Cao De

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Cao De (曹德)
Alias(es)	Centurion Cao; Baihu Master; “Smiling Tiger”
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Ping'an County Jinyiwei Baihu Office; covertly allied with the Demons and Devils of Black Mountain
Occupation/Role	Jinyiwei Baihu Master (Centurion) of Ping'an County
Status	Deceased
First Appearance	Chapter 8 (mentioned); Chapter 14 (formal appearance)

Background / History

Cao De served as Ping'an County's Jinyiwei Baihu Master for twenty years. Frustrated by being confined to the county and unable to cultivate orthodox Spirit Aperture Realm methods, he sought promotion through the approaching Ten-Year Inspection and hoped to transfer to Longyuan Prefecture as a Deputy Commander or at least a higher-ranking Centurion 14 30.

He made an agreement with the three great demons of Black Mountain: the Jinyiwei would not suppress Black Mountain's demons, while the demons would avoid entering Ping'an County city, preserve enough of the outlying population, and provide intelligence about rival demons. Cao De subsequently used the demons to eliminate political opponents, consolidating control over Ping'an County 17.

Cao De cultivated an incomplete, forbidden Blood Sha Skill after failing to initiate three orthodox Spirit Aperture Realm techniques obtained through merit exchange. He used the vital blood of demons, devils, and martial artists to strengthen his Blood Sha Qi, opening three acupoints and entering the Spirit Aperture Realm 30.

Chen Fan's survival of the earlier demon ambush made Cao De view him as a dangerous loose end. Through Li Mo and coerced subordinates such as Wang Chao, Cao De repeatedly attempted to have Chen Fan killed by demons rather than act openly himself 14 18.

After Chen Fan, Lu Xuenning, and Huang Chengyue began purging the demons within Ping'an County, Cao De organized an ambush against them. When the plot failed and Li Mo died, Cao De personally appeared and fought Chen Fan. Unable to injure Chen Fan with Blood Fiend true energy and critically wounded by the Heaven and Earth Grinding Disc Fist, Cao De slit his own throat with his Meteorite Iron Blade rather than be killed 28 30 31.

Appearance

Cao De was a short, broad-faced man with a full chin, scarred face, high forehead, low nose bridge, and aquiline nose. His outwardly genial smile was described as sinister rather than warm 22.

• Frequently wore the uniform of a Jinyiwei Centurion.
• Cultivated amid a surrounding crimson blood mist in his study 14.
• His eyes could flash crimson after circulating Blood Sha Qi 14.
• Wielded a straight Meteorite Iron Blade 30.

Personality

Cao De was calculating, ruthless, and deeply ambitious. He maintained an outward appearance of a considerate superior while quietly arranging assassinations, manipulating subordinates, and sacrificing civilians to preserve his authority and advancement prospects 14 17 28.

His collusion with demons stemmed partly from desperation over Ping'an County's lack of support and his failed cultivation, but he escalated beyond compromise into murder, corruption, and forbidden cultivation. He regarded Chen Fan's talent not as an asset, but as a threat that had to be removed 23 26 30.

Abilities & Skills

Blood Sha Skill

A forbidden Spirit Aperture Realm cultivation method that Cao De used after failing to cultivate three orthodox techniques. He had opened three acupoints by the time of his final battle 30.

• Generated corrosive Blood Fiend true energy capable of destroying a victim's internal organs.
• Drew in the blood of slain demons, devils, and martial artists to expand and replenish his Blood Sha Qi 30.
• Included the accompanying martial skill Blood Sha Palm 32.
• The technique was incomplete; its later records concerning the Blood Fiend Saber Technique and advanced true-energy applications were missing 31.
• Blood Sha cultivation was forbidden by the Great Zhou court because of its severe demonic-corruption risks 30 32.

Blood Sha Palm

Cao De's primary combat technique, used in close quarters against Chen Fan 30 31.

• Coated his hands in crimson Blood Fiend true energy.
• Corroded Chen Fan's Flying Fish Robe but could not penetrate Chen Fan's physical body 31.
• Its ineffectiveness against Chen Fan's exceptional physique left Cao De unable to inflict meaningful damage 31.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Meteorite Iron Blade — A straight blade superior to Chen Fan's Thousand-Refinement Embroidered Spring Blade. Cao De carried it during his final battle but did not use it against Chen Fan; he ultimately used it to take his own life 30 31.
• Incomplete Blood Sha Skill scroll — A beast-hide scroll carried on his person, containing the core cultivation method and Blood Sha Palm 32.

Relationships

• Li Mo — Trusted subordinate and political protégé. Cao De promised to recommend Li Mo as Ping'an County's next Baihu Master, and Li Mo remained loyal to him until his death 14 28 30.
• Chen Fan — Enemy targeted for elimination after surviving a demon ambush and becoming a threat to Cao De's control. Chen Fan defeated him in their final battle 14 23 30 31.
• Wang Chao — Subordinate coerced through threats against his family into assigning Chen Fan to a deadly patrol 18.
• Huang Chengyue — Upright Zongqi Officer whom Cao De could not remove due to Huang's recognized appointment; Cao De treated him as an obstacle and later ordered his death 20 28.
• Lu Xuenning — Investigator who suspected Cao De's collusion and helped expose his network 16 21.
• Wang Menglu — The County Magistrate's second wife and Cao De's mistress; secret passages connected her room to the demon-related separate courtyard and a rice shop 21.
• Black Mountain Three Demons — Cao De's principal demon allies under the agreement that enabled them to prey on settlements outside Ping'an County city 17.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Control of Ping'an County

Cao De covertly turned the county's Jinyiwei into an instrument of his rule. His agreement with Black Mountain allowed demons to feed on the outlying populace while he used the resulting arrangement to secure stability, merit, and political control 17 18.

Conflict with Chen Fan

Cao De became concerned when Chen Fan survived demon poisoning and rapidly gained strength. He ordered Li Mo to arrange Chen Fan's death through demon attacks, including the Black Bear Gully Village patrol 14 16 18.

Purge and Downfall

When Chen Fan refused orders to leave the city and instead joined the purge of its demons, Cao De openly sided with the remaining demonic creatures. His attempted ambush failed, forcing him to reveal his Blood Sha cultivation and confront Chen Fan directly 26 28 30.

Death

Cao De's Blood Fiend true energy could not breach Chen Fan's defense, while Chen Fan's Heaven and Earth Grinding Disc Fist shattered his body. Facing certain defeat, Cao De committed suicide and left behind the Blood Sha Skill scroll and Meteorite Iron Blade 31 32.