Chen Mu

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Chen Mu (陈沐)
Alias(es)	Yang Zhi; Song Jiang; Sun Dawang; Zhong Han; Gongsun Sheng; Li Moliang; Yi Tu San
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Independent cultivator; formerly associated with the Dingyou Camp Cooks; later an alchemy teacher and Dao Soldier
Occupation/Role	Cultivator, alchemist, cook, farmer, infiltrator, and disguise specialist
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 16

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Red Falcon Body Tempering Technique — Muscle Strengthening	20	Reaches the Second Tier, substantially improving his physical condition.
Throwing — Tier 3	25	Improved throwing proficiency strengthens his physique; he develops the Iron Lotus Seeds with proficiency-unlocked spiral patterns.
Red Falcon Body Tempering Technique — Bone Strengthening	21 30	Gains a longer breathing cycle, nine additional footwork moves, and reduced effectiveness from the secret medicine.
Five Ghosts Moving Mountains Incantation — Tier 3	49	Gains new abilities after continued practice.
Jade-Eyed Golden Ape Body Tempering Technique — Tier 1	68	Begins cultivating the more advanced technique and reaches nearly half of Tier 1 proficiency within half a month.
Jade-Eyed Golden Ape Body Tempering Technique — Tier 2	81	Bones harden; strength, reaction speed, balance, and height increase.
Sleeve Sword — Tier 4	115	Its bodily enhancement rivals the White Ape Body Tempering Technique; unlocks the Piercing Cloud secret skill.
Medicine Crafting — Tier 4	106	Advances unexpectedly while Chen Mu concentrates on body-tempering practice.
Cloud Mirage Body Tempering Technique — Tier 4	135	Forms a quail-egg-sized Roaming Soul at the occipital bone; Chen Mu considers it an incomplete version.
Five Ghosts Moving Mountains Incantation — Tier 7	144	Can manifest his Yin Soul without reciting incantations.
Armor Soul	148 155	By stacking seven Soul Forces, Chen Mu forms thick black Soul Force armor over his entire body.
Cloud Mirage Spirit Armor Technique — Spirit-Soul Unification	180 184	Completes the technique, transforming Soul Force qualitatively and achieving his first completed Tier 7 technique.
Hundred Mile Qi Seal	227 228	Awakens after maximizing the Cloud Mirage Spirit Armor Technique; controls objects within ten meters, including cooking and cleaning implements.
Five Ghosts Possession Great Method	279	Uses Seven Souls Return to Origin to transform into a three-meter-tall giant and defeat Zhang Jin.
Writing — Tier 3	327	Allows him to comprehend Xie Wen, a script that records images, sound, and Spell Talismans simultaneously.
Five Qi Primordial Fusion Method — Tier 3	327	Advances while studying the Minor Notes on Hundred Herbs.
Kuishui Yinlei — Tier 1	399	Learns the thunder art to improve his survival chances.
True Hearing Technique — Tier 8	399	Vastly improves his sensory range.
Spirit Aperture	538	Reaches Spirit Aperture after eleven years of cultivation.
Dao Field — Tier 6	555	Its influence expands into three additional southern counties.
Heavenly Demon Armor — Ninth Layer	766	Reaches the ninth layer during half a year of quiet cultivation on Weizhi Peak.
Soul Seizing Yuan Returning Technique — Tier 5	701	Casting becomes nearly instantaneous and its vital-qi absorption doubles.
Heavenly Demon Armor — Tier 8	701	Advances further, forming an invisible, close-fitting armor.
Innate Qi	679	His foundation begins to transform; life essence, magic-power agility, and True Hearing improve.
Yin-Yang Two Qi Supernatural Ability	731	Activated through the Lingbao Shuji Pian; its offensive power exceeds Kuishui Yinlei and may surpass Candle Dragon Transformation.

Background / History

Chen Mu is a transmigrator who retains memories of a previous life on Earth, where he describes himself as a socially anxious shut-in. In his new world, he possesses a Gray Proficiency Wall that converts deliberate practice into visible skill progress. Rather than seeking immediate adventure, he initially resolves to remain unnoticed until he has genuine strength. 16 19

His original home is Chen Family Village, south of Qingshan County. The village was his predecessor's ancestral home, where the predecessor's grandfather lived until his death; Chen Mu later uses his family connection to build rapport with local hunters and familiarize himself with the mountains. 16

Early on, he earns money through painting and portrait work while developing skills in body tempering, throwing, cooking, medicine crafting, calligraphy, and drawing. Rising prices, social instability, and repeated threats convince him to prioritize supplies, training, secrecy, and escape routes. 16 28

Chen Mu becomes associated with Jie Jia after discovering that the assassin from Chen Family Village is also Silver Boots of the Xue Family Warehouse. Though initially frightened, Chen Mu hires Jie Jia to acquire medicinal herbs and later relies on him for information, transport, sales, and access to wider networks. 20 25 49

After leaving Qingshan County and Nanyang, Chen Mu repeatedly uses false identities to enter dangerous organizations without surrendering his independence. He serves among the Dingyou Camp Cooks while disguised as Sun Dawang, later enters the Flying Horse Camp as Zhong Han, and maintains further identities including Gongsun Sheng, Li Moliang, and Yi Tu San. 139 555 566 603 706

Appearance

Chen Mu is frequently described through the contrast between his deliberately ordinary outward appearance and the powerful physique or supernatural defenses he conceals.

• Uses pigment, medicinal paste, masks, altered voices, and facial-muscle control to conceal his identity. 30 122
• Has a body transformed by repeated body-tempering techniques and Soul Force cultivation. 91 148
• His completed Armor Soul manifests as thick black Soul Force coating his entire body. 155
• At Spirit-Soul Unification, two faint, wavy silver threads appear at the center of his brow. 187
• Five Ghosts Possession can enlarge him into a three-meter-tall giant. 279
• His Heavenly Demon Body disguise takes the form of a bald youth in black with a fiery red flower-shaped mark on his brow. 559 787

Personality

Chen Mu is intensely cautious and survival-oriented. He consistently avoids entanglement with powerful factions, prefers preparation over confrontation, and treats concealment as a default response to danger. He deliberately limits public displays of strength, frequently changes identities, and avoids leaving his residence unless necessary. 19 81 91 192

His caution does not prevent ambition. Chen Mu wants to climb to the peak of cultivation, reach places beyond Great Liang, and eventually see the wider world; he simply refuses to gamble his life for rapid advancement. 58 180 362

He is diligent to an extreme degree, finding satisfaction in incremental progress displayed on the Gray Proficiency Wall. He approaches cultivation, cooking, farming, writing, alchemy, and combat with the same repetitive discipline. 16 28 184 398

Chen Mu has a self-serving but flexible moral sense. He can be generous to companions, protective of apprentices, and concerned for trapped civilians, yet he is also willing to poison, threaten, rob, or kill opponents when he believes it necessary for survival. 65 279 348 390

He is fond of fine food, music, pleasure houses, and a quiet life. Cooking is both a practical skill and one of his principal comforts; even while hiding or traveling, he prepares elaborate meals when resources permit. 28 106 149 392

Abilities & Skills

Gray Proficiency Wall

Chen Mu's defining advantage is a system-like wall that records proficiency and grants insights as he practices.

• Lets sustained practice visibly advance mundane, martial, cultivation, and technical skills. 16 28
• Makes him capable of mastering techniques unusually quickly, even when they are incomplete or poorly suited to him. 180 398
• Provides no direct immunity from danger; Chen Mu still relies on secrecy, supplies, and cautious planning. 61 81

Body Tempering and Soul Force

Chen Mu practices and stacks multiple body-tempering techniques to enhance his body and Soul Force.

• Cultivated the Red Falcon, Jade-Eyed Golden Ape, White Ape, Black Tiger, and Cloud Mirage body-tempering techniques. 143
• Uses stacked Soul Forces to form Armor Soul defenses capable of resisting ordinary weapons. 148 155
• Completed the Cloud Mirage Spirit Armor Technique and attained Spirit-Soul Unification. 180 184
• His strength is limited by the quality and completeness of the techniques available to him; he repeatedly notes the advantage held by noble bloodlines and inherited methods. 61 68 156

Five Ghosts Moving Mountains Incantation

A core Yin Soul technique that develops alongside Chen Mu's cultivation.

• At Tier 7, permits Yin Soul manifestation without spoken incantations. 144
• Supports the Five Ghosts Bag and the use of paper-figure Yin Souls for scouting, farming, carrying objects, and combat. 149 184 228
• Allows Five Ghosts Possession, which greatly enlarges Chen Mu's body and physical force. 279
• Was essential to surviving encounters with Yin Soul Monsters. 156

Hundred Mile Qi Seal

An ability associated with the completed Cloud Mirage Spirit Armor Technique.

• Moves and manipulates objects within a ten-meter radius. 228
• Can operate cookware, utensils, and household objects remotely. 228
• His flying sword initially cannot travel beyond the same ten-meter limit under this ability. 228

True Hearing Technique

A sensory technique that eventually becomes a supernatural ability.

• Detects approaching cultivators and activity beneath the ground. 326
• Reaches Tier 8 before later attaining its limit. 399 600
• Can use a distant Vermilion Feather Sword as a relay, receiving sounds within a ten-li radius around the sword. 600

Alchemy and Medicine Crafting

Chen Mu is a highly capable pill refiner whose proficiency eventually rivals established specialists.

• Reaches Tier 4 in Medicine Crafting while maintaining his martial cultivation. 106
• Studies the Ge Clan's Minor Notes on Hundred Herbs, improving his knowledge of spirit herbs and Spell Talismans. 327
• Refines Foundation Cultivation Pills, Fasting Pills, Calming Spirit Pills, Tongxi Baizhang Pills, and other medicines. 348 398 591
• His Tongxi Baizhang Pill skill is advanced enough that Mo Wuzhou believes Chen Mu's stockpile would require half a year to produce; Chen Mu made it in roughly seven days. 398
• Teaches alchemy and takes Wang Heyuan, Li Xing, and Zhou Xing as apprentices. 346 348

Disguise and Infiltration

Chen Mu excels at maintaining false identities and blending into hostile groups.

• Alters clothing, complexion, voice, posture, and behavior to create convincing personas. 30 122 143
• Uses identities such as Sun Dawang to enter the Tangshan Army's labor force. 138 139
• Impersonates Zhong Han to enter the Flying Horse Camp, using information extracted from the real Zhong Han to pass screening. 555
• Changes into the Heavenly Demon Body to evade Yuan Xian and disguise himself in hostile environments. 559 706

Qianji Method and Vermilion Feather Sword

Chen Mu develops remote-control and autonomous-combat applications for his flying sword.

• The Qianji Secret Method grants ultra-long-distance control over the Vermilion Feather Sword. 396
• The sword can cover Chaoyang Mountain with ease and may be capable of far greater range. 396
• Its autonomous movements imitate Chen Mu's practiced sword-flight patterns. 396
• Chen Mu continues grinding Qianji Method proficiency to improve automated offense and defense. 396 662

Heavenly Demon Armor

A defensive secret technique that reshapes Chen Mu's body into an increasingly innate form of protection.

• At higher tiers, it no longer merely constructs protective qi but begins carving armor directly into the body. 634
• Chen Mu cultivates it through the protective qi of captured exotic beasts. 761
• Reaches the ninth layer during his time on Weizhi Peak. 766
• Later advances to Tier 8, manifesting as invisible, form-fitting armor. 701

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Five Ghosts Bag — Stores supplies and supports Five Ghosts Yin Soul abilities; used for farming, transport, scouting, and combat. 184 228
• Sleeve Sword — Concealable sword used for close combat; its Tier 4 advancement unlocks Piercing Cloud. 115
• Iron Lotus Seeds — Hand-crafted hidden weapons with nine spiral grooves unlocked through proficiency. 25
• Soul Stabilizing Stake — Acquired from King Chao's side; Chen Mu uses it for cooling, mosquito repelling, and combat. 133 160
• Thousand Mechanism Token — Retrieved from Qingshan County after nearly half a year of planning. 159
• Heartless Bell — Taken from Cheng Yi; when infused with mana, it stimulates Chen Mu's blood and qi but does not harm him with its Soul-Shattering effect. 168 305
• Vermilion Feather Sword — Flying sword controlled through the Qianji Secret Method and used as a long-range sensory relay. 396 600
• Fire Cloud Gourd — Flame artifact fueled by Earth Spirit Vital Qi. 239
• Gourd Sword Box — Retrieved after the fall of the Sun Clan; later used in Chen Mu's flying-sword refinement. 390 392
• Peach Divine Lords — Magic artifacts refined from Moli Silver peach trees to share tribulation techniques; Chen Mu produces 203 within two months. 635 643
• Exquisite Jade Disk — Used to absorb Earth Spirit Vital Qi and restore magic power. 564

Relationships

• Jie Jia — Former assassin and Silver Boots of the Xue Family Warehouse; Chen Mu's long-term contact for herbs, transport, sales, intelligence, and cultivation advice. 20 49 61 136
• Zheng Yuan — Fellow Dingyou Camp cook who discovers Chen Mu's secret cooking; their relationship develops from blackmail and suspicion into mutual concern. 143 144 147
• Sun Enqi — Chen Mu's “uncle” under the Sun Dawang identity; helps register him at the Tangshan Army camp and later worries about Chen Mu's safety. 139 157
• Zuo Sheng — Jinghong Gang Hall Master who recognizes Chen Mu and chooses to protect him because of the Gentle Breeze Powder matter. 25 27 61
• Cui Cui — Associated with Chen Mu's past and Yin Soul abilities; Chen Mu fears the control she once exercised over him. 147 228
• Bai Miaojin — Powerful cultivator with an Innate Dao Bone; she and Chen Mu exchange ninety-three rapid strikes to a draw. 147 148
• Tushan — Initially attacks Chen Mu at Shouyang Mountain but surrenders after being defeated with Chen Mu's Short Sword. 173
• Mo Wuzhou — Upper Courtyard disciple who initially suspects Chen Mu, later sells his pills and works with him surveying water veins. 239 398
• Old Hao — Farmer and associate who is impressed by Chen Mu's work ethic; Chen Mu later relies on his knowledge and support in the Lower Courtyard. 184 274
• Wang Heyuan, Li Xing, and Zhou Xing — Chen Mu's alchemy apprentices, whom he brings to Eagle Sorrow Cliff for safety. 348
• Xu Zhou — Teaches Chen Mu the secret of Yin Nether magic artifacts and introduces him to the Crimson-Eyed Ghost Mark. 566 568
• Yuan Xian — A dangerous opponent and occasional strategic collaborator who suggests using Li Moliang to infiltrate Yun Chong Lower Courtyard instead of Chen Mu. 559 568
• Hu Buwei — Hundred Illusions Sect elder who sells Chen Mu secret techniques, including the Spirit Puppet Substitution Art and Nine Lives Tribulation Splitting Art. 634 635
• Lei Hong and Lei Cheng — Brothers whose trust Chen Mu earns through artifact work, pill refinement, and help with Spirit Aperture cultivation. 600 603
• Li Buxian — Powerful opponent who recognizes Chen Mu's ability to withstand his punch and compares his appearance to Great Strength Demon God Transformation. 537

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Qingshan County

Chen Mu begins as a low-profile painter and cultivator in Qingshan County. He develops a fixed routine of earning money, cooking, studying medicine, practicing body tempering, and training hidden weapons, all while concealing his rapid progress. 16 19 28

Nanyang and the Jinghong Gang

After relocating, Chen Mu expands his cultivation methods and learns about the disparity between ordinary cultivators and bloodline-bearing noble families. He gains the Jade-Eyed Golden Ape Body Tempering Technique, survives conflict with Jinghong Gang figures, and increasingly relies on Jie Jia for information. 61 65 68

Tangshan Army Infiltration

Disguised as Sun Dawang, Chen Mu enters the Tangshan Army's labor force through the Dingyou Camp Cooks. He observes the army's exploitation of laborers through iron rings and Black Threads, hides his capabilities, and cultivates Five Ghosts Moving Mountains and the Cloud Mirage Body Tempering Technique. 139 143 144

Qingshan County and the Thousand Mechanism Token

After achieving Armor Soul, Chen Mu secretly follows the competing factions in Qingshan County. He waits for an opening, retrieves the Thousand Mechanism Token, and defeats the Yin Soul Monsters unleashed by Chao Fang during their confrontation by the Bailang River. 155 159 160

Overseas and Jilong Dao

Chen Mu leaves Great Liang, completes the Cloud Mirage Spirit Armor Technique on the White Turtle Shuttle, and settles into the Jilong Dao Lower Courtyard as a farmer and cultivator. He develops the Hundred Mile Qi Seal, studies alchemy, and later becomes a recognized alchemy instructor. 180 184 227 346

East Ridge and Qi-Refining Advancement

At Mist Smoke Mountain, Eagle Sorrow Cliff, and Jilong Mountain, Chen Mu improves his alchemy, learns Kuishui Yinlei and the Five Elements Evasion Technique, opens secret apertures, refines the Vermilion Feather Sword, and develops methods for long-range sword control. 327 399 407 396

Yin Nether and Dagān Identities

After entering the Yin Nether, Chen Mu studies local divine powers, Ghost Marks, and the Mountain Bearing Scripture while continuing to seek a route back to the mortal realm. He later adopts identities connected to Dagān and cultivates the Nether God Transformation to blend into hostile territory. 431 449 469 555 706

Hundred Illusions Sect and Dao Soldier Contracts

Chen Mu seeks loopholes in the Dao Soldier Contract, purchasing the Spirit Puppet Substitution Art and Nine Lives Tribulation Splitting Art. He refines Peach Divine Lords, investigates disturbances in Prison of Essence Valley, and continues building strength through the Heavenly Demon Armor and Ghost Marks. 634 635 643 761

Trivia

• Chen Mu calls his desired future self the “Ten Mile Slope Sword God.” 16
• He considers cooking and cultivation more satisfying than his former office routine because every effort produces measurable progress. 16 28
• His preferred solution to danger is often to stay home, stock supplies, and “grind experience in peace.” 80 192
• He frequently compares his layered Soul Force armor to stacking bulletproof vests. 149
• Despite possessing dangerous Yin Soul techniques, he repeatedly insists that he is a “good person.” 133 143
• He views a large personal food reserve as essential security and once remarks that he does not feel at ease without at least a thousand catties of grain nearby. 187