Ji Juechen

Biodata

Power Progression

Appearance

• Build and features: Slender, exceptionally handsome, and unhealthily pale 16.
• Hair: Long black hair, simply tied behind his head with a hairband 16.
• Eyes: Normally dull, lusterless gray; become intensely bright when he encounters a challenging opponent 16 42.
• Bearing: Often stern, taciturn, and slow-moving outside combat. When concentrating on his sword, he can resemble a motionless statue 16 21 26.
• Clothing: Wears the academy uniform during his initial arena appearance 17.

Personality

Ji Juechen’s defining obsession is improving his swordsmanship through battle. Strong opponents immediately attract his attention, even when their identities or affiliations do not. He initially expresses no interest in the Holy Spirit Cult, then eagerly joins Lu Ren upon learning that its members include fighters stronger than himself 42 43.

He accepts defeat without excuses. After Lu Ren shatters his sword, he bows deeply, acknowledges the loss, and promises to return. Discovering an even greater gap between their domains only strengthens his determination to pursue Lu Ren for a lifetime if necessary 17 22.

His devotion to the sword also makes him uncompromising about cultivation aids. Despite his weak innate Soul Power, he refuses a Mystic Water Pill intended to improve his foundation, insisting that his sword does not need medicine 47.

Although reserved, he is capable of direct loyalty and sincere warmth. He identifies himself as Lu Ren’s friend when confronting the Imperial Family Inspection Team, and later congratulates Lu Ren’s breakthrough with unmistakable sincerity 26 48.

Abilities & Skills

Sword Fusion

Ji Juechen cultivates by channeling his soul into his sword. His Martial Soul becomes energy rather than remaining a physical entity, merging with the weapon until swordsman and sword function as one 16.

• Pours his Soul Power into the blade to produce an intensely sharp presence 16.
• Concentrates surrounding silver light and Sword Intent into a single point at the sword tip for a direct thrust 16.
• His first clash with Lu Ren cuts Lu Ren’s knuckles, although the sword itself is destroyed by Black Flash 16.

Swordsmanship and Sword Intent

His fighting style emphasizes relentless attack rather than defense, with precise strikes aimed at vital points 27.

• Sword Qi: Releases cutting arcs from his blade; his opening assault cracks a Soul Saint’s hastily deployed defensive shield and drives him back three steps 27.
• Projectile interception: Cuts apart two incoming Soul Cannon shells during the inspection-team battle 27.
• Speed and precision: Overwhelms an Evil Soul Emperor with attacks too fast for the opponent to clearly follow, then thrusts through its eye socket 46.
• Soul Power disruption: Destroys the internal Soul Power structure of a skeletal Evil Soul Emperor, preventing its severed body from rejoining 46.
• Independent technique: Kills two Evil Soul Emperors of his own realm without using Soul Skills or additional abilities granted by his Soul Rings 47.

Loneliness

Loneliness is Ji Juechen’s self-created domain, developed through his battles with Lu Ren. It combines Spiritual Power and Soul Power and manifests as a faint gray field of condensed Sword Intent 21 22 46.

• Initially suppresses his outward presence so completely that he resembles a stone statue 21.
• Remains incomplete; during its first demonstration, he needs Jing Ziyan to hold Lu Ren off while he prepares it 22.
• Is crushed by Lu Ren’s domain expansion in just 0.2 seconds, temporarily leaving him unable to mobilize Soul Power 22.
• Later remains condensed within three feet of him during close-quarters combat 46.

Limitations

• Weak innate Soul Power: Identified as a restriction on his future development despite his exceptional sword talent 47.
• Higher-realm opponents: His initial pressure against a Level 7 Soul Engineer does not overcome the gap between six and seven rings; sustained Soul Tool attacks wound him and force a retreat 27.
• Binding Vows unavailable: Asks to learn Lu Ren’s technique, but is told that it depends on Lu Ren’s Martial Soul and cannot be reproduced with ordinary Soul Power 30.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Heavenly Meteoric Iron Sword — His original, approximately four-foot-long black sword. Its plain, antiquated appearance resembles a fire poker. Lu Ren’s Black Flash shatters it, leaving only the hilt 16 17.
• Silver-white longsword — The replacement he carries into his next challenge. Narrower and longer than his previous sword, it remains his weapon during the inspection-team confrontation and Holy Spirit Cult raid 21 26 46.
• Mystic Water Pill — refused — Lu Ren offers it to widen his meridians and raise his Soul Power ceiling. Ji Juechen returns it rather than relying on medicine 47.

Background / History

Academy Challenger

Jing Hongchen regards Ji Juechen as a genius, but his age prevents him from qualifying for the upcoming tournament. After Lu Ren defeats seventy-seven academy challengers, Jing Hongchen summons him to test whether his unusual sword cultivation can reveal more of Lu Ren’s capabilities 15 16.

Ji Juechen becomes the final challenger of the day. His presence prompts Lu Ren to reveal his Soul Rings and use Blood Manipulation: Flowing Red Scale. Their frontal clash ends with Lu Ren’s Black Flash destroying the Heavenly Meteoric Iron Sword. Ji Juechen admits defeat and leaves carrying the broken hilt, completing Lu Ren’s seventy-eight-match winning streak 16 17.

Rematch and Training

The following morning, Ji Juechen returns with Jing Ziyan and a replacement sword. Having improved his Sword Intent after the loss, he challenges Lu Ren again. Their two-on-one attempt ends when Lu Ren crushes his incomplete domain and defeats Jing Ziyan 21 22.

The rivalry becomes a regular training relationship. Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan spar with Lu Ren over the next week and continue participating in his afternoon practice during the following month 25 32.

Imperial Family Inspection Team

When the Imperial Family Inspection Team arrests Lu Ren, Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan join him outside the academy. Calling themselves his friends, they confront the team, and Ji Juechen immediately charges its Soul Saint-level fighter 26.

His opening attack damages the opponent’s shield, but the Level 7 Soul Engineer’s equipment eventually overwhelms the pair. Ji Juechen suffers burns to his left arm and withdraws alongside Jing Ziyan before Lu Ren takes over the fight 27.

Holy Spirit Cult Raid

Lu Ren later selects Ji Juechen to accompany him into Mingdu. The promise of strong opponents secures his agreement, while observing Lu Ren’s apparent fusion of Soul Power and Spiritual Power gives him another cultivation goal 42.

At a concealed Holy Spirit Cult branch, Ji Juechen takes on two Evil Soul Emperors while Lu Ren fights the Soul Saint. Using his sword and embryonic Loneliness domain, he kills both opponents, sustaining only small facial cuts and keeping his breathing steady 43 44 46.

He subsequently guards the courtyard while Lu Ren searches the basement. Afterward, he credits the battle with improving his swordsmanship and agrees to help destroy more cult strongholds in Mingdu 47 48.

Relationships

• Lu Ren — Rival, friend, and regular sparring partner. Repeated defeats make Lu Ren his long-term benchmark for improvement; he later accompanies him into lethal combat against the Holy Spirit Cult 17 22 25 26 48.
• Jing Ziyan — Fellow battle enthusiast and frequent combat partner. They challenge Lu Ren together, train alongside him, and coordinate against the Level 7 Soul Engineer; she stops Ji Juechen from charging again when their injuries make withdrawal necessary 21 25 27.
• Jing Hongchen — Academy authority who highly values his talent and selects him as Lu Ren’s final arena opponent 15 16.

Notable Quotes

“I lost. You are a formidable opponent. I'll come back again.” 17

“My sword doesn't need to rely on medicine.” 47

“The next time I face opponents like these, I'll win faster.” 48