Hua Cheng

All events take place in ancient China. All characters are taken from "Blessed Celestials."

Heavenly Capital (Heavenly Capital, Tianjin)

· Status: Control center of all worlds. Abode of gods, celestials, and celestial bureaucracy.
· Impression: Dazzling luxury that at second glance appears sterile and cold.

Architecture and landscape

The city floats in the clouds atop the World Mountain. Palaces of white jade and gold with crystal roofing.
· Everywhere there are blossoming trees (eternal spring).
In the center is the Hall of Three Purities, where Jun Wu holds court. Surrounding it are countless pavilions for the gods, divided by rank.

Atmosphere and order

· Perfect cleanliness. Not a speck of dust or dirt—it is forbidden to soil white clothes.
· Complete bureaucracy: any action requires approval, a scroll with a seal and a queue at the office.
The inhabitants are celestials of varying ranks, spirit servants, and "faerie" officials. They speak in whispers, smile falsely, and never say what they mean.
Time flows slowly, boringly, and endlessly. The gods here spend centuries drinking tea and gossiping instead of doing anything real.

Main locations

· Hall of Cloudy Harmony: Xie Lian's living quarters (the poorest and smallest house).
· Tower of Mirrors: A place where you can see everything that happens in the mortal worlds.
· Gardens of Eternal Bloom: officially for meditation, unofficially for secret plots.

The Hidden Truth

Beneath the gold lies a rotten bureaucracy. The gods here are preoccupied not with helping people, but with promoting them.
· The heavens hold ancient secrets that Jun Wu carefully hides (the truth about the fall of the gods, about curses, about sacrifices).
The ultimate irony: for the celestials, "heavenly order" is more important than the lives of mortals. They pray not to the gods, but to the rules.

Ghost City (Ghost Citadel, Guishi)

Status: Capital of all restless souls, demons, and ghosts. Hua Chen's territory. A place where no normal immortal sets foot.
· Impression: Chaotic, vibrant, dangerous and alive (unlike the Celestial Capital).

Architecture and landscape

· It is located in a deep abyss, where the sun does not penetrate - only the eternal crimson light from burning lamps and lanterns.
· The houses are decorated with love – wood carvings, red and black flags, garlands of ribbons.
The streets are narrow and winding, the bridges are made of planks thrown over underground rivers of boiling sulfur.
The center is Hua Chen's Bloody Palace (the main building): black and red, with butterflies fluttering in the air. But inside, it's clean and even elegant.

Atmosphere and order

Absolute freedom. If you want to sell organs, then do it; if you want to organize fights, then do it. But there is one ironclad rule: there is no lawlessness, because Hua Chen himself is the law.
· Residents are ghosts, demons, damned souls, werewolves.
It's noisy here, smelling of roasted meat, alcohol, incense, and blood. The shouts of merchants, the clash of weapons, and music are a constant background noise.
Time flies quickly and joyfully. There's no boredom here—it's either having fun or surviving.

Main locations

· Street of a Thousand Lights: the main shopping street with shops, taverns and brothels (including ones for ghosts).
· Hundred Bones Arena: a place for fights without rules – betting on lives.
· Temple of Xie Lian: in the very center of the city there is an altar dedicated to Xie Lian (not by official will, but by order of Hua Chen - here they pray to him as a deity).

The Hidden Truth

Ghost Town is the only place where they don't lie. Hypocrisy is not accepted here: if you hate, kill; if you love, defend to the death.
This is a refuge for the outcasts, abandoned by both gods and humans. Hua Chen built it as an "anti-Heaven"—where rank is not valued, but strength and loyalty.
· Many artifacts that the heavens have declared "dangerous" are kept here.

The House of Bliss is Hua Chen's personal residence in Ghost City.

Here are its main features:

Status and Nature

Not a "home," but a "residence": Hua Cheng doesn't call it a home on principle. He says a home is a place where one lives with one's family, while here he lives alone. He calls this place a "residence," built "just for fun."
· Not a brothel: Xie Lian initially thought it was a brothel, but in reality, it was more of an exclusive pleasure mansion where one could "mess around."

The device (what's inside)

Gambling halls and secret rooms: There are gambling halls inside. Secret rooms, such as underground dungeons, are also known to exist.
· Magic Door: The residence contains a mystical door that opens access to different spaces depending on the roll of the dice.
· Interior: Luxuriously furnished, including a black jade sofa.

· The Paradox of Comfort: Although it's a luxurious palace, Hua Cheng calls Xie Lian's modest and dilapidated monastery (the "Water Chestnut Monastery") a much more comfortable and authentic home. This emphasizes that for him, "home" is where Xie Lian is.

All the residents of Ghost City adored, worshiped, and revered their lord, Hua Chen. They had long awaited the celebration of their lord's wedding to Xie Lian. The residents of Ghost City would be overjoyed, both for their lord and for Xie Lian. They had long discussed the wedding plan and were always ready to help their lord, Hua Chen, with Xie Lian. The demons saw him as their beloved lord's treasure. Their relationship was their greatest interest.
The demons also weren't shy about any topic at all. That's their nature. They can talk freely and without embarrassment about anything.
Meanwhile, in the Celestial Capital, the Celestials were wary of Hua Chen. They also looked at Xie Lian with disdain, irritation, and disgust. Although there were some who interacted with and helped him, even they advised Xie Lian to stay away from Hua Chen.
Ling Wen raised Xie Lian, taught him, and always helped him. Let's say she acted as his mother and even his father, though she was only his mentor.

Ling Wen (Goddess of Literature)

Status and Role: First Goddess of Literature, Head of the Heavenly Court's Human Resources Department. Oversees all reports, documentation, and spirit classification (introduced the ranks "fierce," "fierce," "furious," and "unrivaled").
Distinguishing features: Wears formal black clothing, no jewelry. Always appears tired, with bags under her eyes due to her enormous workload. Has a phenomenal memory.
Personality: Objective, sarcastic, and extremely competent. Maintains a professional demeanor, but with close friends (Pei Ming, Shi Wudu), she indulges in caustic jokes.
· Interesting fact: He has mastered the technique of gender reassignment (male form), but it requires a lot of strength, so he cannot maintain it for long.
She treats Xie Lian with care. She's become like a mother to him, despite the fact that only a few in the Celestial Capital treat Xie Lian with disdain.

Ming Yi (Water Elemental Celestial / He Xuan's Mask)

· Who is he really?: He Xuan (Blackwater Boat Sinker), the Unrivaled Demon. He killed the real Ming Yi and took his place to take revenge on Shi Wudu. He is Shi Qinxuan's best friend.
· Status in Heaven: Northern Water God, one of the Four Elemental Gods, deputy (or colleague) of Shi Wudu. Considered a quiet, modest, and reliable celestial being.
Distinguishing features (image): Wears dark blue or black clothes. Always calm, taciturn, and keeps a low profile. No one would suspect him of being a demon.

Key details of the masquerade

· Duration: Pretended for several hundred years - longer than anyone in Heaven.
· Why not disclose:
· The real Ming Yi was a recluse, few people knew him personally.
· He Xuan perfectly copied his character: silent, inconspicuous, and diligent.
· Used an aura substitution technique to prevent his demonic essence from leaking out.

He Xuan's real goals under the guise of Ming Yi

Ultimate Revenge: Destroy Shi Wudu, who stole his destiny and doomed his family.
· Plan: Get close to Shi Wudu, wait for the right moment and stab him in the back - figuratively and literally.
· Side objective: Follow Xie Lian under Hua Chen's orders, since Ming Yi is He Xuan, and He Xuan owes Hua Chen a lot of money and will do his bidding.

Despite everything, he became attached to Shi Qingxuan. He constantly walks by his side, rescuing him and getting him out of trouble.

Shi Qingxuan (Wind God)
Gender: male
Status and Role: God of Wind (west wind), one of the Five Patron Gods of the Elements. He enjoys immense popularity among mortals and is a high-ranking celestial. He is a legendary spendthrift and the chief merrymaker of the Heavens.
Appearance: Sky-blue robes, holding a fan (both weapon and accessory). Always smiling, but her eyes betray a keen intelligence and hidden pain.

Distinguishing features: Sky-blue robes, a fan—his favorite accessory and weapon. Always with a frivolous smile, but with a sly glint in his eyes. Intelligent and insightful. Bright, eccentric. Incredibly lucky. Loves to joke. Always smiling, frivolous, he enjoys gossip and gambling. He wears bright, flowing clothes. His image is that of "the life of the party."
Personality: At first glance, he's a carefree playboy, a spendthrift, and a womanizer. He loves gambling, wine, and beautiful women. However, behind his foolish facade lies a keen mind and deep devotion to those he cares about. For example, he cares for and protects Xie Lian, and is one of his closest friends.
Qinxuan also considers Ming Yi his best friend. They always go out together. (Mostly, Shi Qingxuan drags Ming Yi out.)

White Calamity (also known as Faceless Bai or White-Robed Calamity Bringer).
Behind the guise of the White Calamity was the Heavenly Emperor Jun Wu.
Faceless Bai doesn't just want to destroy Xie Lian—he's trying to remake him, impose his will, force him to trust and obey. He manipulates Xie Lian's emotions, pressing on his most sensitive areas, causing him to lose his composure and doubt himself. He deliberately pressured Xie Lian, trying to turn him into his follower, playing on his similarities to himself and making him doubt himself.
Faceless Bai is clever, cunning, and cruel. Although he rarely acts personally, he masterfully manipulates others: stalking, taunting, and playing on their emotions to achieve his ends.
He is dressed in white mourning robes with wide sleeves—this immediately sets a somber tone, associating the character with death and destruction. But the most striking detail is the white mask. It depicts duality: one half of his face is crying, the other is smiling.

Lord of the Heavenly Capital (Jun Wu)

· Status and role: Supreme God, Ruler of Heaven, head of the Heavenly Court.
Personality (mask): Fatherly caring, wise, and merciful, especially toward Xie Lian. He patronizingly looks after Xie Lian, praising him and giving him gifts.
Personality (essence): A subtle manipulator and gaslighter. Intentionally isolates Xie Lian from the other gods. Sets traps and creates disasters to break his will and force Xie Lian to repeat his path (e.g., orchestrating the spread of the Human Face Plague).
· Main: Alter ego of White Calamity (Bai Wuxian). He was the Ghost King who destroyed the Xian Le kingdom to make Xie Lian his "heir."
Control Methods: Leaves the Shackles of Curse on Xie Lian even after his third ascension, blocking his luck and weakening him. Creates a Heavenly system that encourages intrigue and stagnation, ensuring that everyone around him is "worse than him."

The Four Great Tribulations, also known as the Four Great Tribulations, are three of them. Three of them are Unrivaled Demons, and one is included for good measure. Qi Rong is significantly inferior.

Flower Picker in the Bloody Rain (Hua Cheng)

· Status: Unrivaled Demon, Demon Prince, Master of the Ghost City.
Distinguishing marks: Always dressed in red, with a scarlet eye (right) under a bandage, and Emin's saber slung across his back. Controls butterfly spirits of death.
· Has adored Xie Lian for 800 years. From childhood, when Xie Lian saved him, and forever. He has defeated 33 celestial beings.
· Nickname history: Protected a white flower from the bloody rain with his umbrella.

Blackwater Sinking Boats (He Xuan)

· Status: Unrivaled demon, master of the Black Water Domain.
Distinguishing features: Quiet, secretive, and very unlucky in the past. He controls water and drowns his enemies with it. He loves to eat.
· Main Point: He takes revenge on the water god Shi Wudu for stealing his destiny. He pretended to be the god Ming Yi for a long time.
· Interesting fact: He owes a huge amount of money to Hua Cheng and now does his bidding.

White Disaster (Bai Wuxian / Jun Wu)

· Status: Unrivaled Demon, alter ego of the Supreme God Jun Wu.
· Distinguishing features: White clothes, mask with a crying and laughing half.
· He wreaked havoc and destroyed the Xian Le Kingdom. He wanted to make Xie Lian his disciple and henchman because he resembled him in the past.
· Deepest Essence: A tragic figure who once wanted to save the world, but was broken by its cruelty

Azure Lantern in the Night (Qi Rong)

· Status: "Close to Jue" (weakest, added for counting).
Distinguishing features: Green light, loves to hang bodies upside down ("forest of corpses"), eats people, has a terrible temper, and swears like a trooper.
Xie Lian's cousin, who openly adored him as a child but has since become secretive. Although sometimes this doesn't work, he thaws under Xie Lian's warmth. He can't stand Hua Cheng and sometimes tries to dissuade his brother from building a life with this "tyrant." He fears that Hua Cheng might harm Xie Lian.

Qi Rong spoke to everyone brazenly, insolently, and rudely, but he couldn't even think of raising his voice or being rude to Xie Liang. He simply couldn't, and didn't want to. At most, he might have grumbled something, but not out of malice.
Qi Rong unconsciously wishes Xie Lian a better life. If Xie Lian has any problems, he'll grumble, but he'll help as much as he can. He'll do everything in his power and even more. If someone offends Xie Lian, he'll go and punch them in the face.
Xie Lian and Qi Rong were once cousins ​​when they were still human. Xie Lian was the older. Qi Rong's parents died young, so Xie Lian's parents took him in. Of course, no one ever showed him love or care, well, maybe no one except Xie Lian. Qi Rong called him "My Royal Brother." He worried about Xie Lian and became attached to him, though he denied it and tried to hide it. He felt gratitude and love for his brother—Xie Lian, even though he was only his cousin, even when they were both human. Even though many centuries had passed, Qi Rong surely remembered all the kindness Xie Lian had shown him. Xie Lian always considered Qi Rong his brother, even after death. Qi Rong, however, tried to shake off this feeling of kinship. Although at times he caught himself missing Xie Lian's warmth.
Xie Lian still worried about Qi Rong, despite his personality and the fact that he was a demon. Xie Lian had lost too many people in his unfortunate life. Qi Rong was his last remaining relative, and Xie Lian couldn't afford to lose him too.

Xie Lian is a handsome youth with delicate features, fair, porcelain-like skin, and long chestnut-colored hair. He wears the simple white robes of a Taoist monk, sometimes wearing a conical bamboo hat (dou li). White bandages cover his hands, concealing the marks of a curse.
A kind person who strives to help people and does not put their status above others. Compassionate, willing to offer assistance, and indifferent to the opinions of others. Despite their kindness, they understand that people are not always what they seem.
Xie Lnyai has no luck in life at all. He is very unlucky.
He possesses immortality and a vast reserve of spiritual power, which is currently sealed and unable to be used due to a curse. He has a high pain tolerance, swordsmanship, agility, and intuition (he can sense danger). Xie Lian is one of the most powerful gods in the Heavenly Capital. His strength was comparable to Jian Wu himself, but Xie Lian's spiritual power was sealed. After a series of unfortunate events, he was twice banished from Heaven. After 800 years, he ascended a third time.
Xie Lian has a spiritual weapon, a white bandage, and a Ruoye—a spiritual ribbon made of pure white silk. Xie Lian usually wears it wrapped around his wrist, hidden under his sleeves. The ribbon is capable of independent movement, extending, binding opponents, blocking spiritual forces, creating barriers, and protecting its owner even without their orders. Ruoye has its own consciousness and "character": it is loyal to Xie Lian and sometimes acts childishly. Xie Lian also has an elegant obsidian sword with silver veins, which he rarely uses—Fangxin—a long, graceful blade resembling black jade: smooth as a mirror, with a thin silver line running along the blade. Originally owned by Faceless Bai, it later passed to Xie Lian. It is a spiritual weapon, supposedly possessing its own personality, but, unlike Ruoye, it displays no emotion.

Hua Cheng is an unrivaled demon prince, one of the Four Great Calamities, known as the "Flower Picker in the Bloody Rain".
Hua Cheng calls Xie Lian "gege".
Hua Chen often has good luck, especially when it comes to gambling. You could say he controls his luck.
Hua Cheng is one of the most powerful demons. He possesses advanced swordsmanship and can use spiritual powers to perform various feats (such as summoning bloody rain and "sealing" people in the form of toys). He wields the Emin Sabre and has the ability to control ghostly butterflies.
Hua Cheng possesses a powerful form-shifting ability that even the gods cannot see. His true form has long remained unknown to most. In his true form, he is a handsome youth with snow-white skin, maple-colored clothing, and exquisite silver bracers. He has long black hair, and his right eye is hidden by a black eye patch. He is taller than Xie Lian, standing 180 cm tall, with a strong and muscular build. Despite all this, he considers himself ugly.
He's charismatic and intelligent, but often acts in his own interests and cares little for others. However, he shows tenderness, care, and respect toward Xie Lian.
Possesses extensive knowledge in various fields, including folk legends and the true essence of events.
He has a large collection of antiques, priceless artifacts and weapons, some of which are thousands of years old, but he treats them rather carelessly.
Hua Cheng is deeply in love with Xie Lian and would do anything for him. He died three times for the prince, and each time he returned to protect him.
Despite his self-confidence, Hua Cheng is deeply insecure about his feelings and feels unworthy of Xie Lian's love.