Chen Mo

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Chen Mo (陈墨) 1
Alias(es)	Nine Netherworlds, Eighth Seat of the Moon-Hidden Realm 219
Species/Race	Human; a transmigrated emergency room doctor inhabiting the body of a nineteen-year-old paper-crafter 1
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Chen family; Jinmen Anomaly Suppression Bureau reserve walker; Inspection Bureau trainee and East District officer; later reassigned to logistics after suspension; patron of the Little Knife Society 38 115 215 267 272
Occupation/Role	Paper-effigy craftsman, unorthodox cultivator, Inspection Bureau officer, and leader of a small group of heterodox subordinates 1 273
Status	Alive 283
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Nether Paper-Crafting Art, Third Layer	1	His documented starting level after transmigration; could command a basic sentient white-paper servant, though it had negligible combat power and demanded heavy mental energy. 1
Mystic Yin Bone-Tempering Method, First Level / Iron Bone Realm	16	Consumed three Red Sun Blood Crystals over a month. His bones became iron-hard, his root bone rose from Grade C Lower-tier to Grade C Mid-tier, and Yin Sha erosion slowed considerably. 16
Qi Refining Realm, Aperture Opening	37	Opened Yin apertures and gained Taiyin Qi, greatly improving the precision and efficiency of his puppet control. His lifespan rose to approximately 1,090 days. 37
Ghost Skin and Yin Baleful Bone fusion	68, 111	The fusion gave him physical confidence against Copper Skin Iron Bones martial artists; later body-refinement gains made ordinary weapons increasingly ineffective against him. 68 111
Second Yin Aperture	94	Successfully opened a second Yin Aperture shortly before reporting for Anomaly Suppression Bureau training. 94
Mid Qi Refining Realm	136	The breakthrough damaged his dormitory room and opened further yin apertures. He gained the ability to see yin qi and nearby water ghosts. 136
Late Qi Refining Realm, True Seed Condensation	228	Absorbed the Water Baleful Core through the Taiyin Ghost Form Manual's Core Assimilation tier; gained the innate divine ability Water Control and a Water Meridian affinity. 228
Sha-Condensing Realm	251, 283	After Sha-Condensing, his mana rose enough that his former Qi Refining-era paper puppets were no longer adequate against true experts. He later dispersed a ghost ship with Sha-Condensing cultivation. 251 283
Yellow Springs Water-Controlling True Method, First Layer	268	Began cultivating the first layer of the upper-grade Profound Rank method; the Mirror estimated forty-four days to deduce the second layer. 268

Background / History

Chen Mo was originally an emergency room doctor before transmigrating into the body of a nineteen-year-old paper-crafter in 1912 Linhe County. He inherited a failing paper shop, Deliverance Studio, after Chen Dachuan disappeared, along with debts, poverty, and a body already invaded by Yin Sha. Rather than reveal his cultivation, he survived on minor paper-crafting work while quietly studying the incomplete Nether Paper-Crafting Art. 1 2

To obtain the means to defend himself, Chen Mo secretly took high-quality Yin Paper from Chen Dachuan's room and created a forbidden Weaponized Paper Puppet. The process consumed much of his essence and spirit, but gave him a viable weapon against the dangers surrounding the shop. 4

His early actions drew the attention of Yue Shan after a paper puppet destroyed the Black Tiger Gang and attempted to remove the gang's secret-vault assets. Chen Mo avoided direct capture, but the incident established both the strength of his heterodox arts and the danger of the Bureau of Strange Suppression taking notice of him. 10 18

Chen Mo later learned that Chen Xuanli—known as the White Paper Yama—was his grandfather. Chen Dachuan gave him a token granting access to the Jinmen Anomaly Suppression Bureau's reserve-walker examination, hoping to place the family's inheritance under institutional protection while keeping Chen Mo alive. 31 39

Appearance

Chen Mo is a lean young man with sharp features and a notably cold presence. His earlier Yin Sha erosion left him pale, thin, and weak-looking; after using a secret technique against a contaminated entity, his hair turned white. 12 103 126

• Pale complexion and unnaturally cold hands, even in hot weather. 12 143
• Sharp brows and eyes, a high straight nose, and an angular face. 103
• White hair following the consequences of a secret technique. 126
• Frequently conceals himself through altered appearances, including middle-aged and elderly disguises. 252 277
• His body became smooth yet resilient like jade after major body refinement; his spine can manifest eight bone spears. 248

Personality

Chen Mo is pragmatic, guarded, and intensely survival-focused. He rarely exposes his full hand, even to allies or instructors, and joined the Anomaly Suppression Bureau primarily for access to anomaly-related information and resources. 1 106

He is calm under intimidation and tends to answer provocations with calculated force rather than empty threats. He refused to apologize to the Green Gang, broke Wang Boyan's leg after being challenged, and later reduced Ma Teng to terrified submission through Dragon Might. 111 154 272

Chen Mo can be ruthless toward enemies, traitors, and those who endanger him; he pursues threats methodically and without much visible remorse. However, he retains a protective side toward his household and those under his responsibility, including Yuanyuan, Chen Dachuan, and his later subordinates. 31 60 125 258

His speech is usually terse and dry, though he has a sharp tongue when confronted by arrogance or pretense. He values personal dignity and refuses humiliation for money or status. 86 109 215

Abilities & Skills

Nether Paper-Crafting Art

Chen Mo's inherited heterodox art allows him to create and control paper constructs through divided spirit, essence blood, talismans, and Yin-aspected materials. His Taiyin Qi later made this control more natural and far less mentally draining. 1 37

• Crafts basic paper servants, Weaponized Paper Puppets, House-Guarding Generals, Paper Kites, and Shadow Puppets. 1 16 60 251
• Weaponized Paper Puppets can fight, act as bait, and deliver simple items. 40
• Can control multiple puppets; by his early Bureau service, he could maintain two for approximately one minute. 40
• Uses puppets for surveillance, perimeter warnings, infiltration, assassination, and carrying concealed assets. 10 16 59 168
• Early white-paper servants had virtually no combat power and required significant mental energy for precise movement. 1

Netherworld Shadow Puppet Technique

His later shadow-puppet technique produces blade-wielding constructs formed from shadow and reinforced with Black Dragon Netherworld Baleful Intent. 125 136 251

• Shadow blades can freeze an opponent's qi and blood. 125
• Can create at least sixteen Shadow Puppets after condensing divine sense. 217
• Can merge multiple puppets into a larger composite form. 217
• Crafted thirty-six blade-wielding Shadow Puppets using nether bamboo paper and yin beast blood. 251

Taiyin Qi and Yin Apertures

Chen Mo cultivates Yin-aspected Taiyin Qi through the Taiyin Ghost Form Manual. Its purity resonates naturally with paper constructs and grants exceptional resistance to Yin Sha and other malignant Yin forces. 37 52 136

• Greatly reduces the spiritual cost of puppet control. 37
• Can be used to suppress malicious intent within Yin-aspected weapons. 81
• Enables perception of yin qi, ghosts, and other supernatural entities after his mid-stage breakthrough. 136
• His unusual Taiyin aura attracts hostile entities and makes concealment necessary. 52 109

Body Refinement and Ghost Skin

Chen Mo tempers his body through the Yin Sha Bone-Tempering Method, Ghost Skin, and Black Dragon Netherworld Baleful Intent. His physical strength eventually became comparable to or beyond Copper Skin Realm martial artists. 16 211 248

• Iron-hard bones and enhanced Yin Sha resistance at the Iron Bone Realm. 16
• Ghost Skin allowed him to withstand ninja weapons, chain sickles, and kunai without injury. 211
• After a major breakthrough, his physical strength, speed, reflexes, and durability increased dramatically. 248
• Can kill Copper Skin Realm blood-and-qi martial artists barehanded after his transformation. 248
• Can manifest eight bone spears from his spine. 248

Water Control

After assimilating the Water Baleful Core, Chen Mo obtained an innate affinity for water and the ability to manipulate it. 228

• Controls water within a radius of approximately ten meters. 228
• Possesses Water Meridian affinity in addition to Yin Meridian affinity. 228
• Cultivates the Yellow Springs Water-Controlling True Method to develop the ability further. 268

Soul and Spirit Techniques

Chen Mo possesses several soul-oriented secret arts, though he does not indiscriminately follow their most immoral methods. 88 136

• Soul-Piercing Thorn — an incomplete Soul-Absorbing Secret Art. 136
• Mirror Inquiry Method — a tracking and investigative technique used with a bronze mirror. 125 136
• Formations — capable of identifying and working around supernatural formations. 136 155
• Paper Person Dharma Form — a cultivated spiritual form that defended his consciousness against Black Dragon suppression. 223 248

Dragon Might and Black Dragon Netherworld Baleful Intent

Chen Mo refined Sha Qi through a Black Dragon-derived baleful intent, gaining a powerful suppressive aura that affects both body and soul. 248 268

• Can overwhelm weaker cultivators with instinctive pressure and fear. 268
• Used Dragon Might to choke and terrorize Ma Teng without directly killing him. 272
• Later improved the integration of Dragon Might with Taiyin Qi after a cultivation breakthrough in mental clarity. 277

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Moonlight Treasure Mirror — records Chen Mo's status, absorbs and condenses moonlight essence, and can analyze or deduce cultivation methods. It lets him gather in roughly a quarter-hour what ordinary practitioners would need a full night to collect. 37 223
• Weaponized Paper Puppets — combat-capable paper constructs made with Yin Paper and talisman seals. 4 40
• Tang Heng Dao — a heavy, malicious blade purchased at auction; Chen Mo subdued its hostile intent with Taiyin Qi. 80 81
• Evil-Slaying Blade / standard horizontal saber — Inspection Bureau weapons effective against ordinary wraiths, ghosts, and human opponents. 40 115
• Nine Netherworlds mask — a vermilion mask gifted by a Moon-Worship Cult statue; conceals his aura and grants access to the Moon-Hidden Realm. 206 219
• Soul-Calling Banner replica — requires essence blood to awaken sealed souls and can be strengthened with Taiyin Qi; Chen Mo rejected its suggestion to slaughter ordinary people for power. 88
• Merit Banner — stores and absorbs wandering souls. 94
• Hiltless black sword — an extremely sharp black blade recovered from Old Wu's belongings and kept in storage. 260
• Paper Kite — a flying paper construct used for scouting and high-speed travel. 60 240 253

Relationships

• Chen Dachuan — Father. His disappearance left Chen Mo with the failing family shop; after returning, he tried to protect Chen Mo from the family's underworld legacy and entrusted him with the reserve-walker token. 1 31
• Chen Xuanli — Grandfather, known as the White Paper Yama. His distinctive Nether-Sigils allowed Yue Changkong to identify Chen Mo's lineage. 39
• Yue Shan — Initially intercepted Chen Mo's puppet during the Black Tiger Gang incident, then became his squad captain and mentor during his reserve-walker examination. He later yielded to Chen Mo's overwhelming strength in Linhe County. 10 39 40 268
• Li Jinrong / Fatty Li — Local acquaintance and supportive companion. He sheltered Chen Mo during recovery, supplied travel necessities, and traveled with him toward Ganzhou. 124 215
• Yuanyuan — A child in Chen Dachuan's household who calls him Brother Mo. Chen Mo treats her with kindness and remains concerned with her safety. 31 58 183
• Liu Ruyan — Inspection Bureau colleague. Their relationship is cordial but reserved; she repeatedly questions Chen Mo's emotional detachment and secretive nature. 138 152
• Ghost Banner Daoist — Heterodox subordinate and banner-refinement specialist. He follows Chen Mo's orders, assists with the planned Ten Thousand Souls Banner, and is trusted to supervise other subordinates. 258 264 273
• Liu Qi, Old Gao, Aunt Hong, and Chen Youzhi — Subordinates brought under Chen Mo's authority through Ghost Banner Daoist. He assigns them duties based on their abilities and demands obedience. 260 273
• Shen Qi and the Little Knife Society — Chen Mo supports the society's takeover of the Green Gang's former position in Linhe County; the group works under his backing. 267 268
• Master Hundred Poisons — A hostile cultivator who poisoned Chen Mo to force his cooperation in exploring a Southern Jiangxi secret realm. 240
• Wang Zhonghe — Eastern District Inspection Bureau director abducted and coerced by Chen Mo into submission and resignation. 277 278

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Survival in Linhe County — Transmigrates into a dying paper-crafter's body, cultivates in secret, creates his first Weaponized Paper Puppet, and begins resisting those targeting Deliverance Studio. 1 4
• Black Tiger Gang incident — Uses a puppet to eliminate the Black Tiger Gang, attracts Yue Shan's suspicion, and moves quickly to secure the gang's hidden assets. 10 18
• Reserve-walker examination — Claims his grandfather's legacy, joins Yue Shan's squad, and receives formal Inspection Bureau equipment and combat training. 39 40 41
• Jin City settlement and household anomalies — Returns to a reunited household, investigates malignant footprints appearing from a well, and continues developing advanced paper-puppet techniques. 58 60 65
• Anomaly Suppression Bureau training — Enters the Heretical Arts Class, conceals the full scope of his paper-crafting ability, and establishes a reputation after defeating Wang Boyan and his followers. 96 106 111
• East District Third Squad — Joins Ge Zhendong's Third Squad, suffers a severe injury, then tracks down the squad members plotting against him and defeats Zhou Yuan and Liu Dayong while wounding Ge Zhendong. 115 124 125
• Moon-Worship Cult and concession conflict — Learns that his Taiyin Qi may mark him as a prophesied Moon God Divine Child, accepts the Nine Netherworlds mask, and battles Dongying ninjas and shikigami. 206 211 219
• Southern Jiangxi journey — Travels with the Li Family convoy, enters the Moon-Hidden Realm, develops Water Control, and is coerced by Master Hundred Poisons into approaching Emerald Mist Peak. 215 219 228 240
• Rise as an independent power — Acquires heterodox subordinates, supports the Little Knife Society against the Green Gang, intimidates Yue Shan's squad, and begins gathering information on the Spirit Realm. 258 268 281
• Spirit Realm preparations — Interrogates Profound Yin Sect disciples, learns of the Spirit Realm's Great Terrors and sect-controlled entrances, and departs toward Kowloon to seek the Thousand Grievances Guide. 281 283

Notable Quotes

“Whether I can hold onto it or not, I must try.” 2

“I don't follow the path of Blood-Qi Martial Arts. I'm different from you all.” 95

“I won't apologize for killing trash.” 154

“If you provoke me again, I'll kill your whole family.” 272

Trivia

• Chen Mo's former-life experience as an emergency room doctor is the only known occupation from before his transmigration. 1
• His Moonlight Treasure Mirror is a decisive cultivation advantage: it can condense moonlight essence in a quarter-hour, while ordinary practitioners need an entire night for the same amount. 223
• He initially presented his family art to the Heretical Arts Class as nothing more than the ability to control low-level Paper Dolls. 106