Jiang Xunzhen

Biodata

Power Progression

Appearance

• Handsome and valiant, with bright, piercing eyes and an upright, imposing bearing 38.
• Moves with forceful, decisive steps; his presence is compared to blazing fire and his actions to the wind 38 40.

Personality

Jiang Xunzhen is hearty, confident, and quick to act. He laughs openly when Lu Zhiyuan praises his prospects for entering the inner sect; although he verbally downplays the matter, his expression betrays his pride 38. His confidence rests partly on the Jade Spring Sect’s authority: he considers an ambush against its disciples within its own territory an outrageous provocation 39.

His boldness does not prevent him from accepting warnings. He takes Chen Shuangbai’s suspicions about the cave abode seriously and remains alert enough to respond immediately when an ambush begins 39 41. He also readily acknowledges others’ contributions, explicitly crediting Chen’s support for enabling him to defeat a stronger opponent 44.

Abilities & Skills

Vermilion Crow Bathing in Fire True Explanation

Jiang practices the Qi Refining preliminary portion of a cultivation method that leads to Golden Core 44.

• Produces scarlet Law Power and spiritual flames suited to forceful attacks 40 44.
• His fire-aspect abilities give him an elemental advantage against the wood-aspect Heart-Eroding Stronghold elder 42.
• Can form a protective shield of Fire Qi, demonstrated against a volley of flying needles 40.

Fire Crow Technique

Jiang condenses spiritual fire into a controllable crow. Chen Shuangbai praises his mastery of the technique after watching it clear the cave passage 40.

• Burns concealed traps to ashes before returning to perch on his shoulder 40.
• Blasts open a concealed entrance leading beneath Xu Changlin’s abode 41.
• Spews spiritual flames in battle, working alongside his flying shuttles to suppress an enemy’s poisonous Qi 42.

Scarlet Flame Breaks Evil

Jiang combines his three flying shuttles into a single large shuttle enveloped in intense spiritual fire 43.

• Its heat destroys surrounding poison vines, poisonous mist, and flowers 44.
• With renewed Law Power supplied by Chen Shuangbai, it breaks through the staff-wielding elder’s defenses and delivers the fatal attack 44.
• Requires a tremendous expenditure of Law Power. Jiang becomes pale while using it and cannot sustain the shuttle after the elder’s final poison explosion 44.

Other Skills

• Formation breaking: Destroys the weakened Jade Water Circling Array with a crimson flaming palm; later coordinates the trio’s simultaneous strikes against the Water-Wood Life-Generating Array 39 40.
• Movement: Uses a graceful Movement Method to pressure the elder and evade his poisonous vines 42 43.
• Alchemy: Has chosen to study pill refining; the recovered Green Wood Pill Explanation is therefore useful to him 46.
• Artifact appraisal: Recognizes that two treasures found in Xu Changlin’s abode are Spirit Artifacts 40.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Three-piece flying shuttle Law Artifact — Decorated with red cloud patterns and covered in crimson flames. Its three sections attack independently or combine for Scarlet Flame Breaks Evil 41 43.
• Listening to the Waves Sword — A low-grade Spirit Artifact received when the expedition’s treasures are divided 46.
• Storage Bag — Used to safeguard the expedition’s recovered books, valuables, and battle spoils until their distribution 41 45 46.
• Copied texts — Receives copies of the recovered books and curios, the Listening to the Waves Notes, and the Green Wood Pill Explanation 46.

History

Xu Changlin’s Cave-Abode Expedition

Lu Zhiyuan introduces Jiang to Chen Shuangbai at Cloud Peak Small Market while assembling a party to explore an abandoned Foundation Establishment cultivator’s abode. After receiving cultivation pills from Chen, Jiang promises to look after him during the journey 38.

At the ravine containing the abode, Jiang agrees with Chen that Lu’s unusually convenient discovery warrants caution. Inside, he breaks the Jade Water Circling Array, protects himself from a flying-needle trap, and clears the remaining passage traps with his fire crow. He then directs the trio’s combined attack against the Water-Wood Life-Generating Array guarding the main building 39 40.

The group discovers three treasures and the final letter of Xu Changlin, who asks any inheritors who encounter his younger brother’s descendants to offer them some assistance. Jiang holds the recovered valuables while the party continues searching, eventually entering a concealed valley beneath the abode 40 41.

Heart-Eroding Stronghold Ambush

Warned by Chen, Jiang counters an incoming black palm and knocks its attacker across the valley. He identifies the five ambushers as Heart-Eroding Stronghold cultivators and takes on their strongest member, a one-armed, staff-wielding elder, while ordering Lu to protect Chen 41.

Chen’s healing and Law Power restoration allow Jiang to maintain pressure despite the elder’s higher cultivation. When the elder’s poisonous vines intensify and Chen is struck down, Jiang prepares Scarlet Flame Breaks Evil. With another restoration incantation from Chen, his combined shuttle overwhelms the elder’s defenses 42 43 44.

The dying elder unleashes Ten Thousand Poisons Explosion. Exhausted, Jiang falls from the air and must be pulled to safety by Chen, who subsequently carries both senior brothers out of the valley. Jiang acknowledges that he could not have defeated the elder without Chen’s support 44.

Return and Division of Spoils

After Evil Hunting Hall disciple Yan Qi arrives with the bodies of the two fleeing enemies, the trio returns to the sect to recover. Jiang suggests that Yan Qi’s interest in Chen stems from the usefulness of his abilities 45.

Three days later, Jiang oversees the distribution of their haul. He lets Chen retain the nearly lifeless spirit seed, prepares copies of the recovered texts, and proposes dividing the Merit Points from submitting the originals equally. He receives the Listening to the Waves Sword after Lu chooses the Whirling Waves Shield and Chen takes the Life-Accepting Gourd 46. His injuries remain unresolved when Chen discusses the expedition with friends afterward 50.

Relationships

• Chen Shuangbai — Junior sect brother and expedition companion. Jiang initially promises to protect him, then comes to admire his combat support, humility, and clear judgment 38 44 45.
• Lu Zhiyuan — Junior sect brother who recruits him for the cave-abode expedition. They fight alongside one another and share the recovered treasures and textual rewards 38 41 46.
• Yan Qi — Fellow Jade Spring Sect disciple from the Evil Hunting Hall who arrives after the battle and urges the party to return to the sect 45.

Notable Quotes

“If not for the enhancement from your incantation, Junior Brother Chen, I certainly couldn't have dealt with that old dog, much less turned the tables and killed him.” 44