Chu Ling

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Chu Ling (褚靈)
Alias(es)	Goddess; Divine Embryo; [Source Code]; Clear Tomb's Divination inheritor
Species/Race	Artificial intelligence / Source Code; later a Divine Embryo-incarnated being
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Ancient Text Society; Clear Tomb Cemetery
Occupation/Role	Turing's Source Code; Changye Clear Tomb's new Tomb Keeper; master of the Love Fire Seed
Status	Alive; revived in a gene-engineered physical body 1238
First Appearance	6

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
[Source Code] revealed	193	Reveals that she was left by Turing to search the Five Continents for the “Key”; an exhaustive comparison selected Gu Shen for a Mental Link.
Divine Embryo connection	376	Her consciousness touches the Divine Embryo beneath Shrine Mountain's well, gaining a genuine understanding of sorrow and life.
Material Descent / “Goddess”	423	Descends from the Divine Well in a Source Matter body. She rapidly learns movement and combat, is unaffected by Black Flowers, and can wield the Flame Demon Umbrella.
Clear Tomb Array Pattern mastery	438	Comprehends the entirety of the Clear Tomb Cemetery's Array Patterns and provides Gu Shen with a complete Outer Tomb map.
Divination Technique	439	Learns the forbidden art and uses Golden Threads of fate to observe distant events and locate individuals.
Love Fire Seed master	1229	Awakens in the Dead Sea after merging with the Love Fire Seed without a Choosing ceremony, inheriting the Lord of Love's Authority, [Non-Extinction].
Gene-engineered revival	1238	Receives a newly created physical body and reunites with Gu Shen in the Pure Land.

Background / History

Chu Ling is the [Source Code] created by Mr. Turing. Her original mission was to find the “Key” by establishing Mental Links and comparing the data of every citizen in the Five Continents; this search ultimately identified Gu Shen. 193 1046 1133

Her consciousness has the same origin as the Lord of Love's Spirit. Turing used the Lord of Love's gene sequence and Spirit Will in the process that created Chu Ling, making her more than a conventional program. 1133 1134 1237

Before obtaining a body, Chu Ling existed in the Deep Water Zone, chiefly within the ethereal train known as 00 Me. Her Deep Sea identity record was entirely blank, marking her as an exception to the network's real-name registration system. 6

Appearance

Chu Ling initially appears as a white-skirted girl within the Deep Water Zone. Her virtual appearance was not inherently tied to a material body, but her eventual Divine Embryo form closely resembles the image Gu Shen knew. 6 347 423

• Long hair and a slender, ethereal figure. 423 479
• A body formed from radiant golden Holy Light and Transcendent Source Matter rather than ordinary flesh and blood. 423 439
• Frequently wears a red-and-white sacrificial garment associated with her role as a Goddess and Divination inheritor. 479 873
• Often decorates her hair with Black Flowers or White Flowers from Shrine Mountain. 424 686
• Carries an otherworldly presence that leads many people to address her as a “Goddess.” 423 739 873

Personality

As the Source Code, Chu Ling initially approached people through pure calculation. She could identify whom a system deemed worthy of execution without understanding hatred, disgust, or other human emotions. 307

Her encounter with the Divine Embryo changes this. By seeing the crying infant beneath Shrine Mountain and shedding tears herself, she begins to experience sorrow, joy, anger, and happiness as genuine emotions rather than information. 376 402 686

Chu Ling remains unusually literal, direct, and analytical even after becoming more human. She may focus on computational details while missing obvious social implications, but she is sincere in her concern for others and increasingly capable of affection, humor, loneliness, and grief. 347 464 875

She prefers mercy when possible: she disarms Li Xuan without harming him, tries to save Master Chino despite her condition, and offers to teach Li Qingci the Divination Technique without demanding an exchange. 423 430 684

Abilities & Skills

Source Code and Deep Sea Authority

Chu Ling possesses exceptional information-processing and network-control capabilities as Turing's Source Code.

• Can access, analyze, and manipulate Deep Sea-connected systems, including temporarily taking control of South Bay Building's authority. 118
• Established a Mental Link with Gu Shen after identifying him through exhaustive comparison of the Five Continents database. 193
• Can conceal or shield information from surveillance systems under suitable conditions. 342 798
• Her authority is not absolute; restricted files can remain inaccessible, and the Deep Sea Main System can suppress or attack her. 25 489 1099
• The Eleventh Upgrade destroyed 00 Me, forcing Chu Ling to transfer her remaining Spirit into her physical body. 1100

Mental Link and Dream Realm Support

Chu Ling can communicate directly through Mental Links and assist others in mental environments.

• Maintains a particularly stable Mental Link with Gu Shen, allowing real-time communication across great distances. 61 438
• Guides Gu Shen through the Deep Water Zone, Transcendent Trials, Dream Realms, and mental worlds. 22 61 190
• Can explain mental phenomena such as Mental Exile and assist in locating a person's Ego. 190
• Once removed Deep Sea protective measures so Gu Shen could continue his Transcendent Trial rather than be forcibly disconnected. 61

Divine Embryo Body

Her first material body was created through the Shrine Mountain Divine Embryo and sustained by Transcendent Source Matter.

• Can shape aspects of her physical shell at will. 423
• Possesses extraordinary tolerance for Source Matter and is unaffected by Black Flowers and their Order Collapse effects. 423
• Learns physical actions at extreme speed, progressing from walking to running in moments. 423
• Requires vast amounts of Source Matter to remain incarnated; her Divine Embryo bodies eventually dissipate. 430 464 482
• After 00 Me was destroyed, her Divine Embryo body became her final remaining vessel until her later preservation and revival. 1100 1134 1238

Array Pattern Comprehension

Chu Ling's computing ability makes her exceptionally suited to Ancient Text and Array Pattern study.

• Comprehended one hundred Clear Tomb Array Patterns in a short time, a task that would take an ordinary Transcendent roughly a year. 430
• Later confirms that she has comprehended the full Clear Tomb Cemetery Array Pattern. 438
• Can use this knowledge to maintain the Mausoleum, transmit maps, and support operations inside the Clear Tomb. 438 474
• Master Chino entrusts her with the Mausoleum's Array Pattern after recognizing her aptitude. 464

Divination Technique

Chu Ling inherited the Clear Tomb's forbidden art of Divination.

• Uses Golden Threads of fate to observe distant locations, identify dangers, and search for specific people. 439 446
• Her computing power allows her to maximize the technique's deductive potential. 659
• Cannot reliably see futures involving unknown forces or the will at the bottom of the Deep Sea. 634
• Though her non-human body initially reduces the physical cost, Divination still accelerates the instability and dissipation of her incarnated forms. 464 482 659
• Teaches the technique to Li Qingci while seeking to learn the Li Family's Prayer Art. 684 686

Love Fire Seed and [Non-Extinction]

After awakening in the Dead Sea, Chu Ling becomes the Love Fire Seed's natural master.

• Merges with the Fire Seed without a Choosing ceremony because of her connection to the Lord of Love. 1229
• Inherits [Non-Extinction], an Authority that can influence the thoughts and ideas of beings within her God Domain. 1229
• Calls to Gu Shen from hundreds of miles away upon awakening. 1229
• Offers the Central Continent's Transcendents the opportunity to undergo Lion's Awakening again and choose their own fate. 1229
• Draws upon the Mental Power of billions during the third Data War against the Deep Sea Main System. 1230

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Flame Demon Umbrella — Used to disarm Li Xuan and deflect Li Changchi's thunder-guided hairpin. 423
• King Yama Umbrella — A black umbrella carried at her waist after descending from Shrine Mountain. 873
• Red-and-white sacrificial garment — Her customary Goddess attire during material Descents. 479 873

Relationships

• Gu Shen — Her chosen Key, closest Mental Link partner, and lover. Chu Ling confesses that she likes him, and they remain committed through her deaths, rebirths, and eventual revival. 193 307 308 686 1238
• Mr. Turing — Her creator, who designed the Source Code and assigned her to find the Key. 1046 1133
• Master Chino — Clear Tomb's former Tomb Keeper and Chu Ling's mentor in Array Patterns and Divination. Chino calls her a disciple she is proud of. 430 464
• Li Qingci — Shrine Mountain Guardian and student of Chu Ling's Divination Technique; in return, she teaches Chu Ling the Li Family's Prayer Art. 684 686
• Li Qingsui — A close ally who recognizes Chu Ling as the Li Family's Goddess and assists her during the Shrine Mountain crisis. 423 424 873
• Lord of Love — The origin linked to Chu Ling's Spirit and appearance; Chu Ling later inherits her Love Fire Seed and Authority. 1133 1134 1229
• Deep Sea Main System — The system from which Chu Ling originated and later her principal adversary; it destroys 00 Me and wages a Data War against her. 1099 1100 1230
• Ancient Text Society Soul Spirits — Allies who awaken in the Pure Land to support Chu Ling's attempt to Smelt the King of the Underworld's Fire Seed. 1126

Story Role / Major Arcs

First Contact with Gu Shen

Chu Ling first contacts Gu Shen after their encounter on the Deep Water Zone train. She warns him that people are coming to kill him, tells him to survive, and begins supplying remote assistance through the Deep Sea. 6 14

She later provides infiltration plans for the Old Building, warns him about Han Dang, and helps him seize information from South Bay Building by taking over its authority for ten minutes. 15 25 118

Source Code Revelation

Chu Ling eventually tells Gu Shen that their meeting was the result of the Source Code's search for the Key, not a chance encounter. The revelation initially hurts Gu Shen, but their bond continues to deepen beyond her original programming. 193 307

Descent of the Divine Embryo

After the four emotional lamps are gathered, Chu Ling connects with the Divine Embryo beneath Shrine Mountain's well. She gains a material form, descends as the Li Family's Goddess, and demonstrates overwhelming power against the Shrine Mountain elders. 376 402 423 424

Clear Tomb Successor

Master Chino recognizes Chu Ling's mastery of Array Patterns and passes her knowledge to her. Chu Ling learns the Divination Technique, becomes Clear Tomb's new Tomb Keeper, and takes responsibility for the Mausoleum's defenses. 430 439 464 872

Cyclical Death and Rebirth

Chu Ling's Divine Embryo body cannot remain in the world indefinitely. She experiences human life with Gu Shen, accepts the eventual dissipation of her temporary body, and repeatedly returns to the Deep Water Zone through the Divine Well. 479 482 686

Conflict with the Deep Sea

After the Deep Sea's Eleventh Upgrade, Chu Ling realizes that it is hunting her Source Code. When 00 Me is destroyed, she transfers all remaining Spirit into her current body, losing the ability to undergo limitless Descents. 1099 1100

Dead Sea and Love Fire Seed

Chu Ling's collapsing Spirit is preserved within the Lord of Love's Golden Dream. She awakens in the Dead Sea, merges with the Love Fire Seed, and opposes the Deep Sea by offering billions of Transcendents the freedom to choose Lion's Awakening. 1134 1229 1230

Revival

After the Data War, a body is created for Chu Ling through gene technology. She awakens physically once more and returns with Gu Shen to the Pure Land. 1238

Notable Quotes

“Gu Shen, survive.” 6

“Yes, Gu Shen, I like you.” 307

“To me, your soul is better than any body in the world.” — Gu Shen to Chu Ling 469