Shen Mu

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Shen Mu (沈牧)
Alias(es)	Kong Jin; Wu Chengxuan; Zhan Peng; Wu Dapao
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Firewood Gang; Xuanlin Army
Occupation/Role	Martial artist; Firewood Gang leader of Copper Mountain County; Thousand-Man Commander
Status	Alive 283
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Boiling Blood, First Layer	13	Reached after one month of cultivation; his speed was considered rare within the Firewood Gang.
Boiling Blood, Fourth Layer	66	Advanced from the first to the fourth layer within roughly a year; left his Origin Mulberry Field guard post to become Yuan Brocade House's manager.
Boiling Blood, Sixth Layer	75	Advanced before escorting Yuan Brocade House's caravan toward Blue Mountain County.
Boiling Blood, Seventh Layer	84	His body had been tempered seven times by blood energy.
Boiling Blood, Ninth Layer	91	Reached the final Boiling Blood layer; brought the Army-Breaking Saber Technique to perfection and Phantom Lost Trace to minor mastery.
Ninth Grade Tendon-Changing / First Tendon-Changing	94	Condensed his first meridian by refining Origin Crystals and entered the ranked martial-artist stages.
Second Tendon-Changing	109	Condensed the Heaven Jade Meridian through the Seven Profound Northern Dipper Sutra.
Third Tendon-Changing	116	Advanced after two months of cultivation.
Five Tendon-Changing	137	Condensed the fifth meridian after focusing on cultivation following the Beast Arena incidents.
Yi Six Classics / Six Tendon-Changing	146	Reached six transformed meridians; could sustain limit-breaking Phantom Lost Trace for only ten breaths due to its severe origin-energy drain.
Eighth Grade Meridian Opening, Four Meridians Opened	204	Opened four meridians and prepared to contend for the Copper Mountain County Firewood Gang leadership.
Eighth Grade Meridian Opening, Seven Meridians Opened	238	Opened the seventh meridian, the Kan Dragon Vein, after three months of cultivation.
Seventh Grade Copper Skin, Early Stage	261	Advanced after four months of training and Origin Crystal refinement; subsequently subdued the Demon-Slaying Thunder Spear.
Seventh Grade Copper Skin, Middle Stage	271	Reached mid-Copper Skin; Furious Sea Saber, Startling Swan, and Siphon Hand simultaneously reached perfection.

Background

Shen Mu began as an ordinary person in Cloud Dragon County, where he and Luo Tao hoped to begin body tempering through the Firewood Gang. Even then, he was wary of the devastating power of ranked martial artists and preferred avoiding danger to chasing excitement 3.

After reaching Boiling Blood, Shen Mu served as a guardian of an Origin Mulberry Field. In the bamboo shed assigned to him, he inherited the long saber Moon Embroidery, the Army-Breaking Saber Technique, and messages from former guardians. The legacy left by those predecessors became his first sustained connection to the martial path 15.

His later advancement was driven by the Martial Dao Tree within his mind. The Tree accelerates his comprehension of martial skills by supplying accumulated cultivation memories, assists his progress through cultivation stages, and can perfect incomplete martial techniques 51 97.

Appearance

By his later years as a martial artist, Shen Mu is nearly two meters tall and weighs over three hundred jin. His physique is heavily built and proportioned through constant body tempering and origin-energy nourishment 250.

• A towering, muscular frame with pronounced, knotted musculature 191 250
• Dense scarlet mist and steam rise from his body when he practices intensely 111 191
• Thick calluses repeatedly form and peel from his saber hand 94
• Commonly trains bare-chested 88 107 250
• Uses human-skin masks and altered identities when concealment is necessary 109 119 225 241

Personality

Shen Mu is cautious, pragmatic, and intensely self-reliant. He believes fear stems from insufficient personal strength and keeps his distance from alliances that might compromise him or expose the Martial Dao Tree 32. His preference is to “make [his] fortunes in silence,” avoiding attention while steadily accumulating resources and strength 84.

He is highly strategic in both combat and social dealings. He cultivates alibis, disguises himself, studies his opponents' weaknesses, and avoids confrontations that offer little benefit 57 86 117 223. While capable of ruthless retaliation against those who threaten him or his family, he does not kill solely for profit; after saving Pu Yiyang, he refused to murder him for his techniques and considered a clear conscience essential to his martial path 109 130.

His defining trait is diligence. He spends most of his time refining Origin Crystals or practicing martial skills, earning a reputation among fellow Thousand-Man Commanders as someone obsessed with cultivation 262 271.

Abilities & Skills

Martial Dao Tree

A mysterious tree residing in Shen Mu's mind and the foundation of his exceptional advancement.

• Converts accumulated scarlet mist into cultivation insights and long spans of martial-training memories 51 191 250
• Helps solidify roots and meridians as Shen Mu advances through body-tempering realms 66 109
• Can perfect incomplete martial techniques, as demonstrated with the Skinning Technique 97
• Greatly improves his Origin Crystal-refining efficiency, with its aid increasing again after he reaches Copper Skin 266
• Its existence is Shen Mu's most closely guarded secret 32

Saber Arts

Shen Mu's original martial foundation is the Army-Breaking Saber Technique, a broad and exhausting saber art built around all-out, sweeping strikes 15.

• Raised the Army-Breaking Saber Technique from basic proficiency to minor accomplishment, great accomplishment, and eventual perfection 51 66 91
• Learned that it is a simplified form of the Demon-Subduing Saber Art 78
• Brought the Demon-Subduing Saber Art beyond perfection, creating his personal killing move, Overlord Sheds Armor 116
• Overlord Sheds Armor is particularly effective against opponents in soft or heavy armor 116
• Later mastered the Mysterious Grade Ancient Martial Technique Furious Sea Saber 191 250 271
• Used Raging Sea Tidal Wave to defeat Bai Bingkun in the final arena match 210

Phantom Lost Trace

An Ancient Martial Technique purchased in Blue Mountain County's Black Market for five hundred taels of silver 78.

• A movement technique that produces deceptive phantoms and allows Shen Mu to shift among them 117
• At high proficiency, reached the sound barrier and generated three phantoms simultaneously 117
• Its limit-breaking form enables greater aerial mobility but can be sustained for only ten breaths at Yi Six Classics 146
• Shen Mu later demonstrates the ability to create five phantoms, though he deliberately limits himself to three when concealing his full strength 274
• Its immense speed allows him to evade stronger foes and escape encirclements 113 181

Extreme Palm Scripture

The introductory portion of one of the nine volumes of the Extreme Profound Scripture.

• At beginner mastery, allows Shen Mu to divide his attention between both hands and wield separate martial techniques simultaneously 186
• Rapidly improves his comprehension of hand-based martial skills 186
• At proficient mastery, can strengthen the power of hand-activated martial techniques beyond their normal grade 247 250
• Lets him combine Mystic Yang and Frost Chill/Frost Snow to practice Furious Sea Saber and Startling Swan together 186 191

Startling Swan and Siphon Hand

Ancient Martial Techniques cultivated alongside Furious Sea Saber.

• Startling Swan — a swordsmanship technique practiced with Shen Mu's left hand after he gains the Extreme Palm Scripture 186 191
• Siphon Hand — draws opponents toward Shen Mu and creates openings for decisive attacks 159 210
• Shen Mu gained an initial grasp of all three techniques by Chapter 191 191
• All three reached proficiency after three months of focused practice 200
• All three reached perfection at mid-Copper Skin 271
• Their Mysterious Grade power places heavy strain on Shen Mu's origin energy, especially when used together 191 226

Phoenix Dance

A flight-type Ancient Martial Technique acquired from Pu Yiyang 130.

• Uses the Cloud Suan Kite's bone wings to achieve flight 173
• Functions as a major escape trump card, including during the Black Market ambush 181
• One flap can nearly exhaust Shen Mu's vital energy at beginner level 173

Skinning Technique

An incomplete technique obtained from beast skin and perfected through the Martial Dao Tree 97.

• Produces human-skin masks for disguising Shen Mu as other individuals 109 119 129
• Reached minor mastery by Chapter 109 109
• Grants voice-imitation ability 109
• Allows Shen Mu to infiltrate hostile locations under identities such as Wu Chengxuan 119

Equipment

• Mystic Yang — Shen Mu's principal saber, inherited from Zhao Lan and later reinforced at the Hundred Weapons Workshop 110 173
• Moon Embroidery — long saber left in the Origin Mulberry Field bamboo shed; carried Shen Mu through his Army-Breaking Saber training before he left it for a successor 15 66
• Frost Chill / Frost Snow — low-grade Mysterious weapon used to practice Startling Swan alongside Mystic Yang 186 191
• Heavy Mountain Ferocious Armor — sentient heavy armor that acknowledged Shen Mu as its master and protected him from the Demon-Slaying Thunder Spear 238
• Demon-Slaying Thunder Spear — sentient weapon eventually subdued by Shen Mu after he reached Copper Skin 238 261
• Mysterious Feather Soft Armor — mid-grade Mysterious weapon soft armor won from Bai Bingkun 210 222
• Soul-Binding Compass — Seventh Grade shamanic artifact used by Yi Shu for divine-sense scouting, soul collection, and interrogation 214 225
• Soul-Nourishing Gourd — vessel used to house and carry Yi Shu's living soul 194 210
• Shadow Steed “Black Vanguard” — mount gifted by Hua Yufan 174
• Human-skin masks — disguises made through the Skinning Technique 109 119 129

Relationships

• Chai Ying — Shen Mu's wife. Their relationship began with mutual concern during the conflict surrounding Zhao Lan and developed as she continued to support him despite danger 102 145 208.
• Lin Shuying — Shen Mu's second wife. She first took an interest in him after meeting him at Dark Night Lake and later rejected other suitors to marry him 100 207.
• Zhao Lan — Shen Mu's mentor and Market Master of Yuan Brocade House. Zhao Lan taught him about higher martial arts, gifted him resources, and entrusted him with his burial wishes before dying in his duel with Lin Sen 78 93 97 100.
• Chai Yingtong — Chai Ying's grandfather and Shen Mu's trusted elder. He supports Shen Mu's leadership ambitions and works with him against threats to the Firewood Gang 151 191 212.
• Yi Shu — living soul and shamanic ally bound to the Soul-Binding Compass. Their partnership is useful but guarded: Yi Shu provides divine-sense reconnaissance, while Shen Mu supplies access to the compass and living souls 210 214 225.
• Luo Tao — Shen Mu's early friend and fellow aspiring martial artist 3.
• Pu Yiyang — initially the holder of a body-tempering technique Shen Mu sought; after Shen Mu saves him from assassins, they part on respectful terms 129 130.
• Tie Lanjiang — rival who sought Shen Mu's death over Chai Ying and Iron Lion Martial Hall succession. Shen Mu retaliated by infiltrating the hall under disguise and killing him 115 119.
• Xiao Longteng — sparring rival and uneasy bargaining partner. Shen Mu agrees to help investigate Xiao Longteng's ambush in exchange for the Blood Eyes awakening technique 270 278.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Firewood Gang and Origin Mulberry Field

Shen Mu joins the Firewood Gang's martial path, becomes an Origin Mulberry Field guardian, and develops the Army-Breaking Saber Technique while protecting the secret of the Martial Dao Tree 13 15 32. After advancing to Boiling Blood Fourth Layer, he leaves the field to manage Yuan Brocade House 66.

Revenge Against Shen Hong and the Qin Family

After Shen Hong hires Qiu Rui to assassinate him, Shen Mu decides to act first. He captures Li Ling and Shen Ming to force Shen Hong into a deadly confrontation, using preparation and the Army-Breaking Saber Technique to overcome his stronger uncle 57 59 60.

Later, Qin Minghuai ambushes Shen Mu over their conflict. Shen Mu kills Qin Minghuai, Qin Yu, and Shi Peiqin, destroys the Qin residence, and conceals his role through the gap between his public and actual cultivation 109.

Entry into the Ranked Stages

Shen Mu chooses the Seven Profound Northern Dipper Sutra despite its demanding requirement of seven condensed meridians. With Origin Crystals and the Martial Dao Tree, he enters Ninth Grade Tendon-Changing and becomes a true martial artist 92 94.

Iron Lion Martial Hall Retaliation

Tie Lanjiang orders Wu Chengxuan to ambush Shen Mu. After defeating and interrogating Wu Chengxuan, Shen Mu uses a human-skin disguise to infiltrate Iron Lion Martial Hall, lures Tie Lanjiang and Fei Xu away, and kills both men 117 119.

Search for Superior Cultivation Methods

Shen Mu purchases information on Pu Yiyang's top-grade Meridian Opening technique, tracks him to Blue Mountain County, and saves him from assassins. He gains the Eight Trigrams Qian Dragon Sutra, Phoenix Dance, and information about the Jade Bone path 118 129 130.

His later pursuit of Xie Yunli is driven by the need for the Indestructible Vajra Scripture, a top-tier Seventh Grade body-tempering art necessary for his future advancement 180 225 226.

Copper Mountain County Leadership Tournament

Shen Mu enters the arena competition for leadership of the Firewood Gang in Copper Mountain County. Despite opening only four meridians, he defeats stronger opponents including Chai Yi, Bai Bingcheng, and Bai Bingkun 204 208 210. His final victory earns him the gang leader position, substantial winnings, and the Mysterious Feather Soft Armor 210 212.

Xuanlin Army Service

As a Thousand-Man Commander, Shen Mu earns authority among the army's Hundred-Man Commanders by fairly settling a major wager 253. He continues to cultivate while confronting threats including Demon Cultivator Zhao Yue, Gu Masters from the Dry Martial Dynasty, and factions tied to the Xiao Family's Blood Eyes secret 260 266 278.

Trivia

• Shen Mu deliberately loses Mahjong to Zhao Lan to please him 93.
• He left part of his Origin Mulberry Wine behind for the next guardian of his former bamboo shed 66.
• He views martial-technique mastery as decisive whenever cultivation alone cannot overwhelm an enemy 110.
• He declines most social invitations from fellow Thousand-Man Commanders in favor of cultivation 262.