Lian Taoze

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Lian Taoze (连涛泽)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Zheng Family Martial Arts Hall; Lian Household
Occupation/Role	Eldest Senior Brother; Direct Disciple of Old Zheng
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 4
Bone Aptitude	Upper-grade
Martial Rank	Second-Rank Flesh-Tempering Martial Warrior 4 15

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
First-Rank Skin Tempering — Copper Skin	17	Reportedly spent an additional year and a half refining his body to achieve Copper Skin before advancing further.
Second-Rank Flesh Tempering	5, 15	Failed three attempts at the Realm Barrier before eventually succeeding at great cost; he remains a Second-Rank Martial Warrior. 5 15

Background / History

Lian Taoze is the eldest young master of the Lian Household, a family involved in commercial firms. His father manages business and accounts, while his eldest uncle oversees the household’s Martial Warrior Attendants and controls most sponsorship decisions. Although the Lian family offers more than ten sponsorship slots annually, Taoze personally receives only two and usually gives them to needy new disciples. 7 15

His martial advancement was difficult despite his upper-grade aptitude. He failed three attempts at the Second-Rank Realm Barrier, succeeding only after paying a great price. Before breaking through, he also spent an extra year and a half refining his body to attain Copper Skin. 5 17

Personality

Lian Taoze is easygoing, sociable, and notably free of the class prejudice displayed by many disciples. He treats Zhou Chen warmly despite Zhou’s poor background and weak assessed aptitude, and he argues that making friends sincerely is more valuable than calculating a person’s immediate worth. 4 7

His relaxed manner often undermines the dignity expected of an eldest senior brother. He spends considerable time arranging cricket fights, attempts to invite Zhou Chen to a pleasure house after training, and can be impulsive or shameless in conversation, including an inappropriate reaction upon hearing about Zhou Chen’s younger sister. 4 5 7

Beneath this frivolity, he is candid about the brutality of martial cultivation and the dangers beyond the martial hall. His own failures have left him somewhat resigned about further advancement, but he remains willing to teach, advise, and advocate for weaker disciples. 5 12 16

Abilities & Skills

Martial Cultivation

Lian Taoze is a Second-Rank Flesh-Tempering Martial Warrior. His Copper Skin foundation allowed him to defeat Shen Ao in a sparring match shortly after his Second-Rank breakthrough, despite Shen Ao having spent over a year at that rank. 15 17

• Possesses upper-grade bone aptitude. 4
• Achieved Copper Skin, a level above the more common Iron Skin. 17
• Understands the dangers of Realm Barriers through personal experience. 5
• Is not considered the strongest among Old Zheng’s Direct Disciples, but holds high prestige among his fellow disciples. 4

Martial Instruction

As Zhou Chen’s eldest senior brother, Taoze personally teaches him the foundations of the Zheng Family Martial Arts Hall’s cultivation system. 4 6

• Breaks down the Stake-Standing Exercise and Coiling Python Stance Technique movement by movement. 6
• Explains the relationship between internal cultivation, external martial arts, nourishment, qi and blood, and realm advancement. 5
• Introduces Zhou Chen to the Wild Bull Fist progression and its Force Realm secret technique, Wild Bull Force. 5
• Teaches that excessive Miasma Poison can obstruct qi and blood circulation and ruin a cultivator’s future breakthroughs. 5

Knowledge of Mist Monsters and the Wider World

Taoze is unusually well-informed about Mist Monsters, Inner City power, and events outside Black City. 12 14 15

• Identifies the creature that attacked Zhou Chen as an Echoing Wraith and explains its method of luring victims through familiar voices and dreams. 12
• Explains the low-, middle-, and high-grade Mist Monster classification, corresponding to the three Martial Warrior ranks. 12
• Warns Zhou Chen never to oppose Inner City residents or major Inner City clans, who possess heavy armor and repeating crossbows. 12
• Provides information about Azure City, the Heaven-Breaking Sect, and the protective role of Black City’s Tai Sui Lord. 14 15

Relationships

• Zhou Chen — Junior brother. Taoze personally teaches him the Coiling Python Stance Technique, explains the martial world’s hierarchy and dangers, advocates for his sponsorship, and remains friendly despite others dismissing Zhou’s potential. 5 6 12 15 16
• Old Zheng — Master. Taoze is one of Old Zheng’s Direct Disciples and serves as the hall’s eldest senior brother; he readily assists with Old Zheng’s requests. 4 13
• Shen Ao — Fellow disciple and social rival. Their families’ commercial interests conflict, and Shen mocks Taoze’s habit of befriending low-status disciples. Taoze once defeated Shen in a sparring match shortly after entering the Second Rank. 7 17
• Liu Fei and Sun Yingying — Junior sisters. Taoze brings them to the outer courtyard to seek sponsorship for poor disciples and openly recommends Zhou Chen. 15 16
• Lian Household — Birth family. Taoze’s father handles commercial affairs, while his eldest uncle controls Martial Warrior Attendants and the household’s sponsorship slots. 15

Story Role / Major Arcs

Zhou Chen’s Entry into the Zheng Family Martial Arts Hall

After Zhou Chen is granted Direct Disciple-level treatment, Taoze becomes his designated senior brother. Their first meeting overturns Zhou’s expectations of a dignified martial expert, as Taoze is found lying in the grass absorbed in a cricket fight. 4

Taoze then gives Zhou his first substantive explanation of the martial path: internal and external arts, martial ranks, Realm Barriers, the Force Realm, the importance of nutrition, and the disparity between the Inner and Outer Cities. 5

Early Training and Hall Life

Taoze patiently transmits the Stake-Standing Exercise and includes Zhou in the Direct Disciples’ meals. His genuine openness contrasts with the other disciples, who lose interest once they learn Zhou lacks wealth, status, and strong aptitude. 6

After Zhou uses Mist Incense to accelerate his training, Taoze invites him to socialize rather than pressure him for gain. He later defends his choice to treat Zhou kindly when Shen Ao dismisses Zhou as worthless. 7

Advisor on Mist Monsters and Black City

When Zhou recounts his encounter with an Echoing Wraith, Taoze identifies the monster and explains the risks posed by stronger Mist Monsters and Inner City martial power. 12

He later informs Zhou about Azure City’s collapse, the Heaven-Breaking Sect’s uprising, and the Tai Sui Lord whose presence protects Black City’s Inner City from external assault. 14 15

Sponsorship Efforts

Taoze tries to secure financial support for poor disciples, including Zhou Chen, by arranging meetings with Liu Fei and Sun Yingying. Though neither woman sponsors Zhou, Taoze publicly praises Zhou’s diligence and resolute character. 15 16

Notable Quotes

“Martial training, when you get down to it, means training the skills to kill people.” 5

“Wouldn't it be better to make more friends, treat them sincerely, and live happily? Why think so much about it?” 7