Introduction[]
Chen Changsheng (陈长生, ) is a fictional character and the protagonist of Ze Tian Ji. Changsheng means longevity in Chinese. He was born in the Chen Imperial family of Sacred Light Continent and later rescued by Daoist Ji. When he was still in the womb, his sun wheel (only present in Chen Imperial family) was destroyed. Logically, it was utterly impossible for him to survive. It was probably because of some amazing individual on the Sacred Light Continent who gathered up an unimaginable amount of Sacred Light and forcefully poured it into his body, helping him survive.
Personality[]
Chen Chang Sheng has always been appraised as being calm and collected. Due to the constant pressure of death on him from a young age, he matured far quicker than his peers, leading to several mistaking his age due to his demeanour.
Chen Chang Sheng is extremely strict upon himself, having established several rules and a code of conduct to follow. He always eats at a set time, and makes sure to keep himself clean. He has been shown to be a clean freak, showing his disapproval even when someone who associates with him is in any way, dirty.
With his childhood being influenced only by Yu Ren and the Daoist Canon, Chen Chang Sheng has always been ignorant to the societal niceties of the world. He's extremely straightforward and honest, much to everyone's chagrin. His simple mindedness has always led to those talking to him being rendered speechless.
Chen Chang Sheng is also extremely loyal in romance. After meeting the "elven lady", he is determined to dissolve the marriage engagement, compared to his indecision from before.
History[]
Chen Changsheng was found as a baby by Daoist Ji from the waters flowing from the Cloud Grave. He floated down the stream on a wooden basin, being narrowly saved by Yu Ren from the mighty Golden Dragon after it had decided to eat him.
Chen Changsheng is a member of the Imperial Chen Clan and suffers from split meridians due to his sun wheel exploding while he was an infant. A large amount of sacred light was stored within him in order to help him survive the backlash of his exploded sun wheel. This resulted in his blood becoming very pure and full of vitality. He was chosen by Daoist Ji to become a fake Prince Zhaoming, thus helping him succeed in his plan to kill the Divine Empress.
Chen Changsheng became the second disciple of Daoist Ji, growing up in the Xining Temple. Yu Ren became Chen Changsheng's most respected senior, whom he admired much. His days in Xining Temple were quiet and peaceful, his waking hours spent reciting the three thousand scriptures of Daoist canon, memorising and comprehending it.
At the age of ten, a curious phenomenon arose, when Chen Changsheng's body began emitting an irresistible scent that made all existences want to eat him. Yu Ren admits that even he was tempted to eat Chen Changsheng and could only resist because he was a Saint.
Realizing that there was something special about his blood, Daoist Ji, on being enquired, informed him that he was "ill" and that he would not live past twenty. It was also that the meridians in his body were severed into seven by some unknown reason, crippling his hopes for cultivation. Unwilling to be subjected to such a fate, Chen Changsheng set off from Xining Temple with the intention of changing his fate.
Relationship[]
Xu Yourong - Fiancé[]
He and Xu Yourong were bound together by a marriage agreement which both of them wanted to break. Xu Yourong met Chen Changsheng in Garden of Zhou (of Zhou Dufu) and rescued him while escaping from demons. She didn't reveal her identity and introduced herself as Chen Chujian (taking 'Chen' of Chen Changsheng) while Chen Changsheng also introduced himself as Xu Sheng (while remembering her). They didn't want to reveal their identity because of their engagement as they had started to like each (not knowing they were already engaged in their real identity) and also in fear of growing distant because of status. When Zhou Garden began to collapse, Chen Changsheng instructed Great Peng to take Xu You Rong out of Zhou Graden while he used all the swords of Zhou Dufu to cover and reduce the time of collapse of the Graden. They both thought of other self to be dead and Chen Changsheng continued to search her in Zhou Garden after their farewell (it didn't collapse and he could enter it through the broken part of stone heavenly monolith). Xu Yourong, on the other hand expressed her desire to not marry Chen Changsheng or Quishan Jun as her heart belonged to Xu Sheng who had died. Then she came to know that Xu Sheng was Cheng Changsheng when she saw the Yellow Umbrella in Su Li's hands belonging to him and given instruction to be returned back to him by her.
They once again encountered each other on Bridge of Helplessness but had to fight each other while representing the status of Holy Maiden and future Pope on their respective sides. Xu Yourong covered her face with a veil and didn't disclose her voice as to fight a proper battle with him. This battle raised Changsheng's image in her mind and she admired him even more as he didn't had murderous intent even though she was a stranger for him. After the battle, Xu Yourong admitted defeat and shocked Cheng Changsheng by her voice while the veil was flown away by the wind. After the battle Xu Yourong gave him a note to meet at Fortune Peace Road's Fish with Tofu shop for a date at dusk without knowing that the shop had already been closed 3 years ago. He even missed the event specially organised by Pope to announce him the next Pope. Tang Thirty-Six has to go in his place and accept the staff while he enjoyed the date with Xu Yourong. He became so infatuated with her that he went to meet her in the palace late night. There he came to know from Xu Yourong that the Black Frost Dragon called Zhizhi by Wang Zhi Ce was actually female.
Ability[]
Chen Changsheng is well-versed in the Daoist Canon (as well as many other texts) and has great knowledge, which he uses to his advantage. He is a swords master and said to have mastered all sword moves of the world. While he uses many sword moves throughout the book, there are a few sword moves and other techniques that he uses throughout the book:
- Ye Shi Steps/Discerning Steps/Ye Shi Bu: This is a movement technique that is used to dodge and creates erratic footprints that make it hard for him to be tracked. (thus the name discerning steps) Chen Changsheng copied this move from watching a assassin use it.
- Dao Shan Gun/Mountain Toppling Staff: A quarterstaff technique, although Chen Changsheng uses it with his sword instead. A straight downward slash.
- Halving Blade/Liang Duan Dao/One Blade, Two Halves: An immensely powerful technique. Chen Changsheng initially learnt the last 69 moves while Xu Yourong learnt the first 39. He tends to incorporate this move into other sword moves rather than using it by itself.
- Stupid Sword/Ben Jian: Known as the strongest defensive sword move ever. This technique can only be learnt through repetition and its usage looks clumsy, hence the name. It is able to block anything but cannot be used to counterattack. Chen Changsheng is one of two people (the other being wang po) who are known to be able to fully perform this maneuver. It was taught to him by Su Li, although he himself was unable to perform this technique.
- Intellectual Sword/Hui Jian: A method of calculating an enemy's points of weaknesses. Often used by Chen Changsheng to pierce star domains and make up for his weak qi. One of the three sword moves taught to him by Su Li. Overusing it may result in damages to the user's consciousness.
- Burning Sword/Ran Jian: An attack which fiercely burns the user's qi in exchange for explosive might. One of the three sword moves taught to him by Su Li, it was customised for him due to his unique meridians.
- Unity Sword/He Jian Su: A sword technique that must be used together with other people. It increases the offensive and defensive capabilities of everyone performing the technique.
- Attack of Ten Thousand Swords: Chen Changsheng performs this move with the over six thousand swords he kept from the Garden of Zhou's Sword Pool. He uses his powerful spiritual sense to simultaneously control all the swords to strike at an enemy with their sword intents.
- Heavenly Monoliths/Heavenly Monuments/Tian Shu Bae (sorta forgot what it was called exactly, if anyone remembers please edit): Ten Heavenly Monoliths shrunk down into a rock or stone pearl. It is very heavy and can be used to strike at the enemy with overwhelming force.
- Green Leaf World: A miniature world that is a small potted plant with green leaves. Eventually passed on to Chen Changsheng by the Pope. Can be used to attack since it contains the weight of an entire miniature world.
He is also a competent healer who specialises in problems with meridians (due to he himself also having meridian problems) and is good at acupuncture, which can be used to stop bleeding and alleviate illnesses.
He also has very strong spiritual sense and he is extremely adept at controlling it.
Trivia[]
- He explains his naming as thus: "I was very sick when I was young and my master wanted me to live to a hundred years old."