Chen Ye

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Chen Ye transmigrated into the body of a menial servant of the Gao Family during the Jing Dynasty. The original owner came from the declining Chen Family: his father had died, his mother had remarried, and he had entered the Gao estate alone as a servant. Chen Ye later identifies his ancestors as a collateral branch of the Runan Chen Clan. 1 10 225

Selected by Protector Zhang Tieyi for martial training, Chen Ye quickly recognized that the Gao Family’s unusual interest in a newly trained servant concealed a threat. He concealed his abnormal rate of progress, refused suspicious medicine, and deduced that the family was “ripening” martial arts trainees for delivery to the Xie Family as human medicinal ingredients. 2 6 8 10

After reaching the first stage of Mortal Shedding, Chen Ye ambushed Zhang Tieyi rather than wait to be transferred. He escaped the Gao estate through Spring Mountain while pursued by guards and spirit hounds, beginning his journey toward the capital. 11 14

Years of cultivation and military service transform Chen Ye’s position. He becomes a Cui retainer, earns imperial military honors, and is ennobled first as Marquis of Fei and then as Duke of Zhenyuan. His appointment to command Qinghe Prefecture’s military affairs while serving as governor gives the emerging Chen family an independent political foundation. 77 180 225 233

Personality

Chen Ye is highly cautious and controlled. He deliberately maintains only an “excellent but not outstanding” rate of visible progress, hides his cultivation from stronger martial artists, and performs obedience when dealing with nobles and superiors. 2 3 4

Survival is his central priority. He treats lifespan, money, medicine, intelligence, and alliances as resources to be managed, repeatedly accepting dangerous work or spending years of life to avoid being trapped by stronger forces. 6 16 28 29

He is calculating in both combat and politics. He uses bait, misinformation, poison, ambushes, and intimidation against enemies who hold positional or numerical advantages. 28 41 55 95

Despite his ruthlessness, Chen Ye is loyal to people who have stood beside him. After resolving the Feng Mansion affair, he prioritizes freeing Zuo Dongxi and Su Guang from the dungeon; later, he continues to rely on and protect both men as trusted companions. 31 32 56 79

As a commander, he sees disciplined, cultivated followers as the basis of lasting independence. He rewards performance, teaches his soldiers a foundational art, and makes political concessions when necessary to preserve useful alliances. 179 180 184 185

Abilities & Skills

Pawn System

Chen Ye possesses a system that converts lifespan into cultivation progress. Lifespan can be redeemed through wealth, talent, and luck, but redemption costs twice the amount originally pawned. 1 6 9

• Instantly grants the equivalent of extended cultivation after he pawns lifespan. 2 64
• Records martial arts only after Chen Ye gains enough understanding of their fundamentals. 49 82
• Lets him use money to redeem life; one tael of silver redeems four days of lifespan. 4
• Makes every advance costly: reckless use can leave him with only days or months to live. 9 27
• Allows him to redeem pawned lifespan with accumulated wealth and pawn it again, gaining additional cultivation from the same initial span of life. 162 191

Mortal Shedding Physique

Repeated Mortal Sheddings transform Chen Ye’s body, vitality, senses, and resilience. His cultivation emphasizes high-quality physical refinement rather than merely increasing the number of breakthroughs. 34 67

• Possesses golden-gray keratin beneath his skin that improves durability. 21 73
• Withstands Du Wang’s full-force palm strike without moving. 73
• Reached roughly eight hundred jin of strength after his seventh shedding. 67
• Later reaches nearly fifteen hundred jin after the manifestation of flowing light. 93
• His refined physique and Five-Organ Thunder Resonance Method allow him to endure blows from Cui Yingtang that would seriously injure ordinary martial artists. 83 84
• His ninth shedding purifies his marrow and forms a Spiritual Spring of True Yang, making him comparable in combat strength to an ordinary Dragon Elephant martial artist before he enters that realm. 129
• His unprecedented tenth shedding produces pale-gold True Blood, a Flawless Body, and an Immortal Lake of exceptionally abundant True Essence. 145
• His True Yang vitality aids rapid recovery from wounds; by his confrontation with Xie Xuan’an, sixteen specks of True Yang Radiance manifest. 152 217

Foundation Cultivation Technique

The basic technique taught by the Gao Family develops stance, breathing, qi, and bodily force. Although initially incomplete, the Pawn System reveals its concealed combat applications. 4 9

• Array-Breaking Style — concentrates the entire body’s force into one explosive point, targeting openings created when an opponent loses balance. 9
• Mountain-Shattering Style — a limit-breaking move unlocked in desperation during his fight with Zhang Tieyi. 11
• Chen Ye applies its force-generation principles to unstable terrain, boats, carriages, and horseback combat rather than relying on fixed forms. 20
• He later judges the original technique unsuitable for teaching his soldiers because its method leaves practitioners with weak foundations and hidden dangers. 184

Return to Origin Art

Chen Ye secretly learns the Cui Family’s introductory art after observing training at the Martial Arts Arena. Its circulation travels from the dantian through the spine and eight extraordinary meridians before returning to the dantian. 49

• Perfects the technique within several months despite receiving no formal instruction. 61
• Successfully combines it with another technique, creating heavier and more profound true energy. 61
• Its completion astonishes Cui Yingtang, who considers his ability to repair and integrate its circulation path exceptional. 61

Hunyi Saber Technique

A saber art entrusted to Chen Ye by Cui Xijun. It values intent over elaborate form and uses saber intent to temper the body and advance Mortal Shedding. 63 64

• Uses five core saber moves alongside a substantial internal cultivation method. 64
• Cultivates through the mental stages of Locking Ape, Slaying the Three Corpses, and Red Emperor Palace. 64
• Condensing one, two, and three strands of saber intent corresponds to advancement toward the fifth, sixth, and Dragon Elephant thresholds respectively. 64
• Perfects the technique and condenses three strands of saber intent. 66
• Disarms Cui Yingtang during a sparring exchange despite her Dragon Elephant cultivation. 65

Five-Organ Thunder Resonance Method

A dangerous longevity-oriented technique that refines Chen Ye’s internal organs through thunder-like resonance. 82 83

• Purges impurities from his organs and improves his internal resilience. 83
• Extends lifespan substantially even at the entry level. 83
• A spar with Cui Yingtang helps him comprehend a breakthrough, making injury from sub-Dragon Elephant opponents far more difficult. 84
• Completes the technique and unlocks a hidden move after using spiritual ingredients and lifespan conversion. 92

Flowing Light

A unique ability born after nine rays of light resonate within his body. 93

• Moves freely across his skin like a living golden radiance. 93
• Reinforces his body and can erupt outward with force. 93
• Blasts Ji Puze away when Chen Ye releases it with a single command. 93
• Further refinement gives his protective golden light penetrating and tearing properties. 129

Daoist Canon and Natal Golden Blade

Chen Ye obtains the Daoist Canon, Spiritual Fetus Chapter from Wang Chang. Its teachings on true blood, bones, and marrow help him pursue a tenth Mortal Shedding beyond the accepted nine. 142 144 145

• The tenth shedding transforms his Spiritual Spring into an Immortal Lake, supplying abundant True Essence for prolonged combat. 145
• Can draw golden energy from his True Blood into a three-foot Natal Golden Blade. It can cut through ordinary Dragon Elephant defenses, but initially leaves him weakened after use. 145 217
• Uses the Golden Blade to kill Dragon Elephant martial masters and, with a temporary tenfold increase in combat power, the Bridge Sea expert Xie Xuan’an. 217

Force Techniques and Bridge Sea Cultivation

After reaching the Dragon Elephant Realm, Chen Ye develops several forms of force rather than relying on one method. 162 163 212

• Heavenly Light Force strengthens and refreshes his body and serves as a harmonious foundation for combining forces, though it has little offensive power alone. 158 162
• Mud Strength and Burst Strength provide redirection and explosive striking power. Chen Ye uses them together to defeat Sun Qi. 163 173
• Immortal Force is compatible with his True Yang Physique, integrates with his other forces, and substantially increases his lifespan. Its limit-breaking True Explanation of Character Dou temporarily multiplies combat power tenfold, followed by weakness. 212 213
• Vajra Tathagata Force strengthens his spirit and Divine Consciousness as well as his golden radiance. Its combination with Immortal Force helps bring him to the Bridge Sea threshold. 228 229
• Mahavairocana Visualization Diagram anchors the spiritual bridge across his inner sea. Its Falsehood-Breaking skill lets him reshape an intimidating visualization into his own likeness. 229
• After entering the Bridge Sea Realm, he can project Divine Consciousness and use it to direct a flying saber. 229 236

True Dragon Dao-Seeding Technique

The emperor bestows a technique publicly called the True Dragon Transformation Art, which Chen Ye discovers is the True Dragon Dao-Seeding Technique. It requires an exceptional Mortal Shedding foundation and qi and blood sufficient to nourish a seed intended to transform the cultivator toward a true dragon’s body. 180 182

• Cultivating touch develops True Dragon Force. After an invisible entity attacks him, Chen Ye refines residual mysterious energy and plants his first Dao Seed, greatly increasing his lifespan. 182 183
• A rune-protected stone coffin allows him to cultivate while shielded from the hostile presence he previously encountered. He subsequently perfects his five senses and forms five Dao Seeds. 211 213
• His heightened senses reveal traces of a hidden “real world,” though contact with its entities remains dangerous. He conceals his progress from the emperor. 212 213 225

Pei-Gui-Dao Scripture and Instruction

Chen Ye creates the Pei-Gui-Dao Scripture as an accessible foundational art for his soldiers, drawing on the useful principles of the Foundation Cultivation Technique, Return to Origin Art, and Daoist Canon, Spiritual Fetus Chapter. 184

• Its postures, breathing, qi guidance, and circulation emphasize a sound foundation rather than the Gao Family technique’s harmful shortcuts. Its Generate Origin effect doubles cultivation speed. 184
• Personally teaches the art to his troops, appoints supervisors, and rewards monthly progress. He gives Su Guang and San Gouzi a written manual and direct instruction. 185
• Several soldiers achieve Mortal Shedding breakthroughs after receiving his instruction. 194

Movement and Strategy

Chen Ye compensates for disparities in status or cultivation through preparation and decisive violence.

• Uses Mandala Flower Poison to weaken bandits before killing their leader, Cai He, a Dragon Elephant realm martial artist. 41
• Eliminates the Green Wolf Gang after discovering it knew of his involvement in the Cui convoy attack. 55 56
• Uses disguises, crossbows, false information, and terrain when planning assassinations or ambushes. 41 88 95
• Ranks first in the Capital City Martial Examination after lifting a seven-hundred-catty stone lock, drawing a nine-shi bow, wielding a two-hundred-jin broadsword, and defeating Du Wang. 69 70 73 76
• Masters the Dragon Claw Technique and its hidden Hundred Steps of Divine Movement, enabling swift, nearly silent movement. 191
• Coordinates trained soldiers in layered ambushes and controls battlefield narratives to conceal politically dangerous victories. 217 218

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Short blade — taken from Zhang Tieyi after their confrontation; used during his escape from the Gao Family. 12 15
• Crossbow — carried during his escape and later used in planned operations with Zuo Dongxi and Su Guang. 15 88
• Silver Crow Blade — an Imperial Forge Camp saber supplied by Cui Yingtang for Hunyi Saber Technique training. 64
• Mandala Flower Poison — used to incapacitate bandits before Chen Ye attacks. 41
• Jade pendant and scholar’s robe — gifts from Cui Xijun marking his elevated status as a Cui Mansion retainer. 77
• White Medicine and cultivation remedies — regularly acquired to support recovery and body refinement. 52 88
• Daoist Canon, Spiritual Fetus Chapter — silk manuscript taken from Wang Chang and used in Chen Ye’s pursuit of a tenth Mortal Shedding. 142 144 145
• Marquis’s and general’s seals — awarded with his title of Marquis of Fei and appointment as Tiger-Awe General. 180
• Dragon Claw Technique manual — copy supplied by Cui Changfeng from the martial art recovered after Han Wei’s death. 191
• Stone coffin — rune-protected refuge in an ancient tomb that shields Chen Ye during dangerous Dao-Seeding cultivation. 211 213
• Elegant Spring / Xiuchun Saber — treasured blade received from Xie Yunce as an apology; Chen Ye later directs his Xiuchun Saber with Divine Consciousness. 222 236
• Elephant Armor — Xie Family armor captured for his soldiers and later worn to protect his traveling entourage. 218 235

Relationships

• Zhang Tieyi — Former Gao Family martial instructor and captor. Zhang trained Chen Ye while preparing him for transfer to the Xie Family; Chen Ye eventually defeated him and escaped. 4 10 11
• Gao Qiaoniang — Gao Family attendant assigned to Chen Ye’s daily needs. Her indirect warnings help him recognize the danger of the medicinal soup. 3 6 8
• Gao Yunheng — Gao Family eldest young master who viewed Chen Ye as a useful martial arts prospect. Chen Ye later engineers a confrontation with him and kills him after defeating his protectors. 3 12 79 141
• Escort Master Sun — Veteran escort who recognizes Chen Ye’s ability, offers him advice on the capital, and recommends him to the Xinglong Escort Agency. 18 20
• Shen Chongsan — Xinglong Escort Agency steward and Sun’s nephew-in-law. He guides Chen Ye through his first escort assignment and later shows sympathy after Chen Ye is dismissed. 21 32
• Zuo Dongxi — Close ally, former escort colleague, and leader of the Patrol Horse Gang after the Green Wolf Gang’s fall. He handles intelligence, cleanup, and criminal contacts for Chen Ye’s group. 32 56 57
• Su Guang — Chen Ye’s steadfast companion. He assists in escort work, horse training, investigations, and killings without questioning Chen Ye’s orders. He later serves among Chen Ye’s trusted military followers. 32 57 79 88 179 236
• Zhou Yun’e — Widow of the Feng Family’s third branch. Chen Ye first forms an uneasy alliance with her to expose a murderer; they later cooperate against Feng Family and Lu Family interests. Their relationship becomes intimate, and Chen Ye secures her son Feng Qi’s position as Feng Family heir. 28 79 95 101 234
• Cui Xijun — Cui Family third miss and Chen Ye’s patron. She secures his Martial Examination qualification, gives him the Hunyi Saber Technique, and grants him retainer status after he wins first place. She continues to support him as his rank rises. 63 68 77 223
• Cui Yingtang — Cui Family second miss, Dragon Elephant martial artist, and Chen Ye’s martial mentor. She recognizes his talent, teaches him the Hunyi Saber Technique, and repeatedly spars with him. On his return to the capital, his strength in a renewed spar astonishes her. 61 64 65 224
• Cui Zhenru — Cui Family head who trusts Chen Ye’s cultivation knowledge and assigns him to assist Cui Kan’s studies. He later offers Chen Ye a capital residence after his ducal promotion. 81 223 225
• Cui Kan — Cui Family young master placed under Chen Ye’s supervision; Chen Ye’s praise gradually improves the boy’s training efforts. 81 84
• Cheng Defu — Cui Mansion worker who initially guides Chen Ye around the estate; their relationship becomes strained by Chen Ye’s rapidly elevated status but remains outwardly cordial. 49 65
• Cui Changfeng — Cui commander and political ally. He recognizes Chen Ye’s battlefield value, teaches him about force cultivation, supports him against accusations over spoils, and later helps protect him after Xie Xuan’an’s death. 159 160 179 218
• Zhuang Chaoyang and Jiang Yi — Dependable commanders among Chen Ye’s soldiers. They supervise training, help execute his battlefield plans, and accompany him toward Qinghe. 180 185 217 234
• Wu Qichi and Cui Rong — Hostile figures within the Cui expedition who attempt to undermine Chen Ye. He later kills both during the campaign. 131 169 170
• Xie Xuan’an — Xie Family alliance leader who comes to suspect Chen Ye and arranges an ambush against him. Chen Ye defeats and kills him, then conceals the circumstances to avoid immediate Xie Family retaliation. 211 217 218
• Emperor Yang Yuanchu — Rewards Chen Ye with military rank, a dangerous True Dragon technique, ducal status, and authority in Qinghe. Chen Ye remains respectful but conceals his Dao-Seeding progress from the emperor’s inquiries. 180 225 233
• Princess Jianing — Discusses Chen Ye’s tenth Mortal Shedding with him and writes the preface to the published treatise based on his insights. 228 230
• Xie Chongyi — Xie Family head who orders an assassination attempt during Chen Ye’s journey to Qinghe. Chen Ye kills the attackers and learns who sent them. 236

Story Role / Major Arcs

Gao Family Escape

Chen Ye begins as a servant selected for martial training, discovers the Gao Family’s human-ingredient scheme, defeats Zhang Tieyi, and flees through Spring Mountain before the family can hand him to the Xie Family. 8 10 11 14

Journey to the Capital

After escaping, Chen Ye becomes a merchant-fleet guard, earns silver by fighting water bandits, converts much of the reward into lifespan, and reaches the capital through Escort Master Sun’s recommendation. 16 18 20

Feng Mansion Affair

While working for the Xinglong Escort Agency, Chen Ye becomes entangled in the Feng Family’s internal murder case. Imprisoned with Zuo Dongxi and Su Guang, he bargains with Zhou Yun’e, uses himself as bait, exposes the conspiracy, and secures his companions’ release. 27 28 31 32

Cui Family Retainer

After earning favor for saving Cui Family interests, Chen Ye enters Cui Mansion. He secretly learns the Return to Origin Art, impresses Cui Yingtang with his talent, receives the Hunyi Saber Technique, and is accepted as a Cui retainer. 47 49 61 63 77

Capital City Martial Examination

Chen Ye enters the Martial Examination with only a month of preparation. He dominates the strength, bow, and saber assessments, defeats examiner Du Wang during an apparent assassination attempt, and ranks first overall. 68 69 70 73 76

Feng and Lu Family Schemes

As a Cui retainer with scholar status, Chen Ye resumes cooperation with Zhou Yun’e. He targets Feng Rong’s faction, investigates old links between the Feng and Lu families, and develops a forged-letter scheme to exploit the Lu Family’s internal weaknesses. 78 79 85 95

Tenth Mortal Shedding and Danfeng Campaign

During the Cui Family’s campaign, Chen Ye completes his ninth and then unprecedented tenth Mortal Shedding. Assigned command of a poorly regarded unit, he treats it as an opportunity to build an independent force. He kills Gao Yunheng, survives a disastrous river crossing, defeats the Northern Liang commander Ruobaluoneng, and later enters the Dragon Elephant Realm. 129 131 141 145 153 154 162

Chen Ye helps retake Linchuan City, kills powerful Heavy Martial Pavilion opponents, and organizes his followers through rewards, discipline, and martial training. The court recognizes his military service by making him Marquis of Fei and Tiger-Awe General. 167 173 179 180 185

Xie Family Conflict

While campaigning with the aristocratic coalition, Chen Ye investigates threats to his True Yang Physique and develops the True Dragon Dao-Seeding Technique. After Xie Xuan’an grows suspicious of him, Chen Ye cultivates within an ancient stone coffin, perfects Immortal Force, and gains a temporary tenfold combat technique. He then defeats Xie Xuan’an’s ambush and kills the Bridge Sea martial master, concealing the death with Cui Changfeng’s support. 197 211 212 213 217 218

Ducal Rank and Return to Qinghe

Summoned to the capital, Chen Ye is promoted to Duke of Zhenyuan. His account of the tenth Mortal Shedding is compiled into the Ultimate Mortal Shedding Treatise, while his cultivation advances into the Bridge Sea Realm. The emperor subsequently appoints him General Pacifying the North and governor of Qinghe Prefecture. Before departing, Chen Ye secures Feng Qi’s succession and brings Zhou Yun’e’s family into his political network. 225 229 230 233 234

On the road to Qinghe, Chen Ye survives an assassination attempt ordered by Xie Chongyi. He kills the attackers, confirms the Xie Family’s continuing hostility, and resumes his journey. 236

Notable Quotes

“Even an ant clings to life, let alone a man.” 28

“Does killing count?” 20

“I am afraid that—if I slip, I might beat you to death.” 93

“Chen Ye stands here—who dares fight me?” 152