Chen Cuo

Biodata

Power Progression

Background and History

Yue State and Saber-Nurturing Valley

Chen Cuo and Shen Guan both came from Yue State, but entered Saber-Nurturing Valley and the Formless Dao respectively. Their repeated encounters developed into a longstanding rivalry, with neither initially able to secure a victory. By his confrontation with Shen Guan above White Lotus Abbey, Chen Cuo had been a True Disciple for eleven years 47.

He belonged to the Hong Lineage alongside Fu Yuanwu and Han Tianling. After Xu Fan killed Han Tianling and was placed eleventh on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, Fu Yuanwu sent Chen Cuo to test him. The assignment also offered Chen Cuo a chance to seek a breakthrough through battle 46 47 75 81.

Victory over Shen Guan

Before reaching Xu Fan, Chen Cuo challenged Shen Guan above White Lotus Abbey to settle their old rivalry. He refused to rely on the Saber-Nurturing Technique, instead revealing the results of his meditation at sea 47.

His sixth saber form overwhelmed Shen Guan’s Formless Body and hurled him into a mountain. Chen Cuo then departed for the Mystic Yang Sect, inviting Shen Guan to follow if he wanted to witness the seventh form 48.

Defeat at the Mystic Yang Sect

Chen Cuo challenged Xu Fan’s right to rank above him, but became disappointed when Xu Fan revealed only Innate Major Accomplishment cultivation: he doubted such an opponent could help him reach Primal Core 49 50.

The duel reversed his expectations. Xu Fan’s Spiritual Radiance Essence Erosion bypassed his defenses and steadily weakened his essence, Qi, and spirit. Chen Cuo unleashed his seventh form, but Xu Fan secretly evaded the saber strike with Dark Moon Hidden Shadow and struck him with Yin Sha Mysterious Light. Chen Cuo fell unconscious, and the unnamed old man accompanying him acknowledged Xu Fan’s victory before taking him away 50.

Although Xu Fan staged the appearance of grave injuries, Chen Cuo’s saber intent genuinely remained within him and required subsequent suppression. The apparent narrow victory later encouraged Wang Sheng to choose Xu Fan as an opponent 50 51 66.

Primal Core and the Failed Rematch

Rather than despair after his defeat, Chen Cuo developed the eighth form and reached Primal Core. On learning that Xu Fan was attempting the Fallen Star Pagoda, he went there determined not to lose again. He believed he now had a seventy percent chance of defeating the fifth True Disciple 78.

After Xu Fan emerged, Chen Cuo offered his seventh True Disciple position and its superior resources as stakes for a rematch. Xu Fan declined. Their confrontation nevertheless escalated into an exchange in which Chen Cuo used seven saber forms to block a single punch and was forced backward 79 80.

Recognizing that Xu Fan had not used his full strength, Chen Cuo did not pursue him. Even his unused eighth form no longer gave him confidence in victory, but he renewed his determination to improve 80.

Assessing the True Disciple Contest

When Xu Fan announced a challenge against Lu Shaotian, Chen Cuo reluctantly gave him an eighty percent chance of winning. He admitted that, without the Saber-Nurturing Technique, he could not be certain of defeating Xu Fan himself 81.

During the same discussion, Fu Yuanwu confirmed that Shentu Yun had become the Weapon Lord of the Great Wilderness Demon-Slaying Saber. Chen Cuo took some comfort in the belief that Shentu Yun would prevent Xu Fan from obtaining the Great Reversion Pill 81.

Appearance

• Clothing: A blue robe patterned with white ripples 47.
• Weapon carriage: Initially approaches White Lotus Abbey carrying a treasured saber in his arms 47.
• After reaching Primal Core: His presence becomes completely restrained, with no Divine Intention or True Essence leaking out, making him seem like an ordinary person 78.

Personality

Chen Cuo is proud and openly competitive. He treats Shen Guan as an opponent whose progress has fallen behind his own, disputes Xu Fan’s ranking, and later tries to provoke Xu Fan into accepting a rematch by accusing him of fear 47 49 79.

His pride does not prevent sustained effort or realistic judgment. He spends two years studying the tides, turns his first defeat into a breakthrough, and eventually acknowledges Xu Fan’s superior strength despite resenting it. After their second exchange, he questions the gulf between himself and the foremost geniuses but refuses to abandon the pursuit 47 78 80 81.

Abilities & Skills

Sea-Overturning Saber Technique

Chen Cuo’s self-created saber art grows stronger with each successive form. Initially comprising five forms, it expands to seven through meditation at sea and later to eight 47 48 78.

• Can cleave Shen Guan’s Formless Hand with a blue saber-light slash 47.
• At Primal Core, can unleash seven forms in succession; even this combination leaves him on the defensive against Xu Fan’s punch 80.
• Does not demonstrate the eighth form against Xu Fan during their second confrontation 80.

Divine Intention and Sea-Overturning Saber Intent

His Divine Intention manifests as an illusory azure sea with towering waves 47 48.

• Long-range targeting: Locks onto Xu Fan from a thousand miles away 48.
• Momentum building: The waves and his presence intensify with each step as he approaches the Mystic Yang Sect 48.
• Defense: Combines Divine Intention and True Essence into an azure barrier, though it cannot stop Spiritual Radiance Essence Erosion 50.
• Lingering injury: His saber intent remains inside Xu Fan even after the physical strike is evaded 51.

Saber-Nurturing Technique

A closely guarded Secret Method of Saber-Nurturing Valley that accumulates power through prolonged nurturing 47.

• Chen Cuo’s eleven years as a True Disciple make its potential power a concern to Shen Guan 47.
• He does not use it in either documented confrontation with Xu Fan 50 80 81.
• The valley forbids its use in internal contests unless the participants are mortal enemies; it is described as a killing move that sends both sides to perish together 81.

Equipment

• Wave-Slaying Saber — His treasured saber, used to channel True Essence, Divine Intention, and the Sea-Overturning forms 50 78 80.

Relationships

• Fu Yuanwu — Senior brother of the same lineage. Sends Chen Cuo to test Xu Fan and later consults him about Xu Fan’s chances against Lu Shaotian 46 81.
• Shen Guan — Longstanding rival and fellow Yue State native. Their earlier fights end without a winner before Chen Cuo defeats him with the sixth form 47 48.
• Xu Fan — Rival who defeats him at the Mystic Yang Sect and later overpowers him in a brief exchange outside the Fallen Star Pagoda. Chen Cuo grudgingly recognizes his strength 50 80 81.
• Shentu Yun — Fellow True Disciple whose Eight Heavenly Saber Methods inspire Chen Cuo’s eighth form. His emergence as a Weapon Lord makes him an apparently insurmountable contender for the Great Reversion Pill 78 81.
• Han Tianling — Fellow Hong Lineage True Disciple whose death at Xu Fan’s hands forms part of the background to Chen Cuo’s first challenge 47 75.

Notable Quotes

“I watched the tides rise and fall and sat in meditation for two years. At sea, I gained insight into two more moves of the Sea-Overturning Saber Technique.” 47

“I won't be left behind.”
“I won't!” 80