Yuan Ruochu

Biodata

Power Progression

Background and History

Early Reputation

Yuan Ruochu was a prodigy of the Yuan Clan's main branch and the strongest contender for its divine son position before Yuan Zhexian's birth. His Samsara Physique and ability to kill opponents above his realm earned him exceptional support within the clan 6.

During childhood, he twice defeated Jin Zhenyang, the Sun Imperial Dynasty's crown prince. Their first encounter occurred in a secret realm when both were seven or eight; Ruochu won in fewer than ten moves. After two years of intensive cultivation, Zhenyang challenged him again and lost in eight moves. These defeats left Zhenyang fearing that Ruochu would become his heart demon 13.

While Yuan Zhexian was secluded, Ruochu fought Ji Jingtian in his place. Ji Jingtian was injured, but his Emperor weapon secured the victory and left Ruochu unconscious. The incident was reported a year later, when Ruochu had still not awakened 24.

Coming-of-Age Banquet and Allegiance

Ruochu returned to action at Yuan Zhexian's coming-of-age banquet, intercepting Wang Teng's challenge to the divine son. He countered Wang Teng's spatial attacks and defeated him with his Samsara arts, tearing off his right arm. When the Wang Family patriarch retaliated with oppressive pressure, a Yuan Clan supreme elder intervened 26 27.

Ji Jingtian then challenged Ruochu, mocking his earlier defeat. Yuan Zhexian took over the confrontation, citing Ruochu's expenditure of spiritual power during the preceding battle and the patriarch's intimidation 27.

After witnessing Yuan Zhexian's strength and the other Sequences' rapid improvement, Ruochu voluntarily submitted to him. Yuan Zhexian bestowed the Six Paths of Samsara Fist, prompting Ruochu to swear an oath acknowledging him as master. Two golden marks appeared, entering their bodies. Shortly afterward, Ruochu defeated Ji Jingtian in a rematch despite the latter bringing out his imperial sword 29.

Canyon Secret Realm

Inside the canyon secret realm, Ruochu discovered essence blood beneath a pool of scarlet yang magma. He repeatedly punched openings through the magma, absorbed the blood, and advanced to the ninth stage of the Dao Body Realm. Escaping the collapsing chamber consumed eighty to ninety percent of his spiritual power 32.

Wang Teng, Gu Renjie, Yuwen Huaji, and their allies ambushed him, seeking both his treasure and the origin of his Samsara Physique. Gravely injured, Ruochu summoned beasts and evil spirits to cover his escape, then used Yuan Zhexian's jade pendant to locate him. Yuan Zhexian caught him as he fell unconscious, treated him with two holy pills, and killed the pursuers 32 33.

After recovering, Ruochu accompanied Yuan Zhexian to the Dao Comprehension Tea gathering. He joined Ji Jingtian, the Yu Clan's divine son, and the Yuan Clan members in defeating the hostile factions' remaining disciples 34 35 36.

When the inheritance gate required eight drops of Power-Fusing Essence Blood, Ruochu offered to surrender the drop fused into his body despite the resulting cultivation loss. At the gate, he expelled it without hesitation and fell from the ninth to the sixth stage of the Dao Body Realm. Yuan Zhexian stabilized him with a saint pill and rewarded him with Emperor Flame Blood Jade 36 39.

Heavenly Billows Realm

Ruochu descended to the Heavenly Billows Realm with Yuan Zhexian, Yuan Zifeng, Yuan Yan'er, and Ji Jingtian. He helped assess Lin Yan's unusual cultivation and medicinal resources, proposing that they capture him and search his soul; Yuan Zhexian rejected that approach 43 44.

During their first exploration of the mysterious Inner Heaven and Earth, Ruochu's strongest fist technique failed to overcome its lightning. The group retreated after encountering the space's dangerous peach grove and lightning attacks 46.

When Huo Ping and Yi Man attacked their lodging, Ruochu killed Yi Man after Yuan Zifeng and Yuan Yan'er were defeated. He then fought alongside Ji Jingtian against Huo Ping, whose pill-enhanced cultivation had reached the ninth stage of the Samsara Realm. They destroyed his blood-dragon attacks, but he escaped 47 48.

At the Divine Feather Holy Land, Ruochu opposed a demand that Yuan Zhexian bow to its ancestor. His presence forced a fifth-stage Samsara Realm supreme elder backward, despite Ruochu remaining at the sixth stage of the Dao Body Realm. He subsequently revealed Yuan Zhexian's identity as the forbidden Yuan Clan's divine son 50.

Appearance

Yuan Ruochu is described as an exceptionally handsome man with sharply defined features and a confident bearing 26.

• Hair: Black and flowing 26.
• Face: Thick brows, bright and piercing eyes, a high-bridged nose, and ruddy lips 26.

Personality

Ruochu is proud of his strength and openly contemptuous of opponents he considers unqualified to challenge Yuan Zhexian. He mocks Wang Teng after defeating him and readily answers Ji Jingtian's provocations with combat. Their rivalry continues through competitive banter even after both enter Yuan Zhexian's service 26 27 29 47.

His loyalty becomes more than a means of gaining strength. Although he initially submits partly to improve his cultivation, he later willingly sacrifices three stages to support Yuan Zhexian's inheritance attempt. He is also fiercely protective of his clansmen and furious when hostile factions injure them 29 35 36 39.

He favors direct solutions, including proposing a soul search of Lin Yan and suggesting that Yuan Zhexian kill the rival heirs at the inheritance gate. Nevertheless, he can adopt subtler tactics: after learning what Yuan Zhexian means by a sneaky ambusher, he seriously declares that he will become one too 34 37 44.

Abilities and Skills

Samsara Physique

The Samsara Physique ranks fourth among the Three Thousand Physiques and is particularly renowned for offensive power 6.

• Enables Ruochu to fight and kill above his cultivation realm, including Dao Body Realm experts while still in the Divine Ability Realm 6.
• Allows him to contend with Samsara Realm opponents while cultivating in the Dao Body Realm 46 47.
• Does not erase overwhelming realm differences: a Quasi-Saint beast's presence immobilized him alongside the other Yuan Clan members 39.

Six Paths of Samsara Secret Art

An innate secret art exclusive to the Samsara Physique, manifesting six black holes with different abilities 26.

• Animal Path: Summons exotic beasts capable of elemental attacks. Ruochu used them to deny Wang Teng openings from spatial rifts and overwhelm Yi Man's firebird 26 47.
• Human Path: Produces a golden dragon of providence, used against Wang Teng's Star Radiance Heaven-Battling Art 26 27.
• Hungry Ghost Path: Summons evil spirits; combined with the Animal Path to cover his escape from an ambush 33.
• Samsara Light: A concentrated Samsara-powered attack that struck Wang Teng and disrupted his spatial-rift assault 26.

Six Paths of Samsara Fist

A technique bestowed by Yuan Zhexian that complements Ruochu's innate Six Paths Secret Art. Ruochu recognizes it as several times more powerful than that secret art 29.

• Manifests six purple-lit black holes, from which enormous arms emerge to deliver punches 47 48.
• Used to defeat Ji Jingtian, penetrate scarlet yang magma, kill Yi Man, and counter Huo Ping's blood dragons 29 32 47 48.
• Has a heavy spiritual-power cost. At the eighth stage of the Dao Body Realm, three or four uses were already difficult; seven consecutive uses brought him to his limit 32.
• Failed to overpower the mysterious Inner Heaven and Earth's lightning 46.

Cultivation Scriptures

• Heavenly Origin Scripture: Used alongside the Samsara Scripture to protect his body while traversing scarlet yang magma 32.
• Samsara Scripture: Supplies Samsara power for defense and close combat; helped him gain the advantage over Yi Man 32 47.

Combat Strength

• Individual: Yuan Zhexian judged ordinary opponents around the sixth stage of the Samsara Realm to be no match for Ruochu or Ji Jingtian 48.
• Combined: Together, the two could overcome a ninth-stage Samsara Realm opponent's attacks, though Huo Ping escaped their battle 48.
• Presence: Forced a fifth-stage Samsara Realm elder backward through a clash of auras 50.

Equipment and Items

• Emperor Flame Blood Jade — Gift from Yuan Zhexian after Ruochu surrendered his essence blood. A material used to forge Supreme Emperor weapons; no completed weapon is documented 39.
• Location jade pendant — Issued by Yuan Zhexian before entering the canyon secret realm. Ruochu activated it to locate him while fleeing the ambush 29 33.
• Power-Fusing Essence Blood — Temporarily absorbed to advance his cultivation; later willingly expelled for the inheritance gate 32 36 39.

Relationships

• Yuan Zhexian — Cousin and sworn master. Grants Ruochu the Six Paths of Samsara Fist, rescues him from the ambush, and rewards his sacrifice with Emperor Flame Blood Jade 29 33 39.
• Ji Jingtian — Rival turned fellow follower and combat partner. Their initial confrontation ends in Ruochu's defeat, but Ruochu wins the rematch; they later fight Huo Ping together 24 29 48.
• Yu Muyao — Has romantic feelings for Ruochu, according to the Yu Clan matriarch. His response to her feelings is not established 25 26.
• Wang Teng — Defeated challenger who later helps ambush Ruochu and threatens to extract his physique's origin. Killed by Yuan Zhexian during the rescue 27 32 33.
• Jin Zhenyang — Childhood opponent whose two decisive defeats leave him viewing Ruochu as a potential heart demon 13.

Notable Quotes

“From this day forth, I, Yuan Ruochu, willingly acknowledge Yuan Zhexian as my master. Let the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth bear witness.” 29

“Divine son, for your sake, I am willing to force out the Power-Fusing Essence Blood, even if my cultivation falls.” 36

Trivia

• Ruochu could not participate in the Heavenly Dao Ancient Tablet rankings because he was already over sixteen. The narration states that he could otherwise have secured a place in the top three 27.