Chen Family

Biodata

Background and History

The Chen Family is a century-established Inner City clan whose influence rests on martial strength, cultivated talent, commercial interests, and control of territory. Alongside the Xiao, Lin, and Zheng families, it forms Cangfeng City's ruling balance; the City Lord is described as largely symbolic while the Four Great Clans manage most affairs. 259 291

Chen Shouyi and Chen Lingxue identified Jiang Qinghe as a valuable rising talent after his service in the Demon Slaying Division. Chen Lingxue first secured his allegiance by providing Origin Magnetic Sand for his Primordial Chaos Armor, while Chen Shouyi later approved consideration of a marriage alliance. 159 188 At the family’s annual meeting, Jiang Qinghe defeated Chen Lingfeng’s challenge and earned the patriarch’s public praise, after which the family formally invested in him with artifacts, cultivation resources, and guidance. 220 224

The family’s conflict with the Xiao Family escalated during the East Mountain expedition. Xiao Yongbo’s forces crossed into the Chen Family’s exploration area at Heaven Pillar Peak, intending to seize the rift’s resources and destroy the accompanying Chen descendants. Chen Shou'en led the defense, while Jiang Qinghe’s intervention reversed the battle’s momentum and preserved much of the Chen contingent. 265 270

The victory did not end the family’s crisis. The Xiao Family’s long-planted Nine Yin Spirit Locking Array sabotaged Chen Guantong’s attempt to enter the Primordial Sea Realm, seriously damaging his Spiritual Sense and exposing the family to political pressure. 291 Jiang Qinghe and Chen Lingxue returned from Heaven Pillar Peak with Earth Vein Spirit Milk, which the family intended to use to aid its injured Old Ancestor. 292 293 Chen Guantong later repelled Xiao Helin’s attempt to exploit the apparent weakness, restoring uncertainty around the Chen Family’s true condition. 317

Leadership and Structure

Estate and Resources

• Chen Manor — A palace-like Inner City compound with extensive high walls, ceremonial halls, private courtyards, training spaces, and a strict servant hierarchy. 218 219
• Core treasury — A fortified three-story vault holding the family’s accumulated elixirs, spirit materials, artifact designs, cultivation records, formations, and Earth Tier Top Grade martial arts. 302
• Treasure artifacts — The family possesses high-end weapons and armor, including the Void Cutter and Thousand-Forged Dragon Tendon Chainmail, both granted to Jiang Qinghe from its reserved collection. 303
• East Mountain territory — The family holds recognized exploration rights in parts of East Mountain, including the region around Heaven Pillar Peak and Black Thorn Ridge. 261 265
• Commercial influence — Following Chen Shou'en’s death, the family joined the Zheng Family in economic pressure against the Xiao Family, including lowering medicinal-material prices and selling fine-iron weapons below rival prices. 360

Political Position

The Chen Family’s authority depends heavily on the deterrent value of its high-level martial practitioners. The apparent injury of Chen Guantong triggered widespread speculation that the family might lose its place among the Four Great Clans, prompting the Lin and Xiao families to seek gains from its perceived weakness. 291 301 310

Rather than retreating, the family continued to support Jiang Qinghe’s rise. It backed his contest for the Supervision Department’s Department Lieutenant position, supplied him with its highest-grade techniques and artifacts, and treated his strength as a public demonstration that the Chen Family remained capable of defending its interests. 302 303 310

Relationships

• Chen Shouyi — Patriarch and strategist of the family; Chen Lingxue’s maternal grandfather and Chen Shou'en’s elder brother. 188 360
• Chen Guantong — Old Ancestor and the family’s foremost stabilizing force; his failed breakthrough created the family’s most severe recent crisis. 291
• Chen Lingxue — Direct descendant, Chen Shouyi’s granddaughter, and a key representative of the family within the Demon Slaying Division. 188 216
• Chen Shou'en — Senior elder who defended the family’s younger members at Heaven Pillar Peak and later died after protecting Zhao Guangyi and others. 265 275 360
• Jiang Qinghe — Favored external talent and Chen Lingxue’s close ally. The family provided him artifacts, resources, martial arts, and political backing, while he repaid its trust with Earth Vein Spirit Milk and battlefield support. 223 293 303
• Xiao Family — Principal rival. Their dispute over resources and power became open warfare at Heaven Pillar Peak; the Chen Family later suspected them of involvement in Chen Shou'en’s murder. 265 301 360
• Zheng Family — A shifting partner among the Four Great Clans. The Zheng Family initially considered reducing ties during the Chen Family’s crisis, but later joined the Chen Family’s commercial retaliation against the Xiao Family. 298 360
• Lin Family — A competing great clan that expanded into positions vacated after the East Mountain battle, while remaining wary of the Chen Family’s recovery. 301 317

Major Arcs

Jiang Qinghe’s Recruitment

Chen Lingxue’s gift of Origin Magnetic Sand secured Jiang Qinghe’s loyalty to her faction. The family then evaluated him at its annual meeting, where he displayed a perfected Primordial Chaos Armor against Chen Lingfeng and gained Chen Shouyi’s favor. 159 218 223

Heaven Pillar Peak Conflict

The Chen Family expedition sought demon-beast materials and natural treasures in East Mountain before discovering a rift at Heaven Pillar Peak. The Xiao Family invaded the site, exploiting its numerical advantage to attempt the destruction of Chen Family elites. 260 266

Chen Shou'en fought to preserve an escape route, while Jiang Qinghe revealed concealed strength and helped turn the battlefield in the Chen Family’s favor. The aftermath left both families severely weakened, but the Xiao Family suffered especially devastating losses among its elite descendants. 266 270 301

Old Ancestor Crisis

The family discovered that its spiritual elixirs had been compromised over years by the Xiao Family’s Nine Yin Spirit Locking Array. The array activated during Chen Guantong’s breakthrough attempt, damaging his Spiritual Sense and threatening the clan’s position in Cangfeng City. 291

Jiang Qinghe’s Earth Vein Spirit Milk became a critical resource for treating the Old Ancestor. The family concealed its vulnerability, reorganized defenses, and later used Chen Guantong’s successful repulsion of Xiao Helin to deter further probing. 292 293 317

Chen Shou'en’s Death

Chen Shou'en was killed in a later attack involving Moon Erosion Cold Sand. The Chen Family suspected the Xiao Family and began suppressing Xiao businesses and operations in retaliation, while Chen Lingxue, Zhao Guangyi, and Jiang Ziyue pledged to seek justice for him. 360

Trivia

• The Chen Family’s manor uses Obsidian Jade Qilin statues rather than conventional stone lions at its main gate. 218
• Only core direct-line members or senior powerholders may invite external guests to the annual meeting. 219
• Chen Shouyi’s public praise of Jiang Qinghe after his duel with Chen Lingfeng was considered unusually weighty because he rarely praised younger outsiders directly. 222