Chen Ping'an

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Chen Ping'an (陈平安)
Alias(es)	Yin Guan; Lord Yin Guan; Second Shopkeeper; Chen Hao Ren; Sudhana; Great Li National Teacher 602 630 1176
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Luopo Mountain; Literary Sage lineage; Yin Guan lineage of the Sword Qi Great Wall; Great Li imperial court 630 960 1176
Occupation/Role	Mountain Lord of Luopo Mountain; Sect Master of its superior sect; former Lord Yin Guan; Great Li National Teacher 486 630 960 1176
Status	Active 1274
First Appearance	Sword of Coming, Chapter 1: “Startled Insects”

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Martial Dao — Fourth Realm	260	Broke through the Third Realm bottleneck after three hundred thousand punches.
Martial Dao — Fifth Realm	338	Fought the earth-immortal ghost Li Li with the Godly Drumming Stance; shattered Li Li’s Golden Core despite severe injuries.
Martial Dao — Sixth Realm	469	His breakthrough caused a phenomenon in Longquan County; he received a martial-fortune pearl and gave it to Pei Qian.
Qi Cultivation — Fourth Realm	574	His Lion Peak cultivation breakthrough accelerated the refinement of the thirty-six Daoist-temple green bricks.
Martial Dao — Golden Body Realm	564	Li Er guided him to balance Qi cultivation with martial arts, allowing him to enter the Golden Body Realm.
Martial Dao — Far Travel Realm	679	Reached the realm through sword-furnace standing meditation, breathing exercises, and Nian Xin’s sewing-clothes technique.
Martial Dao — Eighth Realm	805	Defeated Ninth-Realm martial artist Ma Kui Xian in a fist inquiry while stated to be at the Eighth Realm.
Fourteenth Realm	859	Traveled to Jade Tablet City and Immortal Hairpin City at the Fourteenth Realm, retrieving sword formations and flying swords without fighting.
Qi Cultivation — Tenth Realm	1000	Stated to be at the tenth realm of Qi cultivation while reflecting on an earlier encounter.
Martial Dao — Eleventh Realm	1247	Integrated six stances into one furnace during his battle against the Ancient Witch and White Bone Taoist.

Background / History

Chen Ping'an grew up in Mud Bottle Alley as a frail-looking kiln worker’s apprentice. Years of pulling clay, firing porcelain, carrying out Old Man Yao’s laborious errands, and ranging through the surrounding hills gave him an unusually strong physical foundation, though Old Man Yao considered him slow to learn beside Liu Xianyang 1 55.

His childhood was shaped by the deaths of his parents, his friendship with Liu Xianyang and Gu Can, and the guidance of figures who were never quite formal masters: Old Man Yao taught pottery, Qi Jingchun taught him scholarship, Cui Cheng taught him boxing, A Liang taught him sword-related techniques, and his parents taught him kindness 361. He later accepted Qi Jingchun’s request to escort Li Baoping and her companions to seek learning, a promise he regarded as one of the actions he could undertake with a clear conscience 154.

After leaving the small town, Chen Ping'an trained in the Mountain Shaking Fist, practiced the Eighteen Stops of Sword Qi, acquired flying swords, and began accumulating mountains, treasures, books, and allies. He purchased Luopo Mountain and surrounding peaks, gradually transforming the place from a personal foothold into a major mountain sect 81 468.

His experiences at Book Scroll Lake forced him to confront whether principles could survive compromise and calculation. He refused to abandon Gu Can despite their deep disagreement, promising to correct and reprimand him without leaving him behind 433. Later journeys through Northern Juluzhou, Tongye Continent, and the Sword Qi Great Wall broadened his cultivation, political influence, and sense of responsibility 527 574.

At the Sword Qi Great Wall, he became Lord Yin Guan and reorganized the Yin Guan lineage around battlefield records, shared responsibility, strategy, and coordination among sword cultivators 630. After the wall’s fall, he returned to manage Luopo Mountain, establish the Qingping Sword Sect as its lower sect, and eventually accepted the position of Great Li National Teacher 829 960 1176.

Appearance

Chen Ping'an is tall and slender, with a thin face and a restrained, unostentatious bearing. His appearance changes with circumstance—from the straw-sandaled youth of Mud Bottle Alley to a green-robed swordsman and mountain lord—but he habitually favors practical, simple clothing 442 468 566.

• Often wears a green or cyan robe, a white jade hairpin, and a sword-nurturing gourd 468.
• Frequently carries a sword, bamboo box, bamboo staff, or straw hat while traveling 539 566.
• Initially looked frail despite possessing exceptional strength from manual labor and training 1 55.
• Has used disguises and altered appearances to travel or investigate without attracting notice 758 1024.

Personality

Chen Ping'an is principled, patient, and deeply self-critical. He does not equate being looked down on with being a bad person, and he judges people by their conduct rather than status, strength, or reputation 130. He repeatedly measures himself against the people he respects—his parents, Qi Jingchun, A Liang, and Ning Yao—and tries to make their best qualities his own 485.

He believes principles must be practiced rather than displayed. His instinct is to reason first, then use force when reason is exploited or rejected; this approach is remembered by Li Baoping and Yu Lu as his defining method 165. He can be calculating and cautious, particularly when preparing for conflict, but his planning is meant to prevent harm to those under his protection rather than to secure power for its own sake 427 574.

Despite his growing authority, Chen Ping'an retains the habits of a poor youth: he hoards useful objects, values money because he remembers lacking it, and feels compelled to repay favors. He is generous with friends and disciples, often giving away treasures, money, martial fortune, or opportunities he could have kept for himself 467 469.

Abilities & Skills

Martial Arts

Chen Ping'an is a pure martial artist whose fighting style is rooted in the Mountain Shaking Fist. He treats repeated stance work and punching as lifelong cultivation rather than a shortcut to strength 178 198.

• Uses the Godly Drumming Stance, a high-power technique capable of delivering sustained barrages of punches 219 338.
• Combines the Mountain Shaking Fist’s Six-Step Stance with Zhong Qiu’s Peak Stance and other techniques learned through observation 316 328.
• Developed the Cloud Steaming Great Marsh Style, whose fist intent overwhelmed Pang Yuanji’s sword energy 580.
• Can suppress his own realm to teach or spar with weaker martial artists fairly 982.
• Uses his martial aura to create dojo-like defensive manifestations and battlefield formations 1252.

Sword Cultivation

Chen Ping'an is both a martial artist and a sword cultivator. He practices sword-furnace meditation, sword riding, sword refinement, and the Eighteen Stops of Sword Qi 178 186 268.

• Wields flying swords including First of the Month/Chuyi and Fifteen/Shiwu, which he uses for pursuit, defense, assassination, and battlefield support 233 246 620.
• Later possesses natal flying swords Caged Sparrow and Well Mouth Moon, whose innate abilities are central to his sword refinement 1000.
• Can control multiple flying swords simultaneously, including replica swords such as Pine Needle and Coughing Thunder 627.
• Uses sword riding for rapid travel and combat mobility 500.
• Employs sword formations, including a small golden Thunder Pool world and layered defensive formations 795 1005.

Talismans and Artifact Refinement

Chen Ping'an draws, purchases, refines, and deploys talismans with unusual versatility. He sees talisman drawing as another form of cultivation 268 493.

• Uses Shrinking Ground, Square Inch, Barrier-Breaking, Pagoda Suppressing Demon, Yang Qi Lantern, and Sword Locking Talismans 219 227 246 633.
• Sold talismans ethically at Cloud City, including barrier-breaking talismans and other specialized designs 542.
• Refined the Water Mansion Water Seal and Great Li Five-Colored Earth as natal objects, establishing complementary water-and-mountain phenomena within his body 539.
• Operates and reinforces large formations through planning, talismans, artifacts, and Golden Essence copper coins 1005.

Strategy and Administration

Chen Ping'an is an accomplished organizer, negotiator, and battlefield planner. As Lord Yin Guan, he established records, communication systems, defined responsibilities, and merit plans for the Sword Qi Great Wall’s sword cultivators 630.

• Uses careful preparation to unite favorable timing, terrain, allies, and resources before delivering a decisive strike 574.
• Negotiated supply terms with intercontinental ferry managers through a mixture of threats, incentives, and institutional goodwill 637.
• Handles sect purchases, trade agreements, official appointments, and intercontinental business on behalf of Luopo Mountain and Great Li 804 817 1176.
• Created a “small yamen” and a geographical “book wall” at the National Teacher’s Manor to organize Great Li’s administrative information 1183.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Mountain Shaking Fist Manual — his foundational martial arts manual, retained from his early training 198 278.
• Sword Nurturing Gourd — stores and nurtures flying swords; later also holds wine, sword qi, and collected materials 205 549.
• Flying Sword Fifteen — a rare spatial artifact as well as one of his principal flying swords 205.
• Flying Sword First of the Month/Chuyi — paired with Fifteen in combat 233 246.
• Golden demon-binding rope — made from an old flood dragon’s whiskers 341.
• Golden Elixir magic robe — later upgraded through a bargain with Wei Bo toward immortal-weapon rank 576.
• Water Mansion Water Seal and Great Li Five-Colored Earth — his documented natal objects 539.
• Thirty-six Daoist-temple green bricks — contain water essence and Dao intent; refined as part of his cultivation 574.
• Cloud Dream Long Pine — an ancient bow of uncertain rank and the key to an unopened ancient cave dwelling 775 1166.
• Zha Kan and the Executioner — sabers drawn during his confrontation with Qing Tong 928.

Relationships

• Ning Yao — Chen Ping'an’s beloved and later acknowledged wife/dao companion. His pursuit of sword cultivation and many major decisions are tied to his wish to stand beside and protect her 273 554 837.
• Liu Xianyang — childhood friend and former fellow kiln apprentice. Chen Ping'an considers Liu Xianyang’s happiness and future deeply important 1 469 574.
• Pei Qian — eldest disciple. Chen Ping'an trains her, corrects her flaws, gives her martial fortune, and worries about her education and character 375 469 905.
• Cui Dongshan — disciple and strategic partner. Their relationship is marked by teasing, mutual trust, and extensive planning for Luopo Mountain and the wider world 161 574 960.
• Qi Jingchun / Mr. Qi — mentor who entrusted Chen Ping'an with escorting Li Baoping and her companions; Chen Ping'an continues to measure himself against his teaching 70 154.
• Cui Cheng — harsh martial arts instructor who repeatedly tempered Chen Ping'an’s body, soul, fist intent, and combat ability 461 468.
• Wei Bo — protector, adviser, and long-term ally. Wei Bo supports Luopo Mountain while warning Chen Ping'an about political and cultivation dangers 189 464 1174.
• Gu Can — childhood acquaintance whose actions at Book Scroll Lake force Chen Ping'an to confront the limits of loyalty, justice, and forgiveness 433 436.
• Chen Qingdu — senior Sword Immortal who protects and guides Chen Ping'an at the Sword Qi Great Wall 627.
• Xiao Mo — loyal sword-immortal companion who accompanies Chen Ping'an on dangerous journeys and supports his long-term plans 882 929.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Travels

Chen Ping'an leaves Mud Bottle Alley after surviving the upheaval surrounding Pearl Cave Heaven. He escorts Li Baoping’s group toward Great Sui, learns to read and cultivate, and begins building a martial path through hardship, promises, and repeated training 154 178.

Lotus Flower Blessed Land

He enters the Lotus Flower Blessed Land, fights renowned martial artists, improves the Mountain Shaking Fist through direct experience, and gains the loyalty of Wei Xian, Zhu Lian, Lu Baixiang, and Sui Youbian 316 361.

Book Scroll Lake

Chen Ping'an becomes an accountant on Qingxia Island to confront Gu Can and the moral disorder of Book Scroll Lake. The arc forces him to examine whether calculation, alliances, and compromise can coexist with his principles 433 436 485.

Luopo Mountain

He returns to Luopo Mountain, expands its territory, gathers disciples and retainers, establishes an Ancestral Hall, and turns the mountain into a growing sect with political, commercial, and military relevance 464 468 960.

Sword Qi Great Wall

Chen Ping'an travels to the Sword Qi Great Wall to reunite with Ning Yao. He defeats prominent young sword cultivators, becomes Lord Yin Guan, organizes a new wartime lineage, and participates directly in the war against the demon race 574 581 630.

Great Li National Teacher

After accepting the position of Great Li National Teacher, Chen Ping'an takes responsibility for rebellions, vassal-state administration, official appointments, historical records, and the dynasty’s long-term stability 1176 1183 1241.

Notable Quotes

“I did these things with peace of mind. I just nodded and did them, without needing to think much about it.” 154

“Someone who looks down on me, what does that have to do with whether he's a good person?” 130

“If I do anything wrong, you must tell me.” 287

“I hope that principles are principles, not something to be used when convenient and put aside when not.” 554

Trivia

• Chen Ping'an’s early aspiration was to read several books, recognize a thousand characters, travel ten thousand li, and practice a million punches 178.
• He completed one million punches by Chapter 283 and was approaching two million by Chapter 550 283 550.
• He is notably sentimental about objects, retaining books, seals, hairpins, old tools, and seemingly minor possessions because of their personal history 165 422.
• He is known for collecting materials and overlooked items so thoroughly that he is compared to a Bao Fu Zhai porter or treasure-hauler 544 574.