Yanbai

Yanbai is a Maha of the Great Mahayana Dharma Realm, identified as its fourth incarnation. He first appears in a confrontation over Si Yuanli’s resistance, then takes command of a southern campaign whose plans collide with a private understanding to spare civilians. (Chapters 1583, 1697–1698)

Biography

A fourth incarnation in the grotto heaven

During the struggle over Si Yuanli in the grotto heaven, Yanbai joined Daisi in pressing the Purple Mansion cultivator to yield treasures. Li Zhouwei’s sudden intervention struck Yanbai’s snow-white, three-faced dharma body with black-gold radiance, stiffening it and leaving impact marks across its limbs. Yanbai answered with a bronze seal and a thunderous Buddhist sound, but Zhouwei’s Sovereign in Peril ability resisted the sound’s mental effect and split the resulting waves of mana. Xiangchun identified Yanbai as a formidable fourth incarnation; the clash showed his substantial power without resolving its final outcome. (Chapter 1583)

Orders on the southern campaign

Dayang Mountain later ordered Yanbai to replace Mingxiang in overseeing the campaign through the Wilderness. Yanbai’s Dao and Minghui’s had a private understanding to spare as many mortals as possible, but the reassignment disrupted Minghui’s plan to keep Mingxiang away from the assault on Moongaze Lake. Yanbai instead directed Mingxiang to join that attack, making restraint harder to maintain. He arrived after a lakeshore battle saying he had come to assist, then told Minghui that a lord had summoned and questioned him about the fighting. Yanbai sent Minghui in to answer in turn and departed without explanation. (Chapters 1697–1698, 1704, 1709–1710)

Appearance and personality

Yanbai’s snow-white, three-faced dharma body has a solemn central face flanked by expressions of laughter and sorrow. He can also manifest as a stern, middle-aged monk. In speech he is blunt, formal and controlled, whether confronting an enemy or directing other Buddhist cultivators. (Chapters 1583, 1697–1698)

Abilities and cultivation

Yanbai is a Maha and fourth incarnation of the Great Mahayana Dharma Realm. His large, white dharma body has three faces; during the fight with Li Zhouwei, he used a bronze seal and a sound-based attack that produced waves of tangible mana. Zhouwei resisted its mental effect with Sovereign in Peril and cut through the waves with his weapon. The extent of Yanbai’s other abilities is not shown in these encounters. (Chapters 1583, 1697)

Relationships

• Minghui: Their Daos had privately agreed to spare as many mortals as possible, though Yanbai’s later assignment made Minghui’s restraint plan harder to carry out. (Chapters 1697–1698)
• Daisi: Fought alongside Yanbai against Si Yuanli in the grotto heaven. (Chapter 1583)
• Dayang Mountain: Ordered Yanbai to take over the campaign through the Wilderness. (Chapter 1697)

Items

Yanbai wields a bronze seal during his clash with Li Zhouwei. (Chapter 1583)