Mu Chen

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Mu Chen is the son of Mu Feng, Lord of the Mu Domain, and Qing Yanjing, a Saint Grade Grandmaster of Spirit Arrays. His mother left him the Great Pagoda Art. Although he recognizes that her background is extraordinary, he does not yet understand her identity fully; he has promised his father that he will bring her back 2 3 6 7 8.

Before the Black Nether Abyss expedition, Mu Chen participated in the Spirit Road and unleashed a “blood calamity.” He was expelled midway through for an unspecified reason and became a target of ridicule. He endured that ridicule calmly, but a promise made to someone on the Spirit Road remained important to him 3 7.

Appearance

Mu Chen is a handsome teenage youth with a lean build 2 3 8.

• Eyes: Dark, also described as pitch-black 1 2.
• Build: Lean and agile; he rapidly scales the enormous black tree and twists in midair to recover after being knocked backward 1 2.

Personality

Mu Chen combines courage with calculated risk-taking. When Duan Wei warns him against approaching the suspected bee nest, he insists that he knows his limits. Against Liu Mubai, his apparently desperate evasions are carefully chosen positions for constructing an array 1 2.

He remains resolute under intimidation without rejecting practical compromises. He attacks despite Heavenly Insect’s overwhelming pressure, then apologizes after recognizing that his opponent has spared him. Later, he steps out from behind his guards to negotiate rather than leaving them to face the danger alone 2 3.

His pursuit of strength is tied to personal promises: bringing his mother back and fulfilling a promise to a girl. These commitments persuade him to remain near the Nine Nether Sparrow’s tribulation despite the danger. He is nevertheless easily embarrassed when Heavenly Insect notices his feelings for the girl 6 8.

Abilities & Skills

Great Pagoda Art

The cultivation art left to Mu Chen by his mother. Heavenly Insect recognizes it as one of the Great Thousand World’s finest spiritual arts, even in its incomplete form 2 8.

• Produces the dark spiritual energy Mu Chen uses in combat 2.
• Its distinctive spiritual energy leads Mu Chen to wonder whether Heavenly Insect has recognized something about his mother’s background 8.

Senluo Death Seal

Mu Chen’s strongest spiritual art during the Black Nether Abyss expedition, ranked upper Mortal Grade 2 6.

• Manifests as a black seal associated with chilling, overbearing fluctuations 2.
• Can be delivered through a punch 2.
• Mu Chen condenses two seals while committing all his spiritual energy to counter Liu Mubai’s weakened attack 2.
• Its unusual nature gives it respectable power despite its comparatively low grade 6.

Spirit Arrays

Mu Chen displays exceptional aptitude for spirit arrays. Wen Ling is astonished by how quickly he learns to condense ten spirit seals, while Heavenly Insect connects his talent to his mother’s mastery 2 7.

• Minor Spirit Binding Array: Assembled while dodging Liu Mubai. Its spiritual cords briefly restrain his opponent, weakening the incoming attack; it is below first grade and cannot hold Liu Mubai for long 2.
• Flame Spirit Array: A relatively simple first-grade array learned from Wen Ling’s diagram. Mu Chen establishes and tests it after repeated failures 7.
• Risk: Wen Ling warns that an improperly formed array can cause dangerous backlash 7.

Perception and Combat Judgment

• Notices a faint flute call and deduces that someone may be controlling the pursuing bee swarm 1.
• Uses calculated movement to conceal array construction during a duel 2.
• Recognizes that continuing the fight after both domains’ forces arrive could attract dangerous creatures deeper in the abyss 2.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Ancient copper fragment — Depicts the black volcano in the Black Basin. It warms near the Nine Nether Sparrow’s hiding place, becoming exceptionally hot beside the rock containing her egg 4 5.
• Flame Spirit Array diagram — Given to him by Wen Ling as a study aid; used to learn his first documented first-grade array 7.
• Immortal Page — Identified in Heavenly Insect’s reflections as the treasure that can suppress the Nine Nether Sparrow and protect Mu Chen from her attempt to seize his body 7.

Relationships

• Mu Feng — Father and Lord of the Mu Domain. Supports Mu Chen’s decision to wait through the tribulation and worries intensely when he is struck unconscious 3 6 7.
• Qing Yanjing — Mother; a Saint Grade Grandmaster of Spirit Arrays. Left him the Great Pagoda Art, and her unexplained background remains a motivation for his cultivation 2 7 8.
• Heavenly Insect — Initially an intimidating stranger, then an ally whom Mu Chen calls “Brother Heavenly Insect.” Helps the Mu Domain’s expedition, encourages Mu Chen to pursue strength, and teases him about the girl he misses 2 3 4 6 8.
• Duan Wei — Protective Mu Domain subordinate addressed as “Uncle Duan.” Warns Mu Chen against approaching the bees’ suspected nest and is prepared to defend him at the cost of his life 1 3.
• Wen Ling — Spirit array teacher invited by Mu Feng. Provides the Flame Spirit Array diagram and cautions him against attempting it prematurely 7.
• Liu Mubai — Rival from the Liu Domain. Threatens to kill Mu Chen during their forced duel, which ends without a decisive result when their respective forces arrive 2.
• Nine Nether Sparrow — The expedition’s intended prize. Her true spirit enters Mu Chen through a black flame, and her soul essence subsequently attacks his consciousness 6 7.
• Unnamed silver-haired girl — Someone he longs to meet again, associated with an important promise. His feelings become apparent when Heavenly Insect catches him thinking about her 6 7 8.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Black Nether Abyss Expedition

• Follows the retreating bee swarm to the enormous black tree and encounters Heavenly Insect at its summit 1.
• Is forced into a duel with Liu Mubai, then brings Heavenly Insect to Mu Feng, enabling an alliance between the Spirit Insect Master and the Mu Domain 2 3.
• Uses his copper fragment to locate the Nine Nether Sparrow’s egg inside a black rock in the volcanic crater 4 5.
• Chooses to wait for an opportunity to obtain her beast soul after the tribulation. A black flame bypasses Heavenly Insect’s shield and strikes him unconscious 6.
• Survives the expedition with the Sparrow’s true spirit inside him, although Mu Feng believes she died 7.

Recovery and Academy Return

• Breaks through to the Spirit Wheel Realm, after which the Nine Nether Sparrow’s soul essence attempts to devour his consciousness 7.
• Continues studying spirit arrays under Wen Ling and successfully forms the Flame Spirit Array 7.
• Returns to the Northern Spiritual Academy as the announcement of Five Great Academies admission quotas approaches 8.

Notable Quotes

“Uncle Duan, I know my limits. Trust me.” 1

“I wasn't even afraid of Blood Butcher hunting me down. Liu Mubai, what do you amount to?” 2

Trivia

• Heavenly Insect’s later recollection states that Mu Chen in the original story advanced from the Heaven Transformation Realm to the Heaven-reaching Realm in one month with assistance from a powerful spirit array. This is a comparison, not a documented advancement by Mu Chen in the supplied events of this novel 35.