Ji Yuntao

Tai Xuan Sect
• Unnamed Master
• Gao Bufan (Junior Martial Brother)

Fan Xinzhai
• Xie Daoyun (Companion)

Mo Qing Sect
• Xie Yan (Companion)

Liantai Monastery
• Xie Ran (Companion)

Shan Hai
• Ziwei Emperor (Master)

Ji Yuntao is the chief disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect and a member of the Five Beauties and Five Princes. He later became the disciple of the Ziwei Emperor, becoming the 10th Saint of the North Star.

## Personality and Traits

Handsome, refined, and gifted in martial arts, Ji Yuntao is a modest gentleman esteemed by many as the foremost person of the younger generation. He is, however, prejudiced against demonic sects, disparaging them in front of Xie Yan and Ji Changwu. He is also a brilliant strategist and is perceptive about people. Xie Yan notes that Ji Yuntao isn't interested in building a reputation and often helps people along the way. Ji Yuntao is gracious to admit defeat against Xie Yan after the latter thwarted his plans. It is heavily implied that Ji Yuntao has been trying to win the heart of Xie Daoyun.

## Plot

Ji Yuntao and Xie Daoyun arrive in Qufeng to execute the demonic cultivator, Yan Jie. Along the way, Ji Yuntao devises a stratagem to usurp the cold iron ore shares of the Mo Qing Sect. A few days later, Ji Yuntao and Xie Daoyun execute Yan Jie and win the favour of the four local businessmen of Qufeng. In the following days, Ji Yuntao attempts to usurp the ores, however, the Mo Qing Sect's branch leader, Xie Yan, proves to be stronger than expected. Xie Yan thwarts Ji Yuntao's plans by tricking the four local businessmen into stealing fake ores. Eventually, the Han Imperial Inspector, Cao Tianhou, decides to settle the dispute with a duel between Ji Yuntao and Xie Yan. The duel ends in a stalemate, and Ji Yuntao admits his loss. Ji Yuntao and Xie Daoyun return to their sects, while Xie Yan unifies the city of Qufeng under the Mo Qing Sect's rule.

At some point in time, Ji Yuntao enters the Innate Realm and undergoes all sorts of trials. Eventually, he uses the teleportation stone in the Fan Xinzhai to step into the world of Shan Hai, where he is accepted by the Ziwei Emperor as his disciple, thus becoming the 10th Saint of the North Star. Ji Yuntao spends some time cultivating the Immortal inheritance of the Ziwei emperor. Ji Yuntao also receives some treasures and returns to the Main World.

One year after the events of Qufeng, Ji Yuntao enters the Innate Realm - 3rd Layer. Eventually, he encounters a mysterious figure named Ancestor Mara, the leader of the Eternal Heavens. Having learnt of the Dao Ancestor Mara from the Ziwei emperor, Ji Yuntao decides to investigate the possible connection between that entity and the Ancestor Mara. Ji Yuntao injures Ancestor Mara, who flees to the Tang Empire. Ji Yuntao uses a divination technique to track Ancestor Mara's location within the Tang Empire. Along the way, he encounters Xie Yan and his younger sister, Xie Ran, from the Liantai Temple. Ji Yuntao, Xie Yan, and Xie Ran form a group and travel together to Dongdu prefecture, executing many rogue demonic practitioners and helping people in distress along the way. One month later, the trio arrives in Dongdu and splits up. Ji Yuntao approaches Lian Qiluo, the Right Envoy of the Flower Deity Cult, and the deputy governor of Dongdu. In order to win Lian Qiluo's favour, Ji Yuntao participates at the Immortal Fame Stage organised by the Flower Deity Cult. Although Ji Yuntao's flute performance wins praise from everyone, Cui Rong's friends accuse him of plagiarism. However, Xie Yan unexpectedly arrives at the venue and wins the contest.

As a reward for winning the competition, Xie Yan, Xie Ran, and Ji Yuntao become the distinguished guests of the You Meng Tower for the night. Although Lian Qiluo flatters the guests, Ji Yuntao notices her intention to subtly instigate them against Cui Rong, the son of Cui Bei, the governor of Dongdu and an elder of the Louguan Sect. Cui Rong and his friends create a ruckus at the brothel and slander the guests. Ji Yuntao, Xie Yan, and Xie Ran become disgusted with Cui Rong's behaviour and leave the brothel. Later, Ji Yuntao informs Xie Yan about Lian Qiluo's intentions and warns him against trusting the deputy governor. A few days later, Ji Yuntao goes to visit the Vermilion Bird Temple nearby. However, upon learning about the Eternal Heavens' ambush on the governor and the deputy governor, he returns to Dongdu. Ji Yuntao attempts to apprehend the culprit but the latter escapes. The following night, Xie Yan takes Ji Yuntao and Xie Ran to the Gu Wang Establishment. The three friends gain a free admission to the brothel after passing their tests.

The trio spends the evening watching the performances of the brothel, including the famous sword dance of the lead courtesan, Gongsun Hao. After the brothel closes, the trio discovers that Gongsun Hao is Yu Wushuang, the androgynous son of the Great Heavenly Demon Sect's patriarch. The trio watches Yu Wushuang refuse their brother, Yu Long'er's request to return to the sect. Subsequently a duel ensues where Yu Wushuang kills Elder Guo of the Great Heavenly Demon Sect. Later, when the other elders attempt to capture a defiant Gongsun Hao, Ji Yuntao helps Xie Yan end the matter by compelling the elders to leave. Afterwards, Ji Yuntao visits the Vermilion Bird Temple while Xie Yan and Xie Ran follow Gongsun Hao to their home.

Later, Ji Yuntao dreams of the world of Shan Hai, where his master meets him. Ji Yuntao's master advises him to remember that the Main World is the highest compared to all other realms. He further explains that the supernatural entities described within the scriptures of all sects are merely different aspects of the Dao and are completely different from the namesake beings of outer realms. The Ziwei Emperor is no exception. However, people's beliefs tend to empower these outer beings, enabling them to usurp the Dao in the Main World and eroding the foundation of cultivators. For this reason, knowledge of outer realms is rarely divulged to cultivators below the Innate Realm - 4th Layer, who lack the maturity to handle such knowledge. Ji Yuntao's master instructs him to stay within the Tang Empire until the former discusses the matter of the North Star with the Di family. Later, Ji Yuntao gradually determines the fake Ancestor Mara's location. He invites Xie Yan and three monks from the Vermilion Bird Temple to join him in his mission to kill Ancestor Mara. That evening, Ji Yuntao attacks the villain. However, the fake Mara escapes. Ji Yuntao, Xie Yan and the three monks visit the governor of Dongdu, Cui Bei.

## The Saint of the North Star

The Saint is the legendary embodiment of the North Star (紫微星 *Pinyin: Ziweixing*, lit. Purple Star; also known as Polaris, Ziwei Star, or God Emperor Star). It is believed that this Saint supposedly reincarnates within the Han Empire every century to unite the Righteous and Demonic sects and rule the world of martial arts. They are also responsible for supporting the Fan Xinzhai, helping the sect survive for over a thousand years. Consequently, every century, the Fan Xinzhai dispatches one disciple to seek this reincarnation. There is a teleportation stone in the Fan Xinzhai, which only the reincarnation can use to enter the world of Shan Hai. There, they are accepted by the Ziwei Emperor as his disciple. This person assumes the role of the Saint of the North Star. The tenth and current Saint is Ji Yuntao of the Tai Xuan Sect.

There are conflicting views about the Saint of the North Star. According to Di Xiaoyao, all the past Saints were the most prominent figures of their times and heroes among heroes. In his opinion, the exemplary Saint must possess virtue, erudition, noble character, sterling integrity, and stately comportment. However, according to Cui Bei and Cui Rong, past Saints were notorious for initiating violent campaigns, leading to the deaths of many throughout history. A century ago, the ninth Saint was reportedly slain by Di Kunlun, the reigning emperor of the Han Empire at that time and a prodigy who reached the Innate Realm - 9th Layer. Rumors suggest that Di Kunlun invaded the world of Shan Hai, vanquished the Ziwei Emperor, and plundered numerous treasures. The Ziwei Emperor's power is equivalent to the Innate Realm - 9th Layer.

## Trivia

* Ji Yuntao hails from the Jiangnan Administrative Region.
* The erotic novel *Tears on a Beautiful Face- Lesbians* is written by Deja Vu, a pseudonym attributed to Ji Yuntao, which irritates him.
* His given name, Yuntao means "billowing clouds".
* Ji Yuntao had wanted to seize the Mo Qing Sect's cold iron ore mines and gift them to the Fan Xinzhai.
* Cyany notes that Ji Yuntao possesses exceptional luck, comparable to a protagonist of a story. It manifests as a brilliant aura, shimmering in purple and golden hues.