Chen Mu

Biodata

Power Progression

Background

Chen Mu is a transported outsider who spent nearly half a year surviving as a butcher in Everlasting Prosperity Town’s impoverished Rubble Ward. His work made him lowborn and socially despised, but slaughtering livestock secretly fed the Slaughter Register and brought him closer to martial cultivation. 1

He took in the sickly A-Ning as his wife and companion. Their marriage remained informal because Chen’s lowborn registration prevented him from publicly establishing a household; becoming a martial academy disciple became his route to legal status, security, and a proper future with her. 1 2

Through martial service, demon suppression, and military merit, Chen was removed from the low-status register and appointed Patrol Inspector, a Subordinate Ninth-Rank official position. The appointment gave him lawful authority and removed the social barrier that had long constrained his life with A-Ning. 108

Before leaving on a mission to request reinforcements, Chen arranged a formal wedding with A-Ning, whose name is Song Anning. He intends to help search for her family in Youzhou after the winter war. 169 170 172 173

Appearance

Chen Mu is a tall, broad-shouldered young man with a burly frame and an intimidating physical presence. At the beginning of the story, he commonly wears shabby gray clothing and carries the blood-and-offal scent of his butcher’s trade. 1 4

• Twenty years old when assessed by Azure Dragon Martial Academy. 4
• Strong enough to drive a knife deep into a chopping block and frighten local ruffians before becoming a martial artist. 1
• His rapid cultivation later enlarges and hardens his physique; after reaching the Third Tier, his frame grows noticeably more imposing. 18
• Uses the black half of the Yin-Yang Twin-Heart Jade to conceal his aura and publicly suppress his apparent cultivation. 18 20
• The Golden Bell Iron Cloth Shirt eventually transforms his body into a hardened golden physique capable of enduring Xuanzhen’s close-range attacks without visible injury. 94 118
• Opening his eye aperture causes his vision to turn scarlet and grants him a more profound level of visual perception. 130 131
• Opening his ear aperture grants him exceptionally keen hearing. 163

Personality

Chen Mu is cautious, pragmatic, and deeply conscious of the danger created by his low status. He avoids pointless confrontations when possible, using bribes, false identities, and calculated deception to survive opponents whose power exceeds his own. 4 11

His restraint has a clear boundary: threats against A-Ning or those he considers his own can provoke extreme violence. Huang Silang’s threat against A-Ning drives Chen to commit his first murder, while Xi’er’s death turns his conflict with Ma San into a deliberate campaign of vengeance. 1 6 8

Despite his increasingly ruthless methods, Chen retains strong loyalty toward allies. He treats Wang Hu’s injuries, protects Liu Meng during the Clear River crisis, reports the Ghost Market conspiracy to Liu Qingcang, and repeatedly risks himself for A-Ning. 6 25 49

Chen has grown into a decisive leader as well as a fighter. As Patrol Inspector, he imposes discipline on reluctant constables, organizes investigations into demon activity, and leads expeditions against bandits, invading barbarians, and demon beasts. 99 109 111

His concept of justice is not indiscriminate. When confronting Old Ghost Jiang, Chen investigates the old man’s aura, reputation, and conduct before distinguishing crooked cultivation from actual murder and choosing not to kill him. 105

The impending invasion leads Chen to place the town’s defense above his own safety. He accepts the dangerous journey to Cloud Province for reinforcements and arranges his wedding before departing, while continuing to avoid unnecessary disputes even when insulted. 168 169 171 173

Abilities & Skills

Slaughter Register

An ancient volume that appeared in Chen Mu’s mind after his transportation. It turns killing into cultivation resources and is the foundation of his extraordinary advancement. 1

• Killing living creatures grants Blood Qi or Blood Essence, strengthening Chen’s body, reactions, and combat power. 1
• Killing martial artists, demons, and sufficiently evil targets grants Karmic Slaughter; the amount depends on an enemy’s strength and wickedness. 1 7
• Karmic Slaughter can directly raise martial-art proficiency, force breakthroughs, and derive fused techniques. 5 13 18
• Daily settlements evaluate Chen’s actions and can grant silver, medicinal pills, martial arts, and rare treasures. 18 28
• After entering Feng River Old Estate, the Register recognized separate categories for Immortal Arts and Divine Abilities, confirming that Chen can advance along both martial and mystical paths. 66
• The Register can identify or seek clues to the remaining Yinflower Lightning Seeds needed to complete his Nine-Nether Profound Thunder Divine Ability. 65 74
• It remains functional within the mysterious mirage realm Chen encounters beyond Thunder Abyss. 140

Yin Extremity Profound Baleful Art

A low-grade Profound Rank internal art created by fusing Rampaging Bull Force with Black Tiger Baleful Heart Art. It has nine layers and can lead toward the Innate Realm. 34 44

• Refines poisonous Yin energy and corpse balefulness into nourishment rather than allowing it to harm Chen. 34 38
• Produces Profound Yin True Qi, which Chen can use for offensive techniques while still in the Body Tempering Realm. 34 37
• Automatically neutralized Corpse Venom from Luo Dalong’s poisoned crossbow bolt. 38
• Reached its fourth layer after Chen absorbed the Nine-Nether baleful force of Feng River Old Estate, providing the Yin foundation later fused into the Heaven-Earth Infinite Art. 66 93 94

Heaven-Earth Infinite Art

A Profound Grade internal cultivation method created by combining the Yin Extremity Profound Baleful Art with Wei Chen’s Crimson Blood Blazing Sun Art. It harmonizes Yin and Yang True Qi through violent internal refinement. 93 94

• Grinds Profound Yin and Extreme-Yang True Qi together, remaking Chen’s flesh, blood, tendons, and bones while generating a balanced Yin-Yang power. 94
• Allows Chen to manifest either freezing Yin baleful force or blazing Yang fire through the same internal foundation. 94
• Enabled Chen to fully unleash the fiery power of the Blazing Yang Palm, which had previously been limited by the incompatibility of his Yin True Qi. 74 94
• Reached its seventh layer during Chen’s secluded breakthrough and supported his transition into Meridian Opening. 130 131
• Reached its eighth layer when Chen invested 1,968 Karmic Slaughter to contain the Lihuo Essence Gold’s fire, advancing his Meridian Opening cultivation by two levels. 162 163

Hundred-Slash Baleful Blade

A high-grade Yellow-rank saber art derived from Chen’s perfected Ox-Slicing Saber Technique and the Black Tiger Blade Technique. It combines butcher-like anatomical precision with the Black Tiger lineage’s ferocity. 13 14

• Builds Killing Intent through a continuous sequence of one hundred slashes. 13
• Condenses blade glow capable of cutting through thick bluestone and inflicting destructive, rotting wounds. 13
• Requires sustained offense to accumulate its strongest Killing Intent; it is less effective if Chen cannot maintain his sequence. 13
• Its blade aura allowed Chen to defeat stronger opponents such as Yan Rong and the Purple-Scaled Corpse King. 17 25
• Reached Mastery by the Mangdang Mountain campaign, allowing Chen to combine its continuous killing sequences with the Dragon-Slayer Saber’s enhanced saber qi. 113 117
• Its saber attacks proved ineffective against a Thunder Beast whose true core lay in a pearl rather than its lightning body. 149

Mighty Bull Fist

Chen’s close-combat art, developed from Rampaging Bull Force and focused on heavy, direct killing blows. 6 44

• Includes throat strikes, heart-smashing punches, neck attacks, and a self-sacrificing elbow strike. 6 8
• Its killing elbow severely injured Ma San and created openings against stronger enemies. 8 37
• Reached complete mastery, but Chen considers it inadequate against opponents protected by substantial True Qi. 44

Azure Dragon Seven-Slaying Fist

An Azure Dragon martial inheritance Chen began comprehending through the Azure Dragon Body Tempering Art: Dragon Form Chapter, which the Slaughter Register identified as a low-tier Profound Grade art. A transmission vision showed an azure-robed martial artist, apparently academy founder Liu Yunji, demonstrating its battlefield techniques. 140

• Chen spent 500 Karmic Slaughter and comprehended the Three Forms, initially reaching the Initial Glimpse stage. The art emphasizes destroying an opponent’s body, courage, and momentum. 140
• The transmission showed Azure Dragon Locks the Gate, a combined technique drawing on tiger, crane, and dragon forms. 140
• Chen used Dragon Battles in the Wilds to manifest a dragon of Blood Essence, crush a Qilin Thunder Beast’s lightning defense, and expose the pearl at its core. 149

Blazing Yang Palm

A high-grade Yellow-rank palm art acquired from Wei Chen through the Slaughter Register’s settlement. 74

• Chen raised the technique to Entering the Hall with Karmic Slaughter, gaining its offensive forms and experiential understanding directly. 74
• Before developing the Heaven-Earth Infinite Art, Chen’s Profound Yin True Qi could not display the palm art’s true scorching Yang power. 74
• After harmonizing Yin and Yang, Chen can use it to burn or blast apart enemies, including corpse-based monsters and barbarian scouts. 94 105 111

Nine-Nether Profound Thunder

An incomplete acquired Divine Ability created when Chen refined an Yinflower Lightning Seed under the old Flood Dragon’s guidance. It is a netherworld thunder art associated with judgment, ghosts, and Yin baleful force. 65

• Chen initially refined one of nine required Lightning Seeds, leaving the Divine Ability incomplete but already capable of several thunder transformations. His later cultivation panel records it at 2/9 completeness and notes that he has completed its fourth manifestation. 65 66 163
• Its black lightning is especially effective against ghosts, refined corpses, and Rakshasa Gate techniques. 65 69
• Lightning Draws Light, its third transformation, draws surrounding Profound Yin baleful energy into a thunder dragon; Chen used it with Qin Tieya’s support to annihilate the Half-Step Innate Wei Chen. 69
• Its strongest transformations consume enormous amounts of True Qi and can temporarily weaken Chen’s Thunder Seed. 69
• Chen sought another Yinflower Lightning Seed in Thunder Abyss, where he sensed its aura amid powerful demon beasts. 126 136
• He used Nine-Nether Profound Thunder to drive back General Deng’s cavalry long enough to escape the Cloud Prefecture training ground. 186

Divine Lihuo Eyes

An incomplete fire-aspected Divine Ability awakened after Chen refined Lihuo Essence Gold, a Phoenix-Blood Fruit, and two Demon Ape Eyecores with A Zhu’s guidance. His cultivation panel records it at 1/9 completeness. 162 163

• Its first manifestation, Blazing Flames Burn the Heavens, fires destructive beams from Chen’s eyes; its initial discharge pierced the mountain and incinerated a demon bird. 163
• Further manifestations require additional fire-aspected spiritual materials. 162 163

Immortal Arts and Spiritual Perception

Chen’s encounter with the old Flood Dragon opened a path beyond conventional martial cultivation. 65 66

• Northern Yin Supreme Profound Spirit-Refining and Qi-Guiding Method — An ancient Xuan sect scripture that lets Chen absorb Yin Qi, generate Innate Qi, establish his Divine Sea, and cultivate Divine Sense. His later panel lists the Northern Yin Grand Profound Scripture’s first-volume Qi-Guiding Chapter and a fragment of its second volume, Penal Netherworld, at 1/3 completeness. 65 163
• Divine Sense — Lets Chen examine auras, identify hidden marks, detect intruders, track targets, and resist mind-affecting techniques such as Xuanzhen’s Blood-Eyed Demon Art. 83 94 117
• Qi-Seeking Dragon-Finding Art / Heavenly Eye — A completed mystical art used to perceive killing intent, spiritual traces, and the moral taint surrounding targets. 47 66 105
• Mysterious Womb Pearl — A treasure that gathers ambient spiritual energy and refines it into Primordial One Qi, allowing Chen to purify Blood Essence and begin tempering True Blood. 103

True-Qi Projection

Chen’s True Qi enables techniques ordinarily associated with stronger martial artists. 36 37

• Exhaling Qi into a Sword — projects condensed True Qi at an opponent; Chen used it to pierce Zhao Liqiu’s forehead. 37
• Thunderous Voice — a vocal attack used in combination with projected Qi to disrupt and kill an opponent. 37
• True Qi can also strengthen his saber aura, though his reserves were initially limited and could not sustain prolonged high-output combat. 36
• His later Qi Accumulation breakthroughs allow him to form protective qi auras, project saber qi, and manipulate mixed Yin-Yang True Qi at far greater strength. 66 94 131
• After opening his eye aperture, he can form Astral Force into armor extending three inches beyond his body and shape blade Astral Force to strike at a distance. 131

Archery

Chen learned the Heavenly Wolf Demon Court-derived Howling Moon Arrow Manual after obtaining it during the Mangdang Mountain campaign. 124

• The manual contains nine True-Qi-powered arrow forms; Chen used all 612 Karmic Slaughter points available to reach Entering the Hall and master its first three forms. 124
• Its threefold-qi arrows can break Astral Force and threaten any opponent below the Innate Realm when Chen has sufficient preparation, terrain, and killing intent. 124 126
• Chen used the Howling Moon Twin Arrows to cripple and then kill the ninth-rank Golden-Wing Blood Eagle. 126
• He has Cold-Pool Giant Serpent fangs prepared for use as poison-arrow materials. 124
• He later used Howling Moon arrows to strip away much of a Qilin Thunder Beast’s protective lightning, though the beast recovered in the Thunder Pool. 149

Movement and Defense

Chen supplements his saber style with specialized mobility and external hardening arts. 26 44

• Grass-Top Flight — a perfected lightness technique that lets him cover several yards per burst, carry others while moving quickly, and skim across water. 26 45
• Ghost-Shadow Step — close-range footwork for sudden direction changes and evasive movement in confined spaces. 38 45
• Eight-Step Chasing Cicada — A high-grade movement art created by fusing Grass-Top Flight with the Eight-Step Chasing Cicada manual. At Furnace and Flame proficiency, it nearly doubles Chen’s speed, reduces expenditure, and lets him skim over water, though it remains poorly suited to prolonged midair pursuit. 83 84 118
• Iron Cloth Shirt — an external hardening art raised to proficiency through Karmic Slaughter; his arm can withstand his own blade strike with only a faint mark. 44
• Golden Bell Iron Cloth Shirt — A high-grade Yellow-rank body-tempering art derived from Iron Cloth Shirt and Golden Bell Shield. Its Mastery-level hardening stabilized Chen’s rapidly strengthened body and lets him endure formidable close-combat attacks. 94 118
• Robe-Subduing Demon Art — An Esoteric Sect body-tempering and combat art that grants palm, finger, fist, leg, and claw techniques in addition to an advanced external cultivation method. Chen raised it to Entering the Hall. 113

Equipment

• Dragon-Slayer Saber — A treasured single-edged saber once used by founding patriarch Liu Yunji to kill a flood dragon in the Northern Sea. It resonates with Chen’s Profound Yin True Qi and increases his combat strength by roughly thirty percent. 49 50
• Yin-Yang Twin-Heart Jade — A heavenly treasure split into black and white pendants. The black jade conceals and regulates Chen’s aura; the white jade nourishes the body and was given to A-Ning. 18 20
• Mystic Capital Token — A control token Chen recovered from the collapsing Xuandu Platform. It allows him to shut down the Astral Star Array and grants him authority within the Mystic Capital Dharma Hall’s ancient secret realm. 69
• Mysterious Womb Pearl — A spiritual treasure recovered from the Joyful Bodhisattva that converts gathered spiritual essence and Soul-Nourishing Pills into Primordial One Qi. 103
• Profound Thunder Cauldron — A cauldron Chen uses to store spiritual materials; A Zhu can manifest from it. 162 182
• Azure Dragon iron disciple token — Proof of Chen’s membership in Azure Dragon Martial Academy. 21
• Patrol Inspector Black Iron warrant badge — The official badge of Chen’s Subordinate Ninth-Rank government office, granting him lawful authority over Patrol Office personnel. 108 109
• Bone-Splitting Knife / butcher’s knives — Tools from his former trade that Chen has repeatedly used for interrogation, close combat, and execution. 6 35
• Azure Dragon Body Tempering Art — A high-tier secret transmission with 108 body-tempering forms. Chen acquired demon-beast essence blood for its cultivation and later began comprehending its low-tier Profound Grade Dragon Form Chapter. 41 44 116 140
• Howling Moon Arrow Manual and Black-Iron Great Bow — Chen’s archery inheritance and bow for True-Qi-powered arrows, supplemented by venomous serpent-fang arrow materials. 119 124 125
• Peace Buckle — A handmade gift from A-Ning bearing matched birds and the characters “Anning,” given to Chen before their wedding and his departure. 169
• Liu Qingcang’s command token and secret letter — Credentials Chen carries to Cloud Province to request military aid. 173 185

Relationships

• A-Ning / Song Anning — Chen’s wife and closest emotional attachment. He sought martial status, wealth, and strength primarily to protect her; after her disappearance, his search for her drove much of his conflict with the Li caravan, Luo Family Fort, and Ghost Market forces. She returned to his household, where Chen arranged further protection and care for her. They later held a formal wedding before his Cloud Province mission; he left her a note and cultivation resources and hopes to search for her family in Youzhou after the war. 1 2 41 83 108 109 169 170 172 173
• Liu Qingcang — Master of Azure Dragon Martial Academy and Chen’s master. Liu secretly accepts Chen as his ninth personal disciple, later formally acknowledges him, entrusts him with the Dragon-Slayer Saber, and uses his influence to secure Chen’s official status. He subsequently sends Chen to Cloud Province with a secret letter to seek reinforcements. 32 49 50 108 169 173
• Qin Tieya — Azure Dragon senior disciple who tested Chen’s aptitude, admitted him as a registered disciple, and repeatedly fights beside him. He led the first Luo Family Fort expedition, helped Chen kill Wei Chen, and remains one of Chen’s most trusted senior brothers. As Chen heads to Cloud Province, Qin takes the separate mission to investigate Esoteric Sect activity in the Northern Capital. 4 21 50 69 126 169
• Liu Meng — Formerly condescending academy gate guard who becomes Chen’s ally and junior brother. Chen protected him during the Clear River Corpse King crisis, while Liu Meng later assists in searching for A-Ning, leading troops, and serving under Chen during the Mangdang Mountain campaign. He also handles preparations for Chen and A-Ning’s wedding. 25 32 41 109 111 170
• Wang Hu (“Tiger Boy”) — Chen’s childhood friend and trusted ally from Rubble Ward. Wang Hu defended Chen’s home, and Chen later supports him with money, pills, and martial resources after Auntie Wang’s death. After learning Chen’s Coiling Dragon Staff Technique, Wang Hu joins an escort agency and attends Chen’s wedding. 3 6 46 172
• Liu Qingluo — Liu Qingcang’s adopted daughter and a fellow disciple. Chen rescued and carried her through the Clear River crisis; they share a teasing, sibling-like dynamic. Chen later spends two thousand taels to rescue her at the Ghost Market auction and sends her to help protect A-Ning. Liu Qingcang subsequently sends her to Jiangnan before the threatened invasion. 28 32 83 109 170
• Granny Li — A mysterious supernatural woman who sheltered A-Ning at Chen’s request. Chen suspects she has hidden motives, particularly after A-Ning disappears with her and Li Susu. 20 35 41
• Qin Xiangjun (“Qin Xiang’er”) — The chief of the Demon Suppression Bureau in Youzhou, whom Chen first encountered while she traveled under the identity Qin Xiang’er. Their relationship is marked by mutual suspicion, but Chen saves her after she is severely wounded in Thunder Abyss Gorge, forcing them into an uneasy alliance against Yan Qing. 56 136
• Qishan — A seventh-rank Shadow Leopard demon beast who submitted to Chen and serves as his mount, scout, and guide through Mangdang Mountain. Chen verified that Qishan had never harmed humans before accepting his allegiance. Qishan later helps him fight the Qilin Thunder Beast and carries him toward Cloud Province. 116 119 126 149 173 185
• A Zhu — A dragon maiden associated with Chen’s Profound Thunder Cauldron. She shares knowledge of spiritual materials and saves him during his dangerous Lihuo refinement by guiding him to use Demon Ape Eyecores. Grateful for her help, Chen hopes to help her regain a True Dragon Body. 162 163 182
• Lü Liang — A Patrol Office constable and one of the strongest men in Chen’s command. He becomes a capable scout and interrogator but loses his left arm to Xuanzhen; Chen resolves to find a restorative treasure for him. 99 109 111 117 118
• Li Huanzhen — A True Martial Daoist lineage successor who recognizes Chen’s unusual demonic aura but becomes his ally. The two investigate White Cloud Grotto and separately pursue major cultivation breakthroughs. Li defends Chen when he is insulted, attends his wedding, and raises questions about A-Ning’s Lunar Chain-Form Formula. 128 130 171 172 173
• Yuan Hong — Chen’s third senior brother, who initially looks down on his lowborn origins. After witnessing Chen’s growth, Yuan apologizes, and the two part as brothers before Yuan and Qin Tieya leave to investigate the Northern Capital. 40 107 168 169
• Xiao Wenbin — Chen’s fifth senior brother and a fellow Azure Dragon disciple. He accompanies Chen to Cloud Province and risks himself to shield Chen and their secret letter when soldiers attack them at the training ground. 40 185
• Daoist Li — A ruthless Ghost Market cultivator who marks Liu Qingluo with Baleful Intent and refines captives into “Human Pills.” Chen regards him as a dangerous enemy and prioritizes protecting Qingluo and A-Ning from his pursuit. 83 84
• Xuanzhen — A white-robed Esoteric Sect demon monk and Meridian Opening expert who maims Lü Liang, fights Chen with the Blood-Eyed Demon Art and Eight-Armed Asura Manifestation, then escapes through the cliffside. He later clashes with Qin Tieya and Yuan Hong, who drive him off at the cost of serious injuries. 116 117 118 168
• Yan Qing — A three-hundred-year-old white-snake demon and leading general of the Mountain Lord’s Blackwater Marsh forces. After Qin Xiangjun fought through his Water Manor, he traps her and Chen in Thunder Abyss Gorge and threatens to kill them both. Chen subsequently escapes their confrontation and reports what he learned to Liu Qingcang. 130 136 168
• Ma San — Former local gang leader and Chen’s first major martial opponent. Chen killed him after Ma San’s men brutalized Tiger Boy, murdered Xi’er, and threatened A-Ning. 6 8
• Red Whale Gang — Chen’s principal criminal enemies during the early Everlasting Prosperity Town arcs. His framing of the gang after Ma San’s death began a prolonged feud that led to Yan Rong, Zhao Liqiu, Ghostfoot Seven, Luo Dalong, and ultimately the gang leader Wei Chen being killed by Chen or through his schemes. 8 17 37 60 69

Story Role / Major Arcs

Butcher of Rubble Ward

Chen begins as a lowborn butcher enduring extortion in Everlasting Prosperity Town. Huang Silang’s threat against A-Ning pushes him to kill for the first time, complete the Hundred-Blood Trial, and pursue admission to Azure Dragon Martial Academy. 1 5

War with Ma San and the Red Whale Gang

After Ma San retaliates against Chen’s household, Chen cultivates Rampaging Bull Force, assassinates Ma San, kills Advisor Li, burns the gang compound, and frames the Red Whale Gang to redirect Zhao Dong’s investigation. The deception turns the Red Whale Gang into a lasting enemy. 6 8 13

Azure Dragon Disciple and Clear River Crisis

Chen enters Azure Dragon Martial Academy as a registered disciple while concealing his true Third-Tier cultivation. During the Clear River demon crisis, he kills a Purple-Scaled Corpse King, masters Grass-Top Flight, rescues Liu Meng and Liu Qingluo, and earns Liu Qingcang’s recognition. 21 25 26 32

Profound Art and Search for A-Ning

After converting Rakshasa Old Ghost’s baleful poison into the Yin Extremity Profound Baleful Art, Chen advances to the Sixth Tier and returns to confront the Red Whale Gang. Learning that A-Ning likely left with the Li Family Caravan, he traces its route to Luo Family Fort but accepts Qin Tieya’s insistence on a careful investigation rather than a reckless solo rescue. 34 41 43

Ghost Market Conspiracy

Chen captures and interrogates a Rakshasa Gate Protector, uncovering a plan involving the Rakshasa Gate, White Mountain Ghost Kingdom, Zhao Dong, and Wei Chen to trap Liu Qingcang at Yin Mountain Ferry’s Ghost Market. He reports the plot immediately, receives the Dragon-Slayer Saber, and departs with Qin Tieya’s disguised convoy toward Luo Family Fort. 49 50

Luo Family Fort and Feng River Old Estate

At Luo Family Fort, Chen kills Luo Dalong despite the latter’s Golden Bell Shield and a coordinated crossbow barrage, while Qin Tieya restrains Fort Lord Luo Tianxiao. The ensuing struggle leads Chen into Feng River Old Estate, where the old Flood Dragon transmits an ancient Northern Yin inheritance, awakens Chen’s Divine Sense, and grants him the incomplete Nine-Nether Profound Thunder. 60 65 66

Mystic Capital Dharma Hall

Within the Northern Yin Profound Baleful Cosmic Star-Dipper Formation, Chen gains control of the Mystic Capital Dharma Hall’s secret realm and joins Qin Tieya against Wei Chen. By using the third transformation of Nine-Nether Profound Thunder, Lightning Draws Light, Chen annihilates the Half-Step Innate gang leader and acquires the Mystic Capital Token. 66 69

Ghost Market Rescue and Yin-Yang Fusion

Chen rescues Liu Qingluo from a Ghost Market auction while concealing her connection to Azure Dragon Martial Academy, then discovers Daoist Li’s Human Pill operation. Rather than attack the dangerous cultivator recklessly, Chen strengthens himself by acquiring Golden Bell Shield and Eight-Step Chasing Cicada, eventually fusing his Yin and Yang internal arts into the Heaven-Earth Infinite Art. 83 84 93 94

Patrol Inspector and Demon Suppression

While investigating demon sect activity inside Everlasting Prosperity Town, Chen temporarily commands the Patrol Office and discovers the Joyful Bodhisattva branch’s killings and monstrous-human experiments. His suppression of the threat, previous military service, and continued demon hunting earn him removal from the low-status register and appointment as Patrol Inspector. 99 103 108

Mangdang Mountain Demon Hunt

As Patrol Inspector, Chen leads martial artists and constables into Mangdang Mountain to suppress bandits, barbarian scouts, Esoteric Sect monks, and demon beasts. He obtains demon-beast essence blood for the Azure Dragon Body Tempering Art, clashes with the demon monk Xuanzhen, masters the Howling Moon Arrow Manual, and kills the Golden-Wing Blood Eagle with two charged arrows. 109 111 116 118 124 126

Thunder Abyss Quest

Seeking a second Yinflower Lightning Seed, Chen enters the dangerous northern reaches of Mangdang Mountain, allies with the True Martial Daoist Li Huanzhen, and breaks through to Meridian Opening by opening his eye aperture. In Thunder Abyss Gorge, he encounters and saves the gravely wounded Qin Xiangjun before the white-snake demon general Yan Qing traps them both within the gorge. 128 130 136

Azure Dragon Inheritance and Lihuo Breakthrough

During a journey through a mysterious mirage realm, Chen begins cultivating the Azure Dragon Body Tempering Art’s Dragon Form Chapter and comprehends the Three Forms of the Azure Dragon Seven-Slaying Fist. He later uses one of its strikes against a Qilin Thunder Beast and seizes the pearl at its core. Back in Mangdang Mountain, his hasty attempt to refine Lihuo Essence Gold and a Phoenix-Blood Fruit nearly burns him from within. With A Zhu’s help, he survives, reaches the fourth level of Meridian Opening, opens his ear aperture, and awakens the Divine Lihuo Eyes. 140 149 162 163

Defense of Everlasting Prosperity Town

Returning to his master, Chen reports his encounter with Yan Qing and reveals his thunder and fire Divine Abilities. Liu Qingcang explains that a coordinated invasion threatens Everlasting Prosperity Town and could cut off supplies to the northern front. Chen volunteers to help defend it. Assigned to carry a secret request for reinforcements to Cloud Province, he first holds a formal wedding with A-Ning, then departs before dawn with Liu Qingcang’s letter and token. 168 169 172 173

Cloud Province Mission

Chen and Xiao Wenbin reach Cloud Prefecture City seeking Governor Chen Yanzhao, only to be attacked at the military training ground before they can deliver their message. Chen uses Nine-Nether Profound Thunder to create an opening and escapes with Xiao Wenbin on Qishan. Disguised and investigating separately, Chen learns that the governor may be at the camp and plans to infiltrate it after dark; meanwhile, he prepares to refine a Karmic Flame Seed obtained at Nine Parasol Village. 185 186