Tian Yao

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Tian Yao (天钥)
Alias(es)	Golden Scale; Hell Messenger
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Frost Snow Pavilion; Worship Hall
Occupation/Role	Ye Xi's follower and companion; Sea God Inheritor
Martial Soul	Golden Crocodile King
First Appearance	Chapter 11

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Soul Grandmaster, thirtieth-rank bottleneck	30	Reached the bottleneck alongside Ye Xi; the Earth Dragon Golden Gourd had raised her talent ceiling and strengthened her physique.
Three-ring Soul Grandmaster	42	Released the Golden Crocodile King with two yellow and one purple Soul Ring during her battle with Yu Tianheng.
Level 32 Soul Grandmaster	35	Absorbed the Ironclad Bear's Soul Ring and gained a defensive third Soul Skill.
Soul Ancestor	80	Reported her advancement from Soul Grandmaster to Soul Ancestor after training in the Heaven Dou Empire.
Level 50 bottleneck	167	Reached the bottleneck after two years of intensive training under Ye Xi.
Level 51 Soul King	177	Successfully absorbed a Golden Dragon Turtle Soul Ring beyond her normal limit and obtained Golden Dragon Armor.
Sea God Inheritor	230	Poseidon identified her as his inheritor and invited her to Sea God Island for the inheritance.

Background

Tian Yao is Golden Crocodile's granddaughter and grew up alongside Ye Xi in the Worship Hall. During early combat training with the Offerings, she endured harsher physical punishment than Ye Xi but remained determined, while recognizing the advantage of Ye Xi's flying Martial Soul 11.

After Ye Xi fell unconscious in Tiandou City, Tian Yao was deeply distressed because she had promised her grandfather that she would protect Ye Xi. She later learned that the Earth Dragon Golden Gourd given to her by Ye Xi had improved both her cultivation aptitude and physical strength 30.

She accompanied Ye Xi on journeys for Soul Rings, training, and eventually into Slaughter City. Her determination to keep pace with Ye Xi led her to attempt—and survive—the absorption of the Golden Dragon Turtle's Soul Ring beyond her level 35 177.

Appearance

Tian Yao is described as a delicate-looking young woman with a bright, expressive smile. In battle, Golden Crocodile King possession manifests golden scales across her body and arms 35 42.

• Golden scales form over her arm when using combat and defensive Soul Skills 42 43.
• Her Soul Ring configuration as a three-ring Soul Grandmaster was two yellow rings and one purple ring 42.
• By Chapter 89, she possessed two yellow, two purple, and four additional Soul Rings 89.

Personality

Tian Yao is loyal, candid, and eager to prove herself. She repeatedly volunteers for combat, seeks practical experience at the Great Soul Arena, and accepts dangerous cultivation opportunities rather than remaining behind Ye Xi 31 38 177.

Her loyalty to Ye Xi is central to her actions. She promised to protect Ye Xi, readily accepts Ye Xi's judgment, and committed herself to reaching Soul King within two years so she could accompany Ye Xi on future training 30 44 121. She can also be playful and impulsive, such as attempting to shift blame onto Dugu Yan after being caught eavesdropping 283.

Abilities & Skills

Golden Crocodile King

Tian Yao's Martial Soul grants her considerable physical strength, close-range combat ability, and defensive potential.

• Overpowered Yu Tianheng in an initial strength contest, forcing him back three steps while she retreated only two 42.
• Uses golden scales to reinforce her arm and form defensive constructs 42 43.
• Was identified by Qian Daoliu as possessing an aura of Divinity, indicating “boundless potential” 89.

First Soul Skill: Golden Scale Sky-Splitting Slash

A ranged offensive technique that launches a golden energy beam from her scale-covered arm.

• Activated golden scales across her arm before releasing the attack 42.
• Matched Yu Tianheng's Thunder Dragon Claw in their direct Soul Skill clash 42.

Third Soul Skill: Alligator Armor Sky Dome Shield

A defensive shield formed from golden scales on Tian Yao's arm.

• Blocks incoming attacks with a compact scale shield 43.
• Reflects fifty percent of an opponent's attack power back at them 43.
• Its reflected force numbed Yu Tianheng's arm after he attacked it with Dragon Transformation 43.

Fifth Soul Skill: Golden Dragon Armor

A defensive enhancement obtained from the Golden Dragon Turtle.

• Greatly increases Tian Yao's defense 177.
• Increases her attack by seventy percent 177.
• Reflects fifty percent of damage she receives back to the attacker 177.

Sea God's First Three Forms

Tian Yao was acknowledged by the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud and learned three halberd stances demonstrated by the Sea God.

• Uncertain Storm 88 89
• Thousand Years of Emptiness 88 89
• Gone Never to Return 88 89

Spiritual Sea Refinement

The Sea God refined Tian Yao's Spiritual Sea after Ye Xi arranged for her to attempt blood-bonding with the Sea God's Heart 88.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Halberd — Taken by Ye Xi from a skilled halberd user in Slaughter City and given to Tian Yao 180.
• Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud — Acknowledged Tian Yao and enabled her to learn the Sea God's first three forms 88 89.
• Earth Dragon Golden Gourd — A celestial herb previously given to her by Ye Xi; raised her talent ceiling and strengthened her physique 30.

Relationships

• Ye Xi — Her young mistress, closest companion, mentor, and protector. Tian Yao pledged to protect Ye Xi and follows her through Soul Ring hunts, Slaughter City, and Sea God Island matters 30 121 177 230.
• Golden Crocodile — Her grandfather. He praises her cultivation progress and recognizes the significance of her Divinity Aura after Qian Daoliu identifies it 80 89.
• Qian Renxue — A close companion who spends time with Tian Yao and Ye Xi; Tian Yao later offers to accompany and protect both women 89 251.
• Dugu Yan — Friend, sparring partner, and occasional rival. Their relationship is tested when Tian Yao tries to deflect blame onto Dugu Yan after eavesdropping 120 283.
• Yu Tianheng — Opponent whom Tian Yao defeated in a Soul Battle despite his Dragon Transformation 42 43.
• Poseidon — Her prospective divine mentor, who invited her to Sea God Island as the Sea God Inheritor 230.
• Ghost Leopard — A cultivation guide and protector who captured the Golden Dragon Turtle and stood ready to interrupt Tian Yao's Soul Ring absorption if necessary 120 177.
• Xiao Bai — Interacts playfully with Tian Yao on Sea God Island, including splashing her in retaliation for prior pranks 280.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Training and Tiandou Journey

Tian Yao trains with Ye Xi under the Offerings, accompanies her when she leaves the Worship Hall, and begins developing through practical combat and Soul Ring hunts 11 12 35.

Great Soul Arena

When Yu Tianheng challenges Ye Xi, Tian Yao takes Ye Xi's place. She defeats him through superior close-quarters strength and the counterattack effect of Alligator Armor Sky Dome Shield, fighting under the name “Golden Scale” 42 43.

Sea God Recognition

Ye Xi arranges Tian Yao's contact with the Sea God's Heart. The Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud acknowledges Tian Yao, the Sea God refines her Spiritual Sea, and Qian Daoliu detects her aura of Divinity 88 89.

Preparation for Slaughter City

Ye Xi sets Tian Yao the goal of becoming a Soul King within two years. Tian Yao reaches the level-fifty bottleneck, absorbs the Golden Dragon Turtle's Soul Ring, and becomes a level 51 Soul King 121 167 177.

Slaughter City

Tian Yao enters Slaughter City with Ye Xi and receives a halberd suited to her fighting style. Over the following year, she earns the title “Hell Messenger” through the Hell Slaughter Arena, reaching eighty-two consecutive victories before injuries and the lack of a suitable weapon widen the gap between her and Ye Xi 180.

During the Hell Road, Ye Xi renders Tian Yao unconscious and carries her through the trial to spare her exposure to its overwhelming killing intent 187.

Sea God Inheritance

Poseidon formally invites Tian Yao to Sea God Island as the Sea God Inheritor. Tian Yao postpones the journey until after the Great Competition, choosing to fulfill her current commitments first 230.

Trivia

• Tian Yao was previously referred to as Jin Qi before the text clarified that Golden Crocodile Douluo's granddaughter is named Tian Yao 35.
• She refers to Ye Xi as “Second Young Lady” or “Young Miss” 30 42.
• Despite her stated role as Ye Xi's protector, Ye Xi privately estimates that she could defeat five Tian Yaos without difficulty at that point in the story 30.