Song Xianming

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Mission dispute and first defeat

Song Xianming joined a herb-gathering assignment with Xu Xinran, Miao Xiufeng, Gu Yiyi, and Qin Yi. As Huang Tianrong’s cousin, he was already hostile toward Qin Yi for taking Huang’s position as Emerald Bamboo Peak’s eldest senior brother. While operating their Willow Leaf Boat, he mocked Qin Yi for nearly losing his balance 19.

The argument escalated when Qin Yi called him “Junior Brother Song.” Pine Cloud Peak ranked above Emerald Bamboo Peak, so Song expected Qin Yi to address him as senior brother. He accepted a fight to settle the matter and proposed using fists and feet, intending to exploit the newcomer’s presumed lack of unarmed training 20 21.

Instead, Qin Yi overwhelmed him with Mantra Fist Art, knocking him airborne, stunning him against a tree, and battering him until he could not rise. Song objected that the technique was not from the Famous Sword Sect and nearly accepted a swordsmanship rematch, but Xu Xinran stopped him after discerning that Qin Yi was at least at late Foundation Establishment 21.

Break with Xu Xinran

When Qin Yi flirted with Xu Xinran, Song abandoned the assignment and demanded that she leave with him. She hesitated because she needed the mission’s resources to obtain Qi Gathering Pills. He insulted her, refused to apologize publicly, and left after declaring that she should never seek him out again if she stayed 22.

Xu Xinran ultimately continued with the group. Watching their departure, Song became furious at both her disobedience and his humiliation by Qin Yi. Xiahou Tai, Willow Leaf Peak’s head disciple and Song’s ally, offered to help deal with Qin Yi. Song boarded his boat, and the two pursued the mission team 23.

Cavern confrontation

Song found Qin Yi and Xu Xinran embracing in a cavern in the Nine Turns Mountain Range. Although Xu’s affection had shifted to Qin Yi, she remained Song’s nominal Dao companion under an arrangement made by Pine Cloud Peak’s master. Song drew his longsword and attacked with the Jade Pivot Sword Art 30 32.

Qin Yi’s Nine Stars Flash in Unison broke through Song’s seven layers of stored force. The attack burned his chest and injured his right leg, leaving him unable to stand. When Qin Yi told him to leave Xu Xinran alone, Song instead threatened to report them and have her subjected to the sect’s wooden horse punishment. Fearing punishment for both herself and Qin Yi, Xu asked Qin Yi to kill him 33.

Xiahou Tai intervened before Qin Yi’s thrown sword could strike Song’s heart. He deflected the weapon with a stone, revealed an Image-Recording Pearl containing the confrontation, and gave Song a Minor Recovery Pill. After recovering enough to stand, Song agreed to Xiahou Tai’s plan to kill both Qin Yi and Xu Xinran and report that wild beasts had killed them 33 34.

Death and aftermath

Song initially expected Xiahou Tai’s Golden Core cultivation to guarantee victory. When Qin Yi blocked Xiahou’s attack, Song attributed it to an extraordinary treasure. Qin Yi had actually activated a Nascent Soul Experience Card and proceeded to tear off Xiahou Tai’s hands before killing him 35 36.

Terrified, Song tried to crawl away, but Qin Yi pulled him back through the air. He begged for his life, promised silence, and offered to relinquish Xu Xinran. Qin Yi rejected the offer and killed him with a palm strike that shattered his head. He subsequently burned both men’s bodies 36.

Song’s death remained unknown to Huang Tianrong, who still expected his cousin to punish Qin Yi when he returned. His disappearance also remained a concern for Xu Xinran and Qin Yi when they met again inside the sect 42 45 46.

Appearance

• Powerfully built: His physique is explicitly noted when he discovers Qin Yi and Xu Xinran in the cavern 32.

Personality

Song was proud of his rank and highly sensitive to public humiliation. He treated Qin Yi’s initial restraint as weakness and expected deference because of Pine Cloud Peak’s higher standing. His proposal for an unarmed contest concealed an attempt to exploit Qin Yi’s presumed inexperience 19 20 21.

He was controlling toward Xu Xinran and accustomed to bullying her because of her gentle temperament. Although he regretted insulting her, he refused to apologize in front of others. His later threats escalated from withdrawal of affection to sect punishment and murder, but his aggression collapsed into desperate pleading once Xiahou Tai was killed 22 33 34 36.

Abilities & Skills

Jade Pivot Sword Art

Song practiced the Famous Sword Sect’s water-attribute sword art, whose strength increases through accumulated force 10 33.

• Produced blue Sword Qi that followed his sword’s afterimages like a water dragon 32.
• Could store seven layers of force, short of the art’s nine-layer maximum 33.
• Ranked among the top five of his peers in mastery of the technique 33.
• Could not withstand Qin Yi’s Nine Stars Flash in Unison; the text states that nine layers were needed to match that attack 33.

Willow Leaf Boat Operation

• Steered the mission party’s flying boat and brought it down to the ground for his duel with Qin Yi 19 20.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Longsword — Used to perform the Jade Pivot Sword Art during the cavern battle 32.
• Minor Recovery Pill — Supplied by Xiahou Tai after Song’s defeat. It relieved the burning pain from Qin Yi’s attack and restored sensation to his injured leg 33 34.

Relationships

• Huang Tianrong — Younger cousin. Song had promised to help him deal with Qin Yi; Huang remained unaware of Song’s death afterward 19 21 42.
• Xu Xinran — Sect-arranged Dao companion, initially introduced as soon to become his wedded companion. His mistreatment helped drive a rift between them, and she ultimately asked Qin Yi to kill him after he threatened sect punishment 19 22 30 33.
• Qin Yi — Enemy and romantic rival. Qin defeated him in both unarmed combat and swordsmanship before killing him 21 33 36.
• Xiahou Tai — Ally whom Song supported within the sect. Xiahou regarded him as a useful pawn, rescued him in the cavern, and joined his plan to kill Qin Yi and Xu Xinran 23 33 34.
• Gu Yiyi — Fellow disciple who challenged his treatment of Xu Xinran. Song initially showed her restraint because she was the Seventh Elder’s daughter 20 22.