Voiced by: Paku Romi (Japanese), Andrew Rannells (English)
Tao Ren (道 蓮?) Chinese: Dào Lián, known as "Tao Len" or "Len Tao" in the English anime, is a Chinese shaman and initially an antagonist who proves to be one of Yoh's most powerful enemies and later his rival to become Shaman King. He is confident in his strength and does not directly accept help from others out of pride, though these qualities along with his short-temper and impatience are often limit his abilities. After meeting Yoh, Ren's strong sense of pride moves towards his ability to protect his friends, whom he cares for deeply despite frequently arguing and fighting with them. His most notable trait is the distinctive single spike in his hairstyle.
Ren is one of the most skilled and physically powerful shaman in the series as a result of dedicated training since childhood. His acuity in battle has allowed him to master techniques, such as those utilized by Mikihisa Asakura, by watching and experiencing them. In combat, Ren wields a guan dao and the Bâo-Lèi (宝レイ剣, Hou-Rai-Ken?, Jewel Thunder) sword, a family heirloom given to Ren when he proves to his father that he is strong enough to choose his own path, and he is capable of fighting on horseback. According to Pascal Avaf, Ren's affinity to the Spirit of Thunder is well-suited as it follows the way of taoism. Additionally, because Ren has died more than once, his furyoku levels are notably very high and he is strong enough to be one of the few shaman who can actually stare straight into the heart of the Great Spirit without fainting.
Serious and emotionally aloof, Ren has been groomed since childhood by his father, Tao Yúan to become the next Shaman King and developed a deep hatred for humanity, desiring to eliminate them all. As a result of his upbringing, he believes his spirit Bason is merely a tool and that befriending him would allow the spirit to take advantage of him. However, his encounters with Yoh and his friends gradually allows him to trust others and find true friends who are willing to risk their lives for him, such that Ren chooses to defy the destiny his family has outlined for him and decide how to live his own life.
However, the consequences of his actions in the past affect him throughout the Shaman Fight. Because the Patch officiant Nichrom holds a personal grudge against him from Ren killing his brother, Chrome, Ren is fatally stabbed by Peyote Diaz, forcing Yoh to agree to Iron Maiden Jeanne's condition that she will only resurrect Ren if Yoh withdraws from the Shaman Fight. Ren also comes to fear that the hatred he has held will isolate him and cause him to become someone like Hao. Late in the manga, he is recognized by Lady Sati as one of the Five Elemental Warriors and gains the Spirit of Thunder. In the future, Ren is a successful businessman after studying at Tsinghua University and forming an electronics manufacturing company, the Raitei Group (雷帝グループ?), with Hang Zang-Ching and Bill Burton. He eventually has a son, Men (黽?), who strongly resembles his father. The child's name and his blood red eyes and silver hair indicate that Ren married Iron Maiden Jeanne, and Men later inherits both Bason and Shamash as his guardian spirits.
Read more about this topic: List Of Shaman King Characters, Supporting Characters