Cao Ying

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Cao Ying (曹颖)
Alias(es)	Cao Family's “little enchantress”
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Cao Family; Pill Tower
Occupation/Role	Fourth-Grade Alchemist; Formal Disciple of the Pill Tower
First Appearance	Chapter 41
Age	Twelve 42 43
Cultivation	Peak Nine-Star Dou Master 46
Alchemy Rank	Fourth-Grade Alchemist 42 43

Background

Cao Ying is a prodigy of the Cao Family, one of the Pill Tower’s Five Great Families. Her soul strength was reportedly so immense at birth that its fluctuations nearly killed her mother; the Cao Family subsequently devoted extensive resources to cultivating her talent 42.

She arrives at the Pill Tower entrance assessment as the Cao Family’s leading candidate. Her declaration that she is a twelve-year-old Fourth-Grade Alchemist stuns the examination hall and establishes her as the highest-ranked participant at that point 42 43.

Cao Ying becomes interested in Xiao Yan after discovering that he is also twelve and a Fourth-Grade Alchemist. She attempts to provoke an immediate assessment against him, but Elder Qiu postpones any contest; the two instead begin an intense rivalry 43.

Both Cao Ying and Xiao Yan pass the examination as Formal Disciples and enter the Pill Tower’s Disciple Domain. Her initial attempts to learn about his origins and master are rebuffed, worsening their antagonism 44 45.

Appearance

Cao Ying is a striking young girl with an elegant yet youthful appearance, typically dressed in eye-catching red robes 41.

• Tall, slender build for her age.
• Long black hair contrasting with fair skin.
• Exquisite features and distinctive phoenix eyes.
• Carries herself with a poised, alluring presence that draws attention from other candidates 41.

Personality

Cao Ying is proud, self-assured, and accustomed to the attention granted by her talent and Cao Family status. Xiao Yan’s refusal to indulge her curiosity or treat her deferentially unsettles her, making her increasingly determined to uncover his abilities and surpass him 44 45.

She is highly competitive and easily provoked when her superiority is questioned. After losing a Dou Qi spar to Xiao Yan, she acknowledges his combat advantage but immediately redirects their rivalry toward alchemy, where she vows to defeat him 46.

Despite her pride, Cao Ying is perceptive. She immediately recognizes Song Qing’s attempt to manipulate Xiao Yan into fighting the red-clad girl and regards his interference with disdain 50.

Abilities & Skills

Fourth-Grade Alchemy

Cao Ying is a Fourth-Grade Alchemist at twelve years old, a level that shocks the Pill Tower examination’s participants and confirms her standing as one of the Five Great Families’ foremost young talents 42 43.

• Her immense innate soul strength is the foundation of her alchemical potential 42.
• Her spiritual perception is strong enough to notice Xiao Yan watching her among a crowded hall 42.
• She qualifies directly as a Pill Tower Formal Disciple without needing the ordinary rank-based assessment 43 44.
• She has studied alchemy since childhood, giving her substantially more technical experience than Xiao Yan when they first meet 42.

Dou Qi Cultivation

Cao Ying possesses the cultivation of a peak Nine-Star Dou Master and can manifest a Dou Qi Veil in battle 46.

• Her cultivation helps support soul strength comparable to Xiao Yan’s at their stage, despite his shorter alchemical training 42.
• She uses high-grade medicinal pills freely, taking at least a Fourth-Grade Pill after her spar with Xiao Yan 46.
• Her practical fighting experience is limited compared with Xiao Yan’s; he judges her combat capability to be comparable to Cao Dan’s before defeating her with restrained strength 46.

Voidfire Blaze Rend

A flame-based Dou Technique used by Cao Ying during her challenge against Xiao Yan 46.

• Produces several whip-like strands of flame.
• Was deployed while Cao Ying was at peak Nine-Star Dou Master strength.
• Xiao Yan disrupted the technique by charging directly into her attack and breaking her offensive rhythm 46.

Relationships

• Xiao Yan — Alchemical peer and primary rival. Cao Ying becomes fascinated and frustrated by his matching Fourth-Grade rank, guarded behavior, and superior combat ability; she vows to surpass him in alchemy after losing their spar 43 45 46.
• Cao Dan — Younger brother. Cao Ying does not stop his attempt to confront Xiao Yan, but later does not seek Xiao Yan’s assistance when Cao Dan is beaten by the red-clad girl 44 49.
• Dan Chen — A younger alchemical prodigy whom Cao Ying initially recognizes as a possible future rival. Cao Ying becomes irritated when Xiao Yan treats the timid Dan Chen more gently than he treats her 43 46.
• Elder Qiu — Pill Tower elder who oversees her entrance assessment and later advises her and Xiao Yan to cooperate as Formal Disciples 42 45.
• Song Qing — A fellow disciple who seeks her attention and attempts to use conflicts involving Cao Dan to manipulate Xiao Yan. Cao Ying ignores his flattery and sees through his schemes 47 50.

Story Role

Pill Tower Examination

Cao Ying’s entrance establishes the Cao Family as a major force in the examination and places pressure on the declining Ye Clan. Her Fourth-Grade rank becomes the standard against which Xiao Yan’s sudden emergence is measured 41 42 43.

After Xiao Yan announces an identical rank, Cao Ying immediately recognizes him as a genuine peer-level opponent. Their mutual challenge is deferred, but their rivalry becomes one of the defining tensions among the new Formal Disciples 43.

Early Pill Tower Rivalry

Cao Ying attempts to question Xiao Yan about his background after the examination, but his cold response damages their relationship from the outset 44 45. Determined to test whether his interest in Dou Qi is genuine, she challenges him to a spar and is decisively defeated 46.

The loss does not end her competitive drive. Instead, she accepts Xiao Yan’s superiority in direct combat while asserting that alchemy will determine their eventual contest 46.

Disciple Domain Tensions

Cao Ying later uses a public invitation to dinner as an apparent apology, apparently seeking to control rumors about her defeat. Xiao Yan’s deliberately ambiguous reply causes onlookers to misinterpret their conflict as something scandalous 47.

When Song Qing attempts to pressure Xiao Yan into confronting the red-clad girl, Cao Ying recognizes the manipulation and remains detached. She watches with amusement as Xiao Yan turns Song Qing’s scheme against him 50.

Trivia

• Cao Ying’s alchemy rank is sufficient to make her the highest-ranked participant revealed during the Pill Tower assessment before Xiao Yan announces the same rank 42 43.
• She is one of the three final disciples assigned cave residences nearest to the Pill Tower headquarters, alongside Xiao Yan and Dan Chen 45.
• Cao Ying is repeatedly addressed by Xiao Yan as “Junior Sister,” despite neither of them knowing which of them is older 45 46.