Ling Xueyao

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Imperial Upbringing

Ling Xueyao cultivated within the imperial household from childhood, using its finest cultivation techniques and abundant resources. Her true strength was closely guarded: even Ling Chenglie believed she was only at the fifth level of the Heavenly Origin Realm. Her Flawless Spirit Physique was an even deeper secret, known only to Ling Zhantian before Chu Yunfei discovered it 76 85 94 98 134.

She rejected marriage alliances with the seven great sects, including a Cangyun Sect proposal associated with Qin Hao three years before their reunion in the imperial capital. Her privileged position also fostered resentment among the princes 76 98 117.

Recruiting Chu Yunfei

In the Cangwu Mountain Range, Ling Xueyao publicly identified Chu Yunfei as her prince consort to force the Heavenly Sword Sect to retreat. At that point, neither a marriage agreement nor romantic affection existed between them. She later acknowledged that her protection was intended to bring him into the imperial family’s sphere and asked him to treat her father’s Soul-Devouring Nether Poison 70 85.

Assassination Attempt and the Abyss

Blood Baleful Intent Tower assassins destroyed their Cloud-Chasing Boat and severed their communication with Shen Qianyue. Chu Yunfei suffered serious injuries shielding her from a Divine Sea Realm palm strike. Ling Xueyao then revealed her eighth-level cultivation and fought the blue-masked leader, but his superior realm and experience allowed him to wound and restrain her 76 77.

She activated the unique protective pendant given to her by Ling Zhantian, exhausting its single use. Left unconscious and afflicted by blood baleful intent, she was carried away by Chu Yunfei, who subsequently extracted the invasive power. On awakening, she initially accused him of molesting her during treatment, but examination of her meridians confirmed that he had saved her 77 78 83 85.

While trapped underground, the pair explored an Earth Vein Spirit Spring and discovered Lu Shaoyuan’s remains. Ling Xueyao recognized his name and helped interpret the significance of his final testimony, including the involvement of gold-masked assassins and a technique resembling the Heavenly Evil Devil Sect’s Devil-Suppressing Hand. After recovering and advancing to the ninth level, she escaped with Chu Yunfei and reunited with Shen Qianyue 90 92 95 96.

Saving Ling Zhantian

Ling Xueyao brought Chu Yunfei into the palace despite Ling Chenglie’s opposition. After Chu Yunfei extracted her father’s poison, she pursued the Soul-Consolidating Origin-Returning Pill needed for his damaged soul, ultimately spending three million mid-grade spirit stones to obtain it 98 104 108 114 119.

She also introduced Chu Yunfei to Ling Changkong and explained how he had protected her. Once the remaining poison was removed, Ling Changkong undertook to guard the recovering emperor 124.

Relationship with Chu Yunfei

Ling Xueyao entered Chu Yunfei’s cultivation chamber when she feared he was suffering Qi deviation. His cultivation crisis led to an intimate spiritual-power cycle; when she tried to break free, the disrupted balance injured her. She subsequently discovered that she had entered the Divine Sea Realm 128 129 130 131.

Their relationship remained conflicted. Chu Yunfei repeatedly restrained or kissed her despite her protests, while she threatened him with her sword and questioned whether he regarded her merely as a cultivation furnace. Later, she explicitly told Ling Zhantian that she had chosen Chu Yunfei willingly and would accept no one else 131 148 152 166.

Confinement and Imperial Secrets

When Chu Yunfei prepared to leave the palace, Ling Xueyao offered to accompany him. He claimed that Ling Zhantian had assigned him a secret mission and promised to return within half a month. She supplied him with five million mid-grade spirit stones, pills, and her storage ring, secretly leaving him a communication talisman because she doubted his explanation 163 176.

After she openly defied her father over Chu Yunfei, Ling Zhantian ordered Shen Qianyue to confine her and prevent outside communication. Ling Chengxuan later revealed that neither she nor the three princes were Ling Zhantian’s biological children. He also warned that the emperor might extract her physique origin to repair his Dao injuries, despite her Divine Sea Realm cultivation making the attempt uncertain 166 225 226.

Ling Xueyao eventually realized that the formations and concealed experts around her chambers were a trap for Chu Yunfei. When Ling Zhantian promised to spare him if she obeyed every arrangement, she accepted and followed him away. She was absent from the subsequent secret-realm gathering 251 255.

Appearance

• Hair and eyes: Jet-black hair and clear, bright phoenix eyes; she commonly pins her hair up with a jade hairpin 117 124 135.
• Clothing: Frequently wears pale-yellow or moon-white dresses, often accompanied by a pale-yellow veil 76 107 117.
• Build: Fair skin, a slender waist, and a curvaceous figure 83.
• Bearing: Carries the cool dignity of an imperial princess; even plain white clothing gives her an aloof rather than unassuming appearance 83 86.
• Signature accessory: A slender golden sword worn at her waist 107 117.

Personality

Ling Xueyao is proud, reserved, and protective of her dignity. She gives unwanted suitors little encouragement and bluntly rejects Qin Hao’s attempts to claim familiarity or earn her gratitude. Chu Yunfei’s teasing frequently breaks her composure, provoking embarrassment, anger, and threats with her sword 85 113 114 117.

She is courageous but initially sheltered. During the assassination attempt, she takes over the fight after Chu Yunfei is wounded and tries to delay the enemy until help arrives. Her opponent nevertheless identifies her lack of experience in genuine life-and-death combat as a weakness 76 77.

Her loyalty is expressed through practical support as well as defiance. She refuses to blame Shen Qianyue for the ambush, recognizes the sacrifice behind his damaged cultivation, and later provides him with a fifth-grade pill. Her devotion to Chu Yunfei ultimately leads her to oppose Ling Zhantian openly and bargain away her freedom for his safety 96 124 166 251.

Abilities & Skills

Flawless Spirit Physique

A concealed special constitution associated with unusually pure spiritual power and accelerated cultivation 83 85.

• Her meridians contain no ordinary accumulation of pill toxins or impurities 83.
• Her physique resonates with the disturbed spiritual power in the Earth Vein Spirit Spring, helping her break through 95.
• Blood baleful intent can conceal itself within the presence of her origin, making it difficult to detect 85.
• Ling Zhantian considers her physique origin a possible means of repairing his Dao injuries; extracting it would endanger her life 225 226.

Swordsmanship

Uses a slender golden sword to project Sword Qi and a golden fire-phoenix attack 76 88.

• Counters a third-level Divine Sea Realm palm strike while still at the eighth level of the Heavenly Origin Realm 76.
• Targets the Scarlet-Pupiled Iron-Armored Beast’s eyes and throat to restrict its movements 88.
• Her technique impresses Chu Yunfei, but her early combat effectiveness is limited by inexperience and injuries 77 88 89.
• While recovering in the abyss, her usable strength temporarily falls to roughly the third or fourth Heavenly Origin level, later recovering to around the sixth before her full recovery 87 88.

Knowledge of Sects and Cultivation

Draws on imperial records and knowledge of prominent sect figures, techniques, and political relationships 90 92 93.

• Identifies Lu Shaoyuan and recounts Qin Yangui’s twenty-year search for him 90 92.
• Explains the Sea-Overturning Ninefold Sword’s stacking mechanism, heavy consumption, and vulnerability to interruption; this does not establish that she mastered the technique herself 93.
• Warns Chu Yunfei about sect prodigies’ concealed strength and inherited life-saving measures 95 119.
• Learns that an old agreement forbids members of the Ling Imperial Clan from entering the Vast Waves Sacred Academy 159.

Equipment / Items

• Slender golden sword — Her principal weapon; produces a phoenix cry when drawn and channels her golden fire-phoenix attack 76.
• Imperial protective jade pendant — Contained one strike from the Great Qian emperor at his peak. The only such pendant in the imperial family, it was expended during the assassination attempt 77 78.
• Voice-transmission talisman — Crafted by Shen Qianyue with a range of one thousand li; destroyed during the ambush 76.
• Communication jade talismans — Used to contact allies; one was secretly left in the storage ring she gave Chu Yunfei. Communication could be disrupted by the Black Wind Mountain Range’s terrain 96 176.
• Storage ring and departure supplies — Gave Chu Yunfei her ring, pills, and five million mid-grade spirit stones before his departure 163.

Relationships

• Chu Yunfei — Initially a protected recruit and nominal prince consort, later her chosen partner. His repeated rescues change her feelings toward him, although their intimacy includes coercive encounters and repeated objections from her 85 86 131 152 166.
• Ling Zhantian — Raised her as his daughter but is later revealed not to be her biological father. Her determination to save him gives way to defiance after he separates her from Chu Yunfei and imprisons her 114 166 226.
• Shen Qianyue — Attendant and protector whom she addresses as Elder Shen. He sacrifices cultivation to escape an assassin, but later enforces Ling Zhantian’s confinement order 96 166.
• Ling Changkong — Imperial elder whom she affectionately calls “Grandfather Elder.” She trusts him with the account of Lu Shaoyuan’s death 124 125.
• Ling Chenglie — Second prince and her nominal elder brother. Resents her favored position and clashes with her over Chu Yunfei’s entry into the palace 98.
• Wen Jiao — Familiar associate whom she calls “Jiaojiao.” Shares information about sect prodigies and warns her about Chu Yunfei’s behavior 74 95.
• Qin Hao — Rejected suitor and Cangyun Sect holy son. She refuses his marriage proposal, auction favor, and subsequent invitation to meet privately 114 117.

Notable Quotes

“You’ve already taken a palm strike for me. Let me handle what comes next.” 76

“In this life, I will have no one but him.” 166

“Father, you can imprison me for a day, or even a year. But you cannot imprison me for a lifetime.” 166