Yu Mugao

Yu Mugao was a shrewd and ruthless Yu family leader who used calculated pressure to expand his clan’s influence. His reforms improved conditions for commoners, but his rule remained oppressive, and his own clan’s elders left him outside the mountain formation during the devil plague. (Chapters 140, 145, 409, 425–426)

Biography

A cautious heir with an ambitious agenda

As a young master, Mugao could be courteous when negotiating with a stronger family and openly arrogant when dealing with a weaker one. He sought a share of the profits from the Moongaze market for his family, while privately weighing whether to eliminate Li Tongya before the Li family grew stronger. His father, Yu Xiaogui, judged him as ruthless as himself but more cautious, and warned him that a careless attack on Tongya could draw the sect’s scrutiny. (Chapters 140–141, 145)

Governing through calculation and reform

As family head, Mugao used spies and misinformation to shape conflicts around him. When an embellished report made him believe An Jingming posed an imminent threat, Mugao resolved to kill him and planned to use the An family’s information to place agents in Li territory. His rule was harsh, but it also changed the Yu family’s system: public fields, inspections, collective punishments, and commercial taxes improved commoners’ conditions and raised people outside the ruling clan. After his death, the elders swiftly revoked those reforms and restored the tribute and clan-slave systems. (Chapters 207, 409, 426)

Left outside the formation

During the devil plague, Mugao and the cultivators he had trained defended Milin Prefecture, expending two Foundation Establishment talismans and saving most of its cities and counties before withdrawing. His clan had already sealed its mountain formation; when Mugao called to enter, his youngest son hesitated and the elders held the formation plate rather than open it. Devil cultivators killed him outside. His death allowed the elders to dismantle his reforms and divide the Yu family’s authority among rival branches. (Chapters 425–426)

Appearance and personality

Mugao was first seen as an arrogant young man who demanded deference from weaker families and adopted a courteous manner before the Li family. He was a calculating political operator, wary of underestimated opponents, but was not a strong fighter and relied on Jade Smoke Mountain to improve his combat ability. (Chapters 140, 145, 207, 425–426)

Abilities and cultivation

Mugao reached the late stage of Qi Cultivation and became the strongest cultivator within his clan. He was not naturally skilled in combat, but the Jade Smoke Mountain dharma artifact substantially improved his fighting ability. He also used two Foundation Establishment talismans during the defense of Milin Prefecture; both were spent before his retreat to the sealed mountain. (Chapter 425)

Relationships

• Yu Xiaogui: His father and predecessor. Xiaogui recognized Mugao’s ruthlessness and strategic caution, but restrained his plans against the Li family. (Chapter 145)
• Li Tongya: A rival family leader whom Mugao considered eliminating before the Li family’s strength increased. (Chapter 145)
• Yu Chengyi: Mugao’s youngest son. Chengyi recognized his father outside the formation but did not overcome the elders’ control of the formation plate. (Chapter 425)

Items

Mugao wielded the Yu family’s Jade Smoke Mountain, a Foundation Establishment dharma artifact, and expended two Foundation Establishment talismans during the defense of Milin. The mountain remained at the foot of the sealed formation after his death. (Chapters 425–426)