Nie Qingcheng

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Standing in Heavenly Demon Mountain

Nie Qingcheng belongs to the Phoenix Clan and holds an unusually high position within Heavenly Demon Mountain. Her clan’s backing and her own strength make her notorious among younger cultivators, many of whom have suffered beatings after provoking her 16.

Her possession of a quasi-emperor weapon surprises onlookers because even Heavenly Demon Mountain’s foremost holy sons and holy maidens are not necessarily granted such treasures. After the secret realm expedition, the elder leading her faction stands a step behind her, emphasizing her exceptional standing 29 40.

Entering the Heavenly Sword Secret Realm

Having slipped out, Nie Qingcheng enters the realm to investigate the disappearance of a Dragon Race Demon Emperor and recover its two demon sage swords 15.

In the Ten Thousand Beasts Sword Forest, she encounters Xie Qianli and notices Ye Wushuang watching from a tree. The three agree to travel together. When disciples ambush them and demand both their resources and Nie Qingcheng herself, she burns the attackers out of existence 16.

At the Ten Thousand Swords River, she rejects Jin Zhan’s demand that she return to her faction’s group. She also declines the river’s trial: sword cultivation is not her specialty, and her objective remains the sage swords at the Sword Heart Tomb 17 20.

The Illusion and the Demon Saint Swords

The Gravekeeper Elder places Nie Qingcheng in Yun Chenxi’s first-person perspective during an illusion depicting the past of Ye Muxi, the Great Emperor of Eternal Night. Unlike the ordinary spectators, she experiences the events as though she lived them herself. She emerges saddened by Ye Muxi’s failure to pursue Yun Chenxi and question their separation 25.

When the eight sage swords become available, Nie Qingcheng declares that she will claim both demon saint swords without Jin Zhan’s help. Her reputation initially discourages challengers, but the remaining competitors eventually converge on her 25 26 29.

She defeats them with a flame array and phoenix-feather arrows, forcing the survivors to expend life-saving treasures to escape. Her mutated phoenix bloodline then suppresses the swords’ resistance, allowing her to take both 29.

The Sword Heart Tomb and Dragon Venerable

Nie Qingcheng passes the tomb’s three-streak Sword Qi entrance trial. Inside, she confronts Situ Xue, whose flirtation with Ye Wushuang angers her. Their contest remains undecided, both in swordplay and in the clash between sacred phoenix flames and immortal spirit power 30 31 32.

After the Netherdark Dragon Venerable revives, she joins Ye Wushuang and the other leading prodigies rather than fleeing. She unleashes the Power of the Shining Sun during their collective attack. Later, with Nie Qingcheng and the others exhausted, Ye Wushuang takes the dragon’s attack head-on to prevent it from killing them 34 36.

She survives the crisis and leaves the realm. When hostile faction leaders challenge the Ye Lineage outside, she openly stands beside Ye Wushuang, while Heavenly Demon Mountain’s peak master intercepts one of the attackers. Before departing, Ye Wushuang thanks her and strokes her hair, a gesture she accepts with a blush 39 40.

Appearance

• Clothing: Wears a flowing moon-white skirt and a veil 16.
• Features: Described as exceptionally beautiful, with striking eyes, fair shoulders, and a slender waist 16 17 21.
• Usual bearing: Cool and aloof, compared to a snow lotus on a lofty mountain 16.
• Battle manifestations: Golden flames appear in her eyes; phoenix wings spread behind her, accompanied by a Fire Phoenix phantom 29 32.

Personality

Nie Qingcheng’s refined, distant appearance conceals a fiery temper. She refuses to tolerate insults or attempts to control her, sharply rebuking Jin Zhan for dictating whom she may accompany. Against enemies who threaten her, she acts decisively and without mercy 16 17 29.

Her confidence is supported by tactical patience. While facing multiple attackers, she appears to be retreating but is actually laying the flames of an array beneath their feet. She also recognizes her limitations, openly acknowledging that the Dao of the Sword is not her strength 20 29.

Around Ye Wushuang, she becomes more visibly playful, bashful, and jealous. Attempts to tease him often leave her flustered instead. Although she denies protecting him when confronting Situ Xue, she later declares that even the Dragon Venerable has no right to harm him 18 21 31 34.

Abilities & Skills

Sun-Shining Saint Phoenix Bloodline

Her bloodline is a mutation beyond the already powerful Fire Phoenix lineage. The Sun-Shining Saint Phoenix is described as a legendary sacred beast that has not appeared for a very long time 29.

• Exerts bloodline pressure that frightens ordinary demon beasts 15.
• Suppresses the red-crowned crane and Golden-Feathered Heavenly Peng bloodlines associated with the two demon saint swords 29.
• Possesses an innate affinity for flame and the potential to comprehend solar power as its cultivation develops 29.
• Power of the Shining Sun: An innate divine ability she actively unleashes against the Netherdark Dragon Venerable 34.

True Phoenix Dao Body and Sacred Phoenix Flames

Nie Qingcheng activates the True Phoenix Dao Body while fighting the cultivators competing for the demon saint swords 29.

• Produces flames capable of reducing hostile cultivators to nothingness 16 29.
• Manifests phoenix wings and a Fire Phoenix phantom in battle 29 32.
• Contends evenly with Situ Xue’s immortal spirit power; neither power extinguishes the other during their clash 32.
• Can also use controlled bursts of fire to punish Xie Qianli without seriously injuring him, aided by his own fire-attribute cultivation 17 26 39.

Phoenix Flame Blazing Prairie Array

She forms this array by leaving flames at each footstep while moving through enemy attacks, then connecting those flames around her opponents 29.

• Traps multiple cultivators within a revolving field of fire.
• Summons a Fire Phoenix phantom that suppresses attempts to break free.
• Allows her to attack trapped opponents from above with her bow 29.

Archery

Using her quasi-emperor bow, Nie Qingcheng condenses flames into phoenix-feather arrows 29.

• Fires repeated volleys over a wide battlefield.
• Her arrows make the surrounding space appear to ignite and distort.
• Arrows that pierce weaker opponents erupt inside their bodies, burning them away 29.

Swordsmanship and Cultivation Knowledge

Although sword cultivation is not her specialty, Nie Qingcheng can wield a demon saint’s sword effectively enough to fight Situ Xue without either gaining the advantage 20 32.

• Identifies the masked sword cultivator’s defensive ability as a domain 18.
• Recognizes when a cultivator resonates with sword intent and receives its owner’s inheritance 18.
• Withstands the Sword Heart Tomb’s three-streak Sword Qi trial 30.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Southern Brightness Li Fire Bow — A fiery-red quasi-emperor artifact bearing golden phoenix-flame Dao rhythms. It has already developed the embryonic form of an imperial weapon, and its might exceeds that of the sage swords 29 30.
• Red-Crowned Crane Sacred Sword — One of the two demon saint swords she claims. She later draws it against Situ Xue 25 29 32.
• Golden Roc Sacred Sword — The other demon saint sword, associated with a senior of Jin Zhan’s race. Nie Qingcheng claims it despite Jin Zhan’s intention to obtain it himself 25 29 30.

Relationships

• Ye Wushuang — Traveling companion, ally, and romantic interest. She inadvertently admits that she has fallen for him, becomes jealous of his attention to other women, and supports him both inside and outside the secret realm. He calls her “Little Phoenix” 16 21 34 39 40.
• Xie Qianli — Traveling companion and frequent target of her exasperation. His matchmaking, teasing, and noisy boasting repeatedly earn him bursts of phoenix fire, though he also expresses concern for her safety 16 17 29 38 39.
• Jin Zhan — An unwanted pursuer seeking Heavenly Demon Mountain’s holy son position. She rejects his familiarity, attempts to direct her, and proposals to divide the demon saint swords 17 25 29.
• Situ Xue — Rival whose flirtation with Ye Wushuang provokes her jealousy. Their ensuing duel ends without a decisive winner 31 32 39.
• Yun Chenxi — Nie Qingcheng experiences Yun Chenxi’s past through a first-person illusion and is deeply affected by her separation from Ye Muxi 25.

Notable Quotes

“I am Heavenly Demon Mountain's holy maiden. Who are you to dictate whom I spend time with? Know your place.” 17

“Don't waste my time. Come at me together.” 29

“Ye Wushuang is mine to lay a hand on. But you, even if you are some Supreme from the Desolate Realm, may not touch him!” 34