Gu Chen

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Gu Chen (顾辰)
Alias(es)	Former Gu Family genius; “Child of Destiny” (as characterized by Zhong Lin) 142 537
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Gu Family (formerly); Sword Cauldron Sect; Profound Nether Holy Land (Holy Son) 230 537
Occupation/Role	Martial Artist; Zhong Lin's disciple 230
Status	Alive; departed to seek further opportunities after Zhong Lin obtained the Wu Emperor's legacy 553
First Appearance	Chapter 141

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Ranked Martial Artist	142	Became a Ranked Martial Artist at age ten, marking him as the Gu Family's foremost prodigy. 142
Eighth Rank Tendons Transformation Realm	142	Completed Muscle Tendon Change at age eleven, but later suffered a prolonged cultivation regression. 142
Qi and Blood Realm	228	Recovered enough to condense Qi and Blood within roughly a year after the Soul Nourishing Ring was removed. 228
First Grade True Qi Realm	293	Reached the First Grade Realm after two years of cultivation, crossing five ranks from the Sixth Rank. 293
Innate Realm	294	Broke through after refining a Sixth Rank pill supplied by Zhong Lin, opening the Bridge of Heaven and Earth. 294
Spirit Sea Realm / Prime Origin Body	525	Broke through to the Spirit Sea Realm and condensed the top-tier Prime Origin Body through an unusual method. 525
Yin Yang Realm, peak	537	Reportedly reached the peak of the Yin Yang Realm within several years of joining the Profound Nether Holy Land. 537
Life and Death Realm, Second Level	538	Became known for defeating stronger opponents despite his stated cultivation level. 538
Life and Death Realm, Fifth Level	546	Returned to Zhong Lin as a Life and Death Realm Fifth Level cultivator after twenty years away. 546

Background / History

Gu Family Prodigy and Regression

Gu Chen was once the Gu Family's greatest young talent. He became a Ranked Martial Artist at ten and completed Muscle Tendon Change at eleven, achievements that drew the attention of the family's elders. 142

His parents were killed during a courier mission three years before the Gu Family Competition. After grieving himself into a three-day coma, Gu Chen awoke with his talent seemingly gone; his cultivation stalled, his Qi and Blood dwindled, and he became withdrawn as his peers surpassed him. 142 143

The cause was eventually linked to the black ring he wore around his neck. The ring contained a dormant entity and continually drained his Qi and Blood, leaving his otherwise well-tempered body frail and unable to sustain further advancement. 143 144 228

Gu Family Competition

Despite being mocked as a “waste,” Gu Chen entered the Gu Family Competition and faced Gu Feng. He fought with exceptional economy of movement, using minimal force and exploiting Gu Feng's momentum; in the decisive exchange, he released Qi and Blood Power despite only being an Eighth Rank martial artist. 141 142

His victory earned him the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill, but Gu Hu, Gu Shan, and Gu Biao attempted to coerce him into surrendering it. Zhong Lin intervened, upheld Gu Chen's right to the prize, and prompted Gu Ning to punish the offenders. 142 143

Sole Survivor of the Gu Family

The Gu Family was later massacred, with Gu Chen surviving only because he had been cultivating beneath a back-mountain waterfall that night. He begged Zhong Lin to avenge the clan and accept him as a disciple. 228 230

Zhong Lin accepted him as the sole remaining Gu bloodline and brought him into the Sword Cauldron Sect. Gu Chen subsequently traveled roughly a thousand miles to the sect alone; Zhong Lin secretly shadowed the journey and protected him from fatal danger. 230 235

Appearance

Gu Chen first appeared as a thin, undersized youth in a green linen robe, visibly weakened by years of Qi and Blood loss despite having the physique of a body-refining martial artist. 141 143

• Thin enough for onlookers to compare him to “a chick.” 141
• Nearly half a head shorter than the robust Gu Feng. 141
• Later matured into a spirited young man with an imposing aura. 538

Personality

Gu Chen initially became withdrawn and guarded after his parents' deaths and his apparent loss of talent. Years of ridicule made him careful with clan politics; when Gu Biao's group was punished, he redirected responsibility toward Gu Biao and his father while avoiding direct confrontation with Gu Ning. 142 143

He is resilient, observant, and highly adaptable in combat. Even while physically depleted, he relied on timing, leverage, and precise technique rather than brute force to defeat Gu Feng. 141 142

Gu Chen holds profound gratitude and reverence for Zhong Lin, viewing his master as the person who avenged his family, restored his path, and brought him beyond the Profound Tortoise Continent. 235 295 546 However, his later ambition became increasingly pronounced: after seeing Zhong Lin's advancement to the King Realm, he resolved to seek opportunities and eventually surpass his master. 553

Abilities & Skills

Qi and Blood Manipulation

Gu Chen was able to employ Qi and Blood Power while still at the Eighth Rank Tendons Transformation Realm, an abnormal feat that injured his own internal organs but secured his victory over Gu Feng. 142

• Uses subtle movement and force redirection to compensate for inferior physical strength. 141 142
• His early use of Qi and Blood Power carried recoil because of his depleted condition. 142 143

Palm and Finger Arts

During Zhong Lin's test of his progress, Gu Chen demonstrated the Heaven Shaking Palm and Spirit Rhino Sword Finger. 293

• Heaven Shaking Palm — A descending palm strike that gathers momentum from above and compresses the surrounding air with True Qi. 293
• Spirit Rhino Sword Finger — A sword-finger technique capable of releasing crimson-gold Sword Qi. 293
• Flowing Cloud Palm Technique — Demonstrated after being taught by Long Zhao. 323

Sword Cultivation

Zhong Lin gave Gu Chen the Profound Grade Golden Chest Remnant Diagram and the Venus Metal Radiance Sword Art, beginning his transition toward dedicated sword cultivation. 294

• Gathered eight types of metal, including Scarlet Treasure Metal, to begin the Venus Metal Radiance Sword Art. 296
• Achieved initial mastery of the Venus Metal Radiance Sword Art through a self-devised method of tempering Sword Qi with metal ores. 298 304
• Zhong Lin planned to teach him the Mercury Water Radiance Sword Art after he developed greater proficiency. 305

Prime Origin Body

Gu Chen condensed a Spirit Body through a unique method involving Prime Origin Qi, producing the top-tier Prime Origin Body. 525

• His Prime Origin Body accompanied his breakthrough to the Spirit Sea Realm. 525
• The body contributed to his rapid growth after leaving the Fallen Star Islands. 525 537

Blazing Wu Fire

Gu Chen possesses the crimson-gold Blazing Wu Fire, a flame originating from the same source as the Wu Emperor's fire. 546

• Used it to pluck a precious flower within the Wu Emperor Secret Realm. 546
• Used it to steadily weaken the Flame Demon on the ninety-ninth floor of the Wu Emperor Sacred Tower. 552
• Provides combat power beyond that of ordinary cultivators at the same level. 546

Dragon Elephant Golden Body

Zhong Lin taught Gu Chen the complete nine-level cultivation method of the Dragon Elephant Golden Body. 305

• A body-refining martial art built around extreme physical strength and defense. 305
• Requires painful tempering, extensive resources, and sustained physical training. 305
• Zhong Lin warned Gu Chen not to neglect fundamental cultivation for the technique alone. 305

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill — Won as the Gu Family Competition's first-place prize. 142 143
• Spirit Tool sword — An emerald-green longsword gifted by Yin Daoyan for self-defense. 298 299
• Scarlet Treasure Metal — Acquired from Xu Youde to initiate the Venus Metal Radiance Sword Art. 296
• Heaven Soul Wood — Bought unknowingly for one Spirit Stone, then presented to Zhong Lin as a gift. 297 298
• Black treasure bead containing Yin Fiend energy — Obtained by chance and later given to Zhong Lin. 394

Relationships

• Zhong Lin — Master. Zhong Lin avenged the Gu Family, accepted Gu Chen as a disciple, supplied his cultivation resources, and secretly protected his journey to the Sword Cauldron Sect. Their relationship later became strained by Gu Chen's growing ambition. 230 235 294 546 553
• Gu Ning — Uncle and Gu Family patriarch. He expressed concern for Gu Chen's condition and punished the cousins who tried to seize Gu Chen's competition prize. 142 143
• Gu Yourong — Martial aunt. She prepared Gu Chen's accommodation upon his arrival at the Sword Cauldron Sect and explained Zhong Lin's secret protection of him. 235
• Yin Daoyan — Martial grandmaster. He gave Gu Chen a Spirit Tool upon recognizing him as a direct disciple of Zhong Lin's lineage. 298 299
• Gu Hu, Gu Shan, and Gu Biao — Cousins who bullied Gu Chen and attempted to steal the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill. 142 143
• Chen Jia — The dormant soul formerly contained in Gu Chen's ring. Its instinctive absorption of energy contributed to Gu Chen's debilitating Qi and Blood loss. 144 228

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Gu Family Competition — Defeats Gu Feng despite physical weakness, exposing his unusual combat ability and earning the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill. 141 142
• Ring and Regression — Zhong Lin discovers that Gu Chen's constant Qi and Blood loss is connected to the ring around his neck. 143 144
• Gu Family Massacre — Survives the destruction of his clan, requests vengeance, and becomes Zhong Lin's disciple. 228 230
• Sword Cauldron Sect Training — Reaches the First Grade True Qi Realm, is tested by Zhong Lin, and breaks through to the Innate Realm. 293 294
• Fallen Star Islands — Receives high-grade cultivation resources, begins sword cultivation, repeatedly discovers valuable treasures, and learns the Dragon Elephant Golden Body. 294 298 301 305
• Profound Nether Holy Land — Joins the Holy Land, gains the Prime Origin Body, and becomes one of the Eastern Wasteland's most prominent young cultivators. 525 537 538
• Wu Emperor Secret Realm — Returns to Zhong Lin, displays Blazing Wu Fire, reaches the ninety-ninth floor of the Wu Emperor Sacred Tower, and seeks greater opportunities after Zhong Lin obtains the Wu Emperor's legacy. 546 552 553

Notable Quotes

“Master, one day I will surpass you.” 553

Trivia

• Gu Chen bought Heaven Soul Wood for a single Spirit Stone before learning that it was worth at least fifty thousand Spirit Stones. 297
• Zhong Lin repeatedly interprets Gu Chen's improbable survivals, bargains, and rapid advancement as signs that he is a “Child of Destiny.” 235 298 537