Tenth Grade

Tenth Grade is a fully sentient, independently acting ling-beast person who emerges from the black half of the Yinyang Twin Butterfly. Although he calls Zuo Mo Master and can be associated with a beast-service card, he speaks, chooses, trains, fights, forms family ties, and pursues his own ambition to become the strongest; he is not treated here as an inert item.

Biography

Emergence in the ancient battlefield

Tenth Grade forms when the Twin Butterfly absorbs black fiendish energy in the ancient battlefield, condensing into a three-cun-tall black figure with speech and a strong sense of dignity. He asks Zuo Mo for a name, rejects humiliating wealth-themed suggestions, and accepts “Tenth Grade” because Zuo frames it as the highest and strongest grade. Zuo teaches him Hardship Guard, after which he rapidly forms removable black armor and a crescent weapon. Tenth Grade prefers cultivating on the butterfly's antenna to remaining inside the beast-service card. (Chapters 329–331)

His early life among the Little Ones tempers pride with group loyalty. Silly Bird pins him effortlessly and establishes a hierarchy he resents, yet when danger enters the fiendish mist he immediately fights beside her because both serve the same master. On Turtle Island he repeatedly attacks deep granite leaf insects to overcome his own fear and weakness, absorbing released black energy until his skill changes greatly. His struggle also nourishes the butterfly's white half, from which Sunshine emerges; Tenth Grade introduces the new person to Zuo Mo as his brother. (Chapters 331–335, 360–483)

Sword cultivation

Years later, Chun Yu Cheng places Tenth Grade in the Hunt Blood Pool to strengthen his body and killing energy, while Wei Sheng finds a vicious sword scripture suited to him. Despite originating as a ling beast, Tenth Grade can cultivate the scripture because of his unusual intelligence and compatibility. In the Totem Coliseum he uses the Hundred Sacrificial Soul Killing Sword against Zhen Ling Meng, suffers reversals from a stronger defense, and breaks through during the battle after taking inspiration from Zuo Mo's dominant attack. (Chapters 752–804)

After a period of deep sleep, Tenth Grade returns to battle alongside Sunshine, Black Gold Seal Soldier, and Ghost Mist Child. Travel through the endless void further sharpens his technique; by Chapter 875, his Hundred Sacrificial Soul Killing Sword is described as masterful, and he kills an attacker with a precise transformation rather than wasteful force. His rare smile at the Nether King's return in Chapter 877 shows an emotional range that his habitual cold expression usually conceals. (Chapters 857–877)

Appearance and personality

Tenth Grade is about three cun tall, with a handsome but harsh-featured face, deep black eyes, and a crisp childlike voice. He first wears black clothing; after absorbing fiendish energy, his hair becomes blood-red like flame. Later he appears in black robes, often seated on a black lotus or holding a small crescent blade, with a cold and murderous expression. (Chapters 329, 333, 483, 752, 790)

He is proud, disciplined, battle-hungry, protective, and intensely sensitive to humiliation. His ambition is literal: he wants to deserve the name Tenth Grade by becoming the strongest ling beast. Experience makes him more cunning and technically controlled without removing his eagerness to fight. He rarely displays affection openly, but he defends the Little Ones, accepts Sunshine as his brother, responds strongly to Zuo Mo's praise, and smiles at reunion. (Chapters 329–335, 483, 790–877)

Abilities and cultivation

Fiendish-energy cultivation

At emergence, Tenth Grade is identified as fifth-grade and possesses a space shield influenced by black fiendish energy. Hardship Guard lets him absorb that otherwise poisonous energy, form black armor, and cultivate a crescent weapon. Fifth-grade potential is compared with jindan strength, but the text also says his power is initially immature; Silly Bird overwhelms him, and the deepest fiend mist triggers danger he sensibly refuses to ignore. (Chapters 329–360)

Crescent weapon and sword scripture

Tenth Grade's crescent can expand into an axe-like form that attracts fiend souls, move as a nearly invisible blade, or multiply its sword essence into attacks from many directions. The Hundred Sacrificial Soul Killing Sword converts his killing energy into suffocating offensive pressure, and he later drives it with shen power. Hard shells, superior sword defenses, exhaustion, and large numbers can stop or push him back, so his offense depends on penetration, tempo, and continued reserves. (Chapters 333–478, 790–804, 868–875)

Perception and learning

Tenth Grade has unusually sensitive danger perception and can learn spells or sword scriptures despite being born from a ling beast. He adapts after defeats, incorporates stealth into later attacks, and reaches a masterful level through experience in the endless void. His ability to cultivate makes him exceptional, not proof that every ling beast can follow the same path. (Chapters 329, 360, 761, 800–875)

Relationships

Zuo Mo

Zuo Mo names Tenth Grade, teaches him Hardship Guard, praises his progress, and is addressed as Master. Their bond includes command and a beast-service association, but Tenth Grade repeatedly acts from personal ambition and judgment rather than as a passive extension of Zuo Mo's will. (Chapters 329–343, 790–804)

Sunshine

Sunshine emerges from the white half of the same Twin Butterfly after Tenth Grade's cultivation nourishes it. Tenth Grade immediately identifies him as his brother. Their opposing attributes become complementary: Tenth Grade specializes in killing and sword offense, while Sunshine heals, protects, and clears harmful death energy from him. (Chapters 482–483, 761, 867–875)

Silly Bird and the Little Ones

Silly Bird is stronger than Tenth Grade in his youth and enforces the Little Ones' hierarchy by pinning him. He dislikes her arrogance but later fawns before “Big Sister Bird” and fights beside her. Lil' Pagoda and Lil' Fire disrupt his cultivation yet also celebrate his victories, while his protection of the group overrides irritation. (Chapters 331–366, 790–804)

Wei Sheng

Wei Sheng obtains the vicious sword scripture chosen for Tenth Grade and serves as a sword model. Tenth Grade studies the composure with which Wei Sheng handles the God-Killing Blood Sword, whose killing presence makes Tenth Grade's own blood boil. The sword itself remains Wei Sheng's weapon; Tenth Grade does not take custody of it. (Chapters 761, 801)

Items