Chen Guangmao

Biodata

History

Attempt to Sideline Lu Fang

Chen Guangmao headed the Fangfang Chamber of Commerce’s equipment trading department when its presidents, Lu Tianxiong and Su Qingyu, disappeared in a spatial storm. With both presumed dead, he helped organize discussions about protecting the business from rivals. He argued that their eighteen-year-old heir, Lu Fang, lacked the experience to run the chamber and supported reducing him to a figurehead 30.

Chen dismissed reports that Lu Fang had personally killed the Blood Wolf Association’s level-100 experts. He attributed those victories to expendable safeguards left by Lu Fang’s parents. Having monitored the villa district and Class Center, he also treated the absence of university recruiters as evidence that Lu Fang’s talent had been exaggerated 31.

Together with finance director Lin Man and other executives, he proposed exchanging distribution channels and profits for outside protection while transferring operational authority to an interim management committee. Their fallback measures included freezing Lu Fang’s decision-making powers and coordinating departmental shutdowns 31 32.

At Lu Fang’s villa, Chen presented the transfer of authority as necessary to preserve the business. When Lu Fang refused and Butler Jiang rejected the executives’ attempt to secure his cooperation, Chen threatened resistance through the chamber’s executive system, board agreement, and departmental operating rights 32.

Five-Day Wager

Lu Fang offered to fight everyone in the chamber who rejected his authority five days later. If he lost, he would cease interfering in its affairs; if he won, the entire chamber would obey him. Chen enthusiastically accepted and signed the agreement, believing it offered an easier route to control than prolonged procedural pressure 33.

During preparations, Chen volunteered to contact the Ten Thousand Treasures Chamber of Commerce, which wanted access to Fangfang’s equipment channels. He remained confident that the chamber’s assembled high-level professionals could overcome any remaining trump cards Lu Fang possessed 34.

On the appointed day, Chen dismissed news that Lu Fang had sold materials worth 350 million Dragon Coins, judging the money insufficient to buy victory. He also ordered an investigation into Jiang City’s newly emerged SSS-rated first-advancement professional, hoping to recruit the unknown talent without realizing it was Lu Fang 42 43.

Defeat at Headquarters

After receiving assurances that the City Lord’s Office would not interfere in a lawful, nonlethal match, Chen ordered the chamber’s high-level professionals to release their auras when Lu Fang entered. Lu Fang ignored the pressure, then had a Money Ghost defeat the level-150 challenger Zhou Yue with one punch 44 45.

Chen subsequently entered the formal match alongside Lin Man, Wu Zhao, and Shen Qinghan. The four advanced professionals faced ten Money Ghosts and were steadily overwhelmed. Their coordinated destruction of one summon achieved little: Lu Fang immediately replaced it and healed the others 46 47.

Wu Zhao briefly restrained the summons with a formation, but Lu Fang broke it using Road-Buying Money. When Shen Qinghan suggested attacking Lu Fang directly, Chen refused, interpreting his unbroken composure and apparent lack of protection as signs of a trap 47 48.

Recognizing that Lu Fang had controlled the battle from the beginning, Chen conceded. He then learned that the SSS-rated talent he had wanted to recruit was the heir he had attempted to displace 48.

Punishment

Chen admitted wrongdoing and submitted to punishment. Lu Fang confiscated the conspirators’ shares and explicitly dismissed Chen and Lin Man from the chamber. Chen collapsed to the floor after losing both his position and his accumulated stake in the business 49.

Despite that dismissal, Chen remains present in the following chapter and joins the others in promising to cooperate with Butler Jiang, whom Lu Fang appoints to oversee daily management. No reinstatement is stated 50.

Personality

Chen is opportunistic and condescending toward Lu Fang. He presents executive control as responsible stewardship while privately celebrating the prospect of acquiring the chamber. His dismissal of Lu Fang’s youth and reliance on assumptions about inherited trump cards underpin his confidence before the confrontation 30 31 33 34.

His caution becomes more pronounced once those assumptions fail. During the battle, he recognizes that attacking the apparently exposed Lu Fang could provoke an unknown countermeasure. After defeat, his confidence gives way to regret, and he acknowledges that greed led the executives to oppose someone they should have supported 48 49.

Abilities & Skills

Metallic Defense and Close Combat

Chen’s body develops a heavy metallic sheen in battle, resembling a shell of steel. The technique’s name and exact effects are not given 46.

• Engages two Money Ghosts head-on, though their strength forces him backward 46.
• Shatters a weakened Money Ghost’s head with a frontal punch after Lin Man and Shen Qinghan help disable it 47.
• Cannot withstand the summons indefinitely; later retreats under pressure from three Money Ghosts 47.

Combat Coordination

Chen directs the group’s efforts during the match rather than relying solely on individual strength.

• Orders concentrated attacks to eliminate one summon at a time 47.
• Helps hold off the Money Ghosts while Wu Zhao prepares his sealing formation 47.
• Rejects a direct attack on Lu Fang because he suspects the opening is deliberate 48.

Relationships

• Lu Fang — The chamber’s legal heir and Chen’s opponent for control. Chen attempts to strip him of practical authority, loses their wager, and is dismissed 32 33 48 49.
• Lu Tianxiong and Su Qingyu — The chamber’s missing presidents. Chen uses their presumed deaths to justify restructuring the organization and doubts their son can retain their business 30 31.
• Lin Man — Fellow takeover organizer and combat ally; both lose their positions after Lu Fang’s victory 31 46 49.
• Wu Zhao and Shen Qinghan — Fellow advanced professionals who join Chen in the four-person match against Lu Fang 46 47.
• Butler Jiang — Refuses to help pressure Lu Fang into surrendering authority. Chen later pledges to cooperate with him as the chamber’s appointed manager 32 50.

Notable Quotes

“The empire you built is too vast. A child can't hold on to it.” 31

“This doesn't look like an opening. It looks more like a trap.” 48

“Young master, we concede.” 48