Di Chen

Biodata

Power Progression

Appearance

• Hair and features: Flowing, ink-black hair, sword-like brows, sharply defined features, and fair skin 4 17.
• Eyes: Described as starry or resembling the primordial cosmos; golden light flashes within them during cultivation and combat 3 17 28.
• Clothing: Usually wears black, but dresses entirely in white for the forbidden zone's sacrificial ceremony 4 5 17.
• Tempered body: After cultivating in Water of the Dark Nether, his skin acquires a faint fluorescence resembling glazed divine jade 16.
• Disguise: Frequently conceals his face with the Ghost Face Mask to avoid recognition and unwanted attention 12 23.

Personality

Di Chen is proud, confrontational, and openly dismissive of opponents he considers weak. During the forbidden zone's succession ceremony, he insists on defeating the core disciples convincingly rather than merely winning. He later refuses to bow under Li Xinghe's pressure and resists with his Emperor Bloodline 6 28.

He values independence and rejects recruitment by both the Misty Rain Pavilion and the Sword Sect. His interest in the Sword Sect's Sword Stele does not extend to accepting its authority or membership 30 32.

His treatment of family and loyal companions contrasts with his hostility toward enemies. He respectfully credits the ancestors for guiding his cultivation, gives Wang Wu resources to strengthen himself, and intervenes when Wang Wu is attacked 7 40 45. His retaliation can nevertheless be extreme: he pursues old enemies after years of cultivation and orders a woman killed after she curses the killer of a figure he had already ordered Wang Wu to execute 23 44 47.

Abilities & Skills

Emperor Bloodline

His inherited bloodline manifests at birth and later increases his combat strength severalfold 1 14.

• Produces an imperial presence recognizable to experienced cultivators 14.
• Helps him resist the pressure of the half-step Great Emperor Li Xinghe, though it does not prevent him from being wounded 28.
• Ten drops of his blood essence allow Wang Wu to reconstruct a living body and advance to peak Quasi-Emperor 15 16.

Undying Sword Physique

His sword physique supports both cultivation and rapid bodily regeneration 3 42.

• Repairs the violent energy released while refining the Marrow-Cleansing Spirit Fruit 3.
• Gives rise to the seven-form Indestructible Sword Art 4.
• Heals a bloody hole in his chest after fighting Li Xinghe 29.
• Restores him after the Firmament Pagoda inflicts severe internal injuries 41 42.
• Does not make him invincible: a Great Emperor's clone nearly pierces his chest, forcing him to summon help 43.

Indestructible Sword Art

A supreme sword art born from his physique. He initially comprehends only its first two forms; the third and fourth are demonstrated later 4 29 42.

Sword Intent, Sword Domain, and Sword Law

Di Chen develops his sword comprehension through meditation before the Sword Stele, attaining the Law of the Sword while still a Great Saint 36.

• Sword Domain: Envelops an arena in Sword Intent and manifests a huge black longsword behind him 37.
• Battlefield control: Uses the domain against the combined attacks of three Half-Emperors 40.
• Power amplification: His domain strengthens the sword attack he unleashes against the Cangnan Domain Lord 42.
• Residual Sword Intent: Leaves a sword-carved mountain range as a gift to the Sword Sect; its disciples are subsequently allowed to study it using contribution points 38.

Physical Strength and Endurance

His foundation is first refined with a Marrow-Cleansing Spirit Fruit and later transformed through three years in Water of the Dark Nether 3 16.

• Defeats Zhang Hao and his Star Battle Physique with one ordinary punch 6.
• Withstands Wang Wu's peak Quasi-Emperor punch, although he is driven back and coughs blood before recovering 16.
• Counters Bai Mu's sword attacks with his bare hands; Di Chen judges that one punch, delivered at seventy percent strength, could kill an ordinary Quasi-Emperor 36.
• Kills an Ancient Lion Clan disciple with a single shouted sound wave 40.

Spiritual Qi Reserves

His Spirit Sea reaches one hundred thousand li, exceeding the fifty-thousand-li upper limit attributed to monstrous prodigies in the same passage 3.

• Its vast reserves give him an endurance advantage against cultivators of equal cultivation 3.
• His reserves do not erase realm differences: Half-Emperor attacks empowered by a Quasi-Emperor Artifact severely injure him before he brings out his stronger techniques 41 42.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Black longsword / companion divine artifact — An ancient-looking, pitch-black sword covered in timeworn patterns. Wang Wu cannot determine its grade; his suggestion that it might be an Emperor Weapon remains speculation 10 14 33.
• Heaven and Earth Robe — Quasi-Emperor-grade defensive armor given by the Tenth Ancestor; manifests as black armor covering his body 7.
• Soul jade talisman — A one-use emergency talisman that summons aid from the Dark Forbidden Zone regardless of distance. Di Chen consumes it when threatened by a Great Emperor's clone 7 43.
• Ghost Face Mask — Created by Di Ku to conceal appearance. With sufficient soul power, it can form a flawless, lifelike face 12.
• Storage ring from Di Yuan — Provided before his departure from the forbidden zone 7.
• Ring of jade talismans from Di Ku — Given after his grandfather intervenes against the Great Emperor's clone 44.
• Location Space-Breaking Talismans — Receives three from Wang Wu and consumes one to travel with him to the Cangnan Dao Domain 47.
• Canglan Immortal Domain encyclopedia — Obtained from the Tenth Ancestor at age seven; helps him identify the region he enters after leaving home 8.

Relationships

• Di Yuan — Father and Forbidden Lord. Oversees his succession ceremony, encourages him to gain experience outside, and supplies him before departure 1 5 6 7.
• Qianxue — Mother. Separated from him during his nine-year seclusion; Di Yuan asks him to spend time with her before leaving 1 5.
• Di Ku — Grandfather and powerful protector. Creates his Ghost Face Mask, answers his emergency summons, destroys a Great Emperor's clone, and gives him additional talismans 12 43 44.
• Dark Forbidden Zone ancestors — Awaken and guide his cultivation. The Fifth Ancestor refines his foundation, while the Tenth Ancestor provides equipment and emergency protection 2 3 7.
• Wang Wu / Elder Wang — Initially a hostile Quasi-Emperor skeleton, then his willing follower after recognizing him as Di Ku's grandson. Di Chen helps restore his body and later gives him valuable cultivation resources 14 15 16 45.
• Zhang Hao — Core disciple defeated by Di Chen. Despite being rejected as insufficiently strong to accompany him, Zhang Hao enters spatial turbulence seeking to follow him and reach Saint 6 7.
• Jian Wuya — Sword Sect leader who attempts to recruit him and arranges his visit to the sect. Learns that Di Chen is Di Yuan's son 30 31 32.
• Bai Mu — Sword Sect's Third Senior Brother; challenges Di Chen after his two-year meditation at the Sword Stele 36 37.
• Zi Yan — Misty Rain Pavilion Holy Maiden interested in winning him over. Later personally confronts him after he rejects her lunch invitation 23 48.
• Li Yunxiao — Enemy whose conflict with Di Chen begins after the deaths of his children. Di Chen returns three years later and kills him 8 23 30.
• Li Xinghe — Heavenly Moon Dao Domain Lord and Half-Emperor opponent. Di Chen destroys his cultivation in battle and later executes him 28 42 44.

History

Birth and Succession

Di Chen's birth fills the Dark Forbidden Zone with dense Immortal Qi and disturbs the Canglan Immortal Domain. Di Ku recognizes the newborn's Emperor Bloodline, while the Tenth Ancestor detects concealed Sword Qi that prevents a complete examination of his physique 1.

After his first birthday, five ancestors awaken his latent power in the ancestral grounds. Following nine years of cultivation, he emerges as a ten-year-old Saint and cuts apart his tribulation's lightning. The confrontation escalates when the Eye of Heavenly Punishment appears 2 3 4.

At the subsequent sacrificial ceremony, he defeats ten core disciples, including their combined Four Saints Formation. Their submission secures his acceptance as the forbidden zone's young master. He then departs through a spatial passage opened by the ancestors 5 6 7.

Heavenly Moon City and the Tomb

On arriving in Heavenly Moon City, Di Chen initially pays a fine for violating its flying ban rather than cause trouble. Li He's attack provokes a violent confrontation that develops into a blood feud with Li Yunxiao. Di Chen also kills the Tang Lineage's Third Elder after repeated ambushes and rejects an invitation from the Misty Rain Auction House 8 10 11.

Disguised with the Ghost Face Mask, he investigates a rumored Supreme's tomb in the Dark Moon Gloomy Forest. There he encounters Wang Wu, whose initial attempt to use him as nourishment ends in allegiance after recognizing his connection to Di Ku. Di Chen remains underground for three years, tempering his body while Wang Wu reconstructs his own 12 14 15 16.

Return and Sword Sect Visit

Di Chen returns with Wang Wu and confronts Li Yunxiao at the Domain Lord's Manor. He overpowers its protectors and fights Li Xinghe and the arriving aristocratic lineage cultivators. His ability to kill a Quasi-Emperor while at Great Saint cultivation draws widespread attention 21 23 27 28 29 31.

After refusing recruitment offers, he kills Li Yunxiao and travels to the Sword Sect to study its Sword Stele. He does not join the sect. Two years of meditation culminate in his comprehension of the Law of the Sword, followed by Bai Mu's challenge. Before departing, he leaves Sword Intent carved into a mountain range for the sect's disciples to study 30 32 36 37 38.

Half-Emperors and Imperial Intervention

Di Chen returns to settle his remaining conflict with Li Xinghe and intervenes after Wang Wu is attacked. He battles Li Xinghe, the Imperial Preceptor, and the Cangnan Domain Lord together. Although the Firmament Pagoda initially wounds him badly, regeneration and his fourth sword-art form reverse the battle 40 41 42.

A Great Emperor's clone interrupts his attempt to finish the Cangnan Domain Lord. Unable to defeat it, Di Chen uses his emergency talisman, bringing Di Ku to his aid. After his grandfather destroys the clone, Di Chen kills Li Xinghe and orders Wang Wu to punish those involved in the earlier attack. News spreads throughout the Nine Heavens, although his identity remains a subject of public speculation 43 44.

Cangnan Dao Domain and the Great Mountains

After another cultivation attempt, Di Chen gives collected heavenly treasures to Wang Wu and explores the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. He subsequently uses a spatial talisman to reach Cang City in the Cangnan Dao Domain 44 45 47.

When auspicious clouds signal a possible immortal treasure in the mountains, he sets out with Wang Wu to investigate. Onlookers recognize him as the Baleful God and clear a wide space around him out of fear 50.

Notable Quotes

“Hehe! But you ancestors have been guiding my cultivation for these past nine years!!! Of course I should respect you!!!” 7

“Who do you think you are? No one I want dead has ever survived.” 8

“I lack nothing. Besides, you're staying by my side. If your cultivation can't keep up, how will you help me, right?” 45

Trivia

• His masked appearance inspires numerous imitators, whom diners discuss when he returns to Heavenly Moon Domain City 38.
• He considers taking only two years to advance from early to peak Great Saint “a little too slow” 38.
• Despite his fearsome reputation, he misses outside food after three years underground and sometimes prioritizes eating before dealing with his enemies 17 38.