Ruan Qiong

Overview

Ruan Qiong (阮邛) is a Military School (兵家) Saint, the Chief Enshrinee of the Dali Empire, and the founder of the Dragon Springs Sword Sect (龙泉剑宗). Universally recognized as the foremost sword smith in Baoping Continent, he originally hailed from the Wind and Snow Temple (风雪庙) before relocating to the Lizhu Grotto-Heaven to take over as the sitting Sage after Qi Jingchun.

A taciturn and intensely principled man, Ruan Qiong spent decades at the Yu Pu Realm, dedicating his life to the art of sword forging rather than the expansion of sect territory or political maneuvering. Following the dissolution of the Lizhu Grotto-Heaven, he successfully established his sect, navigated the complex political landscape of the Dali Empire, and eventually broke through to the Immortal Realm (仙人境), passing the mantle of sect master to his youngest direct disciple, Liu Xianyang.

Appearance and Personality

Ruan Qiong is a short, sturdy, and robust man. He typically wears the practical attire of a blacksmith, including a leather apron, and is often found beside a sword furnace, completely absorbed in forging.

Known as a man of few words, he is blunt, highly pragmatic, and dismissive of hypocrisy or flowery moralizing. He detests those who use moral high ground to cover up malicious intent, once openly mocking cloud-sea cultivators who criticized his violent methods by stating he was a Military School cultivator, not a pedantic scholar like Qi Jingchun. Despite his gruff exterior and fearsome reputation, Ruan Qiong is deeply protective of his daughter, Ruan Xiu, and is surprisingly open-minded as a master. He does not force his disciples to conform to his path, allowing them to find their own way, and holds genuine respect for honesty and hard work.

History

Arrival at Lizhu Grotto-Heaven

Originally a high-ranking sword cultivator and smith at the Wind and Snow Temple, Ruan Qiong chose to leave his sect to become the overseeing Sage of the Lizhu Grotto-Heaven, taking over the responsibilities left by Qi Jingchun. Upon his departure, he chose not to bring his old disciples—such as Liu Jingzhuang—with him into the grotto-heaven, a decision that left a lingering sense of regret in his heart.

In the small town, he established a blacksmith shop near the Longxu River. After the grotto-heaven fell and merged with the main world to become Longquan County, Ruan Qiong traded the massive Dragon Slaying Cliff (斩龙台) with the Dali Imperial Court in exchange for a lost, ancient sword-casting method.

Founding the Dragon Springs Sword Sect

Ruan Qiong formally established the Dragon Springs Sword Sect on Shenxiu Mountain, utilizing the nearby mountains (Caiyun Peak, Xiancao Mountain, and Baolu Mountain) leased from Chen Ping'an. Initially, he intended to name the sect simply "Sword Sect" (剑宗), but on the advice of a close friend, he added "Dragon Springs" to avoid drawing unnecessary hostility from the ancient Sword Sect in the Middle Earth Divine Continent. He promised his disciples that whoever could rightfully remove the "Dragon Springs" prefix would become the next sect master.

As the Dali Empire expanded, they granted the Dragon Springs Sword Sect a massive new territory in the north (the former Middle Peak domain of the Zhu Ying Dynasty). Ruan Qiong relocated his forging operations and many of his disciples there, effectively yielding the western mountains of Longquan to the rapidly rising Luopo Mountain.

Breaking Through and Stepping Down

Despite his immense reputation and position as Dali's Chief Enshrinee, Ruan Qiong remained at the Yu Pu Realm for a long time, limited by his innate aptitude and his single-minded dedication to forging a "living sword." However, his persistent forging and cultivation eventually paid off. He quietly broke through to the Immortal Realm (仙人境).

Having reached this new height, and feeling that his title of Sect Master had served its purpose, he abdicated the position, passing it to his youngest direct disciple, Liu Xianyang, allowing himself to return to his true passion: striking iron and forging swords behind closed doors.

Cultivation and Abilities

Ruan Qiong is a Military School sword cultivator who has reached the Immortal Realm (仙人境). He possesses a unique and overwhelming combat style that is deeply tied to the environment around him.

• Natal Flying Swords - Wind and Thunder (风雷双剑): Unlike most sword cultivators who nurture their flying swords within their bodily acupoints, Ruan Qiong's two natal flying swords, Wind and Thunder, are nurtured in the three-thousand-mile heaven and earth surrounding him.
• Military Yin Gods: His flying swords are accompanied by two Military Yin Gods that roam his domain. When he summons them, they erupt from the earth and sky like geysers, capable of executing devastating, long-range strikes against any who violate his rules within his territory.
• Supreme Sword Smithing: Ruan Qiong's ultimate pursuit is not martial supremacy but the creation of a sword possessing true sentience and life—a weapon capable of cultivation and reincarnation. His mastery over forging is unmatched in Baoping Continent, allowing him to extract the purest essence from materials like the Dragon Slaying Cliff.

Relationships

• Ruan Xiu: His only daughter. Ruan Qiong is incredibly protective of her, though he often struggles to understand her voracious appetite and unique nature. He is quietly aware of her origins and potential, advising her to avoid conflict while letting her roam freely.
• Liu Xianyang: His youngest direct disciple and eventual successor as Sect Master. Ruan Qiong always desired to take Liu Xianyang as a disciple due to his unique aptitude and disposition. He tolerates Liu Xianyang's eccentricities and lack of formal respect, recognizing his incredible potential.
• Dong Gu: His first disciple in the new sect. Despite Dong Gu's non-human origins and lack of sword cultivation talent, Ruan Qiong trusts him implicitly, delegating almost all sect management duties to him and defending his status against outside prejudices.
• Xu Xiaoqiao: A former Wind and Snow Temple disciple who severed her own thumb to prove her resolve to start over with her left hand. Ruan Qiong accepted her as a direct disciple, respecting her determination.
• Xie Ling: A highly talented sword cultivator and array master from Taoye Alley. Backed by the Heavenly Lord Xie Shi, Xie Ling was long considered the presumptive heir to the sect before Liu Xianyang's rise.
• Chen Ping'an: Their relationship began with mutual wariness. Ruan Qiong initially disliked the young Chen Ping'an working in his shop, viewing him as a pawn in Qi Jingchun's dangerous schemes. However, over time, a quiet, pragmatic respect developed between them, grounded in business transactions (leasing mountains) and shared connections.

References

• 剑来2：Volume title needed, 第四章 — 天亮: Supports Ruan Qiong's natal Wind and Thunder flying swords, his method of nurturing them in the surrounding three-thousand miles, and his ruthless enforcement of rules against trespassing cultivators.
• 剑来7：Volume title needed, 第五章 — 天真: Details the founding of the Dragon Springs Sword Sect at Shenxiu Mountain, the leasing of mountains from Chen Ping'an, and his promise regarding the sect's name.
• 剑来17：Volume title needed, 第四章 — 思无邪: Details Ruan Qiong's management of the sect, his relationship with the Dali Empire, and his interactions with his direct disciples Dong Gu, Xu Xiaoqiao, and Xie Ling.
• 剑来22：Volume title needed, 第三章 — 朱敛问拳: Supports Ruan Qiong's reputation among other top cultivators during the Dali imperial meetings and his teachings to Dong Gu regarding cultivation pace and sect hierarchy.
• 剑来47：Volume title needed, 第三章 — 将进酒: Confirms Ruan Qiong's breakthrough to the Immortal Realm (仙人境), his passing of the Sect Master position to Liu Xianyang, and mentions his former Wind and Snow Temple disciple, Liu Jingzhuang.