Ao Lie is part of the respected dragon clan. He is able to transform himself, into a dragon, or into a horse. He is the great-great-great grandfather of Mei.In the past, he travelled with Sun Wulong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing to protect the great monk Tang Sanzang to deliver the sacred scrolls.  He is a very clumsy but easy-going person. He is able to come up with very wise advice on the spur of the moment. He was very attached to his former travelling companions.