Black Tiger Yao

Biodata

Power Progression

His exact level is never confirmed in the supplied chapters. The documented change is in his displayed strength, not an explicitly identified realm breakthrough.

Appearance

• Size: Nearly ten meters long; his head alone is half the size of Su Changsheng’s stone house 1 4.
• Eyes: Enormous, bell-sized eyes that change from scarlet to pitch-black when his demonic aura surges 5.
• Maw: A blood-red mouth accompanied by the stench of rot and blood 1.
• Tail: Large enough to whip the air with sharp cracking sounds 10.
• Presence: Thunderous rumbling, howling demonic wind, and a nauseating bloody aura surround him even while resting 4.

Personality

Black Tiger is ruthless but calculating. When Su Changsheng proves capable of producing valuable snake saliva ice, he weighs killing him for a one-time return against keeping him alive as a continuing source of tribute. He chooses the latter, supplying food while increasing production demands and charging for protection 5.

He enjoys deference and flattery, but remains suspicious of those beneath him. Su Changsheng’s insistence on calling their exchange an “offering” pleases him; nevertheless, he checks the snake’s production timeline and sends a Wailing Ghost to monitor him for half a month 5 7 10. He also disparages half-demon bloodlines and deliberately selects a concealment art he believes Su Changsheng cannot master well enough to escape his control 10.

History

Tribute and the Snake Saliva Ice Bargain

During his first appearance, Black Tiger threatens to kill Su Changsheng and mentions that a spotted fox wants snakeskin for clothing. Su Changsheng survives by paying his monthly dues and adding two reverse scales as extra tribute. Black Tiger then warns him against wandering at night because uncanny beasts have entered the stockade 1.

When Su Changsheng later visits with snake saliva ice, Black Tiger’s Wailing Ghost restrains him, and Black Tiger initially treats him as food delivered to his doorstep. The ice interrupts this threat and reveals a more profitable use for the half-demon 4 5.

The resulting arrangement heavily favors Black Tiger 5:

Su Changsheng publicizes the reward and protection throughout the Half-Demon Grounds. Fear of Black Tiger temporarily reduces winter raids against snake half-demons, though his surveillance forces Su Changsheng to hide his cultivation progress 6 7.

The Uncanny Attacks and Turtle Breath Art

After a series of flaying attacks, Black Tiger and other Lesser Yao hunt the entity responsible. When he returns to collect tribute, Su Changsheng notices unstable demonic power and a faint scent of blood. Black Tiger examines him with black demon wind and confirms that he has not been contaminated 9.

Black Tiger claims that he and Old Wolf wounded a second- or third-tier Wild Yao. Su Changsheng rejects this explanation, connecting the attacks instead to the uncanny presence associated with Male Fox 9.

Concerned about losing his profitable subordinate, Black Tiger directs Su Changsheng to obtain Turtle Breath Art from Turtle Yao. He charges ten jin of future blood food for the referral, to be deducted at one jin per month. His choice rests on the belief that the art is easy to begin but too difficult for Su Changsheng to master 10.

Disappearance and Loss of Territory

Black Tiger stops appearing and collecting tribute, prompting rumors that he is gravely injured or dead 15. A Wailing Ghost later inspects Su Changsheng’s home, leading the snake to conclude that Black Tiger remains alive; the claim that he has recreated lost ghosts is Su Changsheng’s inference 18.

The stockade’s higher-ups appoint neighboring Wolf Yao to manage Black Tiger’s territory. The reason for Black Tiger’s absence remains unknown. Su Changsheng speculates that he may be cultivating a powerful art recorded on the uncanny beast hides associated with Male Fox, but this is never confirmed 24.

Wolf Yao’s numerous lackeys impose harsher exploitation. Some residents consequently begin to miss Black Tiger’s comparatively solitary rule 31.

Return and Battle with Wolf Yao

Black Tiger returns with overwhelming roars, demonic wind, and masses of Wailing Ghosts. Wolf Yao answers his roars, and their confrontation devastates the Half-Demon Grounds, causing casualties both directly and through a panicked stampede 49.

The battle continues through the night until dawn. Black Tiger appears determined to kill Wolf Yao, but the precise cause of their lethal hostility is not established. The stockade’s leaders do not intervene; Su Changsheng suspects they may be allowing the destruction to cull surplus residents 50.

Abilities & Skills

Wailing Ghosts

• Uses a Wailing Ghost to seize, suspend, and intimidate Su Changsheng, then guide him to collect blood food 4 5.
• Deploys ghosts for covert surveillance of subordinate half-demons 7 18.
• Considers killing Su Changsheng, turning him into a Wailing Ghost, and selling him to the stronghold 5.
• On his return, commands masses of ghosts whose icy auras sweep overhead and rapidly lower the surrounding temperature 49.

Demonic Power and Wind

• His prolonged demonic influence turns the snow around his residence pitch-black and alters its substance 4 6.
• Can release or withdraw an oppressive aura to threaten others or ease pressure during negotiation 5.
• Uses black demon wind to envelop and examine Su Changsheng for contamination, and to collect snake saliva ice 9.
• His returning aura nearly overwhelms the Half-Demon Grounds’ residents; his clash with Wolf Yao produces violent tremors throughout the area 49 50.

Unnamed Yao Art

• States that he possesses a yao art unsuitable for half-demons 10.
• Its name, effects, and actual bloodline requirements are not disclosed; the incompatibility is Black Tiger’s own claim 10.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Black snow — Snow transformed by prolonged exposure to his demonic power. Its aura can intimidate weaker Wraith Beasts, while possession of it marks a half-demon as under his protection. Black Tiger charges Su Changsheng additional snake saliva ice for this privilege 5 6.

Relationships

• Su Changsheng — Tribute-paying subordinate and valuable material producer. Black Tiger supplies limited food and protection while extracting larger quotas; Su Changsheng outwardly flatters him but secretly resents him and conceals his advancement 5 6 7.
• Wolf Yao / Old Wolf — Neighboring territorial ruler and claimed partner in hunting the uncanny attacker. Wolf Yao later takes over his territory and becomes his opponent in a battle to the death 9 23 24 49 50.
• Turtle Yao — Source of the Turtle Breath Art Black Tiger requests for Su Changsheng. Turtle Yao suspects the referral may be an attempt to probe him while Black Tiger is injured 10.
• Spotted fox — Black Tiger cites her desire for a fine snakeskin as a reason to kill Su Changsheng. Their broader relationship is unspecified 1.