Chu Shihan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Chu Shihan (褚世寒) 1
Alias(es)	Eldest Senior Brother; Heavenly Dao's Son 1 23
Gender	Male 1
Affiliation	Profound Heaven Sect; disciple of Yu Xiao True Person, the Sword Venerable (Sword Venerable Lingxue) 1 12 162
Occupation/Role	Profound Heaven Sect's chief disciple and Eldest Senior Brother; sword cultivator 1 35
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Nascent Soul Realm (Early Stage)	12	Emerged from seclusion to undergo the Nascent Soul Tribulation. He met every bolt with his sword, tempered his spiritual power and physique through the tribulation lightning, passed the final tribulation, and successfully broke through before the age of forty. He remained at the Nascent Soul Early Stage by the Hundred Sects Tournament. 12 239

Background / History

Chu Shihan is the young master of the prestigious Chu Clan, one of the Eight Families, and bears the rare Sword Spirit Root. He became a disciple of Yu Xiao True Person, the Sword Venerable and only Venerable-level expert identified in the Nine Domains. In the source novel known to Shen Yuxi, he is one of its male leads. 1 12 162

He and Feng Yue entered the Profound Heaven Sect through the same Heavenly Mystery Assembly. Although his cultivation had been lower, Chu Shihan defeated Feng Yue in the assembly, establishing the latter's early rivalry and eventual admiration for him. 94

During that same period, Chu Shihan was deeply impressed by Shen Yuxi's ruthless performance in the Heavenly Mystery Assembly and initially hoped to gain him as a junior brother under Yu Xiao's lineage. Shen Yuxi instead became True Person Yu Qing's disciple. Chu Shihan nevertheless prepared a beginner's wooden sword engraved with a calming talisman as a meeting gift and repeatedly tried, albeit awkwardly, to approach him. 91 92 162

Before forging his natal sword, he fortuitously acquired a mystical stone in a secret realm. The stone allowed his sword, One-Inch Heart, to grow alongside his cultivation. Following his Nascent Soul breakthrough, One-Inch Heart became a high-grade treasure artifact. 38

His advancement to Nascent Soul made him the first of the Profound Heaven Sect's younger generation to reach that realm. The elders consequently regard him as a future pillar of the sect. 12

Although publicly composed and naturally gifted, Chu Shihan has long relied on rote learning, excellent memory, written notes, and direct action when faced with matters beyond his experience. He keeps a diary and has gradually recognized that brute strength alone cannot earn trust or make him a capable senior brother. 134 137 238

Appearance

Chu Shihan is a tall, slender man usually dressed in black robes, with a sword at his side. His presence is severe and commanding, causing other disciples to instinctively make way for him. 12 19

• Ink-dark hair and sharply sculpted features. 19
• Severe brows, high nose bridge, thin lips, and a firm jawline. 19
• Carries an imposing, austere aura that commands respect without anger. 19 50
• His black robes and upright bearing are repeatedly compared to a mountain or towering peak. 12 50
• His dark direct-disciple robes, broad shoulders, and narrow waist emphasize his neat, disciplined bearing; he commonly carries One-Inch Heart in a black dark-iron scabbard engraved with kui dragon patterns. 181
• Even when injured during the Hundred Sects Tournament, his fellow disciples regard his still, upright posture and plain black sword as symbols of the Profound Heaven Sect's strength. 323 337

Personality

Chu Shihan is outwardly calm, restrained, and aloof. He favors direct action over lengthy discussion, whether teaching cultivation principles, addressing sect problems, or fighting. 21 28

He takes his responsibilities as Eldest Senior Brother seriously. After realizing that Shen Yuxi had shouldered duties he himself had neglected, he openly apologized and promised to help more with sect affairs. He is also protective of his junior brothers and sisters, stepping forward during crises and remaining alert to potential threats around them. 13 15 30 31

Despite his usual composure, Shen Yuxi's unintentionally broadcast inner praise leaves him deeply embarrassed and confused. He worries about Shen Yuxi's leaked inner voice and precognitive ability, but avoids revealing the truth to prevent causing his junior brother further distress. 13 20

Chu Shihan's concern for others initially takes the form of becoming stronger so that he can protect them. Because he is unused to emotional communication, his attempts at care can be blunt or misguided, such as silently leaving pastries outside Shen Yuxi's door or offering to teach Zhu Yaoyao swordsmanship when she is upset. 82 83 93

He is earnest, straightforward, and more emotionally vulnerable than his cold demeanor suggests. Criticism from his junior brothers, his master's guidance, and the experience of leading others gradually teach him that responsibility is not the same as carrying every burden alone; a leader must also trust the choices and abilities of those he leads. 134 137 167 191

Chu Shihan derives purpose from being trusted, needed, and expected to shoulder responsibility. Rather than wishing for an easy life free of obligations, he seeks the strength and maturity to fulfill his duties without losing his own heart. 180 326

Abilities & Skills

Sword Spirit Root and Nascent Soul Cultivation

Chu Shihan is a Sword Spirit Root cultivator whose talent and cultivation speed place him among the foremost younger cultivators of the Profound Heaven Sect. 1 12

• Successfully faced and overcame the Nascent Soul lightning tribulation. 12
• Tempered both his spiritual power and physique by using the power of tribulation lightning during his breakthrough. 12
• Can confront tribulation lightning directly with powerful Sword Qi. 12
• Possesses a deep enough sword-cultivation foundation to decisively overpower Shen Yuxi in a prolonged duel. 28
• Was considered one of the foremost disciples of the Lingshu Heaven Domain even before the Hundred Sects Tournament. 72
• Possesses formidable physical strength in addition to sword cultivation; even opponents consider direct close combat with him highly dangerous. 314

Sword Qi Control

His Sword Qi is exceptionally precise, controlled, and forceful. During his spar with Lin Mumu, he repeatedly redirected her flying swords with measured strikes, confining an array of more than a hundred swords within a fixed area. 19

• Can redirect multiple flying swords with individual strands of Sword Qi. 19
• Deflects attacks with exact timing and carefully measured force. 19
• Maintains control even when Lin Mumu changes her sword array's forms and attack patterns. 19
• Brief distraction by Shen Yuxi's leaked thoughts caused his sword to deviate, allowing a flying sword to cut the web between his thumb and forefinger. 19
• Can compress his spiritual power and Sword Qi into devastating concentrated strikes capable of breaking powerful defensive arts. 72 313
• Can unleash dense, formless barrages of Sword Qi even after being restrained and disarmed. 325

Spellbreaking Sword Domain

Chu Shihan has formed an embryonic Spellbreaking Sword Domain, an early manifestation of Yu Xiao True Person's path of One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Arts. Its effective range is only three inches around him, but it fundamentally interferes with spells and spiritual-energy manipulation within that range. 314 315

• Can sever the connection between a caster's mind, spiritual power, and spell, rendering spellcraft ineffective at its foundation. 315
• Causes nearby spells to be nullified and can convert disrupted spiritual energy into replenishment for himself and One-Inch Heart. 314
• Competes with opponents for ambient spiritual energy, greatly limiting their ability to sustain large-scale techniques. 314
• Used the domain to break Beiming Xuan's Vast Sea Dragon-Trapping Domain before the remaining force of his strike cracked the tournament barrier. 313
• Remained dangerous to Jing Cangyi even while at a severe disadvantage in close-quarters combat, restricting the latter's spiritual-power use and forcing him to rely heavily on physical techniques. 323 329

Swordsmanship

Chu Shihan's swordsmanship is plain in form but overwhelming in execution. His techniques rely on powerful, measured fundamentals rather than ornamentation. 28

• Uses chops, cleaves, sweeps, slides, and blocks with relentless pressure. 28
• Fights with both hands when needed, catching One-Inch Heart in his left hand to counter Shen Yuxi's attack. 28
• Employs Severing the Worry Strand, a finishing move that cuts a strand of the opponent's hair while stopping the blade an inch from their throat. 28
• His deliberate, visible movements transition seamlessly and create increasing pressure, making opponents feel as if trapped in a swamp. 81
• Excels at seizing initiative, predicting retreat routes, and locking opponents into close range where his heavy sword force can continuously build. 313 315
• Uses Sword Aura to surround his body with cutting force, allowing him to punish enemies attempting to engage him at close range. 324
• Can use the Celestial Maiden Garment's crimson ribbon as an aerial foothold and maneuvering tool, directing it to support rapid changes in position. 314

Teaching and Leadership

Chu Shihan teaches Controlling Spiritual Energy to new inner sect disciples. His lectures are concise, organized, and focused on crucial cultivation principles and common errors. 21

• Speaks for the direct disciples when they request permission to handle the Demonic Cultivator threat during the Outer Sect Grand Competition. 15
• Takes decisive action in crises and stabilizes disorder among his fellow disciples. 15
• Is trusted by inner sect disciples to address disputes affecting their training. 18
• Took the initiative to seek feedback from Wen Jian, Song Zhiyi, and other junior brothers in order to improve as their senior brother. 137
• Led a group of disciples into the Sunken Sea Secret Realm, consulting Shen Yuxi on sect relations and expedition logistics while learning to make decisions as the visible leader. 181 187
• Learned from Li Mo that leadership requires clear guidance, timely aid, and trust in each disciple's ability to bear responsibility for their own choices. 191
• Represents the Profound Heaven Sect at major inter-sect events, including the Hundred Sects Tournament and its guest-reception duties. 221 230

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• One-Inch Heart — Chu Shihan's natal and bonded flying sword. It grew with his cultivation and reached high-grade treasure-artifact status after his Nascent Soul breakthrough. It can rapidly absorb ambient spiritual energy, retain most of it independently, and release it through Chu Shihan's sword techniques. 19 38 314
• Mystical stone — A secret-realm acquisition used in forging One-Inch Heart, enabling the sword to develop alongside him. 38
• Celestial Maiden Garment — A garment with a crimson ribbon that Chu Shihan can reinforce with spiritual power and manipulate as a mobile aerial foothold during combat. 314
• Beginner's wooden sword — A wooden sword with a calming talisman engraved on its hilt, prepared by Chu Shihan as an early meeting gift for Shen Yuxi. 92

Relationships

• Shen Yuxi — His Second Junior Brother. Chu Shihan has long guided and cared for him, worries over the danger of his leaked inner voice and foresight, and later uses a sword duel to lift Shen Yuxi's spirits. Their relationship is complicated by Chu Shihan's long-suppressed romantic love for Shen Yuxi, which he consciously accepts after confronting an illusion in the Sunken Sea Secret Realm. 13 20 28 92 200 201
• Lin Mumu — His Sixth Junior Sister. He supervises her oversized sword array, acts as her sparring partner, and reassures her when she feels uneasy around Gu Xiaoyue. 19 30 31
• True Person Yu Qing — Sect Master of the Profound Heaven Sect. Yu Qing publicly praises Chu Shihan's Nascent Soul breakthrough, holds high expectations for his future, and reassures him after Shen Yuxi is taken away by a powerful senior. 12 93
• Yu Xiao True Person / Sword Venerable Lingxue — His master and the Sword Venerable. Yu Xiao challenges Chu Shihan's narrow understanding of strength, teaches him to understand his junior brothers better, and later helps him recover from his defeat at the Hundred Sects Tournament. 134 135 181 334
• Gu Xiaoyue — Medicine King Valley's chief disciple, who sees Chu Shihan as a major threat and harbors hostility born from his mistaken assumptions about Chu Shihan and Gu Yueyao. 31 35
• Zhu Yaoyao — A visiting Hehuan Sect disciple who often watches him practice swordsmanship. Chu Shihan explains matters concerning Chu Xuan to her and awkwardly offers sword instruction when he notices her low spirits; their frequent contact sparks unfounded sect rumors. 81 82 83
• Gu Jingzhao / Jiang Nian — A new junior brother under Yu Xiao True Person's lineage. Chu Shihan initially resents his master's intention to accept Gu Jingzhao and becomes jealous of his proximity to Shen Yuxi, but gradually recognizes his own shortcomings and accepts the situation. 162 167 185
• Jing Cangyi — Undying Flame's chief disciple and Chu Shihan's most significant Nascent Soul opponent. Jing defeats him at the Hundred Sects Tournament with restrained but overwhelming close-quarters techniques, becoming a major goal for Chu Shihan's future cultivation. Shen Yuxi's leaked memories also imply that an alternate future may have involved a far more intimate relationship between them. 323 326 327
• Li Mo — A steady senior disciple who accompanies Chu Shihan in the Sunken Sea Secret Realm and helps him understand that leadership depends on trusting others rather than attempting to personally bear every danger. 191
• Chu Pojun — A Chu Clan branch-family member and halberd cultivator. Though they have had limited contact, Chu Shihan feels a strong familial resonance while watching Pojun's defeat by Shen Yucheng. 271
• Profound Heaven Sect disciples — The younger disciples look to him as a dependable senior figure, while many are amused by his discomfort whenever Shen Yuxi's inner voice praises him. 18 20

Story Role / Major Arcs

Nascent Soul Tribulation

Chu Shihan emerges from seclusion and undergoes the Nascent Soul Tribulation before the gathered elders and disciples. He survives the lightning tribulation through his swordsmanship, tempers himself with its power, and enters the Nascent Soul Realm, strengthening his standing as the sect's foremost younger cultivator. 12

Taking Responsibility for the Sect

After learning of Shen Yuxi's dangerous condition, Chu Shihan acknowledges that his focus on personal cultivation had led him to neglect sect affairs. He pledges to share those responsibilities and later takes a leading role in the direct disciples' response to the threat surrounding the Outer Sect Grand Competition. 13 15

Inner Sect Instruction

Chu Shihan teaches the new inner sect disciples the fundamentals of controlling spiritual energy. His ordinarily disciplined lecture is repeatedly disrupted by Shen Yuxi's enthusiastic inner commentary, leaving him increasingly flustered under the students' heightened expectations. 21 22

Sword Trial Platform and Moonlit Duel

When Lin Mumu's sword array disrupts others' practice, Chu Shihan intervenes by becoming her sparring partner and restricting the range of her flying swords. Later, noticing Shen Yuxi's melancholy, he proposes a moonlit sword duel rather than attempting a verbal consolation; he wins with Severing the Worry Strand and helps rekindle Shen Yuxi's fighting spirit. 19 28

Flower-Appreciation Gathering

Chu Shihan joins the Profound Heaven Sect's trip to Medicine King Valley chiefly because he remains concerned for Shen Yuxi. He protects and reassures his junior siblings amid Gu Xiaoyue's suspicious behavior, but refuses to participate in the gathering's marriage-oriented martial competition despite Lin Huaixu's encouragement. 29 31 38

Secret Realm Reunion

While exploring the secret realm, Chu Shihan reunites with several injured junior disciples. He immediately asks whether they encountered danger and is confused by their teasing reactions to his unexpected arrival alongside Gu Yueyao. 50

Zhu Yaoyao's Visit

When Zhu Yaoyao visits the Profound Heaven Sect, Chu Shihan patiently answers her questions concerning beast taming and Chu Xuan, despite not understanding her more social motivations. After realizing that she is upset by the sect's prejudice against the Hehuan Sect, he offers to teach her swordsmanship as his awkward form of comfort. 81 83

Learning to Be a Senior Brother

Following repeated failures to understand his junior brothers and sisters, Chu Shihan begins actively seeking advice. Wen Jian's blunt assessment, his master's criticism, and conversations with Song Zhiyi and Ye Jingxuan force him to acknowledge his lack of empathy and his habit of viewing others from a distance. 134 137

Sunken Sea Secret Realm Expedition

Chu Shihan accepts the task of leading a disciple team into the Sunken Sea Secret Realm in order to prove that he can become a reliable Eldest Senior Brother. Although Shen Yuxi handles much of the expedition's logistical work, Chu Shihan learns to consult others, assess broader sect relations, make decisions under pressure, and trust the disciples under his command. 181 187 191

During the Spirit-Locking Sand crisis, he risks being dragged into quicksand while saving a disciple. After the team is scattered, he initially blames himself for every danger they face, but Li Mo persuades him that leadership requires guidance and trust rather than absolute control over others' fates. 190 191

Shadow Moon Illusion

Within the Sunken Sea Secret Realm, an illusion master uses Shen Yuxi's appearance to provoke Chu Shihan and exploit his fears. The confrontation forces him to distinguish his personal desires from his identity as Eldest Senior Brother and ultimately acknowledge that he loves Shen Yuxi without wishing to abandon his responsibilities or principles. 200 201 202

Hundred Sects Tournament

As the Sword Venerable's first disciple and the Profound Heaven Sect's chief disciple, Chu Shihan participates in the Hundred Sects Tournament to uphold the sect's reputation. He also assists with receiving visiting sects, though diplomatic small talk proves far outside his usual strengths. 221 230 249

In the Nascent Soul Division, Chu Shihan defeats Beiming Xuan by using his embryonic Spellbreaking Sword Domain, crushing the latter's water domain with a fully charged sword strike, and maintaining relentless close-range pressure. His performance publicly reveals the terrifying potential of his developing sword path. 313 314 315

Defeat by Jing Cangyi

Chu Shihan faces Jing Cangyi in the Nascent Soul Division final. Although his Spellbreaking Sword Domain constrains Jing's spiritual-energy techniques, Jing's superior cultivation, combat experience, physical flexibility, and joint-locking arts allow him to suppress Chu Shihan at close range. Chu suffers dislocations, minor fractures, and muscle strains, but Jing deliberately avoids inflicting permanent or life-threatening damage. 323 324 326

The loss is Chu Shihan's first crushing defeat and becomes a major catalyst for his future growth. While recovering, he realizes that he does not desire a life free from burdens; he wants to become strong enough to carry responsibilities worthy of others' trust. Yu Xiao later helps him understand that neither the future nor his relationships are fixed, and that he must learn to see beyond his own assumptions. 326 334

Trivia

• In Shen Yuxi's original-novel knowledge, Chu Shihan is described as a harem-style “Long Aotian” male lead; Chu Shihan privately states that he has never planned to build a harem. 1 39
• Shen Yuxi's leaked declaration, “Senior Brother! I'm your dog!”, becomes a source of lasting embarrassment for Chu Shihan. 19 20
• Although he initially tries to avoid Shen Yuxi because of the disruptive inner voice, he repeatedly chooses to look after him when Shen Yuxi appears troubled or endangered. 20 28 29
• Despite his intimidating reputation, Chu Shihan is easily flustered by emotional matters, especially when his master or Shen Yuxi exposes his jealousy and private concerns. 162 167 168
• He has an excellent memory, habitually takes notes, and keeps a diary; his first instinct in unfamiliar situations is often to act rather than discuss. 238
• His public image as a detached sword devotee is so strong that Zhu Yaoyao's repeated visits and the later gossip about his supposed “harem” cause considerable surprise among sect disciples. 82 226