expert, and seriously damage his Dao Fruit.
Eleven-Mark Battle Body; Late Dao Fusion Realm	4140 4142	Uses a Fourteenth-Rank Battle Mark to advance her Battle Body and consumes Primordial Dao Pills to improve her diluted Primordial bloodline.
Three-Leaf Realm divine soul	4189	Advances with Immortal Soul Spirit Liquid; believes her divine soul attacks could threaten even Late-Stage Dao-Controlling Realm experts.
Mid Dao-Controlling Realm	4196	Absorbs a Primordial Source and undergoes a bloodline transformation; the Taiqing Yuan Celestial Clan's sacred treasure recognizes her bloodline concentration as exceeding seventy.

Background / History

Yun Qingyao was the Saintess of Jiangyun Kingdom and an elder of Qingyun Sect. She had formerly been a Ghost Sword Sect successor alongside Gu Yifan before leaving the sect. She and her twin sister Yun Qingyan were raised by the Ghost Sword King, whose intentions toward them drove them to escape. At Qingyun Sect, she accepted Lu Ren as her disciple despite his apparent Scrap Bloodline and openly committed herself to ensuring that he would live well, regardless of whether others considered him talented or worthless. 9 27 32 145

While at Qingyun Sect, Yun Qingyao created the Celestial Phenomenon Sword Skill by observing celestial phenomena. She personally taught it to Lu Ren and continued developing new forms of the technique while seeking to raise his prospects despite his apparent lack of talent. 18 19 29 30

Her status as Saintess placed her under political pressure. She was intended to marry Wu Tianqiong, the Thirteenth Prince of Shenwu Kingdom, and later learned that her Divine Dragon Bloodline was central to the ambitions of powerful factions. She initially departed Lu Ren after the Qingyun Sect Inner Disciple Competition, believing their paths might never cross again. 145 161 241

After awakening her Divine Bloodline, Yun Qingyao chose her own future alongside Lu Ren. She fought Luo Tian to protect him, confessed that Lu Ren's feelings had given her the resolve to fight for herself, and joined him against the Shenwu royal family. 249 251 254

Her lineage is tied to the Central Sacred Dynasty. The Central Sacred Emperor treated her bloodline and rare half-Ancient Martial, half-Bloodline Physique as assets needed to stabilize the dynasty, pressuring her into becoming Empress. Yun Qingyao accepted the position but rejected an arranged marriage. 653 795

Later, she was drawn into conflicts involving the Divine Court, soul possession, the Calamity Organization, and the Evil Heavenly Demons. She repeatedly risked herself to protect Lu Ren, was captured while impersonating the Variable to alter his tragic fate, and was eventually revived after her Divine Soul imprint merged with an Immortal's corpse. 1249 1464 2018 2269

Yun Qingyao later acted as leader of the Wuyue Clan. She had secretly instructed its elders to cultivate promising talents who could eventually escape the clan, and she rescued her son Lu Lunhui after his capture by the Heavenly Mandate Palace. 2762 2932 2974

Following her resurrection, Yun Qingyao entered the Yin Realm to pursue the Ghost Path. She initially appeared there as the Black Clothed Ghost King, without conscious memories of Lu Ren but with a will that prevented her from killing him. She rose rapidly among Ghost Path cultivators, inherited Ghost Ancestor Yanpo's Dao Fruit, and became known as Ancestor Yao. By the time of Lu Ren's rebirth in the Yin Realm, she had become the master of the Underworld Hall, second only to the Yellow Springs Ghost Ancestor. 3157 3161 3251 3902 4003

In the later Heavens, Yun Qingyao acts under the identity of Su Jiyuan, whose Primordial Battle Body she possesses. She serves at Heaven-Prison Manor and returns there after a major advancement, attracting Manor Lord Qiu Zongling's interest in her hidden lineage. Her later cultivation reveals a connection to the Taiqing Yuan Celestial Clan. Her Supreme Clarity Kite-Heaven Battle Body and transformed Primordial bloodline establish her as an extraordinary Primordial Clan genius, with the clan's sacred Taiqing Yuan Celestial Jade Butterfly responding to her breakthrough through seven Ancient Azure Kite cries. 4102 4140 4144 4196

Despite that connection, Taiqing Yuan Celestial Clan elder Su Qinghong tells Yun Qingyao that his intervention on Lu Ren's behalf was only because she was present. He refuses to commit the clan to Lu Ren's fated struggle with Cang Xuanming, even when she asks him to help her Dao companion. 4238

Appearance

Yun Qingyao is consistently described as an exceptionally beautiful, cold, and noble woman with long black hair, fair skin, and clear eyes. Her bearing is compared to a moon fairy, a secluded orchid, and a celestial maiden. 103 241 425

• Her hair reaches her waist; when her Divine Dragon Bloodline is unleashed, it becomes long and golden. 251
• She commonly wears white, though she wore a golden ceremonial gown for her wedding procession to Wu Tianqiong. 241 425
• Her Divine Bloodline can manifest golden eyes and a True Dragon phantom. 251 425
• As the Black Clothed Ghost King, she appears as a semi-transparent Yin Soul in a black dress, with cold, seemingly emotionless eyes. 3157
• As Ancestor Yao, she is often clad in plain white and surrounded by pure yet terrifying ghostly qi, which carries an incongruously sacred and immaculate quality. 3902
• When she unleashes the Supreme Clarity Kite-Heaven Battle Body, a Primordial Aura and the phantom of an azure divine kite manifest around her. 4144
• She later disguises herself as an elderly guardian known as “Granny Qing.” 2934

Personality

Yun Qingyao is cold and composed in public, but fiercely protective of those she loves. As Lu Ren's master, she repeatedly confronts enemies far above the Qingyun Sect's standing rather than permit anyone else to punish or harm him. 27 44 103

She possesses strong personal resolve. Though repeatedly pushed toward political marriages and exploited for her bloodline, she insists on choosing her own path and is willing to sacrifice status, safety, and even her body to protect Lu Ren and Yun Qingyan. 254 795 1464

Around Lu Ren, her reserved demeanor softens into affection, jealousy, teasing, and open devotion. She eventually asks him to call her “Qingyao” rather than “Master.” 602 653 1730

Yun Qingyao combines this devotion with considerable strategic caution. Even after gaining overwhelming strength, she warns Lu Ren that his rapid rise and lack of a powerful patron could attract catastrophic enemies, and advises seeking protection from influential figures rather than relying upon force alone. 4140

She does not resent Lu Ren's proposed marriage to Qiu Yaoyao, reasoning that she would welcome help with his cultivation. Nevertheless, she directly appeals to Su Qinghong for help when the Taiqing Yuan Celestial Clan declines to involve itself in Lu Ren's struggle. 4102 4238

Abilities & Skills

Divine Dragon Bloodline

Yun Qingyao possesses the Divine Dragon Bloodline, regarded as one of the strongest bloodlines in the Four Heavenly Courts and the second-ranked bloodline after Han Taiji's Yin Yang Dao Beast. 1725

• Manifests a True Dragon phantom and golden hair. 251
• Overpowers Luo Tian's seventh-grade Bloodline flame tiger. 251
• Enhances her status and makes her a candidate to become the next Dragon Emperor. 1730
• Grants access to Bloodline Divine Abilities. 254
• Successfully cultivates the Divine Dragon Body to great success before the Dragon Gate Grand Gathering. 633
• Her Mount Sumeru Dragon Slaying Claw can seal time for three seconds. 609
• Uses Divine Dragon Strangler to summon more than a hundred dragon phantoms and defeat Jiang Tong. 642
• Can manifest a Dragon Claw Phantom that freezes incoming attacks before tearing through opponents. 2019

Divine Dragon World Annihilation

A Bloodline Divine Ability activated with essence blood supplied by Xiao Man.

• Kills the Shenwu royal family's attacking experts, including the Shenwu Emperor and ancestral experts. 254
• Leaves Yun Qingyao weakened after use. 254

Swordsmanship and Sword Momentum

Yun Qingyao is an accomplished sword cultivator who was creating her own sword technique while still at Qingyun Sect. 8

• Created the Celestial Phenomenon Sword Skill, initially a three-form sword art derived from observing celestial phenomena, and later developed its fifth form, Wind Sweeps Clouds. 18 29 30
• Uses a purple lightning sword to dispel Luo Tian's fiery saber lights. 250
• Forms four swords of wind, fire, lightning, and thunder through the Four Celestial Phenomena Intentions Art, a Heaven-grade secret technique. 103 250
• Uses the top-tier Heaven-grade Thousand Bone Sword Skill, inherited from the Thousand Bone Sword Emperor. 642
• Defeats Luo Ning with the World-Destroying Fallen Dragon Secret Technique, empowered by Black Dragon Saber Gold. 645
• Reaches Thirteenth Heaven Sword Momentum by the Divine Lord Realm. 1480
• Defeats Feng Qijue, a Divine Son at the same realm, after only a few exchanges. 1480
• Cultivates the Myriad Swords Annihilating Heaven Technique, a Terrifying Divine Technique associated with the Destruction Divine Rule. 2030

Half-Ancient Martial, Half-Bloodline Physique

Yun Qingyao possesses an unusual physique combining Ancient Martial and bloodline traits. 795 1464

• Enables her to imprison Tianyin Kuimu's invading Divine Soul in the other half of her body rather than be immediately devoured. 1464
• Makes her vital to the Central Sacred Dynasty's political survival. 795

Ghost Path

After entering the Yin Realm, Yun Qingyao becomes a Ghost Path cultivator. 3251

• Uses Hell's Ghost Gate to summon and lead a Ghost Path Army against the Demonic Path Army. 3470
• Uses her guqin to unleash and command Yin Souls against the Demonic Path Army. 3469
• Even when the Black Clothed Ghost King cannot recall her past life, a lingering will prevents her from killing Lu Ren; after hearing their story, she accepts him as her Dao companion. 3161
• Believes her Ghost Path and Lu Ren's path of flesh may eventually require them to live apart. 3472
• Identifies the Spear of Judgment as a Ghost Path Divine Ability whose greatest power requires exceptionally pure Death energy. 3478
• Inherits Ghost Ancestor Yanpo's Dao Fruit and rises to become Ancestor Yao of the Ghost Dao Great World. 3902
• Becomes the master of the Underworld Hall, able to command its resources and Ghost Path forces. 4003

Kṣitigarbha Great Dao and Finality

Yun Qingyao's Ghost Path cultivation grants her mastery over the Kṣitigarbha Great Dao, a Great Dao ranked thirty-fifth among the Three Thousand Great Daos. 4142

• Uses Kṣitigarbha Ghost Power to manifest enormous ghost claws and Yama Ghost palms capable of shattering White Crane Finality-infused Sword Qi. 3913 3914
• Has comprehended Kṣitigarbha Finality and developed her Kṣitigarbha Dao to the Dao Birth and Dao Death level. 3913
• Drives back Crane Heaven Ancient Ancestor, severely damages his Dao Fruit, and threatens the Evil Dao Domain Pass despite being below the Perfected Dao Fruit realm. 3914
• Counters both physical and soul-based techniques with Kṣitigarbha Buddhist power, including Shadow Flower Maiden's flower-based soul arts. 4142

Primordial Battle Body

Yun Qingyao possesses the Supreme Clarity Kite-Heaven Battle Body, a Primordial Battle Body associated with the Taiqing Yuan Celestial Clan. 4144

• Reaches the Eleven-Mark Battle Body using a Fourteenth-Rank Battle Mark. 4140
• Her Eleven-Mark Battle Body enables her to escape suppression by Chaotic Flowers Devour the Dao and decisively defeat Iron Barbarian and Shadow Flower Maiden together. 4142
• The Supreme Clarity Kite-Heaven Battle Body grants speed surpassing Ren Huaian's Rapid Shadow Great Dao. 4144
• Absorbs a Primordial Source, advances to the Mid Dao-Controlling Realm, and raises her Taiqing Yuan Celestial bloodline concentration beyond seventy. 4196

Divine Soul

• Advances to the Three-Leaf Realm with a bottle of Immortal Soul Spirit Liquid. She judges that even Late-Stage Dao-Controlling Realm experts may struggle to withstand her divine soul attacks. 4189

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Fire Spirit Sword — Originally given to Lu Ren during his early cultivation; Yun Qingyao later imbues its hilt with a wisp of her affection as a memento before entering the Yin Realm. 9 3251
• Purple lightning sword — Her weapon during the battle with Luo Tian. 250
• Black Dragon Saber Gold — A ten-thousand-year-old Exotic Metal that she refines with Lu Ren's help. 615
• Heavenly Evolution Ancient Sword — Used when her Martial Emperor-level power erupts against the Female Evil Corpses. 959
• Golden Longsword — A three-Divine-Mark longsword used against Feng Qijue. 1480
• Thousand Illusions Divine King Bell — She attempts to refine it, but Zhao Xuankong's blood essence imprint resists her. 1735
• Eternal Night Heavenly Edict Sword — An Ultimate Dao Immortal Weapon whose Artifact Spirit does not reject her refinement. 2953
• Guqin — Used to unleash Yin Souls against the Demonic Path Army. 3469
• Death Immortal Diagram — An Immortal Path treasure given to her by Lu Ren that can be activated using Demon Emperor essence blood or Calamity Pills. 3478
• Yin Soul Magnetic Stone — A stone she obtained during a Yin Soul Tide and which Yao Lie says can sense the tide's true direction. 3493
• Nine-Ringed Khakkhara — Used alongside the Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva phantom to intercept Iron Barbarian's attacks. 4142
• Pitch-black ghost sword — Her weapon for releasing Kṣitigarbha Finality and Dao Birth and Dao Death-infused sword strikes. 3913

Relationships

• Lu Ren — Former master and disciple; later lovers who pledge their lives to one another. Yun Qingyao repeatedly protects him, while he repeatedly vows to save and defend her. 44 254 653 1730 She later rescues him from a Perfected Dao Fruit expert, promises to shield him from anyone in the Heavens who seeks to harm him, and continues to cultivate alongside him as his Dao companion. 3914 4140 She asks Su Qinghong to help Lu Ren despite the clan elder's refusal to enter Lu Ren's fated struggle. 4238
• Yun Qingyan — Twin sister. Yun Qingyao gives Tianyin Kuimu access to her own body in order to save Yun Qingyan's Divine Soul. 145 1464
• Lu Lunhui — Her son, whom she rescues from the Heavenly Mandate Palace. 2974
• Chi Ji — Her mother. They reunite after Lu Ren revives Yun Qingyao. 2270
• Gu Yifan — Former fellow Ghost Sword Sect successor and adversary. Yun Qingyao defeats and warns him after he attacks Lu Ren. 32 44 103
• Sword Seeker Moon — Her master at the Heavenly Evolution Sword Sect. Sword Seeker Moon conceals Yun Qingyao's Divine Bloodline until the Blade and Sword Mortal Combat Chess. 425
• Central Sacred Emperor — Her father. Their relationship is strained by his attempts to use her bloodline, physique, and marriage for the dynasty's survival. 653 795
• Wu Tianqiong — Intended husband in a political marriage arrangement that Lu Ren opposes. 241
• Tianyin Kuimu — A remnant Divine King soul imprisoned within Yun Qingyao's body after attempting to possess her. 1464 1465
• Yao Lie — Ninth Tier Demonic Emperor who battles Yun Qingyao after she summons the Ghost Path Army. 3470
• Ghost Prison Luo — A Ghost Dao expert who recognizes Yun Qingyao's exceptional strength, supports her rise, and accompanies her with the Ghost Dao forces after the Righteous Path Arena. 3913 3914
• Crane Heaven Ancient Ancestor — A Perfected Dao Fruit expert of the Evil Dao whom Yun Qingyao defeats, damages, and drives from the Border Region. 3913 3914
• Ren Huaian — A rival Dao-Controlling Realm cultivator whose speed-based advantage Yun Qingyao overturns with the Supreme Clarity Kite-Heaven Battle Body. 4144
• Undying Demoness — Recognizes Yun Qingyao beneath her Su Jiyuan identity. Yun Qingyao reassures her that she does not resent the proposed marriage between Lu Ren and Qiu Yaoyao. 4102
• Su Qinghong — Taiqing Yuan Celestial Clan elder who intervenes because Yun Qingyao is beside Lu Ren but refuses her request for the clan to support Lu Ren against Cang Xuanming. 4238

Story Role / Major Arcs

Qingyun Sect Saintess

Yun Qingyao becomes Lu Ren's master and refuses to abandon him because of his Scrap Bloodline. She protects him against ridicule, challenges the sect elders' indifference, and establishes that only she may discipline her disciple. 20 27 44

Tuoshe Cave Mansion and Four Great Sects Conflict

She protects Lu Ren from Gu Yifan after the Tuoshe Cave Mansion conflict, defeats Gu Yifan, and later uses the Four Celestial Phenomena Intentions Art to severely injure him for bullying Lu Ren and the Qingyun Sect. 32 44 103

Shenwu Kingdom Marriage Crisis

Yun Qingyao is forced toward marriage with Wu Tianqiong. After awakening her Divine Bloodline, she battles Luo Tian and openly chooses a future with Lu Ren rather than submit to the arrangements imposed on her. 241 249 254

Heavenly Evolution Sword Sect

Sword Seeker Moon takes Yun Qingyao as a disciple and conceals her Divine Bloodline from most of the sect. Yun Qingyao reunites with Lu Ren after integrating her bloodline and reaching the Heavenly Profound Realm. 292 425

Central Sacred Dynasty and Divine Court

Her bloodline and physique make her a political target in the Central Sacred Dynasty and later a prominent prodigy in the Xinghe Heavenly Court. She is groomed as a future Dragon Emperor and publicly confirms her relationship with Lu Ren despite the hostility of her admirers. 795 1725 1730

Sacrifice, Resurrection, and Ghost Path

Yun Qingyao sacrifices herself to change Lu Ren's fate, is later revived through an Immortal's corpse, and ultimately enters the Yin Realm to cultivate the Ghost Path. As the Black Clothed Ghost King, she cannot initially recall Lu Ren but accepts that they were Dao companions after hearing their history. She later returns to rescue him by leading a Ghost Path Army through Hell's Ghost Gate. 1249 2269 3157 3161 3251 3470

Within the Yin Realm, she inherits Ghost Ancestor Yanpo's Dao Fruit, becomes Ancestor Yao, and ultimately rises to master the Underworld Hall. 3902 4003

Righteous Path Arena

As Ancestor Yao, Yun Qingyao intervenes when Crane Heaven Ancient Ancestor threatens Lu Ren in the Border Region. Despite only being in the Late-Stage Nine-Step Supreme Realm, she uses Kṣitigarbha Finality and Dao Birth and Dao Death to force the Perfected Dao Fruit expert to retreat, damage his Dao Fruit, and strengthen the Heavens Alliance's position against the Evil Dao. 3913 3914

Heaven-Prison Manor

Under the identity of Su Jiyuan, Yun Qingyao returns to Heaven-Prison Manor after a substantial breakthrough. Qiu Zongling suspects that she has a powerful lineage. Learning of Lu Ren's rise and his proposed marriage to Qiu Yaoyao, she visits Chaos Territory and reassures the Undying Demoness that she bears no resentment over the arrangement. 4102

Return-to-Ruins River Site

Yun Qingyao advances to the Eleven-Mark Battle Body and Late Dao Fusion Realm with Lu Ren's support, then defeats Iron Barbarian, Shadow Flower Maiden, and forces Ren Huaian to retreat. Her revelation as a Taiqing Yuan Celestial Clan prodigy deters other Dao-Controlling Realm cultivators from challenging her. 4140 4142 4144

She later absorbs a Primordial Source while Lu Ren guards her seclusion, breaks through to the Mid Dao-Controlling Realm, and awakens a bloodline phenomenon recognized by the Taiqing Yuan Celestial Clan. 4196

Notable Quotes

“Whether he's a genius or scrap, I just want him to live well!” 27

“Anyone who dares to harm my disciple will have to ask if I agree!” 44

“Call me Qingyao!” 653

“Today, I am fighting for Lu Ren. Unless I die in battle, I will never surrender!” 2032

Trivia

• Yun Qingyao is Yun Qingyan's twin sister. 145
• She was once a Ghost Sword Sect successor before becoming a Qingyun Sect elder. 32
• Her Divine Dragon Bloodline is described as the second-ranked bloodline in the Four Heavenly Courts. 1725
• As the Black Clothed Ghost King, she does not initially remember Lu Ren, but a lingering will preserves their bond. 3161
• Her Kṣitigarbha Great Dao is ranked thirty-fifth among the Three Thousand Great Daos. 4142
• The Taiqing Yuan Celestial Clan's sacred jade butterfly responds to her transformed bloodline with seven Ancient Azure Kite cries, a sign of a bloodline concentration exceeding seventy. 4196