Qing Chen

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Mortal Life in Ford City

Qing Chen transmigrated into this world more than a month before his first appearance. In his previous life, he had worked in sales and become a sales champion. He inherited the body and memories of a young man whose father had died and who had previously obtained the Jade Forging Art from a dying jianghu wanderer. The wanderer also left behind a secret connected to Northern Mang Mountain 1 2 3.

He established himself as a hired fighter at Red Sleeve Beckons and violently resisted the Twin Eagles Association’s harassment of the Qing household. After taking over the association, he gained the income needed to support serious martial cultivation 1 4 28.

His early military service brought him from centurion to assistant commandant of Ford City’s western gate. Li Muyun secured the latter appointment through a report crediting him with commanding effectively and killing bandit leaders at Northern Mang Mountain; Qing Chen privately acknowledged that his reported merits were fabricated 12 25.

While pursuing a way off Immortal-Severing Island, he became involved with Li Muyun’s wife, Zhao Ningyi, initially introducing himself as “Ximen Qing.” She later recognized him under his real identity. They reunited in Sea City, where she gave him blue boots and Ford City’s token, and he gave her jade. The Condensed Jade Sect’s spiritual-root test qualified him to board its ship, leaving her behind 31 33 36.

Rise in the Condensed Jade Sect

Qing Chen spent his early sect years acquiring basic spells and studying sword control. His five-elements spiritual root allowed him to practice spells from all five elements, while the Brahma Demon-Refining Art and Demon Seed Golden Lotus became central to his development 42 61.

His conflict with Yu Cheng, Qin Zigu, and Mo Qiuxian escalated from a formal duel into lethal retaliation. Mo Qiuxian arranged a five-year assignment away from the sect; Qing Chen later tortured Qin Zigu for information, killed him, and bound Pan Yuelian with a demon seal. After Mo Qiuxian’s death, he preserved the corpse for refinement rather than discarding it 74 106 145 168.

After reaching Foundation Establishment, he became an Inspector and later a mystic-grade Island Lord. He used public executions to establish discipline and quietly transferred former antagonists into his jurisdiction so that he could settle old accounts 184 191 304.

True Person Budong’s instruction gave Qing Chen a deeper understanding of the principles behind his techniques. He switched from the Mingwang Scripture to the Immovable Wisdom King Heart Method, combining Buddhist body cultivation with his demonic arts. As Battle Hall Master, he accumulated military achievements and resources during campaigns against the Impermanence Sect and Blackwood Island 315 345 426.

His success did not secure Xuanji True Lord’s full confidence. Qing Chen believed the sect master regarded him as a useful but untamable weapon, while favoring Chi Xuntian. He deliberately exploited this apparent resentment to obtain support from Abbot Hanshan 718 740.

Imperial Military Career

By the late Golden Core stage, Qing Chen had obtained the Immortal Dynasty’s appointment as Deputy Gentleman of the Palace and an allotment of four thousand Whale Guards. His growing strength, Vajra Zen Sect backing, and independent followers made him increasingly difficult for the Condensed Jade Sect’s leadership to control 781.

During Wu Gui’s rebellion, Tie Ming proposed an alliance for mutual defense and offense. Their cooperation helped launch Qing Chen’s attack on Qiong Prefecture, where he killed Purple Spider True Lord and captured three cities. Xiao Canglan promoted him to Rebellion-Subduing General, authorized an army of 150,000, and granted him authority over Miaochong, Qiong Prefecture, and Anman 820 877.

As Azure Abyss Marquis, Qing Chen accepted Nascent Soul cultivators into his service and prioritized consolidating the four prefectures he controlled over immediately extending his conquests. His rule nevertheless brought him into conflict with Xiao Canglan. When he requested resignation to return to his fief and cultivate, Xiao Canglan subjected him to pressure that instead helped him begin fusing blood-path and magnetic-origin laws 914 1026.

After returning to sect affairs, Qing Chen accepted the Vajra Zen Sect’s offer to elevate the Condensed Jade Sect into the Upper Eight Cave Spirit Islands in Mystic Yin Island’s place. He understood that the arrangement would bind his sect more closely to the Vajra Zen Sect and require it to shoulder the resulting conflict 1038.

Northwestern Authority

An imperial decree elevated Qing Chen to First-Class Azure Abyss Marquis and gave him the titular office of Heaven-Patrolling Governor-General of Gou Wu. The court ordered him to enter the capital and supplied valuable cultivation treasures, a residence, and wedding expenses 1366.

He later exercised authority in the Northwestern Circuit as Governor-General and Protector of the Western Regions. His administration combined military intimidation with conspicuous ceremonial courtesy: he personally welcomed fallen imperial dignitaries while privately treating the display as a useful performance. He also defended trade benefiting his own circuit even when it aided the Golden Tent Khanate 1482 1505.

Qing Chen subsequently resisted repeated summons to the Divine Capital by claiming to be in secluded cultivation, despite continuing to conduct official business. He remitted only one billion of the Northwestern Circuit’s required 1.5 billion Low-Grade Spirit Stones and deferred the remainder. By his later appearance in the imperial gardens, he possessed a First-Class Duke’s badge and Palace Attendant’s Jade Talisman 1565 1579.

Appearance

Qing Chen is handsome and sharply featured, with broad shoulders, a sturdy physique, and bronze skin. Cultivation gives him an increasingly youthful, otherworldly appearance 4 7 31.

• Preserved youth: Near the age of sixty, he appeared younger than he had more than thirty years earlier; his nephew initially thought he looked only twenty or thirty 347 348.
• Cultivation markings: When activating his arts, Sanskrit demon runes spread across his golden-bronze body, gathering into a five-petaled black-gold fire-lotus phantom between his brows 577.
• Sect dress: Has worn purple Inspector’s robes with a command token, and crimson-and-gold elder’s robes embroidered with taotie beneath a nine-pearl crown 184 601.
• Battlefield appearance: Known for Black Demon Blood Armor, a demonic halberd, and an imposing, battle-hardened presence 878 879.

Personality

Qing Chen’s overriding goals are longevity and power. He does not consider himself committed to any single cultivation path: blood, killing intent, white bones, corpse refinement, and Buddhist-demonic body cultivation are all acceptable if they make him stronger 325.

He is calculating, adaptable, and willing to endure humiliation for practical gain. His previous-life sales experience informs his ability to flatter, bargain, and read motives. He can kneel with convincing gratitude before a useful patron or perform elaborate imperial courtesy without privately respecting the people receiving it 48 740 822 1505.

Toward enemies, he is vindictive and exceptionally ruthless. He tortures prisoners, exploits their psychological vulnerabilities, remembers minor humiliations for years, and has used a wedding to eliminate resistant lineages and sects. His treatment of women is likewise frequently instrumental, judging their potential value as allies, cultivators, or temporary companions 145 304 973 1391.

His generosity toward followers is equally deliberate but materially substantial. He distributes cultivation arts, pills, weapons, and protection, rewarding useful service while demanding obedience. He recognizes that trusted administrators free him to concentrate on cultivation, making their advancement a worthwhile investment 105 172 305 306.

Despite his aggression, Qing Chen is cautious about hidden enemies and political vulnerability. He uses concealment, disguises, defensive formations, and delayed disclosures of his comprehension speed rather than exposing every advantage at once 235 655 740 1213.

Abilities & Skills

Brahma Demon-Refining Art

His foundational demonic cultivation art refines qi and blood for his own use and supports both magical and physical growth 345 606.

• Brahma Apertures: Store life-saving essence blood and accelerate cultivation. He progressed from two apertures holding forty drops to four apertures supporting his Nascent Soul advancement 262 1216.
• Essence-blood expenditure: Burning stored blood can rapidly repair injuries and reinforce his strength, but repeated use can temporarily limit his ability to activate demanding treasures 387 977.
• Blood Qi Manifestation: Condenses blood qi into weapons or defenses without consuming spiritual power. Burning essence blood increases its strength, and manifested blood qi can reinforce magical artifacts 61.
• Cultivation speed: With sufficient essence blood, his cultivation could exceed that of cultivators with high-grade spiritual roots 345.

Demon Aspects and Mudra Arts

The Brahma Demon-Refining Art grants progressively stronger transformations that reinforce his body and offensive techniques 178 386 393 630.

• Formless Demon God: The first aspect; covers his skin in blood-colored demonic markings and substantially increases physical combat strength 386.
• Heartless Demon Aspect: The second aspect; he initially forced its activation with twenty drops of Brahma Aperture essence blood despite insufficient magic power 393.
• No-Sentient-Beings Aspect: The third aspect; dramatically enhances strength and defense. At Nascent Soul middle stage, it could bring his physical strength close to Immortal Realm peak 630 1151 1216.
• Seals: Uses the Avīci Heartless Seal and Sentient Beings Annihilation Seal. The former shattered Chanxin’s bead barrier and the Vajra Formation’s warrior phantom 542 630.
• Cost: High-level aspects and seals consume substantial true essence and divine sense; Golden Core late-stage opponents could repeatedly deploy comparable treasure attacks more efficiently than he could 630.

Demon Seed Golden Lotus

A secret art responsible for much of Qing Chen’s unusually powerful divine sense, concealment, and demonic fire 145 187 235.

• Divine-sense refinement: Its first layer improves resilience; its second expands divine-sense power. His range reached roughly 130 zhang upon Foundation Establishment and nearly 140 zhang after three further years 187.
• Demon-seed intimidation: The embryonic demon seed could disrupt or intimidate the souls of unintelligent low-tier demon beasts 62.
• Demon Lotus Karmic Fire: Burns enemies and repeatedly refines his magic power. Its eighth revolution helped crystallize two-tenths of his Foundation Establishment magic power 248 345 425.
• Concealment: Complements Thousand Transformations, making his true aura and appearance difficult to detect even during combat 235.

Buddhist Body Cultivation

Qing Chen first cultivated the Mingwang Scripture before switching to the Immovable Wisdom King Heart Method under True Person Budong’s guidance 315 345.

• Killing-intent refinement: Converts baleful intent into bodily strength, offensive manifestations, and protective armor 217 262.
• Physical divine abilities: Uses Organs Like Rock, Golden Sinews and Silver Bones, and Indestructible Vajra. Their effectiveness increases with his divine soul’s strength 539.
• Wisdom King techniques: Manifests the Buddha’s Wrath Wisdom King Ring-Pommel Saber and the Four-Armed Wisdom King Divine Ability; the latter battered a Flying Yaksha into retreat 499 502.
• True-essence amplification: Budong Dark Gold Baleful-Subduing Essence-Augmenting Light converts bodily power into reinforcement for his Nascent Soul and magic treasures 1122 1216.
• Advancement obstacle: Without a grotto-heaven, his body cultivation encountered a limit; he later used the Seven-Luminaries Body-Refining Platform to pursue further advancement 1110 1515.

Magnetic-Origin Arts

Qing Chen rapidly comprehends magnetic-origin spells and uses them for movement, offense, and resistance to geomagnetic power 655 733.

• Known spells: Magnetic Essence Step, Yin-Yang Magnetic Wheel, and Yin-Yang Primal Magnetism Baleful Seal 655.
• Assessment victory: Used the baleful seal to shatter the Black Bear Demon King’s chest during Magnetic Origin Mountain’s first trial 733.
• Body tempering: Condensed third-tier Yin-Yang Primal Magnetism Baleful Intent contributed to his advancement into the middle Vajra Realm 678.
• Primal Magnetism Divine Light: Used alongside the Six Demon Banner to summon the Immortal-Burying Coffin against the Azure-Faced Lion King 1312.

Laws, Rules, and Domain

Qing Chen develops blood-path and magnetic-origin law powers before fully reaching the later cultivation thresholds associated with them 1001 1026.

• Fused domain: Began combining both law powers under Xiao Canglan’s pressure. His later pseudo-domain exceeded the strength of at least one rules thread 1026 1151.
• Blood-path comprehension: Battle with Arhat Fengchi accelerated his understanding and recovery; he subsequently possessed a Blood Path Rules Thread 1177 1216.
• Later development: Comprehended two blood-path rules threads by Nascent Soul late stage and brought his Blood Path Rules power to nearly four strands at Nascent Soul peak 1351 1522.
• Limits: His laws could break the spirit-severing state imposed by Crystal Mo Tribe enemies, but not the world’s own Spirit-Severing Qi; doing so was costly 1230.

Corpse Refinement and Control

The Mysterious Yin Corpse Refining Mystic Art allows Qing Chen to refine and command corpses while using relatively little divine sense 262 606.

• Fifth-level peak: Could command three silver-armored corpses or eight or nine copper-armored corpses simultaneously 262.
• Mo Qiuxian’s corpse: Raised it to silver-armored level through extensive investment, exhausting its further growth potential 262.
• Control seizure: Overpowered Lin Wu’s command of the Si Snake Puppet and seized its Spirit Puppet Core, turning it against the Lin household 253.
• Demon seal: Used the Dao Heart Seed Demon Secret Seal to enslave Pan Yuelian 145.

Movement and Combat Arts

His fighting style combines close-quarters weapon techniques, rapid movement, concealment, and sudden changes of position 397 475 522.

• Early movement: Mastered Gecko Wall Traversal Art sufficiently to move silently even across level ground 17.
• Six Jia Evasion Void: Produces six linked phantom images whose true and false bodies are difficult to distinguish 345.
• Profound Heaven Three Evasions: Mastered Human Escape Without a Trace, Earth Escape Stealth, and Heaven Escape Soaring to the Skies, integrating them into swift, nearly disturbance-free travel 522.
• Heaven and Earth Without a Trace: Reached the fourth level of the Heaven Grade Minor Five Elements One-Origin Evasion Art during his pursuit of the Azure-Faced Lion King 1312.
• Twenty-Four Solar Terms Soul-Shocking Art: Learned all twenty-four spells and twenty-four martial combat arts, achieving partial fusion through his Bodhi spirit body’s comprehension 475.
• Three Yin Sword Formation: Uses three Mysterious Yin spirit swords; upgraded them to mid-grade spirit artifacts during Foundation Establishment 191 262.

Leadership and Resource Management

Qing Chen combines military command with the systematic conversion of captured wealth into cultivation resources and follower rewards 216 306 877.

• Delegation: Relies on trusted followers to manage administration, commerce, and lesser spoils while he cultivates 216 306 678.
• Discipline: Publicly punishes defiance and demands strict compliance with military orders 191 830.
• Reward system: Supplies followers with valuable equipment and cultivation resources, building a faction personally loyal to him 305 306 718 973.
• Operational success: Killed Purple Spider True Lord and captured three cities in the campaign that earned his Rebellion-Subduing General appointment 877.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Pojun Battle Halberd — A principal close-combat weapon that integrates his spells, physical abilities, and combat techniques. Later repaired with Geng Metal essence, awakening damaged vitality within its fourth-tier blood-path material 577 819.
• Blood River God-Slaying Spear — Received from Yan Moyou in exchange for contributing a cultivation art. Contains powerful Blood Path rules and substantially surpassed the Pojun Battle Halberd in Qing Chen’s estimation 1015.
• Top-tier half-spirit-treasure halberd — Received after Tie Hengjiang took the Blood River God-Slaying Spear, Five Hells Coiling Dragon Staff, and great white void-splitting divine iron for work. Its immense weight could shatter floor tiles before Qing Chen fully activated its restrictions 1563 1566.
• White Bone Demon Mara Banners — Refine bones and blood essence and summon demon generals. The growing set progressed from individual banners to the Three Demon Banners, five Core Demon Banners, and six banners 145 425 577 977 1111.
• White Bone Immortal-Locking Yuanchen Gourd — A combined banner manifestation with formidable power but enormous flesh, blood, and white-bone-essence consumption. Its Yin-Yang Millstone transformation rivaled one of Qing Chen’s strongest Golden Core attacks 577 630.
• Immortal-Burying Coffin — Summoned through Primal Magnetism Divine Light and the Six Demon Banner; its death-law chains restrained the Azure-Faced Lion King 1312.
• Vajra Mound — A high-grade magic treasure passed down by True Person Budong after he removed his own aura from it. Initially difficult for Qing Chen to wield even with his compatible body-cultivation method 685.
• Black Demon Blood Armor — Signature battle armor. The Iron Household arranged its reforging into a high-grade defensive magic treasure at no cost to him 879.
• Nine-Luminaries Glazed Vidyaraja Pagoda — Provides Dao Protector Authority and houses the Seven-Luminaries Body-Refining Platform. Qing Chen also uses it to store treasures, blood materials, and corpses 425 1515 1565.
• Purple Mansion Thunder Cauldron and Xun Wind Banner — High-grade magic treasures taken from Penglai True Lord and later wielded together using Qing Chen’s divine sense and reinforced true essence 1111 1122.
• Eight Trigrams Qian-Gang Shield — A captured high-grade defensive magic treasure containing two strands of Qian-path law power 1111.
• Yin-Thunder Wings — Provide high-speed movement and offensive power, but consume substantial magic power 345 387.
• Thousand Transformations mask — Conceals appearance in combination with his aura-concealing mystic art; later given to Su Zixuan 235 296.
• Mystic Ice Pearl — An early high-grade artifact capable of creating powerful ice defenses. Eventually phased out and assigned for distribution among his followers 126 172.
• Mysterious meditation cushion — Assisted his recovery and later entered his sea of qi on its own. He sensed an inexplicable connection to it but initially placed restrictions on it as a precaution 168 337 340.

Relationships

Family and Intimate Connections

• Qing Jie — Second younger brother. Qing Chen recognized his martial aptitude and initially regarded him as a useful helper; decades later, he learned Qing Jie had been missing for more than ten years 3 348.
• Qing An — Third younger brother, who became a city lord and General Who Pacifies the North, commanding tens of thousands of troops 348.
• Qing Yun — Younger sister. Her son’s resemblance to her helped Qing Chen recognize the family connection during his return to Hanchuan 347.
• Second Mother — His late father’s secondary wife and Qing Jie’s mother. She cared for him when he was weak after transmigration, a kindness he explicitly remembered despite his limited attachment to the household 3 4.
• Zhao Ningyi — Li Muyun’s wife and the Ford City lord’s daughter. Became intimately involved with Qing Chen, recognized his false identity, and helped him before his departure for the immortal path 31 33 36.
• Tie Qingyao — His betrothed for more than a century before their depicted meeting. Later passages show their relationship remained significant to his ties with the Iron Household 1219 1561.
• Guanyin Tower Master — Nascent Soul subordinate who pledged assistance to him; later became his intimate partner 914 1059.
• Consort Nian — Imperial consort whom he pursued. She rejected his advance and told him he would only be qualified to conquer her after becoming a Spirit Transformation Venerable 1509 1515.

Mentors, Allies, and Followers

• True Person Budong — Master and major supporter. Taught him the principles behind body cultivation, guided his choice of evasion art, and passed him the Vajra Mound. Qing Chen later promised resources to help him enter the immortal physical realm 315 426 685 1038.
• Sun Wudi — Fellow member of Budong’s lineage. Appreciated Qing Chen’s courage but wished he would fight more directly during their spars 314.
• Su Zixuan — Maid, trusted follower, and administrator. Receives valuable arts and equipment, manages spoils, studies formations, and remains part of his personally loyal faction 105 216 296 718.
• Pan Yuelian — Enslaved through a demon seal after her capture with Qin Zigu; later serves alongside Su Zixuan and receives rewards for good performance 145 172 191.
• Gao Yuliang — Trusted confidant who explains sect politics, handles administrative work, and rises to first Deputy Hall Master of the General Affairs Hall 148 306 575.
• Deng Ziyue — Long-serving subordinate whose administrative assistance Qing Chen values and rewards with rare equipment 305 306.
• Tie Ming — Military patron and ally. Proposed mutual cooperation and helped plan the Qiong Prefecture offensive that advanced both men’s careers 820 877.
• Tie Zhan — Iron Household ally who publicly confirmed Qing Chen’s Immortal Realm body cultivation and later thanked him for saving the household 877 1312.
• Tie Hengjiang — Iron Duke who undertook work involving Qing Chen’s spear, the Five Hells Coiling Dragon Staff, and divine iron 1563.
• True Lord Sword Fool — Nascent Soul subordinate; Qing Chen asked him to look after Jian Yi and Ye Wushang 914.
• Chan Master Xuanshan — Accepted service under Qing Chen and agreed to protect Qiongzhou against curses and evil gu 914.
• Kuang Sha — Advised him on primordial spirits, grotto-heavens, rules-based killing moves, and the requirements for later cultivation breakthroughs 1110.
• Li Feiyu — Described as Qing Chen’s good friend during his Qi Refining years 149.

Rivals and Adversaries

• Qin Zigu — Sect enemy whom Qing Chen tortured for information and killed; his soul became a Grudge Ghost in the White Bone Demon Mara Banner 106 145.
• Mo Qiuxian — Enemy who arranged Qing Chen’s five-year external assignment. After his death, Qing Chen refined his remains into a silver-armored corpse 106 168 262.
• Xuanji True Lord — Sect superior whose preference for Chi Xuntian and distrust of Qing Chen strained their relationship 718 740 781.
• Xiao Canglan — Grand General who promoted Qing Chen but later confronted him over his authority in Qiongzhou and attempted resignation 877 1026.
• Arhat Fengchi — Repeated trial opponent. His overwhelming close-combat skill forced Qing Chen to expend stored essence blood; a later prolonged battle became a source of blood-path insight 386 387 1177.
• Chan Master Hui’an — Negotiated the Condensed Jade Sect’s elevation among the spirit islands, but also fought Qing Chen and demonstrated the limits of his magic power against a stronger cultivator 1038 1151.
• Yue Ting — An old acquaintance whom Qing Chen confronted over his rapid rise and connections to Xie Yu, then attacked under an accusation of colluding with the Golden Tent 1447.

Notable Quotes

“Since I’m fortunate enough to have such an opportunity in this life, I, Qing Chen, want to explore that unknown world step by step, to see whether I can reach that supreme realm, climb to the summit of the Nine Heavens, and beat Heaven by half a move!” 35

“On the road to immortality, dignity and face are all illusions!” 822

“I really have spent my whole life walking on thin ice!” 1213