Cao Jin

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Cao Jin (曹劲)
Alias(es)	King Chi; Zijian (courtesy name) 240 270
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Northern Cao Imperial Dynasty; Tian Ce Prefecture 264 336
Occupation/Role	King Chi of Tianchi Road; later the tenth Emperor of the Northern Cao Dynasty 240 336
Status	Reigning Emperor of the Northern Cao Dynasty 337
First Appearance	Chapter 240

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Nascent Soul Seventh Transformation	249	Lin Le remolds his damaged foundation with the essence of an Out-of-Body Demon Lord, producing the Origin Elephant Martial Body and Fire Elephant Spiritual Body.
Aperture Opening, First Stage	291	Fights Lin Le's Fourth-Stage Out-of-Body Galloping Ming King Spirit General to a standstill during a sparring match.
Prison Suppressing Treasure Body	326	Gains the Treasure Body he had long desired; Lin Le attributes the result in part to Cao Jin's twin blood relation with Cao Shuang.

Background

Cao Jin is the twin brother of Cao Shuang, the eighteenth prince of the Northern Cao Dynasty. Cao Shuang believed that he had taken too much nourishment in the womb, leaving Cao Jin physically weak; after Cao Shuang's death, Cao Jin's foundation was destroyed and he was removed from serious consideration for the throne. 246 260 326

As King Chi, Cao Jin governed Tianchi Road from Tianchi City, though he initially considered himself an idle prince with insufficient influence, talent, and high-level support to stabilize the empire. His principal connection to the powerful Xu family came through his mother. 240 257 260

When Lin Le recovered memories of his life as Cao Shuang, Cao Jin accepted that Lin Le was neither wholly his former brother nor wholly separate from him. He nevertheless continued to treat Lin Le as his brother. 246 248

Appearance

Cao Jin is described as a jade-faced young man with an initially delicate, somewhat effeminate appearance. After Lin Le reconstructs his foundation, his physique becomes more robust and noticeably masculine; by the time he becomes a father, he has also grown a beard. 240 249 332

• Fair-skinned and exceptionally handsome. 240
• Became visibly more masculine after gaining the Origin Elephant Martial Body and Fire Elephant Spiritual Body. 249
• Uses Strength Markings that spread over his body in battle. 291

Personality

Cao Jin is considerate toward those close to him. He is visibly concerned when Uncle Hong returns from a dangerous journey, and he remains devoted to Lin Le even after learning the complicated truth of Lin Le's reincarnation. 240 247 248

Initially cautious about provoking the court and noble families, Cao Jin grows into an ambitious and decisive ruler under Lin Le's guidance. He accepts the necessity of ruthless political action, manages state affairs personally, and works diligently at both cultivation and administration. 257 266 270 305

Despite his political ambitions, he values personal choice in marriage and refuses to marry someone he does not love. He ultimately pursues and marries Li Yurong. 272 316 323

Abilities & Skills

Foundation Remolding and Treasure Bodies

Lin Le reconstructs Cao Jin's damaged Spiritual Root and physical foundation using an Out-of-Body Demon Lord's essence. 249

• Possesses the Origin Elephant Martial Body. 249
• Possesses the Fire Elephant Spiritual Body. 249
• Later gains the Prison Suppressing Treasure Body. 326
• His remolded aura at the Nascent Soul Seventh Transformation surpasses that of an ordinary Nascent Soul Ninth Transformation cultivator. 249

Great Dao of Speed

Cao Jin's Dao is the Great Dao of Speed, giving him exceptional movement and sword speed. 291

• Combines speed with body refinement, allowing his body to withstand rapid movement. 291
• Uses Strength Markings to reinforce his physical combat ability. 291
• Retains an unconventional close-quarters style shaped by the jujutsu-like techniques he learned while physically frail. 291

Martial and Cultivation Arts

• Spirit Sealing Heavenly Treasure Art — practiced during his recovery and foundation remolding. 248
• Three Realm Spirit Fire Art — used during his spar with Xu Mohua. 307
• Swordsmanship — his swordplay is swift, forceful, and suited to his Great Dao of Speed. 291

Governance and Command

Cao Jin builds a personal power base in Tianchi Road and later uses it to contend for the throne. 257 270

• Accepts Dao soldiers, Spirit Generals, and Li Ermao from Lin Le to strengthen his faction. 257
• Establishes military-merit-style official positions to bind subordinates to his cause. 271
• Incorporates Lin Le's forces into the Tian Ce Prefecture system. 264
• Clears corruption in Chuandong Province and stabilizes his territories before his final bid for the throne. 330

Equipment

• Evil Punisher Saber — a saber Cao Jin keeps and sharpens at King Chi's Estate. 240
• Earth Dragon Qi — delivered to him by Uncle Hong in a jade bottle. 240
• Embers of All Beings — a ring given to Cao Jin by Lin Le after his ascension. It accelerates cultivation and improves comprehension in proportion to the people's goodwill; hostility from the people instead slows progress and reduces the wearer's lifespan. 337

Relationships

• Lin Le / Cao Shuang — Cao Jin's twin brother in Cao Shuang's former life; Cao Jin accepts Lin Le as his brother despite his reincarnation and becomes his closest political ally. 246 248 257
• Li Yurong — wife. Cao Jin asks Emperor Cao to arrange their marriage and later marries her in a grand ceremony. 316 323
• Cao Cao — son and heir, nicknamed Tantou due to his fire-element Spiritual Root. 332
• Xu Shuheng — maternal uncle. Initially skeptical of Cao Jin's claim, Xu Shuheng agrees to support him if he meets the required cultivation and Dao-comprehension standards. 270 307
• Xu Jinsong — maternal grandfather and patriarch of the Xu family. His support is crucial to Cao Jin's political rise. 307 308
• Uncle Hong — loyal retainer who brings Cao Jin Earth Dragon Qi and reports meeting a senior resembling Cao Shuang. 240
• Cao Zhang — Crown Prince and principal rival for the throne; the two eventually reach an agreement after the fall of Luo Zhen. 316 333 336
• Ling Muzhu — Lin Le's wife and Cao Jin's sister-in-law. 247

Story Role / Major Arcs

Reunion with Lin Le

Cao Jin first appears as King Chi, questioning whether he can ever compete for the throne while holding the Earth Dragon Qi brought by Uncle Hong. He seeks out the senior who resembled his deceased brother, leading to his reunion with Lin Le. 240 246

After Lin Le explains his past-life memories, Cao Jin accepts him as family and agrees to support his goal of ending the empire's suffering and bringing peace and prosperity. 246 247

Building the King Chi Faction

Lin Le remolds Cao Jin's damaged foundation, granting him new Spirit and Martial Bodies and restoring his prospects as a cultivator. 248 249

Cao Jin becomes Lin Le's official face in Tianchi Road, using accusations of demonic collusion and attempted assassination to purge hostile families. He absorbs their resources, establishes Tian Ce Prefecture, and begins building an independent military-administrative force. 257 262 264 266 271

Claim for the Throne

Cao Jin gains the backing of the Xu family after meeting the conditions set by Xu Shuheng, including reaching the Sixth Stage of Nascent Soul and forming Dao patterns. 270 307

Following his contributions to the campaign against Xue Man Lou, Cao Jin requests Emperor Cao arrange his marriage to Li Yurong rather than accepting a political reward that would weaken his control over Tianchi Road. 316

He marries Li Yurong amid the failure of the northern expedition and growing unrest throughout the Northern Cao Dynasty. 323

Ascension and Reign

After Emperor Cao's death, Cao Jin relinquishes his feudal title to enter the capital, openly challenges Cao Zhang's succession, and denounces Si Koutu's treasonous alliance with the Demonic Cult. 333

Following Lin Le's defeat of Luo Zhen and an agreement with Cao Zhang, Cao Jin ascends as the tenth Emperor of the Northern Cao Dynasty. He declares that he will govern diligently and care for the people. 336

Under Cao Jin's Benevolent Governance, aristocratic families are suppressed and the dynasty enters a period of recovery. Lin Le later entrusts him with the Embers of All Beings before departing Northern Cao. 337

Notable Quotes

“Since Brother still wants to fight, your younger brother can only accompany you.” 247

“I, inheriting the blessings of my ancestors, ascend the great lineage today. I shall govern diligently and love my people, repaying the world!” 336