Tian Gang

Biodata

Name	Tian Gang (田刚)
Alias(es)	Martial Arts Maniac Tian Gang 39
Species/Race	Human; later a demonic cultivator 77 145
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiang Yu's lineage; Verdant Wave Mountain; formerly associated with Old Jack's Underground Boxing Ring 39 77 264
Occupation/Role	Underground boxer; cultivator; wielder of the Heaven Splitting Divine Axe 39 388
Status	Active during the Immortal-Demon War 453
First Appearance	Chapter 39

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Level 4 expert	75	Possessed Internal Family True Qi and physical strength of roughly a thousand crystals; his True Qi was only around a hundred crystals.
Innate Realm	95	Reached the realm roughly half a year before attaining Xiantian Great Accomplishment, after receiving the Mysterious Martial Codex.
Xiantian Great Accomplishment	95	Advanced from the Innate Realm in half a year; his Earth Virtue physique greatly accelerated cultivation.
Golden Core Stage / demonic path	145	Entered the demonic path after a month of seclusion with three Spirit Crystals; physical energy exceeded 100,000 crystals.
Mid-stage Heavenly Demon	264	Absorbed Jehovah's essence blood under Xiang Yu's guidance; his entire body absorbed the energy directly.
Demon Commander realm	313 329	His mental cultivation reached Demon Commander level and he endured Chi You's Dao-transmission pressure longer than a Demon Lord.
Near Demon King realm	329	Cultivating in Blazing Hell, Tian Gang approached the Demon King realm shortly after Li Yang's own breakthrough.
Mid-stage Demon Lord	337	A thousand years of cultivation and complete absorption of the Nine-Leaf Lingzhi raised both his cultivation and mental state.
Heaven Splitting Divine Axe awakening	388	Obtained Pangu's divine artifact after unconscious axe practice within Chaos Mountain; the axe protects his Primordial Spirit.
Early-stage Demon Emperor	437	Despite this cultivation level, the Heaven Splitting Divine Axe lets him easily contend with Immortal Emperor-level opponents.

Background / History

Tian Gang entered the Underground Boxing Ring to seek strong opponents rather than money or notoriety. Unlike fighters bound to training camps, his contract allowed him to leave Old Jack at will. He was already one of the Super Ten and trained constantly by wearing several hundred pounds of lead weights in daily life. 39

His pursuit of stronger opponents led him to challenge Li Yang, then known as Mu Yi. Tian Gang fought at full strength using explosive physical power, lightness skill, and Internal Family True Qi, but Li Yang defeated him with a single whip kick. Rather than abandon his ambition, Tian Gang vowed to surpass him. 39 59

While protecting Lily and Little Jack from the Holy See in Manhattan, Tian Gang was cornered by a Special Inquisitor and a White-Robed Priest. Later, five men attempted to force him to lose an upcoming fight; Tian Gang attacked first but was shot through the abdomen. Li Yang killed the attackers and Xiang Yu healed Tian Gang, discovering his rare Xiantian Earth Virtue Body in the process. 51 75 76

Xiang Yu accepted Tian Gang as his fourth disciple and gave him the upper half of the earth-attribute Mysterious Martial Codex. The technique and Tian Gang's innate constitution allowed him to progress from the Innate Realm to Xiantian Great Accomplishment in only half a year. 77 95

After entering the demonic path, Tian Gang became one of Li Yang's closest companions at Verdant Wave Mountain. He later departed with Xiang Yu for training under Great Venerable Chi You at the Demon God Palace, leaving Lily and their daughter Tongtong behind. 264 283 285 297

During the journey for the Three Lives Stone, Tian Gang insisted on accompanying Li Yang despite the danger. In Chaos Mountain, he obtained the Heaven Splitting Divine Axe, a divine artifact that transformed both his potential and his standing among the Six Realms. 341 388

Appearance

Tian Gang is an exceptionally large, heavily trained man, standing nearly two meters tall. Despite his intimidating build, he is described as having a comparatively compact frame beneath the enormous weights he habitually wears. 39 56

• Nearly two meters tall. 56
• Usually wears a thick lead-block vest and weighted blocks on his limbs totaling several hundred pounds. 39
• Physically imposing and muscular; Li Yang initially considers him a brute. 56
• Typically carries a cold, taciturn demeanor. 56
• Later bears a black axe mark on his forehead when awakening the Heaven Splitting Divine Axe. 387

Personality

Tian Gang is intensely competitive and treats combat as the means by which a strong person becomes stronger. He is proud of his training, blunt in speech, and unwilling to be controlled by agents or intimidated into throwing a fight. 39 75

Though initially cold and quiet, he is notably fair in his dealings. His rivalry with Li Yang develops into deep respect and brotherhood; even after accepting that he could not catch up to Li Yang through ordinary training, Tian Gang continued to cultivate without giving up. 56 59

His loyalty extends beyond combat. He risks himself to protect Lily and Little Jack, refuses to abandon Li Yang on dangerous journeys, and conceals Li Yang's whereabouts even before Great Venerable Chi You and Empress Nuwa. 51 341 388

Tian Gang initially hoped for a son, but quickly became inseparable from his daughter Tongtong and deeply struggled with leaving his family to continue cultivation. 283 285

Abilities & Skills

Xiantian Earth Virtue Body

Tian Gang possesses the Xiantian Earth Virtue Body, an innate constitution said to appear only once in billions of people. It was only detected when Xiang Yu's Primordial Spirit thoroughly examined him after his gunshot injury. 75 76

• Greatly accelerates earth-attribute cultivation, potentially by tens of times compared with ordinary cultivators. 76
• Allows his entire body—not only his heart or meridians—to absorb spiritual energy. 264
• Lets him absorb Blazing Hell Qi at dozens of times an ordinary cultivator's speed. 328
• Grants exceptional potential for reaching the Demon Emperor realm. 362
• Does not remove the need for mental cultivation; insufficient spiritual consciousness slowed his progress in Blazing Hell. 332

Internal Family True Qi and Physical Combat

Before becoming a demonic cultivator, Tian Gang combined Internal Family True Qi with extraordinary physical conditioning and Chinese lightness skill. 39 51

• His True Qi nourished his muscles, allowing him to wear enormous weights without constant strain. 39
• Uses rapid leg attacks, including vise-like twisting kicks and phantom-like movement. 39
• Could evade Holy See pursuers through lightness skill while carrying Lily and Little Jack. 51
• His pre-cultivation combat strength was far below Li Yang's, despite being one of the Underground Boxing Ring's Super Ten. 39

Mysterious Martial Codex

Xiang Yu gave Tian Gang the upper half of the Mysterious Martial Codex, a top-tier earth-attribute cultivation technique. 77

• Drove his rapid advancement through the Innate and Xiantian stages. 95
• Supported his entry into the Golden Core Stage and the demonic path. 145
• Tian Gang regards it as the foundation of his early cultivation success. 95 145

Violet Extreme Demonic Body Profound Art

As Xiang Yu's disciple, Tian Gang practices the Violet Extreme Demonic Body Profound Art to temper and strengthen his body. 330

• Converts surrounding heat and flame energy into talismans that integrate into his muscles. 330
• Enabled rapid body tempering in Blazing Hell alongside the Cyan Ice Stone and Blazing Hell Qi. 332
• Complements the absorption advantages of his Xiantian Earth Virtue Body. 328 330

Heaven Splitting Divine Axe

Tian Gang obtained the Heaven Splitting Divine Axe, Pangu's legendary divine artifact, within Chaos Mountain. 388 437

• Protects his Primordial Spirit with an energy even Great Venerables may be unable to destroy. 453
• Grants attack power capable of threatening Great Venerables once fully developed. 390
• Lets the early-stage Demon Emperor Tian Gang easily handle Immortal Emperor-level experts. 437
• Once enabled an unconscious final strike that split Chaos Mountain and rivaled Chi You's attack power. 388
• Tian Gang cannot yet consciously reproduce that ultimate strike and must improve his mental cultivation to use the axe fully. 388

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Weighted lead blocks and vest — Several hundred pounds of daily training weight. 39
• Mysterious Martial Codex — Earth-attribute cultivation manual granted by Xiang Yu. 77
• Heart-protection restriction — A defensive restriction formed from Xiang Yu's energy; protects Tian Gang's heart from all but overwhelmingly powerful attacks. 145
• Crimson Firmament / Chi Xiao — An immortal sword formed through the recognition of six immortal swords; used for high-speed flight. 285 342
• Cyan Cloud — Flight treasure entrusted to him by Li Yang for their Underworld journey. 342
• Earth Splitting Demonic Axe — High-grade demonic artifact forged by Li Yang from Cyan Ice Stone and Nirvana True Fire. 346 347
• Heaven Splitting Divine Axe — Pangu's divine artifact and Tian Gang's defining weapon. 388 437

Relationships

• Li Yang / Mu Yi — Senior brother, former opponent, benefactor, and closest comrade. Li Yang saved Tian Gang's life, supported his cultivation, and repeatedly protects him; Tian Gang is willing to risk his life for Li Yang. 75 145 341 390
• Xiang Yu — Master. Xiang Yu recognized Tian Gang's Xiantian Earth Virtue Body, accepted him as his fourth disciple, and arranged his training under Chi You. 76 77 285
• Lily — Wife. Tian Gang protected her from the Holy See, later married her, and shares a daughter with her. 51 246 283
• Tongtong — Daughter. Tian Gang initially wanted a son but became profoundly devoted to her. 283 285
• Little Jack — Brother-in-law and companion. Tian Gang helped protect him during the Holy See incident. 51 246
• Great Venerable Chi You — Grandmaster and direct instructor at the Demon God Palace; Chi You recognizes Tian Gang's immense potential and protects him in Blazing Hell. 297 335
• Old Jack — Former Underground Boxing Ring agent. Old Jack managed Tian Gang but could not prevent him from leaving or challenging Li Yang. 39

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Underground Boxing Ring — Introduced as a Super Ten fighter who challenges Li Yang, beginning their rivalry and future brotherhood. 38 39
• Holy See conflict — Protects Lily and Little Jack, establishing his connection to Li Yang's household. 51
• Xiang Yu's disciple — Survives an attempted match-fixing murder, is healed by Xiang Yu, and receives the Mysterious Martial Codex. 75 77
• Extreme Leg Dojo and demonic cultivation — Rapidly reaches Xiantian Great Accomplishment, then enters the Golden Core Stage and demonic path. 95 145
• Verdant Wave Mountain — Serves as a trusted ally and defender while cultivating alongside Li Yang's followers. 264 269
• Demon God Palace and Blazing Hell — Receives Chi You's guidance, advances through higher Demon Realm stages, and trains beside Li Yang in Blazing Hell. 297 328 337
• Three Lives Stone journey — Accompanies Li Yang into the Underworld Realm and obtains the Heaven Splitting Divine Axe in Chaos Mountain. 342 388
• Immortal-Demon War — Fights with Xiang Yu's forces; his divine axe makes him a feared target of the Seven Star Palace. 437 453

Notable Quotes

“One day, one day I will surpass you! I won't give up challenging you!”
— Tian Gang to Li Yang 59

“In the Immortal-Demon War, we are enemies. If you want to kill me, I will kill you. Who can you blame for that?”
— Tian Gang 453

Trivia

• Tian Gang's initial challenge to Li Yang occurred before he knew Li Yang's true identity or cultivation level. 39
• His Earth Virtue Body was hidden even from Xiang Yu until the latter used his Primordial Spirit to inspect Tian Gang's wounded body. 75 76
• Although he once wanted a son so they could fight when the child grew up, he became intensely attached to his daughter Tongtong. 283
• The Heaven Splitting Divine Axe's protection makes Tian Gang's Primordial Spirit exceptionally difficult to harm, even for Great Venerable-level beings. 453