Black Pot

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Black Pot (黑锅)
Alias(es)	Huo Dou; Black Immortal; Master Pot
Species/Race	Huo Dou; a half-demon, half-ghost being
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Chen Shi; Huo Dou clan
Occupation/Role	Chen Shi’s companion, protector, and fellow traveler; King of the Huo Dou
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 6

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Intelligent black dog	6	Understands human speech, assists Chen Shi during his medicinal baths, and watches over him when Grandfather becomes dangerous.
Uncontrolled mind-affecting ability	156	Awakens an ability that alters others’ memories and perception; in panic, it causes Chen Shi’s name to be forgotten and cannot immediately reverse the effect.
Bloodline-awakened Underworld arts	156, 186	Reads ghost language, enters the Underworld through a salt-fed green stove fire, and retrieves Ghost Books from an ownerless Primordial Palace.
Nascent Ghost and God Domain	318	Its domain clouds thought and perception and can blur Yin–Yang boundaries, though its effective range is only four to five zhang.
Huo Dou True Body	367	Reveals its true identity as Huo Dou to Chen Shi after prolonged secrecy.
Adult Huo Dou–comparable strength	500	Learns from its mother, wields the Heaven Measuring Iron Ruler, manifests three heads and six arms, and defeats the Huo Dou leader alongside her.
King of the Huo Dou	500	The surviving Huo Dou submit after the leader’s defeat.
True Immortal-level aura	571	After consuming large quantities of immortal pills, its aura becomes as powerful as a True Immortal; it cultivates the Eight Lightning Techniques to their highest known level.
Transcended Five Elements and Three Realms	613	Demonstrates immunity to five-element restraints and escapes a Three-Talent Sword formation by transcending heaven, earth, and humanity.
Enhanced comprehension	591	Daoist Lingbao’s spirit pill enables it to understand and flawlessly demonstrate cultivation methods it had previously only observed.

Background

Grandfather Chen Yindu brought Black Pot back when it was palm-sized and raised it on the family’s leftovers. From the beginning, it was unusually intelligent, kind-hearted, and able to understand human language. It grew up alongside Chen Shi and became his closest non-human companion. 6 317

Its origin remained uncertain for much of the story. Chen Shi eventually discovers that Black Pot can read Ghost Books, enter the Underworld through stove fire, and navigate toward a specific ownerless Primordial Palace. Black Pot explains that these abilities emerged with its bloodline awakening, along with inherited memories that taught it the stove magic. 156 186 317

Chen Shi later concludes that Black Pot may not truly be a dog. The revelation that it is a Huo Dou confirms his suspicions, though Black Pot had concealed its true form and growing powers from him. 186 367

Appearance

Black Pot usually appears as a large black dog. In the Underworld or during combat, it can reveal its Huo Dou True Body: a colossal, demonic canine form wreathed in demonic fire. 23 367

• Jet-black fur, described as increasingly lustrous after prolonged cultivation. 573
• Often walks or fights upright when using weapons. 415
• Can grow from dog-sized to mountain-range scale; while traveling through the Underworld Demon Domain, it reaches roughly seven li in length and nearly three li in height. 500
• Wears colorful clothing as the “Black Immortal,” including a pair of Ai Dai on its forehead. 572
• Can manifest three heads and six arms in battle. 500

Personality

Black Pot is deeply loyal to Chen Shi and repeatedly protects him without hesitation, from his first encounter with the Underworld to battles against ghosts, gods, immortals, and polluted entities. 23 335 594

Despite its growing strength, it retains many dog-like habits: it is food-motivated, territorial about its status beside Chen Shi, and easily offended when people call it a beast or compete for Chen Shi’s attention. It once urinated on a petrified corpse to provoke Li Xiaozheng, whom it believed was competing with it for status. 11 130

It is also diligent and curious. It studies Ghost Books by lamplight, seeks ways to control its own powers, and later learns numerous cultivation methods through observation. 156 571 591

Abilities & Skills

Ghost and God Domain

Black Pot possesses a domain that interferes with perception, thought, and the boundary between the Yin and Yang worlds. 318

• Causes victims to forget names, perceive Black Pot as someone familiar, or believe it has answered them despite its silence. 156 266
• Can deceive cultivators and immortals through large-scale illusions. 571
• Blurs Yin–Yang boundaries strongly enough to mislead ghosts and gods into entering the Underworld without realizing it. 318
• Initially affects a radius of only four to five zhang. 318
• Its influence weakens after changes to its body, leaving it unable to affect the small night-shifters in the Young Master’s Primordial Palace. 327
• Is suppressed by Heavenly Dao while Black Pot is in the Heavenly Court, forcing it to behave like an ordinary Dog Immortal. 577

Underworld Traversal

Black Pot can enter and travel through the Underworld by several methods. 156 186

• Uses salt scattered into stove fire to create green flames leading to a specific Underworld route and Primordial Palace. 156 186
• Can travel on Yin wind and later carry Chen Shi into the Underworld. 313 328
• Can shrink sufficiently to pass through a stove opening while carrying Chen Shi and the boat girl. 323
• Its early Yin-wind technique cannot carry Chen Shi physically into the Underworld. 186

Huo Dou Transformation

Black Pot becomes vastly more dangerous after revealing its Huo Dou True Body. 367

• Expands into a gigantic demonic form capable of crossing immense Underworld distances at extreme speed. 276 500
• Produces demonic fire, including chains that burn underworld officials to ash. 415
• Can breathe fire to ignite its stove magic. 186
• Gains extraordinary power within demonic Dao Fields, where it feels capable of exerting more than twelve times its normal strength. 453
• Can alter its size, though early use of this ability is difficult and incomplete. 323

Combat

Black Pot combines overwhelming physical strength, demonic fire, talismans, and immortal artifacts. 415 500

• Defeats demon cultivators, sentient rats, Malevolent Spirits, and Talisman Monsters with its jaws and claws. 84 120 127
• Fights upright with crescent blades, Wu Gou swords, and the Heaven Measuring Iron Ruler. 415
• Uses the Sixth New Talisman and the Heaven Measuring Iron Ruler to manifest three heads and six arms. 500
• Has mastered the Eight Lightning Techniques recorded on the Heaven Measuring Iron Ruler. 571
• Activates the Yin Yang Dao Field alongside Chen Shi, weakening incoming spells and spiritual powers. 594 613
• Fights effectively even against groups of True Immortals. 613

Talisman Arts and Cultivation

Black Pot’s blood enhances talismans, while its aptitude allows it to learn techniques by observing Chen Shi. 197 500

• Its blood empowers talismans beyond their expected strength. 197
• Uses its own blood to grind cinnabar and repair talismans on Chen Shi’s wooden cart. 169
• Cultivates the Great Desolation Ming Dao Collection and demonstrates numerous Daoist and immortal arts after consuming Daoist Lingbao’s spirit pill. 571 591
• Transcends the Five Elements and the Three Realms after consuming numerous disaster-averting pills. 613

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Heaven Measuring Iron Ruler — Black Pot’s principal weapon; it channels thunderfire Dao patterns, lightning techniques, and immense physical force. 500 571
• Taiyi Demon-Dispelling Shuttle — An immortal artifact Black Pot subdues by smashing it apart with the Heaven Measuring Iron Ruler; it separates into ninety-nine soft swords and can reform into a high-speed shuttle. 426
• Ghost Books — Texts written in ghost language, retrieved from an ownerless Underworld Primordial Palace and studied by Black Pot. 156 317
• Small altar — Used in an unsuccessful attempt to sacrifice and refine the Taiyi Demon-Dispelling Shuttle. 427
• Colorful clothing — Requested colorful vests and pants rather than black clothes; later depicted on the Immortal Slaying List in colorful attire. 199 572

Relationships

• Chen Shi — Closest companion and sworn “brother.” Black Pot protects, travels, cultivates, and fights alongside him throughout the story. 199 367 595
• Chen Yindu — Adoptive master who brought Black Pot from the Underworld and raised it within Chen Shi’s household. 6 317
• Chen Tang — Chen Shi’s father; recognizes Black Pot’s role in helping Chen Shi grow stronger, though he is jealous of their closeness. 284 367
• Black Pot’s mother — An adult Huo Dou who trains Black Pot in the Underworld and later fights beside him against the Huo Dou leader. 338 500
• Granny Sha — An ally wary of Black Pot’s power to influence minds; she seeks its blood for stronger altar rituals, prompting Black Pot to flee. 223 317
• Li Tianqing — A frequent ally who helps Black Pot draw talismans, load supplies, and escape dangerous situations. 169 226
• The Huo Dou clan — Submit to Black Pot after he and his mother kill their leader, making him their king. 500

Story Role / Major Arcs

Chen Shi’s Early Guardian

Black Pot begins as Chen Shi’s unusually intelligent household dog. It senses the danger surrounding Grandfather, accompanies Chen Shi into the mountains, and endures abuse from Li Xiaoding’s camp while remaining beside Chen Shi. 6 10 11

First Underworld Rescue

When Chen Shi’s heart condition pulls him into the Underworld, Black Pot appears as a colossal demonic dog and helps guide him back toward Grandfather’s voice and incense. 23

Discovery of Its Secret

Chen Shi discovers Black Pot reading Ghost Books and entering the Underworld through a stove. This begins his investigation into Black Pot’s origin, inherited memories, and mysterious connection to an Underworld Primordial Palace. 156 158 186

Underworld Companion

Black Pot becomes Chen Shi’s primary means of navigating the Underworld, carrying him through hells, escaping Zhong Kui, and entering Primordial Palaces. 276 313 323

Huo Dou Revelation and Kingship

After revealing its true identity as Huo Dou, Black Pot trains under its mother, rapidly develops its combat arts, and becomes king of the Huo Dou after defeating their leader in the Underworld Demon Domain. 367 500

Immortal-Realm Bandit

Black Pot and Chen Shi steal immortal treasures, spiritual roots, and the Yama Tree from powerful cultivators. Their exploits place Black Pot first on the Immortal Slaying List. 570 571 572

Heavenly Court Service

While disguised as the Black Immortal, Black Pot joins the Fire Character Camp, trains with Heavenly Soldiers, earns widespread goodwill through generosity, and later assists Chen Shi against the Muddy Bodhisattva incident. 577 585 594 595

Trivia

• Black Pot is capable of cooking and frequently tends stoves or prepares meals for Chen Shi’s group. 6 170 263
• It likes dried meat, fruit, spirit-beast meat, and grave grass. 199 223 370
• It can store dry objects in its mouth, including Ghost Books and scrolls. 156 427
• It was mistaken for a scholar traveling to the imperial examinations after its domain made others believe it had studied alongside them for years. 266
• It considers itself Chen Shi’s equal in status and reacts badly to perceived rivals. 130