The world of cultivation in Renegade Immortal (仙逆) is a treacherous landscape where power dictates survival. For the protagonist Wang Lin (王林), his arduous journey from an ordinary mortal to a formidable force is mirrored in the five masters who enter his life. These relationships form the crucible in which his character is forged. They are not merely teachers of technique but living lessons in human nature, revealing profound truths about trust, betrayal, and the rare, priceless value of genuine devotion.
1. Sun Dazhu (孙大柱)
Wang Lin's introduction to the cultivation world comes through Sun Dazhu, a figure who embodies its most petty and vicious aspects. A low-level elder of the Hengyue Sect (恒岳派) with minimal power, his gaze is fixed solely on personal gain. He sees in Wang Lin not a disciple but an opportunity, coveting a gourd subtly influenced by the Heavenly Punishment Pearl. His "guidance" is a facade for sabotage, as he secretly laces Wang Lin's cultivation resources with hindering substances, escalating his schemes to attempted murder.
This relationship serves as Wang Lin's brutal inaugural lesson. The title of "master" offers no sanctuary; it can be the source of the first and most intimate blade. Sun Dazhu's predictable greed and clumsy plotting, however, are no match for the latent resolve within his seemingly vulnerable disciple. The confrontation ends not with Wang Lin's demise, but with his first decisive act of survival, turning the tables on his would-be killer.
The outcome is clear: where there should have been guidance, there was only malice. Sun Dazhu's role is to shatter any naïve expectation of automatic loyalty within the sect. He teaches Wang Lin to question every offer of help, to see the potential predator behind a smiling face, a lesson that becomes foundational for his future survival.
2. Tian Yunzi (天运子)
If Sun Dazhu represents crude evil, Tian Yunzi is its refined, celestial counterpart. A boss-level entity whose true form is a fragment of the Heavenly Dao, his intellect and power are orders of magnitude greater. His approach is not overt hostility but chilling, long-term orchestration. He presents himself as the wise, benevolent guide, offering profound teachings like the Killing Immortal Art.
Yet, every lesson is a carefully laid trap. The techniques he imparts contain fatal flaws designed to cultivate Wang Lin not as a successor, but as the perfect vessel for possession. Under the mask of compassion lies a cold, consuming hunger. Tian Yunzi represents the ultimate betrayal of the master-disciple covenant, where profound knowledge is merely bait in a cosmic scheme.
Wang Lin navigates this intricate web of deceit not through brute force alone, but through growing cunning and an indomitable will. Facing a master who views him as livestock to be fattened, he must outthink the master thinker. Their dynamic is a high-stakes game of chess where Wang Lin's survival means dismantling the grand design meant to erase him, forging his path not with trust, but with strategic defiance.
3. Yun Quezi (云雀子)
Not every flawed relationship is purely antagonistic. The eccentric Yun Quezi operates in a gray area. His motives are purely utilitarian; he takes Wang Lin as a disciple to further the revival of the Xianyi Clan (仙遗族), viewing him as a useful pawn in a larger political game. There is no pretense of deep personal investment or care, only calculated utility.
Ironically, this self-serving arrangement yields crucial, unintended benefits for Wang Lin. Yun Quezi's insights, given to advance his own agenda, inadvertently become keys that help Wang Lin unlock breakthroughs, such as advancing to the Transformation Spirit stage. The master, blinded by his own ambitions, fails to perceive the extraordinary potential simmering within his tool.
The relationship concludes not with dramatic betrayal or heartfelt reconciliation, but with pragmatic detachment. Once Wang Lin discerns the underlying scheme, he calmly distances himself, even transferring the title of Vermilion Bird Child to another, neatly unraveling Yun Quezi's plans. It is a transaction that ultimately served both parties, albeit in ways the "master" never intended.
4. Situ Nan (司徒南)
Amidst this landscape of exploitation, Situ Nan emerges as a transformative presence. A once-peerless expert of the Vermilion Bird Star now existing as a remnant soul within the Heavenly Punishment Pearl, his connection to Wang Lin is forged through shared fate. He is less a formal master and more a combative, irreverent elder brother. His teaching style is abrasive, filled with scolding and tough love.
Yet, his actions speak of unwavering commitment. He impartially transmits his ultimate killing techniques—the Annihilation Finger, Demonic Transformation Finger, and Yellow Spring Finger—providing Wang Lin with essential tools for survival. Repeatedly, when Wang Lin faces mortal peril, Situ Nan expends his own fragile spiritual energy to protect him, risking final dissipation.
This bond transcends formal hierarchy, becoming one of mutual reliance and deep loyalty. Its emotional peak is Wang Lin's profound declaration: "In this life, I, Wang Lin, do not worship heaven or earth, nor do I revere ghosts or deities. I worship only my parents, and respect only Situ Nan!" This statement, devoid of any transactional value, affirms a relationship built on genuine sacrifice and respect, a blazing fire of sincerity in the cultivation world's cold expanse.
5. Dun Tian (遁天)
The final pivotal figure, Dun Tian, an elder of the Soul Refining Sect, offers a different kind of devotion. While he hopes Wang Lin will glorify his sect, his motivations are layered with profound, selfless trust. He bestows upon Wang Lin the sect's ultimate treasure, the Ten Billion Soul Banner, and passes on all his knowledge of soul refinement techniques.
His protection escalates to the ultimate sacrifice. Faced with dire threats to Wang Lin, Dun Tian does not hesitate to offer his own life force and longevity, using his very essence as a shield. This act moves beyond mentorship into the realm of ancestral blessing and legacy. He places the future of his life's work and his trust entirely in Wang Lin's hands.
Wang Lin honors this sacred trust completely. In the Yaoling Lands (妖灵之地), he establishes a Soul Refining tribe, actively fulfilling his promise to perpetuate Dun Tian's legacy. This relationship, built on duty, honor, and ultimate sacrifice, provides Wang Lin with a different kind of anchor—not just emotional, but a tangible connection to a heritage and a purpose greater than himself.
