Zhao Chen

Biodata

Power Progression

Background

Zhao Chen was a transmigrator who awakened in the Great Thousand World as a silver Nine-leaf Sword Grass. His sign-in system had granted him this form, but not its complete inheritance, leaving him rooted and comparatively weak in the Spirit Road for a year. The sword intent from his nine leaves made nearby spirit beasts fear him, allowing him to survive despite his immobility. 1

His circumstances changed when he encountered the injured Luo Li. Zhao Chen intervened against her Spirit Wheel Stage pursuers with a sword-leaf attack, then absorbed the slain cultivators’ energy to advance. Luo Li recognized his intelligence and potential, transplanted him onto the Luo God Sword, and offered to take him into the wider world. 2

At the Champion’s Platform, Zhao Chen completed ten cumulative sign-ins and obtained the Grass-Character Sword Art. He empowered Luo Li’s decisive strike against the other King-Sealing prodigies, enabling her to claim the Spirit Crown. 8

After leaving the Spirit Road, Zhao Chen pursued the True Phoenix Art at Black Eerie Abyss and developed an unconventional cultivation method by refining poisonous miasma. He later joined Luo Li at Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy, where he reunited with Jiuyou after helping preserve the Nine Netherbird’s life in egg form. 10 15

Zhao Chen’s rise accelerated through lightning inheritances. He survived and consumed heavenly tribulations, subdued Netherworld Heart Demon Lightning, reconstructed the Supreme Heart Demon Scripture, and claimed the Thunder Emperor Token—the key to the Ancient Thunder Palace. 38 69 70

He subdued the Hundred Battles Domain, obtained the Thunder Emperor Armor, defeated Liu Tiandao, and used another tribulation to reach the Earthly Sovereign Realm and assume human form. His forces subsequently expanded into Thunder Palace, which became the dominant power of the Northern Border and later Tianluo Continent. 74 79 86 184

After killing the Western Heaven War Emperor, Zhao Chen accepted responsibility for defending the Westernmost Land and planned to use Saint Abyss Continent as a base for reclaiming territory from the Extraterrestrial Evil Clan. His subsequent expedition into the Demonic Domain brought him into direct conflict with Heavenly Demon Emperors and earned the Flame Emperor’s recognition. He eventually refined Demon Emperor Yan Tian to enter the Saint Grade Heavenly Sovereign Realm. 199 200 208 230 235

Appearance

Zhao Chen’s original body is a conspicuous silver blade of grass with nine leaves shaped like narrow swords. He later develops poisonous coloration, lightning traits, golden dragon patterns, and eventually a handsome human form. 1 10 63 79

• Nine sword leaves — Silver leaves resembling sleeve swords; their innate sword intent frightens spirit beasts. 1
• Poison refinement — Refining Black Eerie Abyss miasma stained his silver body green and imbued his attacks with poisonous properties. 10
• Lightning and dragon markings — Later bears Black God Lightning and nine five-clawed golden dragon patterns from the Great Luo Golden Body. 63
• Human form — First achieved after his Earthly Sovereign tribulation; Jiuyou describes him as handsome. 79
• Clothing — Appears in black robes during his earlier activities as Thunder Emperor and in white robes during his Demonic Domain campaign. 57 218 222
• Saint Grade manifestation — Upon completing his Saint Grade breakthrough, a small Nine-leaf Sword Grass sways behind him as his vast ocean of sword energy withdraws. 235

Personality

Zhao Chen is pragmatic, ambitious, and unusually willing to turn lethal dangers into cultivation opportunities. He treats poison, tribulations, forbidden inheritances, and hostile factions as resources to exploit rather than threats to avoid. 10 31 69

He is fiercely confident in his potential, sometimes reckless, but his confidence is backed by careful preparation through formations, sign-in rewards, and political maneuvering. He prefers forcing enemies into submission when their people and resources can still be useful, rather than destroying them indiscriminately. 31 72 182

Despite his ambition, Zhao Chen consistently supports his companions’ advancement. He postponed his own immediate gains to secure Luo Li’s Spirit Road championship, gave away valuable Tribulation Fluid, and refused to weaken Jiuyou’s bloodline merely to gain her Undying Fire. 5 38 74

His concern for his companions extends to sharing his strongest inheritances. He passed the Ten Vicious Arts and other powerful secret techniques to Luo Li, Jiuyou, Mandala, and those close to him, encouraging them to continue studying these arts while he fought abroad. 208

Zhao Chen values self-reliance even when powerful allies are watching over him. In the Demonic Domain, he refused to stake his survival entirely on whether the Flame Emperor chose to intervene. Nevertheless, growing stronger does not diminish his respect for established protectors of the Great Thousand World: after reaching Saint Grade, he continued to address Xiao Yan as a senior out of personal esteem rather than a difference in cultivation. 218 236

Abilities & Skills

Nine-leaf Sword Grass Physiology

As a Nine-leaf Sword Grass, Zhao Chen possesses exceptional affinity with natural and destructive energies. His plant body can refine materials that would normally be lethal to cultivators.

• Refines toxic miasma into cultivation and poisonous attack properties. 10
• Absorbs Black God Lightning and other tribulation energies as nourishment. 31 175
• Can reveal a gigantic true sword-grass form in battle. 79
• His former plant body was initially rooted and immobile; he did not attain human form until reaching the Earthly Sovereign Realm. 1 79
• Resisted the Saint Spirit Fruit’s residual Earthly Sovereign will and passed the remaining Sovereign Three Difficulties through sufficient spiritual-energy accumulation. 37
• Can use both spiritual energy and evil demonic power as nourishment, although he finds the latter less agreeable. Refining Demon Emperor Yan Tian supplied the resources for his Saint Grade breakthrough. 227 235
• His otherworldly nature provokes the Great Thousand World’s instinctive response, producing a Heavenly Tribulation even for his advancement to Upper Earthly Sovereign. 101

Grass-Character Sword Art

The Nine-leaf Sword Grass’s inherited art is one of the three primordial sword arts and one of the Ten Fiends’ precious arts. Its ultimate potential includes severing spacetime and annihilating seas of stars. 1 8

• Manifested a sword leaf capable of attacking within the Spirit Road’s normal restrictions on spiritual arts. 2
• Allows Zhao Chen to fight opponents at or above his cultivation level after receiving its inheritance. 8
• Can condense immense quantities of sword qi into gigantic golden swords capable of instantly killing Upper Earthly Sovereigns. 110
• Zhao Chen’s sword mastery let him reverse Elder Hidden Sword’s own sword energies against him. 72
• With the Great Luo Sword Embryo, his sword strike cut through time and space and split the Thunder Heavenly Demon Emperor’s demonic soul. 175
• His swordsmanship inflicted a severe head wound on Demon Emperor Yan Tian, a Peak Heavenly Demon Emperor, while Zhao Chen was still at Immortal Grade. Despite his Thunder Emperor title, swordsmanship remains one of his most dangerous combat strengths. 227 228

Thunder Emperor Art and Lightning Control

Zhao Chen acquired the Thunder Emperor Art at the Dragon Demon Palace headquarters and developed it into the foundation of his thunder-based authority. 38

• Suppresses and subdues intelligent lightning, including Netherworld Heart Demon Lightning. 69
• Controls the nine Divine Thunder origins of the Ancient Thunder Palace through the Thunder-Taming Method. 174
• Devours tribulation-like demonic lightning rather than defending against it. 175
• His Netherworld Heart Demon Lightning Spirit evolved into a True Dragon-level lightning spirit after consuming the Thunder Heavenly Demon Emperor’s origin. 175
• Commands ten Divine Thunders in total. Once fully restored, their lightning spirits have the potential to reach power comparable to Saint Grade Heavenly Sovereigns; this is their prospective peak rather than their initial recovered strength. 175
• The empowerment of ten Divine Thunders helped raise his Immortal Grade combat strength to the Late Saint Grade level against Demon Emperor Yan Tian. 229
• Netherworld Heart Demon Lightning contributed to his suppression and killing of Demon Emperors Yan Tian and Hai Tian, particularly through unexpected mental attacks. 256

Supreme Heart Demon Scripture

The Supreme Heart Demon Scripture is one of the Great Thousand World’s thirty-six peerless divine abilities, inherited from the Heart Demon Thunder Emperor. 70

• Cultivated the Lesser Heart-Demon State by forming a Heart-Demon Seed within his heart. 70
• Can plant Heart-Demon Seeds in subordinates to secure absolute obedience. 70 72
• The Heart Demon State can remove hesitation and turn its user into an emotionless battle machine with greatly increased combat strength. 69
• Together with Netherworld Heart Demon Lightning, provides substantial expertise in detecting and countering hostile heart-demon techniques. Zhao Chen detected the Heart Heavenly Demon Emperor’s invisible threads and gathered them into an illusory Heart-Demon Seed, foiling an attempt to infiltrate his mind. 256

Formations and Alchemy

Zhao Chen is a formation grandmaster and accomplished alchemist in addition to being a combat cultivator. 87

• Constructed an earth-dragon formation that redirected Black God Lightning into himself. 31
• Used the Tai Chi Two-Yi Formation to imprison and refine an entire tribulation cloud. 79
• Improved Dragon-Phoenix Heaven’s spatial formation, allowing Earthly Sovereigns to enter safely. 87
• Refines rare pills capable of healing injuries, evolving bloodlines, and advancing cultivation. 87 160
• Obtained the Great Thousand Alchemy Scripture through a sign-in reward and considered combining his own fire with Jiuyou’s flames for pill refinement. 58
• Can establish spatial nodes for long-distance travel, proposing a direct connection between Tianluo Continent and the Luo God Clan’s Little Western Heaven Realm for himself and his companions. At that stage, transporting a large army remained more difficult. 88
• Proposed Spirit Formations with conversion cores that would purify the Demonic Domain’s evil qi and demonic power into spiritual energy, enabling reclaimed territory to support Great Thousand World cultivators. 200

Dragon-Phoenix Inheritances

Zhao Chen refined True Dragon and True Feng resources to form the Dragon-Phoenix Body, then received the Dragon-Phoenix Canon—the inheritance of the Sacred Beast Dragon Phoenix. 90

• The Dragon-Phoenix Body strengthens his physical combat potential and supports his Phoenix and Dragon arts. 90 175
• The Dragon-Phoenix Canon is the cultivation method for producing a true Sacred Beast Dragon Phoenix. 90
• His True Dragon Art, True Phoenix Art, Dragon-Phoenix Canon, and Dragon-Phoenix Body can combine into a Dragon-Phoenix True Spirit comparable to a Spirit Grade Heavenly Sovereign. 175
• Acquired the True Dragon Art through a sign-in reward after obtaining the Dragon-Phoenix Canon, which serves as a bridge for combining his dragon and phoenix inheritances. 91

One Qi Transformation into Three Pure Ones

The Ancient Heavenly Emperor passed Zhao Chen this peerless divine ability and advised him not to create incarnations prematurely. 134

• Three-Division Realm — Creates two incarnations equal to the original body under one consciousness. 134
• Three-Union Realm — Reunites the incarnations to greatly increase power. 134
• Three-God Realm — Produces three independent bodies that may cultivate separately. 134
• Unity Realm — Fuses the bodies for a transformation capable of surpassing the user’s existing realm. 134

Zhao Chen later shared this inheritance with his close companions and reminded Jiuyou to continue cultivating it before he departed for the Demonic Domain. 208

Other Inheritances

• Great Luo Sword Embryo — Ominous weapon that grows stronger against stronger opponents and can devour materials to evolve. 21
• Kunpeng Art — Grants Kun and Peng transformations, yin-yang mastery, and extreme speed. Zhao Chen used a yin-yang divine diagram and chains to immobilize Demon Emperor Yan Tian. 185 229
• Qilin Art — Grants Qilin Step, Qilin Fist, Qilin Kick, Qilin Pattern, danger-sensing, and the ability to discern fortune and misfortune. 201
• Heavenly Horned Ant Art — Provides immense, seemingly inexhaustible physical strength. 182
• Berserk Power — Inherited from the Primordial Savage Beast and intended to become a future Thunder Palace supreme technique. 166
• Gū Clan Art — Obtained after completing his mission to guard Saint Abyss Continent and kill a Heavenly Demon Emperor. Grants mastery over spacetime laws, allowing Zhao Chen to contest spatial control with Late Saint Grade opponents and improve his prospects of fighting across the realm gap. 226 227
• Great Luo Golden Body — Defensive Sovereign Dharma Body cultivated through the Great Luo Golden Pool’s Infinite Golden Light; Zhao Chen reached the exceptional manifestation of nine five-clawed golden dragon patterns. 63

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Great Luo Sword Embryo — A heavy, ominous sword embryo that strengthens itself through devouring. 21
• Thunder Emperor Armor — Intact dark armor infused with lightning and corrupting aura; enhances Zhao Chen enough to overwhelm Ninth-grade Sovereigns and contend with Earthly Sovereigns defensively. 74
• Thunder Emperor Token — The true key to controlling and summoning the Ancient Thunder Palace. 70
• Heavenly Emperor Sword — Saint Grade Peerless Saint Object wielded during the battle against the Heaven-Swallowing Demon Emperor’s remnant. 132
• Dragon Ascension Gates — Three subdued Saint Objects that grant Zhao Chen preliminary control over the Ancient Heavenly Palace’s entrance and Golden Dragon Tokens. 127
• Scripture Repository — High-grade Saint Object brought under Zhao Chen’s control, allowing direct access to its stored divine abilities. 130
• Martial Ancestor’s Stone Talisman — Ancient talisman given through Lin Jing that allows the Martial Ancestor to descend. Intended for confronting powerful Demon Emperors rather than casual use; the Martial Ancestor later instructed Zhao Chen to use it when arranging the transfer of Saint Abyss City’s defenses with the Great Thousand Tower. 137 171 200
• Heavenly Sovereign strike tokens — Tokens containing sword intent and lightning condensed from the Grass-Character Sword Art and Thunder Emperor Art. Given to the Master of Divine Pavilion and Netherworld Heavenly Venerable, they could severely injure Spirit Grade Heavenly Sovereigns and potentially kill weaker early-stage ones. 151

Relationships

• Luo Li — First major ally and closest companion. Zhao Chen saved her in the Spirit Road, enabled her Spirit Crown victory, and later treated the Luo God Clan’s crisis as his own. His affection is explicitly romantic, and he regards her family’s affairs as his responsibility because he loves her. He later killed the Western Heaven War Emperor after the latter threatened her clan. 2 8 101 199
• Jiuyou / Little Nine Netherbird — Divine-beast companion and Thunder Palace executive deputy palace master. Zhao Chen protected her during her tribulation and later helped her evolve into the Primordial Undying Bird. She publicly introduced him to her father as her boyfriend, and Tianhuang Patriarch welcomed him as a son-in-law. Before entering the Demonic Domain, Zhao Chen entrusted the affairs of Saint Abyss Continent to her. 31 159 166 208
• Mandala — Ally, formation collaborator, and daughter of the Ancient Heavenly Emperor. She assisted Zhao Chen in securing the Ancient Heavenly Palace and guards Thunder Palace during his absences. The Ancient Heavenly Emperor interpreted their close relationship as familial and regarded Zhao Chen as a worthy son-in-law. 101 125 127 132
• Lin Jing — Thunder Palace’s Guardian Divine Maiden and daughter of the Martial Ancestor. Zhao Chen recruited her, arranged her cultivation resources, and agreed to wait for her before entering Divine Sea Space. Her father recognized her interest in Zhao Chen despite her denial and treated Zhao Chen’s future achievements as a test of his suitability as a son-in-law. 121 124 137 185
• Heart Demon Thunder Emperor — Ancient predecessor whose remnant taught Zhao Chen the Supreme Heart Demon Scripture and entrusted him with destroying the Extraterrestrial Evil Clan. 70
• Ancient Heavenly Emperor — Mentor who empowered Zhao Chen to the Quasi-Heavenly Sovereign Realm and passed down One Qi Transformation into Three Pure Ones. Zhao Chen destroyed the Heaven-Swallowing Demon Emperor’s remnant and restored the Heavenly Emperor’s spiritual body, allowing him to reunite with Mandala. 132 134
• Martial Ancestor — Powerful supporter who entrusts Zhao Chen with the Westernmost Land and promises to handle the Peak Heavenly Demon Emperor. He also provided a summoning talisman and later blocked the Western Heaven War Emperor’s escape while Zhao Chen fought him. 137 199 200
• Luo Tianshen — Luo Li’s grandfather and leader of the Luo God Clan; initially shocked by Zhao Chen’s strength, then accepts his support for the clan. 101 110
• Lei Cang — Chief of the Thunder Spirit Clan, who pledges his clan’s allegiance after Zhao Chen kills the Thunder Heavenly Demon Emperor. 176
• Tianhuang Patriarch — Jiuyou’s father. Initially questioned Zhao Chen about his relationship with Jiuyou, then enthusiastically accepted him as a son-in-law after learning how much he had helped her and recognizing his status. 159 160
• Flame Emperor / Xiao Yan — Senior protector of the Great Thousand World who sees Zhao Chen as a potential savior capable of eventually surpassing the Transcendent Saint Stage. After witnessing his victories in the Demonic Domain, Xiao Yan invited him to the Endless Fire Domain to refine Yan Tian and celebrate. Following Zhao Chen’s Saint Grade breakthrough, Xiao Yan acknowledged him as an equal, although Zhao Chen retained the respectful address of senior. 220 230 236
• Xiao Xiao — The Flame Emperor’s daughter, who became fascinated by Zhao Chen while watching his battles and worried about his safety before meeting him. At their first meeting, she enthusiastically praised his victories, rejected his attribution of them to luck, and introduced him to her family. Zhao Chen found her interesting and accepted her welcoming attention. 218 228 236 237
• Western Heaven War Emperor — Enemy whose designs on Luo Li and pressure against the Luo God Clan brought him into direct conflict with Zhao Chen. Zhao Chen killed him rather than leave a future threat, turning the War Emperor’s established reputation into a foundation for his own wider fame. 186 198 199
• Heart Heavenly Demon Emperor — Peak Heavenly Demon Emperor and specialist in mental corruption. His attempt to infiltrate Zhao Chen with heart-demon threads failed because Zhao Chen detected and countered them. 256

Story Role / Major Arcs

Spirit Road

Zhao Chen begins as an immobile divine grass seeking cultivation methods. His intervention in Luo Li’s pursuit creates their alliance, while their joint victory at the Champion’s Platform grants him the Grass-Character Sword Art and makes Luo Li the Spirit Crown bearer. 1 2 8

Northern Heavens and Heavenly Tribulations

After separating from Luo Li to seek the True Phoenix Art and Nine Netherbird, Zhao Chen refines Black Eerie Abyss miasma, reunites with his companions, and repeatedly weaponizes heavenly tribulations for cultivation. 9 10 31 38

Thunder Emperor Legacy

Zhao Chen enters Demon Thunder Abyss, subdues Netherworld Heart Demon Lightning, reconstructs the Supreme Heart Demon Scripture, and claims the Thunder Emperor Token. He then takes Hundred Battles Domain and gains the Thunder Emperor Armor. 69 70 74

Rise of Thunder Palace

Following his Earthly Sovereign breakthrough, Zhao Chen turns Nine Nether Palace’s influence into Thunder Palace. He subdues the Northern Border’s major factions, secures Dragon-Phoenix Heaven, and develops resources for his companions’ advancement. 79 86 87

Luo God Clan and Ancient Heavenly Palace

Zhao Chen aids Luo Li’s family against the Blood God Clan, kills Blood Spirit Son, and deters the West Heaven War Hall. He later enters the Ancient Heavenly Palace with Luo Li, Jiuyou, and Mandala, seizing its gates, formations, and inheritance infrastructure. 101 110 125 127

Inside the Heavenly Emperor Mausoleum, Zhao Chen exposes and destroys the Heaven-Swallowing Demon Emperor’s remnant using the Heavenly Emperor Sword and his inherited arts. He purifies the contaminated remains, restores the Ancient Heavenly Emperor’s spiritual body, and receives both spiritual-energy empowerment and One Qi Transformation into Three Pure Ones. 132 134

Unification of Tianluo Continent

As a Heavenly Sovereign, Zhao Chen expands Thunder Palace across Tianluo Continent. At the Tianluo Banquet, he defeats or forces the submission of the five superpower leaders, becoming Tianluo Continent’s recognized ruler. 151 182 184

He subsequently relocates Thunder Palace’s headquarters to Central Province, secures it with the Ancient Thunder Palace, and gathers the Ancient Heavenly Palace ruins, Sacred Dragon Continent, and the passage to Divine Beast Origin nearby. Completing the unification mission grants him the sign-in opportunity that yields the Kunpeng Art. 185

War Against the Extraterrestrial Evil Clan

After reaching Immortal Grade, Zhao Chen consolidates the Ancient Thunder Palace and prepares for the wider war against the Extraterrestrial Evil Clan. He accepts responsibility for Saint Abyss Continent and intends to reclaim the Demonic Domain through purification formations and military counteroffensives. 176 200 201

The transition follows his destruction of the Western Heaven War Emperor, whose campaign against the Luo God Clan forced a decisive confrontation. With the Martial Ancestor preventing the War Emperor’s escape, Zhao Chen eliminates him and assumes a leading role in the Westernmost Land’s defense. His proposed defensive coalition comprises Thunder Palace, the Luo God Clan, and the Nine Netherbird Tribe. 199 200

Zhao Chen then voluntarily enters the Space-Time Storm surrounding the Ancient Saint Abyss, accepting the possibility of being transported into the Demonic Domain as an opportunity to hunt Demon Emperors. He leaves Jiuyou to guard Saint Abyss City and secure the Ancient Saint Abyss against competing factions. A system mission rewards the defense of Saint Abyss Continent and the killing of a Heavenly Demon Emperor. 208

Demonic Domain Campaign

In the Demonic Domain, Zhao Chen kills the Flame Profound Demon Emperor despite the Heartflame Demon Emperor’s interference. His campaign ultimately destroys the Heartflame Demon Emperor, Chaotic Blade Demon Emperor, and Sea-Devouring Demon Emperor as well, drawing the attention of Xiao Yan, Xiao Xiao, and Yao Lao. Xiao Yan identifies him as a possible future savior of the Great Thousand World rather than merely another promising Heavenly Sovereign. 216 218 220 222 230

Completing his earlier mission grants Zhao Chen the Gū Clan Art. With its spacetime mastery supplementing his other inheritances, he joins the conflict involving the Flame Emperor and three Peak Heavenly Demon Emperors. He wounds Demon Emperor Yan Tian, restrains him with Kunpeng yin-yang chains, and subdues him, while Demon Emperor Hai Tian retreats. Xiao Yan praises Zhao Chen as an indispensable guardian and invites him to the Endless Fire Domain. 226 227 228 229 230

Saint Grade Breakthrough and Endless Fire Domain

Zhao Chen refines Demon Emperor Yan Tian as nourishment in the Endless Fire Domain, successfully entering the Saint Grade Heavenly Sovereign Realm and completing another sign-in mission. His new realm allows him to maintain Saint Grade power without relying on temporary enhancements. 235 236

Xiao Yan welcomes him to a family gathering attended by his family and confidantes, including Xun’er, Cai Lin, Xiao Lin, and Xiao Xiao. Xiao Xiao enthusiastically questions Zhao Chen about his victories and personally introduces him to the others. 236 237

Defense of Saint Abyss and Peak Heavenly Demon Emperors

Following the announcement of an Extraterrestrial Evil Clan invasion threatening Saint Abyss, Zhao Chen is later shown presiding over a gathering in the Divine Thunder Palace. Luo Li and Jiuyou sit beside him, while representatives of the Great Thousand Tower, Budur Ancient Clan, Tailing Ancient Clan, Northern Domain Wen Family, and Endless Fire Domain attend below. 237 245

By his confrontation with the Dark Heavenly Demon Emperor, Heaven-Slaying Demon Emperor, and Heart Heavenly Demon Emperor, Zhao Chen has killed Demon Emperor Hai Tian. A new system mission requires him to battle four Peak Heavenly Demon Emperors, kill at least one, and rout the invaders; Hai Tian’s death already satisfies the killing requirement. Zhao Chen counters the Heart Heavenly Demon Emperor’s infiltration attempt and meets the Heaven-Slaying Demon Emperor’s saber attack with the Great Luo Sword Embryo. The outcome of this confrontation is not yet established at this point. 256

Notable Quotes

“Helping you is helping me.” 8

“I will protect all of you.” 70

“What do you mean, I can’t? That word doesn’t exist in my dictionary!” 31

“Before me, enemies either flee without a trace or suffer utter defeat!” 216

“My path to the Saint Grade is to exterminate demons!” 227

“Not everyone deserves respect. In everyday conversation, I'll still call you senior.” 236

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