Nie Mingjue was a former leader of the Qinghe Nie Sect and the older half-brother and predecessor of Nie Huaisang. He is also known by his title Chifeng-zun. Nie Mingjue's personality was defined by strictness, a bad temper and an intolerance for anything deviating from the moral good.
His temper only worsens over the years, as the saber spirit of his clan's cultivation methods begins to affect him. In addition, Nie Mingjue possesses an extremely black-and-white sense of morality, and is intolerant of anything he deems to deviate from the moral good. For instance, he refuses to show mercy towards Wen Qing's branch of the Qishan Wen Clan claiming that her lack of martial opposition to Wen Ruohan made her an accomplice, and refuses to forgive Jin Guangyao for killing several of his subordinates while undercover during the Sunshot Campaign. This was despite Jin Guangyao pointing out that Nie Mingjue himself would have died if they did not, since all three had offended Wen Ruohan.
However, this intolerance also gives Nie Mingjue a strong sense of fairness and justice, as he immediately backs Xiao Xingchen's evidence against Xue Yang in the face of the Lanling Jin Clan's political equivocations. He is also compassionate to those he deems innocent: during the Sunshot Campaign Nie Mingjue goes out of his way to reassure a woman and child trapped among the fighting, and reprimands the cultivators he catches gossiping about Jin Guangyao. Notably, Nie Mingjue still respects those who disagree with him if they demonstrate integrity, as evidenced by his commendation of Mianmian.
Although Nie Mingjue rarely opens up to others, he is rather protective towards those he care about. In fact, the deepest regret of his life is watching his father's demise after being gored by a beast during a night hunt. He also attempts to hide the truth about the saber spirit from Nie Huaisang for as long as possible.
He was murdered by Jin Guangyao and turned into a fierce corpse.
Jin Guangyao notes that Nie Mingjue shows no interest in women, art, alcohol, or anything outside of his saber work and killing members of the Qishan Wen Clan.
