Biao Ren or Hyoujin: Blades of the Guardians also known as Blades of the Guardians, is a Chinese manhua written and illustrated by Xianzhe Xu.
Xianzhe Xu draws profound inspiration from a blend of Hong Kong martial arts, Italian Westerns, and Japanese swordsman films. Additionally, he has a penchant for gangster martial arts movies. Driven by a desire to weave together Western and martial arts elements, he set out to craft a gripping tale set in the late Sui Dynasty, showcasing the art of combat during that era. To achieve this vision, he dedicated himself to extensive research on historical materials pertaining to the Sui Dynasty. Moreover, he sought counsel from experts to ensure the cultural accuracy of weapon architecture and other intricate details.

In the heart of the Western Regions, a skilled martial artist named Dao Ma roams the desert accompanied by his three-year-old son, Xiao Qi. Veiled in mystery, he treads a solitary path, constantly evading pursuers from all directions. Despite his formidable combat prowess, the reasons behind his solitary journey remain shrouded in secrecy.

Fate takes an unexpected turn when Dao Ma reluctantly accepts a merchant’s commission to escort a man named Zhi Shi Lang to Chang’an. Little did he know that perilous challenges awaited him along this treacherous route.

The All-Star Tournament is a 3-day competition that brings together professional e-sports players from various clubs to showcase their abilities, giving casual Glory players the opportunity to meet pros in person. Retired Glory player Ye Xiu reluctantly joins Tang Rou and Chen Guo to watch the tournament after Chen Guo procures three tickets. This is an unusual experience for Ye Xiu as he is now a spectator, not a player. Despite his efforts to stay anonymous, events at the tournament could potentially draw the former Glory legend back into the spotlight.

The mysterious Lord Grim has taken the 10th server of the popular online game Glory by storm. His guild, Happy, has attracted many curious players, and other guilds are feeling the sting as some members have abandoned them to join Happy. Rumors swirl that the player behind Lord Grim is none other than the retired professional gamer and “Glory Textbook” Ye Qiu, a claim that has the powerhouse guilds on edge.
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In response, they have attempted to suppress Lord Grim’s growing power, but he remains determined to reach the Heavenly Domain, a cross-server where characters can become even more powerful. Once there, he plans to form a team of rookies and battle his way to the Challenger League and eventually to the Glory Championship.