Chen Yan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Chen Yan (陈衍)
Alias(es)	Cold-Faced Divine Blade; Commander Chen
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Heavenly Supervision Department; Flying Fish Guard; Xiangzhou forces
Occupation/Role	Silver-Rank Flying Fish Guard; Commander of the Xiangxi Commandery Garrison; Pacification Commissioner of Xiangxi Commandery; Xiangzhou Commander 104 188 301
Status	Active 502
First Appearance	1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Blood Qi Realm	2	Begins martial cultivation shortly after discovering the Heavenly Book of Merit.
Third Blood Qi Realm	22	Breaks through through Blood Fiend Saber Technique practice.
Essence Cultivation — Initial Stage	30	Activates the Five Grains Qi Nourishment Record and gains Magic Power, allowing talisman use without Heart’s Yang Blood.
True Force Realm — Initial Stage; Essence Cultivation — Mid-stage	44	Condenses True Force after ten days of medicinal-bath cultivation with the All-Encompassing Great Tonic Soup.
True Force Realm — Perfection / Half-Step Grandmaster	74	Cultivates the Dragon Elephant Wisdom Skill to its seventh layer.
Grandmaster — Early Stage; Dao Foundation — Early Stage	111	Repairs the Thunder Department Commander’s Great Seal and inherits the Supreme Nine Heavens Jade Clarity Great Brahma Ziwei Xuandu Thunder Jade Scripture.
Dao Foundation — Mid-stage	161	Advances after absorbing and refining unusual energy into his Magic Power.
Grandmaster — Mid-stage; Dao Foundation — Late Stage	172	Nine Breaths Qi Nourishment rapidly advances both his Daoist and martial cultivation.
Grandmaster — Late Stage	201	Breaks through following his battle with Han Tianhu.
Innate — Perfection	213	Uses Three Days of Insight to perfect the Dragon Elephant Wisdom Skill and attain the Dragon Elephant Golden Body.
Refining Essence into Qi — Early Stage	214	Refines essence and vital energy into Five Elements Qi stored within his five viscera.
Refining Essence into Qi — Perfection	269	Completes a year of steady cultivation toward the peak of the realm.
Embracing Dan — Early Stage; Refining Qi into Spirit — Early Stage	273	Condenses a Supreme Grade Blood Core and Golden Core after enduring Mana and Core Tribulations.
Refining Qi into Spirit — Late Stage	282	Reaches the late stage during prolonged cultivation before the third Blood Moon.
Refining Qi into Spirit — Perfection	294	Absorbs Jade Pivot Kan Thunder Fiend in the Ancient Thunder Pool.
Refining Spirit into Void — First Refinement	312	Returns from the inner world as a Yin God cultivator and confronts Jiang Li.
Seeing God — Early Stage	350	Advances in Martial Dao after obtaining further Bodhidharma-related insight.
Seeing God — Mid-stage; Refining Spirit into Void — Seventh Refinement	393	Emerges from Thunder Cliff after years of thunder-based seclusion.
Yin God — Nine Refinements	413	Reaches the peak Yin God realm through another Merit-funded enlightenment.
Dharma Form — Early Stage; Refining Void into Dao — Yang God Third Level	446	Achieves dual Martial Dao and Daoist breakthroughs; the Dragon Sparrow Saber advances into an Immortal Artifact.

Background / History

Chen Yan is a transmigrator who awakens in Lingzhou’s Shanxi Town during the Chengping Reign. He repays the kindness shown to the original body’s owner by regularly helping an elderly woman and her granddaughter, earning Merit through good deeds from the Heavenly Book of Merit. His first encounter with the Rebirth Cult leaves him wary of its promises of rebirth and Pure Land salvation. 1

After Shanxi Town is plagued by Skin-Peeling Puppets and mass killings, Chen Yan develops from a cautious survivor into an active defender. He acquires the Fish Dragon Saber, learns from Old Daoist Liu, kills Skin-Peeling Puppets and Tiger Head Mountain bandits, and gains a local reputation for decisive action. 8 11 27 62

Chen Yan becomes entangled in the Rebirth Cult’s plot surrounding Bai Yun Guan and the Skin-Peeling Demon. His victories, including the defeat of White Lotus Dao Soldier A Jia and the eventual destruction of the Skin-Peeling Demon, earn him immense Merit, official recognition, and appointment as the youngest Commander in the Martial Dynasty. 38 102 104

After being assigned to Xiangxi Commandery, Chen Yan builds an independent power base around Black Mountain and Changze Commandery. He develops the Dragon Sparrow Army, secures resources for curse arquebuses and thunder cannons, and leads the resistance against Mount Lao and later the Ghost Cry Sect. 153 166 188 315

His later actions elevate him from a regional commander to a cultivator recognized throughout the Three Thousand Worlds. He destroys the Ghost Cry Sect, protects the Netherworld Realm from external forces, enters the Ancient Immortal Sect Ruins, and becomes a major obstacle to both the Sea Clan and the Rebirth Cult. 316 327 409 489

Appearance

Chen Yan is repeatedly described as a strikingly young man with sharp, deeply defined features, sword-like brows, and star-bright eyes. He commonly wears a dark or black Daoist robe woven with gold, projecting a composed but intimidating presence. 188 355 398

• Sharp, sculpted facial features and a stern bearing. 188
• Bright, calm eyes that can become chilling when confronting enemies. 52 398
• Frequently accompanied by Fa Cai, who often rests on his shoulder in cat form. 235 355
• Carries himself with stillness even when surrounded by hostile cultivators or martial artists. 342

Personality

Chen Yan values inner peace, self-preservation, and the strength needed to protect those under his care. When confronting Situ Yun, he states that cultivation without a peaceful heart has no meaning, choosing resistance even when he lacks confidence in victory. 57 58

He is pragmatic and strategic rather than blindly merciful. He rewards allies with Spirit Coins, distributes rare resources to build lasting support, and avoids relying on external protection when it would leave his territory vulnerable. 59 230 453

Chen Yan is compassionate toward civilians and remembers those who helped him before he gained power. He continues to arrange protection and aid for the elderly woman, her granddaughter, and Uncle Zhao long after leaving Shanxi Town. 60 410

Against enemies who threaten his people or territory, he can be ruthlessly decisive. He publicly executes wicked cultivators, cripples Wu Yuanying rather than killing him when the prisoner is useful, and annihilates hostile factions to deter future attacks. 131 258 409

Abilities & Skills

Heavenly Book of Merit

The Heavenly Book of Merit records Chen Yan’s virtuous actions and the elimination of evildoers, granting Merit that can be exchanged for fortune rewards, techniques, insight, and repairs.

• Earned his earliest Merit by helping the elderly woman and her granddaughter. 1
• Obtained the Blood Fiend Saber Technique after reaching 100 Merit and activating Minor Fortune of Great Luck. 5
• Used 100,000 Merit to receive Heavenly Official’s Blessing and Three Days of Insight. 212
• Spent 10,000 Merit to repair and activate the Thunder Department Commander’s Great Seal. 111
• Accumulated over one million Merit after defeating the Ghost Cry Sect. 332

Martial Dao and Body Cultivation

Chen Yan began as a saber wielder but developed into an exceptional body cultivator whose physical strength rivals high-level Daoist cultivators.

• Blood Fiend Saber Technique — His foundational saber art; he raised it to peak mastery at extraordinary speed. 27
• Dragon Elephant Wisdom Skill / Dragon Elephant Golden Body — A Buddhist body-refining art that grants immense strength, defense, and Dragon Elephant power. 74 213
• Nine Revolutions Profound Art — Replaces his former Dragon Elephant Wisdom Skill and Spirit Strike cultivation after his Dao Fruit transformation. 276
• Indestructible Vajra Dao Fruit — Greatly reinforces his body, allowing him to endure powerful lightning, contend with Yin Gods, and resist attacks beyond his realm. 313 386
• Damo’s Whale Toss Dao Fruit — Enhances his explosive physical force and is used alongside Indestructible Vajra in high-level combat. 368

Divine Strike

A divine invocation technique that uses a deity-related statue, Incense Power, and Vow Power to strengthen Chen Yan’s body.

• Chen Yan models his invocation on Emperor Guan and uses a General Statue as the required Divine Invocation Item. 31
• First-grade Divine Strike provides roughly tenfold physical enhancement. 39
• Allows him to kill the White Lotus Dao Soldier A Jia in a single saber strike. 38 39
• Its duration is restricted by Chen Yan’s available Magic Power, especially during his early cultivation. 39
• Advances to third grade and manifests the Myriad Law Golden Body. 273

Thunder Arts

Chen Yan’s Daoist cultivation is centered on thunder, supported by the Thunder Department Commander’s Great Seal and the Thunder Jade Scripture.

• Mastering Five Thunders — A Heavenly Dipper technique used to command divine thunder; it later reaches Grand Completion. 112 393
• Five Thunders Strike Head — A thunder-based divine ability used through the Thunder Department Seal to kill Gao Kang. 201
• Five Thunder Spirit Sword Technique — A lightning sword art that develops alongside his thunder cultivation. 139 214
• Thunder Department Commander’s Great Seal — A sentient, high-grade artifact that assists Chen Yan’s thunder cultivation and develops from Spiritual Treasure to Immortal Embryo. 111 393

Mobility, Perception, and Storage Arts

• Abyssal Shrinking Ground — A Heavenly Dipper movement technique. At Minor Completion, Chen Yan crosses roughly a hundred zhang in one step and can outpace ordinary Qi Refining cultivators. 112
• Nine Breaths Qi Nourishment — An automatic breathing technique that absorbs spiritual energy during ordinary activities, drastically accelerating cultivation. 171
• Spirit Sight — An Earth Fiend technique that reveals auras and warns Chen Yan of potential misfortune. 60
• Pot Heaven Technique — An Earth Fiend storage technique that preserves items and spiritual materials. 41 327
• Thousand Faces — A human-skin mask artifact used to alter his appearance and maintain disguises. 102 137

Talismans and Daoist Arts

Chen Yan learns talisman arts largely through personal study rather than direct empowerment from the Heavenly Book of Merit.

• Tai Wei Eight Sceneries Record — A talisman inheritance given by Old Daoist Liu. 22 30
• Successfully draws the Dragon Soaring Jade Divine Talisman after intensive practice. 42
• Produces multiple spiritual talismans during a week of training. 42
• Later raises the Tai Wei Eight Sceneries Record to Grand Completion. 214

Incarnations and Subordinates

Chen Yan commands several high-level companions and constructed combatants.

• Wood Spirit Physique — An Outer Body Incarnation refined from a Thousand-Year Tree Spirit’s body. It eventually reaches the Yang God realm and can act independently while remaining connected to Chen Yan. 168 382
• Wang Lingguan — A Guardian Divine General created by fusing a Bronze Armored Corpse with a Wang Lingguan portrait spirit; possesses combat power comparable to Refining Qi into Spirit cultivators. 232
• Flying Yaksha — A powerful undead entity Chen controls through Spirit Commanding rather than immediately refining into a second incarnation. 459

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Dragon Sparrow Saber — National divine weapon and Chen Yan’s primary saber; advances from Magic Treasure to Immortal Embryo and finally an Immortal Artifact. 132 288 446
• Thunder Department Commander’s Great Seal — Thunder-aligned artifact inherited through Old Daoist Liu; later an Immortal Embryo. 110 393
• Fish Dragon Saber — Former saber forged to restrain evil spirits and ghosts; Chen later buries it at Liu Fujing’s tomb. 11 109
• Bing Fire Thunder God Cannon — Top-grade Spiritual Treasure-grade thunder cannon created for Chen Yan’s forces. 240 261
• Golden Scale Armor — Top-grade Spiritual Treasure gifted by the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion after Chen Yan tops the Human Ranking. 280
• Thousand Faces — Shed human-skin mask capable of changing Chen Yan’s appearance. 102 137
• Wind Thunder Evil-Slaying Sword — Thunder-aligned weapon kept among Chen Yan’s core equipment. 139
• Netherworld Hundred Ghosts Scroll — Spiritual Treasure-grade ghost artifact seized after the Mount Lao conflict. 230

Relationships

• Old Daoist Liu — Mentor and eventual master figure who teaches Chen Yan about cultivation, talismans, and supernatural threats; formally accepts him as a disciple before his death. 22 33 107
• Fa Cai — Chen Yan’s longtime animal companion. Fa Cai later undergoes demon transformation and reveals a variant Qiongqi bloodline. 5 235
• Wang Lingguan — Guardian Divine General refined and commanded by Chen Yan; unwaveringly loyal to him. 232
• Wood Spirit Physique — Chen Yan’s Outer Body Incarnation and one of his strongest allies. 168 382
• Evil Monk Yuantong — Former opponent who surrenders to Chen Yan and later becomes a trusted subordinate and admirer. 51 58 109
• Wu Guhan — Gu cultivator and loyal ally who assists Chen Yan in Shanxi Town, Xiangzhou, and later campaigns. 52 59 109
• Liu Xian’er — Former Rebirth Cult informant and Saintess candidate. Chen Yan sees through her role in the Bai Yun Guan conspiracy; she later defects from the Rebirth Cult and aids him. 97 498
• Yu Huatian — Grand Supervisor of the Heavenly Supervision Department who recognizes Chen Yan’s potential and offers him the position of Grand Supervisor. 235
• True Monarch Wuchen — Yang God True Monarch of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion who treats Chen Yan as a sworn younger brother and offers him support. 362 384
• Li Shouyi — Dao Alliance prodigy who respects Chen Yan’s strength and later becomes one of his important external allies. 316 453
• Zhao Wuji — Jade Spirit Sword Mountain prodigy who owes Chen Yan a major favor after receiving a Yang Extremity Pill. 309 453

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Shanxi Town Crisis — Investigates mass killings, defeats Skin-Peeling Puppets, rejects the Rebirth Cult, and begins cultivating through the Heavenly Book of Merit. 1 11 14
• Tiger Head Mountain and Rebirth Cult Conflict — Eliminates bandits, defeats A Jia through Divine Strike, and becomes an enemy of Wu Yan and the Rebirth Cult. 27 38 39
• Bai Yun Guan and the Skin-Peeling Demon — Leads the investigation into Zhang Yuanlin, survives the Skin-Peeling Demon crisis, and becomes Shanxi Town’s central protector. 65 92 102
• Xiangxi Commandery Appointment — Receives command authority, relocates toward Xiangzhou, and begins confronting the region’s disorder, cults, and demonic threats. 104 132 134
• Black Mountain and Changze Commandery — Builds the Dragon Sparrow Army, develops thunder weapons, and seizes control of Changze Commandery. 153 188 229
• Mount Lao and Ghost Cry Sect Wars — Defeats Mount Lao forces, infiltrates the Ghost Cry Sect as Wu Yuanying, kills Jiang Li, and destroys the sect’s power base. 265 315 327
• Rise Across the Three Thousand Worlds — Tops the Human Ranking, enters the Earth Ranking after reaching Yin God, and becomes a figure watched by major Daoist, Buddhist, demonic, and Sea Clan factions. 280 315 316
• Netherworld Realm Protector — Defeats foreign invaders, kills Yang God opponents, and uses deterrence and alliances to stabilize the Netherworld Realm. 398 409 453
• Ancient Immortal Sect Ruins — Battles the Sea Clan and Rebirth Cult while pursuing the source of Fa Cai’s mysterious connection to the ancient Qiongqi remains. 437 477 489

Notable Quotes

“I possess a technique, its name is Spirit Strike!” 38

“Heavenly Supervision Department, Chen Yan.” 134

“My fate is in my own hands, not Heaven’s!” 273

Trivia

• Chen Yan is only sixteen when he becomes a Martial Grandmaster and Dao Foundation cultivator. 112
• He dislikes the title “Cold-Faced Divine Blade,” even though it becomes widely used in Shanxi Town. 62
• Chen Yan’s cultivation speed is heavily enabled by Nine Breaths Qi Nourishment, which continues functioning while he walks, sleeps, or fights. 171
• He first tops the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion’s Human Ranking before later entering the Earth Ranking at seventy-second place after killing Jiang Li. 280 315
• Despite his later power, Chen Yan remains attentive to the welfare of the elderly woman and Uncle Zhao from Shanxi Town. 410