Biodata
| Feature | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Niu Gao (牛皋) |
| Gender | Male |
| Affiliation | Defense Clan; later sworn follower of Lu Xiao |
| Occupation/Role | Patriarch / Clan Chief of the Defense Clan |
| Status | Active |
| First Appearance | Chapter 82 |
Power Progression
| Chapter(s) | Progression / Demonstration |
|---|---|
| 82 | Demonstrated the Defense Clan's extreme defensive cultivation, including rhinoceros-hide-like natural durability and physical strength sufficient to challenge Lu Xiao through the clan's three-punch tradition. 82 |
| 83 | Revealed Martial Soul Possession and his eighth soul skill, Dark Rhino Heavy Armor, during Du Busi's retaliatory punch. Though the armor was destroyed, Niu Gao survived the attack. 83 |
| 135 | Began studying first- through third-rank Soul Tool crafting methods under Lu Xiao's direction, intending to incorporate Soul Tool technology into the Defense Clan's defensive construction within three years. 135 |
Background / History
Niu Gao arrived in Heaven Dou City to meet Lu Xiao after Titan recommended that the Defense Clan submit to him. Though he accepted Lu Xiao's exceptional talent, Niu Gao refused to pledge his clan without following the Defense Clan's tradition: Lu Xiao had to endure three of his punches, after which Niu Gao would take three in return. 82
Niu Gao initially restrained his first punch to thirty percent strength, then escalated the next two to fifty and seventy percent. Lu Xiao withstood all three, including the final strike by using Golden Dragon: No Use to dissipate most of its force. 82 83
Lu Xiao's three counterattacks progressively demonstrated the gap between them: a dragonified punch staggered Niu Gao, Titan Meteor sent him into a wall without seriously injuring him, and Golden Dragon Claw cut through his defensive keratin and left five wounds across his chest. 82 83
Recognizing Lu Xiao's strength, Niu Gao swore on his Armored Rhino Martial Soul that the entire Defense Clan would serve Lu Xiao faithfully. Lu Xiao subsequently directed him to relocate the clan's core members to Heaven Dou City and prepare to build defensive fortifications when the Body Sect required them. 83
After Lu Xiao left, Du Busi demanded that Niu Gao take one further punch as recompense for striking his disciple. Niu Gao used Martial Soul Possession and his eighth soul skill's Dark Rhino Heavy Armor, but Du Busi shattered the armor and sent him through multiple courtyard walls. Niu Gao survived, albeit badly injured. 83
Niu Gao later assisted Titan and the Strength Clan in receiving Bai He of the Speed Clan. Although he and Titan's excessively festive decorations were criticized by Bai He, Niu Gao was eager to persuade the Speed Clan to join Lu Xiao's side. 134 136
After receiving Soul Tool crafting records from Lu Xiao, Niu Gao became highly enthusiastic about applying Soul Tool technology to defensive construction. He declared that he could use it to create the strongest defensive sect structures in Douluo Continent, initially requesting three years to achieve practical results. 135
Niu Gao recognized that Soul Tools could compensate for the Defense Clan's shortcomings, particularly its lack of mobility. He was impressed by defensive Soul Tools such as the Rock Shield and by Windwalking Boots, which could improve the movement speed of slower Soul Masters. 135
Alongside Titan, Niu Gao proposed a wager with Bai He: if Bai He won a speed contest against Lu Xiao, the two patriarchs would personally provide two hundred sets of Soul Tools; if he lost, the Speed Clan would swear allegiance to Lu Xiao and sever its ties with the Clear Sky Sect. After Bai He's defeat and submission, Niu Gao joined Titan and Bai He in planning a Four Clans Gathering to bring Yang Wudi and the Breaking Clan into Lu Xiao's faction. 136 137
At the subsequent Four Clans Gathering, Niu Gao and his son Niu Ben formally greeted Lu Xiao and Xiao Wu as Master and Mistress alongside the Strength and Speed Clan representatives. He then participated in receiving Yang Wudi upon the Breaking Clan's arrival. 140
Appearance
Niu Gao is a broad-shouldered, heavily built elder whose physique is compared to a solid fortress. 82
- Red, jujube-colored face and a ruddy complexion. 82
- Short gray hair that stands up like steel needles. 82
- Large, bright, bell-like eyes. 82
- Only half a head shorter than Titan, with an exceptionally sturdy frame. 82
- He wore bright red robes while helping receive the Speed Clan at the Strength Clan residence. 134
Personality
Niu Gao is proud, stubborn, and highly conscious of the Defense Clan's customs. He would not allow the clan to submit merely on Titan's word, insisting that Lu Xiao prove himself through the traditional exchange of three punches. 82
Despite his pride, he respects demonstrated strength and accepts defeat directly. After witnessing Lu Xiao overcome his offense and break through his defense, Niu Gao immediately made a formal, binding oath of loyalty on behalf of his clan. 83
Niu Gao is also blunt, boisterous, and practical. He enthusiastically embraced Soul Tool development once he understood its potential to reinforce the Defense Clan's defenses and offset its mobility weakness. 135
He is strongly committed to gathering the four single-attribute clans under Lu Xiao. He directly urged Bai He to cut ties with the Clear Sky Sect and later helped arrange the Four Clans Gathering intended to win over Yang Wudi. 136 137 140
Abilities & Skills
Armored Rhino Martial Soul
Niu Gao possesses the Armored Rhino Martial Soul and specializes in pure defense. The Defense Clan is a single-attribute clan devoted to defensive cultivation. 83
- His natural skin is described as being as tough as a rhinoceros's hide, even without Martial Soul Possession. 82
- His defensive ability is considered unmatched among Soul Masters of the same rank; even the Elephant Armor Sect is not presented as superior in pure defense. 82
- He endured Lu Xiao's Titan Meteor without injury beyond labored breathing. 83
- His defenses were nevertheless penetrated by Lu Xiao's Golden Dragon Claw, which sliced through his keratin armor and wounded his chest. 83
Defensive Armor
When facing Du Busi, Niu Gao activated Martial Soul Possession and his eighth soul ring, covering himself in thick black armor later identified as Dark Rhino Heavy Armor. 83
- The armor protected his entire body except his eyes. 83
- Du Busi's bare punch cracked and destroyed the armor completely. 83
Physical Strength
Niu Gao's punches carry immense force, enough to shatter stone slabs and drive Lu Xiao back half a step when delivered at fifty percent strength. 83
- His first strike in the wager was deliberately limited to thirty percent strength. 82
- His second strike used fifty percent strength. 83
- His final strike used seventy percent strength, but most of its force was dispersed by Lu Xiao's defensive technique. 83
Architectural Expertise
The Defense Clan designed the buildings of all four clans. Their constructions are outwardly rugged but incorporate numerous defensive mechanisms. 82
- The clan's architectural talent is compared to the Strength Clan's forging expertise. 82
- Under Lu Xiao's command, the Defense Clan is intended to construct defensive fortifications for the Body Sect. 83
- Niu Gao intends to integrate Soul Tool technology into the clan's construction work, with the goal of creating exceptionally fortified Body Sect structures. 135
- He recognized that defensive Soul Tools could further strengthen the Defense Clan's protection, while mobility-oriented Soul Tools could mitigate its traditional weakness in speed. 135
Relationships
- Lu Xiao — Initially tested him through a traditional fist duel; after losing, Niu Gao swore the Defense Clan's allegiance to him. Niu Gao later accepted Lu Xiao's direction in Soul Tool research and Body Sect construction. 82 83 135
- Titan (Tai Tan) — Fellow clan patriarch and supporter of Lu Xiao; Titan introduced Niu Gao and later welcomed their shared service under Lu Xiao. The two later jointly supported the incorporation of the Speed Clan and the Breaking Clan. 82 83 136 137
- Du Busi — Lu Xiao's master; severely injured Niu Gao with one punch after the duel, while showing restraint by sparing his life. 83
- Tai Nuo — Member of the Strength Clan who notified Lu Xiao of Niu Gao's arrival in Heaven Dou City. 82
- Niu Ben — Niu Gao's son, who assisted him in preparing to receive Lu Xiao and formally greeted Lu Xiao at the Four Clans Gathering. 134 140
- Bai He — Patriarch of the Speed Clan. Niu Gao initially bickered with him, then proposed the wager that resulted in Bai He's submission to Lu Xiao; afterward, they became fellow followers working toward the unification of the four clans. 134 136 137
- Yang Wudi — Patriarch of the Breaking Clan and Niu Gao's longtime associate. Niu Gao participated in convening the Four Clans Gathering to secure Yang Wudi's allegiance to Lu Xiao. 137 140
- Ning Rongrong — Lu Xiao's partner in Soul Tool development; her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect provided the funding that enabled Niu Gao and Titan to research Soul Tools. 135
Trivia
- Titan calls Niu Gao an “old rhino,” referring to both his Armored Rhino Martial Soul and his stubborn temperament. 82 83
- Niu Gao's formal oath states that the Defense Clan will follow Lu Xiao through fire and water and never betray him. 83
- Niu Gao's excessive red-robed reception arrangements for Lu Xiao prompted his son Niu Ben to compare the event to welcoming a new concubine. 134