Chen Zhuo

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Chen Zhuo (陈灼)
Alias(es)	Master Chen
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Former Baiyun County Yamen runner; Blade-Catcher lineage of Ling Yun; ally and protector of the Iron Sword Sect and Wu family
Occupation/Role	Blade-Catcher; martial artist; former kitchen worker and yamen runner
Status	Alive; active in Baiyun County
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Body Tempering — Skin-Grinding	3	Entered the martial path through the Iron Cloth Shirt after training with Red Mud Paste; his skin became tougher and more resilient. 2 3
Body Refining — Tendon Forging	17	A Blood-Strengthening Soup bath accelerated Iron Cloth Shirt cultivation to the Proficient stage and reinforced his physique. 17
Body Tempering — Bone-Infiltration	26	Reached Minor Achievement in Iron Cloth Shirt; his muscles and bones resonated, allowing him to perform “Bird Cannot Cross.” 26
Body Tempering — Blood Exchange / Stainless Body	41	Completed a blood exchange and gained a Stainless Body, placing him among Baiyun County’s foremost Body Tempering martial artists. 41
Aperture Opening — First Stage	47	Used demonic blood and the perfected Iron Cloth Shirt to open his first aperture and produce True Essence. 46 47
Aperture Opening — Third Stage	57	Advanced Dragon-Roar Iron Cloth Shirt and the Minor Heavenly Cycle Qi Circulation Method through True Blood cultivation. 56 57
Aperture Opening — Three Blood Exchanges	62	Perfected Dragon-Roar Iron Cloth Shirt and Glazed Jade Body; underwent a third blood exchange and derived the Mountain-River Fetal Garment. 62
Aperture Opening — Thirteen Apertures / Four Blood Exchanges	71	Emerged from seclusion with the Red Copper Battle Body, Major Heavenly Cycle Circulation Method, and Blazing Sun Saber Technique. 71
Aperture Opening — Peak	84	Could contend with Lu Zhongxing, whose True Essence manifested as a blood-colored blade shadow. 84
Spirit-Nurturing	87	Broke through in a mountain cave while Old Blind Man guarded him from miasma. 87
Spirit-Nurturing — Peak	108	Entered a no-thought state; his Primordial Spirit resonated with heaven and earth and manifested as a blood-colored phantom. 108
Sha-Condensing	127	Used the Lesser Formless Sha-Condensing Method, Blood Sha, and Fourth-Tier Demon Pills to form meridians and acupoints within his Primordial Spirit. 127
Sha-Condensing — Peak	130	Fully transformed his True Essence into blood-sha, formed a Blood Cloud, and advanced through the Water Snake Demon’s gall and third-tier Demon Pills. 130
Sha-Condensing — One Heavenly Cycle	134	Completed seclusion with sixteen blood changes, 836 opened apertures, a Minor Success Asura Visualization Scripture, and a Proficient Formless Blood Sha Scripture. 134
Sha-Condensing — Twenty-Three Blood Replacements	159	Consumed all available Demon Pills in nearly four days of seclusion, further remaking his organs, muscles, bones, tendons, skin, blood, and qi. 159

Background / History

Chen Zhuo remembers a previous life and begins his new life in Great Yong’s Baiyun County focused solely on survival. Impoverished and physically exhausted, he works as a sedan-chair bearer and yamen servant while suffering the attention and intimidation of Registrar Wang, known as Skin-Peeler Wang. 1 2

He initially has little food, little stamina, and only one daily hour for martial training. His first goal is to use martial arts to escape his circumstances; he begins with Iron Cloth Shirt and progresses rapidly once Yao Xiong teaches him the proper stance and Patting Technique. 2 3

After confronting Huang Yuan’er and seeking distance from Skin-Peeler Wang’s influence, Chen Zhuo transfers to the Swift Squad. His exceptional kitchen knife work brings him to Yan Ming’s notice, leading to his entry into the yamen kitchen. 4 7

Yan Ming eventually reveals himself as a Blade-Catcher. Chen Zhuo declines formal apprenticeship under Yan but becomes his junior martial brother, pays respects to their deceased master Ling Yun, and is recognized as Ling Yun’s thirteenth disciple. 15 17

Appearance

Chen Zhuo is repeatedly noted for his striking appearance, which initially makes him a target of unwanted attention. Early in the story he has a slender build, but constant body-tempering transforms him into a powerfully built martial artist with an increasingly abnormal physique. 1 17 47

• Sword-like brows, starry eyes, and a refined, handsome face. 1
• Long, slender fingers and a lean frame before his extensive physical cultivation. 1 47
• A chiseled, statue-like physique after the Blood-Strengthening Soup bath. 17
• Dark veins that coil over his body like “black dragons” while practicing Iron Cloth Shirt. 20 23
• Skin that acquires a faint jade-like quality after perfecting Iron Cloth Shirt. 46
• Pale gold traces within his blood and qi after twenty-three blood replacements. 159

Personality

Chen Zhuo is practical, vigilant, and intensely self-reliant. His poverty teaches him that gifts and favors carry obligations, so he seeks power and resources he can control himself rather than depending on charity. 13

He is blunt when threatened and willing to use deception, humiliation, or force against enemies. He publicly undermines Zhou Sheng, coerces confessions from opponents, and later allows Huang Tiansheng to escape specifically to spread misinformation about his real strength. 9 11 81

Despite his ruthlessness, Chen Zhuo has a defined sense of fairness. He spares Blood Blade Gang members who did not attack him, protects people he considers his own, and rejects the Wu family’s attempt to kneel before him. 85 96 144

He is also strategic rather than merely aggressive. He feigns weakness to draw out hidden enemies, concentrates resources for long-term growth, and intends to strengthen trustworthy allies without casually spreading martial knowledge. 114 134 153

Abilities & Skills

Physical Body Cultivation

Chen Zhuo’s principal strength is his continually evolving body-tempering path. He regards repeated blood replacement and physical metamorphosis as potentially closer to ancient martial cultivation than modern methods centered on energy alone. 134 159

• His Stainless Body grants exceptional resilience and heightened perception through the opening and closing of his pores. 41 51
• His head can deflect a Tier 3 martial artist’s sword strike without injury. 110
• He can defeat Tier 2 demonic beasts with a stomp and overpower a fourth-tier peak Tiger Demon with Qilin bloodline through raw strength. 110 150 151
• His physique has undergone at least twenty-three blood replacements. 159

Iron Cloth Shirt Lineage

Iron Cloth Shirt is Chen Zhuo’s foundational body-tempering art. Through successive perfection and transformation, it develops into stronger methods rather than ending at its original limit. 46 62

• Iron Cloth Shirt — Tempered his skin, tendons, bones, and blood; reached consummation after cultivation with demon beast False Blood. 46
• Dragon-Roar Iron Cloth Shirt — Uses internal vibration and dragon-like resonance to further temper the body. 46 62
• Glazed Jade Body — Derived after the Dragon-Roar Iron Cloth Shirt reached perfection and triggered a second blood exchange. 62
• Mountain-River Fetal Garment — A subsequent derived martial art formed after his third blood exchange. 62
• Purple Extreme Thunder Emperor Body — His advanced body cultivation method by the Sha-Condensing realm. 134

Saber Techniques

Chen Zhuo’s fighting style favors direct, heavy, efficient saber strikes. He developed his combat skill through repeated practice, battles, and killing rather than formal sparring alone. 10 13 27

• Zhengyang Blade Technique — Began as an incomplete three-move technique; Chen Zhuo perfected it and unlocked its complete nine forms. 7 20 27
• Its forms emphasize force, speed, stability, and righteous momentum rather than elaborate maneuvers. 27
• He killed Zhou Sheng in four strikes and later used the technique to cut through groups of Long River Gang fighters. 33 52
• Blazing Sun Saber Technique — An advanced saber art he possessed after later seclusion. 71

Blood-Sha Manipulation

After entering Sha-Condensing, Chen Zhuo transforms his True Essence into blood-sha and gains the ability to manifest it externally. 130

• Formless Blood Sha Scripture — Allows him to condense blood-sha into clouds and weapon-like constructs. 130
• Blood Cloud — Used for aerial travel and to carry Old Blind Man and Zong Jiujiu to the Wu Mansion. 137
• He can use Sha Qi to incapacitate corpse minions and subdue opponents without immediately killing them. 138
• His Blood Cloud can move at speeds that unsettle even Spirit-Nurturing martial artists. 137

Primordial Spirit

Chen Zhuo’s Primordial Spirit manifests in blood-colored forms and possesses extraordinary scale for his cultivation. 108 114

• He achieved no-thought and no-mind, allowing his Primordial Spirit to resonate with heaven and earth and survey Dangyun Mountain. 108
• He defeated a Tier 4 demon beast’s Primordial Spirit phantom with two punches. 108
• His Asura Primordial Spirit reaches five zhang in height, giving him a foundation Zong Jiujiu considers exceptional even among future Sha-Condensing and Qi-Refining martial artists. 114

Blade-Catcher Arts

Yan Ming’s Blade-Catcher inheritance complements Chen Zhuo’s practical skill with blades, butchery, and demon materials. 15 24

• Dissection Technique — Derived from his perfected Vegetable Chopping Technique; used for precise dissection of animals and demonic beasts. 14 56 100
• Demon-Seeking Art / Demon-Seeking Nether Eyes — Detects demonic traces and exposes people connected to demons. 46 58 80
• He can refine Demon Pills and extract or handle demonic materials, distinguishing him from ordinary yamen runners. 45 84

Daoist Techniques

Chen Zhuo incorporates Daoist methods into his martial path rather than choosing between physical cultivation and Qi Practitioner arts. 124 130

• True Fire Talisman — An incomplete talisman art that can draw out Life Fire; Chen Zhuo later teaches its method to Zong Jiujiu. 71 101 102
• Origin-Returning Sword Technique — A complete Daoist technique acquired from the Wu family; it includes a method for forging a Sword Pill. 124

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Horse-Chopping Saber — His main weapon through the Long River Gang conflict and Dangyun Mountain campaigns. 51 58 84
• Reforged pitch-black long blade — A weapon repaired by an old blacksmith; it is sharp and emits a chilling, sinister aura. 71
• Blood Vitality Pills — Restore stamina and enabled extended early Iron Cloth Shirt training. 7
• Blood-Strengthening Soup and Red Mud Paste — Key early resources for physical tempering. 2 17
• Demon Blood, True Blood, and Demon Pills — Central resources for his later body cultivation, blood replacements, and realm breakthroughs. 46 56 127 159

Relationships

• Yan Ming — Senior martial brother, Blade-Catcher, and former head chef of the yamen kitchen. Yan recognizes Chen Zhuo’s potential, shares Ling Yun’s inheritance, and entrusts the kitchen to him before departing. 15 17 46
• Ling Yun — Deceased master of Yan Ming and Chen Zhuo. Chen Zhuo becomes Ling Yun’s thirteenth disciple and continues to pay respects at his memorial. 17 159
• Zong Jiujiu — Northern Suppressing Faction martial artist and close ally. She admires Chen Zhuo’s talent, fights alongside him, and increasingly seeks to keep him aligned with the Northern Suppressing Faction. 102 114 151
• Old Blind Man — An older ally and mentor figure who guards Chen Zhuo during breakthroughs, advises him to leave Baiyun County, and later assists with Chen Zhuo’s affairs. 87 144 153
• Fifth Master — Former Swift Squad authority who becomes Chen Zhuo’s trusted steward and manager of external affairs. 27 153
• Sun Fei — Early benefactor and fellow yamen runner who gives Chen Zhuo food, a blade, and support; their paths later diverge after the Sun family’s actions. 3 7 121
• Wu Miaozhi — Sect Master of the Iron Sword Sect. She negotiates an alliance with Chen Zhuo and later pledges the sect’s loyalty to him. 123 124 144
• Wu Youyou — Wu Miaozhi’s daughter and Chen Zhuo’s prospective student; she follows his orders after the Wu family’s submission. 124 137 153
• Xiao Nan — A maid who helps Chen Zhuo acquire medicinal herbs and guards his belongings; her murder by Liansheng Sect disciples drives his retaliation. 56 57
• Yao Xiong — Former Swift Squad leader who first instructs Chen Zhuo in Iron Cloth Shirt. Chen Zhuo later kills him for his part in the Morning Assembly incident and subsequent pursuit. 2 109
• Huang Yuan’er — Former martial arts instructor and persistent enemy whose fear of Chen Zhuo’s talent fuels repeated attempts to eliminate him. 3 20 46
• Registrar Wang / Wang Mingyuan — Skin-Peeler Wang, the yamen official who initially intimidates Chen Zhuo; Chen Zhuo later kills him in battle. 1 85 86

Story Role / Major Arcs

Yamen Rise

• Begins as an impoverished yamen laborer and White-Uniform Runner, using every available resource to practice Iron Cloth Shirt. 1 2
• Transfers to the Swift Squad, learns Zhengyang Blade Technique, and establishes an early friendship with Sun Fei. 7
• Gains Yan Ming’s notice through exceptional knife work and becomes part of Ling Yun’s Blade-Catcher lineage. 4 15 17
• At the Morning Assembly, fights multiple White-Uniform Runners, reveals his talent and constitution, and becomes feared throughout the yamen. 20 22

Long River Gang Conflict

• Investigates Qiu Laojiu and survives Long River Gang ambushes while posting wanted notices. 9 12
• Kills Zhou Sheng and defeats pursuing gang members, then escapes in disguise rather than confronting stronger forces directly. 33
• Destroys Huang Tiansheng’s control over him by removing and crushing implanted gu-insects. 45 46
• Slaughters the Long River Gang’s demon-men and Tier 2 demonic beasts, deliberately allowing Huang Tiansheng to flee with false information. 81

Dangyun Mountain and Demon-Slaying Valley

• Enters Dangyun Mountain for the Autumn Hunt and rapidly accumulates demon blood, pills, combat experience, and cultivation resources. 71 80
• Defeats Wang Mingyuan and Lu Zhongxing, then breaks into Spirit-Nurturing. 85 87
• Battles Demon-Slaying Valley forces, Tier 2 demonic beasts, and a Tier 3 martial artist while demonstrating a body that ordinary weapons cannot pierce. 105 110 111
• Kills Yao Xiong after settling their old grievance and continues toward the Cold Pool to confront remaining enemies. 108 109

Baiyun County Consolidation

• Accepts the Wu family’s Origin-Returning Sword Technique in exchange for teaching Wu Youyou. 124
• Breaks through to Sha-Condensing, cultivates the Formless Blood Sha Scripture, and develops aerial Blood Cloud travel. 127 130 137
• Saves the Wu family from the Blood Blade Gang and hostile Sha-Condensing martial artists; the Iron Sword Sect subsequently pledges loyalty to him. 137 144
• Consolidates the Iron Sword Sect, Liansheng Sect, and yamen resources under a plan to protect his people and eventually travel to the Capital City. 153
• Emerges from seclusion after twenty-three blood replacements as rumors spread that he possesses the “key to immortality.” 159

Notable Quotes

“Under the disparity of absolute strength, any treacherous method is merely futile.” 112

“We are our own people, why kneel? Making the enemy kneel is what we should be doing.” 144

Trivia

• Chen Zhuo’s first recorded technique is Vegetable Chopping Technique, which reaches Great Success and evolves into the Dissection Technique. 1 7 14
• He can perform “Bird Cannot Cross,” keeping sparrows from flying through precise muscular control in his palm. 26
• His long-term objective is to enter the Capital City and serve in the Northern Suppressing Faction. 27 87 120
• He suspects that the original path of martial arts may have centered on continual physical transformation before later methods became entangled with Qi Practitioner cultivation. 134 159