Chen Cheng

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Chen Cheng (陈诚) 5
Alias(es)	Brown; Great Sage Equal to Heaven 27 343
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Huidun Academy student; member of the Adventurer's Guild talent cultivation plan 10 562
Occupation/Role	Mage and magic researcher; artifact maker; Warrior's Path cultivator 28 88 504
First Appearance	Savage Village 5

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Chosen One / entrant to the Sea of Magic	16	Entered the Sea of Magic through his own mental power and engraved a resonant golden magic pattern. His combined memories from two lives give him unusually resilient consciousness. 16
Peak Bronze magic apprentice	95	His base magical strength is that of a peak Bronze-stage apprentice; his staff's stored energy lets him imitate a late-stage Silver Rank mage in broad output. 95
Silver-rank combat power	309	His Variable Magic removes the usual early/late-stage distinction; Demonic Energy and consciousness cultivation remain his principal limits. 309
Introductory body-tempering stage / Bronze-tier warrior physique	503–504	Began Warrior's Path cultivation under Samlet's guidance, used potions and a heat-conducting Mithril array, and successfully formed the circulation route of his body-tempering method. 503 504
Gold Rank warrior	604	Accidentally underwent an extreme full-body tempering cycle while absorbing energy from a Magic Gemstone, breaking through after enduring severe pain. 604
Peak Gold Rank warrior	660	Advanced from early to peak Gold Rank in roughly half a month; he suspects residual divine power and consciousness contamination contributed to the abnormal speed. 660
Strongest Gold Rank warrior of his era	668	After a month of Sifite's training, greatly improved his reaction time, endurance, speed, strength, explosive power, and control of his sealed physical essence. 668

Background / History

Chen Cheng retains the knowledge and memories of a previous life, in which he was a leading scholar of energy research and manipulation involved with controllable nuclear fusion. He approaches this world's magic as a higher-order system of energy conversion rather than an inherently divine miracle. 10 196 416

He was raised in the wilderness by Samlet for more than a decade. Although Samlet viewed him as the remaining hope of the fallen Thornflower Empire, Chen Cheng initially rejected any ambition to restore the kingdom and wanted Samlet to live openly as the continent's foremost legendary warrior rather than hide as his guardian. 5

After leaving the mountains, Chen Cheng witnessed a slave-hunting team massacre a village. He used a flintlock shotgun against the attackers, but was ultimately captured and assessed as having worthless bones—a deception created by Samlet's seal on his innate talent. 6 8 He was later brought to Huidun Academy as a slave student, where his talent for magic rapidly became apparent. 10 13 16

His defeat of a level-six Earth Tyrant Bear using Fireball and Explosive Flame Technique established the academy legend of “Brown,” a slave capable of super-tier magic. Melinda deliberately spread the story to deter persecution and secure institutional protection for him. 21 27

Chen Cheng gradually shifted from avoiding political entanglement to accepting that his inherited identity leaves him little room to live safely as an ordinary person. He ultimately resolves that he must become strong enough to protect himself and those tied to the restoration of his nation. 451 663

Appearance

Chen Cheng was initially described as a somewhat frail scholar despite his unusually robust physique. After Sifite's Gold Rank training, he developed the demeanor and body of a battle-hardened warrior. 73 668

• Wore Level 14 Magical Beast leather armor, carried a great sword, and used a flintlock shotgun during his early wilderness life. 5
• Had messy, long hair while held by slave traders. 8
• His physique was tempered by years of consuming magical beast meat and natural treasures under Samlet's care. 34 73
• Later designed his own flexible, full-body armor after the Mingguang Armor of ancient Huaxia, partly as a reminder of his former world. 679

Personality

Chen Cheng is analytical, skeptical, and habitually frames magic through scientific principles. He studies magical formulas, materials, artifacts, and combat methods as systems that can be observed, tested, and improved. He avoids publicly challenging dangerous beliefs without sufficient protection, even when he disagrees with them. 10 30 83

He is stubborn about research and experimentation. Huidun recognizes that Chen Cheng will pursue practical tests for his inventions regardless of whether he is formally permitted to do so, while his peers repeatedly note his unusual ability to understand and improve magic. 93 267

Despite his composure, Chen Cheng is vulnerable to emotional overload. His intense spiritual sense can produce inner demons and Demonic Obstructions, causing uncontrolled surges of magical energy or battle qi when fear, resentment, or suppressed anxiety overwhelm him. 91 92 679

As his responsibilities grow, Chen Cheng becomes more pragmatic and willing to use force. He values strategy over brute strength, seeks to arm ordinary people through magical technology, and increasingly treats power as necessary for survival rather than merely an academic subject. 196 451 757

Abilities & Skills

Magic Research and Variable Magic

Chen Cheng researches magic as an engineering discipline. His Variable Magic uses complex rune corridors and requires exceptional mental power to engrave and operate.

• Reconfigures internal rune structures during battle to alter spells and timing dynamically. 21
• Developed Variable Magic as a means of turning others, including Fini, into exceptional mages, though its rune engineering demands several times an ordinary person's mental power. 28
• Demonstrated multi-layered magic capable of manifesting several low-level spells of mutually opposing attributes at once. 73
• Proposed common and benchmark Magic Markings to make magical systems more broadly applicable and easier to study. 267 292
• His super-class magic can severely disrupt the Magic Markings in his body and leave him badly injured. 34 262

Magic Casting

Chen Cheng can apply low-level magic with exceptional efficiency and creativity, allowing him to defeat opponents whose nominal level exceeds his own.

• Blinded a level-six Earth Tyrant Bear with a precisely delayed Fireball before killing it with Explosive Flame Technique. 21
• Used scientific understanding of light waves to bypass the Demon King's Holy Light Barrier. 318
• Developed and employed large-scale techniques including Song of Ice and Fire and a fiery tornado during the grand competition. 322 343
• Cannot reliably use ordinary magic while his consciousness is damaged or while inside the Spirit-Sealing Great Desert. 590 770

Warrior's Path Cultivation

Although he originally preferred magic, Chen Cheng possesses extraordinary physical talent for battle qi cultivation.

• His body was conditioned by wilderness survival, magical beast meat, and rare natural resources from childhood. 34 73
• Uses battle qi to strengthen movement, striking force, endurance, and full-body tempering. 590 662
• Solved the overheating problem of body tempering through magic markings and heat-conducting arrays, creating a safer and more efficient cultivation method. 618
• Sifite trained him in breathing control, high-speed circulation, fatigue reduction, impact resistance, and maximum strength output. 663 664 668
• His incomplete body-tempering method cannot advance beyond Gold Rank without further knowledge of the true Warrior's Path inscriptions. 504

Artifact Forging and Magical Engineering

Chen Cheng is a skilled self-taught artifact maker who combines magical materials with ideas from modern technology.

• Forged his first compact dark gold-and-silver Magic Staff over two days, engraving it with dense Magic Markings. 88
• Built and upgraded Magic Staffs capable of storing energy comparable to that of a Gold Rank mage. 95 585
• Studied the superconductive properties of magical metals and their interaction with magical energy. 83
• Applies magic to practical devices, including glasses, anti-static clothing, firearms, artillery, and the Phoenix One weapon system. 14 292 625 626 707
• Learned advanced hammer techniques from Sifite while assisting in the forging of 5,000 armor plates for his Set Equipment. 682

Tactical Analysis and Leadership

Chen Cheng observes opponents, terrain, equipment, and logistics before acting.

• Used terrain, spell delays, and the Earth Tyrant Bear's instinctive reactions to create an opening against a stronger magical beast. 21
• Analyzes Magical Artifact construction flaws and proposes improvements based on their rune connections and energy flow. 30
• Won the loyalty of Prince Pingbei's soldiers by acknowledging their courage while arguing for strategic retreat against overwhelming enemy numbers. 757
• Uses scientific and military knowledge from his prior life to promote artillery and firearms for ordinary soldiers. 196 707

Mental Resistance

Chen Cheng's powerful spiritual sense is both an advantage and a source of danger.

• His two-lifetime soul gives him unusually resilient consciousness, allowing him to resist the attraction of complex patterns in the Sea of Magic. 16
• His powerful spiritual sense produces inner demons when his emotions become unstable. 92
• Resists the killing intent of the Sword of Kings to cultivate mental energy and measure the recovery of his injured consciousness. 659
• His fear of identity exposure can trigger a Demonic Obstruction severe enough to destabilize both consciousness and battle qi. 679

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Magic Staffs — Chen Cheng's original staff stores a Gold Rank mage's worth of magical energy; he later upgraded two staffs using Magic Crystals and improved internal markings. 95 585
• Sword of Kings — A Divine Artifact associated with Chen Cheng's imperial bloodline and authority. Blood activation unlocks overwhelming sword energy, but can consume all of his battle qi and destabilize his spirit. 602 603 655 659
• Set Equipment — A full set of armor, helmet, gauntlets, greaves, and weapons refined with Sifite. It includes the Dragon Horn Sword, can absorb Beast King Magic Gems to improve its bonus, and can pierce incomplete Platinum Rank Domains. 682 687 709 711
• Crystal Pendant — His mother's only memento. Its nature remains unknown, but it has saved him multiple times and can nullify magic in certain circumstances. 273 716 776
• Phoenix One — A magic firearm developed through stacked Magic Markings and Nature Magic-style nesting techniques. 625 626
• Daha — A Silver Rank Gale Wolf King tamed by Chen Cheng and used as his mount. 94 95 573
• She Li's armor — A size-changing Demigod Artifact armor temporarily worn to block a spirit creature's perception. 594

Relationships

• Samlet — Guardian and father-figure who raised Chen Cheng in the wilderness; Chen Cheng calls him “Uncle Sam,” while Samlet remains devoted to restoring the Thornflower Empire for him. 5 269
• Fini — Classmate, frequent companion, and recipient of Chen Cheng's magical guidance. She defended him against Coles and later assisted with artifact-related work. 10 81 585
• Melinda — Academy teacher and early protector who offered to remove Chen Cheng's slave collar and spread the “Brown” legend to protect him. 10 27
• Huidun — Political ally and protector who saved Chen Cheng from a dangerous Demonic Energy surge with Chaos Magic. 91 92
• Sifite — Master artifact refiner and strict combat trainer who forged Chen Cheng's Set Equipment and trained him into the strongest Gold Rank warrior of his era. 663 668 682
• Emil — Traveling and combat companion who fought alongside Chen Cheng during the Moonlight Forest journey and refused to abandon him during the magical beast pursuit. 594 602 604
• She Li — Silent, highly dangerous protector who obeys Chen Cheng's commands, merges into Daha's shadow during travel, and refers to Chen Cheng as his master. 573 594 719
• Aunt Mei / Mei Luo — Powerful ally who offers protection against Legendary Rank threats and warns Chen Cheng about the attention drawn by his actions. 273 437
• Brother Octopus — An uneasy source of information about divine artifacts and the Sequence Ascension Path; Chen Cheng distrusts his motives and often forces answers from him. 603 775
• Fisili — Elf Saintess who assists Chen Cheng with magic research, artifact materials, and forging; she later agrees to travel with him. 624 659
• Coles — Early antagonist whose insult began their conflict. Coles later survives and cooperates with the Lich against Chen Cheng and Hui Dun City. 10 632 709

Story Role / Major Arcs

Wilderness, Capture, and Academy

Chen Cheng leaves Samlet's wilderness refuge, survives the slave-hunters' massacre of a village, and is captured despite fighting back with a firearm. At Huidun Academy, he transitions from disregarded slave student to a recognized magical prodigy after entering the Sea of Magic and killing the Earth Tyrant Bear. 6 10 16 21 27

Magic Research and Public Recognition

He develops Variable Magic, investigates Magic Artifacts, forges his first staff, and demonstrates unprecedented multi-attribute casting. His victory in the grand competition under the title Great Sage Equal to Heaven makes him a prominent figure in the Royal Capital. 28 73 88 343

Ancient Civilization and the New School Academy

Chen Cheng investigates ancient ruins and Crystal Books to learn how an earlier civilization combined magic and science, including its use of artificial suns and technology powerful enough to defeat gods. He later establishes the New School Academy while recognizing that his public actions have made him a target. 367 409 416 437

Warrior's Path and Moonlight Forest

After suffering damage to his consciousness, Chen Cheng begins serious Warrior's Path cultivation. He travels with Emil, Daha, and She Li toward Moonlight Forest, fights magical beasts with the Sword of Kings, and accidentally breaks through to Gold Rank. 503 594 602 604

Set Equipment and Beast Horde Conflict

With Sifite's help, Chen Cheng refines his Set Equipment through a heavenly punishment tribulation. He uses the Dragon Horn Sword and armor to kill Beast Kings, absorb their Magic Gems, and cut through incomplete Domains during the defense of Hui Dun City. 682 687 709 711 716

Great Desert and Sequence Ascension

Seeking relief from cold poison and spiritual contamination, Chen Cheng enters the Spirit-Sealing Great Desert, where the burden on his consciousness lifts but his magic becomes inaccessible. After confronting Brother Octopus for answers, he begins the Sequence Ascension Path with his Crystal Pendant and arrives in a modern world he identifies as his original Earth. 770 775 776 777

Notable Quotes

“I do not cultivate battle qi. I am a mage.” 73

“I cannot retrace my previous realm, and from now on, I want to achieve the best and most perfect state in every realm.” 663

“Everyone go back. I will return safely.” 594