Jiang Beiran

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Jiang Beiran (江北然)
Alias(es)	Master Jiang; Lord Virtue Tablet; Exalted One; “new emperor” of Sheng Kingdom
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Returning Heart Sect; Shi Family (guest official); Jingzhe Pavilion / Mystic Guild
Occupation/Role	Mystic arts master, formation master, alchemist, strategist, mentor, former Sheng Kingdom emperor
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 5

Background / History

Jiang Beiran began as a commoner registered disciple of the Returning Heart Sect. He deliberately kept a low profile while accumulating attribute and skill points through the system’s options, concealing capabilities far beyond his apparent Qi Refining Second Order cultivation. His early victory over Wu Qingce relied on overwhelming physical ability, Gu poison, elixirs, and unconventional tactics rather than orthodox cultivation. 10

Unable to personally handle every task while studying pills, formations, forging, and other disciplines, Jiang Beiran built a network of trusted subordinates. Wu Qingce became his first errand runner, while Gu Qinghuan managed trading and developed a large connection network within the sect. 47 85 He later accepted the alchemy prodigy Luo Wenzhou as a disciple and considered supporting Ji Zishi’s development as an alchemist. 162 410

His formation expertise became increasingly difficult to hide after he defended the imperial palace with the Twenty-Eight Mansions Ghost-Locking Formation. Yin Jianghong and Guan Shi’an thereafter drew him into major political and investigative matters, while Jiang Beiran maintained that public knowledge of his skills would endanger him. 208

Jiang Beiran was installed as Sheng Kingdom’s new emperor during a crisis, but later stepped down from the throne after maneuvering out of the position. Even afterward, he continued handling state affairs, sect conflicts, and cross-border threats. 263 348 His influence later expanded through the Shi Family, where his mastery of formations, alchemy, and other mystic arts led many to suspect an unfathomable master or hidden sect stood behind him. 380 406

During the Gu Cultivator and miasma crisis, Jiang Beiran emerged as a central planner and problem-solver for the Profound Dragon Continent. He coordinated ninth-grade grandmasters through Jingzhe Pavilion, treated poisoned Mystic Saints, dismantled large formations across multiple kingdoms, and earned the deference of rulers and Mystic Venerables. 589 651 689 706

Appearance

Jiang Beiran is a tall, sturdy young man with a heroic bearing, sharp features, and an appearance that increasingly attracts notice from others. 5 500

• Black, straight, glossy hair. 5
• Slanted sword eyebrows and slender, sharp black eyes. 5
• Thin lips and sharply defined facial features. 5
• Tall, strong build that is not coarse or bulky. 5
• Can disguise himself through Thousand Faces, perfectly replicating another person’s appearance. 619

Personality

Jiang Beiran is intensely cautious and dislikes attention, crowds, and public responsibility. He consistently prefers operating behind the scenes, using planning, subordinates, formations, and prepared resources rather than confronting danger directly. 208 406 538

Despite this aversion to prominence, he adapts quickly when circumstances force him into leadership. He is pragmatic in negotiations, demands compensation for his assistance when appropriate, and guards trust carefully enough to reject risky double-agent schemes. 182 214

He values competence, loyalty, composure, and people who hide their intelligence rather than displaying it carelessly. 85 454 He is also capable of notable kindness: he treats injured allies and beasts, helps Xia Lingdang bury her family, revives Wuxiang Venerable, and repeatedly protects those who rely on him. 69 420 621

Abilities & Skills

Mystic Arts Mastery

Jiang Beiran is an all-round practitioner of the mystic arts, with exceptional attainments across fields normally pursued separately. His ability to combine different disciplines makes him invaluable to grandmasters and major factions. 47 589 663

• Studies pills, formations, forging, and related disciplines in parallel. 47
• His expertise spans the Sixteen Arts of the Mysterious Gate. 675
• Ninth-grade grandmasters recognize his ability to connect specialties that had previously remained isolated. 589
• His knowledge is sufficiently extraordinary that many powerful figures assume he has an unfathomable master or hidden-sect backing. 380 406

Formation Techniques

Formation arts are Jiang Beiran’s most publicly recognized specialty. He uses them for defense, scouting, imprisonment, analysis, barrier maintenance, and dismantling enemy formations.

• Defended the imperial palace with the Twenty-Eight Mansions Ghost-Locking Formation. 208
• Built a large-scale scouting formation to monitor an entire valley. 390
• Broke the Douyue Formation protecting Piling City with a Giant Spirit. 639
• Modified and dismantled ultra-large formations across several kingdoms, including Qi Kingdom’s resentful-soul formation. 656 706
• Can analyze and reproduce formations carved onto weapons or artifacts. 621
• His arrangements can combine with mechanism art, artifact refinement, and profound patterns to greatly amplify constructs such as Wuliang. 663

Alchemy and Medicine

Jiang Beiran is a prodigious alchemist and physician whose pills and detoxification methods surpass those of renowned masters.

• Refined Snake Mushroom Blazing Sun Pills after improving the Golden Crow Tripod. 454
• Won wagers against multiple alchemists; eighth-grade master Zhu Zhongjie called Jiang’s Spirit Pill unrivaled. 559
• Was appointed by Shi Weiyi to oversee treatment of miasma poison. 559
• Detoxified Mystic Saints from Tan and Wei Kingdoms. 651 653
• Uses rare medicines and Dharma Treasures together when necessary, including an Earth Grade Middle Rank Purple Spirit Pill to revive Wuxiang Venerable. 621
• Agreed to refine a Seven-Life Mystic Gate Pill for Shi Hongyun. 406

Artifact Refinement and Forging

Jiang Beiran refines, upgrades, and crafts Dharma Treasures and specialized equipment.

• Doubled the Golden Crow Tripod’s Spirit Qi storage to 400 jin. 454
• Forged the paired weapon Sha Jue, which acknowledged him as its master. 538
• Used artifact refinement and formations to assist Meng Sipei against a foreign tribesman. 267
• Recognizes the value and workings of high-grade formation artifacts, including an Earth Rank spirit stone carved with seven Formation Techniques. 295

Divination and Perception

Jiang Beiran possesses divination knowledge and a heightened Perception attribute.

• Used the Wish-Granting Bamboo Slip Cylinder to draw a Peerless Grade defensive cloak. 132
• Gained the special attribute Spirit Mediumship. 211
• Developed Perception sufficiently to address weaknesses in Minran’s concealment effect. 378
• Uses analysis and experimentation to identify unfamiliar miasmas, poisons, formations, and beast traits. 267 358

Word Spirit

Jiang Beiran gained the special attribute Word Spirit after completing a task for Yin Jianghong. 214

• Can alter a target’s perception through speech; he made Kong Qianqian perceive an orange as bitter, spicy, and sour. 214
• Does not work universally: it failed to manipulate Mu Yao. 214

Yao Zither and Rain Sound

Jiang Beiran practices the Yao Zither and has mastered Rain Sound. 485

• Uses Rain Sound to hypnotize Xia Lingdang and Exotic Beasts. 485
• Employs zither playing alongside talismans and spiritual power during exploration and formation work. 631

Physical Combat and Thousand Faces

Although he claims to lack cultivation talent, Jiang Beiran possesses extraordinary physical power and can employ combat techniques beyond his apparent realm. 10 627

• Defeated Wu Qingce despite appearing to be only Qi Refining Second Order. 10
• Uses Gu poison, elixirs, and raw physical resilience in battle. 10
• Wielded Sha Jue against the Gu King and displayed power distinct from ordinary Mystic Qi. 618 619
• Learned the Earth Rank cultivation method Thousand Faces with extraordinary speed, flawlessly transforming into Ji Yu and imitating a Mystic Saint’s movements on his first use. 619 620

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Wish-Granting Bamboo Slip Cylinder — Originally a Yellow Grade Dharma Treasure gifted by Guan Shi’an; later restored into a Heaven Rank Dharma Treasure with spiritual intelligence and a mind-linked adaptive transformation function. 132 710 713
• Sha Jue — Paired black-and-white swords forged by Jiang Beiran; can revert into bracelets and possess spiritual intelligence. 538 618
• Golden Crow Tripod — Modified by Jiang Beiran to store 400 jin of Spirit Qi. 454
• Spirit Gathering Flag — Given to him by Guan Shi’an. 243
• Ice Silver Ring — Used in Wuxiang Venerable’s revival. 621
• Minran — Concealment equipment enhanced by Jiang Beiran; even he once could not locate Wu Qingce while it was worn. 378
• Purple talismans — Three protective talismans given by Lu Yinlong. 145

Relationships

• Wu Qingce — Former rival turned trusted subordinate and disciple-like protégé; Jiang Beiran assigned him dangerous material-gathering work and guides his cultivation. 10 47 145
• Gu Qinghuan — Trusted right-hand man responsible for trade and the self-barrier; Jiang Beiran rewards and equips him for his loyalty and competence. 85 295
• Yin Jianghong — Powerful ally and political patron who repeatedly tests, recruits, and relies on Jiang Beiran’s abilities. 208 214 651
• Guan Shi’an — Sect master who gifts Jiang Beiran Dharma Treasures, seeks his help, and grows increasingly dependent on his expertise. 132 208 710
• Shi Fenglan — Close companion with whom Jiang Beiran shares games, meals, travel, and a playful rapport; she is strongly protective of their relationship. 410 485 559
• Wuxiang Venerable — Ally whose life Jiang Beiran restores; she becomes curious about his identity and respects his abilities. 621 627
• Yan Guangqing — Formation-arts ally and fellow enthusiast who recognizes Jiang Beiran’s profound attainment in the field. 464 527
• Qu Yangze — Disciple with the King Gu Body; Jiang Beiran supervises his development and helps him understand his dangerous bloodline suppression. 444 454
• Luo Wenzhou — Alchemy prodigy accepted by Jiang Beiran as a disciple. 162
• Taowu — Exotic Beast chief whose trust Jiang Beiran earns by healing old injuries with a Qianyuan Creation Golden Pill. 510 653
• Dark Nether Qiongqi — Exotic Beast ally who accepts Jiang Beiran’s aid and helps oversee training for Qu Yangze. 485 519
• Meng Sipei — Ally whom Jiang Beiran assists in battle and later agrees to guide through correspondence. 267 440

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Returning Heart Sect — Operates as an underestimated registered disciple, defeats Wu Qingce, and begins assembling trusted errand runners. 10 47
• Feng Province politics — Reveals formation expertise, navigates Yin Jianghong and Guan Shi’an’s competing interests, and helps restore order after rebellion. 208 243
• Sheng Kingdom rule — Becomes Sheng Kingdom’s emperor under pressure, then eventually relinquishes the throne while remaining deeply involved in state affairs. 263 348
• Shi Family and Golden Tripod Island — Becomes a valued Shi Family guest official, investigates Golden Tripod Island’s defenses, and develops further ties with Tong Kingdom’s elite. 353 382 403
• Ancient Ruins — Builds ties with Exotic Beast tribes, studies ancient formations and forging knowledge, and oversees the creation of Sha Jue. 510 520 535 538
• Gu Cultivator crisis — Fights the Gu King, revives Wuxiang Venerable, directs anti-miasma efforts, and becomes a central figure among Mystic Saints and grandmasters. 618 621 651
• Continental reconstruction — Coordinates rulers and ninth-grade grandmasters, establishes the Mystic Guild, dismantles remaining hostile formations, and advances human–beast alliances. 689 706 710

Trivia

• Jiang Beiran originally preferred to avoid public roles so strongly that opening a residence was compared to forcing someone with social anxiety to become a diplomat. 406
• He is skilled at cooking, including Sichuan Peppercorn Chicken, Mapo Tofu, and Cured Meat Rice. 410
• He has a habit of constructing intimidating false background narratives so others attribute his abilities to a mysterious master rather than discovering his true circumstances. 380 566
• Although he consistently avoids the spotlight, his actions during the miasma crisis made him widely regarded as the savior of the Profound Dragon Continent. 675 689