Lin Qingyang

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Life Before Transmigration

Lin Qingyang worked as a lawyer and successfully represented a domestic-abuse survivor in a divorce case. Her former husband ambushed him in an underground parking garage and stabbed him seven or eight times. He then awakened in another world inside a cultivator who shared his name 1.

His younger sister, Lin Yao, appeared as the Windflower Sword’s spirit after falling while rushing to see him. She revealed that their surroundings belonged to her novel and that his new identity was a minor villain destined to die during Qi Mo’s revenge against the Nine Skies Sect 6.

The Original Lin Qingyang

The original Lin Qingyang and Shi Ruobai grew up under Perfected One Tianyi. A gifted sword cultivator, Lin Qingyang defeated Shi Ruobai at the Immortal Alliance Ceremony. Nevertheless, Tianyi deemed his character impure, selected Shi Ruobai as successor, and gave Shi Ruobai a pill that raised his cultivation above Lin Qingyang’s 16 25.

Tianyi’s prejudice originated in an earlier incident: Lin Qingyang had taken the blame after Shi Ruobai damaged the Library Pavilion and Ancestor Jiuchen’s Manuscript. Shi Ruobai later tried to explain, but their master refused to reconsider his judgment 132.

Although the original Lin Qingyang resented the succession decision, he did not hate Shi Ruobai or willingly seek his death. The author’s imposed villain role manifested as an intrusive will that drove him to obtain poison from Chimei. Believing this influence to be a heart demon, he withdrew from sect life and sometimes injured himself to regain clarity 28.

Appearance

• Hair and eyes: Long black hair and peach-blossom eyes, usually accompanied by a languid, careless smile 89 229.
• Usual clothing: Simple, plain-colored gowns rather than elaborate elder’s robes. He loosely ties back part of his hair with a ribbon instead of wearing a hair crown 37.
• Initial appearance: Awakens pale, bearded, and disheveled, with dark circles and a crumpled gray robe. He later washes and shaves, revealing a face familiar from his previous life 1 15.
• Bearing: Often resembles an unrestrained libertine more than a formal sect elder. In combat, that casual manner gives way to the sharp presence associated with the Elegant Sword Immortal 37 208.
• Concealed identity: Appears as a rabbit-headed half-demon and wears sunglasses while posing as Tusi Rui 145 146.

Personality

Lin Qingyang brings a lawyer’s suspicion of coerced confessions and unsupported accusations into the cultivation world. He interrupts Qi Mo’s torture, challenges the evidence against him, and explicitly rejects punishing someone for crimes they have not yet committed 2 3 9.

His compassion coexists with considerable self-interest. Afraid of being exposed for the original owner’s poisoning, he redirects Xue Lanyuan’s suspicions toward Mo Yan and repeatedly prepares to flee. Yet he also risks himself to obtain Shi Ruobai’s antidote and offers to accept punishment in Qi Mo’s place 5 7 24 26 29.

He is sarcastic, persuasive, and quick to exploit an opponent’s insecurity. He pressures suspects by suggesting that their accomplices may betray them, and answers Li Yan’s insult by throwing him into a fountain while mockingly apologizing for poor control of his spiritual power 13 90.

Lin Qingyang prizes personal freedom and resists confinement. His approach to peace is practical rather than purely idealistic: he uses commerce, resource dependence, and political leverage to make war less attractive to both clans 144 152 196.

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship

An exceptionally gifted sword cultivator, Lin Qingyang inherits the original owner’s formidable foundation and later defeats Yun Zhan in a direct duel 25 117.

• Sword qi: Projects cutting attacks beyond his blade and knocks back multiple opponents 1 52.
• Divine Wind Slash: Channels enormous spiritual power through the Windflower Sword, shattering Cen Ru’an’s Bone-Blade Knife. The resulting release of demonic qi injures him 80.
• Heavenly Execution: Discovers the move among Shi Ruobai’s belongings. Its use against Bi Yue leaves a sword scar dozens of meters long and destroys shops along its path 229 237.
• Power rebound: Flicks an opponent’s sword to send force back through it. Against Yun Zhan, this returns both his own spiritual power and the Lingyun Sword’s power; against Jiuchen, the rebound is multiplied several times 117 321.

Wind Magic

Lin Qingyang specializes in wind techniques, combining ranged attacks, defense, and mobility 23 48 52.

• Wind Dragon Technique: Creates a huge tornado that sweeps up water and snakes during his confrontation with Chimei 23.
• Wind Blades: Releases cutting currents against hyenas and Bi Yue’s red vines 52 138.
• Wind barrier: Blocks Chimei’s wave with a curtain of wind 23.
• Fire support: Uses wind to strengthen flames produced by the Fire Luan Bells 137.

Movement and Concealment

His mobility allows him to cross short distances rapidly and approach targets unnoticed 7 48.

• Movement Technique: Requires spiritual power and suitable spiritual conditions; it is not practical for every long-distance journey 22.
• Heavenly Wind Shadowless: Repeatedly relocates himself and Qi Mo while escaping pursuing hyenas 52.
• Lightened body and concealed presence: Uses wind cultivation to follow Qi Mo without being detected 48.
• Limitations: Building restrictions can prevent movement techniques, while sufficiently dense demonic qi can suppress his spiritual power completely 48 52.

Spiritual Healing and Detection

• Healing: Transfers spiritual power into the critically injured Qi Mo, helping him regain consciousness 3.
• Tracking: Uses his spiritual power through Qi Mo’s Demon-Locking Ring to locate him 48.
• Physical limits: Excessive spiritual expenditure aggravates his old chest injury and can temporarily leave him unable to summon power 10.

Investigation and Negotiation

His legal background supports both interrogation and political maneuvering 3 13.

• Separates accusations from evidence and challenges claims of guilt based on opportunity alone 3.
• Uses the possibility of conflicting testimony to pressure suspects 13.
• Connects Chimei’s actions, Lei Guang’s transformation, and the unexplained targeting of Qi Mo to a hidden instigator 36.
• Identifies Li Yan as the person able to open the Xuanji Walnut because the puppet shares Li Tian’s spiritual-power source 223.
• Secures Li Tian’s support for peace talks by warning that war could interrupt the Demon Clan spirit-liquid supply sustaining Li Yan 196.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Windflower Sword — His principal sword and Lin Yao’s vessel as a sword spirit. Also provides light. It breaks when deprived of sustaining spiritual power, but he wields it again in later battles; the supplied passages do not explain its restoration 6 52 141 229.
• Curved saber — One of two blades reportedly forged from a tiger demon’s fangs. Shi Ruobai gave him one and kept the other; Lin Qingyang places both in Shi Ruobai’s coffin 21 132.
• Qiankun Bag — Carries money, magical artifacts, and emergency supplies 7 119 137.
• Demon-Locking Rings — Initially uses a functional ring to restrain Qi Mo’s demonic power, then replaces it with a powerless version and tells him he may leave freely 39 88.
• Heaven-Stealing Talisman — Keeps it after failing to use it to save Jin Buhuan. Its lifesaving effect later provides time for his spiritual root to be treated 118 119 144.
• Endless Rope — An extendable golden rope used for descending a cliff; it can also bind people 137.
• Fire Luan Bells — Produces flames that he combines with wind to destroy attacking vines 137.
• Demon-Capturing Net — Restrains Chimei during the antidote confrontation 24.
• Ten-Thousand-Li Tianyan Array — Uses his array to transport himself and Yun Zhan to Sifang City 237.

Relationships

• Qi Mo / Cang Mo — Begins as a demon slave Lin Qingyang protects, later purchases, and calls “A-Qi.” Their attachment becomes romantic, but Cang Mo’s later confinement and wedding threats make the relationship coercive. Lin Qingyang eventually affirms that he stays willingly, burns their Divorce Letter, and admits that he likes him 39 40 121 184 221 282.
• Lin Yao — Younger sister, novel author, and Windflower Sword spirit. Supplies knowledge of the original plot, though her assumptions are incomplete. Her subconscious desire to preserve the plot and later bring him home gives rise to Jiuchen 6 28 319.
• Shi Ruobai — Senior martial brother and former close companion. Their relationship is damaged by Tianyi’s favoritism, the imposed poisoning plot, and Shi Ruobai’s later attacks. Lin Qingyang mourns him after his death 28 124 130 132.
• Mo Yan — Fellow elder and frequent opponent over Qi Mo’s treatment. Later becomes a rescuer, confidant, and ally in investigating threats to both clans 11 26 142 144 174.
• Feng Shu — Eldest disciple inherited from the original owner. Remains devoted to him and vows revenge upon seeing his near-fatal injuries 1 142.
• Feng Yi — Younger disciple inherited from the original owner. Initially complains that his reclusive master neglects sect affairs and teaching 1.
• Jin Buhuan — Fellow elder and ally whose apparent death deeply affects Lin Qingyang. Later helps search for the Nirvana Lotus, but also betrays an attempted escape by alerting Cang Mo 118 121 184 265.
• Xue Lanyuan — Fellow sect member involved in the poisoning investigation and his medical care. Later becomes an aberrant demon and disappears 5 32 163.
• Li Tian — Tianxuan Pavilion leader. Lin Qingyang discovers Li Yan’s puppet nature, leverages his dependence on spirit liquid for peace talks, and later receives refuge in his secret realm 106 196 312.
• Yun Zhan — Original novel’s male lead, defeated opponent, and later associate. Offers Lin Qingyang help if Cang Mo mistreats him; they subsequently investigate Lu Ming together 100 117 221 237.
• Hong Ling — Fox demon whom Lin Qingyang rescues and offers freedom. Later encounters him in the Demon King Palace after Hong Ling has lost his memories 55 171.
• Su Ruohuan — Secret disciple and the original novel’s heroine. Lin Qingyang trains her partly because she originally brings peace between the clans; she later confronts him over her father’s death and declares their bond severed 290 309.
• Jiuchen / Bi Yue — Principal enemy who engineers traps, seeks war between humans and demons, tortures Lin Qingyang, and severs his blood contract with Cang Mo 138 307 312.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Disrupting Qi Mo’s Backstory

After arriving during the investigation into Shi Ruobai’s poisoning, Lin Qingyang stops Qi Mo’s torture and later rescues him from abuse in the Forbidden Abyss. Learning that Qi Mo is destined to become the Demon King, he refuses Lin Yao’s suggestion that they eliminate him before he commits his future crimes 1 2 6 8 9.

His protection is not initially free of compromise: he agrees to bring Qi Mo to Chimei, who intends to kill him. During the confrontation, however, Lin Qingyang fights Chimei and obtains blood to use as an antidote. Mo Yan discovers them, and Qi Mo attacks Mo Yan while trying to protect Lin Qingyang 17 23 24 26.

Shi Ruobai survives but loses memories surrounding the poisoning. Lei Guang receives the blame, allowing Lin Qingyang to avoid exposure. Lin Qingyang later buys Qi Mo back from Jin Yao Workshop and hopes that keeping “A-Qi” alive will prevent the rise of Cang Mo and the human–demon war 32 39 40.

Xuanhuang Sect and the Immortal Alliance Ceremony

The Xuanhuang Sect kidnaps Lin Qingyang and suppresses his cultivation. After escaping its restraints, he confronts Cen Ru’an and breaks his powerful Bone-Blade Knife with Divine Wind Slash 57 75 80.

At the Immortal Alliance Ceremony, he investigates Li Yan’s collapse and learns that the teleportation network has failed, trapping those on Liuxian Island. He later defeats Yun Zhan, but cannot prevent Jin Buhuan’s apparent sacrifice. These disasters convince him that a force is pushing events back toward the novel’s predetermined ending 106 117 118 119.

Shi Ruobai’s Death and the Five-Year Disappearance

Shi Ruobai accuses Lin Qingyang of poisoning him, has him restrained, and subjects him to punishment. Lin Qingyang initially submits rather than abandon the gravely injured Qi Mo, then fights back once Mo Yan removes his shackles 125 128 130.

Following Shi Ruobai’s death, Lin Qingyang becomes sect leader and permits dissatisfied disciples to leave without surrendering their cultivation. Bi Yue subsequently isolates him through a series of traps. The Windflower Sword breaks, and Lin Qingyang tears out his contaminated spiritual root 132 138 141 142.

He survives emergency treatment but loses almost all his cultivation. During the following five years, he hides near the human–demon border and builds the Hidden Market under the name Tu San 144.

Hidden Market and Reunion with Cang Mo

Lin Qingyang uses trade to alleviate the Demon Clan’s resource shortages and reduce incentives for war. When the Red Refining Sect is massacred, he investigates disguised as Tusi Rui and encounters Cang Mo, who initially fails to recognize him 144 146 149.

After being brought to the Demon King Palace, he tries to compensate Cang Mo with his private treasury and repeatedly seeks freedom. Cang Mo eventually threatens Mo Yan’s life to compel the wedding ceremony 157 184.

Their later relationship becomes more openly mutual. Lin Qingyang tells Yun Zhan that he remains with Cang Mo willingly, cares for Cang Mo after he regresses to a wolf cub, and ultimately burns the Divorce Letter rather than end their marriage 221 252 282.

Rebuilding Cultivation

Lin Qingyang exposes Li Yan’s ability to use Li Tian’s spiritual power and later unleashes Heavenly Execution against Bi Yue 223 229.

The Nirvana Lotus eventually rebuilds his spiritual root, but leaves him at entry-level Qi Refining rather than restoring his former strength. His attempt to accelerate recovery with Spiritual Marrow causes dangerous spiritual disorder before the energy is absorbed 281 283 287.

Jiuchen and the Return from Reality

Jiuchen reveals his intention to provoke war and forcibly shatters the blood contract linking Lin Qingyang and Cang Mo. After taking refuge in Tianxuan Pavilion’s secret realm, Lin Qingyang learns that his Death Tribulation persists despite having already died once 307 312.

In reality, Lin Qingyang discovers that the apparent Heavenly Dao pursuing him originated in Lin Yao’s subconscious: first her attachment to the plot, then her desperate wish to bring him home. He subsequently returns to the novel’s world, intercepts Jiuchen with the Windflower Sword, and turns Jiuchen’s own sword power back against him 319 320 321.

Notable Quotes

“All things have spirits. All beings are equal.” 4

“There’s a legal principle called the presumption of innocence. We can’t convict someone for something they haven’t done yet.” 9

“As long as he doesn’t die, he’ll always be A-Qi, and he won’t become the Demon King Cang Mo.” 40