Tang Mu

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Tang Mu (唐牧)
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Vajra Hall, True Sun Sect; formerly White Ape Martial Hall and its Hall Master's personal disciple 29 109
Occupation/Role	Martial artist; True Sun Sect disciple and contender in the Hidden Dragon Plan selection
Status	Active 145
First Appearance	Chapter 26 26

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Qi and Blood Realm	26	Condensed qi and blood after only three days at White Ape Martial Hall; his initial assessment had recorded him as merely medium aptitude. 26
Second Qi and Blood Gate	31	Reportedly reached the second gate four days after condensing qi and blood. 31
Qi and Blood Realm completion	30	Crossed the Qi and Blood Realm in roughly half a month. 30
True Martial Realm	30, 47	Entered the realm within about a month of beginning cultivation and later mastered the White Ape Combat Method. 30 47
True Sea Realm — Perfection	105	Reached True Sea Realm Perfection in less than a year after rising from a farmer's son; prepared to condense a True Core. 105
True Core Realm — Second Revolution	112, 114	Entered the True Core Realm shortly after arriving at True Sun Sect; opened his fiftieth acupoint, placing him in the Second Revolution. 112 114
True Baleful Realm — Early Stage	124	Broke through with Chu Wenxuan's support and half a stalk of Innate Treasure Medicine. 124
True Baleful Realm — nearing Mid-Stage	135	His True Qi indicated an imminent Mid True Baleful Realm breakthrough during his challenge against Jiang Chen. 135

Background

Tang Mu was a dark-skinned farm boy who joined White Ape Martial Hall with a recorded medium aptitude. His cultivation immediately contradicted that assessment: he stimulated primal energy and condensed qi and blood within three days, leading Sun Wu to suspect Superior Bone Aptitude. 26

His aptitude was subsequently confirmed as superior-grade. Zhou Rongfeng, master of White Ape Martial Hall, personally accepted Tang Mu as a disciple and publicly elevated his status above the other Inner Courtyard disciples. 29

Tang Mu's rapid advancement made him the martial hall's foremost prodigy. Zhou Rongfeng regarded him as a rare talent with superior aptitude, sharp comprehension, and consistent diligence, and considered him a likely future core member of the True Sun Sect. 49

He was specially recruited into the City Guard and placed first in the Martial Exam rankings without participating in the examination itself. 84 89 After entering True Sun Sect, he received private guidance and resources from True Sun Hall through Chu Wenxuan. 107 124

Appearance

Tang Mu is initially described as a simple-looking, dark-skinned youth with rough skin. As his cultivation and status rise, his bearing becomes steadier, more composed, and faintly noble. 26 124

• Dark complexion and rough skin. 26
• Plain, unassuming appearance despite exceptional talent. 27
• Initially shy and easily flustered around attention. 27
• Later carries a calm, restrained confidence. 114 124

Personality

Tang Mu begins as an honest and socially inexperienced youth overwhelmed by the attention his talent attracts. Wang Qingzhu's intimacy leaves him visibly embarrassed, and he initially accepts the martial hall's attention with little understanding of the political competition surrounding him. 27

His confidence grows alongside his cultivation. He takes pride in his Superior Bone Aptitude and sees himself as capable of becoming a leading figure among his generation, though Jiang Chen's progress repeatedly unsettles this confidence. 105 107 132

Chu Wenxuan's warnings make Tang Mu more cautious and politically aware. He learns to avoid contests that could leave him injured or vulnerable to coordinated rivals, choosing long-term advancement over a temporary victory. 114 115 He also becomes calculating in matters of marriage, making a potential alliance with Zhou Yuqing conditional on her prospects of entering the Upper Sect. 89

Despite his pride, Tang Mu can acknowledge a clear defeat. After failing to move Jiang Chen during their Heaven's Chosen Platform challenge, he concedes rather than continue a futile fight. 135

Abilities & Skills

Superior Bone Aptitude

Tang Mu's Superior Bone Aptitude gives him exceptional cultivation speed and strong natural potential. It was first mistaken for medium aptitude before his rapid progress forced a reassessment. 26 29

• Passed through the Qi and Blood Realm in approximately half a month and reached the True Martial Realm in about a month. 30
• Possesses exceptional comprehension in addition to his aptitude. 49
• Is widely regarded as a likely Grandmaster Realm seedling if properly cultivated. 114 145
• Receives focused resources and instruction from True Sun Hall because of his long-term potential. 124 135

White Ape Combat Method

Tang Mu mastered White Ape Martial Hall's combat method shortly after entering the True Martial Realm. 47

• Uses Spirit Snake Piercing the Cave, a swift, precise thrust capable of defeating established direct disciples. 87
• Demonstrated combat techniques beyond the White Ape Combat Method, including a higher-tier footwork art accessible to Zhou Clan geniuses. 48

Near at Hand, Distant Horizon

A movement secret art inherited from a former True Sun Sect master and taught to Tang Mu by True Sun Hall. 135

• Allows explosive, ghostlike bursts of speed across short distances. 135
• Lets Tang Mu rapidly close on opponents and launch attacks from difficult angles. 135
• Its completed form is said to allow speed that can cross realms. 135

Swordsmanship

Tang Mu fights with a treasured sword and an intricate sword technique. 135

• Combines sword thrusts with Near at Hand, Distant Horizon to pressure opponents at close range. 135
• His attacks were unable to breach Jiang Chen's perfected body-tempering defense during their challenge. 135

Equipment

• Treasured sword — Tang Mu's primary weapon during his Heaven's Chosen Platform challenge against Jiang Chen. 135

Relationships

• Zhou Rongfeng — Master at White Ape Martial Hall; accepted Tang Mu as a personal disciple after his Superior Bone Aptitude was confirmed. 29
• Zhou Yuqing — Fellow White Ape Martial Hall disciple and prospective marriage-alliance partner; Tang Mu delayed any decision until her Upper Sect prospects became clear. 89
• Chu Wenxuan — True Sun Hall mentor and strategist who privately instructs Tang Mu, supports his breakthrough resources, and warns him about sect politics. 107 114 124
• Jiang Chen — Principal rival. Tang Mu initially suspected Jiang Chen might possess aptitude comparable to his own, later felt pressure from Jiang Chen's rise, and ultimately lost to him in a direct challenge. 78 105 135
• Wang Qingzhu — Outer Courtyard disciple who attempted to win Tang Mu over through overt intimacy after learning of his talent. 27
• Xu Chiming — Fellow elite newcomer; challenged Jiang Chen alongside Tang Mu, with Tang Mu fighting first so Xu could assess Jiang Chen's strength. 135
• Mu Xingyao — Temporary ally in the Sect Blessed Land; she proposed joining forces against Chang Chengfeng, and Tang Mu agreed. 145

Story Role / Major Arcs

White Ape Martial Hall Prodigy

Tang Mu's arrival overturns the hierarchy of White Ape Martial Hall. His extraordinary early cultivation leads to a retest, confirmation of Superior Bone Aptitude, and immediate acceptance as Zhou Rongfeng's personal disciple. 26 29

City Guard and Martial Exam

His talent earns him special recruitment into the City Guard, allowing him to bypass the Martial Exam while still being ranked first. His status becomes a benchmark against which the other White Cloud County disciples are measured. 84 89

True Sun Sect Selection

At True Sun Sect, Tang Mu becomes one of Dingyan District's principal newcomers. He shares information about the limited advancement slots, receives exclusive instruction from Chu Wenxuan, and learns that rival halls may cooperate to suppress him. 107 114 115

Heaven's Chosen Platform

Tang Mu follows Chu Wenxuan's strategy and avoids fighting for first place during the first Dingyan District ranking battle, securing third place instead. 116 He later advances to the True Baleful Realm and challenges Jiang Chen before the five districts merge, but is decisively stopped by Jiang Chen's superior physical defense. 124 135

Sect Blessed Land

Tang Mu remains one of the sect's most valued newcomers despite Jiang Chen's rise. After learning that Jiang Chen ranked first in the newcomer trial, he renews his ambition to surpass him through the opportunities within the Sect Blessed Land. 132 Within the Blessed Land, he joins Mu Xingyao against Chang Chengfeng in pursuit of an ancient opportunity. 145

Trivia

• Tang Mu was initially assessed as having medium aptitude before his cultivation speed revealed the error. 26
• He condensed qi and blood faster than Luo Yang, who needed nearly two months to achieve the same milestone. 27
• His potential made him the only newcomer aboard the True Sun Sect transport identified as having Superior Bone Aptitude. 107
• He is often treated as a future Grandmaster Realm candidate because Superior Bone Aptitude is considered an unusually reliable foundation for reaching that realm. 135 145