Chen Yan

Biodata

Feature	Detail
Name	Chen Yan 50 106 114 138 153 169 173 206 220 236 265 269 282 283 312 356 382 388 406 434 537 538 543 579 585 662 680 726 727 746 948 995 1107 1153 1160
Alias	Yan Chen 169 200 220; Si Chen 265; Chen Cheng 265 269; Bao Kai 326; True Person Ducang 662; Sect Master of Chenping Continent 662 680; Wu Xu 1020 1021; Supreme Cardinal Chen 746; Governor Chen 798; True Lord Du Cang 904; True Lord Chen 1160; Mo Ze (inhabited identity) 1262
Age	7 (at one point) 726; 10 (at one point) 727; 15 (at several points) 1 419 796; 22 (at one point) 537; 26 (at one point) 282; 27 (during the Luoling Sect cycle) 862
Cultivation Realm	Early-stage Qi Condensation Realm (at one point) 727; Martial Spring Realm (at one point) 79 538; Qi Sea Realm (at one point) 265; Divine Ability Realm Peak (after reincarnation) 579; Ascension Realm (at one point) 585 598; Guiyi Realm (at one point) 927 1000; Mid Void Return Realm (sealed accumulated cultivation) 1067; Hedao Realm (at one point) 1109 1142; Late Void Return Realm (after returning to the Immortal Origin Land) 1155; Void Return Realm Peak (attained through Reincarnation Rewards) 1248; Half-Saint domain (past attainment through Heaven and Earth Authority) 1000 1248
Affiliation	Kongyuan Demonuntain (disciple) 50 106 114 382; Empty Demonuntain Sect (disciple) 727; Beiguan Sect (External Affairs Hall Elder, fabricated) 265 269; Water Mirror Pavilion (Steward) 283; Qingxuan Immortal Sect (new disciple and later Inner Sect disciple) 537 538 540; Luoling Sect (disciple and later Sect Master's personal disciple) 834 891 893; Forgotten River City City Lord's Manor (retainer and Wei Yang's instructor) 995; Bright Azure Sect (handyman disciple, at one point) 1105 1107; Mystic Mechanism Palace (envoy identity and apparent Hedao Realm cultivator) 1113 1142; Thousand Faces Sect (founder through External Incarnations) 1051
Dao Companion	Cheng Ziying (former) 206
Family	Original life: Chen Family of Suishuo City; Chen Zhengye (father); Madam Chen (mother) 364 724. Later Lujiang Village life: a farmer's family, with Chen Dong as his elder brother and Chen Peng as his younger brother 773 871. While inhabiting Mo Ze: Master Mo is the body's father 1262.
Titles and Positions	Kongyuan Demonuntain Chief Disciple 79 114; Scripture Hall Elder 741; Great Yan border army Deputy Governor and commander of the Yanbei Iron Cavalry 796; Colonel and nominal captain of the Tiger Leopard Battalion 788 790; Marquis Jingyuan (formerly) 870 900; Supreme Law Elder of the Empty Mountain Sect (at one point) 753; Qingjin Stream spirit plant valley steward and later Training Ground protector (under the Si Chen identity) 253 255; organizer of nearly one hundred Elite Legions opposing the Outer Dao 1248

Physical Description

Chen Yan is consistently described as handsome, with features such as red lips and white teeth, and star-like eyes 90. He possesses a healthy tanned complexion 538. His demeanor is often noted as refined and unconventional, even when he is a junior 420. When he was younger, at seven years old, he had a cute and pitiable appearance 726. In an early reincarnation, his white-haired appearance made new disciples naturally address him as an elder or senior despite his young age 2.

• Robes:
  • Wears a pure white Daoist Robe, sometimes embroidered with gilded cloud-and-crane patterns on the sleeves, signifying his status from Kongyuan Demonuntain or the Empty Demonuntain Sect 90 579 746.
  • Has also worn a moon-white Daoist Robe 286.
  • When disguised, he has worn tattered Daoist Robes 579.
  • Has worn an ink-black Daoist robe while using the identity Wu Xu 1021.
  • Has worn a dark green Daoist robe as a Qingxuan Immortal Sect Inner Sect disciple 540.
  • His alternate-timeline self wears a plain white Daoist robe and possesses the same facial structure, build, and Dao Rhyme aura as Chen Yan, though his bearing is more ancient and marked by incomplete time-space fractures 1153.
• Disguises:
  • Uses a mask given by Mister You, said to be made by Mirage Palace 236.
  • Has used a human skin mask to impersonate "Chen Cheng," an elder of the Beiguan Sect 265.
  • Can alter his skin color to completely dark and transform his face into that of a middle-aged man with wrinkles and lines to appear weathered 689.
• Facial Features (when disguised/transformed):
  • A middle-aged man, about forty years old, with a beard streaked with white and deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes 286.
  • His past self, a "corpse" emerging from the Black Tide, had an ashen-white, lifeless, handsome face 579.
  • One External Incarnation was modeled after his elderly appearance in his first reincarnation, with white hair and a beard, and wore an unadorned pale white Outer Court robe 1066.
• Appearance Across Later Lives:
  • As Great Yan's youthful Governor, he was slender rather than the tall, heavily built general Princess Mingxi had imagined 798.
  • After more than a decade in the immortal sect, he retained a youthful appearance, contrasting with Chen Dong's visibly aged features 874.
  • While inhabiting Mo Ze, he looked ordinary beside Jiang Qingran, but his presence lent the timid youth a faint air of authority 1262.

Background

Chen Yan was born into an ordinary merchant family in Suishuo City, Qingque Kingdom 364. At age five, his exceptional martial arts potential was recognized by Grandmaster Zhao 724. News of his talent spread, leading the influential Pu Family to support his family, and at age seven, an elder from the Empty Demonuntain Sect invited him to cultivate immortality on Wenyuan Demonuntain 724. He joined the Empty Demonuntain Sect's Outer Court, initially believing he would be in the Inner Sect 726.

Chen Yan was a Transmigrator, reborn at age 15 after living 100 years as an outer disciple with limited cultivation progress 1. In his first known life, he began body tempering at nine, reached Qi Condensation at forty-one, and only entered Qi Condensation Realm Mid-stage at seventy-two 2. In a reborn life, he quickly progressed, reaching the Qi Condensation Realm Mid-stage by age fifteen, a level he possessed at one hundred in his previous life 1. He attended lectures by Lu Li, an exceptional instructor from Yuanhua Demonuntain, who taught the Empty Demonuntain Art 727. Lu Li noticed Chen Yan's talent and gifted him Qi Guiding Pills 2 727. At age 13, Chen Yan became Lu Li's personal disciple 727. In one altered reincarnation, however, Lu Li responded coldly to Chen Yan's attempts to distinguish himself and killed him, teaching Chen Yan the danger of prematurely revealing exceptional qualities 4.

Chen Yan's repeated reincarnations return him to prior Record Points while allowing him to inherit accumulated cultivation and certain settlement rewards 7 8. Early settlements increased the depth of his cultivation through accumulated-cultivation coefficients rather than merely advancing his realm 210. Over time, the Reincarnation System's records became fixed Karma anchors in the River of Time; touching an anchor could restore his previous reincarnation cultivation, while the disruption prevented him from receiving new realm rewards before such recovery 773.

He served as the Dao Gate Walker for 12 years, visiting 172 Cultivation Sects, and returned to the Empty Demonuntain Sect at 34, at the peak of the Qi Sea Realm. Five years later, he broke through to the Spirit Tong Realm, qualifying him to become a Peak Elder 741. Chen Yan's cultivation talent was significantly enhanced by cycles of reincarnation, elevating him beyond his initially poor talent 697. He later became the Scripture Hall Elder 741.

Across later reincarnations, Chen Yan repeatedly re-cultivated from a mortal body in other regions and eras. After the disruption of his Karma and Record Points, he began a new life as a farmer's second son in Lujiang Village rather than as the merchant family's son from Suishuo City 773. He served Great Yan as a scout and military commander, gaining fame after killing the Black Mountain Tribe chieftain Saurur and later becoming Deputy Governor of the border army 785 787 796. After his promotion to Colonel of the Tiger Leopard Battalion, he spent forty days using residual innate Spiritual Energy to re-enter the Body Tempering Realm, then subdued the battalion's doubts by defeating sixteen armed elite cavalrymen bare-handed 788 790 791.

He subsequently entered the Luoling Sect, where his cultivation rose rapidly and he became associated with Sect Master Cong Linshan's lineage 834 891 893. In Forgotten River City, he served as City Lord Wei's retainer and instructed Wei Yang while pursuing his own plans 954 986 995. Although Pu Wenyu judged Chen Yan's innate talent mediocre, Chen Yan's prior attainment of an innate divine ability meant that reaching Guiyi Realm Peak would allow him to enter the Divine Ability Realm immediately 988.

In a later cycle, Chen Yan entered the Bright Azure Sect as a handyman disciple. Two years after surviving the Willow River Village calamity, he revealed Martial Spring Realm cultivation before Bright Azure Sect disciples and subsequently raised his realm through the Spirit Tong, Wanhua, Guiyi, Divine Ability, and Hedao Realms in moments 1105 1107 1109. He later encountered another Chen Yan manifested from Karma light: a counterpart from a different timeline whose Dao Rhyme and temperament had been shaped by different experiences 1153.

Chen Yan subsequently operated in the Northern Border Immortal Alliance under an apparent Mystic Mechanism Palace identity. Most alliance members regarded him as an ordinary Hedao Realm cultivator, while only Cui Zhenlie and Jiang Yuancen knew more of his true identity and treated him as a figure whose eventual intervention could oppose the Heaven Stabilizer Devil Lord 1142. Following an encounter with a True Purity Realm version of himself in the River of Time, he returned to the Immortal Origin Land at the Late Void Return Realm, arriving during the alliance's debate over attacking Yin Ji 1155.

In Azure Crossing Continent, Chen Yan spread the immortal path through nearly ten million Qi Sea Realm External Incarnations. He created and verified new cultivation methods that provided a path from Body Tempering to Hedao, while initially avoiding excessive interference in the realm's development 1207. His management of the realm later became more selective: he deliberately suppressed the progress of Lin Jian and more than twenty other promising Dao Seeds, and eventually changed his earlier noninterventionist approach while following the life of Xu Sheng 1211 1228.

By the 3,271st year of his nineteenth Reincarnation, Chen Yan was directing a prolonged war against the Outer Dao in the Far Eastern Lands. He concealed his forces' true strength and permitted apparent retreats to prevent the Outer Dao Puppets from evolving further, intending to postpone the decisive battle until he could contend with Wugou Saint Su Miao and participate in the Myriad Heavens Dao Strife 1248. Having attained Void Return Realm Peak through Reincarnation Rewards, he resolved to enter the True Purity Realm through his own cultivation and comprehension, drawing on his previous experience wielding Heaven and Earth Authority in the Half-Saint domain 1248.

In a subsequent development, Chen Yan inhabited the body of Mo Ze and attended a meeting concerning Mo Ze's childhood betrothal to Jiang Qingran. He knew that the marriage would not occur and that Jiang Qingran would become his eighth disciple in a future life. His immediate purpose was to ensure that his disciples were safely born and eventually became his pupils 1262.

Cultivation Progression

Cultivation Level	Time Period	Details
Body Tempering Realm	Age 8	Achieved Body Tempering 726.
Qi Condensation Realm	Age 10	Successfully drew Qi into his body 726.
Qi Condensation Realm Early-stage	Age 10, 1.5 years of cultivation	Lu Li notes this speed is comparable to Inner Sect prodigies like Chu Xiyao and Li Haowen 727.
Qi Condensation Realm Mid-stage	Age 15	Possessed this level at age 100 in his previous life; in a reborn life, possessed it at age 15, a major realm ahead of his previous self at 19 1.
Qi Condensation Realm Late-stage	Age 15	After consuming four of Lu Li's Qi Guiding Pills during two weeks of seclusion, Chen Yan reached the late stage 3.
Qi Condensation Realm Peak	Age 15	In one reincarnation, his actual cultivation approached the peak despite outward concealment 5 10.
Martial Spring Realm	Age 15	Qin Qingyu reached Martial Spring Realm Mid-stage at this age 730. Chen Yan's breakthrough to Martial Spring Realm was expected due to his talent and status as Kongyuan Demonuntain's Chief 79.
Martial Spring Realm Early-stage	Before the Heavenly Peak Dao Asking	Publicly broke through to the early stage and secured his place in the event. He later appeared to defeat a mid-stage Martial Spring Realm opponent using Qi Condensation Realm basic techniques, although his actual cultivation during the competition was Martial Spring Realm Peak 79 115 117.
Martial Spring Realm Mid-stage	Age 18	253.
Martial Spring Realm Late-stage	Age 20	253. Zhou Jinyun also reached this stage 477.
Martial Spring Realm Peak	Age 22	253. Chen Yan felt he couldn't maximize the power of the clear rainbow from the Hidden Immortal Art at this level 165.
Qi Sea Realm	Age 23	253.
Qi Sea Realm Mid-stage	Age 26	253.
Qi Sea Realm Peak	Age 34	Returned to Empty Demonuntain Sect at this level after 12 years as a Dao Gate Walker 741.
Spirit Tong Realm	Age 39	Broke through five years after returning to the sect, qualifying him to become a Peak Elder 741.
Wanhua Guiyi Realm	Over 300 years after beginning cultivation in one cycle	Became a Supreme Elder of the Supreme Cardinal Court and was addressed as Supreme Cardinal Chen 745 746.
Guiyi Realm	Unknown	At the Floating Light Peak assembly, his actual cultivation was Spirit Tong Realm, but his direct manipulation of Spiritual Energy made observers believe he belonged to the Upper Three Realms 262. In another cycle, Chen Yan believed his talent could likely only support him to the Guiyi Realm 752.
Guiyi Realm Peak	Unknown	Reached the peak after a Reincarnation Reward and stood one step from the Divine Ability Realm 519.
Divine Ability Realm Peak	Unknown	Received a major-realm advancement after an S-rank reincarnation settlement and later faced the Black Tide at this realm 576 577 579.
Ascension Realm Mid-stage	Unknown	Chen Yan's cultivation level after being hunted by the dried eyeball in cycles of Reincarnation 697.
Void Return Realm	Unknown	Previously possessed Void Return Realm cultivation before falling back to the Guiyi Realm in a later reincarnation 1001.
Mid Void Return Realm	Unknown	His accumulated cultivation was sealed at the Mid Void Return Realm during a reincarnation settlement 1067.
Spirit Tong Realm to Hedao Realm	Unknown	In a later cycle, Chen Yan displayed a rapid rise from the Spirit Tong Realm through Wanhua, Guiyi, Divine Ability, and Hedao 1109.
Hedao Realm	Unknown	After ascending from Spirit Tong through several major realms, Chen Yan reached the Hedao Realm within two breaths 1109.
Spirit Tong Realm Early-stage	Unknown	An earlier reincarnation settlement advanced Chen Yan from Qi Sea Realm Peak to the early Spirit Tong Realm, greatly amplifying his divine sense 261.
Divine Ability Realm	Unknown	In another route, Chen Yan comprehended Hidden Truth Returning Silence and advanced from Guiyi Realm Peak to the Divine Ability Realm after only half a day of seclusion 753.
Qi Condensation Realm	Later re-cultivation cycle	Chen Yan advanced from Body Tempering Realm to Qi Condensation Realm in less than half a stick of incense by relying on his extraordinary control over Spiritual Energy. This was new cultivation, not the restoration of sealed power 820.
Spirit Tong Realm Early-stage	Luoling Sect cycle	After reappearing following years of seclusion, he was known to have risen from Martial Spring Realm Mid-stage to Spirit Tong Realm Early-stage within five years 862.
Guiyi Realm Mid-stage	Heaven-Stabilizing Continent cycle	While residing in Forgotten River City, Chen Yan possessed Guiyi Realm cultivation 953 988.
Void Return Realm	Past attainment	Chen Yan identified himself as a cultivator who had reached Void Return Realm and adopted the Daoist name Du Cang 904.
Martial Spring Realm Mid-stage	Early Kongyuan Demonuntain cycle	Chen Yan had reached Martial Spring Realm Mid-stage and attained Minor Accomplishment in the Hidden Immortal Art while dealing with Lu Li 55.
Martial Spring Realm	Outer Court Grand Competition cycle	Chen Yan concealed his actual Martial Spring Realm cultivation while competing against Body Tempering Realm disciples 24.
Qi Sea Realm	Age 21, one long-lived Empty Mountain Sect cycle	Chen Yan entered the Qi Sea Realm in the year he turned twenty-one and was appointed Dao Gate Walker by Sect Master Yun Yichen 740.
Wanhua Guiyi Realm	Age 370, one long-lived Empty Mountain Sect cycle	Condensed ten thousand strands of Destiny True Qi and entered the seventh realm, becoming a Supreme Elder of the Supreme Cardinal Court 745.
Guiyi Realm Peak	Roughly 500 years after entering the seventh realm in one cycle	Reached Guiyi Realm Peak after another five centuries of slow cultivation 752.
Body Tempering Realm	Great Yan border-army cycle	Used forty days of cultivation to use residual innate Spiritual Energy to cleanse his body and re-enter the Body Tempering Realm 788.
Hedao Realm	Northern Border Immortal Alliance period	Publicly regarded by most Northern Border Immortal Alliance members as an ordinary Hedao Realm Mystic Mechanism Palace cultivator 1142.
Qi Sea Realm Peak	A-rank settlement after Qi Yi killed him	Returned to a Record Point fifty-three days before the Outer Court catastrophe with his cultivation advanced to Qi Sea Realm Peak 166.
Qi Sea Realm Peak	Qingjin Stream Training Ground period	Combined this realm with Great Accomplishment in the Purple Mansion Record to defeat another Qi Sea Realm cultivator in fewer than ten breaths 255.
Body Tempering Realm	Xing Manor re-cultivation period	Re-entered the realm after more than two months, substantially faster than in his original life 206.
Body Tempering Realm Early-stage	Great Yu re-cultivation period	Completed his third round of cleansing his muscles and bones in one month 409.
Martial Spring Realm	Five years after entering Qingxuan Immortal Sect	Publicly advanced from a mortal to Martial Spring Realm in five years and ranked among the top five of his peers, while spending much of that time researching in the Scripture Repository 540.
Hedao Realm	Karma-removal cycle in the Profound Scripture Hall	Returned after reincarnation at this realm and repeatedly used Kong Yang's secret art, progressively damaging his soul 590 596.
Half-Saint domain	Past journey ten million years earlier	Sealed Bai Chen's projection within the Tian Ding Mirror and used it to attain a Half-Saint body. This experience later informed his attempt to comprehend the True Purity Realm 1000 1248.
Qi Condensation Realm Early-stage	Luoling Sect Spirit Gathering Room period	Refined his newly opened meridians hundreds of times, increasing their True Qi capacity more than tenfold and enabling limited exchanges with Martial Spring Realm cultivators 821.
Qi Condensation Realm Mid-stage	Early Luoling Sect period	Concealed his actual mid-stage realm as late-stage Body Tempering, even during Su Yuanzhen's direct True Qi examination 825.
Martial Spring Realm	Age 16, Luoling Sect cycle	Became known for advancing from Body Tempering to Martial Spring within a year, with his exceptional True Qi control and the Sect Master's annotated Nian Ling Jue providing an accepted explanation 827.
Late Void Return Realm	Return to the Immortal Origin Land	Returned to the correct Record Point after meeting a True Purity Realm counterpart in the River of Time 1155.
Void Return Realm	Azure Crossing Continent development period	As a True Lord, created nearly ten million Qi Sea Realm External Incarnations to spread newly developed immortal cultivation methods 1207.
Void Return Realm Peak	By the 3,271st year of his nineteenth Reincarnation	Had obtained peak cultivation through Reincarnation Rewards and resolved to take the remaining step into True Purity through his own strength and comprehension; sainthood had not yet been achieved 1248.

Abilities

Reincarnation

Chen Yan possesses a system-driven ability to end a life, receive a reincarnation evaluation and settlement, and return to an earlier Reincarnation Record Point with inherited accumulated cultivation 7 8. The quality of his evaluations determines whether he receives meaningful rewards, making knowledge, reputation, altered fates, and survival central to his progress 8.

• Applications:
  • Returns Chen Yan to prior Record Points after a reincarnation ends, allowing him to restart life with accumulated cultivation 7 8.
  • Grants coefficient rewards that deepen his accumulated cultivation within a realm, such as a 1.1-fold increase after a D+ settlement 7 210.
  • Allows his consciousness to resonate with and briefly control a past version of his body 519.
  • Has supplied major-realm advancements and techniques, including the rewards that raised him to Divine Ability Realm Peak and unlocked Kan Shui Art 577 580.
  • Allows him to regain prior reincarnation cultivation by contacting fixed Karma anchors in the River of Time 773.
  • Preserves experience and technical mastery even when he must cultivate anew without sealed power, as demonstrated by his rapid Qi Condensation breakthrough in Luoling Sect 820.
  • Allows repeated attempts at reproducing and altering events. His later Spiritual Sense can reconstruct the past actions of his countless External Incarnations from memory with an error of no more than one ten-thousandth of an instant 1228.
• Limitations:
  • Repeated meaningless deaths yield poor evaluations and may provide no reward 8.
  • Reincarnation records can become fixed anchors after Karma and Dao Rhyme are disrupted, preventing additional cultivation-realm rewards until Chen Yan recovers his existing cultivation 773.
  • Reincarnation exposes Chen Yan to severe Karma backlash, memory erosion, and increasingly dangerous entities tied to the River of Time 595 637 697.
  • Individuals from timelines he believed had vanished can reappear, undermining his assumption that earlier paths are simply erased by a reload 1066 1069.
  • Killing Yin Ji altered the future of Qingluo Realm's Three Thousand Realms and placed fifty-six million years of karmic backlash upon Chen Yan 1155.
• Later Understanding:
  • Chen Yan comes to regard his own sequence of experiences as the correct path through the River of Time, with deviations capable of causing timeline resets 1155.
  • He theorizes that Reincarnation is an authority granted by the Supreme Heavenly Dao for a mission, and that each Record Point represents an Anchor he has reached. In this interpretation, more important Anchors produce higher evaluations and richer rewards 1248.
  • He suspects that excessive Karma backlash causes the Supreme Heavenly Dao to reset his Karma and begin a new life. This remains his deduction rather than a fully confirmed explanation 1248.
  • He distinguishes Reincarnation itself from its rewards, believing the latter may derive from Heavenly Monarchs or Dao Venerables rather than directly from the Heavenly Dao. He also concludes that rewards alone cannot raise him to the Fourteenth Realm 1248.

Hidden Immortal Art

The Hidden Immortal Art is a core cultivation technique that allows Chen Yan to conceal his aura and cultivation level, even from true immortals 55. It also enhances the purity and circulation efficiency of his True Qi, making him formidable against cultivators of the same realm 63.

• Applications:
  • Conceals cultivation level and aura 55.
  • Enhances True Qi purity and circulation efficiency, making Chen Yan "invincible among those of the same realm" 63.
  • Activates the Po Bing Needle, allowing it to pierce through protective True Qi of cultivators at the same level 139.
  • Can be used to generate a "point of Clear Light" that can melt away opposing True Qi and shatter protective barriers 125 519.
  • Allows for a powerful physical strike when operating at full speed, capable of severely injuring or killing opponents 33.
  • Can suppress his displayed realm to mislead cultivators, such as presenting himself as an early Qi Condensation Realm rogue cultivator 326.
  • At Great Mastery, produces a clear rainbow that Chen Yan considers one of his strongest offensive methods 165.
  • When operated with his later Guiyi Realm understanding, it can transform True Qi at his fingertips into Clear Light capable of melting Ye Xiu's attack and breaking his protective True Qi 519.
  • Disguises the distinctive True Qi circulation of other cultivation methods, allowing him to use the Purple Mansion Record without revealing its nature 255.
  • Can prevent a cultivator's True Qi examination from detecting his actual meridians and realm, as demonstrated when Su Yuanzhen mistook his mid-stage Qi Condensation cultivation for late-stage Body Tempering 825.
• Limitations:
  • Without the Hidden Immortal Art, Chen Yan would not be a match for most cultivators at the same realm 580.
  • Its effectiveness in combat is limited by Chen Yan's mastery of attack techniques; he initially had few Martial Spring Realm attack techniques 63.
  • Its concealment is compromised if Chen Yan's meridians are shattered and he cannot activate it himself 239.

Great Evolution Art

The Great Evolution Art is a core cultivation technique that provides Chen Yan with significant healing capabilities and allows him to evolve immortal qi 299 444. It is considered overpowered, enabling him to fight across major realms 299.

• Applications:
  • Heals severe injuries 444.
  • Allows for the evolution of immortal qi, providing a "dimensionality reduction strike" against lower-level opponents 299.
  • Can manifest an "External Incarnation" that can withstand attacks and dissipate into spiritual energy upon destruction 440.
  • Can be used to activate the Leaving Fire Whip 579.
  • Enhances healing and spiritual senses 577.
  • Erupts innate Spiritual Energy from the body, causing cracks in the ground and facilitating movement techniques 548.
  • Can repeatedly derive replacement immortal artifacts from Spiritual Energy after previously manifested ones deteriorate 549.
  • Can create External Incarnations whose Karma may later be erased through Hidden Truth Returning Silence 1015.
  • Repairs minor damage to his clothing without drawing attention, as seen when it restored a tear in his Daoist robe 970.
  • At the Void Return Realm, enabled him to create nearly ten million Qi Sea Realm External Incarnations distributed throughout Azure Crossing Continent. Their Spiritual Sense remained completely connected to his true body, allowing him to observe everything they experienced 1207.
• Limitations:
  • Chen Yan believes his actions are not truly fighting across realms when using the Great Evolution Art, as it provides a high-level combat advantage 299.
  • Its full potential requires mastery, as noted when an External Incarnation was "mastered to perfection" 440.

Swift Wind Step

The Swift Wind Step is a movement technique considered one of the top in its world, known for its adaptability 241.

• Applications:
  • Allows for rapid evasion when an opponent closes in 241.
  • Can be used to launch fierce attacks during gaps created by transformation between reality and illusion 241.
  • Facilitates quick movement, allowing Chen Yan to cover distances rapidly 33 548.
  • Allowed him to evade Xuan Huaihan's attacks while wielding the Falling Star Sword despite his limited swordsmanship 907.
  • Its phrases were inscribed alongside the Leaving Fire Seal to repair and upgrade Su Hongzhen's sword into the Swift Fire Sword 444.
• Limitations:
  • Its adaptability complements Thousand Cloud Transformation, which requires an adaptable movement technique to maximize its effect 241.
  • Without the Swift Wind Step, Chen Yan would not be a match for most cultivators at the same realm 580.

Void Annihilation Method

The Void Annihilation Method is a powerful technique that allows Chen Yan to sever Karma connections and withstand potent attacks 568.

• Applications:
  • Severs Karma connections, protecting individuals from spiritual sense attacks 568.
  • Can sever a target's connection with the wider world for less than half a breath, during which neither the target nor the outside world can affect the other 568.
  • Allows Chen Yan to remain unharmed against powerful lightning strikes from Divine Ability Realm cultivators 568.
  • Can be used to avoid attacks from immortal artifacts like the Li Huo Whip 579.
  • Can facilitate a counterattack by severing Chen Yan's Karma from the world while an opposing attack passes over him; he then used the Hidden Immortal Art to vaporize his past corpse 579.
  • Gave Chen Yan sufficient understanding of Karma to identify Yan Yunhe's Karma threads as those of Bai Chen 613.
• Limitations:
  • Without the Void Annihilation Method, Chen Yan would not be a match for most cultivators at the same realm 580.
  • The duration of the Karma severance Chen used to protect Su Hongzhen was less than half a breath 568.

Leaving Fire Seal / Leaving Fire Whip

The Leaving Fire Seal is a technique that can be inscribed onto swords to upgrade them 444. It can also manifest as the Leaving Fire Whip, an immortal artifact 549 577 579.

• Applications:
  • Can be inscribed onto a sword to upgrade it, creating a "Swift Fire Sword" 444.
  • The Leaving Fire Whip can defeat multiple Guiyi Realm cultivators rapidly 549.
  • Can be used to counter attacks and black tides 577.
  • Can be activated by the Great Evolution Art 579.
  • Killed twelve of twenty-seven Guiyi Realm cultivators in two strikes during a prolonged battle 927.
  • Its shared origin with the Leaving Fire Seal enables Chen Yan to control the derived whip more effectively than a conventional immortal artifact 549.
  • First received as a new killing technique during his Spirit Tong Realm period, the seal produces a crimson supreme-yang flame that further improves his offensive power 271.
• Limitations:
  • Without the Leaving Fire Seal, Chen Yan would not be a match for most cultivators at the same realm 580.
  • A past corpse of Chen Yan at Guiyi Realm Peak killed his Divine Ability Realm Peak self with the Li Huo Whip, demonstrating that his own artifact attacks could overcome his defenses despite the difference in realm 579.
  • Using the Li Huo Whip consumes immense Spiritual Energy and can leave Chen Yan with less than one-fifth of his reserves 927.
  • Derived whips deteriorate with use, losing their luster and the clarity of their seal inscription 549.

Hidden Truth Returning Silence

Hidden Truth Returning Silence is Chen Yan's first unlocked innate divine ability, obtained alongside the Kan Shui Art after his accumulated cultivation coefficient reached the required threshold 580. In another cultivation route, he comprehended the same ability upon entering the Divine Ability Realm 753.

• Applications:
  • Erases or conceals the Karma of an object, causing it to vanish as though it never existed 580.
  • Erased the manifested Li Huo Whip held by Chen Yan's corpse 580.
  • Can erase an External Incarnation's Karma so completely that it becomes forgettable even to Chen Yan and hostile observers 1015.
  • Can sever External Incarnations from Chen Yan so thoroughly that they function as nearly independent entities 1148.
• Limitations:
  • Its failure against later interference suggests that a sufficiently powerful party can establish a connection between Chen Yan's External Incarnations and true body 1067.
  • A Karma-erased External Incarnation cannot reveal Chen Yan's true identity; doing so immediately causes the concealment to fail 1017.
  • In one route, Chen Yan could not erase the existence of cultivators at the Spirit Tong Realm or above 753.
  • Once an External Incarnation's Karma is fully severed, Chen Yan cannot directly command or coordinate it through their former connection 1148.
  • Zhao Hong's recognition of an incarnation modeled on Chen Yan's original elderly appearance caused his concealed Karma to reconnect and exposed the Thousand Faces Sect's origin 1066 1070.

Innate Sword Intent: Void Intent

Void Intent is an Innate Sword Intent acquired as a reincarnation reward after Chen Yan erased the concepts of heaven and earth and reincarnated 1015.

• Applications:
  • Directly damages Karma, allowing Chen Yan to threaten opponents far above his cultivation realm 1019 1021.
  • Damaged the Karma and Dao Rhyme of Shan Chong, a Void Return Realm True Lord 1021 1022.
  • Can be wielded by Chen Yan's External Incarnations 1051.
  • Its revelation caused sword cultivators, including Zhu Qingyun, to seek a sword-discussion with Chen Yan under the Wu Xu identity 1030.
• Limitations:
  • Its advantage diminishes once its methods and principles are understood by stronger opponents 1051.

Purple Mansion Empty Mountain Art

The Purple Mansion Empty Mountain Art is a cultivation art created by Chen Yan from the Empty Mountain Art 77. It enhances the power of his techniques and was instrumental in his victory over Ye Xiu during the Dao Asking Assembly 121.

• Applications:
  • Amplifies Chen Yan's use of the Hidden Immortal Art and Kongshan Finger in combat 121.
  • Represents an original cultivation-method creation regarded as sufficient merit for Chen Yan to enter the Heavenly Peak Dao Asking 77.
  • Its amplified Purple Mansion Kongshan Finger allowed him to defeat Pu Yuanzhou after adapting to the latter's Southern Dipper Hegemony Art and Cloud Dragon Steps 116.
• Limitations:
  • Chen Yan initially lacked a broad repertoire of high-level offensive techniques despite his cultivation and experience 112 115.

Purple Mansion Record

The Purple Mansion Record is a Reincarnation-rewarded cultivation method that Chen Yan used during his Qingjin Stream period. Its Great Accomplishment mastery supported his victory over another Qi Sea Realm cultivator in fewer than ten breaths 255.

• Applications:
  • Provides a powerful True Qi cultivation method whose distinctive circulation can be concealed with the Hidden Immortal Art 255.
  • Reached Great Accomplishment through Reincarnation Rewards 255.
• Possible Origin:
  • Later conversations with Su Miao inform Chen Yan's consideration of the method's connection to the Purple Mansion Heavenly Monarch. He suspects that this and other rewards are legacies of higher powers rather than direct creations of the Supreme Heavenly Dao 1248.

Other Abilities

• Martial Arts Prowess: Recognized as a martial arts prodigy from a young age, with potential to become a Martial Dao Grandmaster 724. Even without cultivation, he is confident no martial arts grandmaster could gain an advantage over him, although his mortal body's physical limitations prevent him from defeating a Body Tempering Realm cultivator at that point 406. After re-entering the Body Tempering Realm in Great Yan, he defeated sixteen armed Tiger Leopard Cavalry elites bare-handed, leaving the soldiers unable to comprehend his strength 790 791.
• True Qi Control: Can easily defeat opponents by breaking their sword with a single finger, demonstrating exceptional True Qi control 375. His control over Qi and Spiritual Energy below the Spirit Tong Realm became extraordinary after repeatedly re-cultivating, enabling an extremely rapid Qi Condensation breakthrough 820.
• Cross-Realm Combat: Can kill across major realms, attributed to the Great Evolution Art 299. At Martial Spring Realm Peak, he used Po Bing Needles against Qi Sea Realm attackers surrounding Lin Qifeng 139. He also held off two early-stage Qi Condensation Realm rogue cultivators during the Canyang Sword Manor assessment 328. He could wield Spiritual Qi while at the Martial Spring Realm, an ability that caught He Furen completely off guard during the conflict involving Ye Xiu 149.
• Immortal Artifact Manifestation: Can manifest three immortal artifacts, demonstrating his power and intimidating others 485. At his Ascension Realm height, his true self appeared accompanied by one hundred thousand immortal artifacts 600.
• Spiritual Energy Purification: Has a unique ability to purify Spiritual Energy 549.
• Divine Sense: His spiritual sense abilities reached a higher level after reincarnation 579. He can perceive the flow of True Qi within others 267. At the Guiyi Realm, his divine sense could cover all of Jiangdu Commandery 446.
• Clear Light: A point of Clear Light can disperse opposing True Qi 125.
• Kongshan Finger: A technique used in combat 125.
• Demonuntain Splitting Palm: A technique used in combat 112.
• Thousand Cloud Transformation: A technique allowing for rapid evasion and fierce attacks by transforming position between reality and illusion 241.
• Kan Shui Art: A Reincarnation Reward technique that enabled Chen Yan to manifest the Kan Shui Mirror, which dispersed the Li Huo released by his corpse 580.
• Qian Tian Ling: An immortal artifact capable of immobilizing opponents, used by Chen Yan against Guiyi Realm adversaries 927.
• Falling Star Sword and Palm Heaven Seal: Dormant artifacts within Chen Yan's Qi Sea during a later re-cultivation cycle. The Falling Star Sword belonged to Su Hongzhen, while the Palm Heaven Seal was a Dao artifact obtained as a Reincarnation Reward 819.
• External Incarnations: Chen Yan created thirty-six Divine Ability Realm External Incarnations and used them as the foundation for the Thousand Faces Sect 1051. More than one hundred Karma-severed External Incarnations later operated within Sword-Washing Hall, independently searching for an opportunity to strike Yin Ji 1148. In Azure Crossing Continent, he expanded their scale to nearly ten million Qi Sea Realm incarnations, retaining their direct Spiritual Sense connections because he had no need to conceal them there 1207.
• Rapid Realm Advancement: In a later reincarnation, he raised his cultivation from the Spirit Tong Realm to the Hedao Realm in two breaths 1109.
• Demon Core Fusion: In Desolate Ridge, Chen Yan fused with the demon core of a tenth-realm great demon, making the region especially suitable for his continued cultivation 1061.
• Meridian Refinement: Refined newly opened meridians hundreds of times with precisely controlled Spiritual Energy, increasing their True Qi capacity more than tenfold before they solidified. This allowed his early-stage Qi Condensation body to exchange a few blows with Martial Spring Realm cultivators and employ techniques such as Kongshan Finger, though he still lacked their continuous generation of True Qi 821.
• Kong Yang's Karma-Removal Secret Art: Used this art repeatedly to shed Bai Chen's Karma and complete the historical loop, at the cost of severe damage to his soul 590 597.
• Heaven and Earth Authority: Previously wielded this authority and entered the Half-Saint domain. He later regarded the resulting experience as a foundation for comprehending the True Purity Realm despite his ordinary innate comprehension 1000 1248.
• Cultivation-Method Creation: Personally deduced and verified new methods for Azure Crossing Continent, establishing a cultivation path from Body Tempering to Hedao 1207.
• Heavenly-Secret Calculations: Used his understanding of the immortal path and heavenly secrets to determine that time in Azure Crossing Continent flows at least ten thousand times more slowly than outside. He attributed this isolation to the Purple Mansion Heavenly Monarch's interference with Karma 1207.
• Wood Carving: Produced carvings admired by Liu Fanyue and agreed to make her a wooden hairpin for two copper coins 1090.
• Military Strategy: Trained nearly one hundred Elite Legions and coordinated a millennia-long war against the Outer Dao. His strategy combines selective victories, concealed strength, and planned retreats to avoid provoking stronger puppet forms before he is ready for a decisive confrontation 1248.

Character Relationships

• Chen Yan and Zhou Jinyun: Chen Yan is a senior figure who extracts information from Zhou Jinyun, a cautious and intelligent disciple from Mirage Palace's Weaving Dream Tower 443. He entrusts her and Su Hongzhen with authority to deal with a possessed disciple 475. Zhou Jinyun initially views Chen Yan as an unfathomable senior 443 and later shows respect for his authority 475. She is hesitant to reveal too much about Mirage Palace's secret illusionary arts 443.
• Chen Yan and Su Hongzhen: Chen Yan observes Su Hongzhen's interactions with Zhou Jinyun, noting that Su Hongzhen likely forgave Zhou Jinyun long ago 477. Su Hongzhen struggles with the moral implications of killing and the rules of the world 475. Chen Yan protects Su Hongzhen from Upper Three Realms cultivators, heals his severe wounds, and upgrades his sword into the Swift Fire Sword 444 568. Chen Yan treats Su Hongzhen like a younger brother and guides his cultivation, while Su Hongzhen regards him as an elder brother and mentor 415 434. In a distant future, Su Hongzhen, then known as the Falling Star Sword Immortal, helps the soul-damaged Chen Yan recover memories of his past and recognizes his role as the sole variable in a destined plan 595. Chen Yan's early guidance toward swordsmanship was informed by his research into Su Hongzhen's unusually obscure and contradictory historical records 415.
• Chen Yan and Fu Qian: Fu Qian, an elder on Qingchan Peak, initially seems dismissive of Chen Yan but provides him with a token 59. Chen Yan has significant ties to Fu Qian's lineage 131. Fu Qian keeps secrets about a list hidden 107.
• Chen Yan and Bai Qiming: Chen Yan visits Bai Qiming, an elder on Qingchan Peak, who is aware of Chen Yan's actions at Kongyuan Demonuntain 67. Bai Qiming is suspected of playing a larger game related to a future calamity 57.
• Chen Yan and Lin Xinyang: Lin Xinyang suspects Chen Yan's involvement in Qin Yue's death 102. Lin Xinyang shows unwavering trust in Chen Yan when seeking a solution to a complex plot 131. Lin Xinyang later becomes acquainted with Chen Yan through Li Haowen and is noted for his unusually pure disposition 732.
• Chen Yan and Kang Congdan: Chen Yan avoids becoming enemies with Kang Congdan, giving him a heads-up when he learns Kang Congdan is looking for him 431. Kang Congdan is being used by an Elder from Mirage Palace for an experiment 431.
• Chen Yan and King Yun: King Yun recognizes Chen Yan as a disciple of Kongyuan Demonuntain and asks about Zhao Bin, an Immortal Master from Kongyuan Demonuntain who saved his life 43 44.
• Chen Yan and Mister You: Mister You informs Chen Yan that several True Persons from different sects cannot kill him for ten years due to a deal, and that they all want him dead because of the Karma backlash he carries 317. Mister You later saves Chen Yan from the Black Tide despite suffering Space-time Faults across his own body 580. Through repeated experiments, Mister You comes to suspect that Chen Yan possesses a means to cross time and start over, regarding his existence as a source of infinite possibilities for Chenping Continent 701.
• Chen Yan and Chu Xiyao: Chu Xiyao knows that He Furen once sent people to assassinate Chen Yan, and she suspects He Furen is also related to Song Mingde's death 107. Chen Yan also faced Qin Qingyu in the Dao Asking Assembly, where Qin Qingyu suppressed her realm and was nevertheless surprised by Chen Yan's Clear Light 125. Much later, he concludes that Chu Xiyao was connected to the theft of the Black Flood Dragon Remnant Soul, while recognizing that she and other younger disciples had been powerless within the schemes of Li Haoran and Huo Mu 719.
• Chen Yan and Jing Miao: Jing Miao is the registrar of the Internal Affairs Hall, and Chen Yan questions if he appointed her 283. Jing Miao, along with others on Tian Ding Demonuntain, appears to be a living person, yet not entirely 283.
• True Person Caiyun Kong Yang and True Person Shi Ri Liang Huan: They have a feud 653.
• True Person Shuangyu Yin Xia and True Person Xuzhou Lou Ye: They have a feud 653.
• Cultivators of the Five Great Sects and the two Ascended Immortals from Tian Ding Demonuntain: They have a severe enmity 653.
• Kong Yang and Yin Xia: They maintain an alliance against Tian Ding Demonuntain despite their shared suspicion of each other's motives 653.
• Kong Yang and Chen Yan: Kong Yang reveals he ordered support for a young girl from Xuansheng Sect at True Person Chen's request 653.
• Li Haowen and Bai Jinye: They share a deep friendship, finding solace in each other's company despite their circumstances 661. Bai Jinye is injured and stagnant in cultivation, while Li Haowen is reclusive and known as "Li the God of Slaughter" 661.
• He Qingling and Li Haowen: Their relationship evolves from curiosity to closeness, then to conflict and eventual separation, with He Qingling witnessing Li Haowen's ruthless side and lying to protect him 767.
• Zhou Jinyun and Su Hongzhen: They discuss the moral implications of Mirage Palace's actions, with Su Hongzhen unable to accept Zhou Jinyun's stance, leading to them parting ways 594. Su Hongzhen encourages Zhou Jinyun to follow her heart 481.
• Zhou Jinyun and Supreme Elder Jing: Zhou Jinyun is familiar with Supreme Elder Jing's name and deeds but has never met him 443. She warns Chen Yan that Supreme Elder Jing has met him before, making it inadvisable for Chen Yan to reveal himself 452.
• Xiao Bo'an and Zhou Jinyun: Xiao Bo'an is the Chief Disciple of Weaving Dream Tower and is knowledgeable about its history 612. He is aware that Zhou Jinyun is the successor of Weaving Dream Tower's Night Sky Observation Heavenly Mirror and has the greatest talent in illusionary techniques in a thousand years 612.
• He Furen, Wen Hongli, and Huo Mu: They are manipulative and power-hungry figures 131.
• He Furen and Chen Yan: He Furen knows Chen Yan knows the secret of a list and has allowed Chen Yan to grow because he still holds value 131. He Furen has sent people to assassinate Chen Yan 107. He Furen also underestimated Chen Yan's ability to wield Spiritual Qi while only at the Martial Spring Realm, an error that contributed to Ye Xiu's death 149.
• Fu Qian and Kong Yang: Kong Yang purged Qingchan Peak, replacing its leadership, which reflects a power struggle with Fu Qian 347.
• Qian Xun and Li Hanzhou: Li Hanzhou suspects Qian Xun's mind was tampered with, causing his erratic behavior 66.
• Qin Yue and He Furen: He Furen targets Qin Yue to prevent her from becoming a significant piece in Bai Qiming's plans 59.
• Qin Yue and Lin Xinyang: Lin Xinyang is determined to find out who killed Qin Yue 102.
• Song Mingde and Chen Yan: Chen Yan is determined to uncover the truth behind Song Mingde's murder 59. Chen Yan suspects Song Mingde's death is related to He Furen 107.
• Ye Xiu and Old Demon: Old Demon is a senior figure who resides within Ye Xiu's mind 126. Old Demon informs Ye Xiu that Chen Yan defeated him 126.
• Zuo He and the "Mysterious Woman": Chen Yan seeks to extract secrets from Zuo He, including information about the "Mysterious Woman" 637.
• Chen Yan and Lu Li: Lu Li recognized Chen Yan's extraordinary talent in the Outer Court, gave him Qi Guiding Pills, and later accepted him as a personal disciple 2 727. Their relationship deepened over centuries, and Chen Yan feared Lu Li would be targeted by Huo Mu after Lu Li entered the Supreme Zhenwu Court 746. In an altered reincarnation, Lu Li instead displayed cold indifference and killed Chen Yan after their post-lecture exchange 4.
• Chen Yan and Cheng Ziying: Cheng Ziying was Chen Yan's childhood neighbor and junior sister, and later became his Dao companion across many reincarnations 3 206. Her survival of the Outer Court calamity proved to Chen Yan that he could change fate 206.
• Chen Yan and Bai Chen: Bai Chen's remnant soul resents Chen Yan for sealing him, but the two later discuss Chenping Continent and exhibit a degree of mutual appreciation 1000 1001. Chen Yan later identifies Yan Yunhe as Bai Chen after recognizing their identical Karma threads 613. Their history includes Chen Yan sealing Bai Chen's projection ten million years earlier and using it to attain a Half-Saint body 1000. Chen Yan eventually explains through his actions that hatred has little meaning to him, since enemies in one reincarnation may become close friends in another 1045.
• Chen Yan and Shan Chong: Shan Chong repeatedly killed Chen Yan's External Incarnation but became unable to treat him lightly after Void Intent damaged his Karma and Dao Rhyme 1019 1021 1022.
• Chen Yan and Pu Wenyu: Pu Wenyu recognizes Chen Yan's poor innate talent despite his past Ascension Realm status and suspects that he reincarnated and re-cultivated 988. Chen Yan considers Pu Wenyu both a potential source of support and a dangerous manipulator 981 1067. Pu Wenyu later reveals himself as Supreme Saint Qingfeng, a True Purity Realm cultivator, confirming the overwhelming disparity between them 978. Pu Wenyu tasks him with supporting the Wei Family and uniting Forgotten River City's Eight Clans, while Chen Yan remains wary of promises of assistance because of his previous experience with Shen Xuanwei 981.
• Chen Yan and Wei Yang: Chen Yan serves as Wei Yang's instructor in Forgotten River City and claims he can guide him onto the immortal path within three months, though he does not regard Wei Yang as exceptionally talented 954 986 995. Wei Yang eventually enters the Qi Condensation Realm, and Chen Yan proposes a marriage alliance with one of the six Cultivation Families to strengthen the Wei Family's position 987.
• Chen Yan and Chen Dong: Chen Dong, Chen Yan's elder brother in his Lujiang Village life, later became Marquis Jingyuan. His political rise was aided by Chen Yan's former prestige and Jia Wen's subsequent support 773 870 871. Their reunion after more than a decade reveals Chen Dong's concern for Chen Yan's safety and the toll that managing the manor and court ostracism have taken on him 874.
• Chen Yan and Jia Wen: Chen Yan met Duke Jia Wen in Great Yan's Chengxin Hall after earning renown on the frontier 798. Chen Yan later regarded Jia Wen as an important stabilizing figure in Great Yan and a Luoling Sect inner disciple 842.
• Chen Yan and Shen Yunshen: Shen Yunshen sheltered Chen Yan in Willow River Village, but their views diverged when Chen Yan questioned whether revenge could restore the dead 1089. Shen Yunshen later reacts with astonishment and hostility upon learning Chen Yan has become a Martial Spring Realm cultivator in the Bright Azure Sect 1105.
• Chen Yan and Liu Fanyue: Liu Fanyue is moved by Chen Yan's detached account of his suffering in Willow River Village and later recognizes his unexpected advancement to the Martial Spring Realm 1089 1105. She admires his wood carving and commissions a wooden hairpin for two copper coins 1090.
• Chen Yan and Shen Cang: Bright Azure Sect Master Shen Cang attempts to handle Chen Yan diplomatically after he demands sparring matches with Spirit Tong Realm experts 1107.
• Chen Yan and Wu Kuang: Wu Kuang senses danger from Chen Yan's sudden appearance and secretly alerts the Mystic Mechanism Palace 1107.
• Chen Yan and Lin Qifeng: Lin Qifeng became Chen Yan's master after recognizing his performance in the Outer Court Grand Competition and repeatedly protected him during conflicts with Song Wencheng and the sect's factions 24 33 105. Their connection remained important enough that Chen Yan later sought a private audience with Lin Qifeng and Sect Master Yun Yichen after becoming a powerful senior 680. Lin Qifeng once stated that Chen Yan appeared to have died many times and disclosed that his own grand-master was Yan Yunhe's reincarnation, alarming Chen Yan with the possibility that his secret had been detected 87. Chen Yan later considered keeping Lin Qifeng close because of his connection to Bai Chen's Karma 625.
• Chen Yan and Li Haowen: Though initially associated through the Empty Mountain Sect's younger generation, Li Haowen later receives exceptional access to Du Cang Hall from Chen Yan, leaving him unable to understand why Chen Yan treats him with such consideration 662.
• Chen Yan and Zhou Yan: Zhou Yan first encounters Chen Yan as a Glazed Mountain cultivator and remains wary of his concealed identity and status 948 995. In Willow River Village, Zhou Yan develops a tense and jealous dislike of Chen Yan, particularly over Liu Fanyue's attention 1089. He subsequently warns Chen Yan to stay away from Liu Fanyue, while Chen Yan continues carving without reacting to the provocation 1090.
• Chen Yan and the Alternate-Timeline Chen Yan: Chen Yan encounters a counterpart formed from streams of Karma light, whose appearance and Dao Rhyme are identical to his own but whose ancient bearing and temporal scars reveal a different life path 1153. The True Purity Realm counterpart sends him back toward the correct Record Point. Chen Yan realizes that the counterpart's wish to kill him is also an attempt to use his fifty-six million years of karmic backlash to escape the River of Time and re-enter reincarnation 1155.
• Chen Yan and Yin Ji: Heaven Stabilizer True Lord Yin Ji meets Chen Yan in a marsh pavilion and addresses him as True Lord Chen. Chen Yan recognizes Yin Ji as the foremost cultivator of the Immortal-Rising Land 1160. Chen Yan also monitors Yin Ji at Sword-Washing Hall through Karma-severed External Incarnations, waiting for an opening to strike after Yin Ji kills Lü Wangqiu and four Void Return Realm True Lords through Effect Before Cause 1148. In a prior route, Yin Ji's death altered the future of the Three Thousand Realms and burdened Chen Yan with fifty-six million years of karmic backlash 1155.
• Chen Yan and Zhu Qingyun: When Chen Yan reveals Void Intent under the identity Wu Xu, Zhu Qingyun abandons his initial disdain and requests a sword-discussion to understand the rare Innate Sword Intent 1030.
• Chen Yan and the Tiger Leopard Battalion: Initially viewed with doubt as a youthful, ceremonial captain, Chen Yan establishes his authority by defeating sixteen armed elite cavalrymen bare-handed. Han Meng, once among those who challenged him, later becomes Chen Yan's most trusted Great Yan subordinate 790 791 811.
• Chen Yan and Li Haoran: Li Haoran congratulates Chen Yan on entering the Seventh Realm and compares his cultivation speed favorably with Yun Yichen's 746. When Chen Yan brings him the mysterious list found at Cangwu Studio, Li Haoran shares a meal with him and burns the list without examining it 750.
• Chen Yan and Su Yuanzhen: Su Yuanzhen, a Martial Spring Realm personal disciple of Luoling Sect's Sect Master, treats Chen Yan kindly and checks his cultivation progress. Chen Yan conceals his actual Qi Condensation cultivation during these examinations 821 825.
• Chen Yan and Zhao Hong: An elderly cultivator recognizes Chen Yan's aged External Incarnation as an Outer Court disciple from their shared past. His memories belong to a timeline Chen Yan believed should have vanished, and his recognition exposes Chen Yan's concealed Karma 1066 1070.
• Chen Yan and Li Chunfeng: Chen Yan persuades the Li Family head to accept a marriage alliance with the City Lord's Manor through a substantial betrothal investment and a demonstration of his cultivation, despite their previous political friction 993.
• Chen Yan and Lin Jian: Chen Yan identifies Lin Jian as a promising cultivator in Azure Crossing Continent. Lin Jian receives the Dustmote Scripture and rapidly strengthens his body, but Chen Yan later deliberately suppresses his advancement along with that of more than twenty other selected Dao Seeds 1207 1211.
• Chen Yan and Xu Sheng: Chen Yan follows Xu Sheng's life with foreknowledge that the youth will one day restore morale at Heavenly River Pass. From Xu Sheng's birth onward, he begins changing his earlier policy of leaving Azure Crossing Continent's cultivation society to develop naturally 1228.
• Chen Yan and Su Miao: Conversations with Wugou Saint Su Miao inform Chen Yan's understanding of the Purple Mansion Record, Heavenly Monarch Dayan, and resistance to the Outer Dao. He plans to delay the decisive war until he has sufficient strength to contend with her and participate in the Myriad Heavens Dao Strife 1248.
• Chen Yan and the Purple Mansion Heavenly Monarch: Chen Yan attributes Azure Crossing Continent's extreme temporal isolation to the Heavenly Monarch's interference with Karma, recognizing that such a feat must carry a significant cost. He also considers the Heavenly Monarch's legacy a possible source of his Reincarnation Rewards 1207 1248.
• Chen Yan and Jiang Qingran: While inhabiting Mo Ze, Chen Yan meets Jiang Qingran through their bodies' childhood betrothal. He knows the marriage will not occur and identifies her as his eighth disciple in a future life, making her safe birth and eventual discipleship more important to him than the marriage arrangement 1262.
• Chen Yan and Master Mo: Master Mo is the father of the body Chen Yan inhabits as Mo Ze. He notices a change in his timid son's bearing but assumes nothing unusual, and warmly anticipates the betrothal meeting with Jiang Qingran 1262.

Major Events

• Chen Yan is conscripted into the army Chen Yan is conscripted into the army and sets off for Xingyuan City with fellow villagers, aiming to achieve merit and break through to the Body Tempering Realm to begin cultivation 781.
• Chen Yan infiltrates the grasslands After becoming a scout in the Dingzi Camp, Chen Yan volunteers to infiltrate the Black Mountain Tribe's territory alone to locate the enemy 785.
• Chen Yan kills Saurur Chen Yan single-handedly kills the Black Mountain Tribe chieftain Saurur and returns with his head, earning recognition from Battalion Commander Zheng and an opportunity for advancement 787.
• Chen Yan becomes Colonel of the Tiger Leopard Battalion Governor Gao Yu promotes Chen Yan to Colonel of the newly organized Tiger Leopard Battalion, granting him a mansion, land, gold, silk, and nominal command of the elite cavalry while placing Du Zhen in practical control of its daily drills 788.
• Chen Yan defeats sixteen Tiger Leopard Cavalrymen After re-entering the Body Tempering Realm, Chen Yan challenges sixteen armed Tiger Leopard Cavalry elites at once and defeats them bare-handed, ending the battalion's doubts about his ability 790 791.
• Chen Yan becomes Deputy Governor of Great Yan's border army Following his battlefield achievements, the Great Yan Emperor appoints Chen Yan Deputy Governor, grants him command of the Yanbei Iron Cavalry, and entrusts him with broad independent military authority 796.
• Chen Yan is taken to Kongyuan Demonuntain Zhao Bin, a Senior Disciple Brother from Kongyuan Demonuntain's Pill Hall, takes Chen Yan to Kongyuan Demonuntain on a giant white crane, where Chen Yan is given a residence and a communication jade talisman 38. This event causes Chen Yan to begin to see Zheng Fuyue in a new light, appreciating his loyalty 38.
• Chen Yan participates in the Dao Asking Assembly Chen Yan returns to the Sect after fifteen years and participates in the Dao Asking Assembly, with his match approaching in the twenty-first group on Arena Seven 114. He is determined, analytical, and concerned about the well-being of his fellow disciples, and aware of the power struggles within the Sect 114.
• Chen Yan defeats Ye Xiu Facing death during the Dao Asking Assembly, Chen Yan combines the Hidden Immortal Art, Kongshan Finger, and Purple Mansion Empty Mountain Art to defeat Ye Xiu and destroy the arena 121.
• Chen Yan is confronted by Ye Xiu During the Dao Asking Assembly, Chen Yan is confronted by Ye Xiu, who expresses animosity and a desire to humiliate Chen Yan and the Empty Demonuntain Sect 120.
• Chen Yan learns about the Black Flood Dragon Remnant Soul Chen Yan recounts his speculations to the direct disciples of Kongyuan Demonuntain, including the matter of the Black Flood Dragon Remnant Soul being stolen and falling into He Furen's hands 131. He realizes he has long been a pawn in the schemes of powerful figures 131.
• Chen Yan is placed under confinement After returning to Kongyuan Demonuntain, Chen Yan is placed under a confinement order by Elder Zhengfa, his Uncle-Master Zhong Yin, to protect him from the Law Court 190. Chen Yan knows when the Law Court will come for his life 190.
• Chen Yan returns to the Outer Court Chen Yan reappears in the Outer Court after being missing for nine days, and the Cautionary Hall escorts him back to Kongyuan Demonuntain due to the tense situation between Kongyuan Demonuntain and the Law Court 189. His status has risen significantly, making him intimidating to former acquaintances 189.
• Chen Yan visits Yuanhua Demonuntain Chen Yan and Lu Li visit Yuanhua Demonuntain to meet Qian Xun, where Chen Yan uses a token from the Empty Demonuntain Law Court to gain entry 159. He expresses concern for Qian Xun's slow cultivation progress 159.
• Chen Yan realizes he can change fate Chen Yan realizes he can change other people's fate, including Destiny itself, after Cheng Ziying survives the great Outer Court calamity in this reincarnation 206. This excites him, despite the continued occurrence of the calamity 206.
• Chen Yan stays at Xing Manor Chen Yan decides to stay at Xing Manor for two weeks to gather information about his current situation, which he learns is three years after the great calamity of the Outer Court of the Empty Demonuntain Sect 201.
• Chen Yan joins the Biqiu Sect's recruitment Under the alias Yan Chen, Chen Yan passes the first round of Biqiu Sect's assessment and becomes the only Xing Family disciple to qualify 209.
• Chen Yan is attacked and killed by an unknown assailant Chen Yan discovers a massacre at an inn and is subsequently attacked and killed by an assailant from the Xing family 211. He suspects his death was part of a larger plan against the Biqiu Sect 211.
• Chen Yan begins to notice anomalies Chen Yan, serving as a Steward, begins to notice strange anomalies in the world, where people ignore or freeze when asked about his past interactions 283. He investigates and takes drastic action, killing Steward Zhao 283.
• Chen Yan witnesses the destruction of Tian Ding Demonuntain Using a fragment of the Tian Ding Mirror, Chen Yan sees Elder Wen Mian's past and witnesses a seven-colored golden fairy statue destroy Tian Ding Demonuntain and all its cultivators 286. He learns about his connection to an impending calamity 286.
• Chen Yan and Si Youyou leave their residence Chen Yan and Si Youyou leave their temporary residence, with Chen Yan revealing their next destination as Fushang Island 305.
• Chen Yan visits his biological family Chen Yan visits his biological family, the Chen Family, in Suishuo City, where he discovers his father has been forging letters from the Immortal Sect 366. He warns his father to stop, threatening the clan's annihilation 366.
• Chen Yan encounters Chu Xiyao and Kong Yang Chen Yan encounters Chu Xiyao, who doesn't recognize him, and meets Kong Yang, who reveals Qin Qingyu has ascended and suspects Chen Yan's true identity 356. Kong Yang knows Chen Yan seeks Ancestor Yan's Dao Foundation 356.
• Chen Yan and Su Hongzhen arrive in Liaolong Chen Yan and Su Hongzhen arrive in Liaolong, where news of a bandit attack on Matou Village has spread, drawing attention from the Liaolong Court and Great Yu 415. Chen Yan plans to leave for Yunxi 415.
• Chen Yan confronts the Hidden Sect cultivators More than twenty Guiyi Realm cultivators from the Nine Great Hidden Sects arrive to execute Chen Yan. He kills twelve with the Li Huo Whip, then continues fighting despite depleted Spiritual Energy and severe wounds, ultimately killing most of the remaining attackers 925 927 928.
• Chen Yan survives the Black Tide Chen Yan repeatedly confronts a corpse of his past self within the Black Tide, acquires the Kan Shui Art and Hidden Truth Returning Silence, and is eventually pulled free by Mister You 579 580.
• Chen Yan displays one hundred thousand immortal artifacts As an Ascension Realm cultivator, Chen Yan's External Incarnation is destroyed by the Great Sun Seal before his true body appears with one hundred thousand immortal artifacts, overwhelming the Ascended Immortal combatants 600.
• Chen Yan learns about the illusion of Yuxu Continent Chen Yan meets Imperial Void Saint Bai Chen and reveals that the Yuxu Continent they are on is an illusion created by the Tian Ding Mirror 760. He recounts the history of Chenping Continent's crises and his future self's plan to save it 760.
• Chen Yan learns about the "Calamity Cause" Chen Yan, having lived eight thousand years ago, revisits the past to complete his mission by tearing apart his soul to plant the "Calamity Cause" and trigger the era of the severed Immortal Path 597. He accepts his destined role and prepares for his final act 597.
• Chen Yan, as True Person Ducang, meets Li Haowen and Bai Jinye Chen Yan, now True Person Ducang and Sect Master of Chenping Continent, meets Li Haowen and Bai Jinye, showing interest in Li Haowen's upcoming breakthrough to the Wanhua Realm 662. He displays his power and status 662.
• Chen Yan creates Karma-erased External Incarnations After gaining Void Intent, Chen Yan uses the Great Evolution Art to create an External Incarnation and Hidden Truth Returning Silence to erase its Karma and remove it from all recollection 1015.
• Chen Yan confronts Shan Chong Under the Wu Xu identity, Chen Yan repeatedly returns after Shan Chong kills him and uses Void Intent to damage the Void Return Realm True Lord's Karma, forcing Shan Chong to apologize and negotiate 1021 1022.
• Chen Yan founds the Thousand Faces Sect Chen Yan uses thirty-six Divine Ability Realm External Incarnations as the basis for the Thousand Faces Sect, intending to unite the Southern Bright Region's strongest forces 1051.
• Chen Yan's accumulated cultivation is sealed A True Purity Realm saint attacks Chen Yan in Desolate Ridge, forcing him to reincarnate. His settlement seals his accumulated cultivation at Mid Void Return Realm and returns him to a prior Record Point 1067.
• Chen Yan confronts the Bright Azure Sect Chen Yan rapidly raises his cultivation to the Spirit Tong Realm, challenges Bright Azure Sect experts to spar, and prompts the sect to secretly contact Mystic Mechanism Palace 1107.
• Chen Yan reaches the Hedao Realm before the Bright Azure Sect Chen Yan's cultivation continues rising before the shocked sect cultivators, advancing from the Spirit Tong Realm through Wanhua, Guiyi, and Divine Ability to the Hedao Realm in two breaths 1109.
• Chen Yan appears at Sword-Washing Hall As a Mystic Mechanism Palace envoy, Chen Yan visits Sword-Washing Hall and withstands the hostile sword aura of Sword Chief Lü Wangqiu without yielding 1113.
• Chen Yan encounters his alternate-timeline self A second Chen Yan manifests from streams of Karma light. The counterpart's identical appearance and Dao Rhyme, but more ancient temperament and time-space scars, establish him as Chen Yan from another timeline 1153.
• Chen Yan prepares to strike Yin Ji After Yin Ji uses Effect Before Cause to kill Lü Wangqiu and four Void Return Realm True Lords, Chen Yan remains in Sword-Washing Hall and waits for an opportunity to use his Karma-severed External Incarnations against him 1148.
• Chen Yan meets Heaven Stabilizer True Lord Yin Ji In a pavilion amid the great marsh, Chen Yan receives Yin Ji and recognizes him as the foremost cultivator of the Immortal-Rising Land 1160.
• Chen Yan survives an assassination attempt on the road He kills one Martial Spring Realm assassin with a single punch, captures the other, and breaks his fingers during interrogation, but fails to learn the mastermind's identity 63.
• Chen Yan defeats Pu Yuanzhou During the Heavenly Peak Dao Asking, he adapts to Pu Yuanzhou's close-quarters techniques and defeats him with the Purple Mansion Kongshan Finger. The technique also provides a new lead concerning the killing of an Outer Court disciple 116.
• Qi Yi kills Chen Yan and triggers an A-rank settlement Qi Yi takes him to the Outer Court Training Ground and kills him over the mysterious list and Black Flood Dragon Remnant Soul. Chen Yan returns fifty-three days before the catastrophe with Qi Sea Realm Peak cultivation 166.
• Chen Yan researches the complete cultivation hierarchy During five years in Qingxuan Immortal Sect, he studies the Nine Realms Below Ascension and the five realms above it: Void Return, True Purity, Void Creation, Primal Beginning, and Celestial Heaven. He also learns of Mister You's former Void Return Realm Peak attainment 540.
• Chen Yan repeatedly removes Karma at the cost of his soul At the Hedao Realm, he uses Kong Yang's secret art despite severe pain, with his Soul Integrity falling through 93%, 84%, and 72%. By the time he reaches the Xiling Mountain Range, only 6% remains intact 590 595.
• Chen Yan defeats Yin Xia and Qiu Siruo Regaining his sealed Ascension Realm power, he overwhelms the two reincarnated Ascended Immortals while attempting to prevent Chenping Continent's annihilation 598.
• Chen Yan breaks through in Luoling Sect's Spirit Gathering Room With a spirit stone and retained Void Return Realm control, he enters Qi Condensation in less than half a stick of incense, then refines his meridians and stabilizes his cultivation over a thirty-six-hour session 820 821.
• Chen Yan defeats Qiu Bupo He withstands or evades the Sun Concealing Force, seizes Qiu Bupo, and defeats him with repeated punches before challenging Ren Feng 863.
• Chen Yan returns to Marquis Jingyuan's Manor After more than a decade away, he reunites with Chen Dong and Chen Peng, while Great Yan's officials consider the possible political consequences of his return 874.
• Chen Yan arranges the Wei–Li marriage alliance He proposes finding Wei Yang a wife from one of the six Cultivation Families, then offers the Li Family over five million high-grade spirit stones and sixteen magical artifacts as betrothal gifts. He treats the expenditure as an investment in Forgotten River City's future strength 987 993.
• Zhao Hong exposes Chen Yan's incarnation An old acquaintance recognizes an incarnation based on Chen Yan's original elderly appearance, causing concealed Karma to reconnect and revealing the source of the Thousand Faces Sect. The encounter also proves that a supposedly vanished timeline still has consequences 1066 1070.
• Chen Yan defeats Huangfu Jin and Meng Huan In Bright Azure Sect, he defeats Huangfu Jin in a single move and knocks unconscious the Qi Sea Realm protector sent to arrest him, shocking Shen Cang and Wu Kuang 1106.
• Chen Yan returns to the Immortal Origin Land His True Purity Realm counterpart sends him back to the correct Record Point, where he returns at Late Void Return Realm during the Northern Border Immortal Alliance's debate over attacking Yin Ji. He understands that the counterpart sought to exploit the karmic backlash from Yin Ji's death to escape the River of Time 1155.
• Chen Yan spreads the immortal path through Azure Crossing Continent He creates nearly ten million Qi Sea Realm External Incarnations to distribute personally developed cultivation methods. He also calculates the realm's extreme temporal isolation and initially chooses to allow its civilization to mature without excessive intervention 1207.
• Chen Yan suppresses selected Dao Seeds' cultivation Lin Jian's slow advancement is revealed to be deliberate rather than a failure of talent. Chen Yan similarly restricts more than twenty other promising cultivators he has selected within Azure Crossing Continent 1211.
• Chen Yan changes his approach to Azure Crossing Continent From Xu Sheng's birth onward, he begins departing from his earlier noninterventionist policy. His precise memory allows him to reproduce the actions of his incarnations across renewed attempts 1228.
• Chen Yan sustains a strategic war against the Outer Dao In the 3,271st year of his nineteenth Reincarnation, nearly one hundred Elite Legions have reclaimed 1,900 miles from the puppets' farthest advance. He nevertheless leaves them more than 1,300 miles of strategic depth and plans another thousand-mile retreat over twenty years to conceal mortal strength and avoid provoking further evolution 1248.
• Chen Yan resolves to become a Saint through his own cultivation At Void Return Realm Peak, he chooses to pursue True Purity through personal comprehension rather than Reincarnation Rewards. His goal is to become strong enough to face Su Miao and join the Myriad Heavens Dao Strife before ending the Outer Dao war 1248.
• Chen Yan attends Jiang Qingran's childhood betrothal meeting as Mo Ze Accompanying Master Mo to an evening banquet, he meets his future eighth disciple under a marriage arrangement he knows will never be fulfilled. Jiang Qingran greets Master Mo coolly, ignores Mo Ze, and reveals that her father Jiang Zhan died of illness a month earlier 1262.

Themes and Demontifs

The narrative explores several overarching themes, often intertwined with the protagonist Chen Yan's journey through reincarnation and his struggle against predetermined outcomes 8 53 206 286 595 597 725 754 760.

• Destiny vs. Free Will: Chen Yan frequently grapples with his role in a "destined plan" and the unchangeable nature of certain events, even as his reincarnations alter the fates of others 53 81 188 206 286 595 597 725 754 760. He is a "variable" in a larger scheme, yet his attempts to intervene often lead to unforeseen consequences or reinforce the original destiny 8 53 188 206 456. His later theory that Reincarnation is a mission granted by the Supreme Heavenly Dao is balanced by his determination to attain sainthood through his own understanding rather than depend exclusively on rewards 1248.
• Reincarnation and its Consequences: The cycle of reincarnation is central to the story, with Chen Yan repeatedly returning to past lives, accumulating knowledge, and facing the "Karma backlash" of his actions 53 187 271 274 519 637. This process leads to the erosion of his Dao Rhyme and memories, highlighting the personal cost of his repeated journeys 595 637 754. Later reincarnations also allow him to generate External Incarnations and repeatedly challenge vastly stronger opponents, but expose him to increasingly dangerous Karma-based threats 1015 1021 1067. The transformation of his Reincarnation Record Points into fixed Karma anchors further makes his accumulated past both a source of strength and a restriction on future growth 773. Encounters with people from supposedly discarded timelines reveal that reloading does not simply eliminate every consequence of an earlier life 1066 1069.
• The Price of Power/Sacrifice: Chen Yan's pursuit of power and knowledge, often for the sake of others, leads to his severe soul damage and the necessity of tearing apart his last wisp of soul to fulfill a mission 595 597. This theme underscores the sacrifices required to achieve significant goals or to alter grand destinies 597. His later military strategy extends sacrifice beyond himself, permitting territorial losses and apparent defeats to prevent the Outer Dao from becoming more dangerous before he is ready 1248.
• Karma: Karma is a pervasive force, influencing existence, connecting individuals across time, and dictating the consequences of actions 579 597 612 613 637 686 754 760. Chen Yan's efforts often involve manipulating or understanding Karma threads, particularly those linked to the Supreme Saint of Imperial Void 597 612 613 686 754 760. Void Intent and Hidden Truth Returning Silence expand this struggle by allowing him to wound or erase Karma directly 1015 1021. The severance of his External Incarnations' Karma also creates a strategic cost: they become nearly independent and cannot be directly coordinated by Chen Yan 1148. Yin Ji's death places fifty-six million years of backlash upon him, demonstrating the extraordinary cost of changing a future shared by entire realms 1155.
• Memory and Identity: Chen Yan frequently struggles with memory loss and the blurring of his identity due to his reincarnations and soul damage 595 597. Characters around him also experience dissociation or altered memories, raising questions about the nature of self and continuity 177 283 392 595. His Karma-erased incarnations further complicate identity by becoming forgettable even to their creator 1015. The manifestation of an alternate-timeline Chen Yan gives this theme a literal form, confronting him with a self shaped by another sequence of experiences 1153. His later occupation of Mo Ze's body places his accumulated authority and foreknowledge within a new, outwardly timid identity 1262.
• Passage of Time and Change: The narrative spans vast periods, observing the decline of families and sects, the aging of individuals, and the transformation of the world 318 356 719. Chen Yan's long existence allows him to witness these changes and reflect on the impermanence of things 318 356 376 597 610. Azure Crossing Continent's extreme difference in temporal flow and the millennia-long Outer Dao war further expand the scale of his planning 1207 1248.
• Isolation: Despite his many interactions, Chen Yan often experiences a profound sense of isolation, particularly due to his unique circumstances and the knowledge he carries from countless lives 8 376.
• Illusions and Reality: The distinction between illusion and reality is blurred, with events sometimes revealed to be part of a dream, an illusion created by artifacts like the Tian Ding Mirror, or a predetermined timeline 283 456 760. This challenges characters' perceptions and understanding of their world 283 760.
• Power and Restraint: Chen Yan's ability to distribute the immortal path through millions of incarnations contrasts with his initial refusal to force Azure Crossing Continent's development. His later selective intervention shows the tension between protecting natural growth and steering events toward a necessary outcome 1207 1211 1228.
• Accumulated Experience vs. Innate Talent: Although his natural aptitude and comprehension remain ordinary by the standards of higher realms, retained knowledge enables him to re-cultivate efficiently and eventually pursue sainthood. His experience of Heaven and Earth Authority becomes a foundation that innate talent alone could not provide 820 821 1248.
• Emotional Detachment Across Lives: Chen Yan increasingly regards lasting hatred as meaningless because relationships can reverse between reincarnations. This detachment does not eliminate his attachments, but changes the way he responds to former enemies and present provocations 1045 1090.

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