“Sword Coming” is a xuanhuan novel serialized on Zongheng Chinese Network, penned by the esteemed author Fenghuo Xi Zhuhou. In this vast world, myriad wonders abound. Even should the Heavenly Dao collapse, I, Chen Ping’an, wield but a single sword, capable of moving mountains, cleaving rivers, overturning seas, subduing demons, suppressing devils, commanding gods, plucking stars, shattering cities, and splitting the very heavens. This work has been honored with the Fourth Orange Melon Online Literature Award for Top Ten Works, Top Hundred Works, and Top Ten Most Promising Animated IP. In October of 2020, “Sword Coming” received the Second Pan-Chinese Online Literature “Golden Keyboard” Award for Best Story Concept.

Character Introductions

Chen Ping An

He is the protagonist of the story and currently a closed-door disciple of the Literary Saint. Born in the Thirty-Six Minor Heavens, within the Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven. His parents, both surnamed Chen, perished when Chen Ping’an was five. Someone revealed the secrets of the town to his father, shattering Chen Ping’an’s natal porcelain, causing a backlash that claimed his parents’ lives. His father was murdered, while his mother succumbed to illness. With his natal porcelain shattered, opportunities within the town swarmed towards him like fireflies in the darkness, yet he could not retain them.

At fourteen, the Bridge of Longevity was shattered by Cai Jinjian. Later, due to the Land Sinking, he cared for the injured Ning Yao. When Liu Xianyang refused to surrender his ancestral sword manual, he was critically wounded by the Zhengyang Mountain Hunchback Ape. Chen Ping’an and Ning Yao jointly battled the ape, forcing it to expend three breaths of life within the town, equivalent to about eighty years of lifespan.

He has now reached the pinnacle of a martial artist and is a sword cultivator at the Immortal Realm.

After Qi Jingchun’s departure, the small town was downgraded from a grotto-heaven to a blessed land. With Ruan Qiong’s aid, Chen Ping’an purchased five mountain peaks. Ultimately, to escort Qi Jingchun’s disciple, Li Baoping, to the Cliff Academy, he relinquished the tranquil life in the town and journeyed to the Great Sui. Before departing, the old sword spirit recognized Chen Ping’an as its master, gifting him three strands of sword qi for protection. During his escort, he befriended A Liang, Wei Bo, the Literary Saint, Wei Jin, and others. On the return journey, he accepted Cui Dongshan as his disciple and, with Cui Dongshan’s help, took in the Green Serpent (Chen Lingjun) and Fire Python (Chen Nuanshu) as attendants. Cui Dongshan then returned to the Cliff Academy.

Upon returning to the town, he encountered Cui Cheng, who aided him in forging the strongest Third Realm in the world. At the request of the Azure Child Heavenly Sovereign, he distanced himself from the town’s affairs, traveling south to deliver a sword to Ning Yao. On his journey, he befriended Zhang Shanfeng, Xu Yuanxia, Song Yushao, and others.

At Sword Qi Great Wall, he professed his love for Ning Yao and made a ten-year promise. Later, under the guidance of the Eldest Sword Immortal, he went to Lotus Flower Blessed Land in Tongye Continent to rebuild the Bridge of Longevity, where he took in Pei Qian and Cao Qinglang as disciples. He has since left Blessed Land. Along the way, he met the Buried River Water God, who admired the Old Scholar, and imparted the order of study to him. He then returned to Baoping Continent, where he refined the Water Character Seal into his Water Natal Object in Old Dragon City, before heading to Qingluan Kingdom.

After returning to Fallen Mountain, with Cui Cheng’s help, he successfully broke through his realm. Cui Cheng then informed him of an issue with his state of mind, leading him to decide to temper his mind in Ju Liu Continent. His strongest Fifth Realm is known, and in the town, he obtained the Martial Fortune Pearl to give to Pei Qian. He has made significant progress in tempering his mind in Northern Ju Liu Continent, forming a martial gall, and later attained the Seventh Realm of martial arts, the Golden Body Realm, at Lion Peak.

He went to Sword Qi Great Wall to fulfill his ten-year appointment. He re-refined his “Gold” Natal Object at Sword Qi Great Wall and entered the fifth stage of Qi Training. In the war with the demons, he took the lead on behalf of Ning Yao and killed Li Zhen (a part of Guanzhao’s soul). Later, he fell to the second stage of Qi Training and refined the Fire Natal Object, creating 2 natal flying swords. Later, Xiao Xun (a great demon Zhou Mi from the Wilderness World, also a former apprentice of the Punishment Official) of Sword Qi Great Wall “Yinguan” betrayed the Wilderness World, seriously wounding Zuo You. Chen Ping’an became the new “Yinguan” and helped Sword Qi Great Wall defend for three more years. With the help of seamstress Nian Xin, he inscribed the true names of the great demons of the Wilderness World and ascended to the strongest Eighth Realm of martial arts, the Distant Wanderer Realm. He refined the Fire God Zuo Guan’s heart, replenishing the five elements, crossed the Bridge of Longevity, and ascended to the Middle Five Realms, the Cave Mansion Realm. Afterwards, Sword Qi Great Wall shattered in half. With the help of the Eldest Sword Immortal, he merged with the remaining half of Sword Qi Great Wall, becoming a pseudo-Jade Purity Realm being that was immortal, could not die and could not move freely, garrisoning the half-section of the Great Wall.

After the other half of the Sword Qi Great Wall ascended to the Fifth World, he crossed the Viewing Sea and leaped over the Dragon Gate. He formed a golden elixir, shattered it, and formed another elixir, so much so that even the Dragon Lord could not tell whether he was a fake nascent soul or a fake jade purity. He constantly stirred up his own soul, and relied on the advantages of merging with the Dao that made him immortal and undying to temper his martial arts body. He obtained nine impressive martial fortunes from Vastness World and a vast martial fortune from the Wilderness World, and has now successfully ascended to the martial artist’s pinnacle and will soon be in Jade Purity.

Later, he and his brother Cui Chan implemented the “Mountain and Water Reversal” method, replacing Chen Ping’an’s merging with the Sword Qi Great Wall with Cui Chan, whose cultivation had been increased to the Fourteenth Realm by Qi Jingchun. He led a group of sword cultivator seeds from Sword Qi Great Wall back to their hometown. When fighting Han Yushu in Tongye Continent, he took a punch from a mysterious Eleventh Realm martial artist (causing Han Yushu to receive a lunch box), and decided to select a site in Tongye Continent as the Lower Sect address of the Fallen Mountain. He is now in Jade Purity Realm and Fallen Mountain has been promoted to a Xianjia with the sect character.

On the night-voyaging boat inside the city of Item, because of Tianran, a demon from beyond the heavens and Wu Shuangjiang’s Dao companion whom he met at Sword Qi Great Wall, he teamed up with Ning Yao, Jiang Shangzhen, and Cui Dongshan (one ascended, two immortals, and one Jade Purity) to kill Wu Shuangjiang (the Great Dao foundation is a soldier, but it is difficult to see his foundation due to his mixed studies), who was at the Fourteenth Realm (Dao combined with people). Finally, he made peace with Wu Shuangjiang. Because the Criminal Official in the prison of Sword Qi Great Wall once released his sword against the outer demons, Wu Shuangjiang pressed the realm to the Thirteenth Realm and used four immortal sword imitations to ask the Criminal Official about the sword. He suppressed the Thirteenth Realm Sword Cultivator with the Thirteenth Realm, and the Criminal Official exclaimed, “The Fourteenth Realm is already like this, so what about the Fifteenth Realm?”

At the invitation of Li Sheng, he participated in the Wenmiao (Temple of Literature) Conference (Li Sheng only invited two people: Bai Ze, Chen Ping’an). Vastness and Wilderness (led by Li Sheng and Feiran respectively) failed to negotiate. Chen Ping’an took a step forward and said, “Then let’s fight.” The Vastness people all took a step forward.

Qi Jingchun

He is the core figure of the first volume of *Sword Coming*, a direct disciple of the fourth Confucian Saint, the Literary Saint. He possesses three named words: “Qi,” “Jing,” and “Chun,” with the word “Jing” offending the Taoist school (due to its advocacy of “purity and tranquility”). His Great Dao seeks to unite the three teachings but is rejected by them. After the Three-Four Dispute, he voluntarily came to the town, drawing a prison for himself and serving as a saint for sixty years, yet his realm only rose instead of falling. Before the town, he served as the Mountain Master of the Cliff Academy. He gifted Chen Ping’an the four-sided seals of “Chen Eleven,” “Quiet Heart Triumph,” “Mountain Character Seal,” and “Water Character Seal,” along with a wisp of spring breeze (a soul and a spirit). The Mountain Character Seal was destroyed before the journey to Sword Qi Great Wall, and a wisp of spring breeze broke through Liu Chicheng’s White Emperor Primordial Formation and seriously injured him before dissipating. He once advised Chen Ping’an on the principle that a gentleman does not save, but ultimately sacrificed himself during the shattering of Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven to secure the next life for the town’s 6,000 residents. His actual realm is entirely unimaginable. Imprisoned in Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, he locked himself in a small world, only able to exert one-tenth of his strength, while breaking through this confinement allows him to exert two-tenths, reaching the peak of the Fourteenth Realm, hailed by Cui Chan as “unprecedented and unrepeatable.” In the battle of Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, to protect the safety of the people within, he relied solely on two named words to withstand the full force attack of one of the five city lords of White Jade Capital, his dharma form destroyed in the process (suspected of using White Jade Capital’s twelve flying swords). Before his skin, soul, and realm dissipated, he used a few thoughts to fix himself in the river of time, becoming a person without a realm. In Peach Blossom Ferry, he joined forces with Cui Chan to question the great demon Zhou Mi (originally Vastness Jia Sheng), diminishing his Dao conduct. His last few thoughts completely dissipated after seeing Chen Ping’an and Cui Dongshan. As the grotto-heaven was about to shatter, Qi Jingchun gave Chen Ping’an the Literary Saint’s jade hairpin (inscribed with “Speaking of the gentleman, gentle as jade,” containing a small grotto-heaven within, originally intended as Qi Jingchun’s retreat), accepting him as a disciple on behalf of his master, and persuaded the old sword spirit to pay attention to Chen Ping’an, leading the old sword spirit to ultimately recognize Chen Ping’an as its master.

Ning Yao

She is the daughter of Sword Qi Great Wall’s two great Sword Immortal couples, the most gifted sword cultivator in heaven and earth throughout history. She wields two natal flying swords (one named “Slaying Immortals Asking Sword Innocence,” the other unknown). She once fought alongside Chen Ping’an in Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, teaching the protagonist the “Shaking Mountain Manual.” She and Chen Ping’an are mutually fond of each other, expressing their feelings at Sword Qi Great Wall. Her parents were reviled for dying in a duel with demons. In Upside-Down Mountain, she said to Chen Ping’an: “Chen Ping’an! I like you, no less than you like me by even a little bit.” She broke through her realm on the spot when opening the formation at Sword Qi Great Wall, entering the Nascent Soul stage. However, she once said: “Realm has no meaning to me.” It is also said at Sword Qi Great Wall: “What does it matter if Ning Yao is one realm higher when facing an enemy.” She uses the immortal sword “Innocence” given by Chen Qingdu (actually, “Innocence” took the initiative to choose its master).

She has now ascended with the half-Sword Qi Great Wall (now named “Ascension City”) to the Fifth World, and has been promoted to the Jade Purity Realm, and is also the first Upper Five Realm Sword Immortal in the Fifth World, protected by the Great Dao, and stated bluntly that she will always maintain a two-realm gap with sword cultivators such as Qi Shou, which means that she will become the first “Immortal Realm” in the Fifth World before Qi Shou and others reach the Upper Five Realms. He has become the first Immortal Realm sword cultivator in the Fifth World. He has now become the first Ascension Realm sword cultivator in the Fifth World and has ascended to Vastness World.

Ruan Xiu

She is the daughter of Ruan Qiong and a reincarnation of the Fire God, one of the five supreme deities of the ancient Heavenly Court. She can see certain things on others, perceiving their fortune and karma. She once admitted to liking Chen Ping’an, but also said that Chen Ping’an would only love Ning Yao, though she was initially attracted to the water fortune surrounding Chen Ping’an. She and Li Liu joined forces to connect Baoping Continent and Northern Ju Liu Continent into one continent, resisting the demonic race during the invasion of the Wilderness World. Later, she consumed Li Liu’s divinity and stripped away her humanity, becoming a deity once more and ascending beyond the heavens.

Liu Xianyang

He is Chen Ping’an’s close friend from childhood, with two ancestral treasures: a sword manual and a suit of armor (currently in the hands of Xu Hun in Qingfeng City). Because he refused to sell the sword manual, he was critically wounded by the Zhengyang Mountain Hunchback Ape. Chen Ping’an used a piece of pagoda tree leaf (obtained by Qi Jingchun for Chen Ping’an from the Yao family) to keep him alive. Later, Chen Ping’an saved him, took him out of Baoping Continent, and headed to Southern Posuo Continent. Later, he went to Sword Qi Great Wall, and then returned to Baoping Continent, becoming a direct disciple of Dragon Spring Sword Sect. His current cultivation base is Jade Purity.

Li Baoping

She is the whimsical successor chosen by Qi Jingchun, referring to Chen Ping’an as her Little Martial Uncle. She studies in the Great Sui. Later, she travels around and is extremely beautiful and breathtaking, with the demeanor of a gentleman. She travels to the Central Earth Divine Continent Temple of Literature with the Mountain Master of Cliff Academy, Mao Xiaodong. While traveling in the Middle-earth Divine Continent, she met Xu Bai, one of the ten young people, who fell in love with her at first sight.

Song Jixin

He came to Mud Bottle Alley as Chen Ping’an’s neighbor under the false identity of Song Mu’s illegitimate son, the former Director of Works. In fact, he is Da Li’s chess piece, arranged by the former Emperor of Da Li in Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven. His former inner demon was Chen Ping’an (because Song Jixin had deceived Chen Ping’an into breaking his promise, causing him to almost kill Song Jixin). After returning to the Da Li Imperial Capital, he was renamed Song Mu, and his identity is that of a vassal king of Da Li, sitting in the Old Dragon City battlefield in the southern part of Baoping Continent.

Zhigui

She is Song Jixin’s maidservant, also known as Wang Zhu, transformed from a true dragon pearl. She was once saved by Chen Ping’an (after breaking free, she was attracted by the “fireflies” and later discovered that Song Jixin possessed the dragon energy and defected to him), but she seemed to have no intention of repaying the favor. At first, she regarded Mr. Qi as an enemy, but later, after understanding the situation, she treated Mr. Qi as a father. Her current cultivation base is Golden Elixir. If she retrieves her true dragon body, she can gather the luck of the dragons in the world and directly reach the Immortal Realm. She has now walked along the Qi Ferry into the river, and it is only a matter of time. After that, she can enter the Immortal Realm from Jade Purity, and her combat power is comparable to half of the Ascension Realm, which is more than enough to guard the Central Grand Canal of Baoping Continent. She has now entered the Ascension Realm.

Literary Saint

Also known as the Old Scholar. Fourteenth Realm, merging with the Dao of Earth’s advantage. He is particularly fond of Little Baoping and is the master of Qi Jingchun, Cui Chan, and Zuo You. He once wanted to formally accept Chen Ping’an as a closed-door disciple but was politely declined, but in fact, he always regarded Chen Ping’an as a closed disciple. He has two earth-shattering actions. One was going to the sky, stretching out his neck and asking the second Taoist master to chop him, and the other was inviting the two Buddhist and Taoist patriarchs to take their seats after the debate. Originally fourth in the Temple of Literature, he advocated that human nature is inherently evil and must be taught to be good. After the defeat of the Three-Four Debate, his statue was repeatedly degraded and finally moved out of the Temple of Literature and smashed. He once obtained a sword blank called “Little Fengdu” from the Mountain God of Zhongtu Suishan for Chen Ping’an, which later turned into the flying sword “First Day”. He and Bai Ye also have the merit of opening up the world in the Fifth World. He also obtained the “Searching Mountain Picture” from Bai Ze (the second ancestor of the Wilderness World, who is temporarily imprisoned in the Zhenbai Ze Tower because of Li Sheng). He obtained several articles from the old man of Book Brief Lake who was close to the Great Dao (possibly Qu Yuan) to resist the demons. The statue of the Temple of Literature has been recast and he is one of the discussants.

A Liang

He is a sword cultivator, one of the four notorious figures recognized on the mountain, known as a “son of a bitch.” He is Li Huai’s good brother, with a high level of sword intent, and has a close relationship with Qi Jingchun. He was originally sent by Qi Jingchun to the town to retrieve a sword (obtained by Chen Ping’an). His catchphrase is “My name is A Liang, the Liang of kindness, and I am a swordsman.” In the Vastness World and demon world’s thirteen duels, with six wins and six losses, A Liang turned the tide in desperation, killing the thirteenth floor great sword cultivator of the demon world and winning all the demon world’s swords for Vastness World. Later, he escorted Chen Ping’an and his party to the border of Da Li, and then broke through Da Li White Jade Capital with one sword in the Da Li capital, smashing the golden bodies of six mountain and river righteous gods, cutting off the life of the Da Li emperor to three years remaining (Shou San) before ascending. He fought two battles with Taoist Lao Er (the second disciple of the Taoist ancestor, also known as Zhen Wudi) in the outer world, one loss and one win. Xu Ruo and Dong Shui Jing once said: “Your master’s master’s nemesis (the Three-Four Dispute)’s son.” He is the only son of the Asian Saint. The Eldest Sword Immortal once said that A Liang is a scholar. After returning from the outer world, he became a Fourteenth Realm sword cultivator. After Sword Qi Great Wall was broken, he was trapped by the demon ancestor under Mount Tuoyue (he can come out at any time, but under Mount Tuoyue are countless ghosts, and he voluntarily suppressed them with his own sword intent). He has now escaped and is heading to the Temple of Literature with Li Huai. He is one of the discussants at the Temple of Literature, on Chen Ping’an’s side.

Zuo You

The second disciple of the Literary Saint, a sword cultivator at the peak of the Thirteenth Realm, is called the most accomplished in sword skills in Vastness (because he has never fought with Pei Min, one of the three best in Vastness, so it is not known who is stronger). The Literary Saint, the Old Scholar, once asked Zuo You when Du Mao failed to ascend and died, “Why don’t you ascend and leave?”, and angrily said, “Why not take the opportunity to leave this world?”, suspecting that Zuo You may be the first Fourteenth Realm sword cultivator in Vastness World since the demise of the Shinto, and that Fourteenth Realm sword cultivators will be suppressed or even die, so the Old Scholar wanted him to leave. Unlike Qi Jingchun, he doesn’t like to reason. His sword intent is not as good as A Liang, but his swordsmanship is a bit higher than A Liang’s. He once rejected the Literary Saint’s request for him to be Qi Jingchun’s protector, and believed that “the path is taken by oneself, what is the need for a protector.” Later, Qi Jingchun requested him to be Chen Ping’an’s protector, and he refused again, but in fact, he has already recognized Chen Ping’an as half of his “junior brother.” During the invasion of the Wilderness World, he guarded Tongye Continent and was liked by the girl Yu Xin, but he was unaware of it. He is a promising Fourteenth Realm sword cultivator. He asked Xiao Xun about the sword, fighting to the outer world, preventing Xiao Xun from returning to the Wilderness World, and chopping him to the Azure Sky World, exchanging a sword with the other party and chopping off his calf. Later, he went to Gongde Forest with Liu Shiliu and his disciples to see the Literary Saint. He is one of the discussants, on Chen Ping’an’s side.

Cui Chan

The first disciple of the Literary Saint and Qi Jingchun’s senior brother (also known as Embroidered Tiger) later betrayed him. He was originally a cultivator at the peak of the Twelfth Realm (now Fourteenth Realm). His body was divided into two parts, one being the old man, the Da Li National Master (the main body, which has been transformed into a new Sword Qi Great Wall), and the other being the young Cui Dongshan. Cui Dongshan’s realm fell because of Qi Jingchun, the main body has secretly entered the Ascension Realm, and the young Cui Dongshan is in Jade Purity Realm (obtained from the Old Scholar, and is not ordinary, suspected of being able to fight across realms, and has many magic weapons). After Sword Qi Great Wall was broken, he wrote a travelogue about mountains and rivers that alludes to Chen Ping’an, wanting to make Chen Ping’an worried at all times (the continuation of the Book Brief Lake Questioning Heart Bureau), but it also contains a way for Chen Ping’an to escape. He is now in charge of the defense affairs of Baoping Continent. With the help of Ruan Xiu and Li Liu, he connected Baoping Continent and Northern Ju Liu Continent into one continent to jointly defend the Wilderness World. He then became the Mountain Master of Cliff Academy (because breaking through the realm obtained the named word “Chan”, which needs to borrow the power of heaven and earth to defend against the demons). Later, his cultivation base was transformed into the new Sword Qi Great Wall.

Ruan Qiong

The Sage of the Military School, an Eleventh Realm military cultivator. In order to gain another sixty years for his daughter Ruan Xiu to conceal the secrets of heaven, he took over the nearly shattered Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven. He is a blacksmith in Riding Dragon Lane, and the current Saint in charge of the small town. He rented a mountain from Chen Ping’an, and opened a sect on the Divine Show Mountain in Li Zhu Cave.

Old Yangtou

“Azure Child Heavenly Sovereign,” other names: “Duke of the East.” One of the survivors after the destruction of the Shinto, in charge of one of the ancient two “Ascension Platforms,” lived for tens of thousands of years. He has several identities. Besides being the one in charge of the small town, he is the most powerful person behind the scenes and is the “Old God Lord” recognized by the three saints. He traded the flying sword “Fifteen” to Chen Ping’an.

Lu Chen

One of the participants who harmed Qi Jingchun. The third disciple under the Taoist Ancestor, the Taoist Ancestor’s favorite disciple. Born into the Lu family of Zhongtu Divine Continent, he went to the Azure Sky World to take charge of Taoism after becoming a disciple of the Taoist Ancestor, and is one of the three Taoist masters. He likes to be a matchmaker the most. Wu Shuangjiang, Chen Ping’an, and Ning Yao have all had their red lines drawn by him. He has had several tugs of war with Chen Pingan’s state of mind. He was born in the Lu family in the Middle-earth Divine Continent, but as an ancestor, he has never done anything for the Lu family. His strategy is far inferior to that of Qi Jingchun and Cui Chan. He once lectured He Xiaoliang through the river of time and was ridiculed by the Qi Jingchun of the past through the river of time as “nothing more than that.”

Taoist Lao Er

Real name Yu Dou, “Truly Invincible.” The second disciple under the Taoist Ancestor, one of the three Taoist masters in the Azure Sky World, and was called by A Liang: “The oldest turtle in Taoism besides the Taoist Ancestor who can fight the most.” He has many magic weapons, including one of the four immortal swords “Taoist Canon” (originally from the Western Buddhist Kingdom), and claims to be “unbeaten for eight thousand years.” He once fought with A Liang, punching A Liang into Vastness World, and then punched A Liang into Azure Sky World. He once went to Sword Qi Great Wall with the immortal sword “Taoist Canon” (obtained from the Western Buddhist Kingdom) to prove the name of his sword skills, but retreated without fighting.

Song Changjing

Da Li’s military god, the younger brother of the Da Li Emperor, and Song Jixin’s royal uncle. He entered the Tenth Realm at the age of forty, and is one of the three Tenth Realm martial artists in Baoping Continent. He once boasted that he could suppress Qi Jingchun with one hand (but in reality, Qi Jingchun is in the Fourteenth Realm), and his true strength is unfathomable.

He fought a great battle with Li Er in Li Zhu Grotto-Heaven, and has rarely appeared since.

He has now stepped into the Eleventh Realm with one foot with the martial luck of a continent. One of the participants in the Temple of Literature Conference.

Li Er

Old Yangtou’s eldest disciple, Li Huai and Li Liu’s father, a Tenth Realm martial artist (broke through in the Da Sui Imperial Palace, and later reached “Return to Truth” on the way to Tongye Sect). He helped Chen Ping’an reach the Golden Body Realm and fed Quan Pei Qian at Lion Peak. After helping Zheng Dafeng reach the Sixth Realm, he went to Pima Sect to resist the demons.

Li Huai

Li Er’s son, the son of destiny in this book, studying at Cliff Academy. He has a deep blessing and was recognized as his master by the colorful deer in the academy. He has a very good relationship with Pei Qian and traveled in Northern Ju Liu Continent together. His fortune is even better than He Xiaoliang and Huang Ting. He is the apprentice of the Old Blind Man (Fourteenth Realm) of the Wilderness World.

Li Liu

The reincarnation of the Water God, one of the five supreme deities of the ancient Heavenly Court (because of the water and fire dispute with the Fire God, and the armored breaking of the sword holder, which led to the destruction of the Heavenly Court), the Lord of the Jianghu, the daughter of Li Er, and the sister of Li Huai. She and Ruan Xiu joined forces to connect Baoping Continent and Northern Ju Liu Continent into one continent, suppressing a Thirteenth Realm great demon who had a feud with the Fire Dragon real person. She has stripped off her divinity and voluntarily lost the Great Dao dispute with Ruan Xiu. (Now married)

Zheng Dafeng

Yang Laotou’s second apprentice, a Ninth Realm martial artist (his realm was reduced by Du Mao, making him a cripple, with no hope for the rest of his life, but some of his souls are practicing at Yang Laotou’s place, and there is a high probability of recovery in the future). Later, Yang Laotou returned his soul, and he went to Lion Peak in Northern Ju Liu Continent. With the help of Li Er, he reached the Sixth Realm and went to the Fifth World. He entered the Golden Body Realm as soon as he entered the world. He is lustful, especially fond of long-legged beauties. His previous life was a heavenly general who was also lustful and had a foul mouth. He wore silver armor “Big Frost”, guarded the East Gate, and fought to the death without retreating.

Wei Bo

(Bò), the Mountain God of Chess Mound Mountain, the Righteous God of the North Mountain of the former Divine Water Kingdom. His golden body was smashed, and later pieced together little by little from the river in Red Candle Town. Later, he became the Righteous God of the North Mountain of the Da Li Dynasty. His current cultivation is Jade Purity Realm, but because he is the Righteous God of the North Mountain, he needs to be regarded as one realm higher. He held a night tour banquet for the lotus root blessed land of Fallen Mountain.

Yuan Zhenye

(Taken from the true page in the mountain, that is, the peak) One of the founding ancestors of Zhengyang Mountain, Nascent Soul Realm. He once saw Liu Xianyang unfavorably, severely injuring Liu Xianyang, but made him realize the sword technique of breaking through and standing up. Because Qi Jingchun was in charge, he had to suppress his strength and fight Chen Ping’an and Ning Yao in a great battle, exchanging three breaths of life (approximately one hundred and eighty years of life span). Later, he was killed by Chen Ping’an.

Cui Cheng

A scholar, a Tenth Realm martial artist, promising to become a martial god. He used the divine man drumming style to fight with Lu Chen, giving up the opportunity to become a martial god. He is Cui Chan’s grandfather and also Chen Ping’an and Pei Qian’s guide in martial arts. Later, when he knew his life was at its end, he died for Pei Qian and Chen Ping’an in Lotus Flower Blessed Land, giving half of his martial luck to Pei Qian and half of his martial luck to Lotus Flower Blessed Land. (One of the elders most respected by Chen Ping’an)

Pei Bei

Known as a female martial god, the fifth person in the Middle Earth Divine Continent, a half-step Martial Arts Eleventh Realm, suspected of not being able to be officially recognized due to the collapse of the Shinto. It was said in the book that she was a half-step martial god. Cao Ci’s master. One of the discussants.

Cao Ci

Known as the strongest Third Realm, the strongest Fourth Realm, the strongest Fifth Realm, and the strongest Sixth Realm. Every realm is the strongest, even the strongest in history. His martial artist realm is different from the dead end of all the martial artists in the world. Cao Ci created a new martial artist path. Ordinary martial artists need to compete for the martial luck of a continent. The more martial luck they receive, the smoother the martial artist’s advancement and the higher the realm. He is different. Not only does he not need martial luck, but he can also feed back martial luck. He has only one goal, and that is to raise the martial arts path, which is called a dead end, by one level. In Sword Qi Great Wall, he once had a friendly exchange with the protagonist Chen Ping’an, winning three battles and not using his full strength. During a sea battle with great demons in the Shanshui Grotto, he broke through and ascended to the Tenth Realm of martial arts, counter-killing the great demon. One of the discussants.

Pei Qian

The little girl brought out by Chen Ping’an from Lotus Flower Blessed Land, born knowing evil, has been taught to be good by Chen Ping’an step by step. Her eyes contain the sun and moon, which can observe people’s hearts. Her talents are extremely amazing. In the eyes of martial artists, she is a born martial arts genius. In the eyes of sword immortals, she is a natural sword arts embryo. Even in the eyes of Shinto gods, she is a natural genius who is in line with Shinto practice. Under the guidance of Chen Ping’an and martial artist Cui Cheng, she entered the martial arts path. Her advancement speed in martial arts practice is extremely amazing. In just a few years, she quickly advanced to the Sixth Realm. Afterwards, she learned from her master Chen Ping’an and went down the mountain to travel. During her travels with Li Huai and Wei Taizhen, she encountered danger, and stepped into the Distant Wanderer (Martial Arts Eighth Realm) from the peak of the Sixth Realm (not the strongest), missing the opportunity to compete for the strongest in the Sixth and Seventh Realms. After going to Lion Peak in Northern Ju Liu Continent for half a year, she went to Aiai Continent to practice her boxing and prepare to ascend to the Mountain Peak Realm (Ninth Realm). Before preparing to return to Baoping Continent, she wanted to ask Cao Ci for four matches. In Aiai Continent, she asked Quan Lei Gong Temple and realized an unnamed punch, an Eighth Realm martial artist delivered a Ninth Realm peak punch. She was called “another one surnamed Pei” by Pei A Xiang. (The previous one was the half-step martial god Pei Bei)

Jiang Shangzhen

Immortal Realm (fell from the Ascension Realm), sword cultivator (Natal Flying Sword Willow Tree, used the falling realm as the cost of tempering his natal flying sword, leaving only one willow leaf, but the sharpness reached the Ascension Realm), also one of the four difficult ghosts on the mountain. He is handsome, has a signature cheap smile, and his Dao companion in his heart is a gentle girl like Hengwu. He goes by the pseudonym Zhou Fei. He is the Chief Offering of Fallen Mountain, the Sect Master of Jade Gui Sect, and the Patriarch of the Jiang family. He controls Cloud Cave Blessed Land, is extremely rich, and has many magic weapons. He can walk sideways in Northern Ju Liu Continent where sword cultivators are like clouds. He met Chen Ping’an in Lotus Flower Blessed Land. During the demon war, an Immortal Realm escaped unscathed from several Ascension Realms and guarded a continent by himself. He is the current Chief of Fallen Mountain. He teamed up with Chen Ping’an and others to kill Wu Shuangjiang. He captured Tian Wan with Cui Dongshan and Chen Ping’an.

Zhou Mili

Dragon Gate Realm. On Chen Ping’an’s distant journey to Northern Ju Liu Continent, he “picked up” a large water monster next to Dumb Lake. Because it often calls itself a “millet-sized” water monster, Chen Ping’an named it “Zhou Mili,” also known as the Dumb Lake Water Monster. He is the current Right Protector of Fallen Mountain.

Chen Nuanshu

A pink-skirted girl, Dragon Gate Realm, whose body is a Fire Python transformed by the literary fortune in the library. After being subdued by Cui Dongshan, she was sent to Chen Ping’an as a little attendant. After following Chen Ping’an back to Fallen Mountain, she served as the little housekeeper of Fallen Mountain.

Chen Jingqing

A blue-robed boy, Nascent Soul Realm, whose body is a Water Snake. After being subdued by Cui Dongshan, he was sent to Chen Ping’an as a little attendant. Chen Ping’an once traveled to Northern Ju Liu Continent to build a good relationship for him to transform into a dragon across the river. He scolded the sage Ruan Qiong, patted the shoulders of the three Taoist masters, and said that he would take care of them. His two friends are both river dragon slayers (specially killing true dragons and the water tribe in the world. Wang Zhu was killed by him when she was a dragon, and one of them was the master of Zheng Juzhong of White Emperor City, and has a very deep Dao origin with the first ancestor of the military).

Lu Tai

The apprentice of Zou Zi, the ancestor of the Yin-Yang family, and Pei Min, one of the three best in Vastness (four natal flying swords, Thirteenth Realm sword cultivator), (gender unknown). He met Chen Ping’an in Old Dragon City. He has an extremely rare Dao womb Yin-Yang fish physique. He traveled with Chen Ping’an for a while, and had a good relationship with Chen Ping’an. He separated from the Flying Eagle Fortress in Tongye Continent. He once predicted the future for Chen Ping’an, reminding Chen Ping’an: Don’t be the mainstay, you must stick to a certain place. He believes that Chen Ping’an will definitely become a Great Sword Immortal. His Yang God and Yin God went by the names Liu Cai and Liu Cai respectively. Among them, Liu Cai is one of the ten young people in the world, and has two ancestral gourds and two natal flying swords (which respectively restrain Chen Ping’an’s caged bird and the moon at the bottom of the well). Liu Cai is a slave of Tian Wan (the mastermind behind the shattering of Chen Ping’an’s natal porcelain) in Zhengyang Mountain.

Bai Ye

One of the F4 masterminds, ranked first among the ten cultivators of the Central Earth, he styles himself a scholar. He harmonized with the verses in his heart; his poetry knows no bounds, his strength never flags, and both his poetry and his sword are invincible. He is a close friend of Liu Shiliu, with whom he once sought immortals. A fourteenth-realm cultivator (though not a sword cultivator), he received the immortal sword “Tai Bai” from Grandmaster Sun of the Great Mystery Capital Temple. With this sword, he cleaved open the celestial canopy, allowing the waters of the Yellow River grotto-heaven to pour forth. He once opened the Fifth Heaven alongside the Literary Sage. After departing the Fifth Heaven, he slew three throne-level great demons with three strikes of his sword. He then wielded his sword to confront the throne-level great demons in Fuyu Continent. He was besieged by six throne-level great demons (peak of the thirteenth realm) and Liu Cha (a peak thirteenth-realm sword cultivator). Even without Liu Cha initially joining the fray, he held his own against the six adversaries. Later, he was ambushed by Zhou Mi (light yin river and other restrictions were placed on Fuyu continent so the 6 throne levels would repeatedly revive even after death). Using the Future Sword (a one-time use of the Four Great Immortal Swords), he forcibly slew Bai Ying and Qie Yun (who had been refined into Zhou Mi’s clone at that point). He suffered the backlash of the River of Time, losing all of his fourteenth-realm cultivation. The Tai Bai sword shattered into four pieces, which he gifted to Fei Ran, Liu Cai, Zhao Yao (along with a sword dao inheritance), and Chen Pingan. Subsequently, with the help of the Saintly Teacher, the Old Scholar, and Yu Xuan, he preserved his soul and transformed into a child, retaining his memories. Wearing a tiger-head hat refined from a Confucian Temple ritual implement, he journeyed to the Azure Underworld Heaven with the Old Scholar to resume his cultivation at the Great Mystery Capital Temple, to repay the kindness of Grandmaster Sun’s gift of the sword.

Chen Qingdu

Alongside Dragon Lord and Guanzhao, he was the first Chief Justice, Hidden Officer, and Sacrificial Officer of the Sword Qi Great Wall, respectively. Known as the “Eldest Sword Immortal,” he participated in the Divine War and referred to the Sword Spirit Sister (actually the Sword Master) as Senior. He was the “leader” of one faction of sword cultivators after the fall of the Ancient Heavenly Court (after the Ancient Heavenly Court fell, sword cultivators experienced conflicts of interest with the Three Teachings and the Military strategists over the ownership of the Ancient Heavenly Court, the sword cultivators split into two factions). During the Riverbank Conference, he nearly pointed his sword at the founders of the Three Teachings and the Military strategists. Later, with the mediation of the Saintly Teacher, he led sword cultivator convicts to the Sword Qi Great Wall, blocking the Desolate Wilderness Heaven. He and Dragon Lord and Guanzhao once went to Tuoyue Mountain for a sword duel. Having died once, he later harmonized with the Sword Qi Great Wall, his presence there second only to the Saintly Teacher in the Confucian Temple, the Dao Ancestor in the White Jade Capital, and the Buddha seated on the Lotus Throne. He represents the lineage with the highest killing power among the four sword arts of the Sword Origin world. A peak fourteenth-realm sword cultivator, he is the greatest reason why the demon race has failed to breach the Sword Qi Great Wall for ten thousand years. Dao the Second once attempted to challenge him to make a name for his “Fifth Sword Art,” carrying Upside Down Mountain and the immortal sword “Dao Zang” to challenge him, but turned back directly after a mere glance. Due to the “Zhuofang Pavilion Incident,” he nearly descended from the city walls. Dao the Second left Upside Down Mountain behind to quell the matter. Later, for the future of the young sword cultivators of the Sword Qi Great Wall, he secretly reached an agreement with the Confucian school. He ultimately chose to let Chen Pingan harmonize with the Sword Qi Great Wall. In the final great battle against the demon race, he forcefully cleaved open the heavens with his sword, establishing a connection with the Fifth Heaven. For the future of Ning Yao and other young sword cultivators, as the entire city ascended, he was attacked by the demon ancestor, and his dharma body dissipated. His last wisp of remnant soul attempted to prevent Chen Pingan from obtaining the “Tai Bai” sword tip, crossing the Sword Qi Great Wall and killing Dragon Lord.

Guan Dao Guan Old Abbot

Also known as the “Old Taoist with a Nose Like a Bull” or “Old Taoist of the Eastern Sea,” one of the F4 masterminds, a fourteenth-realm great cultivator. His true form is the azure ox under the Dao Ancestor’s seat. He possesses the Lotus Root Paradise, where he once exchanged a blow with the Dao Ancestor who was with the Lotus Flower Grotto Heaven, falling slightly short. He has now returned to the Azure Underworld Heaven to discuss the Dao with the Dao Ancestor, after dividing Lotus Root Paradise into four parts (gifting one each to Fallen Mountain and Lu Tai).

Chicken Soup Monk

One of the F4 masterminds, a fourteenth-realm great cultivator, he raises nine heavenly dragons. He enjoys telling stories and offering chicken soup to people. His golden body once prevented A Liang’s sword from penetrating his square inch of heaven and earth. He has now been invited by Cui Chan to Treasure Bottle Continent to help excavate Qi Du.

Blind Painter

One of the F4 masterminds, known as “Old Blind,” a fourteenth-realm great cultivator. He is also called the “Second Grandfather” of the Desolate Wilderness Heaven, the demon ancestor “turning a blind eye” to his actions there. Disappointed with the ways of the world and the hearts of the people in the Serene World, he gouged out his own eyes, throwing one into the Serene World and the other into the Azure Underworld Heaven. He is currently in the Desolate Wilderness Heaven, driving golden-armored puppets and great demons as tall as mountains to move the ten thousand mountains, laying out a magnificent and picturesque scene. He is accompanied by an old dog (actually a thirteenth-realm great demon, on par with Yang Zhi and Consort Fei). He is now preparing to take Li Huai as his disciple.

Wei Jin

A sword dao genius of Treasure Bottle Continent, appearing once every thousand years. At the age of forty, he was already a Jade Purity Realm sword cultivator. After briefly consolidating his realm by asking for guidance on the sword from Xie Shi, the Heavenly Sovereign of the Northern Ju Lu Continent, he abandoned the sword dao fortune and grand prospects of Treasure Bottle Continent to rush to the Sword Qi Great Wall. After the Sword Qi Great Wall was breached by the demon race, he, along with Mi Yu and Wei Wenlong, went to Treasure Bottle Continent in the Serene World. Subsequently, he once again crossed continents to seek guidance from Xie Shi on the sword. He is now an Immortal Realm sword cultivator. Zuo You, the Eldest Sword Immortal, once had high expectations for him.

She Yue

“Former incarnation of the Bright Moon,” born into the demon race of the Desolate Wilderness Heaven (reincarnated as one of the twelve high-ranking deities). Due to her meritorious service in the war, she was permitted by the Confucian Temple to remain in the Serene World. After ascending at the Half-Section Sword Qi Great Wall, she passed by the Sword Qi Great Wall but was mistaken by Chen Pingan for Liu Cai, and they fought. In the end, Chen Pingan seized a portion of her moon soul. In Peach Blossom Ferry, she and Pei Ran met Zhou Mi of “Literary Sea” and asked Qi Jingchun about the Dao. Later, she was thrown by Qi Jingchun under Fallen Mountain, taking the alias “Yu Qianyue.” She has feelings for Liu Xianyang and is very fearful of Chen Pingan.

Ten Cultivators of the Central Earth, Serene World

Bai Ye, Grand Heavenly Master Zhao Tianlai of Dragon Tiger Mountain, a pillar of the military strategist cultivators of the world, Yu Xuan of the Talismans, Zheng Juzhong of White Emperor City, the female Martial God Pei Bei, a great demon who founded a school, the Master Craftsman of the Mo family, the Old Sword Immortal Zhou Shenzhi, and Huai Yin. (Slightly different from the previous listing, such as the rankings of Zheng Juzhong of White Emperor City and Pei Bei being moved back one position.)

Blessed Domains and Grotto Heavens

Thirty-six Grotto Heavens and seventy-two Blessed Domains, Daoism holds the lion’s share; the Imperial Court occupies two or three, bestowing titles and enshrining orthodox deities to guard them. The remaining one-fifth, half is jointly occupied by several first-rate sects, while the other half lies desolate, reduced to ruins and secret realms, remnants of ancient formations lingering. Of these, a fraction, by some stroke of luck, become “thirty-six minor Grotto Heavens.” For cultivators, the lands below the mountains, especially those outside the Blessed Domains and Grotto Heavens, are considered impure, a fundamental law of cultivation. Those upon the mountains are akin to the character for immortality, implying that one achieves immortality on the mountain, a truth that has already pierced the veil of secrets. Descending the mountain is like sailing against a raging torrent. Impurity, malevolent energies, and Yin Qi assault like an unending army at the gates. If one’s foundation is weak, like a city with low walls and meager forces, it will be breached in an instant. Failing to defend the city, one’s cultivation will regress instead of progress. Only upon reaching the realm of a Land Immortal can one completely disregard such influences.

Author’s note

My new book will focus on “building a bizarre yet logically consistent and interesting Xianxia world.” I will dedicate significant effort and thought to constructing the foundations of this brand-new world, particularly how humans, spirits, and ghosts coexist. Of course, “traditional” Xianxia tropes will be present; they are, after all, indispensable.

However, I must first clarify something. Previously, I rarely read Xianxia or Xuanhuan novels because I harbored prejudices against the concept of “cultivating power but neglecting the heart,” “street brawls disguised as Xianxia,” and “ancient patriarchs with millennia of existence who are, at their core, mere thugs.” In truth, after delving relatively systematically into the worlds depicted in ancient notes, tales of the strange, and mythological fiction, I discovered a fascinating phenomenon: “gods and demons possess human emotions, and spirits and monsters are well-versed in worldly affairs.” Thus, my initial impression that cultivators must be “ethereal and otherworldly,” possessing “transcendent realms,” was extremely narrow. Whether in Buddhist scriptures or Daoist texts, various anecdotes, disputes, and legal cases exude a strong human flavor, sometimes even making you feel “that’s not very immortal at all,” but rather quite mercenary. It’s simply mortals vying for fame and fortune, and saints snatching luck (or incense offerings), as exemplified by works like *Journey to the West* and *Investiture of the Gods*.

Therefore, what previously appeared to me as “vulgar and lacking in immortal Qi” in many Xianxia novels, is actually quite astute in its understanding of the human heart. It is not detached from, but rather inherits and continues the traditions of many classical mythological and strange tales.

Having said that, while Wuxia novels may seem to be fading, even a century from now, Wuxia will not truly die. Ultimately, the spirit of chivalry is deeply loved by every man.

As Han Shengxuan, the Cat Master of Snow in the Sword Dynasty, said, who doesn’t envy the image of a scholar in green robes, traveling the world with a sword?

The framework of my new book is vast, and it will grow larger as I write. However, I am confident in making that world interesting, and I will pay close attention to the balance between the story and its characters, “stringing the pearls together into a pearl curtain.” After all, a dazzling and beautiful tapestry is a wonderful thing. But good things in this world are not always durable, beautiful clouds easily dissipate, and colored glass is fragile. So, let’s find them in the novel, and make up for what’s lacking. How wonderful.