Master Ling

*This entry is for the manhua character. See Master for the anime/donghua equivalent.*

**Master Ling**, is the former teacher of the Duanmu household, that was tasked with educating and training the potential Yangming Masters of the family. He had taught two generations of priests before he went blind and had to retire and he, also, used to teach the children-monks in the Zhiren house for free, until it was shut down by Duanmu Xi and Shenlong Zhangxuan. He is the one who possesses the most knowledge about matters of spiritual nature, artifacts and ancient history and thus, he is greatly respected by the Duanmu family members.

When Duanmu Xi was brought to the Duanmu household after his mother’s death, his great-grandmother requested Master Ling to assess his talent and character and if he is capable, to appoint him as the next Yangming priest. Master Ling immediately saw the pure and kind nature of the child, as well as his great power and so, he told him that from that day on, he would be the 63rd Yangming Master.

A few years later, Duanmu Xi asked him about the mark of the Mirror of Yellow Springs or mirror Huang Quan, which would appear on his hand whenever he was communicating with souls. Master Ling told him that it was a mark of the people who have experienced life and death and was named after Huang Quan, but he was not sure if it was a gift from God or the seal of hell.

   About 5 years after Duanmu Xi became the Yangming Master, Shenlong Zhangxuan asked him to recommend him for the position of the head of the Duanmu family. Master Ling refused at first because he thought his character was not suitable, but after Zhangxuan promised to help him and never leave his side, he agreed.

Two years later after Zhangxuan committed suicide, Duanmu Siyun, along with Duanmu Siming, convinced Master Ling to use the forbidden soul-binding technique on Zhangxuan in order to bind his soul to his body and use it as a blood bag for Duanmu Xi, since his blood was the only one that could be safely mixed with Xi’s without causing him a severe allergic reaction. Even though the spell was successful, Master Ling lost his eyesight and had to retire from his teaching position.

Later, when Yang Jinghua stabbed Duanmu Xi with the Luoyue sword and accidentally sealed his powers, the two of them secretly went to ask for advice from Master Ling about the situation. In order to answer the questions, Master Ling wanted either something of equal price or for Duanmu Xi to defeat him in battle. When he saw Xi’s severe injury, he told him to come back after he recovered, since he wouldn’t be able to defeat him in that state, but Xi refused to give up and won. Master Ling and his personal disciple, Qiu, immediately took him inside to patch him up. After Xi explained the situation, Master Ling revealed that in order to unseal his powers, he had to exorcize Yang Jinghua. Since that was not an option and Xi wanted another way, Master Ling went to fight Yang Jinghua for Xi to gain the right to ask about it. After Yang Jinghua defeated him effortlessly, he revealed that they had to put the Luoyue sword back into its sheath and the two of them immediately left to go search for it.

When Zhangxuan was resurrected by his brother and Duanmu Xi brought him to the Duanmu household, Master Ling expressed his opposition to this, telling him that he should not have returned, as well as that closing the Zhiren house back then was a mistake.

Later, during the attack against the Duanmu family by their united enemies, who had disturbed the earth's veins in order to force Duanmu Xi to continuously perform sacrifices until he died, Master Ling was the one who suggested and organized the Heaven and Earth Formation to restore the earth’s veins.

Master Ling cares for Duanmu Xi deeply and always has his best interest in mind. Whenever there was a chance for him to leave the Yangming Master position, like when his powers were shield, he wished that he would have taken the chance to live a normal life. Also, when his relationship with Yang Jinghua was shaken, he pushed Jinghua to make Xi open up to him to clear his doubts and truly bond with each other. He was, also, one of the first people to acknowledge Yang Jinghua’s great power and loyalty to Xi.