Chen Shijie

Biodata

Power Progression

Background and History

Chen joined the army at thirteen. His initially poor aptitude made training difficult, and he did not reach Gathering Yuan First Level until fifteen. After surviving battles in the wilderness, he earned the merit needed to improve his aptitude. Three years after reaching Gathering Yuan Fourth Level at twenty, he passed the examination to become a Military Sima Nong 97.

He later transferred from military service to a civil post in Gucheng. As head of its Ministry of Agriculture, he took on the restoration of Anping Town’s scorched land, which had been neglected for nine years. He secured the manpower and tools for the work despite local opposition and restored the soil to ordinary wasteland within a year 54 96. Before returning to military service, he stepped down and left his Gucheng residence and Heaven Yuan Pear orchard to his lover, Gui Niang 106.

In the Divine Might Army, Chen served under Liao Rulong and took part in the Pacifying Barbarians campaign. His work extended beyond commanding one camp, prompting plans to expand his authority over the Nine Section Battalion, Fire Element Camp, and Earth Element Camp 201. He also held the Right Army Assistant role, through which other army formations applied for military supplies 364. Later, he handled substantial agricultural administration for Great Zhou, including duties ordinarily associated with the Grand Minister of Agriculture 693.

Appearance

Chen has an unremarkable, somewhat square face, faint lines at his brows, small eyes and nose, and fair skin associated with West Mountain County 52.

• Wears green robes during a meeting with Jing Yan 401.
• Carries himself with the resoluteness of someone tempered by hardship 52.

Personality

Chen favors initiative, practical judgment, and preparedness. He makes Gucheng’s planting assessments competitive because he believes clerks should be ready to contend for resources rather than assume peaceful conditions 24. He respects Zhao Xing’s talent and strategy, but also warns him not to depend entirely on powerful patrons 34 245.

His loyalty extends beyond official duty. He risks a confrontation with the Profound Heaven Sect to protect Gui Niang and local civilians, and refuses an exceptionally valuable offer to trade Zhao Xing to another army 87 159. He is candid about the limits of his own talent, while remaining willing to keep studying for a breakthrough 462 218.

Abilities & Skills

Cloudcalling and celestial timing

• His Cloudcalling forms a domain over the entire Hundred Herbs Garden. Within it, other examinees cannot maintain their spells or deliver essence energy to their plants, allowing him to end an assessment decisively 33.
• A cold wind he summons helps Long Xiao recover from a ritual cultivator’s Provocation Method 107.

Earth Palace Arts

• Uses Fire Hell Earth Palace Art to control an earth vein beneath the Beginning of Winter assessment grounds 96.
• Specializes in Earth Palace cultivation, including an underground Body Tempering Earth Palace used to strengthen his foundation 293.
• Created Fire God Earth Palace, an ultimate art particularly formidable when he holds the geographical advantage of a mountain 373.

Military command and instruction

• Recognizes the Provocation Method’s effect on the Wisdom and Intelligence Souls before Long Xiao attacks its users 107.
• Teaches Zhao Xing Yin Wind; he is the only person in Gucheng’s Ministry of Agriculture able to teach both Yin Wind and Icy Rain 54.
• Develops military plans that Zhao Xing finds close to his own, sometimes with more detail 330.

Equipment and Items

• Dharma Protector Straw Figure — Given to Zhao Xing for protection; its intricate construction seals two strands of a military acquaintance’s sword qi inside 90.
• Heaven Yuan Pear orchard — Cultivated during his Gucheng posting; he gave Zhao Xing a mature tree and later left the orchard to Gui Niang 47 106.

Relationships

• Zhao Xing — Protégé, comrade, and close friend. Chen secures cultivation support for him, brings him into the Divine Might Army, and refuses to trade him to the Tigron Army; Zhao later helps Chen advance 34 123 159 269.
• Long Xiao — Military comrade whom Chen corrects when he falls for a ritual technique; the two also celebrate Zhao Xing’s progress together 107 123.
• Gui Niang — His lover in Gucheng. Concern for her helps motivate his trap against the Profound Heaven Sect, and he leaves his local property to her 87 106.
• Xue Wenzhong — Fellow Gucheng official who supports the Anping Town restoration and joins Chen in backing Zhao Xing 96 34.
• Liao Rulong — Divine Might Army superior under whom Chen willingly serves; Liao later considers expanding Chen’s command 201.

Notable Quotes

“I, Chen Shijie, do not sell my comrades.” 159

“I fought for all of that myself.” 97