Liu Tao

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Liu Tao (柳涛)
Alias(es)	Sister Tao Tyrant; Tao Tyrant
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Liu Clan
Occupation/Role	Soul Forging martial apprentice; contender in the Sect Lord Contention
Status	Active as of Chapter 48
Age	16 at her introduction 7
First Appearance	Chapter 7

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Four-Vessel / Four Soulforging Cauldrons Martial Apprentice	7 8	Uses a Black Tortoise Soul Pill to unleash Four-Vessel Primordial Power during her challenge against Liu Ding; combines four foundational cauldron martial skills.
Peak Four Cauldrons	18	Her Soul Power is assessed as being one step from the Five Cauldrons realm.
Five Soulforging Cauldrons	27 28	Breaks through alongside Liu Ding after their Soul Power links through the Ren and Governing Meridians during an accidental dual cultivation.
Six Soulforging Cauldrons	47 48	Breaks through during the Du Ling Juice trial. Although Murong Guang attributes her success to Zhe Spirit Liquid, she later reveals that she secretly replaced the liquid and never used it.

Background

Liu Tao is Liu Chengyuan's daughter and the younger sister of the deceased Liu Bo. She spent years targeting Liu Ding because she believed he was responsible for Liu Bo's death during the incident involving a Golden Lion cub; Liu Ding later denies having any responsibility for it. 7 29

Her hostility toward Liu Ding makes her the first among the Liu Clan youths to challenge him over Xiao Zhi. Determined to avenge earlier humiliations, she enhances herself with a Black Tortoise Soul Pill, but Liu Ding reverses the fight and leaves her publicly humiliated. 7 8 9

After Liu Ding offers a sincere apology, Liu Tao gradually stops treating him as an irredeemable enemy. She agrees to repeatedly spar with him, unaware at first that his intent is to use her strikes to open blocked Meridian Courts. Their training benefits both of their cultivations and culminates in a simultaneous breakthrough to Five Soulforging Cauldrons. 22 23 27 28

Liu Tao initially remains committed to Liu Ji and believes in his prospects as sect lord. However, she recognizes that Liu Ding's Soul Qi is stronger than Liu Ji's despite Liu Ji's higher realm, and later regrets having fallen out with Liu Ding. 28 31 32

Appearance

Liu Tao is introduced as a tall, shapely sixteen-year-old girl. She is often seen in fitted martial-training clothes and later wears fiery red garments. 7 18 41

• Tall and physically mature for her age. 7
• Commonly appears in martial attire while training or sparring. 18
• Wears fiery red clothing when she encounters Liu Ding after their falling-out. 41

Personality

Liu Tao is fierce-tempered, sharp-tongued, and intensely competitive. Her resentment toward Liu Ding repeatedly pushes her into impulsive challenges, while her pride makes public embarrassment especially difficult for her to bear. 7 8 19

She is also disciplined and ambitious. After reaching the Five Cauldrons realm, she trains late into the night to pursue a top-three position among the Liu Clan's young disciples and possibly reach Six Soulforging Cauldrons before the Sect Lord Contention. 32

Despite her aggressive reputation, Liu Tao is not entirely cruel. She restrains herself when beating Liu Ding after his apology, and she later chooses to truthfully admit that she never used Zhe Spirit Liquid, even though doing so exposes her fear and defies her father's expectations. 23 48

Abilities & Skills

Soul Forging Cultivation

Liu Tao follows the Liu Clan's fixed divine-beast Soul Forging path and advances from the Four Cauldrons realm to Six Soulforging Cauldrons. 8 28 47 48

• Uses the first four cauldron martial skills in coordinated offense and defense. 8
• Her kicks and strikes can force open Liu Ding's Meridian Courts through Cauldron Qi. 22 23
• Her Soul Power rebounds into her own body during training with Liu Ding, accelerating her cultivation. 27
• Her Five-Cauldrons breakthrough is achieved through a unique, accidental dual-cultivation circulation with Liu Ding; the repeatability of this method is not established. 28

Foundational Cauldron Arts

At the Four-Cauldrons level, Liu Tao combines the Liu Clan's four foundational techniques with agility and force. 8

• Tiger Subduing Fist — claw-based offensive technique. 8
• Dragon Gait — movement technique used to rapidly close distance. 7 8
• Vermillion Bird Dance — evasive and shifting technique. 8
• Black Tortoise Shield — defensive technique. 8

Dragon Crushing Hand

Liu Tao practices Dragon Crushing Hand, a powerful martial skill privately supplied by her father after it was removed from the Library Pavilion's records. It is described as a peak technique for the Five Soulforging Cauldrons realm. 32

• Her palm strikes carry enough force to tear the air and generate intense heat. 32
• The technique is intended as a hidden advantage for the Sect Lord Contention. 32
• Liu Ding observes that her execution is incomplete, despite the skill's formidable power. 32

Equipment / Items

• Black Tortoise Soul Pill — consumed during her early duel with Liu Ding to temporarily release Four-Vessel Primordial Power. 7 8
• Zhe Spirit Liquid — carried in a small jade bottle and offered to Liu Ding; although others believe she used it, Liu Tao later admits that she secretly replaced it out of fear. 42 48

Relationships

• Liu Ding — Initially her hated rival, whom she blames for Liu Bo's death. Their antagonism evolves through his apology, repeated training sessions, and their shared breakthrough; she later regrets their estrangement. 7 22 28 32
• Liu Ji — A fellow Liu Clan disciple for whom Liu Tao has feelings and whose claim to sect lord she initially supports. Her confidence in him is complicated by her recognition of Liu Ding's stronger Soul Qi. 28 31
• Liu Bo — Her deceased older brother. His death is the basis of her long-standing hostility toward Liu Ding. 7 29
• Liu Chengyuan — Her father, who pressures her over cultivation and maintains dealings with Nie Zhengxu and the Murong Divine Pill Chamber. 32 48
• Liu Tao's mother — Encourages her to secure influence within the clan through both cultivation and calculated relationships with talented disciples. 31 32
• Liu Zhi'er — Liu Tao becomes jealous when she sees Liu Ding and Zhi'er acting closely together. 18

Story Role / Major Arcs

White Fox Dispute

Liu Tao leads the young disciples' hostility toward Liu Ding and Xiao Zhi, challenging him over his treatment of the white fox spirit beast. Her use of a Black Tortoise Soul Pill turns the confrontation into a serious duel, but she loses control of the encounter and is humiliated before the clan youths. 7 8 9

Meridian-Clearing Training

After Liu Ding apologizes, Liu Tao becomes the person whose attacks help him clear blocked Meridian Courts. Their daily sparring also feeds rebounding Soul Power into her body, creating a mutually beneficial training arrangement despite their constant arguments. 22 23 27

Dual-Cultivation Breakthrough

A retaliatory exchange between Liu Tao and Liu Ding causes their Soul Power to link through their Shenting points and circulate between their Ren and Governing Meridians. Both use the opportunity to break through from Four to Five Soulforging Cauldrons. 28

Zhe Spirit Liquid Controversy

Liu Tao's apparent breakthrough is used by Murong Guang as evidence that Zhe Spirit Liquid is safe. She ultimately admits that she never used the liquid, having secretly replaced it after Liu Ding warned her that its Taotie Soul Qi could devour the Liu Clan's Qilin Soul Qi. Her confession helps expose the danger of the Murong Divine Pill Chamber's product. 47 48

Notable Quotes

“If you can defeat Liu Ji in the Sect Master contest, I, Liu Tao, will be willing to serve you for the rest of my life.” 28

“I... I never used Zhe Spirit Liquid.” 48