Shen Ge

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Transmigration and the Ten Thousand Souls Banner

Shen Ge transmigrated into the body of an impoverished eighteen-year-old whose original owner had starved to death. His hope of beginning a new life quickly collapsed: Mo Shang killed him and confined his soul within the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, where he eventually regained his awareness 1 303.

Inside the banner, Shen Ge grew by devouring other souls. He concealed his intelligence from Mo Shang, but speaking exposed more awareness than he intended. Mo Shang made him a branch soul, giving him a higher position while also obliging him to fight. Shen Ge outwardly submitted while remaining determined to escape slavery 3 4 5 6.

During the conflict between the Devil Creek Sect and Spirit Moon Sect, he escaped but suffered devastating damage from the residual force of a Golden Core attack. He hid for half a month before discovering that his weakened spirit could no longer withstand sunlight 11.

Return to Human Life

Lu Xi, the Ghost Demoness, left Shen Ge a fragment of light containing her memories. These included a body-reconstruction method, basic cultivation knowledge, and introductory artifact-refining and pill-making techniques. Rather than possess a corpse, he chose to form a body of his own 12.

After fifteen years, Shen Ge regained human form, though his cultivation fell. His earliest artifact-refining attempts were unsuccessful: he could not properly process iron essence and settled for an uneven ordinary sword. He then devoted five years to cultivation before leaving the mountains at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement 12 13.

Spirit Moon Sect and the Lasting Injury

While gathering Clear Brightness Grass, Shen Ge discovered an injured Su Liuyue and mistook her for a corpse. His attempt to loot her ended with her acknowledging that he had saved her life and offering to repay him. He later chose the Spirit Moon Sect over Lü Yang's proposed destination, relying on that connection 19 20 33.

At the sect, Shen Ge learned the Gold Sword Instruction, reached Foundation Establishment without a pill, and studied artifact refining, formations, and talismans. He also became close to Mu Wan, with whom he explored, exchanged resources, and competed over their growing strength 36 37 41 43 57.

Huang Tao later poisoned and nearly killed him. While fleeing, Shen Ge encountered the black-robed creator of the Return of the Soul Instruction, who demanded a battle with Shen Ge's body as the prize. Although the man restricted himself to Foundation Establishment-level strength, his combat experience overwhelmed Shen Ge 72 73 75.

Shen Ge survived, but a lasting injury prevented him from advancing beyond late Foundation Establishment. He redirected his efforts toward cultivation arts and techniques. After elders warned that his remaining lifespan might be only about 130–140 years, he resolved to finish his studies and travel 83 97 98 100.

Apparent Death and Revenge

After leaving the sect, Shen Ge reunited with Little White and sealed books of knowledge from his previous world inside his old retreat. His later confrontation with Huang Tao pushed him to use the Life-Burning Secret Method and a concealed Essence Blood formation, which shattered Huang Tao's Golden Core 103 119.

Shen Ge was subsequently believed dead for three years; his soul lamp had shattered, and Mu Wan's lamp had gone out at the same time. His return shocked Li Xue because a shattered soul lamp ordinarily indicated that his soul had dispersed. Shen Ge discovered that a mysterious point of light had preserved him and bestowed Samsara 137 138.

Mu Wan's death became central to his pursuit of revenge. After learning the Life Sword, Death Sword, and their combined form, he challenged Zhang Sheng despite having only recently entered the Golden Core Realm 137 139 141.

Altered Memories and Luo Heaven Sea

Bai Lili captured Shen Ge by using traces of his senior sister as bait. She subjected him to repeated illusory mortal lives, seeking to control him; even after twenty reincarnations, he had not completely forgotten his original identity. His memories were subsequently tampered with 165 166 167.

Mo Qingyu later permitted Fenghuo to forcibly send him to Luo Heaven Sea, hoping to prevent a confrontation between Shen Ge and his grandmaster. A sword lesson she left in a Jade Slip triggered painful memories and eventually helped him recover a youthful State of Mind. Later, Miaoyin's music brought back his memories of Mu Wan 174 175 177 214.

In Luo Heaven Sea, Shen Ge forged a hundred flying swords, fought in the Demon Beast tide, and gained widespread recognition for his sword formation. He survived an attack from the Sky-Soaring Eagle after it revealed Peak Nascent Soul power, though he was badly injured 211 224 240.

Spirit Severing and the Ghost Domain

After reuniting with Su Liuyue and returning to the Spirit Moon Sect, Shen Ge reached Nascent Soul, taught his three disciples, and shared adapted versions of his Samsara techniques. He later traveled with his companions to establish a cultivation site away from the expenses of Thousand Hills Town 255 264 267 271.

Following his Spirit Severing tribulation, Shen Ge separated from his former body, which became the external avatar Shen Linfeng. He then returned to settle old grievances. During his confrontation with Ziyang, he restrained himself because the sect master had once treated him well, but refused to abandon matters concerning Mu Wan even after Ziyang chose death 327 328 331 332.

Shen Ge later investigated samsara and developed his ghost domain. Bai Lili joined his undertaking, arguing that his yang and her yin were both necessary for success. After heavenly punishment, they merged, and Bai Lili learned from his memories that he came from another world. A mysterious black-mist figure absorbed Reincarnation Qi and declared that he had found the Lord of Reincarnation 342 349 353.

Appearance

• Original transmigrated body: Sallow, emaciated, and frail, with dry, nest-like hair from prolonged malnutrition. His initial praise of his own “swordlike brows and starry eyes” was explicitly self-flattery 1.
• Reconstructed human appearance: Described as good-looking upon entering the Spirit Moon Sect 35.
• Clothing: Wears dark cyan robes after reaching Foundation Establishment, spotless white robes during his travels, and black robes in later battles 37 104 300 331.
• During heavenly punishment: Has waist-length hair; his formerly golden pupils turn completely black 351.

Personality

Shen Ge combines ambition with a strong fear of death. Early on, he calls himself a “born protagonist,” but captivity and near-destruction make him increasingly cautious. He tests unknown hazards, checks for pursuers, conceals his intelligence, and readily begs for mercy when resistance would be suicidal 1 5 11 19 32 292.

His desire for freedom is as important as his pursuit of immortality. He refuses to accept permanent enslavement in the Ten Thousand Souls Banner and initially regards marriage and descendants as potential restraints on cultivation. Nevertheless, he considers establishing a family if his injury proves incurable 6 100.

He is opportunistic without being indiscriminately cruel. He loots enemies and presumed corpses, but refuses to slaughter ordinary people for souls despite the cultivation benefits. He also rewards assistance, prepares treasures for his disciples, and frees the black Pixiu after learning why it cannot leave its secret realm 12 20 29 246 249.

Beneath his teasing and irreverence, Shen Ge holds deeply to personal attachments and grievances. Mu Wan's death repeatedly breaks through his composure, while his wish to avenge her survives decades of delay. His eventual position is uncompromising: he can understand others' divided loyalties without yielding over what happened to her 137 214 242 332.

Abilities & Skills

Samsara Method

The Samsara Method appeared after the mysterious light preserved Shen Ge's soul and rebuilt his body 138.

• Life Sword: Contains vitality and can save as well as kill 139.
• Death Sword: Strips vitality from its target 139.
• Life and Death Sword: Combines the two into a destructive black-and-white sword attack 139 198.
• Yin-Yang Diagram / Millstone: Crushes opponents, restricts movement, and grinds down incoming tribulation lightning 190 198 264.
• Six Paths of Samsara Fist: Used among his major attacks against Junior Sister Xue 285.
• Judgment Law Words: Depend on cultivating Samsara; he cannot adapt them into general techniques for others 267.
• Yin–yang division: Bai Lili cultivates its complementary aspect. She cannot pass her version to another person 265 349.

Swordsmanship and Sword Formations

Shen Ge's sword cultivation develops from metal-attribute Sword Qi into Sword Intent, Sword Heart, and formations of flying sword treasures 36 177 211 300.

• Sea of Ten Thousand Swords: A Divine Sword Instruction killing move that sends waves of phantom flying swords at an opponent 75.
• Sword Qi Long River: Creates a fast, wide-area river of golden Sword Qi 94.
• Youth Sword: Learned through Mo Qingyu's recorded demonstration; its mastery renews his State of Mind 177 267.
• Sword formation: Uses numerous flying sword Law Treasures; his documented control limit after refining the hundred-sword set is fifty 211.
• Battlefield coverage: Holds a gap against the Demon Beast tide and kills tens of thousands of lesser beasts before his spiritual power runs low 224.
• Spring and Autumn: Completed while fighting the three-headed lion in the Void Star Hall 359.

Divine Soul and Spiritual Sense

His soul cultivation supports illusion resistance, detection, and direct spiritual attacks 59 127 300.

• Clear Heart Instruction: Helps suppress distracting desires and slowly strengthens his divine soul 25 59.
• Illusion-breaking: Shakes an illusion with divine soul power stronger than that of a Foundation Establishment Peak cultivator, then attacks its hidden source with a soul-formed sword 127.
• Six Paths of Samsara Visualization Method: Produces a spiritual sense attack approaching Spirit Severing power. His incomplete execution manifests as sword light rather than the deity described by the method 300.
• Split souls: Allows him to enter the Void Star Hall alongside Bai Lili 359.

Ghost Techniques and Ghost-Domain Authority

• Soul devouring: Rapidly raises his early cultivation, but excessive consumption risks overwhelming his ability to digest soul energy 3.
• Early ghost attacks: Soul Scream, claws, and yin fire; the fire burns undigested soul energy as fuel 4.
• Black gate: Releases ghost Qi and provides passage for ghosts, including Ghost King Yi 301 343.
• Ghost-Qi transformation: Dissolves his figure into the surrounding ghost Qi 349.
• Delegated authority: Grants Lan Yu and Ghost King Yi partial control over his ghost domain after surviving heavenly punishment 353.

Artifact Refining, Talismans, and Formations

Shen Ge develops from an unsuccessful novice into a refiner capable of producing large numbers of Law Treasures and a Spirit Artifact-grade flying sword 13 211 359.

• Artifact construction: Forges weapon blanks, shields, flying swords, and specialized treasures for his disciples 43 51 246.
• Mass production: Creates one hundred flying sword Law Treasures in three years, valued collectively at more than five million Spirit Stones 211.
• Talismans: Teaches Zhang Fengge and later serves as a talisman instructor 215 267.
• Formations: Deciphers the formation around a secret-realm medicine garden over nearly half a year. Later study brings his array knowledge close to his talisman attainments 249 267.
• Limits: Alchemy remains his weakest cultivation art; his early knowledge of spirit-medicine cultivation is only introductory 97.
• Adaptation: Creates Destruction Sword Qi and Annihilation Millstone from combinations of existing techniques so that others can learn them 267.

Movement, Defense, and Physical Strength

• Gale Escape: Burns spiritual power to transform movement into a howling gale. The technique's stated mastery permits crossing a hundred li in an instant; Shen Ge has not fully grasped it by the time he masters thirty other techniques 46 100.
• Sword flight: Initially sustains approximately four hours at full speed before exhausting his spiritual power 37.
• Golden Light Incantation: A principal defensive technique, supplemented by Golden Body Talismans and defensive artifacts 100 190.
• Body strengthening: Eventually becomes capable of meeting a third-tier Demon Beast in physical combat without spiritual power 219.
• Life-burning methods: Uses lifespan-draining secret methods in desperate battles and escapes, including against Huang Tao and the Sky-Soaring Eagle 119 208.

External Avatar

Shen Linfeng originates from the physical body Shen Ge leaves behind after his Spirit Severing tribulation 327.

• Possesses Shen Ge's memories, including memories of his previous world 357.
• Acts independently and develops a personality distinguishable from the original 346 357.
• Cannot simply be put away like an ordinary Spirit Severing clone 327.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Law Treasure sword-tip fragment — An early trump card stronger than ordinary Law Artifacts; used to kill ambushers 27 29.
• Golden Light Sword, Folding Feather Fan, and Azure Flood Dragon Flag — His three mid-grade Law Artifacts during early sect life 51.
• Tide Crab-shell shields — Two high-grade defensive Law Artifacts; he also acquires a supreme-grade defensive artifact 51.
• Golden Body Talismans — Given to him by Su Liuyue; he shares half with Mu Wan 57.
• Mountain and River Cauldron — A defensive treasure used while forcing his way through a contested secret realm 208.
• Sword Bamboo flying swords — A hundred Law Treasures: forty supreme-grade, ten high-grade, and fifty middle- or low-grade swords 211.
• Sword Yi / sword wings — Releases Sword Qi and accompanies his combat formations and charges 190 208 246.
• Morning Longing — A sword he grips while preparing to meet the heavenly lightning blades during his Nascent Soul tribulation 264.
• Azure flying sword — Removed from a giant skull; its hidden Sword Intent injures Junior Sister Xue's spirit sea and enables his escape 285.
• Qiu Shuang — A Spirit Artifact-grade flying sword he refined, used against the three-headed lion 359.

Relationships

• Mo Qingyu — Master. Leaves him the sword lesson that renews his State of Mind, but also permits his forced removal to Luo Heaven Sea to avoid conflict with her own master 174 175 177.
• Su Liuyue — Senior sister whom he initially saves by accident. They exchange valuable resources, and their later reunion produces an unusually open display of happiness from him 20 57 255.
• Mu Wan — Close companion and fellow cultivator. Her death becomes a lasting source of grief and the central boundary he refuses to compromise in his pursuit of revenge 57 137 214 332.
• Su Sui — Disciple. Keeps him informed during his secluded studies and proudly reports becoming the first Foundation Establishment cultivator of her generation 97 100.
• Zhang Fengge — Disciple. Learns talismans from him; he gathers materials and refines a treasure for her approaching Golden Core breakthrough 215 246 255.
• Lu Xiu — Disciple who asks him to speak to their discouraged junior sister. Shen Ge responds that cultivation ultimately depends on her own aspirations 338.
• Little White — White wolf companion. Becomes a first-tier Demon Beast; Shen Ge takes him traveling and disguises him as a dog to reduce danger from cultivators 12 103.
• Lu Xi / Ghost Demoness — Posthumous benefactor. Her memories provide the knowledge needed to regain a human body and begin studying cultivation arts 12.
• Mo Shang — Killer and former captor. Shen Ge retains a deep hatred of him; their near-encounter in Mechanical City prompts Mo Shang to change his route 1 5 303.
• Huang Tao — Enemy who poisons and nearly kills him. Shen Ge later cripples him and shatters his Golden Core; by his own later account, he killed Huang Tao and dissolved his body 72 73 119 303.
• Bai Lili — Former captor and memory manipulator, later a complementary Samsara cultivator and collaborator. Their relationship eases over time, culminating in cooperation through heavenly punishment and their subsequent merger 165 167 265 349 353 357.
• Fenghuo — Martial uncle, adviser, and rescuer. Also forcibly transports him to Luo Heaven Sea. Shen Ge's promise to Fenghuo influences his decision not to retaliate against Fenghuo's daughter, Bai Lili 100 174 190 265.
• Li Xue — Ally with romantic feelings for him. Helps with his body reconstruction and later recovery; Shen Ge repeatedly avoids committing to her advances 312 313 327.
• Lü Yang — Longstanding friend from their rogue-cultivator days. They survive an ambush together and renew their friendship across decades of separation 29 146 338.
• Miaoyin — Friend whose music restores memories of Mu Wan and later helps him escape the danger of Qi Deviation 214 242.
• Qin Yu — Respected eldest senior brother. Shen Ge blames Meng Yan for the Demon Beast unrest that caused Qin Yu's death 315.
• Ziyang — Former sect master. Shen Ge acknowledges his past kindness and understands his loyalty to his master, but cannot accept that loyalty overriding justice for Mu Wan 331 332.
• Shen Linfeng — External avatar formed from his former body. Shares his memories but develops a different personality and eventually travels independently 327 346 357.

Notable Quotes

“Although he had lost his freedom for now, Shen Ge, who had lived under the hammer-and-sickle flag, could never spend his whole life as a slave at someone else's mercy.” 6

“It really is better to be alive.” 12

“It's not strange, because people are destined to be shackled all their lives by what they couldn't have in their youth.” 123

“But when it comes to everything concerning Mu Wan, I won't give way even half a step!” 332