Bentao

Bentao is an ancient daoist immortal who once wandered as the Insane Clown King while investigating the Seven Malignant Saints. He deceives Grid's party with the doctrine of violence before revealing that the accused saints were not evil, later guiding Kraugel and supporting humanity against cultivators. (Chapters 1035, 1332, 1583, 1742, and 2022)

Biography

Recurring role and later consequences

Bentao first appears through an illusion at the end of the war god's trials. His bad laughter, frenzy, and health-exchange power recall abilities that Agnus uses under Bentao's name. Bentao poses as a believer who glorifies violence, then reveals that his travels as a clown led him to discover the Seven Malignant Saints were falsely condemned. He vanishes after showing the Peach Blossom Spring and leaves Grid with an incomplete explanation that Baal killed the Insane King identity whose power Agnus possesses. (Chapters 1035 and 1332)

Much later, Bentao receives Kraugel as a daoist immortal and explains that the elemental world lacks the metal element required by the proper cycle. He opens a portal and assigns the Sword Saint a quest to correct that order, promising benefits for humanity and the Overgeared God. During the Complete Ending, Bentao and Yeo Yulan descend with other immortals, covertly weaken cultivators with talismans, and fight despite their magic being less versatile than the invaders' methods. (Chapters 1583, 1742, and 2022)

Appearance and personality

Bentao can look like an innocent child or a kindly old man and wears the wide-sleeved silk clothing associated with Peach Blossom Spring. His benign expression can accompany ruthless claims when he is testing visitors, while his true manner is patient and reassuring. He carries lasting guilt because he could not clear the Seven Malignant Saints when they were persecuted. (Chapters 1035, 1583, 1742, and 2022)

Abilities, classes, and skills

Bentao creates extensive illusions, manipulates composure through laughter, and possesses a health-exchange power appropriated through Baal's connection to Agnus. As a daoist immortal, he uses spiritual energy, wide-sleeved movements, portals, talismans, and spells. His talismans can debilitate opponents rapidly, but cultivators combine more varied treasures, formations, summons, and martial techniques, forcing him onto the defensive in direct combat. (Chapters 1035, 1332, 1583, and 2022)

Relationships

• Grid: Bentao tests Grid's party, reveals the truth he learned about the Seven Malignant Saints, and promises that correcting the elemental world will aid Grid and humanity. (Chapters 1035 and 1583)
• Agnus: Agnus uses powers bearing Bentao's name, including frenzy and health exchange, through a connection Bentao attributes to Baal's killing of the Insane King. (Chapters 1035 and 1332)
• Kraugel: Bentao trusts Kraugel to enter the elemental world and repair its five-element order. (Chapter 1583)
• Yeo Yulan: Bentao and Yeo Yulan provide talisman support together and confront cultivators during the Complete Ending. (Chapter 2022)

Items

No notable items are documented for Bentao in the supplied corpus.