Cao Yang

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Cao Yang (曹阳)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Zhou Family-sponsored cultivation group at Guangchun Hall
Occupation/Role	Martial artist; Zhou Family-sponsored prodigy
Status	Deceased; killed by Lu Yuan during the Martial Examination 70
First Appearance	Chapter 34

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Dark Energy Realm	34	Arrived as an eighteen-year-old first-class genius with excellent innate bones; the Zhou Family supplied him with three daily meat portions, Qi-Replenishing Soup, and Essence-Replenishing Soup. 34
Transformation Realm	36	Claimed he could break through within three days, then joined Huang Hui in the assault on Black Cloud Stronghold. 35 36
Quasi-ranked / opened Dantian	63	Recovered from Lu Yuan's earlier strike and was enhanced with further Zhou Family resources; easily drew the Nine-Stone Bow three times. 63

Background

Cao Yang was recruited by the Zhou Family at great cost as a first-class genius with excellent innate bones. His arrival placed immediate pressure on the other Guangchun Hall practitioners, as the family provided him with exceptional food and medicinal resources to accelerate his growth. 34

Confident that his talent and support would carry him into the ranked martial-artist realm before the Martial Examination, Cao Yang viewed the Century-Old Blood Ginseng awarded to Lu Yuan as a resource he deserved. He attempted to purchase it, then threatened to obstruct Lu Yuan's examination prospects after being refused. 39

Personality

Cao Yang was intensely proud of his first-class aptitude and believed that superior talent, backed by sufficient resources, made his future advancement inevitable. He set his sights not merely on passing the Martial Examination, but on becoming Martial Champion. 39 45

His pride became fixation after Lu Yuan received the Century-Old Blood Ginseng. Cao Yang repeatedly disparaged Lu Yuan's use of hidden weapons, treated him as inferior, and blamed the loss of the ginseng for his own failures. 38 45 47

After surviving Lu Yuan's first attack, Cao Yang apologized and claimed to regret his earlier actions. However, he continued toward a fatal confrontation with Lu Yuan during the examination. 62 67 70

Abilities & Skills

Martial Cultivation

Cao Yang possessed excellent innate bones and was recognized as a first-class genius. The Zhou Family's extensive sponsorship allowed him to reach the Transformation Realm rapidly and later open his dantian. 34 36 63

• Held his own against Black Cloud Stronghold's Transformation Realm Second Master, Situ Ming, though he gradually fell into danger. 36 38
• Could draw the Nine-Stone Bow to a full moon three times with ease after his recovery. 63
• Was defeated by Chu Jun in fewer than ten moves and later lost to Lu Yuan twice. 47 70

Angry Dragon Spear Technique

Cao Yang wielded the Angry Dragon Spear Technique, a Profound-grade martial art he obtained by chance. He mastered it quickly enough to manifest spear radiance. 44 47

• Dragon Raises Its Head — an opening spear thrust described as arriving like a dragon, accompanied by spear radiance. 46
• Angry Dragon Piercing Heart — a powerful thrust used against both Chu Jun and Lu Yuan; in the latter encounter, Cao Yang aimed directly for Lu Yuan's heart. 47 70
• His spear technique was refined, but his cultivation and combat ability remained below Chu Jun's at the Gathering of Heroes. 47

Equipment

• Long spear — Cao Yang's primary weapon, used to perform the Angry Dragon Spear Technique. 46 70

Relationships

• Lu Yuan — Rival and eventual killer. Cao Yang resented Lu Yuan for receiving the Century-Old Blood Ginseng, attacked him during the Gathering of Heroes, survived due to his mirror-image anatomy, and later attempted to kill him during the Martial Examination. 39 47 62 70
• Zhou Wen and Zhou Wu — Sponsors and benefactors through the Zhou Family. They invested heavily in Cao Yang's cultivation, arranged treatment after Lu Yuan injured him, and regretted his death without blaming Lu Yuan. 34 48 63 70
• Huang Hui — Senior martial artist who led Cao Yang during the Black Cloud Stronghold operation and repeatedly cautioned him against impatience and excessive comparison with stronger geniuses. 36 45 47
• Chu Jun — Fellow first-class genius who defeated Cao Yang within ten moves at the Gathering of Heroes. 46 47

Story Role / Major Arcs

Black Cloud Stronghold Rescue

Cao Yang promised to enter the Transformation Realm within three days so that he and Huang Hui could lead the rescue of Zhou Wu from Black Cloud Stronghold. During the assault, he eliminated sentries, breached the stronghold alongside the group, and fought Situ Ming while Huang Hui held Zuo Kui back. 35 36

His inability to decisively overcome Situ Ming contrasted with Lu Yuan's rescue of Zhou Wu and killing of Third Master Liu Chao. Cao Yang openly criticized Lu Yuan's hidden weapons as underhanded, establishing the basis for their conflict. 38

Century-Old Blood Ginseng Dispute

After Zhou Wen rewarded Lu Yuan with the Century-Old Blood Ginseng, Cao Yang tried to buy it and later attempted intimidation when Lu Yuan refused. He believed possession of the herb would guarantee his entry into the ranked realm and allow him to surpass his rivals. 39 45 46

Gathering of Heroes

Cao Yang entered the sparring event against Chu Jun but was defeated in fewer than ten moves. Enraged and humiliated, he blamed Lu Yuan and attacked him without warning. Lu Yuan evaded the spear thrust and pierced Cao Yang through the chest with a blade strike. 46 47

Cao Yang survived because his heart was located on the right side of his body, making him a mirror-image person. The Zhou Family treated him and supplied further resources, enabling him to return in quasi-ranked condition for the Martial Examination. 62 63

Martial Examination and Death

Cao Yang outwardly sought to reconcile with Lu Yuan, but both understood that their eventual battle would determine life and death. 62 67

During the contest for fifth place, Cao Yang launched Angry Dragon Piercing Heart with lethal intent. Lu Yuan deflected the strike and killed him with the Wind-Breaking Blade Technique's Wind-Intercepting form, cutting his throat. 70

Notable Quotes

“Ten parts out of ten!” 35

“If I had that Century-Old Blood Ginseng to assist me, I would not only be confident in reaching the Ninth Rank before the Martial Examination, but it wouldn't even be impossible to truly achieve iron skin!” 46

Trivia

• Cao Yang survived a blade wound that should have been fatal because his heart was positioned on the right side of his body. 62
• His repeated obsession with the Century-Old Blood Ginseng was identified as the central cause of his downfall. 70