Chen Xugu

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Early Life and Travels

Chen Xugu entered Pure Yang at eight and showed exceptional aptitude for both its scriptures and martial teachings. At sixteen, he accompanied the religious figures summoned to pray for the Qian emperor’s recovery and met the emperor’s Third Princess, Li Yangzi 27 42.

Initially attracted to her figure, he continued pursuing her after she revealed the facial features that had made her a target of ridicule. Rather than recoiling, he sincerely praised the beauty of her individual features. During the prayer rites, he visited her daily and told her stories about the outside world. After returning to Pure Yang Palace, he exchanged letters with her every month 42.

At twenty, he descended the mountain to travel. His exploits included eliminating the Four Fiends of Central Province, helping a hero avenge a grievance, destroying a major sect, and challenging the Carefree Sect alone. He continued recounting his travels to the princess through their correspondence 42.

Rescue of the Third Princess

When both were twenty-eight, Li Yangzi informed him that she had been promised to Great Feng’s eldest prince. Chen investigated the alliance and learned that the Qian emperor had used her mysterious reputation to secure political advantages before agreeing to the marriage 42.

On the wedding night, Chen stormed Great Feng’s imperial palace alone. Surrounded by palace experts, he entered the Dao and gained a substantial increase in power. Nevertheless, the city’s several thousand guards and several hundred experts eventually left him wounded and nearly exhausted 42.

The Third Princess was brought before him and threw herself into his arms. Great Feng’s emperor ultimately permitted them to leave, citing her unsuitability as a future empress and the opportunity to renegotiate terms with Great Qian. Unknown to Chen, an unidentified old Daoist had also visited Fengtian’s high priest that night, after which the high priest ordered their release 42.

After their return, the Qian emperor formally bestowed their marriage. Chen’s solitary assault became a celebrated romantic tale throughout the martial world 27.

Leadership of Pure Yang

Chen became Pure Yang’s Daoist Chief at thirty-two. At thirty-five, he defeated Sword Immortal Li Qingyun by a single move and killed him beneath his sword 27.

In subsequent years, he largely remained at Pure Yang Palace reciting scriptures. Before his intervention on behalf of Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao, his most recent journey down the mountain had been five years earlier, when he attended the old Qian emperor’s funeral and Emperor Jiaxing’s accession as a member of the imperial family 27.

Appearance

• Handsome features: His youthful appearance and romantic reputation made him an idol among women of the martial world 27 42.
• Beard: During his spar with the Zhang brothers, he puffed out his beard while feigning anger 43.
• Bearing: Described as an immortal-like Daoist whose joking, worldly manner contrasts with the solemnity of Quanzhen leader Zhou Wangji 49.

Personality

Chen is carefree, irreverent, and approachable rather than detached from ordinary human feelings. He jokes freely with his juniors and shows an easy domestic familiarity with his wife. His warmth also extends to Lü Family Village, where he answers the villagers’ greetings with smiles 36 41 49.

He is notoriously vindictive about personal slights. His disciples warn that offending the Daoist Chief is not something one escapes lightly: he forcibly made Zhao Nianzhi a Daoist after being offended and sent Shen Qianhua down the mountain after the latter tried to discuss his romantic history. Chen himself repeatedly threatens anyone who asks about that subject 28 35 37.

His devotion to Li Yangzi is genuine. The Zhang brothers initially suspect that he hides her because he is ashamed of her appearance, but their visit reveals an affectionate marriage. Her account establishes that he appreciated her features before their relationship began and risked his life to reclaim her 39 40 41 42.

Despite his pride, Chen recognizes extraordinary talent. After receiving the brothers’ healing cultivation manual, he openly laments his inability to add comparable techniques to his sect’s inheritance. He also believes he owes them a return gift: in his view, rescuing them under Li Xuanzhen’s instructions did not make their generous thanks his due 36.

Abilities & Skills

Pure Yang Cultivation

Chen uses Pure Yang True Qi for protection, attacks, and finely controlled applications of force 27 35 36.

• Shields his body while defending against Juekong’s attacks 27.
• Pulverizes celadon tea bowls without immediately disturbing their shape, leaving them ready to collapse when touched 36.
• Strikes Shen Qianhua’s mute acupoint from a distance to interrupt his gossip 35.
• Advanced several levels in the Pure Yang Mental Cultivation Method during his breakthrough at Great Feng’s palace 43.

Swordsmanship

Chen is regarded as one of the strongest martial masters of his age. His known repertoire includes several Pure Yang sword arts 43.

• Defends against Juekong’s barrage with a single sword stroke while allowing the monk to exhaust his True Qi 27.
• Defeated and killed Sword Immortal Li Qingyun by a one-move margin 27.
• Splits the river water vertically with a sword strike to end his spar with the Zhang brothers 43.

Combat Judgment and Instruction

Chen combines swordsmanship with palm techniques, punches, and footwork. His reactions allow him to counter coordinated attacks from multiple directions 43.

• Gradually raises his output from thirty percent to nearly sixty percent as the Zhang brothers repeatedly improve during their spar 43.
• Ultimately uses ninety percent to counterattack safely and force them back 43.
• Holds back to avoid injuring them while supplying useful exchanges; the spar is explicitly distinguished from a lethal duel, in which their final state would still have lasted fewer than thirty moves against him 43.
• Orders shelters and guards arranged when the brothers enter seclusion immediately after the fight 43.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Sword — His principal weapon, carried during the assault on Great Feng’s palace, the confrontation with Juekong, and the riverside spar 27 42 43.
• Taiqing Dongting Technique manual — A gift from Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao. Also referred to as the Dongxuan Technique and Taiqing Cave Profundity Skill, it treats injuries and damaged meridians; at great accomplishment, it can prolong life and resist illness. Chen oversees discussion of suitable cultivators rather than being shown adopting it himself 36 40.

Relationships

• Li Yangzi / Third Princess — Wife and longtime correspondent. Their relationship began at sixteen; she describes marrying him as the greatest blessing of her life 41 42.
• Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao — Junior martial brothers whom he rescues, escorts to Taiqing Palace, hosts, and instructs through sparring. Their persistent curiosity about his marriage frequently provokes him 26 28 29 36 43.
• Li Xuanzhen — Martial uncle whose instructions bring Chen to the brothers’ aid. Chen publicly announces their entry into the Taiqing lineage on his authority 27 28.
• Qin Shuangjiang — The Joyous Union Sect’s former holy maiden and leading beauty of her generation, associated with Chen’s unresolved romantic past. When she approaches him affectionately, he tells her to live well with Luo Binghe and makes his escape 27 31 36.
• Yuan Heqing — Eldest disciple and designated successor as Pure Yang Daoist Chief 40 48.
• Shen Qianhua / Wangxiang — Second disciple, nicknamed Dahua. Chen silences him for attempting to tell the brothers his youthful love story; he subsequently leaves the mountain 35 37.
• Zhao Nianzhi — Fourth disciple and son of the Phoenix Sect’s leader. Chen forcibly brought him into Pure Yang after Zhao offended him 37 40.
• Jiang Qinyue / Wangyu — Youngest disciple and his only female disciple. She is among the disciples who switch to the gifted Dongxuan Technique 37 44.
• Yankong — An old acquaintance who addresses him as Perfected Tianxu and declines to challenge him. Chen reminds him that an earlier warning remains binding for life 27.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Intervention Against Shaolin

• Arrives when Juekong loses control and attacks Zhang Qingyuan and Zhang Junbao 26.
• Neutralizes Juekong’s assault and publicly places the brothers under the late Li Xuanxin’s lineage, inviting anyone who objects to challenge him at Pure Yang Palace 27.
• Reveals that Li Xuanzhen summoned him after receiving the brothers’ letter, then escorts them to Mount Laojun for their formal induction 28 29.
• Later admits through the narration that he had arrived before his dramatic entrance and watched the preceding confrontation from the sidelines 43.

The Visit to Pure Yang Palace

• Tries to dismiss the visiting brothers with claims that the palace has neither food nor spare rooms, then welcomes them after receiving their cultivation manual 36.
• Convenes the sect’s elders and disciples to determine who can safely practice the new method, which requires control over selfish desires and a fundamentally kind disposition 40.
• Brings the brothers to meet his wife after they accuse him of neglecting and confining her, allowing them to discover the truth of the marriage 40 41 42.

Riverside Spar and Departure

• Abruptly proposes sparring when the brothers mention the unexplained Purple Bamboo Grove, leaving that part of his past undisclosed 42.
• Provides the battle in which Zhang Qingyuan’s Supreme Yang skill and Zhang Junbao’s Supreme Yin skill reach the eighth level 43.
• Avoids appearing during most of their remaining stay because he fears another request to spar 48.
• Joins the disciples in seeing them off with scriptures, Daoist robes, travel money, and provisions, visibly delighted that they are finally leaving 48.

Notable Quotes

“Anyone with objections may come find me at Pure Yang Palace.” 27

“If your features look awkward together, can't I simply avoid looking at them together? Looking at each individual beauty, I could never admire it enough!” 42

“This humble Daoist doesn't like taking in the whole picture. I still prefer studying one spot.” 42