Patriarch Deadwood

Patriarch Deadwood is a Youngflame clan Celestial Immortal whose plant-and-earth spells compensate for a childhood lack of magic treasures. His binding and suppression make him more dangerous to Ji Ning than clan peers with comparable raw power.

Biography

An unconventional path to immortality

Deadwood grows up regarded as untalented and receives few clan resources, leaving him unable to obtain the strong magic treasures on which most Ki Refiners rely. Stubbornly, he directs his effort into spells instead. The path outlasts the celebrated geniuses of his generation: his Dao grows stronger with continued cultivation, he survives his Celestial Tribulation, and he eventually matches Celestial Immortal Goldclock despite Goldclock possessing one of the Youngflame clan's greatest treasures. (Chapter 435)

First ambush of Ji Ning

When the Youngflame patriarchs plan to kill Ning, Deadwood joins Patriarch Arcanum, Celestial Immortal Goldclock, and Celestial Immortal Infatuation under Infatuation's command. Their bait draws Ning to Mu Northson, after which Deadwood merges his spell with the surrounding earth, grass, and trees. Nine enormous tendrils attack Ning and Northson's Winged Immortal golem; a conjured forest then multiplies the restraining vines. (Chapters 433–435)

Deadwood's task is control rather than the killing blow. His tendrils suppress both targets, prevent Ning from creating the time and distance needed for a Greater Teleportation seal, and force Ning's Eight-Nine Arcane body to escape through repeated splitting and self-detonation. Ning judges Deadwood a greater tactical danger than Goldclock because binding can neutralize durability that simply absorbs a direct strike. Immortal Diancai and Hunchmont arrive before the four patriarchs finish the ambush, forcing them to retreat. (Chapters 435–437)

Oldjade counterattack

Half a month later, Deadwood joins a five-Immortal Shaoyin Fiendtamer Formation at the Youngflame clan's Oldjade headquarters. The formation uses linked black chains and a five-colored mountain to capture powerful Fiendgods. Ning's rapid breakthroughs overturn their intelligence: he can now withstand the formation, attack its shared defenses, and force the patriarchs to call for their founder. Deadwood candidly recognizes that Ning has moved from below his level to beyond it. (Chapters 446–451)

During the wider clan battle, Deadwood continues reinforcing formations and uses vines to pull against the massive Infinity Furnace as Ning attempts to uproot it. The Youngflame founder ultimately orders the Celestial Immortals to withdraw. Deadwood later questions the decision to avoid immediate retaliation for another loss, but Immortal Venomfreak argues that provoking Ning further risks eventual clan annihilation. Deadwood's personal story ends with that strategic retreat rather than a confirmed death. (Chapters 449–454 and 494)

Appearance and personality

Deadwood is an elderly, white-haired man. His history defines him as stubborn and patient: deprivation pushes him toward a harder self-created specialty instead of resignation. In battle he is disciplined enough to accept Infatuation's command and realistic enough to acknowledge Ning's sudden superiority, though he remains deeply invested in the Youngflame clan's vendetta. (Chapters 433, 435, 448, and 494)

Abilities and cultivation

Celestial Immortal spell cultivation

Deadwood is an exceptional Celestial Immortal whose Dao insight exceeds Goldclock's. Rather than channel most of his power through a signature treasure, he uses seals and spoken commands to connect his Pure Yang energy to the local earth and vegetation. This makes his strength less dependent on a single artifact, but his spells still draw on the environment and can be overwhelmed by a sufficiently larger force. (Chapters 433, 435, and 439)

Earth, forest, and tendril control

By forming a hand seal, Deadwood merges ripples of power with the earth, grass, and trees. The command Forest produces numerous vines, while nine primary tendrils can strike across great distances, wrap targets, or oppose movement. The system excels at battlefield control: it attacks several bodies, constricts escape routes, and makes teleportation preparation difficult. Its limitation is killing power. Against Ning, it creates openings for allies rather than directly penetrating the Eight-Nine Arcane Art. (Chapters 435–437 and 449)

Shaoyin Fiendtamer Formation

Deadwood supplies one of five linked streams of Immortal energy to the Shaoyin Fiendtamer Formation. The formation manifests flexible black chains for capture and a five-colored mountain for defense, historically allowing the Youngflame clan to suppress strong Void-level Fiendgods. It depends on all five operators maintaining the shared structure. Ning's new strength prevents capture and pins the group into defense, demonstrating that combined energy cannot compensate indefinitely when the target exceeds the formation's expected ceiling. (Chapters 446–449)

Relationships

• Ji Ning: The Youngflame enemy whom Deadwood initially suppresses, only to see Ning surpass him within half a month. (Chapters 434–454)
• Celestial Immortal Infatuation: Commander of the first ambush and the strongest Celestial Immortal in Deadwood's team. (Chapters 433–437)
• Patriarch Arcanum: A fellow Youngflame patriarch whose formation support helps Deadwood deny Ning an escape window. (Chapters 433–437)
• Celestial Immortal Goldclock: His opposite and peer in strength: Goldclock relies on crushing treasure power, while Deadwood relies on superior insight, binding, and control. (Chapters 433–439)
• Immortal Venomfreak: The clan founder whose caution overrules Deadwood's desire to respond to Ning's provocations. (Chapter 494)

Items

• No scoped notable item is assigned to this character.