Zhang Tao

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Zhang Tao (张涛)
Alias(es)	Martial King; Human King; “Shame of the True Kings”
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Human Realm; Hua Nation; New Martial Arts
Occupation/Role	Leader of the Human Realm; contemporary Human King; creator of the Unity Dao
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Rank Six	65	Wandered the Forbidden Zone, fighting continuously and causing trouble.
Rank Seven	5 65	Traveled to the Forbidden Sea for treasure and cooperated with King Huai; later received a complete Rank Nine Demon Plant connected to Purple Canopy Mountain.
Rank Nine	65	Launched attacks on Boundary Land forces for resources and eventually slaughtered more than a dozen Earth Cave Rank Nine martial artists in one battle.
Peak	5 65	The Rank Nine Demon Plant repaired his physical deficiencies; after exhausting himself in battle against Rank Nines, he attained the Peak in his sleep.
Concealed Emperor-level power	5	Had hidden this strength since becoming a Peak; fought more than a dozen Earth Cave True Kings during the Magic City Earth Cave war.
Eight-Forged foundation	5	Received an Eight-Forged Golden Body, Eight-Forged Spiritual Sense, transformed Origin Source Dao, and Emperor-Level Life Force; his limit burst exceeded 4 million cal.
Saint realm	65	In the future Fake Heavenly Grave conflict, human powerhouses’ Dao fusion and Human Emperor Dao feedback healed him and elevated him to Saint-level strength.
Break Seven / Heavenly King	66	Fused with the Future Human King’s Human Emperor Dao; his Great Dao expanded from 70,000 to 100,000 meters and his combat power exceeded 200 million.
Peak Break Seven	109	Ranked 38th on the Three Realms Combat Power Ranking with combat power exceeding 19 million, supported by Humanity’s Luck, the Human Emperor Dao prototype, and the Magic Martial Domain.
Break Eight	119	Shattered King Xun’s golden body with a single strike while surrounded by several Heavenly Kings, leading Feng and the others to recognize his breakthrough.

Background / History

Zhang Tao grew up as a street urchin: clever, brazen, glib, and initially without notable martial aptitude. He entered the martial path during the early New Martial Arts era and became the adopted son of the former Human Realm Minister of Education. Li Zhen later became both a companion and a crucial teacher, supplying Zhang Tao with martial knowledge, combat techniques, and resources. Zhang Tao and Nan Yunyue joined Li Zhen in repeated life-and-death campaigns in the Earth Cave. 5 65

After his foster father died in the Earth Cave, Zhang Tao abandoned his earlier reckless lifestyle and accepted leadership responsibilities within Hua Nation. His rise accelerated after obtaining a complete Rank Nine Demon Plant associated with Gong Yuzi, which repaired his damaged foundation and enabled his breakthrough toward the Peak. 5 65

As the Martial King, Zhang Tao built long-term contingencies for humanity. He planted spies in the Heavenly Plant Royal Court, recruited multiple Earth Cave True Kings in secret, and prepared them to turn on their own side when needed. During the Magic City Earth Cave war and the Land of King Battles crisis, these preparations contributed to the deaths of numerous Earth Cave True Kings. 5

His concealed strength and schemes were publicly exposed by the Sky Screen, which gave him the title “Shame of the True Kings.” Its evaluation nevertheless named him the creator of the Unity Dao, a worthy Human King, and a figure possessing “Emperor’s Bearing.” 5

Personality

Zhang Tao appears roguish, casual, and shameless, but is described as deeply strategic, resilient, and decisive. He is willing to deceive enemies, exploit fear, and use humiliating tactics if they improve humanity’s odds of survival. 5 65

His central priority is the Human Realm. He shares critical resources rather than hoarding them, avoids reckless wars when humanity lacks sufficient strength, and prepares for worst-case scenarios against stronger factions. 5 13 43

Zhang Tao can also be self-critical. He acknowledges that his suppression of the sect world harmed Zhao Xingwu and other sect martial artists, even while maintaining that he feared their ties to Boundary Land forces could endanger humanity. 51

Abilities & Skills

Unity Dao and Human Emperor Dao

Zhang Tao is identified as the creator of the Unity Dao and later develops an authentic Human Emperor Dao.

• His Human Emperor Dao gains strength from Humanity’s Luck and the Human Realm’s Origin. 109
• In the future, the Future Human King merges the Human Emperor Dao into Zhang Tao’s Great Dao, allowing him to reach Heavenly King status. 66
• He can use humanity’s collective power to greatly amplify his own combat strength. 66 75

Origin Source and Mental Energy Cultivation

The Sky Screen resolves the hidden dangers in Zhang Tao’s Origin Source Dao and grants him exceptional foundational improvements.

• His Origin Source Dao transforms from false to real, freeing him from its former shackles. 5
• He receives an Eight-Forged Golden Body and Eight-Forged Spiritual Sense. 5
• He obtains a top-tier Mental Energy cultivation method, which he intends to use to address humanity’s lack of such methods. 5
• His post-reward burst power exceeds 4 million cal. 5

Strategic Deception

Zhang Tao is exceptionally skilled at manipulation, infiltration, and psychological warfare.

• Embedded spies within the Heavenly Plant Royal Court and recruited Earth Cave True Kings as covert assets. 5
• Used bluffing, swindling, and theft to drive Heavenly King- and Saint-level enemies from the Fake Heavenly Grave. 5
• Mimicked female voices and later impersonated the Spirit Emperor to frighten powerful enemies away from the Spirit Emperor Pavilion. 65
• Registered tournament participants as Magic Martial University students or instructors, extending the Magic Martial Domain’s benefits to them. 45

Combat

Zhang Tao is one of the Human Realm’s foremost direct combatants.

• Fought more than a dozen Earth Cave Rank Nine martial artists and killed them all before attaining the Peak. 65
• Concealed Emperor-level strength while fighting Earth Cave True Kings during the Magic City Earth Cave war. 5
• Killed the Saint Jiu Xuan in the Magic City Earth Cave. 85
• Fought King Xun to a draw during the Three Realms Martial Arts Exchange Tournament. 49
• Later displayed Break Eight strength by smashing King Xun’s golden body with one strike. 119

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Human King Seal — Used to block the Weapon Keeper’s sudden spear attack. 119
• Top-tier Mental Energy cultivation method — Sky Screen reward intended to strengthen humanity’s broader cultivation foundation. 5
• Magic Martial Domain — A source of support included in his combat-power evaluation; Zhang Tao extends its benefits to tournament participants through administrative registration. 45 109

Relationships

• Li Zhen / Heaven Suppressing King — Longtime companion, mentor, and fellow protector of humanity. Li Zhen taught Zhang Tao many techniques and supplied resources during their youth; Zhang Tao also resents that Li Zhen concealed his overwhelming strength for so long. 9 65
• Nan Yunyue — Childhood companion and fellow Human Realm leader. Zhang Tao once pursued her, but she rejected him because she already had a fiancé; he later shares Emperor-Level Life Force to support her Peak breakthrough. 5 53
• Former Minister of Education — Zhang Tao’s foster father and early benefactor. His death in the Earth Cave pushed Zhang Tao to abandon his carefree life and become a Human Realm leader. 5 65
• God Forger — Initially regarded with caution after his release, but later treated as an essential ally in the defense of the Human Realm. 7 8 107
• Fang Ping — The Future Human King. Zhang Tao gives Fang Ping spiritual-power manifestations for protection and, in the revealed future, receives Fang Ping’s Human Emperor Dao to confront the Heavenly Emperor. 32 66
• Zhang Xuan — Zhang Tao’s descendant. The two engage in a battle of wits after Zhang Xuan becomes the strongest being in the Three Realms and resets the world. 119
• Zhao Xingwu — Political and ideological rival over the treatment of human sects. Zhao Xingwu seeks to make Zhang Tao admit his mistakes, while Zhang Tao believes his suppression of sects was necessary for human security. 51
• Human Emperor — Hostile adversary. Zhang Tao rejects the Human Emperor’s claim over humanity and condemns his use of the Human Emperor Sword to absorb human blood. 49

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Sky Screen exposure — Zhang Tao is revealed as the ninth-ranked figure on the Sneaky Ranking, exposing both his hidden Emperor-level strength and his extensive preparations against the Earth Cave. 5
• Defense of the Human Realm — He coordinates with Li Zhen, Nan Yunyue, and God Forger while balancing the need for resources against the danger of provoking stronger Three Realms factions. 13 24 36
• Three Realms Martial Arts Exchange Tournament — Zhang Tao sends human prodigies into a tournament designed to slaughter them, counters enemy deception, and personally confronts the Earth Cave’s highest-level threats. 36 45 46 49
• Sect Alliance conflict — Zhao Xingwu’s exposure forces Zhang Tao to confront the consequences of his policy toward the human sect world. 51
• Great war preparations — As the Human Emperor and the Seed threaten the Human Realm, Zhang Tao considers defensive alignment with Original Martial Arts and recognizes that he, Li Zhen, and God Forger must carry humanity’s defense. 107 110 117
• Final exposure and reset — Zhang Tao reaches Break Eight strength amid the Three Realms conflict before Zhang Xuan resets the Human Realm and Earth Cave, ending their war. 119
• Heavenly Realm Arc — Transported ten thousand years into the past, Zhang Tao discovers that his strength has fallen to Peak level and chooses to remain within the Human Emperor Palace after the Human Emperor recognizes his Human Emperor Dao. 125 126 127

Notable Quotes

“The human race has no Emperor!” 49

“Things have reached this point; we have no other choice but to fight!” 37

“Not cooperation, but banding together to defend against the enemy!” 110