Chu He

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Chu He (楚河)
Alias(es)	Drunken Tiger
Species/Race	Human; a transmigrator from another world 1
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Hong Shou's disciple; former apprentice of the Armor Forging Hall; Heavenly Armor Hall; Military Hall's Demon-Subduing Army; associated with the Ancient Clan 1 135 141 302
Occupation/Role	Martial cultivator, artifact forger, Commander-in-Chief of the Demon-Subduing Army, later City Lord of Hammer Immortal City 130 135 271
Status	Alive; reaches the Supreme realm 393
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Golden Bell Shield — First Layer	2	Spends 1 Energy through the Martial Arts Modifier while trapped in an illusion; manifests a golden bell and breaks free.
Golden Bell Shield — Second Layer	7	Uses energy gained from eerie pills to advance his Golden Bell Shield; the condensed bell becomes nearly solid.
Blood Condensation Realm	12	Identifies himself as a first-realm martial cultivator based on the Great Qi cultivation system.
Golden Bell Shield — Third Layer	16	Reaches nearly 2,500 jin of strength and gains a flexible automatic defense that can become a film, robes, shield, or bell.
Scarlet-Forged Golden Bell Shield — Fourth Layer / Furnace Realm	47	Fuses Golden Bell Shield and Red Line Fist for 50 Energy, creating the Scarlet-Forged Golden Bell Shield and the Crimson Refining Heart.
Iron Garment Realm — First Layer	68	Breaks through in Iron Shirt, greatly improving physical strength and durability; kills the Black Python Wyrm.
Four Hells Divine Art — First Layer	113	Uses 50 Energy after killing Old Gui; gains internal vision and reveals that he possesses two Martial Aspects.
Spirit Fusion Realm	115–116	Uses the Cangwu Finger Bone and Crimson Refining Heart as spirit-fusion objects while raising Iron Shirt and Scarlet-Forged Golden Bell Shield.
Scarlet-Forged Golden Bell Shield — Ninth Layer	140	Spends 350 Energy to deduce the technique further; gains vastly denser vitality-and-blood defenses and confidence against peak fourth-realm opponents.
Fourth Realm — Martial Manifestation Realm	165	Fuses Iron Shirt and Scarlet-Forged Golden Bell Shield for 1,000 Energy, creating the Crimson Azure Divine Art and a dual-aspect Martial Manifestation.
Crimson Azure Divine Art — Mid Fourth Realm	170	Uses 3,000 Energy to advance the art; his combat strength explosively rises to the mid Fifth Realm.
Crimson Azure Divine Art — Thirteenth Layer	195–196	Spends 10,000 Energy on the Crimson Azure Divine Art; astral energy and a glazed, golden-blooded physique emerge.
Martial Domain Realm	197	Forms the Crimson Azure Martial Domain, alongside the existing Four Hells Asura Realm and Heavenly Bell Crimson Domain.
Fifth Realm — Peak	220	Leaves Steed River City after reaching the peak of the Fifth Realm.
Sixth Realm	242	Is recognized as having reached the Sixth Realm only a few years after leaving Black River Town.
Sixth Realm — Peak	256	Faces Seventh Realm expert Yuan Shu while at the peak of the Sixth Realm.
Seventh Realm — Middle Stage	294	Completes cultivation to the middle stage of the Seventh Realm and finishes the Profound Elixir Transformation Art.
Eighth Realm	312	Links multiple Martial Worlds and draws upon seven otherworlds to break through during his battle with the Devil Race Twin Emperors.
Eighth Realm — Middle Stage	332	Refines nine golden flat peaches and advances the Crimson Azure Divine Art, producing a qualitative leap in strength.
Great Power Realm — Peak	344	Spends 40 million Energy to reach the peak of the Great Power Realm; his body transforms into a starry-sky-like form.
Supreme Realm	393	Reaches the Supreme realm, though he remains beneath the Dao Ancestor in the breadth and refinement of his path.

Background

Chu He had been transmigrated into the world for one month when the story begins. He lives in Earthhead Village as one of the orphans raised and trained by Hong Shou, whose disciples serve as village protectors. During Zhang Li's return from the Gray Mist Forest, Chu He's Martial Arts Modifier activates after it absorbs strange energy from the injured villager. 1

The modifier becomes Chu He's central advantage: it converts eerie, demonic, and related energies into Energy points, then uses those points to improve, deduce, or fuse martial arts. He first relies on it to survive a hostile illusion in the Land God Temple, breaking through to the first layer of Golden Bell Shield. 2

Appearance

Chu He's outward appearance changes substantially according to his cultivation and disguises. His original form is that of a handsome, refined young man with swordlike brows and starry eyes, while his combat-oriented or disguised forms are notably larger, fiercer, and more imposing. 81 144 208

• Initially appears as a black-clothed youth with an immature face. 1
• His original appearance is described as handsome and heroic after his body returns to normal. 144
• Can assume other identities through the Profound Elixir Transformation Art, including convincingly reproducing another person's appearance and aura. 174 208
• His strengthened body becomes increasingly extraordinary, at times resembling glazed crystal, a War God-like physique, or a starry sky. 140 196 344
• Crimson-gold vitality-and-blood is a distinctive sign of his power and is associated with the identity of Drunken Tiger. 127

Personality

Chu He is cautious, observant, and deeply suspicious of hidden motives. Even after acquiring overwhelming strength, he habitually gathers information before acting, avoids obvious traps, and treats concealment as a practical means of survival. 12 97 208

He is also blunt and forceful when challenged. Chu He responds harshly to betrayal, intimidation, and threats against civilians or allies, often using overwhelming violence rather than negotiation. His willingness to kill enemies once they have lost their usefulness earns him a ruthless reputation. 56 134 209

Despite this brutality, he can be loyal and considerate toward people he accepts as his own. He supports Zheng Hao, works closely with Yao Yuzhi, protects soldiers and civilians in battle, and openly promises Yao Tianxing that Yao Yuzhi will not suffer while he is present. 118 153 206 216

Abilities & Skills

Martial Arts Modifier

A blue information panel originating from Chu He's previous life.

• Absorbs eerie, ghostly, demonic, and similar energies as Energy points. 1 7 156
• Instantly improves martial arts once sufficient Energy has been accumulated. 2 16
• Can fuse compatible techniques, deduce higher levels, and force spirit fusion with suitable objects. 34 47 115 116
• Grants cultivation experience and comprehension equivalent to long-term practice when upgrading techniques. 144

Crimson Azure Divine Art

Chu He's principal body-and-vitality cultivation art, created by fusing Iron Shirt with the Scarlet-Forged Golden Bell Shield.

• Cultivates both physical strength and vitality-and-blood. 165
• Supports a dual-aspect Martial Manifestation represented by a colossal bell and a golden humanoid figure. 165
• Produces powerful astral energy and an increasingly indestructible body at higher levels. 196
• Its advancement naturally forms the Crimson Azure Martial Domain. 197

Scarlet-Forged Golden Bell Shield

The crimson-gold fusion of Golden Bell Shield and Red Line Fist.

• Forms a bell-shaped vitality-and-blood defense and produces intense crimson-gold flames. 47
• Includes Bell-Tolling Crimson Ground, an expanding soundwave technique capable of eradicating large groups of enemies. 27 156
• Includes Sumeru Dragon Bell, which manifests a blood-colored dragon around Chu He's body. 118
• Its defenses depend on available vitality-and-blood; exhaustion remains a fundamental weakness. 21

Iron Shirt

A body-tempering art originally inherited by the Armor Forging Hall.

• Strengthens flesh, bones, internal organs, endurance, and healing. 39 70
• Develops through the Iron Garment, Copper Garment, and Silver Garment stages. 68 70 118
• Forms Silver Garment Armor, interlocking muscle into a defensive silver-armored body. 118

Four Hells Divine Art

A profound killing art obtained from golden runes released by a black stone stele.

• Was originally incomplete; half of its runes were absorbed by the black shadow in Chu He's mind. 106
• Provides powerful offensive methods, Sacred Beast Intent Seeds, and a second Martial Aspect. 109 113
• Lets Chu He empower himself with Sacred Beast true meanings, including Black Tortoise and Vermilion Bird. 118
• Enables the Myriad Body form, empowered by the Four Hells Sacred Beasts. 281

Domains

Chu He possesses several domains with distinct functions.

• Four Hells Asura Realm — associated with the Four Hells Divine Art. 140
• Heavenly Bell Crimson Domain — seals the power of heaven and earth within its range and can incinerate enemies. 174 180
• Crimson Azure Martial Domain — an innate Martial Domain formed through the Crimson Azure Divine Art. 197

Profound Elixir Transformation Art

A transformation and disguise art.

• Uses an opponent's essence blood to mimic their appearance and aura. 174
• Allows Chu He to disguise himself as Zu Hua, Xu Tianshu, and other targets. 187 209
• Can conceal his martial aura well enough to deceive even peak Sixth Realm experts. 208

Regeneration and Survival

Chu He's mutated organs and divine arts provide exceptional recovery.

• The Crimson Refining Heart improves blood production and artifact-refinement comprehension. 83 156
• The Cangwu Finger Bone can devour life essence and serves as a spirit-fusion object. 74 115
• Spirit Infusion Divine Art · Deathless Soul heals and reinforces him during high-level combat. 269
• He displays Infinite Self-Healing while resisting the Devil Race Twin Emperors. 310

Divine Abilities

• Dao Fist — a physical divine ability unlocked after a near-death battle with dark avatars. 278
• Source Blade — a second physical divine ability unlocked alongside Dao Fist. 278
• Great Annihilation Dao Fist — comprehended during a year of seclusion; strong enough to spar with Third Elder Li Fen without a clear victor. 368
• Life-Soul Curse — a Heavenly Armor Formula method used to gather remnant souls from slain enemies. 170

Artifact Forging

Chu He is an exceptionally gifted artifact forger.

• Learns blade forging rapidly and crafts a long saber during his first serious forging attempt. 51
• Uses the Crimson Refining Heart to progress from a novice to a master blacksmith in a short period. 83
• Awakens a Baleful Intent-rank strange being during forging and binds it into a weapon. 135
• Independently forges the Yellow-grade, superior-quality Blood Lotus Blade. 136

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Blood Lotus Blade — A Yellow-grade, superior-quality soul weapon forged by Chu He; crimson in color and marked with white flame-lotus patterns. 136
• Three Peaks Bracer — A profound-grade soul weapon gifted by Yan Liuqing. It can double Chu He's strength and speed, or triple them after full refinement; it can only be used once daily and risks collapse after repeated use beyond its limit. 153
• Black Heavenly Armor — A Sha Qi armor activated against the peak Sixth Realm Second Elder. 228
• Cangwu Finger Bone — A fused mutated organ with devouring power and major importance to Chu He's cultivation. 74 115
• Crimson Refining Heart — A mutated organ born from technique fusion; improves blood production and artifact-forging comprehension. 47 83
• Bruce — A blackback hound created from the black shadow under Chu He's control. 144

Relationships

• Hong Shou — Chu He's master and the orphanage head who raised and trained him; their relationship is strained by the strange incidents surrounding Earthhead Village. 1 2
• Li Zhi — Senior brother who warns Chu He that the village chief and eldest senior brother may be plotting against the villagers. 12 13
• Miaomiao — Ghost girl whom Chu He initially manipulates into summoning corpses; later interactions remain tense and distrustful. 14 97
• Yao Yuzhi — Companion, trusted ally, and romantic partner. They repeatedly fight together, travel together, and receive Yao Tianxing's approval of their relationship. 35 74 78 136 216
• Yao Tianxing — Yao Yuzhi's father and the Martial King. He approves of Chu He as his future son-in-law, mentors him, and entrusts future responsibility to him. 216
• Yan Liuqing — Hall Master of Heavenly Armor Hall. She recognizes Chu He's identity as Drunken Tiger, protects that secret, provides guidance, and gifts him the Three Peaks Bracer. 153 155
• Granny Nie — Senior artifact forger who recognizes Chu He's talent, supplies rare materials, and supports his forging development. 135 136
• Zheng Hao — Junior brother and fellow Armor Forging Hall apprentice. Chu He encourages him and offers him a place in the Demon-Subduing Army. 51 153
• Yuan Hong and Zhu Ao — Military Hall allies who respect Chu He's strength, attempt to protect him, and help direct him toward Steed River City. 118 129
• Bai Tong — Ally and fellow seeker of the Four Saints Legacy; their relationship is based on mutual assistance and protection. 316 344

Story Role / Major Arcs

Earthhead Village and the Gray Mist Forest

Chu He survives the strange infestation of Earthhead Village, awakens the Martial Arts Modifier, and begins cultivating Golden Bell Shield. After learning that the village chief, Han Zhong, and Li Fang are tied to a conspiracy involving strange entities, he escapes the village while fighting wraiths and corpses. 1 18

He later returns to confront Li Fang, Han Zhong, and the eerie female corpse. Although Bell-Tolling Crimson Ground repels the corpse, Han Zhong injures him from behind. 25 27

Black River Town and the Armor Forging Hall

After reaching Black River Town with Yao Yuzhi, Chu He reports the destruction of Earthhead Village, establishes himself in town, and enters the Armor Forging Hall to obtain Iron Shirt. 35 39

He discovers martial-art fusion through the Modifier, merges Golden Bell Shield and Red Line Fist, and reaches the Furnace Realm through Scarlet-Forged Golden Bell Refinement. 34 47

Paper Lord, Hong Zhao, and Spirit Fusion

Chu He kills Li Shuangcheng, receives an invitation from Paper Lord, and becomes involved in the struggle over the Hong Zhao demon tree and the Black Finger Bone. 56 78

He obtains the Black Python Wyrm's Life-Bound Blood Bone, uses it to remove the Skin Ghost's mark, and works with Yao Yuzhi to destroy the Hong Zhao demon tree. 68 74 78

Rise of Drunken Tiger

Following his survival of the Bora Ghost battle and subsequent recovery, Chu He's identity as Drunken Tiger becomes legendary in Black River Town. The Blackwater Stele's top rank is inscribed with “Drunken Tiger,” while the Military Hall seeks to recruit and protect him. 118 122 127 129

He accepts the position of Grand Commander of the Demon-Subduing Army in Steed River City and becomes entangled in conflicts with the Great Qi imperial clan, Shadowless Tower, and the Ascension Immortal Clan. 130 145

Heavenly Armor Hall and the Fourth Realm

Chu He consolidates his ties with Heavenly Armor Hall, receives the Three Peaks Bracer and a Heavenly Official Secret Realm token, and obtains the Heavenly Armor Art. 153 155

During the campaign against blood beasts and aberrations, he advances into the Fourth Realm by fusing Iron Shirt and Scarlet-Forged Golden Bell Shield into the Crimson Azure Divine Art. 156 170

Secret Realms and the Ascension Immortal Clan

Chu He enters the Heavenly Official Secret Realm, develops the Heavenly Bell Crimson Domain and Profound Elixir Transformation Art, and massacres numerous Ascension Immortal Clan members. 174 210

He later exposes and destroys threats within Rooster Spear Mountain, gains notoriety throughout the Great Wilderness, and becomes a major target of both the Ascension Immortal Clan and the Great Qi imperial clan. 208 234

Hammer Immortal City and Higher Realms

After becoming City Lord of Hammer Immortal City, Chu He continues advancing through the Sixth and Seventh Realms while confronting powerful enemies such as Yuan Shu and Lu Chen. 242 256 269 271

He participates in the Immortal Martial Arena, battles Dao Yue, gains the Four Saints Legacy, and earns the Ancient Clan's support. 278 281 301 302

Great Power and Supreme Realm

Chu He reaches the Eighth Realm, survives the Devil Race Twin Emperors and a forbidden giant's attack, then progresses to the peak of the Great Power Realm. 312 332 344

After further cultivation, he comprehends the Great Annihilation Dao Fist and eventually reaches the Supreme realm. In the final confrontation, he recognizes that the Dao Ancestor's path—tempered by countless civilizations—still surpasses his own in depth. 368 393

Notable Quotes

“What is martial arts? I'll tell you what it is right now! This is martial arts!” 43

“You want my life? Even if I die, I'll tear a piece of flesh off you!!” 120

“Realm is realm, strength is strength! Others might not be able to do it, but that does not mean I cannot.” 214

Trivia

• Chu He's first act after gaining the Modifier is to retreat from Zhang Li rather than touch the strange energy surrounding him. 1
• He names the technique born from Golden Bell Shield and Red Line Fist fusion the Scarlet-Forged Golden Bell Shield himself. 47
• He names the blackback hound created from the shadow Bruce. 144
• Chu He briefly transforms into Xu Tianshu's female appearance, then immediately abandons the disguise because he finds it uncomfortable. 209
• His reputation as Drunken Tiger becomes so famous that soldiers initially accuse the real Chu He of impersonating his own alias. 129