Cao Ying

Biodata

Background / History

Family Engagement

Cao Ying’s family arranged her marriage to Jiang Yuan after his grandfather saved her grandfather’s life. Neither her consent nor a substantial emotional bond underpinned the arrangement. By the beginning of the story, she regarded the engagement as incompatible with her ambitions: she was a renowned alchemical genius, while Jiang Yuan could not even refine a third-tier pill 1 2 3.

Song Qing, a Pill Tower elder pursuing her, publicly assaulted Jiang Yuan to pressure him into breaking the engagement. Cao Ying reprimanded Song Qing for acting recklessly and questioned whether he had acted for her benefit or his own. Although she agreed that Jiang Yuan was an unsuitable match, she recognized that the assault had complicated matters and would invite her teacher’s intervention 1 2.

Alchemy and Movement Challenges

When Xuan Kongzi insisted that the family promise be honored, Cao Ying argued that nobody had asked for her agreement. She proposed a condition: Jiang Yuan must refine an eighth-tier pill to marry her; failure would end their engagement. She supplied the recipe, expecting the challenge to expose his inadequacy 3.

Jiang Yuan instead produced a flawless, high-quality eighth-tier pill. Cao Ying then argued that he could not withstand its pill tribulation, only to watch him evade the lightning unharmed. Despite her reluctance, she prepared to honor her promise—but Jiang Yuan rejected her, declaring that she was “not worthy” 4.

Angered by the rejection, she challenged him to learn Wind Shadow Step, an intermediate Earth-class movement technique she had been practicing. Jiang Yuan mastered it almost immediately and demonstrated an execution superior to hers. Unable to answer his offer of further challenges, Cao Ying began to recognize that her earlier sense of superiority had been misplaced 5.

Regret and Attempts to Reconnect

After Jiang Yuan left, Xuan Kongzi questioned whether Cao Ying still wanted to end the engagement. She departed in confusion, wondering whether Jiang Yuan had concealed his strength or received a recent opportunity 6.

Dan Chen later told her that Jiang Yuan had defeated Song Qing, a Dou Zong elder. Cao Ying began explicitly regretting the lost engagement, imagining that Jiang Yuan might eventually become a Dou Zun or even a Dou Sheng 9.

Her regret deepened after she witnessed Thunder Venerable seek the Pill Tower’s help to have Jiang Yuan’s seal on his Dou Qi removed. She explained the situation to Jiang Yuan and Dan Chen, but Jiang Yuan remained distant 24.

Cao Ying subsequently visited Jiang Yuan’s quarters to speak with him. Dan Chen refused entry because he had begun secluded cultivation. Cao Ying asked how he had sealed Thunder Venerable’s Dou Qi, received no explanation, and left after requesting notification when he emerged. The purpose of her intended conversation was not disclosed 25.

Personality

Cao Ying is proud of her talent and places considerable weight on alchemical achievement when judging a prospective husband. She treats Jiang Yuan’s apparent limitations as proof that he is beneath her, repeatedly mocking him even after he accepts her challenge. Her refusal of the marriage also rests on a clear objection to having her future decided without her consent 2 3 4.

Her pride does not entirely override accountability. She criticizes Song Qing’s assault and is prepared to keep her marriage promise once Jiang Yuan fulfills its conditions. Repeated defeats undermine her confidence, replacing contempt with curiosity, embarrassment, and regret over the future she believes she has lost 2 4 5 9.

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

• Can refine seventh-tier pills, establishing her as the leading talent among the Pill Tower’s younger generation 2.
• Recognizes the exceptional quality of Jiang Yuan’s eighth-tier pill and understands that its refinement brings a pill tribulation 4.
• Hopes to become an eighth-tier or ninth-tier alchemist; neither advancement is documented in the provided chapters 2.

Wind Shadow Step

• Practices Wind Shadow Step, an intermediate Earth-class movement Dou Technique 5.
• Understands the value of movement techniques for escaping danger, specifically citing the Hall of Souls’ targeting of Pill Tower alchemists 5.
• Cannot match Jiang Yuan’s demonstrated execution. His perfection and upgrade of the technique are his achievements, not hers 5.

Equipment / Items

• Storage Ring — Used to carry the eighth-tier pill recipe she presents to Jiang Yuan 3.
• Eighth-tier pill recipe scroll — Supplies the instructions for her marriage challenge; the pill’s name is not stated 3.
• Wind Shadow Step scroll — Provides the intermediate Earth-class technique for her second challenge 5.

Relationships

• Jiang Yuan — Former arranged fiancé. She initially rejects him as unworthy, then regrets the engagement’s end after discovering his alchemical and combat abilities 3 4 9 24.
• Xuan Kongzi — Teacher. He insists that she honor the family engagement and later treats Jiang Yuan’s demonstrations as a needed lesson for her pride 2 3 6.
• Song Qing — Pursuer whose attack on Jiang Yuan worsens the engagement dispute. Cao Ying rebukes his recklessness and challenges his claim that he acted solely for her 1 2.
• Dan Chen — Fellow Pill Tower disciple who tells her about Jiang Yuan’s victory over Song Qing and later guards his seclusion when Cao Ying visits 9 25.

Notable Quotes

“But no one ever asked for my opinion, from beginning to end. I don't agree to it.” 3

“If you really can refine it, I, Cao Ying, will marry you immediately without another word, and I will never go back on my promise.” 3