Lu Zhiyuan

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Lineage and Expenditure Hall Service

Lu Zhiyuan comes from a cultivation lineage affiliated with the Jade Spring Sect and entered the sect in the same intake as Fan Yunsong. His aptitude is described as comparable to Chen Shuangbai’s. His clan supports his cultivation but places considerable expectations on him, leaving him conscious of the pressure to succeed 31 33.

He first appears on duty at the Expenditure Hall, assessing Chen Shuangbai’s Azure-Backed Boar task materials, gathered herbs, and Demon Core. After examining the core, he identifies it as an almost undamaged specimen from a Fourth-Layer boar leader and confirms that Chen wishes to sell it 20.

Helping Chen Shuangbai Purchase Artifacts

Repeated dealings at the Expenditure Hall develop into a friendship with Chen Shuangbai. When Chen sets out to purchase flying and protective Law Artifacts, Lu offers to help, carries him to Qia Cloud Peak aboard the Golden Light Boat, and introduces him to artifact-vault steward Qian Jin 31.

Lu and Qian Jin explain the Flowing Cloud Flying Pouch’s origins and poor stability before Chen purchases it. During their discussions, Lu also shares news of the Empty Sword Sect’s conflict with the Heart-Eroding Stronghold and recounts the Jade Spring Sect’s rivalries, including Ling Qingque’s victory over True Person Kunyuan 32 33 34.

Xu Changlin’s Cave Abode

While returning home at his lineage’s summons, Lu detours to obtain wine his father likes from Spring Water Workshop. He encounters a robbery, kills the bandit cultivator, and rescues a female cultivator. She gives him a token leading to an ancestral Foundation Establishment cultivator’s cave abode 39.

Unable to explore the site confidently alone, Lu invites Chen Shuangbai and Jiang Xunzhen to accompany him and share its treasures. Chen questions the convenient circumstances behind the token, prompting both senior disciples to proceed more cautiously 38 39.

Inside the abode, Lu identifies the Jade Water Circling Array and the more resilient Water-Wood Life-Generating Array. The three break through the defenses and discover treasures, writings, and the final letter of Xu Changlin, also known as Listening to the Waves Rogue Person 39 40.

Heart-Eroding Stronghold Ambush

Five Heart-Eroding Stronghold cultivators ambush the group in the hidden valley beneath the abode. Lu initially shields Chen from poisonous vines and sends word for assistance. After Chen restores some of his depleted Law Power, Lu takes the offensive, engaging a Late Qi Refining cultivator and a Middle Qi Refining cultivator simultaneously 41 42.

Lu prevents his opponents from breaking away to attack the wounded Chen. When the enemy elder unleashes Ten Thousand Poisons Explosion upon dying, Lu activates a defensive talisman while Chen protects the group with Listening to the Rain in a Lotus Boat. The effort leaves Lu exhausted, and Chen carries the group out of the poisonous valley 44.

After Yan Qi arrives with the bodies of the two fleeing enemies, Lu pilots the group back to the sect. Three days later, he secures their treasure-dividing meeting with two talismans and receives the Whirling Waves Shield. The group also agrees to divide equally the Merit Points earned by submitting recovered writings to the Scripture Transmission Hall 45 46.

Personality

Lu is sociable and playful, greeting Chen with extravagant compliments and joking while discussing artifacts. He cultivates useful connections without becoming overbearing: Chen recognizes that their friendship began partly from self-interest but appreciates the comfortable distance Lu maintains in both official and personal dealings 31 32.

He takes his responsibilities as a senior disciple seriously. During the ambush, he shields and reassures Chen, initially underestimating his combat experience. Afterward, he openly acknowledges Chen’s skill and decisive support. His caution is especially evident when he uses two talismans to keep their spoils discussion private and undisturbed 41 42 44 46.

Lu is proud of the Jade Spring Sect. His usual frivolity gives way to solemn admiration when recounting Ling Qingque’s defeat of True Person Kunyuan 34.

Abilities & Skills

Earth-Aspect Cultivation

Lu practices an earth-aspect cultivation method that emphasizes force, defense, and substantial Law Power reserves 41 42 44.

• Creates an earth-yellow light shield capable of protecting himself and another person from poisonous vines 41 42.
• Delivers broad, heavy mace strikes that even a Late Qi Refining opponent hesitates to meet directly 42.
• Releases mountain-like pressure through his mace, briefly immobilizing two opponents 44.
• His earth-aspect fighting style is strong and well defended but comparatively lacking in agility 44.

Formations

Lu studies formations as his secondary cultivation art 40 46.

• Recognizes the Lesser Illusory Light Formation and Jade Water Circling Array 39.
• Identifies the Water-Wood Life-Generating Array as a first-tier, mid-grade formation 40.
• Explains its reliance on an underground water vein and a Spirit Plant core, guiding the group’s search for the core 40 41.

Material Appraisal

Lu uses hand formulas to examine a Demon Core’s quality 20.

• Determines the originating beast’s type and cultivation layer.
• Assesses physical integrity and the preservation of Demon Power.

Flying Artifact Control

• Pilots the Golden Light Boat steadily while carrying companions 31 38.
• Can divide his attention between steering and conversation 45.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Golden Light Boat — Ornate flying boat purchased by his lineage after his Fifth-Layer advancement. It travels faster than the Wind Control Technique and provides a steady ride 31.
• Golden mace — His principal documented weapon, radiating heavy earth-yellow spiritual light. Its attacks can manifest faint mountain images and suppress opponents with crushing pressure 41 44.
• Protective clothing — Produces an earth-yellow spiritual glow when the group encounters a flying-needle trap 40.
• Whirling Waves Shield — Low-grade Spirit Artifact obtained from the cave-abode spoils; Lu chooses it in view of his water-and-earth aptitude 46.
• Defensive talisman — Creates an earth-yellow light curtain that helps the group survive the dying elder’s poison-vine attack 44.
• Silencing and Golden Light Incantation talismans — Used together to secure the treasure-dividing meeting against eavesdropping and interruption 46.
• Copied texts — Receives copies of the Listening to the Waves Notes and Green Wood Pill Explanation 46.

Relationships

• Chen Shuangbai — Junior sect brother and good friend. Lu helps him purchase artifacts and recruits him for the cave expedition; Chen serves as a go-between in Lu’s courtship and later provides crucial battlefield healing and support 31 38 42 44.
• Huang Shanglan — Senior sister of the Jade Dew Hall and Lu’s romantic interest. After more than a year of unsuccessful advances, he asks Chen to pass along gifts and arrange opportunities to meet her 31.
• Qian Jin — Expenditure Hall steward, good friend, and a disciple one intake senior to Lu. They discuss lineage affairs, cultivation prospects, and sect news 31 33.
• Jiang Xunzhen — Senior sect brother and fellow cave explorer. They cooperate against the Heart-Eroding Stronghold cultivators and share the expedition’s spoils 38 42 46.
• Lu lineage — Provides financial backing for his cultivation while expecting significant achievements from him 31 33.

Trivia

• His lineage is called the Changlin Lu Lineage in one passage and the Huangshan Lu Clan in another; the provided text does not clarify the difference 33 46.