Cao Mengyun

Biodata

Power Progression

Appearance

Cao Mengyun is a handsome young man with sword-like brows, starry eyes, and sharply defined features. He wears a fitted white Spirit Hall uniform with a black cloak and often travels on a black horse. 21

• His manner and dress give a favorable first impression, despite his conduct. 21
• When using Lion Possession, his black hair turns yellow, fur covers his body, his muscles swell, his pupils become green and vertical, and claws and fangs emerge. 11 23
• Two Soul Rings—one white and one yellow—appear beneath his feet during Martial Soul possession. 11 23

Personality

Cao Mengyun is arrogant, class-conscious, and contemptuous of rural villagers. After nearly trampling a pregnant woman in Holy Soul Village, he refuses to apologize because she was not actually hit, treating the danger he caused as insignificant. 8 9

He is cruel toward those beneath him in age and status. Rather than merely dismissing Yang Ming's demand for an apology, he lashes at the six-year-old with enough force that an ordinary child could have been disfigured. 9

Cao Mengyun's pride makes him unwilling to accept even a seemingly safe wager from Yang Ming, as losing would force him to call the child his father and humiliate himself publicly. 12

He abuses his Spirit Hall position to settle personal grievances. Fearing Yang Ming's future revenge, he arranges for bandits to intercept him, falsifies his Spirit Hall certificate, and bribes branch personnel to deny him a legitimate certificate. 21

Although he projects confidence as a powerful Battle Spirit Master, Cao Mengyun becomes increasingly desperate once Yang Ming threatens his position. During their battle, he attempts to take Old Jack hostage rather than fight honorably. 25

Abilities & Skills

Lion King Martial Soul

Cao Mengyun possesses the Lion King, a combat-oriented Beast Martial Soul that enhances his physical attributes and grants exceptional recovery. 25

• Uses Lion Possession to transform into a lion-like combat form. 11 23
• Gains increased strength, speed, claws, fangs, and combat endurance. 23 25
• Is a level 29 Soul Grandmaster, placing him two major ranks above the level 10 Yang Ming he confronts. 21 24
• His Martial Soul is described as especially suited to direct combat. 24

Regenerative Healing

Cao Mengyun deliberately selects Soul Rings that improve his healing, allowing even severe sword wounds to close at a visible speed. 25

• Heals wounds across his arms, calves, abdomen, and torso during his fight with Yang Ming. 24 25
• Regeneration consumes substantial soul power; after repeatedly healing, he estimates that less than half his soul power remains. 25
• The Green Lotus Earth-Core Flame overwhelms his healing by damaging him faster than he can recover. 25

Tearing Claw

Tearing Claw is Cao Mengyun's rapid claw-based assault. 25

• Can produce fifteen claw strikes per second. 24 25
• Creates a dense web of afterimages intended to trap and shred an opponent. 23 24
• Yang Ming's Three-Tomoe Sharingan and Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track allow him to read and evade the attack. 24

Equipment / Items

• Riding crop — Used to strike at Yang Ming after refusing to apologize to the pregnant villager. 9
• Black horse — His mount when entering and leaving Holy Soul Village. 8 9
• Martial Soul awakening apparatus — Carries six black awakening stones and a blue Soul Power-testing crystal ball for Spirit Hall's awakening ceremony. 11
• Falsified Spirit Hall certificate — Used in an attempt to prevent Yang Ming from enrolling at the Junior Soul Master Academy. 20 21

Relationships

• Yang Ming — Enemy. Their conflict begins after Cao Mengyun nearly harms a pregnant villager and refuses to apologize; it escalates into sabotage and a direct battle at Spirit Hall. 8 9 21 25
• Old Jack — Yang Ming's adoptive grandfather. Cao Mengyun injures him after Old Jack pleads for leniency toward Yang Ming. 22
• Tang San — Yang Ming's close companion. Tang San protects Old Jack when Cao Mengyun attempts to seize him as a hostage. 25
• Tang Hao — Tang Hao's intimidating presence and cold gaze make Cao Mengyun abandon his attempt to further assault Yang Ming and retreat from Holy Soul Village. 9
• Ma Xiunuo — Fellow Spirit Hall Soul Grandmaster. Ma Xiunuo initially cooperates after accepting Cao Mengyun's benefits, but later condemns Cao's abuse of authority and issues Yang Ming a new certificate. 21 26
• Su Yuntao — A Patrol Deacon present when Cao Mengyun conducts Holy Soul Village's awakening ceremony. 11

Story Role / Major Arcs

Holy Soul Village conflict

Cao Mengyun rides recklessly through Holy Soul Village and nearly strikes a pregnant woman with his horse. Yang Ming demands an apology, but Cao Mengyun attacks him with a riding crop and then uses his superior power to injure him. He retreats only after villagers rally with farm tools and Tang Hao's presence intimidates him. 8 9

He later conducts the village's Martial Soul awakening ceremony with open impatience toward the children and particular hostility toward Yang Ming. Yang Ming's Mysterious Sword and Innate Full Soul Power leave Cao Mengyun resentful; he concludes that their conflict can only end when one of them dies. 11 12

Sabotage of Yang Ming's advancement

Afraid that Yang Ming will eventually surpass him, Cao Mengyun hires bandits to obstruct him and tampers with his Spirit Hall certificate. At the Notting City branch, he uses bribes and influence to have staff refuse Yang Ming a replacement certificate, intending to deny him academy enrollment and Soul Ring access. 21

Defeat at Spirit Hall

When Yang Ming reveals his second Martial Soul, the Green Lotus Earth-Core Flame, Cao Mengyun responds with Lion Possession and invokes the gap between a level 10 Soul Scholar and a level 29 Soul Grandmaster. 23

Despite his speed, claws, and regeneration, he is repeatedly wounded by Yang Ming's Green Lotus Sword Song and Sword Qi into Silk. When he tries to take Old Jack hostage, Yang Ming intercepts him with Ruthless Charge and defeats him by engulfing him in the Green Lotus Earth-Core Flame. 24 25

Ma Xiunuo orders the Spirit Hall staff to extinguish the flames and save Cao Mengyun because he remains a Spirit Hall member. 25

Following the battle, Ma Xiunuo formally identifies Cao Mengyun's actions as neglect of duty, abuse of authority for personal gain, and the use of public affairs to settle private grudges. Yang Ming demands that Cao apologize to the pregnant woman he endangered. 26

Notable Quotes

“Didn't I miss her?” 8

“At Spirit Hall, even if you're a dragon, you must coil up for me. If you're a tiger, you must crouch for me!” 21