Chen Linger

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Chen Linger (陈灵儿)
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Chen Clan's main branch; Medicine King Shop 5 13 23
Occupation/Role	Martial disciple; main-branch representative and political agent in the Chen Clan's succession struggle 5 14 46
First Appearance	Chapter 5

Power Progression

Chapter	Cultivation / Advancement	Details
23	Two-Knock Blood Pass	Chen Linger is identified as a Two-Knock Blood Pass martial artist when Chen Xuanfeng's qi pressure injures her during their confrontation. 23
32	Failed breakthrough attempt	She repeatedly fails to break through the Three-Knock Blood Pass despite relying on medicinal herbs, placing her hopes on the ancient cave dwelling. 32
43	Three-Knock Blood Pass	After Wang Xuance administers the Frost Eight-Leaf Grass, Chen Linger breaks through the Three-Knock Blood Pass, regains her severed arm, and her blood and qi reach the level associated with that realm. 43

Background / History

Chen Linger is a direct descendant of White Light City's outer-city Chen Clan and the daughter of the absent Chen Clan chief. Her clan's prosperity traces back to an ancestor who served as an herb-gathering boy to the Master of South Abundance Valley. The Medicine King Shop, meanwhile, originated from the medicine shop left behind by that master. 14 23

She first approaches Wang Xuance at the Medicine King Shop after learning of his conflict with Chen Feng, another Chen Clan member and Wang's squad leader. She offers Vermilion Summer Fruits as an initial gesture, then reveals her desire to remove Chen Feng. 5

Wang eventually agrees to cooperate after Chen Linger supplies him with Purple Blood Ganoderma and fifteen taels of silver. Their plan is to ambush Chen Feng outside White Light City after she weakens him. 6

Later, Chen Linger summons Wang to Water Orchid Pavilion. She demonstrates knowledge of his cultivation and the Qilian Mountains disciples he killed, then attempts to recruit him into the Chen Clan by offering a martial art capable of cultivating martial apertures. Wang refuses, but she retains him as an ally and commissions him to explore an ancient cave dwelling at Sunset Slope with her. 13 14

Her main-branch position becomes increasingly precarious after her elder brother Chen Mufeng fails to become a Martial Practitioner and requires at least half a year to recover from the injuries caused by his failed breakthrough. Determined to preserve the main branch's standing, Chen Linger seeks Wang's assistance in the Chen Clan's branch contest. 44 45

Appearance

Chen Linger is portrayed as a young woman whose appearance and attire vary with the setting, from a spring-colored qipao at the Medicine King Shop to white clothing and a gold hairband at Water Orchid Pavilion. 5 13

• Long hair draped over her shoulders, secured by a golden band. 13
• Snow-like complexion and an outwardly youthful appearance. 13
• Initially appears in a spring-colored qipao with embroidered shoes. 5
• Later dresses entirely in white while receiving Wang Xuance at Water Orchid Pavilion. 13
• During the Chen Clan crisis, she wears white robes and a white veil while visiting Wang Xuance. 45
• She later wears a slender white celestial robe while attending to Chen Mufeng after his failed breakthrough. 44

Personality

Chen Linger is calculating, determined, and adept at using wealth, information, and social position to secure cooperation. She identifies Wang Xuance's need for cultivation resources and repeatedly makes offers tailored to his circumstances. 5 6 13 14

Her actions are driven in part by Chen Clan factional conflict and concern for her brother, who is at a critical stage of cultivation. She considers Chen Feng's faction a threat and refuses to allow the clan turmoil to disturb her brother’s breakthrough. 14

Despite her polished and playful manner around Wang, Chen Linger can be coldly pragmatic. She regards Wang as useful because he has already antagonized Chen Feng, and considers disposing of him after his usefulness ends. 14

Her failure to advance beyond the Two-Knock Blood Pass leaves her frustrated and desperate enough to gamble on the dangers of the ancient cave dwelling. 32 After Wang saves her life and enables her breakthrough, she expresses sincere gratitude and promises to repay him. 43

Chen Linger is fiercely protective of her family and main branch. She refuses to abandon the succession contest after Chen Mufeng's failure, worries about Wang Xuance's safety in the branch matches, and is devastated when Chen Feng's martial foundation is ruined. 44 47 52

Abilities & Skills

Martial Cultivation

Chen Linger was a Two-Knock Blood Pass martial artist during the expedition to the ancient cave dwelling. Following her refinement of the Frost Eight-Leaf Grass, she successfully entered the Three-Knock Blood Pass. 38 43

• Her confirmed cultivation reached the Two-Knock Blood Pass before the Sunset Slope expedition. 23 38
• She unsuccessfully attempted to break through to the Three-Knock Blood Pass through medicinal assistance before seeking the cave dwelling's opportunities. 32
• She breaks through to the Three-Knock Blood Pass after Wang Xuance feeds her the Frost Eight-Leaf Grass. 43
• Her severed arm regrows following her breakthrough. 43

Martial Arts

Chen Linger is proficient with short weapons, leg techniques, defensive arts, and swordsmanship.

• Emei Thorn Technique — wielded with a pair of Emei thorns; she uses its first form, Phoenix Spirit Nod, against Chen Kexin. 47
• Thirty-Six Wind Demon Leg Forms — a rapid and forceful kicking art; she employs Sword-Thrusting Kick during her match against Chen Kexin. 47
• Edge-Evading Blood Shield — a Chen Clan defensive technique that condenses blood and qi into a shield around the body's vital points. 47
• Flexible swordsmanship — while fighting baleful corpses, she uses a flexible sword to strike at the black masses within their chests. 38

Innate Strange Pupils

Chen Linger possesses unusual white pupils that can examine the foundations of flesh and blood. She is unable to see through Wang Xuance's physical foundation after his Great Arm Scripture conceals it. 35 42

• Her pupils allow her to perceive aspects of a martial artist's bodily foundation. 35
• Her cultivation is described as having been tightly locked away, which is connected to her ability to locate the ancient cave dwelling. 35

Resources and Influence

Chen Linger has access to the Medicine King Shop’s medicinal resources and uses them to recruit or reward allies. 5 6 13

• Provided Wang Xuance with Vermilion Summer Fruits during their first meeting. 5
• Paid Wang with Purple Blood Ganoderma and fifteen taels of silver for cooperation against Chen Feng. 6
• Offered a martial art capable of cultivating martial apertures in exchange for Wang joining the Chen Clan. 14
• Maintains security around Water Orchid Pavilion; Wang senses at least six nearby martial disciples during their meeting. 13
• Possesses sufficient wealth and authority to deploy a Flowing Radiant Firecloud Boat, a flying vessel powered by floatstone gas. 33
• Offers Wang Xuance a magical artifact and Heavy Whale Silk Armor in exchange for his assistance during the branch contest. 45

Ancient Records and Exploration

Chen Linger has researched the Chen Clan's ancient records and uses that knowledge to lead the expedition to the cave dwelling. 34 36

• Identifies the Black-Horned Scorpionfish and its body-tempering benefits from clan records. 34
• Locates the ancient cave dwelling and identifies the Frost Eight-Leaf Grass as its key treasure. 36
• Prepares a Purple Sun Three-Flower Formation to resist the earth vein Baleful Intent surrounding the cave residence. 36
• Identifies the black masses in baleful corpses' chests as their weakness and directs Wang Xuance to target them. 38

Political Maneuvering

Chen Linger is actively involved in the Chen Clan’s internal power struggle. 14

• Seeks Chen Feng’s death to weaken an opposing faction within the clan. 5 6 14
• Attempts to recruit capable outsiders rather than force them toward her enemies. 14
• Uses Wang’s knowledge and precarious position to keep him involved in her plans. 13 14
• Recruits Wang Xuance to represent the main branch in its contest against the Second Branch after Chen Mufeng's failed breakthrough weakens her side. 44 45
• Tries to minimize Wang's risk during the contest, initially asking him to protect himself rather than risk his life against Chen Feng. 46 47

Equipment / Items

• Purple Blood Ganoderma — valuable medicinal herb given to Wang Xuance as payment for their alliance. 6
• Fifteen taels of patterned silver — additional payment given to Wang Xuance. 6
• Jade box — deposit provided to Wang before their planned exploration of an ancient cave dwelling. 14
• Flowing Radiant Firecloud Boat — a floatstone-powered flying vessel used to transport Chen Linger, Wang Xuance, and a Chen Clan elder toward the Western Desert cave dwelling. 33
• Black net with golden bell — a specialized net used to lure and catch Black-Horned Scorpionfish. 34
• Claw Spear — a Black-Feather Gangsteel and refined-iron device used for catching Black-Horned Scorpionfish. 35
• Purple Sun Three-Flower Formation — a formation prepared to disperse the cave residence's earth vein Baleful Intent. 36
• Emei thorns — paired short weapons used with her Emei Thorn Technique. 47
• Flexible sword — used against the baleful corpses in the cave residence. 38
• Heavy Whale Silk Armor — defensive silk armor that Chen Linger gives Wang Xuance as part of her payment; it can withstand a Martial Practitioner's full-force blow. 45

Relationships

• Wang Xuance — recruited ally, cave-exploration partner, and later the main branch's hired representative in the Chen Clan contest. Chen Linger repeatedly seeks his aid and rewards him with cultivation resources, while he saves her life in the cave dwelling and helps her reach the Three-Knock Blood Pass. Unbeknownst to her, Wang plants the Blood Gu Sword-Seeding within her heart meridians after rescuing her. 5 6 13 14 42 43 45 Chen Linger develops feelings for Wang, but he rejects the prospect of marrying her. 50 51
• Chen Feng — fellow Chen Clan member and political opponent. Chen Linger initially plots to weaken and kill him, then later asks Wang Xuance to deal with him after he becomes a Martial Practitioner and threatens the main branch's position. 5 6 14 45
• Chen Mufeng — Chen Linger's elder brother by the same mother and the main branch's most promising younger-generation candidate for the Martial Practitioner realm. His failed breakthrough intensifies her efforts to defend the main branch. 44
• Unnamed brother — Chen Linger is protective of her brother and fears clan conflict may disrupt his breakthrough. A later attack leaves him unable to continue along the martial path, causing her to faint from shock. 14 55
• Chen Xuanfeng — the Chen Clan's Second Elder and a powerful antagonist to the main branch. He dismisses Chen Linger's aptitude, forcibly pulls her toward himself with qi, and injures her during their confrontation. 23
• Chen Xuanjing — the Chen Clan's First Elder, who protects Chen Linger from Chen Xuanfeng's qi pressure and later attempts to secure Wang Xuance for the clan through an offer of marriage to her. 23 50
• Chen Kexin — Second Branch martial artist and Chen Linger's opponent in the branch contest. Chen Kexin nearly kills Chen Linger before Wang Xuance intervenes. 47 48
• Old Bai — long-serving Chen Clan retainer who advises Chen Linger on the clan's factional crisis. He accompanies her on the cave-dwelling expedition and dies during the journey. 14 43

Story Role / Major Arcs

Alliance Against Chen Feng

Chen Linger draws Wang Xuance into a paid alliance to ambush Chen Feng once his strength has been temporarily reduced. 5 6

Chen Clan Recruitment Attempt

At Water Orchid Pavilion, she explains the difficulties of obtaining aperture-cultivating martial arts through the army and offers Wang a place in the Chen Clan. He refuses her proposal. 13 14

Sunset Slope Commission

After Wang refuses to join her clan, Chen Linger arranges a separate partnership: the two are to investigate an ancient cave dwelling three hundred li outside White Light City. 14 She later renews the appointment, summoning Wang to meet her at Sunset Slope six days later. 32

Ancient Cave-Dwelling Expedition

Chen Linger travels with Wang Xuance and a Chen Clan elder aboard the Flowing Radiant Firecloud Boat to investigate the ancient cave dwelling in the Western Desert. She guides the party using Chen Clan records, helps obtain Black-Horned Scorpionfish for body tempering, and prepares to enter the cave residence for the Frost Eight-Leaf Grass. 33 34 36

Within the cave, she works with Wang to fight baleful corpses but collapses from exhaustion after repeatedly using her sword techniques. Wang shields her from the attack of a nine-foot Fetal Breath Realm demon shadow, later saves her from frost qi, and uses the Frost Eight-Leaf Grass to help her break through. 38 42 43

Chen Clan Branch Contest

After Chen Mufeng's failed breakthrough leaves the main branch without a younger Martial Practitioner, Chen Linger recruits Wang Xuance to assist her faction in its contest against the Second Branch. She faces Chen Kexin with Emei thorns and the Thirty-Six Wind Demon Leg Forms but is overwhelmed by Chen Kexin's swordsmanship. Wang subsequently intervenes to save her and defeats Chen Kexin. 44 45 47 48

Unrequited Affection

After the contest, Chen Xuanjing offers to marry Chen Linger to Wang Xuance in an effort to bind him to the Chen Clan. Chen Linger is visibly affected by the proposal and directly asks whether Wang has any feelings for her, but Wang refuses, prompting her to leave in tears. 50 51

Notable Quotes

“The enemy of an enemy is a friend. He still has value.” 14

“Should you ever have need of me, I will brave boiling water and tread through blazing fire, never shrinking from my duty!” 43