Niu Dali

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Niu Dali (牛大力)
Alias(es)	Eldest Senior Brother; Old Niu; Living Buddha
Species/Race	Human with the bloodline of the Taotie, an Ancient Great Fiend 116
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Hong Ji Martial Arts Hall; covert collaborator of the West Cult 65 76
Occupation/Role	Hong Tianbao's eldest disciple; instructor of the Martial Arts Hall's visualization class 5 26
Status	Sealed as a Mandala Human Treasure in a small urn under Zhang Fusheng's control 116 274
First Appearance	Chapter 5

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Martial Artist realm	76	Claimed to be unmatched among Martial Artists while plotting to kill Zhang Fusheng.
Living Buddha / Taotie manifestation	97	Revealed himself as a Living Buddha and transformed into a Taotie-like giant; fully unleashed strength reached one million jin.
Martial Arts Master realm	98	Zhang Fusheng absorbed his strength and vitality during their underground battle, reducing him to the Martial Arts Master realm.
Taotie devouring ability removed	116	Zhang Fusheng used a pact to take the Taotie bloodline's ability to devour and transform all things, though the bloodline itself remained.

Background and History

Niu Dali was introduced as an honest-looking youth and a true disciple of Hong Tianbao. He acted as an instructor for new students, explaining the five levels of visualization and the Hong Ji Martial Arts Hall's high-grade Dense White Bone Contemplation. 5

As Hong Tianbao's eldest disciple, he was concerned by his master's terminal injuries and initially opposed a risky annexation of Chaimen. He even offered half of his businesses to support his new junior disciple, Zhang Fusheng, rather than endanger Hong Tianbao. 26 Despite this loyalty, Niu Dali later began working with West Cult figures to obtain the Sea-Calming Divine Needle Iron through Hong Tianbao's master, Yuan Feidao. He refused to kill Hong Tianbao without permission, since his master was his connection to their grandmaster and the treasure. 65 76

Niu Dali became increasingly fixated on Zhang Fusheng's extraordinary rate of growth. He sought to eliminate his junior brother while concealing his intentions from Hong Tianbao, preserve his own standing in the sect, and exploit the West Cult without becoming their pawn. 76 85 He also received a High Heaven Token after helping engineer Liao Xianji's downfall, becoming a target for powers interested in its promised boons. 89 90

His plan culminated at A Yi Restaurant, where he arranged a confrontation under the pretext of disciplining Zhang Fusheng. After the authorities forced him to reveal his strength, Niu Dali openly accepted the title of Living Buddha and manifested his Taotie bloodline. 94 95 97 Zhang Fusheng ultimately defeated him through absorption, after which the Calm Wrath Buddha Son confined him in a Human Treasure urn. 98 99

Appearance

Niu Dali initially presents himself as a simple, honest-looking young man with a polite demeanor and an unassuming smile. 5 He is later identified as one-eyed and is frequently shown wrapping bandages around his fists. 26 85

• In his released form, he expands into a giant over five meters tall. 97
• His Taotie manifestation has a sheep's body, human face, eyes beneath the armpits, tiger teeth, and human claws. 97 116
• His body can endure enormous physical impacts without visible injury. 95
• As a Human Treasure, his body is compressed inside a small urn, usually leaving only his head exposed. 116 274

Personality

Niu Dali is capable of genuine loyalty toward Hong Tianbao and is unwilling to endanger his master merely to advance the West Cult's plans. He values sect hierarchy, his connection to Yuan Feidao, and his position as eldest disciple. 26 65 76

However, his loyalty does not extend to Zhang Fusheng. Niu Dali is intensely jealous of his junior brother's talent and increasingly obsessed with devouring him. He considers Zhang Fusheng's destiny, strength, and potential godhood nourishment for his own growth. 76 94 98

He is calculating when useful—arranging witnesses, concealing his strength, and leveraging multiple factions—but becomes reckless when driven by hunger, resentment, or wounded pride. 76 94 116

Abilities & Skills

Dense White Bone Contemplation

Niu Dali teaches the Hong Ji Martial Arts Hall's visualization method, Dense White Bone Contemplation, which is classified as high-grade and can theoretically reach Limit-Breaking. 5

• Explains the five visualization stages: External Manifestation, Internal Realm, I Observe as I Should Be, He Observes as I Should Be, and As It Naturally Is. 5
• Serves as one of the hall's instructors despite his outwardly plain appearance. 5

Extreme Physical Strength

Niu Dali suppresses most of his power until forced to reveal it.

• Claimed he had used only one-fifth of his strength against Zhang Fusheng at A Yi Restaurant. 95
• Had consumed more than 300 jin of beast meat daily for over seven years. 97
• Reached one million jin of physical strength at full release. 97
• Could break Zheng Yaoyang's Blood Essence palm strike through brute force. 97

Taotie Bloodline

Niu Dali's special bloodline is the Taotie, an Ancient Great Fiend associated with boundless hunger. 116

• Can manifest a Taotie-like giant form and project an enormous Taotie image through Blood Essence. 97 98
• Was capable of devouring destinies, consuming deities, and transforming what he devoured. 116
• Used the Devour God technique in his pursuit of Zhang Fusheng. 94
• The ability to devour and transform all things was removed by Zhang Fusheng's pact; his Taotie bloodline itself was not taken. 116

Living Buddha Status

Niu Dali was recognized as a Living Buddha during the Jiangzhou conflict. 97

• Concealed his true identity until surveillance around the battlefield had been disabled. 97
• His transformation and strength caused terror in Zheng Yaoyang and Chen Nuanyu. 97
• Black Eyes believed Niu Dali's excessive consumption of Lin Dongxi's blood and destiny contributed to this state. 105

Innate Buddhahood

Niu Dali possesses three wisps of Innate Buddhahood. 152

• Zhang Fusheng verified their existence by offering him freedom in exchange for the three wisps through a pact. 152
• Zhang Fusheng did not complete the exchange, intending to take the Buddhahood by other means. 152

Human Treasure Condition

After his defeat, Niu Dali was transformed into a Mandala Human Treasure.

• His damaged body could regenerate within the urn after medicinal powder was applied. 99
• Zhang Fusheng can suppress his speech and senses, summon the urn remotely, and alter his memories. 116 274
• His memories were modified so that he regards the Heavenly Venerate and Zhang Fusheng as separate beings. 274

Items

• High Heaven Token — Received from the illusory Zhong Shan; it allowed its holder to exchange surplus offerings for boons such as lifespan, cultivation, power, or talent, and granted permission to inscribe a name Above High Heaven. 90
• Bandages — Regularly wrapped around his fists and arms. 26 92

Relationships

• Hong Tianbao — Master. Niu Dali is protective of him and refuses to kill him without authorization, because Hong Tianbao is his route to Yuan Feidao and the Sea-Calming Divine Needle Iron. 26 65 76
• Zhang Fusheng — Junior disciple and primary enemy. Niu Dali sought to kill and devour him, but was defeated, sealed as a Human Treasure, and stripped of his Taotie devouring ability by Zhang. 76 98 116
• Chen Yuque — Second junior sister, whom Niu Dali called his “beloved kin.” Her death became part of his stated justification for devouring Zhang Fusheng. 95 97
• Lin Dongxi — Junior sister. Niu Dali considered devouring her blood and destiny to obtain the resources needed to become a Martial Arts Master. 92 105
• Old Ghost Chai — West Cult associate. Their alliance was transactional and distrustful, centered on Zhang Fusheng, Hong Tianbao, and the Sea-Calming Divine Needle Iron. 65 76
• Black Eyes — Seer and associate who warned Niu Dali against recklessly devouring Lin Dongxi's destiny; later learned that Zhang Fusheng had imprisoned Niu Dali. 85 105 176
• Calm Wrath Buddha Son — Captor. He intervened after Niu Dali's defeat and placed him in the Human Treasure urn. 98 99

Notable Quotes

“What can't be eaten? Tell me, what can't be eaten? … Devour God.” 94

“I only believe in the present.” 98