Jiang Tao

Jiang Tao is a senior member of the Drought Dragon Jiang Clan and the third uncle of Jiang Yang. Seeking answers and revenge for his nephew's death, he joins representatives of five other Bloodline Nobility Clans in pressuring Su Chen, only to die when their attempt to seize Kaihuang's Heaven draws them into the Zhu Clan's attack.

Biography

Revenge and the stolen technique

Jiang Tao joined the relatives investigating the deaths in the ruins and concluded that Du Qing had been present when Jiang Yang died. He supported coercing Su Chen and the other surviving commoners even without proof. When Su Chen offered the bloodline-less route to the Blood Boiling Realm, Jiang and the coalition accepted a copied manual while planning to monopolize the technique and eliminate its creators. (Chapters 240–246)

The manual was bait, and the coalition was caught when Zhu Xianyao's protectors attacked. Jiang Tao fought the much stronger Uncle Eleven, survived for a time even after his heart was destroyed, and delivered a palm strike into an existing wound. He finally killed the gravely injured Zhu Yanniang while she tore open his throat, leaving both dead. (Chapters 247–250)

Appearance and personality

Jiang Tao is a short man with extremely large hands and thick fingers. The corpus does not describe his clothing, age, hair, or other facial features. His hands visually correspond to the palm-based attacks he uses in his final battle. (Chapter 240)

He is suspicious, vengeful, and willing to punish people without evidence when clan interests are involved. He also shares easy camaraderie with the other clan representatives, joking about food and wine once they believe the technique has been secured. In battle, he proves tenacious and self-sacrificing, continuing to attack after an apparently fatal injury. (Chapters 240–250)

Abilities and cultivation

Jiang Tao is one of the clan experts stated to be at the Yang Opening Realm or above, but his exact realm is not separately named. He uses powerful palm strikes and can damage a superior opponent when targeting an open wound. His Drought Dragon Clan bloodline is implied by affiliation, though the corpus does not name a specific personal bloodline Origin Skill. (Chapters 240, 246–251)

His most remarkable feat is survival after Uncle Eleven smashes his heart and leaves a hole through his chest. Jiang rises, ambushes Uncle Eleven with a savage palm, and continues fighting Zhu Yanniang until both die. The mechanism that temporarily sustains him is called a clan trump card but is not named or explained. (Chapters 249–250)

Relationships

• Jiang Yang: Jiang Tao is Jiang Yang's third uncle and joins the investigation after his nephew dies in the ruins. The desire for revenge drives his actions against the surviving students. (Chapter 240)
• Su Chen: Jiang helps threaten Su Chen and participates in the scheme to take Kaihuang's Heaven, not realizing that Su is using the coalition as bait. (Chapters 241–247)
• Uncle Eleven: Jiang attacks him during the ambush and, even after losing his heart, lands a palm strike that contributes to his accumulated injuries. (Chapters 247–251)

Items

The finalized item inventory contains no entries for Jiang Tao. He receives a jade-slip copy of Kaihuang's Heaven during the six clans' attempted theft, but the copy is part of Su Chen's trap and is not shown remaining in Jiang's possession after his death. No personal weapon or armor is named. (Chapters 246–250)