Zhang Tao

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zhang Tao (张涛)
Alias(es)	Martial King; Academy Head Zhang; “Mo Ran” (cover identity); Weapon-Holding Envoy (impersonation); Nurturing Talent Emperor 115 129 230 406
Species/Race	Human; cultivator of the New Martial era 1
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Human race; New Martial; Culture Academy; Martial Arts University 57 93
Occupation/Role	Academy Head, leader of New Martial, Martial King, cultivation-method researcher and educator 22 57 115
Status	Active; later endures a chaos spirit-energy storm while fighting in the Four Directions Domain 500
First Appearance	Chapter 1: “Transmigration and Rebirth” 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Late Grade 5	1	His cultivation upon transmigrating into Zhang Tao’s body; already regarded as a leading young talent.
Grade 6	1	The Kongtong Seal heals his injuries and enables his breakthrough.
Peak Rank 6	8	Seals the Life, Spirit, Blood, and Qi Three Burner Gates amid an enormous energy convergence in the Forbidden City Catacombs.
Rank 7 Grandmaster	17–18	The Kongtong Seal suppresses and drains the Grey Cat’s Mentality projection, pushing Zhang Tao’s Mentality past 1,000 Hz and allowing it to materialize; he manifests the Kongtong Seal and enters Rank 7.
Mid-stage Rank 7	31	Breaks through during a Rank 7 battlefield engagement despite being severely wounded by three enemy self-detonations.
Rank 8	43–44	Reaches Rank 8 within roughly three months of returning from the Catacombs; chooses to consolidate by tempering his Golden Body.
Four-Forged Golden Body	51	Repeated tempering raises his Rank 8 Golden Body to four forgings.
Eight-Forged Golden Body	61	Matches Li Zhen, another Eight-Forged Rank 8, but overwhelms him through superior vitality and close-quarters power.
Rank 9 / Origin Dao	77	Enters Rank 9 and walks 800 meters on the Origin Dao in one day.
Origin Dao: 999 meters	112	Two years later, his path reaches 999 meters as he prepares for a further breakthrough.
Apex / True King	115	Certifies his path in the Forbidden City Catacombs and takes the title Martial King.
Saint realm	123	After ten years learning blood-qi qualitative change from the Human Emperor’s projection, his Origin Dao reaches 80,000 meters.
Heavenly King	124	Breaks through after five years of combat training against Heavenly Emperor Ba while concealing his Great Origin Star.
Time Stars and Luck origin	266	Stabilizes his Time Stars and Luck origin, establishing them as the prospective core of a future world.
Eighth-rank Emperor Venerable	405	While trapped within the Time River, advances to an eighth-rank Emperor Venerable with the strength of forty-six Dao.

Background / History

Zhang Tao was originally a second-hand antique dealer. After acquiring an unusual seal, he was struck by a car and died. The seal carried his soul into the body of another Zhang Tao: a young New Martial cultivator who had been grievously injured. He awakens with memories of prior lives and battles, inheriting the identity of the future Martial King and a reputation as humanity’s eventual backbone. 1

The artifact that followed him is the Kongtong Seal, a legendary human holy artifact said to suppress humanity’s destiny. Its healing immediately carries him into Grade 6, beginning an abnormally rapid rise that shocks both allies and senior martial artists. 1 8

During his early Catacombs campaigns, Zhang Tao develops a partnership with Li Zhen, tests the seal’s regenerative potential through self-damaging combat arts, and uses the Seal’s gathered energy to help Li Zhen cultivate. 5 8

Appearance

Zhang Tao is described as having a youthful face even after becoming Academy Head. He can thoroughly alter his outward identity through masks, aura imitation, and refined energy control. 116 143

• His mysterious mask can transform him into an unremarkable “Passerby A.” 116
• He has impersonated Mo Ran, the Weapon-Holding Envoy, and the rogue cultivator Nurturing Talent. 129 230 406
• His hair turns white after overextending himself against the Heavenly Plant Army and suffering an Origin injury. 92 93

Personality

Zhang Tao is driven, calculating, and intensely committed to making humanity stronger. He repeatedly rejects premature advancement in favor of consolidating his foundation, even when he has the means to force a breakthrough. 9 44

He is also opportunistic and shamelessly practical. He deceives a Shark Monster for Heavenly Gold Lotuses, leverages the Grey Cat’s appetite to borrow artifacts, and routinely adopts false identities to obtain resources or manipulate stronger factions. 26 113 230

As a leader, Zhang Tao is decisive and demanding. He dismisses training-school heads unwilling to meet his standards, invests heavily in martial education, and promotes a “dare to fight, willing to fight” ethos. 57 In battle, he can be ruthless: he slaughters more than half of the Heavenly Plant Army while exhausting his own life force to secure victory. 92

Abilities & Skills

Kongtong Seal

The Kongtong Seal is Zhang Tao’s defining artifact and the source of many of his abnormal advantages.

• Heals injuries and restores vitality at a speed that makes repeated use of self-damaging techniques possible. 1 5
• Draws in massive quantities of energy, including energy across the Forbidden City, and can transfer gathered energy to others. 8
• Suppresses external Mentality projections and converts part of their power into Zhang Tao’s own Mentality. 17
• Grants a Human Emperor-like aura that deters high-ranking demon beasts. 17
• Absorbs and suppresses Luck; its Power of Luck enables Zhang Tao’s rapid recovery after severe injury. 31 115
• Later allows him to gather power from the Human Emperor Path and transform it into his personal strength. 171

Human Emperor Path and Origin Dao

Zhang Tao walks the Human Emperor Path, represented by countless human phantoms clearing and widening his Origin Dao.

• His path is extraordinarily broad, but its width makes advancing forward increasingly difficult. 76 101
• He reaches 800 meters on the Origin Dao in a single day upon entering Rank 9. 77
• His path reaches 999 meters before he certifies the Apex realm. 112 115
• The Human Emperor’s projection teaches him methods for advancing the Human Emperor Path and qualitatively changing his blood-qi. 123
• During the Great War, he plants the Human Emperor Path within Fang Ping’s Origin World and burns it into power. 290

Spiritual Power Cultivation

Zhang Tao locates his Brain Core and creates a practical method for New Martial humans to cultivate spiritual power.

• Compresses the Bridge of Heaven and Earth into a ring and forms a phantom Brain Core within the Three Burner Gates. 22
• Shares the method with Li Xianling, who recognizes it as a major breakthrough for New Martial humanity. 22
• Develops books whose individual characters encode energy-combination methods, combat arts, mental attacks, and blood-qi applications. 144 146

Combat Technique Mastery

Zhang Tao initially relies on overwhelming vitality and brute force, but later develops exceptional power control and technical depth.

• Uses multiple Blood Blade Art-type techniques despite their self-inflicted damage. 5 22
• Defeats the high-stage Rank 7 Zhao Changfeng with a blood-red palm strike that combines blood-qi and the power of heaven and earth. 19
• Learns a unique mental-energy attack from Xie Zhaoyang. 33
• Studies Heavenly Emperor Zhan’s combat archives until his power control reaches 96 percent. 117
• Refines his combat experience through five years of repeated battle against Heavenly Emperor Ba. 124

Artifact Clones and Identity Manipulation

Zhang Tao combines the God Forger’s cloning method with acquired techniques and artifacts to build alternate identities.

• Obtains the Blood Exchange Technique after defeating Emperor Qingjing. 113
• Uses Emperor Qingjing’s body and a Divine Artifact to create an Artifact Clone capable of Saint-level combat. 113 126
• Strips Changrong Heavenly Emperor’s Dao and reforges his flesh and blood into an avatar. 155
• Uses the Heavenly Spear’s aura as a reference to impersonate the Weapon-Holding Envoy. 168 230
• Can alter his aura through precise energy combinations learned from Heavenly Emperor Zhan’s records. 168 230

Time Stars and Dao Comprehension

Zhang Tao develops a Time Star that becomes the basis for his later cultivation beyond the New Martial world.

• Channels Seed-projection power and Luck origin into the Time Stars. 266
• Is trapped in the Time River, but uses the confinement to advance from a sixth-rank to an eighth-rank Emperor Venerable. 405
• Travels into the past, meets Zhan and Yang God, and teaches Yang God the divine-script method. 405
• Traverses thousands of Dao Chess spaces to organize and supplement his understanding of the Great Dao. 406 428

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Kongtong Seal — Human holy artifact that heals, gathers energy and Luck, suppresses Mentality, and reinforces the Human Emperor Path. 1 17 171
• God-Slaying Blade — Divine weapon used against Rank 8 Catacombs enemies and Emperor Qingjing; later entrusted to his clone. 33 113 130
• Nine Emperors Seal — Stabilizes Origin Worlds and can transform into weapons capable of severing both body and Dao. 113 130
• Heavenly Spear — Weapon-Holding Envoy’s signature Divine Artifact; used as both a weapon and the basis for Zhang Tao’s impersonation of the Envoy. 130 169 230
• Human Emperor Sword — A sentient sword subdued through resonance with Zhang Tao’s Human Emperor Path. 135
• Mysterious mask — Changes Zhang Tao’s face and helps conceal his identity. 116 129
• Grey Cat’s fishing rod — Borrowed Divine Artifact used to locate and catch Spirit Dragon Fish. 169

Relationships

• Li Zhen — Close friend, rival, and frequent battlefield partner. Zhang Tao calls him “Li the Simpleton,” helps him seal his gates, and later aids his advancement to the Heavenly King realm. 1 8 266
• Grey Cat — Companion, guide, and recurring target of Zhang Tao’s schemes. The cat provides resources and cultivation advice, while Zhang Tao protects it and promises food or future benefits in exchange for favors. 17 113 130
• Li Xianling — Mentor and senior supporter. He gives Zhang Tao a Heavenly Gold Lotus, receives Zhang Tao’s spiritual-power cultivation method, and encourages him to eventually succeed him. 17 22
• Fang Ping — Student and protégée-like junior. Zhang Tao saves him through a Mental Power Avatar, teaches him Origin cultivation, provides Origin Soil, and assists in expanding Fang Ping’s Origin World. 211 226 234
• Nan Yunyue — Peer and later cultivation beneficiary. She challenges Zhang Tao’s claims, while he supports her Golden Body advancement by directing her toward resources. 78 114
• God Forger — Dangerous senior and occasional collaborator. The God Forger once beats Zhang Tao severely, but Zhang Tao later involves him in cloning research and gives him the Heaven Sealing Technique to pass to Mo Wenjian. 81 190
• Heaven Suppressing King — Powerful senior whose support is useful but unreliable. He asks Zhang Tao to spare Saint Martial God, assists in killing Chang Feng, and later keeps Zhang Tao’s Heavenly Spear. 130 230 255
• Heavenly Emperor Ba — Long-term sparring partner and teacher. Their five years of battle develop Zhang Tao’s experience, techniques, and eventual Heavenly King breakthrough. 123 124
• Zhan / Heavenly Emperor Zhan — Source of Zhang Tao’s combat-study materials and later an acquaintance encountered through time. Zhang Tao’s mastery of Zhan’s archives enables his advanced combat combinations and aura manipulation. 117 168 405

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Transmigration and Catacombs rise — Reborn into the young Zhang Tao’s body, he discovers the Kongtong Seal, enters the Catacombs, and rises from late Grade 5 to Rank 7 at unprecedented speed. 1 8 18
• Grandmaster wars — He proves his Rank 7 strength against Zhao Changfeng, develops spiritual-power cultivation for New Martial humanity, and fights alongside Li Zhen and senior Grandmasters. 19 22 30
• Rank 8 leadership — After attaining Rank 8, Zhang Tao prioritizes Golden Body tempering, fights peak Rank 8 enemies, and expands Martial Arts University through strict funding and recruitment reforms. 44 48 57
• Rank 9 and Martial King — He reclaims the Forbidden City Catacombs, enters the Origin Dao, reaches Rank 9, and certifies the Apex realm under the title Martial King. 75 77 115
• Heavenly Beyond infiltration — Zhang Tao kills or subdues Emperor-level figures, creates Artifact Clones, and uses their identities to acquire resources and influence Heavenly Beyonds. 113 126 155
• Ancient trials and Heavenly King breakthrough — He studies Heavenly Emperor Zhan’s archives, receives guidance from the Human Emperor’s projection, trains against Heavenly Emperor Ba, and becomes a Heavenly King. 117 123 124
• Hidden power and resource raids — Under the Weapon-Holding Envoy disguise, he humiliates King Kun, takes Origin Soil and Origin Water Essences, and awakens the Heavenly Dog and Shi Po. 230 231
• Mentorship of Fang Ping — He guides Fang Ping through Origin cultivation, reveals the world-opening method, supplies Origin Soil, and repeatedly intervenes to protect or strengthen him. 211 212 226
• Time River and chaos era — After becoming trapped in the Time River, Zhang Tao advances to an eighth-rank Emperor Venerable, journeys into the past, and explores Dao Chess in the Four Directions Domain. 405 406 428

Notable Quotes

“Today, I, Zhang Tao, certify my path to the Apex! I name myself the Martial King!” 115

“I wouldn’t call myself the Human Emperor. I am a martial artist of New Martial, there is no emperor.” 119

“Humanity, remember this. From now on, do not cultivate any Origin either.” 254

Trivia

• Zhang Tao’s first life was as a second-hand antique dealer, making his discovery of the Kongtong Seal the direct cause of his transmigration. 1
• He inherited the body and name of the future Martial King, whose original fate was to become humanity’s backbone. 1
• Li Zhen recognizes that Zhang Tao is himself after he resumes calling him “Li the Simpleton.” 1
• Zhang Tao’s Origin Dao is so broad that its phantoms often prioritize widening it over advancing forward. 76 101
• Daoist Fengyun identifies a genuine Human Emperor aura on Zhang Tao and treats him as an unpredictable variable. 55