Cao Ying

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Cao Ying (曹颖)
Alias(es)	Cao Family Demoness; Ying'er
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Cao Family; Pill Tower
Occupation/Role	Eighth-grade Alchemy Grandmaster; candidate for the next generation of Pill Tower Three Giants; disciple of Xuan Kongzi
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 325

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Seventh-grade Alchemist	325	Initially recognized as the younger generation's foremost alchemy talent, though she had not yet reached the eighth grade.
Eighth-grade Alchemy Grandmaster	332 424	Successfully refines an eighth-grade pill and later returns as one of the Pill Tower's leading young alchemists.
Spirit Realm Soul, nearing middle stage	424	Her Soul Power has improved considerably and is assessed as close to the Spirit Realm's middle stage.
Soul Value: 1995	426	More than doubles her prior Five Great Families assessment record of 976, demonstrating extraordinary Soul Power growth.
Eighth-grade four-colored pill refinement	468	Refines an eighth-grade pill that produces Four-colored Pill Lightning during the Pill Gathering.
Immortal Talisman Master	513	After receiving the Talisman Master inheritance, she and Dan Chen both barely break through to Immortal Talisman Master, gaining strength comparable to some Dou Zun experts.

Background / History

Cao Ying was born with extraordinarily powerful Soul Power. The force of her Soul Power at birth nearly overwhelmed and killed her mother, becoming the foundation of her exceptional potential as an alchemist. She was raised within the Cao Family and received orthodox Pill Tower alchemy training as Xuan Kongzi's personal disciple. 1 424 425

Before Xiao Ling's emergence, Cao Ying was among the Pill Region's most celebrated young alchemists. Her reputation, beauty, talent, and conduct made her the Cao Family's foremost genius and a favored candidate for the Pill Gathering championship and a future Pill Tower Giant. 424

She first meets Xiao Ling when she receives him at the Pill Tower. Intrigued by the young Eighth-grade Alchemist who had surpassed her previous achievements, she personally guides him through Sacred Pill City and the Pill Tower's treasure vault. Xiao Ling's gift of a thousand-year Ice Crystal Snow Lotus leads Cao Ying to initially assume that he is pursuing her. 325 329

Appearance

Cao Ying is a tall, slender woman whose beauty and demonic charm make her an immediate focus of attention. She usually wears a black dress and carries herself with cold arrogance and practiced elegance. 424

• Long, soft black hair that falls over her shoulders like a waterfall. 424
• Snow-white skin and a refined, slightly thin face. 424
• Narrow, languid phoenix eyes described as captivating and bewitching. 325 424
• A black dress that closely outlines her figure and gives her an imposing, mysterious presence. 424
• Her alluring appearance inspires both attraction and instinctive wariness in others. 424

Personality

Cao Ying is proud, confident, and intensely competitive. As the greatest alchemy genius in Cao Family history, she refuses to yield easily even when she recognizes Xiao Ling's superiority. Her desire to contend with him at the Pill Gathering is driven by both ambition and a wish to prove herself worthy of standing at his side. 424

Despite her public poise and seductive reputation, she can be shy and emotionally transparent around Xiao Ling. She initially misreads his generosity as courtship, grows jealous of Dan Chen's closeness with him, and later becomes increasingly direct about her affection. 329 434 496

She remains resolute under danger. When Soul Hall forces corner the Pill Gathering contestants in the Pill Realm, Cao Ying refuses to submit and prepares to fight to the death in hopes of warning Xiao Ling. 449 450

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Cao Ying is an Eighth-grade Alchemy Grandmaster and one of the Pill Tower's strongest young talents. Her alchemy may slightly surpass Dan Chen's, and she is considered a leading contender for the Pill Gathering championship. 424

• Refined an eighth-grade pill independently, marking her advancement to Eighth-grade Alchemy Grandmaster. 332 424
• Refined an eighth-grade pill with Four-colored Pill Lightning during the Pill Gathering. 468
• Possesses a strong foundation from childhood training in the Cao Family and Pill Tower's alchemy arts. 425
• Her Soul Power and Blood Demon Flame provide major advantages in pill refinement. 464

Soul Power and Soul Manipulation

Cao Ying's exceptional inborn Soul Power is her defining talent. Her Soul Value of 1995 dramatically surpassed her own previous assessment record and placed her among the most formidable young soul cultivators in the Central Plains. 1 425 426

• Can condense vast Soul Power into a Soul Phoenix alongside Dan Chen. 428
• Her Soul Phoenix produces pressure strong enough to distort space and create fine Spatial Rifts. 428
• Her Spirit Realm Soul is close to its middle stage by the Five Great Families assessment. 424
• Her soul talent makes her highly compatible with both alchemy and Talisman Master cultivation. 488

Talisman Master Cultivation

Xiao Ling gives Cao Ying the Talisman Master cultivation method and a Destiny Spirit Talisman, recognizing that her Soul Power makes her a natural candidate for the path. 488

• Cultivates Spiritual Power rather than relying solely on Dou Qi. 488
• Reaches the Immortal Talisman Master realm after sustained training. 513
• Gains combat strength comparable to certain Dou Zun experts despite her lower conventional cultivation level. 513
• Intends to integrate Talisman Master techniques with alchemy. 488

Hidden Defensive Trump Card

During the Soul Hall attack in the Pill Realm, Cao Ying unleashes a blood-red power that rapidly raises her aura. 450

• Prepared to use it in a last stand against Venerable Mu Gu. 449 450
• Xiao Ling had also left a protective mark on her capable of preserving her life and forcibly taking her out of the Pill Realm if necessary. 449

Equipment / Items

• Blood Demon Flame — A high-quality flame created by the Cao Family using the blood of nearly a thousand Fire-Attribute magical beasts and cultivated with Xuan Kongzi's assistance; its destructive power rivals the lowest-ranked Heavenly Flames. 464
• Thousand-year Ice Crystal Snow Lotus — A rare ice-region herb gifted to her by Xiao Ling; it can be used in eighth- and ninth-grade pill refinement and benefits Soul Power. 329
• Spirit-Nourishing Dust — Receives one of five portions discovered by Xiao Ling; it can help a Spirit Realm Soul absorb Spirit Energy and progress further. 434
• Destiny Spirit Talisman — Prepared for her by Xiao Ling alongside the Talisman Master inheritance. 488

Relationships

• Xuan Kongzi — Her master and one of the Pill Tower's Three Giants; he holds great hopes for her and encourages her association with Xiao Ling. 325 328
• Xiao Ling — Initially an alchemy rival and object of her curiosity; their relationship develops into mutual affection and intimacy. She remains determined to compete with him rather than simply yield to his superior ability. 329 424 434 484
• Dan Chen — Fellow Eighth-grade Alchemy Grandmaster, rival, and later fellow Talisman Master cultivator. Cao Ying is jealous of Dan Chen's relationship with Xiao Ling but continues to cultivate and study alongside her. 424 488 496
• Zi Yan — A companion of Xiao Ling who distrusts Cao Ying's interest in him and openly calls her narcissistic. 430 432
• Song Qing — A Pill Tower elder and fellow contestant; he attempts to approach Cao Ying after the Soul Hall plot is revealed. 433
• Venerable Mu Gu — Soul Hall Venerable Elder who intends to capture her for her exceptional soul; Cao Ying refuses to surrender to him. 449

Story Role / Major Arcs

Pill Tower Reception and Treasure Vault

Cao Ying receives Xiao Ling at the Pill Tower after hearing of his eighth-grade alchemy achievement. Acting as his guide, she introduces him to Sacred Pill City and accompanies him through the Pill Tower treasure vault, where Xiao Ling gifts her the thousand-year Ice Crystal Snow Lotus. 325 329

Five Great Families Assessment

Cao Ying represents the Cao Family in the Five Great Families assessment. She records a Soul Value of 1995, takes second place in the Soul Power events behind Xiao Ling, and joins Dan Chen in a Soul Phoenix showdown against him. 425 426 427 428 429

Pill Gathering and Soul Hall Incident

Cao Ying enters the Pill Gathering as one of its leading young contenders. During the Pill Realm crisis, she stands against Soul Hall forces and resolves to make a final resistance rather than submit. After Xiao Ling saves the group, she refuses to leave the Myriad Medicine Mountain Range until she knows he is safe. 433 449 453 455

Pill Gathering Finals

Cao Ying displays the Blood Demon Flame and refines an eighth-grade pill that summons Four-colored Pill Lightning. Xiao Ling's later nine-colored pill leaves her astonished but further motivates her to improve. 464 468 469

Talisman Master Path

After the Pill Gathering, Cao Ying accepts Xiao Ling's Talisman Master inheritance. Her natural Soul Power allows her to advance rapidly, eventually reaching the Immortal Talisman Master realm alongside Dan Chen. 488 513

Trivia

• Cao Ying's Soul Value record in the Five Great Families assessment was previously 976 before she raised it to 1995. 425 426
• She initially believes Xiao Ling's gift of the Ice Crystal Snow Lotus proves he likes her, privately concluding that he is “after” her beauty. 329
• Though known for her seductive and confident public image, she becomes visibly bashful around Xiao Ling after their relationship deepens. 434 439