Shi Wen

Biodata

Name	Shi Wen (石温) 1
Alias(es)	Faceless Man; Dragon Head of the Harmony and Prosperity Union 20 65
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Li Heshan's Fist Academy; Harmony and Prosperity Union 2 20
Occupation/Role	Inner Courtyard disciple; founder and Dragon Head of the Harmony and Prosperity Union; ruler of Peace Lane 33 69
Status	Alive; targeted by the True Immortal Temple and allied forces 100
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Baji Fist Introductory Foundation — Initiated	3	The Extreme Seal digitizes his first martial art; reaching initiation gives him corrected form, muscle development, and embedded technical knowledge. 3
Blood-Tempering Realm	6	Reaches Minor Accomplishment in the Baji foundation, unexpectedly tempers blood-qi, and gains strength sufficient to lift a 300-catty millstone. 6
Baji Fist Foundation — Minor Accomplishment	7	Unlocks Penetrating Momentum, allowing his force to bypass part of a target's defense. 7
Iron Whip Leg — Minor Accomplishment	16	His leg technique dramatically enlarges his blood-qi reserves and gives his unassisted kicks destructive force against walls and wooden structures. 16
Taibao Hard Qigong — Cowhide Skin	25	Repeated body tempering produces tough Cowhide Skin, denser flesh and bones, and greatly increased blood-qi. 25
Blood-Coagulation Realm	30	One-third of his blood-qi condenses into explosive, body-tempering blood-essence; his Baji foundation also reaches perfection. 30
Taibao Hard Qigong — Stone Skin	57	Achieves Minor Success in Taibao Hard Qigong, gaining full-body Stone Skin and a major increase in blood-qi. 57
Six Harmonies Eight Desolations Baji Fist — Entry	59	Unlocks Drilling Momentum, strengthening the piercing quality of his blood-qi. 59
Origin Blood Realm	70	After consuming dragon meat, he enters the Origin Blood Realm; the Dragon-Tiger True Blood Pill condenses fifty layers of Blood Membrane. 70
Strength-Refining Realm	95	Simultaneously cultivates Blood-Strength, Organ Refining Force, and Bone-Strength, completing the realm in a single breakthrough. 95
Multiple arts — Perfected	99	His Six Harmonies Eight Desolations Baji Fist, Taibao Hard Qigong, Baji foundation, Iron Whip Leg, Iron Claw Skill, and Iron Back Skill are all listed as perfected. 99

Background

Shi Wen is a transmigrator occupying the body of a fifteen-year-old boy from Peace Lane in Black Cloud County. His predecessor died while saving a woman, and the Red Lantern Gang identifies Shi Wen as a sacrifice intended for the Dragon King on the third day of the fifth lunar month. 1

He is born into a poor family. His father, Old Shi, earns a living through small-scale water transport at the docks, while his mother weaves baskets in a workshop. The family sells land and incurs debt to pay for his martial-arts training and nourishment. 1 3 6

Seeking enough power to escape the Red Lantern Gang, Shi Wen enters Li Heshan's Fist Academy. Li Heshan judges his aptitude as an average fifth-grade bone structure, but accepts him after he pays the nine-guan tuition with money partly lent by Yan Kai. 2

His true advantage is the Extreme Seal in his left palm. It digitizes martial arts, records proficiency, adjusts techniques to suit his physique, and lets him advance without ordinary bottlenecks. 2 3 7

Appearance

Shi Wen initially appears thin, weak, and poorly dressed; his poverty and gaunt build lead other Fist Academy disciples to dismiss him. 2 6 His cultivation progressively transforms him into a tall, muscular youth with sharp features, though he can later compress his body back toward a more ordinary build. 7 75

• Initially fifteen years old, with an average fifth-grade bone structure. 2
• Described as handsome and respectful by Li Qianqian. 10
• Grows taller and develops denser, better-proportioned musculature after consuming Fish-Dragon Precious Blood. 21 22
• Can expand his body dramatically while circulating power; in major battles, he reaches heights ranging from over two meters to roughly four meters. 40 82
• Often operates under a cheap pale Faceless Man mask to conceal his identity. 16 20
• His Earth Pattern state turns his feet granite-like up to the ankles. 54

Personality

Shi Wen is intensely diligent, pragmatic, and survival-oriented. He trains through hunger, pain, ridicule, and exhaustion, treating strength as the only reliable protection in Black Cloud County. 3 5 24 Despite his poor background, he repays Yan Kai's loan promptly and remains grateful to Li Tiezhu for their early sparring. 6 32

He is cautious with unknown powers and normally prefers to evaluate risks before acting. This restraint coexists with a willingness to kill enemies preemptively when he believes they may threaten him or his family. 12 43

As his strength grows, Shi Wen becomes increasingly ruthless and controlling. He repeatedly reflects on the abnormal violence and killing intent influencing him, particularly after using the Prosperity Society's breathing method and consuming dangerous evolved materials. 38 64 83 He nevertheless maintains that he wants a quiet life and reacts most violently when others threaten his family or force him into conflict. 24 62 64

Abilities & Skills

Extreme Seal

The Extreme Seal is Shi Wen's central advantage. It manifests in his left palm and digitizes martial arts after he practices them.

• Records techniques as proficiency-based skills and grants physical and technical feedback at advancement thresholds. 3
• Refines techniques into forms suited to Shi Wen's exact height, build, and limb length. 7 57
• Evolves certain anomalous materials, including Blessing Meat, breathing methods, flesh, and Alien Sources. 12 15 51
• Can shorten evolution times by adding points obtained from special objects. 52 75
• Some evolution paths carry severe side effects, contamination risks, or extremely long completion times. 51 66 99

Baji Fist

Shi Wen's foundational combat art is the Baji Fist Introductory Foundation, later supplemented by the core Six Harmonies Eight Desolations Baji Fist. 3 33

• Penetrating Momentum lets his attacks inflict internal damage through defenses, proving especially effective against hard-body practitioners such as Tong Roushan. 7 19
• Heavenly Spring Treading anchors him against overwhelming force and helps him maintain footing under attack. 30 40
• Drilling Momentum further improves the penetrating behavior of his blood-qi. 59
• His perfected Six Harmonies Eight Desolations Baji Fist carries the listed traits Drilling Momentum, River Severing, and Six Harmonies. 99
• He employs explosive close-range moves including Heart-Piercing Elbow, Prop Punch, Mountain Leaning Strike, Lightning Chop, and Taibao Shaking Mountain. 5 18 37 41

Taibao Hard Qigong

A hard-body art acquired from Tong Roushan, Taibao Hard Qigong tempers Shi Wen's entire body through systematic striking, stance work, internal breath, medicine, and extreme nourishment. 19 24

• Progresses through Cowhide Skin and Stone Skin, with later perfected traits listed as Recovery, Iron Skin, and Great Strength. 25 57 99
• Allows him to withstand blades, fists, and coordinated attacks that would kill ordinary Blood-Tempering martial artists. 40 41
• His body can rapidly recover from injuries, though major breakthroughs cause extreme pain, hunger, and depletion. 25 70
• Internal breath from the art can reinforce strikes from his other martial arts. 27

Iron Whip Leg and Iron Claw Skill

Shi Wen supplements Baji Fist with dedicated external hardening methods.

• Iron Whip Leg specializes in rapid, explosive kicking techniques such as Mountain Splitting Leg, Chain Leg, and Lightning Chop. 8 9
• At perfection, Iron Whip Leg grants the trait Iron Leg. 99
• Iron Claw Skill focuses on grabbing, seizing, locking, hooking, and tearing in close quarters. 17
• His perfected Iron Claw Skill grants the trait Iron Claw; its hardened fingers and palms can tear flesh and damage stone-like materials. 57 99

Gen Meridian Breathing Technique

Shi Wen evolves a fragmented breathing method into the Extremely Fragmented Gen Meridian Breathing Technique. 52 53

• Continuously strengthens his skin, flesh, blood, tendons, organs, and bones while he breathes. 53
• Greatly increases digestion and creates an extreme, persistent hunger. 53 65
• Lets him draw faint Earth Qi through bare contact with the ground. 53
• Produces Earth Pattern, a granite-footed state that grants limited earth manipulation, unusual calmness, and durable lower limbs. 54
• Absorbs special metals, ores, and soil to strengthen the cold energy circulating through his body. 66 95

Fish-Dragon Precious Blood and Scorching True Intent

By evolving Blessing Meat, Shi Wen obtains Fish-Dragon Precious Blood, which cleanses impurities and improves his body, blood-qi, and martial-arts proficiency. 21 57

• Grants Scorching True Intent, imbuing his blood-qi and attacks with intense heat. 21
• He reaches fifty-fold Scorching True Intent against Ying Kuang and later uses one hundred-fold Scorching True Intent to kill Xiang Ju. 64 84
• At high output, his hands become molten-hot enough to melt flesh and bone. 45 64
• Heavy use risks depletion, unstable killing intent, and loss of emotional control. 45 83

Black Crow Fire-Qi Demon-Subduing True Power Technique

Shi Wen obtains the Black Crow technique from Ning Da's possessions. It contains Qi Condensation, Martial Arts, and True Power sections. 49

• Its Fire-Qi, Martial Arts, and True Power chapters are classified by the Extreme Seal as Supreme Martial Arts. 99
• He uses its Fire-Qi and True Power chapters alongside furnace training to accelerate his Strength-Refining cultivation. 95
• The technique enables the simultaneous refinement of Blood-Strength, organs, and bones. 95

Supernatural Evolutions

• Life-Death Withered Dragon Heart Meat reduces his susceptibility to illusion control. 69
• Fantasy Limb provides an additional arm visible only to Shi Wen. 90 99
• Negative Retina lets him perceive things invisible to ordinary sight, but risks mental contamination. 96 99
• His unevolved Spirit Eye Mental Training Method is intended to temper and transform his spirit, but still requires years to complete. 99

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Faceless Man mask — A cheap pale mask used while conducting gang business and violent operations anonymously. 16 20
• Special spatial bag — A lightweight bag capable of storing a massive quantity of supplies, including Blessing Meat, weapons, pills, and special metals. 65
• Fish-Dragon Precious Blood gourd — Stores evolved Precious Blood used for recovery, body tempering, and proficiency growth. 57
• Dragon-Tiger True Blood Pill — A powerful pill that helps him condense fifty layers of Blood Membrane after entering the Origin Blood Realm. 48 70
• Black Goat Token — An anomalous token whose energy can shorten Extreme Seal evolution time. 52
• Black Crow Fire-Qi Demon-Subduing True Power Technique — Supreme martial-arts manual acquired from Ning Da. 49 99
• True Power Diagram — A component of the Black Crow technique used during his Strength-Refining cultivation. 95
• Bone-Melting Powder — A corrosive liquid capable of melting a palm-sized hole into the ground. 48

Relationships

• Old Shi — Shi Wen's father, a small water-transport merchant who sells land and seeks family funds to support Shi Wen's martial training. 3 6
• Mother Shi — Shi Wen's mother, a basket weaver who shares Old Shi's concern for their son's future. 3 4
• Yan Kai — Early senior brother and benefactor; lends Shi Wen tuition money, teaches him the Baji foundation, and sells him discounted cultivation resources. 2 6 9
• Li Qianqian — Inner Courtyard senior sister who oversees his registration, distributes resources, teaches him the Six Harmonies Eight Desolations Baji Fist, and promotes him to the Inner Courtyard. 3 33
• Li Tiezhu — Outer Courtyard training partner and early friend. Shi Wen credits their sparring for providing essential combat experience and later pays for Li Tiezhu's medical treatment. 5 32
• Zhang Sheng — Former Robbery Gang leader turned subordinate. Shi Wen controls him through a Mother-Child Gu arrangement and appoints him boss of Peace Lane. 17 20
• Zhou Biao — Harmony and Prosperity Union enforcer who carries out Shi Wen's orders, including killing Liu Wen; later becomes the Union's second Head of Operations. 69 70 82
• Bai Yingying — Mysterious spiritual-perception user who warns Shi Wen of the Human Birch affliction, offers conditional help, and gives him the item evolved into Fantasy Limb. 85 89 90
• Black Cat — A stray Shi Wen feeds with exotic beast meat; it repeatedly helps him break free from dangerous illusions. 48 51 66
• Ying Kuang — Prosperity Society Daoist who threatens Shi Wen's family over the breathing method. Shi Wen kills him after their conflict escalates. 62 64
• Wen Shuheng — A Republic New Policy official whose consciousness is connected to the eye Shi Wen recycles. Wen Shuheng later orders Shi Wen's death. 51 97

Story Role / Major Arcs

Escape from the Red Lantern Gang

Marked for sacrifice to the Dragon King, Shi Wen sells his land at an exploited price and enrolls at Li Heshan's Fist Academy to gain enough power to survive. 1 2 He secretly reaches the Blood-Tempering Realm, kills Thief Gang leader Chen Shuisheng, and captures San Qingzi, reversing the power dynamic that once terrorized his family. 6 7

Rise in Peace Lane

After fighting Zhang Sheng and killing Tong Roushan, Shi Wen turns the Robbery Gang into the Harmony and Prosperity Union. He installs Zhang Sheng as Peace Lane's boss, employs Song Mingyi as strategist, and begins organizing local commerce and patrols. 17 19 20

Fist Academy Advancement

Shi Wen publicly reveals his Blood-Tempering strength when he breaks Zhou Heling's arm while protecting Li Tiezhu. 32 He is admitted to the Inner Courtyard, receives resources, and begins learning the Fist Academy's core Six Harmonies Eight Desolations Baji Fist. 33

Conflict with the Prosperity Society

His evolution of the Prosperity Society's Blessing Meat and breathing method draws Daoist attention. 35 37 When Ying Kuang threatens Shi Wen's family, Shi Wen kills him and launches a campaign against the Prosperity Society and its affiliated Daoists. 62 64 71

Origin Blood and Control of Black Cloud County

Shi Wen evolves dangerous materials, enters the Origin Blood Realm, and orders Liu Wen's execution. 67 69 70 At Jiangcheng Tower, he massacres opposing martial artists, forces local factions to submit to the Harmony and Prosperity Union, and openly establishes himself as Black Cloud County's dominant power. 79 82 94

Gray Mist and Higher Threats

Encounters with Gray Mist entities, illusions, and invisible attacks reveal that conventional martial arts are not the world's only supernatural path. 50 75 89 Shi Wen seeks evolved perception and spirit-tempering methods while investigating strange incidents in Black Cloud County. 96 98 99

Notable Quotes

“I only wanted to live a quiet life, so why did you have to force my hand?” 64

“If you don't die, I won't be at ease.” 43

“The martial path is nothing but a technique for killing; if you can kill, never drag things out!” 64

Trivia

• Shi Wen initially hides his Blood-Tempering breakthrough because he expects the speed of his advancement to cause an uproar. 7
• He uses the black cat to test unfamiliar beast meat and pills for immediate toxicity. 48
• The Extreme Seal lists his Baji foundation, Iron Whip Leg, Iron Claw Skill, and Taibao Hard Qigong among the martial arts he has perfected. 99
• His body becomes so dense during Strength-Refining that he weighs more than five thousand jin even while attempting to compress his physique. 95