Mang Tian

Biodata

Background / History

Accepting Xu Qing

Mang Tian was already teaching Tang Wulin when Wulin brought him Xu Qing's design for an oversized chopping saber. Interested in hearing that another Blue Silver Grass user possessed strength comparable to Wulin's, he asked to meet Xu Qing. He recommended adding tungsten steel to the weapon and helped complete it 20 21.

When Xu Qing visited the workshop, Mang Tian watched him lift the saber, which weighed over two hundred jin, and personally tested his strength through a handclasp. He waived payment for the weapon and invited Xu Qing to become his disciple. Xu Qing accepted and began learning basic hammering that day 21.

Teaching Thousand Refinement

After Xu Qing became a Soul Master, Mang Tian judged him ready to study Thousand Refinement. He tested the boy's strength, explained the principles to both disciples, and demonstrated the process using adamantine. Although Tang Wulin was not yet ready to attempt it, Mang Tian allowed him to attend the lesson 28 29.

Mang Tian supplied precious Heavy Silver for Xu Qing's first attempt. He recognized when Xu Qing reached Thousand Refinement's essential state and, upon its completion, immediately instructed him to perform the blood sacrifice. He celebrated Xu Qing becoming an eight-year-old rank-three blacksmith, gave him the finished metal, and granted him a day off 30 31 32.

Supporting the Disciples in Eastsea City

Mang Tian gave Xu Qing and Tang Wulin storage bracelets for their forging hammers. After Xu Qing returned from a month-long absence with an awakened dragon bloodline, Mang Tian accepted his explanation and expanded his instruction to match his increased strength 40.

Before the boys went to Eastsea City, Mang Tian provided the address of his workshop there and instructed them to join the Blacksmith Association so they could earn money while learning. He arranged for Cen Yue to handle their assessments. When both passed through the second-rank assessment, he calmly credited his own eye for talent and asked Cen Yue to look after them when they accepted assignments 44 45 46 47.

Personality

Mang Tian is patient with beginners and attentive to their character as well as their talent. He personally guided Xu Qing through basic forging and approved of the gratitude the boy showed Tang Wulin. Over their years together, he came to value Xu Qing's diligence, discipline, and comprehension 21 30.

He invests generously in promising disciples without neglecting fairness: despite Xu Qing's more exceptional progress, he gave both boys storage bracelets. His pride can be exuberant, as during Xu Qing's first Thousand Refinement, or deliberately understated, as in his teasing exchanges with Cen Yue 31 40 46 47.

Mang Tian also initially regarded the boys' Blue Silver Grass Martial Souls as a limitation, wishing they possessed strength-type Martial Souls instead. He later concluded that Tang Wulin, like Xu Qing, must carry a special bloodline to explain his unusual strength 29 40.

Abilities & Skills

Forging

Mang Tian is identified as a Master Craftsman-level forging grandmaster 31.

• Weapon construction: Evaluated Xu Qing's saber blueprint, recommended tungsten steel, and helped produce the finished weapon 20 21.
• Thousand Refinement: Demonstrated the technique using adamantine and taught how Spiritual Power, communication with metal, and sublimation distinguish it from Hundred Refinement 29.
• Blood sacrifice: Taught the tradition of linking a blacksmith's first Thousand Refined work to their bloodline and guided Xu Qing through it 29 31.

Teaching and Talent Assessment

Mang Tian adjusts instruction to his disciples' physical development and forging proficiency 28 40.

• Uses strength tests to assess readiness for more demanding work 28 29.
• Lets disciples observe one another's lessons and breakthrough attempts 29 30.
• Recognizes the focused state at the core of Thousand Refinement without interrupting it 31.
• Identifies Penetration, the special effect of Xu Qing's Heavy Silver Hammers, as a top-tier result 40.

Equipment / Resources

• Forging workshops — Provides dedicated practice facilities in Aolai City and access to a workshop in Eastsea City 21 44.
• Strength-testing equipment — Uses hammer-strike testing devices; replaces one with a higher-capacity model after Xu Qing breaks it 28 40.
• Precious metal stock — Supplies Heavy Silver from his limited reserves for Xu Qing's first Thousand Refinement attempt 30.
• Tungsten steel forging hammers — Gives Xu Qing a pair for his work at the workshop 30.
• Storage bracelets — Gives both Xu Qing and Tang Wulin bracelets for carrying their forging hammers 40.

Relationships

• Xu Qing — Disciple recruited after Mang Tian recognized his extraordinary strength. Mang Tian guides his forging development and witnesses his record-setting first Thousand Refinement 21 31.
• Tang Wulin — Disciple whose strength first impressed Mang Tian. Wulin introduces Xu Qing to him and receives the same opportunities to observe advanced forging instruction 20 29 30.
• Brother Long — Senior disciple who began studying under Mang Tian at twelve and completed his first Thousand Refined work at twenty-five 28.
• Cen Yue — Fellow blacksmith and familiar acquaintance. Mang Tian entrusts his disciples' assessments to him; their conversations feature teasing over the boys' exceptional talent 45 46 47.

Notable Quotes

“For every blacksmith, a Thousand Refined work is a life they've created.” 32

“Oh, of course I do. It means I have a good eye.”
— Responding to Cen Yue's excitement over his two nine-year-old disciples passing the second-rank assessment 46