An Jingming

An Jingming is An Zheyan’s gifted eldest son. His attempt to steer the An Family away from the Yu Family’s hostility fails, and he sacrifices his chance of escape so that his father can survive. (Chapters 176–177, 214)

Biography

A prodigy trapped by his clan

Jingming’s rapid progress makes him a potential future pillar of the An Family, but also gives the Yu Family reason to remove him before Foundation Establishment. He recognizes the danger more clearly than his father, whose cruelty to servants and attachment to wealth repeatedly frustrate him. Jingming proposes selling Huazhong to the Lis and building an alliance through marriage, but Zheyan refuses to relinquish the land. Jingming consequently considers exploiting the Li–Yu feud through a much harsher scheme, showing that his criticism of paternal indulgence does not make him incapable of ruthless political calculation. (Chapters 153, 176–177)

Zheyan’s drunken disclosure of his son’s cultivation exposes the family’s vulnerability. When Yu Mugao attacks under a pretext of acting for the Lis, Jingming understands that a surrounding Foundation Establishment force will prevent his own escape. He seals the pavilion against frightened relatives and sends his father through the secret passage instead, urging him to abandon revenge and produce further heirs. Jingming then confronts the attackers with his jade axe. He holds against two advanced Qi cultivators, but the appearance of Yu Xiaogui ends any prospect of breaking through; he kills himself with his sword rather than submit. The Yu Family retains his head, which Li Ximing and Li Xijun later examine while investigating the extraordinary flesh of the An bloodline. (Chapters 214, 704)

Appearance and personality

Jingming is a handsome young man with dark hair, a jade crown, and golden bracelets. His restraint can give way to anger at his father’s carelessness. During the family’s destruction, his final concern is Zheyan’s survival rather than vengeance, even though he has earlier contemplated ruthless schemes to secure their future. (Chapters 176–177, 213–214)

Abilities and cultivation

Rapid cultivation and defensive formations

At fourteen or fifteen Jingming is already a third-layer Qi cultivator. By his final confrontation, an eighth-layer opponent recoils under his axe and a peak Qi cultivator joins the defense; together they hold him in a stalemate. This strength still gives him no answer to the Foundation Establishment cultivator Yu Xiaogui. His pavilion formations seal its doors with golden light and keep ordinary An relatives outside, but cannot stop the destruction of the mountain’s principal defenses. (Chapters 153, 214)

Relationships

• An Zheyan: His father, whose refusals and indiscretion undermine Jingming’s plans; Jingming nevertheless sends him to safety.
• Yu Mugao and Yu Xiaogui: Lead the force that ends his resistance.
• Li Ximing and Li Xijun: Later investigate his preserved head. (Chapters 177, 214, 704)

Items

His jade axe is his principal weapon against the Yu attackers. He also carries a white dharma sword, which he uses to end his own life after Yu Xiaogui intercepts him. (Chapter 214)