Ning Chen

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Ning Chen (宁辰) 1
Alias(es)	Cao Benqi — false identity used in Heaven Dou City and at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy 20 22
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Formerly the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School; later affiliated with Qian Renxue's faction under the identity of Cao Benqi; Heaven Dou Imperial Academy 5 22 23
Occupation/Role	Soul Master; artifact refiner; blacksmith; Heaven Dou Tier student 11 23
Martial Souls	Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, later evolved into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda; Heart Body Martial Soul 5 28 29
Status	Alive 37
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Soul Power Level 3; Level 4 bottleneck	1	After two years of cultivation with only half a level of innate Soul Power, the original Ning Chen remained stalled at Level 3. 1
Level 10 bottleneck	6	Great Perfection Nine Yang Divine Skill opened his extraordinary meridians and raised his sealed cultivation to the first-ring bottleneck. 6
Level 15 — One-Ring Soul Master	9	Absorbed a roughly 700-year Rock Crystal Beast Soul Ring; gained a 35% strength amplification skill. 9
Level 20 bottleneck	11	Reached Level 20 after two months of concurrent cultivation and forging. 11
Level 26 — Two-Ring Grand Soul Master	15	Absorbed a millennium Phoenix-Tailed Cockscomb Snake Soul Ring; gained 50% speed amplification. 15
Level 36 — Soul Elder	16	Reached Level 36 after several months of cultivation and artifact refinement in Soto City. 16
Level 40, secretly	24	Reached the fourth-ring bottleneck while publicly claiming only Level 33. 24
Level 45 — Soul Ancestor	27	Absorbed a 17,000-year Diamond Mammoth Soul Ring; gained a defensive fourth skill. 27
Level 49	29	Reached Level 49 after consuming the Qiluo Tulip and evolving his Pagoda Martial Soul. 29
Level 50 bottleneck	30	The Blazing Apricot Delicate and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass pushed him to Level 50; he still required a fifth Soul Ring. 30
Level 55 — Soul King	33	Absorbed a 30,000-year Human-Faced Demon Spider Soul Ring and gained a poisonous attack-amplification skill. 33
Near Level 60 bottleneck	35	Reached the threshold of Level 60 after a year of Thousand Mountains Formula cultivation, without yet obtaining a sixth Soul Ring. 35
Level 83 — Soul Douluo	36	Secretly became a Soul Douluo at age fourteen after four years of uninterrupted cultivation; publicly, Cao Benqi was believed to be only a Level 47 Soul Ancestor. 36

Background / History

Ning Chen was born as Ning Fengzhi's biological son and Ning Rongrong's half-brother. At his awakening ceremony, he inherited the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda but possessed only half a level of innate Soul Power. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School consequently stripped him of resources, dismissed his servants, moved him to an isolated residence, and treated him as a disgrace. 1

Despite cultivating daily in hopes of regaining Ning Fengzhi's approval, he remained weak and malnourished. Ning Rongrong lured him away from his attempt to break through Level 4, then ordered six inner disciples to beat him. His suppressed rage erupted; he killed two disciples, incapacitated another, and nearly attacked Rongrong before collapsing. 1 2

Ning Fengzhi chose to protect Rongrong and the sect's reputation over Ning Chen. With Gu Rong's assistance, he fabricated a story about a Fallen Soul Master, coerced the surviving disciples into supporting it, and had Ning Chen buried as dead. 3 4

The current Ning Chen awakened in the grave as a transmigrator from Blue Planet who had inherited the original body's memories. After receiving the Great Perfection Nine Yang Divine Skill from the Myriad Realms Roulette, he shattered his coffin, escaped the sect, and resolved to grow independently rather than return to his father or half-sister. 5

Appearance

Ning Chen was initially thin, frail, and visibly weakened by neglect and inadequate nutrition. 1 After leaving the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, the Nine Yang Divine Skill, whale glue, and later the Heart Martial Soul's Silver Awakening transformed his physique.

• At age nine, he was tall, lean, and athletic, with the stature of a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old. 16
• By age fourteen, his features had become sharper and more resolute, while his accumulated mountain aura gave him a heavy, oppressive presence. 36
• The Human-Skin Mask allows him to alter his face, bodily condition, and even apparent bone age for brief periods. 20

Personality

Ning Chen is disciplined, calculating, and intensely self-reliant. His early mistreatment made him distrustful of institutions and unwilling to depend on family recognition, while his experiences outside the sect taught him to prepare extensively before accepting risks. 5 6 7

He is capable of ruthlessness against those who threaten him, as shown by his retaliation against Bule, Tianya, and Ekao. However, he is not driven solely by revenge: he abandoned his original plan to wait years in Soto City for Ning Rongrong after deciding that it was strategically wasteful and dangerous. 16 17 18

As Cao Benqi, he presents himself as modest and fortunate rather than revealing his true origins or strength. He deliberately controls what others learn about him, including his age, Martial Soul, Soul Rings, and cultivation level. 20 23 24

Abilities & Skills

Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda

Ning Chen's inherited Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda evolved into a Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda after he consumed the Qiluo Tulip, removing the original seven-ring limit and allowing him to pursue the Title Douluo realm. 28

• First Soul Skill — Power: Initially enhances strength by 35%; after his second ring, his strength amplification reaches 50%. 9 15
• Second Soul Skill — Speed: Raises speed by 50%, surpassing the boost of his Wind-Chasing Boots. 15
• Third Soul Skill — Mental enhancement: Chosen to improve his comparatively weaker mental attributes rather than increase Soul Power reserves. 25
• Fourth Soul Skill — Defensive enhancement: Obtained from the Diamond Mammoth; grants the defensive ability Ning Chen sought for his fourth ring. 27
• Fifth Soul Skill — Attack: Enhances attacks and carries the Human-Faced Demon Spider's corrosive poison. 33
• His Nine Yang Divine Skill largely eliminates the Pagoda's usual endurance weakness, although physical exhaustion can still limit extended use. 9

Heart Body Martial Soul

Ning Chen's second Martial Soul is his heart, a vital-organ Body Martial Soul whose latent awakening was responsible for the original Ning Chen's final outburst. 5

• Underwent a Silver Awakening after Ning Chen consumed the Blazing Apricot Delicate and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass at the Icefire Yin-Yang Well. 29
• Doubles his overall physical attributes and causes his heart to passively absorb heaven-and-earth energy with every beat. 29 30
• Grants enhanced senses, purer blood and energy, and the potential for a future Golden Awakening. 29 30
• Has no documented attached Soul Rings as of Chapter 37.

Endless Life

Endless Life is the innate gift awakened through the Heart Martial Soul's Silver Awakening. 30

• Greatly improves strength, speed, reactions, defense, vitality, and regenerative capacity. 30
• Allows Ning Chen to stabilize severe injuries and continue fighting through sustained damage. 32
• Its regenerative potential depends on his heart continuing to beat. 30

Great Perfection Nine Yang Divine Skill

A perfected cultivation technique obtained from the Myriad Realms Roulette. It is the basis of Ning Chen's abnormal cultivation speed and endurance. 5

• Opened all eight extraordinary meridians and continuously generates Soul Power. 5 9
• Refines and guides violent Soul Ring energy, allowing him to absorb rings far beyond ordinary limits. 9 27 33
• Strengthens his body, sharpens his six senses, and rapidly restores Soul Power. 6 14
• Can dispel poisons and refine medicinal energy. 32 33
• Does not remove the risk of physical exhaustion or lethal injury. 9 32

Starlight Bracer

A blood-bound star artifact obtained from the Myriad Realms Roulette. Ning Chen uses it as both a combat weapon and a false Martial Soul under the Cao Benqi identity. 19 20

• Stellar Shield — Forms a hexagonal defensive shield; its strength scales with invested Soul Power. 19
• Stellar Force Surge — Temporarily increases Ning Chen's strength, speed, and reactions. 19
• Illusory Stars — Disrupts enemy senses and disguises Ning Chen's Soul Rings and apparent Martial Soul. 19
• Star Lake — A ten-meter domain that enhances the bracer's other abilities for ten minutes, followed by a six-hour cooldown. 19
• Can be shaped into constructs such as starlight chains and blades. 27 37

Thousand Mountains Formula

A body-tempering martial art received through the Myriad Realms Roulette. It absorbs mountain energy to reinforce Ning Chen's body and Soul Power. 34 35

• Combines offense, defense, and physical tempering. 34
• Fuses with Nine Yang Soul Power, making it denser, heavier, steadier, and more destructive. 34 35
• Ning Chen reached the beginner level before the new school term and later condensed ten mountain phantoms. 34 36

Artifact Refinement and Crafting

Using the Introductory Guide to Dao Refining from the Heavenly Craft Pavilion, Ning Chen became an artifact refiner capable of producing localized Soul Tools. 10 11

• Rapidly mastered blacksmithing fundamentals through apprenticeship and practice. 11
• Uses his Pagoda's treasure-sensing ability to identify valuable jade, ores, and overlooked artifacts. 6 10
• Developed living-storage pouches capable of preserving immortal herbs and spiritual medicines. 30
• Forged the Windrider Airship, which can fly and conceal itself through the Minor Cloud-Mist Spell. 25

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Fierce Slash Blade — Crimson Soul Tool saber that releases Flame Slash; Ning Chen keeps spare fourth-grade blades after one was ruined killing the Diamond Mammoth. 12 27 31
• Earthguard Armor — Defensive Soul Tool with Thick Earth Protection, which can endure three Soul Elder attacks for ten seconds. 12
• Wind-Chasing Boots — Increase speed by 30% and provide a short explosive Wind-Chasing burst. 12
• Azure Flame Pearls — Powerful explosive artifacts capable of breaching a defense-type Soul Ancestor's protection; used to kill the Human-Faced Demon Spider from within. 16 32
• Azure Wood Puppet — Roulette-derived combat puppet comparable to a Junior Soul Elder; possesses the Azure Wood Shield and can be recharged with Ning Chen's Soul Power. 7 9
• Human-Skin Mask — Alters appearance and bone age, but prolonged transformations can cause irreversible mutations; Ning Chen limits use of each alteration to less than half an incense stick. 16 17
• Windrider Airship — Single-person flying artifact with concealment capability. 25
• Starlight Bracer — Blood-bound star artifact used for combat, disguise, and false identity construction. 19

Relationships

• Ning Fengzhi — Biological father and Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. Fengzhi discarded Ning Chen over his poor apparent talent and later covered up his presumed death to protect Ning Rongrong. 1 4
• Ning Rongrong — Half-sister. She orchestrated the beating that led to the original Ning Chen's death; Ning Chen regards her as a future revenge target. 1 5
• Qian Renxue / Xue Qinghe — Political patron and faction leader. Ning Chen joined her under the Cao Benqi identity after negotiating broad personal freedom. 21 22
• Shen Yushan — Owner of Emerald Treasure House and Ning Chen's former jade-carving master. He trusted Ning Chen's talent and treated him with concern, unaware of his true background. 6
• Yu Tianheng — Academy peer, friendly rival, and frequent sparring partner. Yu Tianheng respects Ning Chen's combat skill and trains harder in response to his presence. 23 24
• Dugu Yan — Academy peer and Yu Tianheng's combat partner. She is suspicious of Cao Benqi's unexplained origins and resents the pressure Ning Chen places on Yu Tianheng. 23 24
• Qin Ming — Instructor at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. He recognizes Ning Chen's tactical talent and uses his presence to motivate the Emperor Team. 24 37
• Bule, Tianya, and Ekao — Criminal Soul Masters who pursued Ning Chen for robbery. Ning Chen crippled Tianya and Ekao with an Azure Flame Pearl and killed Bule with Flame Slash. 17 18

Story Role / Major Arcs

Rejection by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School

Ning Chen begins as the neglected son of Ning Fengzhi, whose apparent lack of talent causes the sect to treat him as worthless. Ning Rongrong's assault, his berserk retaliation, and Fengzhi's cover-up culminate in his burial and apparent death. 1 2 3 4

Escape and Independent Growth

After awakening as a transmigrator with the Nine Yang Divine Skill, Ning Chen leaves the sect, settles in Barak City, learns jade carving and blacksmithing, acquires his first two Soul Rings, and begins using Myriad Realms Roulette rewards to compensate for his support-type Martial Soul's lack of direct offense. 5 6 9 15

Soto City and Heaven Dou City

Ning Chen establishes himself in Soto City, crafts fourth-grade Soul Tools, defeats the Lecherous Three Scoundrels, and travels to Heaven Dou City. There, he obtains the Starlight Bracer and constructs the Cao Benqi identity. 16 17 18 19

Qian Renxue's Faction and Heaven Dou Imperial Academy

Under Cao Benqi's identity, Ning Chen secures Qian Renxue's patronage and enters Heaven Dou Imperial Academy as a twelve-year-old Level 32 Soul Elder. He befriends and spars with the academy's elite students while concealing his actual cultivation. 20 22 23 24

Icefire Yin-Yang Well

Ning Chen hunts the Diamond Mammoth for his fourth ring, locates the Icefire Yin-Yang Well, evolves his Pagoda with the Qiluo Tulip, and triggers the Silver Awakening of his Heart Martial Soul through the Blazing Apricot Delicate and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass. 27 28 29 30

Soul King Advancement and Concealed Rise

After defeating the Human-Faced Demon Spider and gaining a poisonous fifth Soul Skill, Ning Chen returns to Heaven Dou City and begins integrating the Thousand Mountains Formula with Nine Yang Soul Power. Four years later, he secretly reaches Level 83 while maintaining Cao Benqi's far weaker public persona. 33 34 36

Emperor Team Training

Ning Chen demonstrates his overwhelming combat ability in a six-against-one training match against Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, the Shi brothers, Yu Feng, and Ye Lingling. He disrupts their formation through Voidstep, starlight chains, and superior battlefield control. 37