Mang Tian

Biodata

History

Taking in Tang Wulin

A friend of Tang Ziran, Mang Tian agrees to accept seven-year-old Tang Wulin as an apprentice after the boy asks to learn forging to help support his family. Initially skeptical, he stresses that Soul Power talent cannot replace practical hammering experience. He lets Wulin attempt to purify Heavy Silver, expecting an unsuccessful demonstration that will give him grounds to send the child away 9.

Wulin instead completes high-grade Hundred Refinement in three blows, then produces First Grade Thousand Refined Heavy Silver in an hour and a half. Mang Tian admits that he misjudged him and becomes so overwhelmed that he forgets the customary blood sacrifice for a blacksmith’s first Thousand Refinement work 10.

Recognizing Wulin’s potential to become a divine blacksmith, Mang Tian offers him two hours of paid work after school each day. He tells Lang Yue that Wulin’s skill warrants substantial pay and informs Tang Ziran that his son is already at the level of a third-rank blacksmith 11.

Arranging the Eastsea City Assessment

After roughly a year of employing Wulin, Mang Tian directs him to Eastsea City’s auction houses and spiritual material shops to look for Ice Crystal Fruit and Scarlet Flame Fruit. He cautions that the materials are expensive and that an inexperienced child could easily be swindled 14.

When Wulin proposes taking an official blacksmith assessment there, Mang Tian introduces him to his old friend Cen Yue and gives him a Storage Soul Tool bracelet. He dismisses Wulin’s concern about its value, explaining that the boy’s work has already earned him enough to buy several 14 19.

Wulin receives fourth-rank certification, prompting Cen Yue to berate Mang Tian for concealing his abilities. Mang Tian replies that seeing Wulin forge was more convincing than any explanation. He asks Cen Yue to keep the boy’s talent confidential, maintains an indifferent tone throughout the call, then bursts into laughter after hanging up 22 23.

Supporting Wulin’s Physical Growth

When Wulin remains secluded for three days while absorbing spiritual materials, Mang Tian repeatedly calls Cen Yue for news. Upon Wulin’s return, he immediately notices the changes in his body and questions his decision to consume the fruits 26 27.

Mang Tian reluctantly accepts Wulin’s explanation and supports his search for four further thousand-year spirit treasures. He carefully supervises Wulin’s attempt to forge repeatedly, instructing him to stop if anything feels wrong. After inspecting three consecutive First Grade Thousand Refinement pieces, he declares that Wulin has now truly reached fourth-rank capability 28.

Over the following three months, Mang Tian obtains orders from outside Aolai City to meet Wulin’s increased output. Before Wulin’s next trip to collect spiritual materials, he reminds him not to overexert himself or leave his parents without news again 29.

Appearance

Mang Tian has a tall, imposing build, bronze-colored skin, and a full beard 9.

• Bushy beard: Visibly trembles when he becomes excited or astonished 10 11.
• Large hands: Grips Wulin’s shoulders with both hands while celebrating his talent 11.
• Booming voice: His shocked shout after Wulin’s first forging session is loud enough to make the workshop’s hammers tremble 10.

Personality

Mang Tian is blunt and demanding about craftsmanship. He initially doubts Wulin’s readiness and insists that forging depends on skills acquired through repeated practice, not merely a high Soul Power level. Once shown convincing results, however, he openly admits his mistake and enthusiastically praises the boy 9 10 11.

His generosity accompanies a practical concern for Wulin’s welfare. He feeds him after an exhausting session, defends his enormous appetite to Lang Yue, and insists that his wages reflect the value of his work. His later warnings about spiritual materials and overexertion show that his interest extends beyond workshop profits 11 14 28 29.

Cen Yue describes him as haughty toward ordinary people. Their conversations also reveal his mischievous pride: he deliberately lets Cen Yue discover Wulin’s abilities firsthand and enjoys his friend’s outraged reaction 20 23.

Abilities & Skills

Thousand Refinement

Mang Tian can perform Thousand Refinement on Heavy Silver, a process that requires infusing intent into the metal and resonating with it 10.

• Needs an initial half-hour to an hour of communication with Heavy Silver before beginning the actual Thousand Refinement hammering 10.
• Understands the considerable physical and Spiritual Power demands of the process from his own experience 11.

Forging Appraisal

Mang Tian can assess refinement quality and judge a blacksmith’s practical capabilities.

• Recognizes Wulin’s three-blow purification as high-grade Hundred Refinement 10.
• Identifies the First Grade Thousand Refinement result and attributes it to exceptional Spiritual Power, metal perception, and hammer technique 10 11.
• Inspects Wulin’s later output and distinguishes his earlier exceptional certification from the stamina needed to complete three Thousand Refinements consecutively 28.

Workshop Management

Mang Tian supplies materials, assigns work, and checks finished commissions 14.

• Expands the workshop’s Thousand Refinement workload after recruiting Wulin 11.
• Uses contacts outside Aolai City to secure enough orders for Wulin’s increased production 29.

Notable Items

• Heavy Silver Storage Soul Tool bracelet — A silvery-gray bracelet engraved with Soul Guidance patterns, containing one-eighth of a cubic meter of storage space. Mang Tian gives it to Wulin before his first Eastsea City trip 14.
• Introduction note to Cen Yue — Provides Wulin with the destination “Eastsea City Blacksmith Association, Cen Yue,” helping him reach the official assessment 14 19.

Relationships

• Tang Wulin — Apprentice and employee. Mang Tian provides paid forging work, professional contacts, and protective advice while taking considerable pride in his achievements 9 11 14 23 28.
• Tang Ziran — One of Ziran’s few friends; agrees to take in his son and keeps him informed about Wulin’s forging ability 9 11.
• Lang Yue — Addresses her as “sister-in-law,” reassures her about Wulin’s suitability for forging, and explains the value of his work 11.
• Cen Yue — An old friend with greater professional seniority. Their relationship includes profane banter, mutual trust, and cooperation in arranging Wulin’s assessment and care in Eastsea City 14 23 26.

Notable Quotes

“In forging, what counts is skill with your hands, built up one hammer blow at a time.” 9

“He’s a genius at forging. It won’t be long before he surpasses me.” 11

“Letting you see it for yourself was worth more than anything I could have said a hundred times.” 23