Shen Fan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Shen Fan (沈凡)
Alias(es)	Flag Master; Fourth Senior Brother Blood Child
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Heavenly Xuan Sect; Mountain Severing Peak; Blood Refinement Sect; Frostwind Society
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; corpse-puppet master; Frostwind Society flag leader
Spirit Roots	Initially a first-grade Five-Element Mixed Spirit Root; later gains a fifth-grade Gold Spirit Root, third-grade Fire Spirit Root, and third-grade Ice Spirit Root 214
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Qi Refining Stage, Layer Two	1	His cultivation is stalled after three years, leaving him unable to enter the outer sect.
Qi Refining Stage, Layer Three	4	Reaches the third layer after consuming a grain of Supreme-Grade Spirit Rice; the potency prevents him from cultivating for several days.
First Blood Spirit Qi	33	Condenses his first stream of Blood Spirit Qi through the Blood Spirit Unification Art, greatly increasing his physical strength.
Bone Tempering Realm	38	Achieved through the Polar Ice-Fire Body Forging Art; his body can contend with mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators through physical force.
Qi Refining Stage, Layer Four (middle stage)	58	Breaks through with Qi Gathering Pills and corpse-puppet cultivation.
Qi Refining Stage, Layer Five	64	Breaks through after absorbing mysterious power connected to Old Man Duan.
Qi Refining Stage, Layer Six	94	Falls back to the sixth layer after temporarily forcing his cultivation to Layer Nine in the battle against Jia Chengxin.
Blood Refining Stage, Layer Four	112	Possesses four strands of Blood Spirit Qi.
Qi Refining Stage, Layer Seven; Tendon Transformation Realm	115	Advances into late Qi Refining while the Flowing Fire Bridal Gown Art and Fire Lotus seed elevate his body to Tendon Transformation.
Qi Refining Stage, Layer Eleven; Blood Exchange Realm	185	Advances while mastering and modifying the Myriad Transformations Beast Form Art and Golden Sword Qi Gathering Art.
Qi Refining Stage, Grand Perfection	186	Reaches the peak of Qi Refining.
Blood Refining Stage, Layer Twelve; Golden Body Realm	214	Absorbing Xue Qingtian raises his Blood Refining system to Layer Twelve and his physical body to Golden Body, comparable to Foundation Establishment.
Foundation Establishment Stage	219	Fights and kills late-stage Foundation Establishment opponents in Morningglow City.
Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage	246	His established cultivation before using the Nine Tribulation Nine Aperture Blood Burning Art.
Mid-Golden Core Stage (temporary)	246	The fourth layer of the Nine Tribulation Nine Aperture Blood Burning Art raises him four realms, crossing the Foundation Establishment–Golden Core divide.

Background / History

Shen Fan began as a servant disciple of the Heavenly Xuan Sect with a supposedly useless Five-Element Mixed Spirit Root. He spent years tending Spirit Fields and remained stuck at the second layer of Qi Refining, while supporting Lu Qingzhu’s entry into the sect and cultivation. After Lu Qingzhu entered the outer sect, she abandoned him for Li Qingshan, leaving Shen Fan publicly humiliated and targeted by Zhao Erhu. 1 3 91

While injured and assigned crushing workloads, Shen Fan discovered that his broken bowl could produce a complete Qi Induction Pill and replenish rice. The item later became known as the Treasure Gathering Universe Bowl, a secret treasure that gave him resources, concealed his aura, and eventually restored incomplete techniques. 2 3 42

Zhao Erhu transferred Shen Fan to the dangerous Waste Elixir Chamber, intending to dispose of him. Instead, the chamber became the foundation of Shen Fan’s growth: he cultivated the Five Elements Heavenly Spirit Art, learned corpse refinement, and began converting corpses into Corpse Puppets that could feed spiritual energy back to him. 8 11 16 22

After surviving sect intrigue, Soul Searching, assassination attempts, and the deaths of Zhao Erhu, Li Qingshan, Bai Qianyu, and Jia Chengxin, Shen Fan rose from a miscellaneous disciple to an outer sect disciple and candidate inner sect disciple. His victory in the servant-disciple competition earned him access to the Scripture Pavilion, where he acquired powerful incomplete techniques and used the Universe Bowl to repair them. 43 64 74 77

Feng Daoling accepted Shen Fan into Mountain Severing Peak after recognizing his courage, ruthlessness, and unusual Insight. There Shen Fan openly demonstrated selected techniques, learned the Flowing Fire Bridal Gown Art, and became a disciple alongside Shen Duanshan, Su Jian, Maple Red Leaf, and Qiao Ling'er. 111 112

Shen Fan later developed ties to the Blood Refinement Sect. Li Huanxue accepted him as a direct disciple, giving him the status of Fourth Senior Brother Blood Child, while Shen Fan continued operating within the Heavenly Xuan Sect and concealing the full extent of his demonic-path cultivation. 95 170

Personality

Shen Fan is persistent, pragmatic, and intensely unwilling to accept the limitations imposed on him by weak talent or low status. He works extreme hours in the Spirit Fields, turns dangerous assignments into opportunities, and repeatedly uses cultivation resources, techniques, and planning to compensate for his initial lack of aptitude. 3 40 95

He is cautious about exposing his true strength. Shen Fan deliberately suppresses his cultivation, relies on the Universe Bowl’s concealment, prepares escape routes and doubles, and removes witnesses or threats that could expose his involvement in demonic-path affairs. 41 83 172

Shen Fan can be ruthless in battle, particularly toward those who endanger his family or attempt to kill him. He uses ambushes, corpse puppets, blood arts, and psychological pressure without hesitation. Nevertheless, he explicitly rejects indiscriminate killing for blood cultivation and is fiercely protective of his relatives. 95 154 207

Abilities & Skills

Treasure Gathering Universe Bowl

A mysterious broken bowl that becomes Shen Fan’s defining treasure.

• Replicates or restores stored resources, including Qi Induction Pills, spirit rice, essence blood, and the Nascent Soul Pill. 2 3 201 243
• Repairs incomplete cultivation manuals and enhances Shen Fan’s recorded cultivation insights. 77 185 209
• Conceals his cultivation, treasures, memories, and demonic-path secrets from Soul Searching and elder scrutiny. 37 42
• Warns Shen Fan of imminent danger, including an aerial ambush. 61
• Its protections can be compromised or restricted when the Corpse King occupies Shen Fan’s body. 140

Nine Nether Corpse Refinement Art

A demonic corpse-refinement technique used to create and command Corpse Puppets.

• Refines corpses by opening their meridians, restoring their dantian circulation, and binding them with Shen Fan’s essence blood. 22
• Allows Corpse Puppets to cultivate using their preserved Spirit Roots, then feed their gathered spiritual energy back to Shen Fan. 16 22
• Shen Fan maintains multiple puppet grades, including Bronze Armor, Silver Armor, Golden Armor, and two Corpse Kings. 201 222
• His puppets scale with his cultivation; Corpse Kings can exceed his realm by three minor stages after sufficient resource investment. 201
• Shen Fan uses the corpse of Liu Qingfeng as a Golden Core-level puppet in battle. 222 236

Blood Spirit Unification Art

A Blood Refinement Sect body-cultivation art that converts burning Blood Essence into Blood Spirit Qi.

• Blood Spirit Qi greatly improves Shen Fan’s strength, speed, and physical combat ability. 33 190
• Requires large quantities of Blood Essence or blood-nourishing herbs; excessive consumption can cause unconsciousness or severe weakness. 33 68
• Enables Blood Sucking Art, allowing Shen Fan to extract an opponent’s blood through physical contact. 93
• Shen Fan can use Blood Spirit Qi to remotely absorb an enemy’s essence and blood after establishing a connection. 207

Body Forging Arts

Shen Fan’s body cultivation is the basis of his close-combat strength.

• Profound Water Freezing Art — temporarily changes his water Spirit Root into an ice-aligned root, allowing him to use ice techniques despite lacking a natural Ice Spirit Root at the time. 37
• Polar Ice-Fire Body Forging Art — tempers his blood, meridians, sinews, and bones through opposing ice and fire energies. 37 38
• Flowing Fire Bridal Gown Art — grants a Blazing Silk Garment and strong defensive reinforcement. 114 116
• Dragon Grasp / Thunder Dragon Grasp — claw-based martial art effective at close range and capable of distant object retrieval at advanced mastery; Shen Fan later modifies it with thunder power. 39 40 184
• Myriad Transformations Beast Form Art — lets Shen Fan assume beast forms; he develops a tiger-leopard hybrid form balancing speed and force. 185 190
• Heavenly Dragon Overlord Body Art — grants blue defensive scales, a half-dragon form, and a full dragon transformation with vastly enhanced power and durability. 227 254

Spirit Devouring Art

An Upper Earth-Rank technique that Shen Fan restores and uses to overcome his innate talent limitations.

• Devours and refines souls, strengthening Shen Fan’s divine soul and ability to control multiple magical treasures. 208
• Can absorb Spirit Root talent from targets, though the resulting roots may be weaker than the originals. 214
• Its cultivation is considered evil and carries the risk of resentment poison accumulating within his dantian. 114 182

Nine Tribulation Nine Aperture Blood Burning Art

A high-risk blood-burning art that temporarily elevates Shen Fan’s cultivation.

• Burns vital blood in hidden apertures to raise his realm by the number of layers cultivated. 83 94
• Raised Shen Fan from Qi Refining Layer Six to Layer Nine during his fight with Jia Chengxin. 94
• At the fourth layer, raises him four realms from mid-Foundation Establishment to mid-Golden Core. 246
• The technique consumes enormous Blood Essence and can leave Shen Fan severely depleted or injured. 94 207

Sword and Spell Techniques

• Heavenly Spirit Slash — condenses spiritual power into a devastating hand-blade attack; Shen Fan can cast it rapidly and use it to kill or decapitate enemies. 94 119 190
• Three Sha Soul Severing Sword — finger-sword art that inflicts Greed Sha against defenses, Anger Sha against the soul, and Ignorance Sha against the mind; its use damages Shen Fan’s own fingers. 77 94
• Golden Sword Qi Gathering Art — stores absorbed Geng Metal Qi, saber qi, and sword qi for later release as a powerful spiritual sword. 185 186 207
• Fire Serpent Art / Fire Dragon Incantation — fire techniques enhanced through the Fire Lotus seed and Blood Spirit Qi. 112 119 207
• Void Universe Sword Transformation Art — a Heaven-grade technique restored from the Myriad Transformation Sword Art; its first layer enables Shen Fan to use all things as swords. 209

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Treasure Gathering Universe Bowl — Shen Fan’s secret treasure; replicates resources, repairs techniques, conceals his aura, and protects his memories. 2 37 209
• Four Swords of Evil Subjugation — four natal flying swords originally named Godslayer, Demonbane, Fiend Slayer, and Ghost Ender; Shen Fan renames them Dao Friend, Hold On, I Lost, and Be Careful. 208
• Five Elements Banner — a formation treasure used for trapping enemies and protecting the Shen family. 152 158
• Nine Palaces Black Banner — a formation treasure used to trap Grand Elder Xuanxiang. 208 246
• Shield Mountain Seal — mid-grade magic artifact used as a heavy offensive and defensive seal. 87 155 207
• Soul-Locking Bone Staff — superb-grade spiritual artifact used against Foundation Establishment and Golden Core opponents. 215 219 252
• Infernal Dragon Flame Shuttle — flying treasure used for travel and combat mobility. 137 161
• Corpse Puppets — Shen Fan’s primary force multiplier, including two Corpse Kings and the puppet made from Liu Qingfeng’s body. 201 222

Relationships

• Lu Qingzhu — Former childhood sweetheart and fiancée. Shen Fan supported her cultivation for years, but she abandoned him after entering the outer sect; their relationship becomes openly hostile. 1 91 150
• Old Man Duan — Elderly mentor and grandfather figure who cared for Shen Fan, introduced him to corpse-puppet cultivation, and accepted blame to protect him. Shen Fan later refines Old Man Duan’s corpse into a Corpse Puppet. 3 50 58
• Feng Daoling — Master of Mountain Severing Peak. He accepts Shen Fan as a disciple, supplies him with techniques, and protects him during Heavenly Xuan Sect power struggles. 111 114 214
• Qiao Ling'er — Junior sister of Mountain Severing Peak. She worries deeply for Shen Fan, offers to teach him beast taming, and fights alongside him. 112 119 146
• Shen Ziyuan — Shen Fan’s adopted younger sister and childhood sweetheart. He discovers her Lightning Spirit Root, brings her to Mountain Severing Peak, and she becomes Feng Daoling’s disciple. 153 164 166
• Xue Hanzhou — Heavenly Xuan Sect Holy Son and Shen Fan’s political patron. He recruits Shen Fan into the Frostwind Society and appoints him flag leader. 104 148 150
• Li Huanxue — Blood Refinement Sect Master who recognizes Shen Fan’s potential and accepts him as a direct disciple. 94 95 170
• Xue Jin — Blood Refinement Sect cultivator who aids Shen Fan against Jia Chengxin and offers him entry into the sect. 64 65 94
• Yan Nantian — Northwest Protector King and Shen Fan’s sworn brother; he protects the Shen family after learning Shen Fan’s identity. 160 161
• Lu Chaochao — Ally and trading partner who assists Shen Fan against Icefire Sect disciples and develops influence among rogue cultivators in Prince Zhennan’s forces. 163 227
• Bai Shuangren — Holy Maiden of the Nine Nether Corpse Puppet Sect. Shen Fan declines the sect master position and gives her the Heaven and Earth Puppet Script. 148

Story Role / Major Arcs

Servant Disciple and the Universe Bowl

• Lu Qingzhu’s betrayal and Li Qingshan’s abuse leave Shen Fan injured, humiliated, and stranded as a Qi Refining Layer Two servant disciple. 1
• Zhao Erhu exploits Shen Fan through Spirit Field assignments before transferring him to the Waste Elixir Chamber. 3 8
• Shen Fan discovers the Treasure Gathering Universe Bowl and begins using its replenished pills and spirit rice to pursue cultivation. 2 4

Waste Elixir Chamber and Corpse-Puppet Cultivation

• Shen Fan turns the Waste Elixir Chamber into a cultivation base, learning the Five Elements Heavenly Spirit Art and Nine Nether Corpse Refinement Art. 11 16
• He creates Corpse Puppets, uses them to feed cultivation back to himself, and begins progressing beyond the limits of his Spirit Root. 22 58
• He develops the Blood Spirit Unification Art, the Polar Ice-Fire Body Forging Art, and Dragon Grasp to establish a body-cultivation fighting style. 33 38 40

Rise Through Heavenly Xuan Sect

• Shen Fan tests the Bowl’s aura concealment during Dao Exchange Day and defeats Li Wei in the miscellaneous-disciple sparring competition. 41 42
• He earns second place among servant disciples, enters the Outer Sect Scripture Pavilion, and begins repairing incomplete high-level arts. 43 74 77
• His conflict with Jia Chengxin culminates in Shen Fan temporarily reaching Qi Refining Layer Nine and killing the Golden Core cultivator with help from Xue Jin’s side. 93 94

Mountain Severing Peak

• Feng Daoling invites Shen Fan to Mountain Severing Peak after seeing his courage and ruthlessness. 111
• Shen Fan secures acceptance by demonstrating his techniques and later impresses the peak with his exceptional Insight into the Flowing Fire Bridal Gown Art. 112 114
• He improves his fellow disciples’ signature techniques, including Thunder Dragon Grasp, Myriad Transformations Beast Form Art, Golden Sword Qi Gathering Art, and the Flowing Fire Bridal Gown Art. 184 185 186

Family Protection and Azure Wave City

• Shen Fan returns home to find the Lu family exploiting Lu Qingzhu’s status to oppress his family, forcing the Shens to surrender their wealth. 87 91
• He later protects Shen Ziyuan from a forced marriage to Zhao Tianyou, confronts the Zhao family, and gains Yan Nantian’s support. 153 154 160
• Shen Fan brings Shen Ziyuan to Mountain Severing Peak after discovering her rare Lightning Spirit Root. 164 166

Sect Intrigue and Demonic-Path Expansion

• Shen Fan becomes Li Huanxue’s fourth direct disciple in the Blood Refinement Sect while maintaining his Heavenly Xuan Sect identity. 170
• He kills Li Shaobai, uses a Sky Shadow Doppelganger to preserve his alibi, and deceives sect investigators. 172 174
• Shen Fan orchestrates conflict between Xue Qingtian and Liu Qingfeng, then ambushes and kills Liu Qingfeng for his soul, techniques, and treasures. 200 207 208
• After absorbing Xue Qingtian’s power, Shen Fan undergoes a major increase in Blood Spirit Qi, body cultivation, divine soul strength, and Spirit Root quality. 214

War and Golden Core Conflict

• Shen Fan commands troops in Morningglow City and defeats multiple Foundation Establishment opponents with his natal swords, Corpse Puppets, and Soul-Locking Bone Staff. 216 219 222
• He protects Goldlight Peak from the Spirit Sword Sect, using Liu Qingfeng’s Corpse Puppet to kill a Golden Core elder. 236
• Shen Fan uses the Nine Tribulation Nine Aperture Blood Burning Art to face Grand Elder Xuanxiang as a temporary mid-Golden Core cultivator. 246
• He reveals the Heavenly Dragon Overlord Body Art and its full dragon form while battling Long Zhanye. 254

Notable Quotes

“I'm not leaving!” 3

“If my talent isn't good, I can only find another way!” 95

“Golden Core Stage, huh? It's not like I can't kill one!” 222