Ning Chen

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Ning Chen (宁尘)
Alias(es)	Ding Chen
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Great Ning imperial family; Demon-Slaying Pass; Lizhou Martial Arts Alliance
Occupation/Role	Ninth Prince of Great Ning; Prince of Li; New Emperor of Great Ning; King Ning
First Appearance	Chapter 130

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Jade Sea Realm, Initial Stage	130	His cultivation surprises Qin Han, who had believed the Ninth Prince to be mediocre and incompetent.
Spirit Infant Realm, Minor Accomplishment	295	Emperor Ning notes Ning Chen's progress after several months apart.
Heavenly Gang Realm, Seventh Stage	369	Breaks through in Lizhou; his combat power reaches nine million cauldron-force.
Heavenly Gang Realm, Eighth Stage	370	Advances again within ten days, with combat power exceeding ten million ding.
Heavenly Gang Realm, Ninth Stage	374	Cultivates the Eight Desolate Gods and Demons Scripture to produce a fourth phantom layer.
Myriad Manifestations Realm	379	Breaks through with the aid of the Golden Dragon Crimson Blood Pill; his Primordial Gang resembles crimson-gold dragon scales and his combat power reaches thirty million ding.
Myriad Manifestations Realm, Second Level	383	Reaches the second level while travelling back to the capital.
Myriad Manifestations Realm, Fifth Level	385	Advances after more than four months of cultivation and use of the Golden Dragon Crimson Blood Pill.
Myriad Manifestations Realm, Sixth Level	389	Wei Cheng notes that Ning Chen has advanced four levels within a year.
Myriad Manifestations Realm, Ninth Stage	404	Studies the creation of his Myriad Manifestations Heavenly Absolute under Yang Yu's guidance.
Divine Ability Realm, Minor Accomplishment	433	Attributes his rapid progress to the Golden Dragon Crimson Blood Pill and Ao Li's Dragon Core.
Void Breaking Realm	440	Breaks through using Ao Li's dragon essence; crimson-gold light and dragon scales manifest across his body.
Void Breaking Realm, Great Accomplishment	444	Reaches Great Accomplishment during the following two years of governing Great Ning.

Background

Ning Chen was born to Su Jingyun, a martial artist from a small Lizhou family who had already reached the Jade Pill Realm when she entered the imperial palace. She died shortly after his birth under officially dubious circumstances; Ning Chen later learns that the stated causes—postpartum weakness and a chill—could not reasonably have killed a Jade Pill Realm cultivator 363.

He spent his early life neglected and bullied within the palace. He did not seriously begin cultivating until after the age of twenty-three, leaving him with a reputation as a “waste” prince among his brothers 379. During his time at Demon-Slaying Pass, he used the name Ding Chen and formed close ties with Chen Xian, Wang Yan, and Qin Fei. After returning to his original name, he was considered for promotion as a Demon-Slaying Young General 168.

His experiences at the pass and his association with Chen Xian changed his outlook. By the time Chen Xian prepares to leave for Fulong Realm, Ning Chen is no longer timid or submissive, having grown stronger both in cultivation and temperament 348.

Personality

Initially, Ning Chen is cautious, deferential, and acutely conscious of his low standing in the palace. Even being invited to sit with the Fifth Prince leaves him deeply moved, since he had spent more than twenty years living carefully and avoiding attention 130.

He becomes composed and pragmatic after leaving the capital. In Lizhou, he favors secrecy, military preparation, and indirect methods over open confrontation; he uses bandit suppression as cover to establish the Martial Arts Alliance and plans training camps under the name of military barracks 365 376.

Ning Chen remains modest about his achievements even after reaching the Myriad Manifestations Realm, publicly attributing his breakthrough to luck and pills rather than claiming superiority over his brothers 384. His mother’s death becomes a defining personal grievance, strengthening his resolve to protect himself and those close to him 390.

Abilities & Skills

Ten Directions Dragon Elephant Art

Ning Chen’s principal body-strengthening and combat art.

• Manifested as a Dragon Elephant phantom behind him when he defended against the demonic entity posing as Yu Fenglin 385.
• Reaches Great Accomplishment before his Myriad Manifestations Heavenly Absolute is created 389.
• Works in conjunction with his Heavenly Gang and Primordial Gang power.

Eight Desolate Gods and Demons Scripture

A powerful Ning family cultivation method and Ning Chen’s other primary technique.

• Its dark-golden projections can stack in layers behind him, increasing the force of his fists and palms 374.
• Ning Chen reaches the fourth stage by the time he begins researching his Myriad Manifestations Heavenly Absolute 389.
• Yang Yu considers it more powerful than the Ten Directions Dragon Elephant Art, though no Ning family member is known to have cultivated it beyond the seventh level 389.

Dragon-Enhanced Physique

The Golden Dragon Crimson Blood Pill and Ao Li’s dragon essence accelerate Ning Chen’s cultivation and strengthen his body.

• Daily use of pill-infused water raises his physical strength to three million cauldron-force 357.
• Upon entering the Myriad Manifestations Realm, his Primordial Gang condenses like dragon scales 379.
• On reaching Void Breaking, dragon scales cover his body and his aura alone makes palace attendants struggle to breathe 440.

Myriad Manifestations Heavenly Absolute

Ning Chen attempts to create a signature ultimate move suitable for evolving into a Divine Ability.

• He repeatedly seeks Yang Yu’s guidance after reaching the Myriad Manifestations Realm 385.
• His inability to devise it becomes a bottleneck while he is at the sixth level of Myriad Manifestations 389.
• He continues researching it after advancing to the ninth level 404.

Equipment / Items

• Golden Dragon Crimson Blood Pill — Obtained from the Immortal’s Tomb; Ning Chen uses it to fortify his body and accelerate his cultivation 302 357 379.
• Ao Li’s dragon essence — Enables his breakthrough into the Void Breaking Realm 440.
• Eight-Winged Chi Dragon Pill — A pill originally taken by the Sky Killing Pavilion from the Sixth Prince and later acquired by Chen Xian; it is associated with Ning Chen’s sudden advancement to the Myriad Manifestations Realm 384.

Relationships

• Chen Xian — Close ally and benefactor from Demon-Slaying Pass. Chen Xian advises Ning Chen, supports his political rise, arranges Yang Yu’s protection, and later offers to help him overthrow Emperor Ning 168 367 383 413.
• Su Jingyun — Mother. Her suspicious death drives Ning Chen to seek the truth behind his birth and palace upbringing 363 390.
• Emperor Ning — Father. Ning Chen seeks his approval but becomes the target of the Emperor’s suspicion after his rapid cultivation; their relationship ultimately breaks down amid the Emperor’s demonic corruption 384 413.
• Ning Shiqi — Younger sister, the Seventeenth Princess. They enter the Immortal’s Tomb together and later share concern for one another amid the imperial crisis 299 443.
• Gou Xiaomei — Wife. Their arranged marriage gradually develops beyond initial unfamiliarity 385 390.
• Gou Dateng — Brother-in-law and Lizhou supporter. He assists Ning Chen with the Martial Arts Alliance and reports on political dangers in Lizhou 376 404.
• Yang Yu — Spear Saint and protector. Chen Xian arranges for Yang Yu to protect Ning Chen secretly for ten years; Yang Yu also guides his cultivation 383 385.
• Yan Conglong — Myriad Manifestations Realm Forbidden Army commander assigned as Ning Chen’s escort to Lizhou. He secretly receives orders from Ning Quan to monitor Ning Chen 360 369.
• Ning Quan — Eldest Prince and political rival. Ning Quan fears Ning Chen’s rapidly growing influence and cultivation 369 379.
• Li Quanwu — Leader of the Lizhou branch of the Martial Arts Alliance. He follows Ning Chen’s arrangements while fearing retaliation from Lizhou’s powerful families 361 376.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Demon-Slaying Pass

Under the name Ding Chen, Ning Chen serves at Demon-Slaying Pass and becomes associated with Chen Xian’s circle. His Jade Sea cultivation reveals that he is far from the worthless prince described by palace rumors 130. After his true name is restored, Chen Xian recommends him for advancement within the Demon-Slaying Army 168.

Immortal’s Tomb

Ning Chen enters the Immortal’s Tomb alongside Chen Xian, Chen Quan, and Chen Rong 299. He receives the Golden Dragon Crimson Blood Pill, which becomes central to his subsequent advancement 302.

Lizhou and the Martial Arts Alliance

Emperor Ning sends Ning Chen to Lizhou Prefecture to assist in establishing the Martial Arts Alliance. He chooses Lizhou because of his familiarity with the region and his maternal family’s connections there 359 360.

He operates discreetly, working with Li Quanwu, Nie Yongxuan, Xie Zifeng, and others while suppressing bandits, investigating collusion between local powers and outlaws, and planning three covert training camps 360 368 376. After reaching the Myriad Manifestations Realm, he orders action against families and sects allied with bandits, prompting a large-scale exodus from Lizhou 379.

Palace Conflict and Accession

Ning Chen returns to the capital amid the Seventh Prince’s funeral and draws alarm from Emperor Ning and his brothers due to his Myriad Manifestations breakthrough 384. His investigation into Su Jingyun’s death deepens his conflict with the imperial family 363 390.

After Emperor Ning’s demonic state is exposed, Chen Xian asks Ning Chen to help remove him from the throne. Ning Chen later confronts his father over his mother’s death, while Chen Xian gathers support for Ning Chen’s succession 413 417. By the time Ning Chen reaches Void Breaking, he is recognized as the New Emperor of Great Ning 440.

King Ning

Following the collapse of the Qingxian Secret Realm into Xia Kingdom territory, Ning Chen loses his imperial sovereignty but is enfeoffed as King Ning 452. He accepts the title without resistance, preferring a future devoted to cultivation over political rule 452.