Cao Lingshen, also known by the romanization Cao Ling-Shen, is a significant character in the martial arts anime Fighting Beauty Wulong. Her Chinese name is written as 曹鈴音. She is revealed to be the younger half-sister of the protagonist, Mao Lan, as her mother married Cao Da Hen after leaving Lan's father.

Cao Lingshen lives in a difficult and abusive environment. She is the step-sister of another prominent fighter, Cao Chunyang, who is cruel and treats Lingshen as a sparring dummy, using her for brutal practice sessions. This harsh treatment is the central driver of her character, as she is desperate to escape this mistreatment and gain the strength to stand up for herself.

Her primary motivation is to find a way to defeat her step-sister, Chunyang. Believing she cannot do so with her family's own martial art, she makes the decision to run away from her family temple. Her goal is to seek out Mao Lan and learn the Mao Family Juhe Fist, a secret martial art that rivals her own family's Bajiquan style. This journey leads her to become a student of Mao Lan, hoping that mastering this different fighting style will give her the power to one day overcome Chunyang.

Throughout the story, Cao Lingshen's role evolves from a victim of familial abuse to a determined martial artist in training. Her key relationship is a complex one with her step-sister, the antagonist Chunyang, against whom she seeks revenge or at least liberation. Her connection to Mao Lan is equally important, as Lan becomes not only her teacher and senior in the art of Juhe Fist but also her long-lost older sister, creating a bond of family that she had been missing. Her development is defined by this transition from a passive punching bag to an active fighter with her own agency and a clear, powerful goal. Her notable abilities are not as developed as the primary fighters at the start, but her story arc focuses on her learning the techniques of the Mao Family Juhe Fist from Lan to build her own capabilities as a martial artist.