Su Yao

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Birth and Adoption

Su Yao is a transmigrator, but he remembers being born from his mother’s womb rather than taking over an already-grown body. Before birth, his awareness was chaotic; his infant consciousness remained indistinct until he found himself floating on the Great Qing River 67.

His birth was accompanied by rosy light in the heavens, and Rainbow Cloud Qi shone from him while he was still in swaddling clothes. His parents interpreted these phenomena—and a look he gave them—as signs that a demonic being had taken their child’s soul. After raising him for a time, they cast him into the river 16 67.

Daozheng rescued him and brought him to Qixia Mountain. Su Yao grew up there, eventually becoming Qixia Daozi. Daoist Zheng also watched over his childhood and repeatedly took Daozheng’s punishments on his behalf 3 64 67.

Mortal Family

His father, Su Shouzhuo, came from a branch of Qinghe’s Su Household. His mother, Gu Lanyin, had been an opera actress. After abandoning Su Yao, they left Qinghe and eventually settled in Yongzhou, where they later had another son, Su Jiye 67 134.

When Su Yao visited them, both parents recognized him but refused to acknowledge him as their living son. He instead performed funeral rites for the child they believed had died. Before leaving, he secretly gave protective talismans to his father and nephew, Su Mingcheng, accepting that their familial ties were shallow 65 67.

Decades later, Su Mingcheng told him that his parents had died within three days of each other. Su Yao continued protecting his nephew, eventually providing a Purple Mansion formation for Shouwei Mountain 263 285.

Appearance

• Youthful appearance: Described as a young man both during his early travels and after returning to Qixia Mountain 17 264.
• Rosy radiance: His body can be wreathed in dazzling rosy light; his perfected Immortal Foundation manifests as a feather robe woven from rainbow light and rosy radiance 17 131.
• Daoist clothing: Wears robes in several colors, including navy blue, fresh red, plain cloth, and blue-green. He changes into his formal Qixia Daozi robes before receiving Mianning 17 39 54 264 282.
• Later battle attire: Appears in blue robes with faint Rainbow Cloud patterns along the hem, carrying the silver-white Pear Blossom Return sword 275.

Personality

Su Yao is unruly, proud, and resistant to being controlled. He dislikes arrangements imposed by stronger figures, particularly schemes involving his disciples, family, or cultivation. Nevertheless, an early assessment distinguishes his mischievous nature from a disregard for fundamental principles 16 64 90.

His loyalty is intensely personal. He openly tells Yang Xiu that he cares less about Nanzhao’s larger political future than about protecting his own people. He vows revenge after discovering Daozheng’s missing eye and offers shelter to the kindhearted Lu Yuan despite not considering himself a good person 91 161 203.

He can also be merciless and sectarian. He annihilates the White Sand Lu Household’s cultivators and expresses contempt for rival traditions and nonhuman opponents. His violence is not always indiscriminate, however: he spares the Lu Household’s mortals and does not punish all of Ao Xiao’s aquatic subjects for one subordinate’s offense 111 114 147.

Yang Xiu regards his detachment from ordinary people as a significant flaw, attributing it partly to his mountain upbringing. Su Yao nevertheless shows affection through practical acts—protective talismans, resources for followers, aid to disciples, and reassurance to Zilin—rather than relying only on declarations 67 195 275 286.

Abilities & Skills

Rainbow Clouds Cultivation

Su Yao practices the eighth-grade Rosy Cloud Feather Wanderer Star Chapter. Mianning attributes his unusually brilliant Immortal Foundation partly to his extensive mastery of high-grade Law Techniques 54 74.

• Exceptional technique aptitude: Mianning states that only himself and his counterparts from Eight Sceneries Palace and Biyou Palace surpass Su Yao’s talent for Law Techniques among the Three Pure Ones’ followers 54.
• High-grade repertoire: His Law Techniques begin at sixth grade, with seventh- and eighth-grade techniques commonplace 167.
• Fire compatibility: Combines Southern Emperor Profound Light with his Immortal Foundation to withstand and part a sea of fire. He describes Rainbow Clouds as favoring fire and abhorring water 43.
• Early restrictions: Daozheng forbade him from practicing techniques outside Rainbow Clouds and Fire Virtue before Purple Mansion, although he studied other branches’ scriptures 96.

Five Divine Abilities

By the battle with Zhao Shouyi, Su Yao has perfected all five of his Divine Abilities 275 277.

Swordsmanship and Sword Intent

Su Yao follows the Technique Sword approach, combining swordsmanship with Law Techniques. He can merge Glow Ashes with Sword Qi, producing attacks fine enough to resemble a strand of hair while destroying an opponent’s technique from within 10 93.

• Sword Essence: Reveals proficiency that Shen Yuxiao had not seen in recordings of his earlier duels 94.
• Limpid Sword Intent: Its edge is comparable to a genuine Divine Ability, with particularly strong killing power 199.
• Accumulated strikes: Refines Sword Intent for five days before cutting through Cang Lan’s enclosing mortal-world Qi 180.
• Azure Firmament reinforcement: Luminous Sword Heart nurtures his Sword Intent and can raise it by one realm when activated 241 290.
• Matchup limits: Against Chen Hai’s Earth Virtue, his Rainbow Clouds attacks do little damage and his Sword Intent is disadvantaged; the Balmy Wind sword Vermilion Radiance becomes his most effective available weapon 207.

Seven Evolutions Rainbow Prism

The Prism resides within Su Yao’s Qi Sea. After reaching True Lord, he learns that it is the Seven Evolutions Rainbow Prism, a supreme-grade Innate Spirit Treasure born in chaos outside this world. It possesses forty-eight innate restrictions and more complete authority over heavenly light than this world’s Rainbow Clouds path 297.

• Warns him of dangerous presences, including the purple-robed woman encountered early in his travels 8.
• Reveals concealed golden nature and hidden arrangements among prospective disciples; probing such secrets can strain him 90.
• Pierces devilish miasma and surveys both the mortal world and the Great Void 276.
• Provides seven talismans that reinforce distinct aspects of his cultivation 287.
• Allows him to comprehend an immortal technique that becomes his proposed means of dealing with a Blood Devil 297.
• Remains a secret he refuses to disclose, even to Qingzhu 287 289.

Prism-Derived Talismans

Protective, Movement, and Binding Techniques

• Draped in Rosy Radiance: His original Immortal Foundation reinforces defense and movement; its rosy cloak blocks Law Artifacts and Witch Techniques 10 40.
• Mysterious Floating Body: Provides rapid, drifting movement for closing distance and escaping coordinated attacks 10 113.
• Golden Light Across the Land: Enables high-speed travel and retreat, although it cannot by itself outpace a pursuing Purple Mansion cultivator while he remains at Foundation Establishment 46 280.
• Golden Palace Morning Clouds: Produces a destructive rain of rosy light 10 44.
• Binding Gossamer: Turns rosy light into binding threads 113.
• Guarding Unity Rosy Cloud Robe: A high-rank defensive Law Technique strengthened by his Immortal Foundation 112.

Rituals, Formations, and Daoist Scholarship

Su Yao’s scriptural knowledge extends beyond the paths he personally practices. Liu Yunhe and Li Siyi praise his understanding of Gui Water despite his lack of cultivation in that path 27.

• Ritual altars: Borrows the Thunder Bureau’s Exorcism Court power to kill a Heavenly Chaos True Person and capture Ao Xiao despite his own severe injuries 199.
• Altar proficiency: Yang Xiu estimates that he could draw out only thirty or forty percent of the power Su Yao obtains from the same altar 201.
• Formation control: Commands Golden Ao Mountain’s formation through its token and monitors activity on the mountain through the Soul-Dropping Bell 72 96.
• Divination: Combines his Immortal Foundation with a Heavenly Governance technique to locate his birth parents 65.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Clear Wind Sword — Early supreme-grade Shaping Wind Law Artifact, considered suitable for later upgrading into a Spirit Artifact 30.
• Zhengji — Sword used to kill Lu Shang; later a Spirit Treasure-grade Law Sword associated with a Dao Ancestor’s campaign against the Ji River’s demons. A True Lord had taken it by the time of the Qingnuo battle 44 167 199 238.
• Autumn Steed Sword — Given to him by Mianning; later identified as a Spirit Treasure-grade sword with Fu Water power 72 167 238.
• Vermilion Brightness / Vermilion Radiance — Balmy Wind immortal sword and top-grade offensive Spirit Treasure; possesses the power of Scorch Metal and Stone 167 207.
• Pear Blossom Return — Silver-white Azure Firmament immortal sword wielded during his Five Laws Perfection battles and subsequent travels 275 290 291.
• Ask Amid the Clouds — Weapon into which he pours Law Power while studying the Prism during the Blood Devil crisis 297.
• Great Yin Dharma Robe / Great Yin Feather Robe — Spirit Treasure whose Greater Yin power conceals existence and whose Spring and Autumn mysteries conceal historical traces. Cang Lan’s Manifest First Light Wheel nevertheless exposes him and scorches the robe 30 179 180.
• Transforming Azure Bracelet — Spirit Treasure that summons Qingyang and dispels calamities; later erases Lu Chuan’s osmanthus-shadow runes 30 180 291.
• Nine Heavens Auspicious Cloud Banner — Gathers objects with rosy light, protects with auspicious clouds, attacks with rainbow light, and supports cloud-based escape 138.
• Golden Ao Mountain formation token — Controls the mountain’s concealment, restrictions on Great Void access, soul-affecting powers, and Radiant Fire attacks 72.
• South Star Boat — Flying vessel used during his early journey toward Nanzhao; grounded after passing through a mysterious fog 17.

Relationships

• Daozheng — Rescuer and childhood guardian. Restricts Su Yao’s early cultivation to prevent an overly mixed foundation; Su Yao remains deeply attached to him and vows to avenge his lost eye 64 67 96 161.
• Daoist Zheng — Childhood caretaker who repeatedly accepted punishment on Su Yao’s behalf. Su Yao refuses to let official Daozi etiquette override their personal bond 3.
• Qingzhu — Elder who has watched him since infancy and supplies cultivation resources. Their affection is strained by Su Yao’s extraordinary speed of advancement and refusal to explain the Prism 97 273 289.
• Zilin — Romantic partner and trusted ally from Mount Lao. Offers him the Purple Cloud Unity Covenant; he later promises to wait for her and remain true to her even as he prepares to become a True Lord 247 286.
• Yang Xiu — Close friend, fellow Daoist, and frequent battle companion. Criticizes Su Yao’s attitude toward ordinary people but respects his loyalty and chooses not to press him about his hidden cultivation plans 195 203 205 293.
• Liu Yunhe and Li Siyi — Early attendants and combat companions. Their families intended them to serve in Su Yao’s future celestial ranks; he shares resources and artifacts with them 10 29 30.
• Mianning — Powerful senior who admires his talent, assists Golden Ao Mountain, and restores the Shengyu egg. Also participates in arrangements that manipulate Su Yao’s descent and family reunion 54 64 68 72.
• Nuoli — Senior protector who has watched over him in secret since childhood and intervenes against a Purple Mansion witch seeking revenge 46 212.
• Su Shouzhuo and Gu Lanyin — Birth parents. Abandoned him out of fear and later declined to acknowledge him; he nonetheless performed rites for their peace of mind and left protection behind 67.
• Su Jiye — Younger brother, a traveling merchant without cultivation talent 67 68.
• Su Mingcheng — Nephew and remaining close mortal blood relative. Receives Su Yao’s protection, cultivation support, and a Purple Mansion formation 67 263 285.
• Lu Yuan — Disciple whose kindness Su Yao wishes to shelter. Su Yao discourages him from measuring his progress against disciples with different opportunities 91 131.
• Gu Wanniang / True Person Zhiyan — Woman linked to his illusory mortal marriage who later lived with his family as his supposed wife. Su Yao recognizes that both were pieces in another person’s scheme and separates her kindness to his parents from that manipulation 135 218 263 285.
• Ao Xiao — Lake god and rival in disputes involving the Pear Garden and a secret realm; eventually captured and confined in the Water Palace 78 164 189.
• Guangli — Senior brother confined in the Hall of Reflection. Su Yao treats his downfall as a warning against misplaced trust and later confronts his self-deception 6 281.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Descent into Nanzhao

After leaving Qixia Mountain, Su Yao fights the Hepu witches and Noon Sparrow Mountain’s Fire Sparrows alongside Liu Yunhe and Li Siyi. Continuing toward Nanzhao, he rewards the loyal Qingcang Zhang Clan with a sealed poem before a mysterious fog strands his flying boat near an unfamiliar immortal mountain 10 17.

He subsequently gains access to scriptures and resources while considering how to build his own future celestial ranks. The journey also exposes the extent to which powerful elders have arranged events around him 29 64 97.

White Sand Lu Household and the Pear Garden

Su Yao destroys the White Sand Lu Household’s cultivators, kills Lu Shang, and strips White Sand Mountain of its resources. A giant crow blocks an intervention by Lu Shang’s grandfather; Nuoli later saves Su Yao from a Purple Mansion Hepu witch seeking revenge for Qixia Temple’s historical actions 44 46.

On Golden Ao Mountain, he organizes followers, controls the defensive formation, recruits disciples, and establishes himself as the Pear Garden’s master. His dealings with Ao Xiao combine threats with formal courtesy rather than an immediate attempt to seize the lake god’s secret realm 72 78 90 92 147.

Rival Daoists and Purple Mansion

Su Yao defeats Shen Yuxiao in a public sword challenge, earning Yang Xiu’s praise as the foremost Foundation Establishment cultivator among Jade Void’s traditions. A later encounter pits him against Shen Yuxiao, Lu Yu, and Xuan Yang together; he ultimately kills Shen Yuxiao and Xuan Yang 93 94 95 113 114.

After perfecting nine Secret Methods, he enters seclusion to break through to Purple Mansion. His trial includes an illusory lifetime as an ordinary married man, which collapses when he remembers his true identity. Following his breakthrough, an envoy attempts to compel him to cultivate in Purple Tenuity, but the Hall of Complete Illumination rejects the order as an unenforceable private decree 131 133 135 138 142.

Nanzhao Conflicts and Proclaiming Earth

As Qixia Temple’s master, Su Yao settles several deadly grudges and faces Cang Lan, a Human Dao Great True Person. He survives five days and nights against the stronger opponent, then returns gravely wounded and uses borrowed altar power to kill another True Person and capture Ao Xiao. These feats leave him suffering severe backlash 170 180 189 199.

When ordered to confront Proclaiming Earth True Lord’s reincarnation alongside Yang Xiu, he refuses to accept the mission without protection. Eastern Pole Dao Lord promises to safeguard their immortal paths, and the two proceed to Longchuan with complementary Gang Qi powers 205.

Return to Qixia and Five Laws Perfection

Su Yao eventually returns to Qixia Mountain after decades away, weeping as he announces that he is home. He investigates Gu Wanniang’s presence in his mortal family and later accepts that their apparent marriage was entangled in a larger scheme 263 285.

In the South Sea, he reveals all five perfected Divine Abilities and kills Zhao Shouyi. Further battles expose the depth of the power he has concealed, including his talismans’ combined reinforcement. He returns to Qixia carrying the badly wounded Zilin and then completes preparations for a Gold-seeking path of his own 275 277 279 280 287.

World Journey and True Lord Ascension

Before seeking Gold, Su Yao travels widely to test his cultivation. He spends three years devastating South Sea Devil Cultivators, tests his sword against a split soul of True Lord Balmy Wind, and is forcibly rebuffed when he challenges True Lord Sufeng 290 291.

He defeats Lu Chuan and his double, though Yuanfu’s Heavenly Venerable retrieves Lu Chuan’s true spirit. His wider journey also includes killing a divine son in the far north and destroying a Sovereign’s direct disciple in the far east. His friends recognize that his eventual method of seeking Gold may differ from Qixia’s inherited approach 291 293.

By the Blood Devil crisis, Su Yao has ascended to True Lord. Refining the Seven Evolutions Rainbow Prism’s first restriction gives him knowledge of its origin and access to an immortal technique he believes can address the threat 297.

Notable Quotes

“At first, when dealing with others, I listened to their words and trusted their conduct. Now, when dealing with others, I see their conduct and trust their words.” 6

“All I know is that whoever dares touch my people, I’ll kill.” 203

“I hope that after you are reincarnated, you will still remember me and witness my ascension with your own eyes!” 279