Shen Ji

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Mortal Origins

Shen Ji was born into a princely household in the mortal world. When his lineage plotted rebellion, the entire household was implicated. He survived but became a beggar, enduring humiliation and living on handouts. A passing woman once bought him a basket of hot steamed buns; her kindness gave him the courage to continue living 3.

Bai Fu later recognized his innate sword bone and brought him to Ethereal Peak. Determined to become strong enough never to suffer such humiliation again, Shen Ji practiced relentlessly. After achieving some success in swordsmanship, he returned to search for his benefactor but could not find her 3.

Ziling’s Deception

After rescuing Ziling from a Demon Beast, Shen Ji mistook her for the woman who had helped him thirty years earlier. Believing he owed her his life, he offered to give her his Spirit Root so she could cultivate and remain at Ethereal Peak. He persisted despite the damage this would cause to his own foundation 1 2 3.

Qiaoqiao’s inner thoughts warned him that Ziling was a Devil Cultivator who intended to manipulate him and steal the Flowing Cloud Divine Lamp. Initially, he rejected these warnings. Elder Ning confined him while investigating, and a nighttime trap exposed Ziling’s attempt to use a Mind-Bewitching Gu 2 3 5.

Shen Ji still hesitated to kill someone he believed had saved him. Following Qiaoqiao’s prompting, he questioned Ziling about their supposed meeting. Her inability to name the city exposed her impersonation: she had killed his actual benefactor and taken her memories 6.

Shen Ji and Qiaoqiao subsequently attacked together with Slay the Star River, allowing his sword to pierce Ziling’s heart. He confessed his mistake to Bai Fu, requested punishment, and received twenty lashes of the disciplinary whip 9 10.

Mentoring and Defending His Juniors

To repay Qiaoqiao for saving him from Ziling, Shen Ji taught her Slay the Star River, selecting a technique that depended on comprehension rather than cultivation foundations. He later supervised a month of training in Demon Beast hunting and spirit-herb identification, intending to help her win the sect trial’s Foundation Establishment reward 8 23.

Qiaoqiao credited his instruction after taking first place. Bai Fu rewarded Shen Ji with a sword manual from the library’s seventh floor 34.

His protection extended beyond teaching. He attacked disciples who humiliated Fu Fengyuan, defended Qiaoqiao during the Devil Cloud Sect invasion, and claimed responsibility for Ziling’s death when the Devil Master demanded revenge. At Golden Core, however, he could not withstand the Devil Master’s attack; Bai Fu intervened 38 50.

Envy Fish City Investigation

While traveling to the Four Immortal Sects Tournament, Shen Ji investigated the rat demon connected to Envy Fish City’s epidemic. He and Xiao Tingyu discovered a hidden cavern where injured humans and demons were being used to grow Spirit Plants for pill refining 58 65 68.

When the rat demon threatened to destroy the cavern with a Demon Devouring Orb, Shen Ji offered to save both races. As the orb approached detonation, he wove his sword intent into a net to intercept the explosion, despite the risk of severe injury 69.

After Wen Zhi cured the plague, the townspeople showered the group with gifts. Shen Ji also endured unwanted sympathy because Qiaoqiao had spread a false rumor that he had suffered torture during the investigation 85.

Four Immortal Sects Tournament

Although Shen Ji ranked first on the Azure Cloud Ranking, the Flowing Cloud Sect repeatedly placed last in inter-sect tournaments. Its rivals concentrated on eliminating him, while the sect’s other disciples lacked the strength to compensate. Heavenly Secrets Pavilion diviners used favorable draws to force him through successive battles against highly ranked opponents 88 89.

During the tournament, Shen Ji defeated the third- and fifth-ranked disciples in succession, exhausting his Spiritual Qi, before drawing the second-ranked disciple. His eventual defeat came when a broken blade from a neighboring match ignored the barrier and knocked his sword strike off course 97 106.

He later helped hold Liu Xian on the platform during the black-mist crisis. His sword formation shattered under the assault, but the delay allowed the sect elders to intervene 112.

Nascent Soul and the Nether River Battle

Inspired by his experiences and Fu Fengyuan’s breakthrough, Shen Ji returned early to Ethereal Peak for seclusion. He reached Nascent Soul but felt guilty upon learning that his juniors had faced danger in the Demon Realm without him 134 182.

The chaos in the Three Realms, the conduct of supposedly righteous cultivators, and Bai Fu’s turn to the slaughter sword Dao shook his understanding of righteousness. When Qiaoqiao secretly left to seek their master, Shen Ji followed out of concern for her safety 182.

Near the Nether River, the Devil Master trapped them and sought revenge for Ziling. Shen Ji fought despite the enormous cultivation gap. With his Spiritual Qi nearly exhausted, he accepted Wen Zhi’s restorative pill from Qiaoqiao, endured a blow that shattered his shoulder and damaged his left arm, and poured his replenished Spiritual Qi into the Devil Master’s swollen abdomen 183.

The additional energy overwhelmed the Devil Master’s ability to absorb the Demon Power within him. Shen Ji pierced the exposed weakness with Luminous Sword Intent, released the trapped Yao Qi, and stabbed the Devil Master’s heart. Recalling Bai Fu’s advice restored his confidence in his sword Dao and brought another cultivation advancement 184.

Later Life

A hundred years later, Shen Ji appears as a Peak Master. He visits Qiaoqiao with Wen Zhi and Xiao Tingyu, carrying himself with greater steadiness than before 193.

Fate Shown in Qiaoqiao’s Dream

Qiaoqiao’s dream describes a separate, disastrous course in which Shen Ji sacrifices his Spirit Root, becomes entangled with Ziling, and helps her steal the Flowing Cloud Divine Lamp. He eventually becomes a leading Devil Cultivator, only to be abandoned by the devil sects and killed by righteous cultivators. Ziling and her father then consume his Devil Heart to advance their cultivation 2 9 153.

Appearance

• Features: Handsome brows and eyes, sharply defined features, and an imposing, sword-like presence 1.
• Early clothing: Blue robes, with a longsword strapped to his back 8.
• Patched uniform: Wears the same sect uniform for ten years and becomes embarrassed when Elder Chen points out its patches 11.
• Hands: Thick calluses from prolonged sword practice 184.
• After the time skip: Wears a crisp ink-blue robe and displays a steadier bearing as a Peak Master 193.

Personality

Shen Ji is disciplined, upright, and devoted to the ideal of using his sword to uphold righteousness and slay evil. His cultivation rests on tireless practice rather than complacency about his exceptional aptitude. Even after losing tournaments, he remains confident in his actual strength and answers public criticism without servility or bluster 3 89 114 184.

His gratitude can become dangerously inflexible. Believing Ziling to be his benefactor, he is willing to sacrifice his future and defy sect rules for her. Once her deception is exposed, he recognizes his wrongdoing and accepts punishment rather than making excuses 2 6 9.

As an eldest senior brother, he is protective to the point of self-endangerment. He risks serious injury for human and demon captives alike and refuses to retreat before the Devil Master because Qiaoqiao is behind him 69 182.

Despite his stern public bearing, Shen Ji enjoys gossip and is easily embarrassed by Qiaoqiao’s irreverent thoughts. He recognizes this growing curiosity as a departure from his solemn image, but finds “eating melons” entertaining nonetheless 11 60 64.

Abilities & Skills

Innate Sword Bone and Spirit Root

Shen Ji possesses an innate sword bone and a supreme-grade Spirit Root, giving him the best aptitude among his fellow disciples 2.

• Losing his Spirit Root would damage his foundation, obstruct further advancement, and potentially cause his cultivation to regress 2.
• He initially believes retaining his sword bone would make the sacrifice bearable, despite the elders’ objections 2.

Clear Heart Luminous Sword

His cultivation of the Clear Heart Luminous Sword requires him to preserve his chastity for the sword Dao 3.

• His Luminous Sword Heart helped him reach the top of the Azure Cloud Ranking 3.
• Luminous Sword Intent can be projected through sword fingers, without a conventional sword strike 184.
• Uses this sword intent to puncture the Devil Master’s vulnerable abdomen 184.

Slay the Star River

A High Antiquity sword move comprehended from the High Antiquity Broken Sword Chapter 8.

• Depends on comprehension rather than cultivation foundations, allowing beginners to practice it 8.
• Naturally counters Devil Cultivators 8 9.
• Combines with Qiaoqiao’s execution of the same move to shatter Ziling’s Body-Protecting Purple Lotus and kill her 9.
• Shen Ji describes its fully mastered potential as powerful enough to sever the star river 8.

Ethereal Sword Forms

His signature move, Lying in Grass Listening to the Stream, belongs to the Ethereal Sword forms 61.

• Once severed a tributary of the Demon Moon River with its Sword Qi, forcing the waters to flow backward 61.
• The feat established his reputation and produced his unwanted nickname, “Lying Grass Sword” 61.

Sword Formations and Defensive Swordsmanship

Shen Ji uses sword intent for protection as well as attack 69 112.

• Weaves sword intent into a net to intercept the Demon Devouring Orb’s explosion 69.
• Helps restrain Liu Xian until the sect elders arrive, though his formation cannot withstand the attack indefinitely 112.
• Joins the Flowing Cloud Sword Formation to protect Fu Fengyuan while he absorbs Bing Yan’s demon core 128.
• Uses elusive sword intent to survive dozens of exchanges against the much stronger Devil Master 183.

Perception and Concealment

• Hearing Qiaoqiao’s thoughts: Receives warnings and hidden information through her inner voice, although he initially doubts its reliability 2 3 89.
• Seeing Darkening Value: Can see text above Qiaoqiao’s head displaying her Darkening Value. He interprets its rise as a possible sign that she could become a Devil Cultivator, rather than fully understanding the mechanism 9 134.
• Invisibility Incantation: Conceals himself while following Qiaoqiao toward the Devil Realm, though she eventually discovers him 182.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Spirit sword / longsword — His primary weapon, used to channel Sword Qi and kill both Ziling and the Devil Master; no personal name is supplied 8 9 184.
• High Antiquity Broken Sword Chapter — The text through which he comprehends Slay the Star River 8.
• Seventh-floor sword manual — Rewarded by Bai Fu for his successful instruction of Qiaoqiao 34.
• Protective magic artifact — Given to him by Xiao Tingyu before the rat demon investigation 65.
• Wen Zhi’s restorative pill — Supplied by Qiaoqiao during the Nether River battle. Rapidly replenishes his Spiritual Qi and repairs his damaged arm, enabling his decisive attack 183 184.

Relationships

• Bai Fu / Immortal Venerable Wanghan — Master. Recognizes Shen Ji’s innate sword bone, takes him to Ethereal Peak, and teaches the principles that ultimately restore his conviction in his sword Dao 3 184.
• Qiaoqiao — Youngest junior sister and swordsmanship student. Her warnings save him from Ziling; he becomes deeply protective of her and repeatedly benefits from her observations and assistance 6 8 23 184.
• Ning Shuang / Elder Ning — Sect elder who opposes his proposed Spirit Root sacrifice, investigates Ziling, and helps prevent his manipulation 2 3 6.
• Xiao Tingyu — Second junior sister. Investigates the rat demon’s cavern alongside him and gives him a protective artifact 65 68.
• Wen Zhi — Third junior sister and alchemist. Her restorative medicine is essential to his victory over the Devil Master 183 184.
• Fu Fengyuan — Fourth junior brother. Shen Ji defends him from humiliation, helps protect his breakthrough, and encourages him to fully absorb his fortuitous opportunity 38 128 129.
• Ziling — Enemy who impersonates his benefactor and attempts to control him. Shen Ji kills her after discovering the deception 5 6 9.
• The unnamed mortal benefactor — Woman whose gift of steamed buns restored his will to live. Ziling murders her and takes her memories 3 6.
• The Devil Master — Ziling’s father and Shen Ji’s enemy. Initially overwhelms him during the sect invasion; later dies by his sword near the Nether River 50 183 184.
• Liu Yu — Holy Maiden of the Glazed Sea. Knows his embarrassing sword title and agrees to call him by name when he asks 61.

Notable Quotes

“This disciple mistakenly trusted a Devil Cultivator. If Elder Ning and Junior Sister hadn't stopped me, I would have nearly brought about a great disaster. Please punish me, Master.” 9

“It is indeed a regret of mine that I failed to bring glory to my sect in past tournaments. But my conscience is clear. May I ask, which person here has not suffered defeat at my hands?” 89

“To uphold righteousness and slay evil.” — His answer when Bai Fu asks why he wants to learn the sword 182.

Trivia

• His unofficial title arose because people shortened Lying in Grass Listening to the Stream to Lying Grass Sword. He spent decades trying to make people forget it, only for Liu Yu to use it in front of Qiaoqiao 61.
• Qiaoqiao invents an extravagantly long title for him during a bandit ambush. Hearing it makes even his Sword Qi veer off course 59.
• He is astonished to learn that Xiao Tingyu belongs to the cultivation world’s richest household, particularly while comparing his patched sleeve with her ten suits of mystic-grade armor 23.