Cao Ying

Biodata

Power Progression

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.

Within less than two years of entering the Pill Tower, Cao Ying advances from Fourth-Grade to Fifth-Grade Alchemist after breaking through to the Dou Ling realm. This accomplishment secures her standing as her generation’s foremost Pill Tower disciple, earns her the reputation of the Pill Region’s “Demoness,” and results in her becoming Xuan Kongzi’s Core Disciple 73.

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.

Cao Ying also possesses practical political awareness. Although Cao Dan seeks support after being defeated by Tang Huohuo, she refuses to pursue revenge after learning Tang Huohuo belongs to Burning Flame Valley, recognizing that provoking such a faction over Cao Dan would be needless 51.

Abilities & Skills

Fourth-Grade Alchemy

Cao Ying was a Fourth-Grade Alchemist at twelve years old, a level that shocked the Pill Tower examination’s participants and confirmed 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.

Fifth-Grade Alchemy

After reaching the Dou Ling realm, Cao Ying becomes a Fifth-Grade Alchemist. Her advancement from Fourth Grade in less than two years establishes her as the leading disciple of her generation within the Pill Tower and secures her reputation as the Pill Region’s “Demoness” 73.

• Her earlier inability to reach Fifth Grade was tied to being short of the Da Dou Shi realm, which limited the soul power available for higher-grade refinement 51.
• Her Fifth-Grade advancement leads to her acceptance as Xuan Kongzi’s Core Disciple 73.
• Her rapid progression confirms the extraordinary potential created by her innate soul talent, family resources, and long early education in alchemy 42 73.

Dou Qi Cultivation

Cao Ying initially possessed the cultivation of a peak Nine-Star Dou Master and could manifest a Dou Qi Veil in battle 46. She later breaks through to the Dou Ling realm, allowing her to advance into Fifth-Grade Alchemy 73.

• 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.
• While still short of the Da Dou Shi realm, she recognizes that Xiao Yan has already surpassed her in both Dou Qi cultivation and alchemy 51.

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. She later recognizes that his advancement has placed him ahead of her in both alchemy and Dou Qi cultivation 51.
• 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. She also refuses to retaliate against Tang Huohuo on his behalf, considering a conflict with Burning Flame Valley unnecessary 51.
• 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.
• Tang Huohuo — Burning Flame Valley disciple who defeats Cao Dan and later spars with Xiao Yan. Cao Ying declines to seek revenge against her because of Burning Flame Valley’s influence 51.
• Xuan Kongzi — One of the Pill Tower’s giants and Cao Ying’s master. Cao Ying becomes his Core Disciple after reaching Fifth-Grade Alchemist status 73.

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.

Cao Ying also refuses to involve the Cao Family in a conflict with Tang Huohuo after recognizing Tang Huohuo’s Burning Flame Valley affiliation. Her decision demonstrates that she can set aside personal and familial pride when retaliation would be strategically unwise 51.

Rise as a Core Disciple

Cao Ying’s eventual breakthrough to Dou Ling enables her to become a Fifth-Grade Alchemist. Having risen from Fourth Grade in less than two years, she is regarded as the foremost disciple of her generation in the Pill Tower and gains the Pill Region-wide reputation of the “Demoness” 73.

Her elevation to Xuan Kongzi’s Core Disciple confirms her status among the Pill Tower’s most valued young alchemists 73.

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.
• Her advancement from Fourth-Grade to Fifth-Grade Alchemist in less than two years establishes her as the foremost disciple of her generation in the Pill Tower 73.