Yan Chen

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Yan Chen (阎嗔)
Alias(es)	Director Yan; Speaker Yan; Councilor Yan
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	New Realm City Investigation Department; Academic Faction
Occupation/Role	Former Director of the New Realm City Investigation Department; later a Deputy Speaker
Status	Alive 583
First Appearance	2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Third Order Calamity Descendant	322	A Calamity Descendant of the Life Path, possessing exceptional self-preservation abilities.
Pseudo-Fourth Order	338	Advanced after attempting to use La Riluo's power, but failed to secure a full Fourth-Order breakthrough or the Deputy Speaker position.

Background / History

Before entering high office, Yan Chen served in the military and took part in an intelligence-gathering mission deep within the Cataclysm Zone. During that mission, he saved a scarred, unidentified man and gave him food, clothing, and treatment. The being later resurfaced as Secretary Bai Yu, claiming to be repaying Yan Chen's kindness. 547

Yan Chen's wife died several years before New Realm City was established. Old Master Qin used this loss to draw Yan Chen into an arrangement with La Riluo: the Qin Family produced cloned bodies of Yan Chen's wife and daughter, Yan Yan, while Yan Chen later gave Qin ZhengGuang a Deputy Director position in return. 260

He eventually became Director of the New Realm City Investigation Department and built it into a power base dominated by his own faction. His control over the department, City Hall allies, and the Special Operations Department made him one of New Realm City's most influential figures. 5 121 325

Appearance

Yan Chen is officially fifty-one, but appears considerably older—closer to sixty-five—with an aged, decaying presence and the smell of old age. 95

• Wrinkled face compared to dry bark or a withered tree. 297 546
• Usually has murky or turbid gray eyes. 297 326
• Speaks in a hoarse voice likened to that of a longtime smoker. 204
• Frequently smokes and works in dim offices with the curtains drawn. 297 485
• His eyes can turn crimson when his violent impulses surface. 283

Personality

Yan Chen is a cautious, patient political operator who treats power, loyalty, and personnel as resources to be managed. He is skilled at balancing subordinates, applying pressure, offering rewards, and using institutional appointments to secure his position. 122

His defining weakness is paranoia. Once he suspects someone, he continues probing rather than letting the matter rest; Qiu Tu exploits this trait early by redirecting Yan Chen's suspicions toward Qin Shuman. 2

Though normally restrained and composed, Yan Chen becomes increasingly extreme after losing control of the Investigation Department and failing to eliminate Qiu Tu. His willingness to sacrifice Jia Shu, use assassins, and arrange deadly political traps reflects a ruthless instinct for self-preservation. 296 326 338

Yan Chen nevertheless shows genuine affection toward Yan Yan. He regrets neglecting her after her mother's death and remains sensitive to their increasingly distant relationship. 162 546

Abilities & Skills

Life Path

Yan Chen is a Life Path Calamity Descendant whose abilities emphasize longevity, preservation, and the absorption of life force. 322

• His Life Path gives him unusually strong survivability. 322
• He regards his extended lifespan as a strategic advantage, allowing him to endure setbacks and wait for future opportunities. 326

Life Devouring

Life Devouring allows Yan Chen to consume the power and life force of Calamity Descendants on the same Path. 322

• He planned to devour La Riluo to achieve a Fourth-Order breakthrough. 252 260
• Through his domain, he extracted nearly one-third of La Riluo's spiritual power and life force. 283
• The ability is limited to compatible targets on the Life Path. 322

Turtle Breathing

Turtle Breathing is an ability connected to growth and self-preservation. 322

• It is believed to lock away life force and drastically reduce its consumption. 322
• La Riluo inferred its existence from Yan Chen's immense vitality despite his frail, aged appearance. 322
• Its exact mechanics remain unconfirmed. 322

Domain Manipulation

Yan Chen can establish a domain capable of restraining a powerful target and extracting their spiritual power and life force. 283

• He used this domain against La Riluo during his attempted advancement. 283
• He was forced to release her when events in New Realm City disrupted his plan. 283

Political Manipulation

Yan Chen is an experienced administrator and faction leader.

• Expanded the Investigation Department from several dozen core personnel to more than ten thousand members, then began screening it for spies and unreliable personnel. 36
• Uses rewards, pressure, balancing tactics, and promotions to control subordinates. 122
• Maintained the Special Operations Department as his direct armed force and principal source of coercive power. 5
• Secretly worked with Tang Wanfeng to expose Pang Hai Chen's suspected rebellion and improve his standing with the Shelter leadership. 547

Relationships

• Qiu Tu — Former subordinate, political rival, and later uneasy partner. Yan Chen initially promoted and cultivated Qiu Tu, then attempted to suppress and assassinate him after recognizing him as a threat. The two later negotiated a conditional reconciliation through an intelligence exchange. 12 326 546
• Yan Yan — His daughter. Yan Chen loves her deeply, though his work and past actions left their relationship strained. 162 546
• La Riluo — Evil God whom Yan Chen intended to devour for a Fourth-Order breakthrough; her descent was tied to a cloned body of Yan Yan. 260 283
• Secretary Bai Yu — His exceptionally capable secretary and confidant. Bai Yu served Yan Chen out of a debt of gratitude, though Yan Chen never fully trusted his unknown origin. 547
• Qin Heng / Old Master Qin — Political ally whose family gave Yan Chen reach into City Hall; their alliance was cemented through the cloning arrangement involving Yan Chen's wife and daughter. 121 260
• Jia Shu — Former right-hand man and Minister who worked closely with Yan Chen, but later became entangled in Yan Chen's conflicts with Qiu Tu and Liu Xiongyuan. 54 95 296
• Tang Wanfeng — Shelter leader with whom Yan Chen secretly cooperated to reveal Pang Hai Chen's suspected rebellion. 547
• Huang Shangzong — Fellow Academic Faction figure whom Yan Chen tried to persuade to restrain Qiu Tu's rapid promotion. 293

Story Role / Major Arcs

Control of New Realm City

As Director, Yan Chen turns the Investigation Department into a tightly controlled factional machine. He relies on the Qin Family's City Hall influence, Secretary Bai's execution, Jia Shu's support, and the Special Operations Department's armed strength to consolidate authority. 5 121 281

The Yin Caimei Case

The Yin Caimei Spy Case threatens Yan Chen's alliance with the Qin Family. He initially minimizes the evidence against Qin Heng and orders that the Qin Family not be searched, because their downfall would severely weaken his influence across New Realm City. 121 144

Conflict with Qiu Tu

Yan Chen initially regards Qiu Tu as a useful subordinate and facilitates his advancement. As Qiu Tu's influence grows, Yan Chen realizes that his former subordinate has been behind many of his setbacks, including the Qin Family's collapse, his estrangement from Jia Shu, and the failure of his plan against La Riluo. 122 297 326

Attempted Ascension and Decline

Yan Chen attempts to devour La Riluo and use her accumulated spiritual power and life force to advance. Although he reaches Pseudo-Fourth Order, La Riluo's death prevents him from completing his intended breakthrough and claiming the Deputy Speaker position. 283 292

Assassination Attempts and Transfer

Unable to contain Qiu Tu through ordinary political methods, Yan Chen employs Scarlet Widow in an attempt to kill him and blame the United Front. The plot fails, Qiu Tu survives, and Yan Chen is further isolated as his motorcade is attacked and his transfer from New Realm City is announced. 326 328 335

Reconciliation with Qiu Tu

After leaving New Realm City, Yan Chen approaches Qiu Tu with intelligence concerning Pang Hai Chen, the Academic Faction, and Secretary Bai Yu. In exchange, he asks Qiu Tu to help secure a Deputy Speaker transfer to North Cloud State or South Melody State. 546 547

Later, Yan Chen accepts that he cannot defeat Qiu Tu directly. He positions himself as a nominal counterbalance to Qiu Tu while privately intending to follow Qiu Tu's orders. 485

Notable Quotes

“When an enemy cannot be defeated... we don't necessarily have to be enemies with him, do we?” 485

“Privately, he is my superior. Whatever he says, I will do...” 485

“After all... at that time, we really reached the point of no return.” 485

Trivia

• Yan Chen's official age is fifty-one, yet his appearance makes him seem at least sixty-five. 95
• His aged appearance contrasts with the immense life force detected within his body. 322
• He once killed Ji Chen for entering his study without knocking. 283
• Yan Chen considers a long lifespan to be one of the most valuable political advantages a person can possess. 326 546