Tie Niu

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Tie Niu (铁牛)
Alias(es)	Su Tieniu; Black Ghost 8 73
Species/Race	Jing person 23 60
Gender	Male 5
Affiliation	Chai Family Martial Academy (formerly); Jiguang Society / Green Ghost Sect 16 105
Occupation/Role	Martial artist; former head disciple of the Chai Family Martial Academy 22
Status	Alive 117
First Appearance	5

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Blood Condensing Martial Warrior	11	Reached Martial Warrior status after just over half a month of training, an exceptional pace credited to his superior bone quality and medicine.
Second Stage of Blood Condensation	22	Continued training without slacking and could defeat a senior disciple at the third stage of Blood Condensation, securing his role as the academy’s head disciple.
Savage Strength	47	Broke through after an earlier failed attempt involving a Break Strength Pill; Su Yuan prepared Force-Shifting Pills as a gift for him.
Mid-stage Savage Strength	73	Had reached the middle stage by the time he joined the Green Ghost faction under the Black Ghost mask.

Background

Tie Niu was a street orphan who nearly froze to death outside the Su Family’s door during a winter when he was six. Su Yuan pleaded for the family to take him in, and Tie Niu thereafter followed Su Yuan through hardship as his attendant and companion. Though they later ceased to be master and servant in name, Tie Niu continued to regard Su Yuan as his elder brother. 5

He worked at Yuanguan Horse Farm, where his skill in tending horses earned him rewards from Liang nobles. He attempted to give Su Yuan more than six taels of silver to support his Martial Registry, considering it repayment for the years Su Yuan had cared for him. 5

A Chai Family young master discovered that Tie Niu possessed top-grade bone quality and recruited him into the Chai Family Martial Academy. Although Tie Niu initially claimed he had not signed a contract, he ultimately traded his own freedom to obtain Su Yuan’s indenture contract; Chai Nian then became his sole master. 9 16

Tie Niu rapidly became the academy’s most prominent disciple. His strength, talent, and willingness to defend Su Yuan earned him both popularity and authority among the other students. After Shan Family martial artists ambushed the two brothers, Tie Niu killed several attackers and received a Blood Origin Pill from Chai Nian as a reward. 16 18 22

Chai Nian intended to use Tie Niu’s talent to win the Wolf God Festival, ordering the academy’s hunters to surrender much of their prey to him. Tie Niu initially led the standings, aided by Su Yuan’s tracking and hunting guidance, but struggled when the contest was changed to require human heads as proof of loyalty. Su Yuan gave him the head of a Shan Family martial artist, allowing him to pass the test. 29 33 34 35

Tie Niu eventually recognized that Su Yuan had never been a traitor and resolved to leave the Chai Family. He joined Su Yuan’s cause, adopting a Black Ghost mask and fighting alongside the Jiguang Society and Green Ghost Sect. 60 73 105

Appearance

Tie Niu is a notably large, broad-framed man with an initially honest and unassuming bearing. His body continued growing after his martial advancement. 5 49

• Thick brows and large eyes. 5
• Nearly six foot three when first introduced. 5
• Later surpassed two meters in height. 49
• Wears a black ghost mask as the Black Ghost. 73

Personality

Tie Niu is deeply loyal to Su Yuan, whom he calls “Brother Yuan.” He repeatedly places Su Yuan’s safety above his own position, wealth, and obligations to the Chai Family. He offered his savings to Su Yuan, sold his own freedom to secure Su Yuan’s contract, sought escorts for him, and later chose to abandon the Chai Family after learning the truth of Su Yuan’s actions. 5 16 23 60

Despite his exceptional talent and fearsome combat reputation, Tie Niu remains straightforward, modest, and often bashful around attention. He is willing to guide fellow disciples so long as they do not mistreat Su Yuan, and he treats the children in the Su household as younger siblings. 16 24

His loyalty is tempered by a strong conscience. Witnessing the abuse of Jing captives caused him to question his decision to enter the Chai Family, and he later expressed regret at having brought Su Yuan into Liang service. 23 60

Abilities & Skills

Top-Grade Bone Quality

Tie Niu possesses top-grade, also described as superior, bone quality. This innate aptitude allows him to cultivate at a pace far beyond ordinary disciples. 9 11

• Advanced to Martial Warrior in slightly over half a month. 11
• Became the Chai Family Martial Academy’s most valued disciple. 18
• His status earned Su Yuan preferential treatment from the Xiangfu Chamber of Commerce. 16

Martial Combat

Tie Niu is a powerful close-range martial artist whose growth is marked by physical strength and direct combat ability. 18 22

• Killed multiple Shan Family Martial Academy attackers after an ambush. 18
• Defeated a third-stage Blood Condensation senior disciple while at the second stage himself. 22
• Broke through to Savage Strength and later reached its middle stage. 47 73
• Fought while retreating with the injured Jiang Yu during Ji City’s demonic-beast crisis. 105

Hunting and Leadership

Tie Niu served as the Chai Family team’s designated leader during the Wolf God Festival hunt. 29

• Led the team in hunting demon beasts and personally killed the lead Tusked Demon Boar with one punch. 33
• Received credited hunting points from his team under Chai Nian’s orders and temporarily held first place in the competition. 33
• Improved his hunting ability through Su Yuan’s tracking guidance and field instruction. 30 31

Protective Resolve

Tie Niu repeatedly acts as a shield for those he considers family or comrades. 16 106

• Sought to organize protection for Su Yuan during the Martial Assessment. 11
• Guarded the Su residence with fellow disciples during a dangerous night in West City. 27
• Refused to abandon Yun Xu after Shan Ling critically wounded her, even when doing so left him impaled and gravely injured. 106

Equipment / Items

• Black Ghost mask — A black ghost mask worn after joining Su Yuan’s faction; Tie Niu specifically preferred it over other mask styles. 73
• Blood Origin Pill — Received from Chai Nian after killing Shan Family attackers. 18
• Break Strength Pill — Used in an unsuccessful earlier attempt to break through to Savage Strength. 41

Relationships

• Su Yuan — Adoptive brother and the person Tie Niu trusts most. Su Yuan saved him as a child, while Tie Niu later sold his own freedom to reclaim Su Yuan’s indenture contract. 5 16
• Chai Nian — Former master and patron at the Chai Family Martial Academy. Chai Nian invested heavily in Tie Niu’s cultivation but treated him as an asset bound by contract. 16 29
• Jiang Yu — Martial Academy junior sister and eventual mutual love interest. She assisted at the Su residence, worried for Tie Niu during dangerous missions, and was rescued by him amid the beast tide. 29 43 105
• Yun Xu — Ally within the Green Ghost Sect. Tie Niu risked his life to protect her from Shan Ling while waiting for Su Yuan’s return. 106
• The Su household children — Tie Niu plays with and helps care for the children living with Su Yuan and Granny Lu. 24 27
• Chai Feng — Chai Family member who attempted to arrange a marriage between Tie Niu and a noble daughter to bind him more closely to the family. 31

Story Role / Major Arcs

Chai Family Recruitment

Tie Niu’s top-grade bone quality makes him the Chai Family’s prized recruit. His decision to exchange his freedom for Su Yuan’s contract becomes a major source of tension between the brothers and Chai Nian. 9 16

Wolf God Festival

Tie Niu is positioned as Chai Nian’s candidate for first place, but his reluctance to participate in the contest’s forced killings nearly disqualifies him. Su Yuan ensures his survival in the competition by providing the required proof of loyalty. 29 34 35

Breakthrough and Tournament Period

After struggling with the consequences of rapid advancement and a failed breakthrough attempt, Tie Niu reaches Savage Strength. He remains one of Su Yuan’s closest companions through their martial advancement and tournament preparations. 41 47 50

Green Ghost Faction

Tie Niu abandons his former loyalty to the Chai Family after learning that Su Yuan had been working against Great Liang rather than betraying Great Jing. As Black Ghost, he joins the resistance and fights to protect Ji City. 60 73 105

Defense of Yun Xu

During Shan Ling’s assault, Tie Niu and Mao Yan sacrifice themselves to delay the enemy and protect Yun Xu. Tie Niu refuses to flee despite being severely wounded, insisting that they must endure until Green Ghost returns. 106

Notable Quotes

“Brother Yuan, I have always trusted you.” 18

“Brother Yuan is Green Ghost. He only infiltrated Great Liang's upper ranks. He never left Ji City.” 105