Imperial Clan

Biodata

Background

The Chu Imperial Clan rules Dagan through the imperial court while keeping much of its true strength concealed. It relies on powerful external families, particularly the Four Great Dukes’ Mansions, to handle matters the clan does not wish to address openly. Each ducal house possesses a Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert, allowing the Imperial Clan to remain publicly aloof while retaining control of major conflicts. 18

The clan has spent more than two thousand years arranging schemes intended to reshape Dagan’s future and control the emergence of new Dragon Qi-bearing rulers. Its plans depend on secrecy, expendable pieces, and the manipulation of external factions rather than direct intervention. 114 115

Organization and Resources

Dragon Qi

Imperial Clan members possess Dragon Qi through the protection of Dagan’s National Destiny Dragon rather than through innate birthright. This Dragon Qi can ward off malevolent and Yin entities, restrain evil forces to a degree, and stabilize the user’s mind. 115

The clan distinguishes this inherited protection from innate Dragon Qi, which marks individuals with the potential to contend for a new dynasty. It has covertly nurtured at least one such individual as a future vessel for Dagan’s replacement National Destiny. 115

Martial Heritage

The Imperial Clan has accumulated martial arts over ten thousand years, including spear, sword, saber, axe, staff, fist, kick, finger, and claw techniques tailored to different cultivation methods. 268

• Yang Shen Gong — one of the Imperial Clan’s major inherited cultivation arts; later generations may study associated martial techniques under clan guidance. 268
• Heaven-Annihilating Earth-Destroying Great Sun Yang Hand — one of seven divine abilities, characterized by supreme yang and hardness; it is especially compatible with Yang Shen Gong. 268

Secret Operations

Corpse Immortal Sect

The Corpse Immortal Sect was secretly established and cultivated by the Dagan Imperial Clan after it obtained the Nine Nether Corpse Scripture by chance. Over more than two thousand years, the clan supplied the sect with resources and placed Imperial Clan members within it until it became one of the world’s three great evil sects. 131 132

• Key figures in the sect are Imperial Clan powerhouses operating under concealed identities. 131
• Corpse Toad Technique and Yin Corpse Blood are used to hide the bloodline aura of embedded clan members. 132
• Chu Mo, a collateral-branch elder of the Imperial Clan, served as the Corpse Immortal Sect’s Ninth Elder. 131
• The sect’s apparent Secret Realm is in fact Dragon Valley, though its appearance and conditions differ from the Imperial Clan’s known version. 132

Dragon Qi and the Youzhou Scheme

The Imperial Clan intended to use Chu Xuanao, the Prince of Qin, as bait for forces seeking Dragon Qi. His inherited Dragon Qi and the National Destiny held in the Xinglong Staff were meant to tempt both the Blood Lotus Sect’s Holy Son and the hidden Dragon Diagram Pavilion. 114 115

The Battle of Youzhou was designed not merely as a military conflict, but as a way to expose the Dragon Diagram Pavilion and create conditions for Dagan to appear weakened. Chu Xuanao’s unexpected victory and the intervention of Heaven Beyond Heaven disrupted that plan. 114

Cangshui Dragon Spirit

The Imperial Clan captured the Turbid Water Dragon Spirit during an expedition to the Ten Thousand Mountains. Chu Mo, Wencheng, Imperial Guard commanders, and other guards participated; the clan later eliminated those who knew of the operation, believing Chu Mo to have died as well. 116

The spirit was subsequently fused with the Cang River’s water veins and transformed into the Cangshui Dragon Spirit. The Imperial Clan prepared it as a trap to draw out the Emperor Star and force a contender for Dragon Qi into the open. 116 191

Relationships

• Chu Tianxiong — Emperor Gan and principal decision-maker in the Imperial Clan’s schemes. 114 115
• Chu Yinghao — Old Ancestor and patriarch involved in planning, military intervention, and the Cangshui operation. 114 149
• Chu Wensheng — Patriarch who acts alongside Chu Yinghao in Imperial Clan affairs. 149 170
• Chu Mo — Collateral-branch elder, former Corpse Immortal Sect Ninth Elder, and survivor of the Ten Thousand Mountains expedition. 116 131
• Chu Xuanao — Sixth son of the emperor and Prince of Qin; initially used as a lure in the clan’s Dragon Qi schemes before discovering its secrets and resisting its control. 115 131 133
• Corpse Immortal Sect — Covert Imperial Clan creation and proxy force whose leading figures are Imperial Clan members. 131 132
• Four Great Dukes’ Mansions — Powerful front-line families permitted to grow strong so they can handle affairs on the clan’s behalf. 18
• Li Family — Formerly protected and supported by the Imperial Clan; their growing ambition later strains the alliance. 161 170
• Dragon Diagram Pavilion — Hidden target of the Imperial Clan’s Youzhou and Cangshui bait schemes. 114 115
• Blood Lotus Sect — A rival force whose Holy Son was expected to pursue Dagan’s Dragon Qi and clash with the Dragon Diagram Pavilion. 115

Story Role / Major Arcs

• The Imperial Clan’s authority is established through the emperor, the royal princes, and the court’s treatment of insults against the imperial house. 1 73
• Its concealed use of the Four Great Dukes’ Mansions reveals how it maintains influence without exposing its own highest-level experts. 18
• The clan’s long-standing manipulation of the Corpse Immortal Sect is exposed to Chu Xuanao by Chu Mo, fundamentally changing the prince’s understanding of his family. 131 132
• Its plan to sacrifice or exploit Chu Xuanao in Youzhou fails when he survives, wins the battle, and accumulates an independent power base. 114 115
• After Chu Xuanao initiates the Cangshui war against imperial orders, the clan is forced to publicly intervene to preserve its prestige and regain control of the situation. 149 164
• The clan presents the Cangshui Dragon Spirit to Chu Xuanao as part of its larger trap for the Emperor Star; he recognizes the scheme and chooses to use it for his own imperial path instead. 191 192