Cai Tanggu

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Cai Tanggu (蔡棠古)
Alias(es)	Instructor Cai; Imperial Tutor
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Fish Abyss Academy
Occupation/Role	Instructor; cultivator
Status	Alive; departed Hun City carrying Su Lingyi’s body 46
First Appearance	Chapter 10

Cultivation Profile

Realm / Standing	Details
Peak Cave Nether Realm	A peak Cave Nether cultivator whose strength overwhelms ordinary cultivators and the Black Flame Army. 11
Global standing	Ranked among the world’s top hundred Cave Nether cultivators at age sixty. 12
Cultivation history	Entered Fish Abyss Academy at fifteen and reached the Cave Nether Realm at twenty-four. 12
Aspiration	Seeks to reach the Bathing Snow Realm, believing it would let him restore a more youthful and attractive appearance. 41

Background

Cai Tanggu is an instructor of Fish Abyss Academy. His cultivation made him a formidable figure in Kutan, yet he remained at the peak of the Cave Nether Realm for many years. His inability to advance beyond that realm became a source of frustration, especially because he believed a breakthrough could finally change the appearance that had brought him humiliation throughout his life. 12 41

He came to Hun City after the Du Family’s attempted assassination of Jiang Wang. Initially attempting to resolve the dispute by limiting punishment to the individual responsible, he became enraged after Jiang insulted his appearance and challenged his authority. 10

Appearance

Cai Tanggu is an elderly-looking man with a heavily wrinkled, withered face. His appearance is a deeply personal vulnerability: he was mocked for it before becoming powerful, and even his cultivation did not restore his youth. 10

• His face is described as dark, wrinkled, and withered. 10 12
• His facial features visibly contort when angered or humiliated. 10 41
• He envies cultivators who retain or regain youthful appearances after advancing. 41

Personality

Cai Tanggu is proud, status-conscious, and highly protective of his dignity. He initially attempts diplomacy at the Xunyang Marquis Manor, but Jiang Wang’s insults about his face provoke him into abandoning restraint. 10

Despite his pride, Cai is capable of recognizing when he is outmatched. After Jiang suppresses him, he becomes submissive rather than risk death; after Tong Ji and Jiang defeat his side during his second visit, he shifts from revenge to using Su Lingyi’s connection to Chancellor Chang as leverage. 12 45

His return to Hun City is driven by humiliation as much as duty. He allies with Rong Yulu and Dong Chongyang to retaliate against Jiang Wang, while also becoming interested in the possibility that treasures of the fallen Qi Kingdom could help him break through his bottleneck. 41

Abilities & Skills

Cave Nether Cultivation

Cai is a peak Cave Nether Realm cultivator and one of the strongest fighters encountered in Hun City during the early conflict with Jiang Wang. 11 12

• Easily suppresses the blue- and white-robed cultivators from Moonlit West Tower through pressure alone. 10
• Repels the Black Flame Army’s coordinated assault, including Shan Qiyu’s spear charge. 11
• Can fly, keeping out of reach of most Martial Artists. 11
• Is ultimately defeated by Jiang Wang’s Mirage-enhanced power and by Tong Ji. 12 43

Rain and Water Manipulation

Cai can transform rainfall into a battlefield weapon.

• Turns a light drizzle into torrential rain with a breath. 11
• Condenses raindrops into sword-like projectiles capable of piercing houses, armor, and the Black Flame Army’s formation. 11
• Uses rain and cold aura to control space around his opponents. 10 11

Flying Sword Techniques

Cai wields a flying sword and can manifest large numbers of swords in combat.

• Conjures hundreds of flying swords against the Black Flame Army. 11
• Channels the full Qi of his Yellow Court into his sword for powerful strikes. 11
• Attempts to attack Jiang Wang with his flying sword, but Jiang suppresses it through the Mirage’s power. 12

Equipment

• Flying sword — Cai’s primary weapon, used for aerial combat, direct attacks, and large-scale sword techniques. 11 12

Relationships

• Jiang Wang — Primary adversary. Cai initially seeks a settlement over the Du Family incident, but Jiang’s insults and repeated defeats turn the conflict into a personal vendetta. 10 12 41
• Su Lingyi — Fellow Fish Abyss Academy member whose detention gives Cai a reason to return to Hun City. Cai later leaves carrying Su’s corpse after Jiang kills him. 23 46
• Tong Ji — Opposing peak Cave Nether cultivator and steward of the Xunyang Marquis Manor. Tong Ji defeats Cai during the second assault on the manor. 41 43
• Rong Yulu — Temporary ally united by resentment toward Jiang Wang; Cai recruits him for the assault on the Marquis Manor. 41
• Dong Chongyang — Powerful ally brought to confront Jiang Wang. Cai relies on Dong’s strength after recognizing Jiang as a serious threat. 41 42
• Chancellor Chang — Fish Abyss Academy’s chancellor. Cai invokes Su Lingyi’s status as Chang’s direct disciple and threatens that Chang may personally intervene. 45
• Luo Xianshan — Martial God Temple venerable who protects Jiang Wang and openly challenges Cai’s threats against the Marquis Manor. 46

Story Role / Major Arcs

First Visit to the Xunyang Marquis Manor

Cai arrives in Hun City to address the Du Family’s involvement in the Jianli assassination attempt. He asks Jiang Wang to spare the wider Du Family and punish only the culprit, but Jiang provokes him by mocking his appearance. 10

Cai overpowers the Moonlit West Tower cultivators and devastates Qixia Street while fighting the Black Flame Army. Jiang’s Mirage power then suppresses Cai, who is humiliated, disarmed, and deliberately released so that he will return with stronger opponents. 11 12 13

Alliance and Return to Hun City

After investigating the Xunyang Marquis Manor’s connection to the former Qi royal family, Cai returns during the City God Temple Fair. He recruits Rong Yulu and works alongside Dong Chongyang, hoping both to rescue Su Lingyi and to retaliate against Jiang Wang. 41

Cai confronts the manor with threats of Fish Abyss Academy’s authority, but Tong Ji intercepts him. Despite being armed with an inferior sword and hindered by a limp, Tong Ji defeats Cai in their duel. 41 43

Su Lingyi’s Death and Withdrawal

Following Dong Chongyang’s defeat, Cai attempts to force Jiang Wang’s compliance by revealing that Su Lingyi is Chancellor Chang’s direct disciple. His threat fails when Luo Xianshan offers Jiang protection and questions whether Fish Abyss Academy would truly risk open conflict over Su Lingyi. 45 46

Jiang kills Su Lingyi before Cai can secure his release. Cai chooses not to escalate further, takes Su Lingyi’s body, and leaves Hun City with Du Yanruo. 46

Trivia

• Cai’s greatest personal ambition is not merely greater strength, but reaching the Bathing Snow Realm so he can alter his appearance. 41
• Jiang Wang intentionally humiliated Cai and Fish Abyss Academy because he wanted Cai to return with more cultivators for sparring practice. 12