Li Rui

Known as the **Old Man of Heaven's Keep**, or **Old Man Li**, Li Rui is the most respected and influential figure among the 3 Races of Tong Xuan Realm upon Yang Kai's arrival there. A Saint Grade Alchemist, Li Rui is notable for his nondiscriminatory nature, demonstrated by his taking of the Monster Race youth, Di Yao, as his Alchemy disciple.

## Appearance

Old Man Li appears as a plain clothed and unassuming hoary-haired old man. However, in his eyes burns a faint glow full of the wisdom of the years.

## **Personality**

Li Rui is notable for his kind nature, extreme generosity, and his lack of prejudice towards any of the 3 Races. He prefers to remain lowkey unless his presence serves to benefit the fate of the world.

## Background

At the Saint Realm of cultivation, Old Man Li was relatively powerful in his own right, especially for an Alchemist. However, it was his peaceful, nondiscriminatory, and influential nature that was largely responsible for the profound respect he received.

## Past

Old Man Li was famous for acquiring the Thousand Year Demon Flower during its last appearance in Tong Xuan Realm around 1,000 years before Yang Kai arrived there. During this experience, he had a brief escapade into the Starry Sky where he estimated one would need a 3rd Order Saint Realm cultivation level in order to endure its fearsome pressure.

## **History**

### Thousand Year Demon Flower

Old Man Li would have his disciple, Di Yao, engage in competition with Xia Ning Chang at some point during their travels in Tong Xuan Realm. Later, he would send him on his own in order to acquire the Thousand Year Demon Flower while he stayed in the City Masters' Mansion of Floating Clouds City, the neutral territory of Tong Xuan Realm. Collaborating with another youth named Yang Kai, Di Yao would succeed in acquiring the flower, and would return after spending 3 months in the Starry Sky. Upon returning, Di Yao excitedly informs his master of Yang Kai, whom he had lost an Alchemy competition to before helping him to acquire the flower. Old Man Li assumes Yang Kai has died after the latter still had not returned from the Starry Sky for a year, but he is pressured by Di Yao into waiting for his return.

A surprised and impressed Old Man Li then eventually meets with a returned Yang Kai in the City Masters' Mansion. During this encounter, Old Man Li generously passes on much of his accumulated knowledge on the uses of having a Conflagrated Knowledge Sea. In addition, he provides many of his attainments and experiences on the Alchemy Way to Yang Kai on the spot. Old Man Li then proceeds to inform a curious Yang Kai on his previous and relatively recent encounter with Meng Wu Ya and Xia Ning Chang before eventually parting ways with him.

### The Power of Alchemy

Later, in Nine Heavens Holy Land, Old Man Li comes to Yang Kai as he attempts to gather the forces of Tong Xuan Realm in order to fight against the Bone Race. Old Man Li gives Yang Kai an idea to gather more people by using the newfound influence of Nine Heavens Holy Land to host the entire Alchemy Guild of Tong Xuan Realm. After doing so, all of the world's forces are pressured into supporting the Holy Land's cause. Having gathered the necessary forces due to this extremely effective maneuver, Yang Kai eventually leads the world's forces to victory over the Bone Race. Shortly after the war, Yang Kai departs for the Starry Sky as Old Man Li continues to travel Tong Xuan Realm with Di Yao.

### Death

When Yang Kai, now at the 2nd Order Origin Returning Realm, returns to Tong Xuan Realm after decades away in the Heng Luo Star Field, he learns from Di Yao that Old Man Li passed away due to old age.

## References

1. ↑ Chapter 699
2. ↑ Chapter 720