Big Black Ox

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Big Black Ox (大黑牛)
Alias(es)	Little Black; Old Ox; Brother Niu 6 7 36
Species/Race	Black ox Soul Beast; six-hundred-year Great Demon King with 637 documented years of cultivation 6 7
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Su Mo's household and companions; Dormitory Seven; Su Mo's Star Dou Forest party 21 31
Occupation/Role	Su Mo's companion, mount, cart-puller, and protector 7 10 31
Status	Active 44
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Six-hundred-year Great Demon King — 637 years of cultivation	6–7	Su Mo's Deep Reading Records reveal 637 entries for Big Black Ox. Each deep reading of one of Su Mo's works grants one year of cultivation; recorded enlightenments include Confucian, Daoist, demonic, and ghostly enlightenment. 6 7

Appearance

Big Black Ox resembles a large black ox, but his eyes, horns, and immense Soul Beast presence betray his true nature. A Datura Snake perceives him as dense black light “as heavy as a mountain.” 2 33

• Large, copper-bell-like eyes and prominent horns. 2 7
• Exceptionally thick hide; Sword Bamboo leaves bounce off it with a metallic clang. 36
• His rear is notably less protected when injured, allowing a Sword Bamboo leaf to pierce the prior rabbit-bite wound. 33 36
• Often communicates through “moos” that Su Mo and the narration interpret as articulate commentary. 6 7

Personality

Big Black Ox is intelligent, well-read, sarcastic, and deeply proud of being a Demon King. He resents being treated as a mere mount, cart animal, poison tester, or “emergency food,” but usually begrudgingly complies with Su Mo's requests. 7 10 21 25

He is observant and fond of silently judging the humans around him, including Tang San's intense devotion to Su Mo and the Dormitory Seven students' behavior. Despite his complaints, he reliably stays near Su Mo's group, guards Tang San during spirit-ring absorption, follows Xiao Wu in the forest so she will not get lost, and serves as protection on their journey. 10 31 33 38

Abilities & Skills

Demon King Physique

Big Black Ox possesses strength and durability far exceeding ordinary humans and young soul masters.

• Defeated the Work-Study Students of Dormitory Seven after they attacked him, sending several children flying with his horns and hooves. 20
• Charged through the Sword Bamboo King's smaller leaf attacks without dodging; most leaves failed to pierce his hide. 36
• Intimidated a mutated Datura Snake merely through his aura. 33
• Has a vulnerable injured rear; a rabbit bite and a precisely placed bamboo leaf both caused him significant pain. 33 36

Literary Cultivation

Big Black Ox cultivates by deeply reading Su Mo's books, with each recorded reading providing one year of cultivation.

• Gained Confucian enlightenment from Analects. 6
• Gained Daoist enlightenment from Tao Te Ching. 6
• Gained Demonic enlightenment from Journey to the West. 6
• Gained Ghostly enlightenment from Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio. 6
• His 637 Deep Reading Record entries reveal that he had secretly cultivated through Su Mo's writing for years. 6 7

Confucian Righteous Energy

Big Black Ox can draw upon Confucian righteous energy gained through his literary cultivation.

• Released righteous energy to disperse the Benevolent Heart Sacred Tree's pink mental-control mist. 44
• The ability does not make him immune to mental manipulation; he was previously controlled by the Sacred Tree and later reacted with intense embarrassment upon regaining clarity. 42 43

Relationships

• Su Mo — His longtime companion, rider, and owner-like “brother.” Su Mo initially treats him as a mount and beast of burden, then learns that he is a 637-year Demon King; Big Black Ox nevertheless continues accompanying and protecting him. 7 22 31
• Tang San — Su Mo's disciple and fellow traveler. Big Black Ox watches Tang San with suspicion and amusement, later helping protect him during his first spirit-ring absorption. 10 38
• Xiao Wu — Xiao Wu feels an unexplained familiarity with him and initially mistakes him for one of her forest relatives. Big Black Ox follows her while gathering food because he worries she may not find her way back. 22 33
• Dormitory Seven students — He defeats the entire group under their challenge rule, thereby earning the position of dormitory head; Tang San transfers the leadership title to Su Mo instead. 20 21
• Ma Hongjun — A forest companion who witnesses Big Black Ox's combat ability and later travels with him. 36 40

Story Role / Major Arcs

Holy Soul Village

Big Black Ox is introduced as Su Mo's unusual companion: Su Mo sleeps on his back while the ox reads a book. He later startles Old Jack with his Demon Eye and casually allows Su Mo to ride him without revealing his true identity. 1 2 7

Su Mo discovers through the Heavenly Dao Library that Big Black Ox has accumulated 637 years of cultivation by reading his books. The ox responds to being exposed with satisfaction rather than apology, confirming that he had knowingly concealed his intelligence and status. 6 7

Notting Academy

Big Black Ox pulls Su Mo's book cart into town and accompanies him to Notting Academy. When Su Mo sends him into Dormitory Seven first, he is assaulted by the existing residents and decisively defeats them all. 10 20

Although his victory technically makes him dormitory head, Tang San proposes Su Mo as the leader because Big Black Ox cannot openly speak to the students. Su Mo jokingly labels him “emergency rations,” beginning a recurring source of indignation for the Demon King. 21 28

Star Dou Forest Expedition

Big Black Ox acts as the party's protector during Su Mo, Tang San, and Xiao Wu's spirit-ring expedition. His aura deters a Datura Snake, though he is humiliatingly bitten on the rear by a rabbit while attempting to catch it. 31 33

He leads the attack on the Sword Bamboo King's territory, blocking leaves and absorbing attacks so Tang San and Xiao Wu can engage. The old rabbit-bite wound becomes a tactical weakness when a bamboo leaf strikes it. 36 37

Benevolent Heart Sacred Tree Incident

The Benevolent Heart Sacred Tree's pink mist controls Big Black Ox along with Tang San and Ma Hongjun. While enthralled, he seeks further lashes from the tree, leaving him deeply ashamed once Su Mo wakes him. 42 43

During the final battle, he releases Confucian righteous energy to disperse the Sacred Tree's mist. After the encounter, he remains psychologically shaken and refuses to meet the others' eyes. 44

Trivia

• Big Black Ox reads only Su Mo's high-tier book versions when possible. 31
• He can be tempted by meat despite being an ox; Su Mo secretly gives him a rabbit leg after teasing him with a gnawed bone. 34
• He considers “emergency food” an insult severe enough to lose sleep over. 21 28