Lu Yan

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Fall and Flight

Lu Yan was originally a promising young cultivator of Lu Family Village. His possession of the evil Eight-Tailed Earthworm ultimately caused him to lose his resolve and become an Evil Gu Master. After he fled to Qiuyang City, village chief Lu Li circulated a notice authorizing fellow cultivators to kill him in exchange for a substantial reward 38 42.

Yulan accepted the commission. Before their confrontation, Lu Yan struck a bargain with Tu Ming: he would bring Yulan to him in return for an item Tu Ming had purchased at auction for 2.5 million yuan 37.

Confrontation with Yulan

Jiang Yiming spotted Lu Yan following Yulan and warned her. Yulan deliberately allowed herself to be captured, using the situation to lure Jiang to her. Although Lu Yan restrained her, Jiang’s externally supplied Gu Essence allowed her to break free while preserving nearly all her own reserves for battle 35 38.

Yulan exposed Lu Yan’s identity and challenged him alone. He initially held the advantage through superior strength and coordinated Gu attacks, but her repeated use of the Mystic-Tier Dual-Sound Cicada undermined his confidence. Once its Penetration attack broke his psychological defenses, she trapped him in the Armor Bell Gu’s illusion and stabbed his heart 38 39 40.

Possession and Death

Lu Yan rose again after feeding his damaged heart to the Eight-Tailed Earthworm. He focused his attacks on Jiang Yiming, then surrendered his body completely to the Gu. The resulting transformation made direct contact dangerous enough that Jiang abandoned close combat and attempted to escape with the exhausted Yulan 40 41.

Jiang eventually countered with sacrificial waves of Primordial Gu, using them to carry stronger Gu through the corrosive coating and tear open Lu Yan’s back. After more than 300 Primordial Gu were expended attacking the earthworm inside him, it abandoned his body 42.

Lu Yan’s corpse continued pursuing Jiang before its remaining Gu Essence detonated. Yulan explained that the earthworm had used its former master’s body as an explosive to cover its escape. A hidden seven-colored venomous bee shielded Jiang and Yulan; afterward, they collected the earthworm’s still-living fragments 42 43.

Appearance

• Before his fall: His identification photograph showed a handsome, sunny-looking young man wearing a blue-green homespun jacket and trousers, a matching headscarf, and silver ornaments associated with Eastern Guizhou Miao dress 38.
• As a fugitive: Wore loose black clothing and a mask. Beneath it, his fair face was marked by numerous earthworm-like black lines, while his palms were pitch-black 35 38.
• After the heart replacement: The black markings converged on his heart, his pupils turned crimson, and blood vessels bulged across his body 40.
• Under full possession: His skin fell away, exposed meridians writhed, and waxy yellow liquid covered his muscles. His feet deteriorated until their bones were visible 41.

Personality

Lu Yan initially remained composed when confronted with his identity and the village’s execution notice. Confident in his second-grade cultivation, he dismissed Yulan’s schemes on the grounds that strength would ultimately decide the fight 38.

His confidence depended heavily on established cultivation rules. Yulan’s repeated use of a Gu above her grade contradicted warnings his father had taught him, leaving him increasingly agitated and afraid to attack. He eventually began recognizing her intimidation strategy, but another unexpected use of the cicada shattered his composure again 39 40.

After his apparent defeat, he called the earthworm “Lord Gu” and willingly offered it his heart for greater power. Complete surrender cost him his consciousness and tactical judgment, leaving his body fixated on attacking Jiang Yiming 40 41 42.

Abilities & Skills

Close-Quarters Combat

Lu Yan combined claw weapons, forceful palm strikes, and Gu-assisted attacks 38 39.

• Blocked Yulan’s flexible sword with one claw while attacking her abdomen with the other 38.
• Used palm force to knock her more than ten paces away 38.
• Combined the Iron Head Technique with a shelled Gu to overpower her sword defense 39.

Supporting Gu

• His ordinary Gu depended on his active control: when Soul Capture stunned him, they also stopped responding 39.
• Soul Capture immobilized him for only half a second, but that opening was enough for Yulan to attack 39.

Regeneration and Bodily Possession

The Eight-Tailed Earthworm restored movement after Lu Yan’s heart was pierced by consuming the heart and occupying its place 40.

• Closed the sword wound and increased his physical power 40.
• Allowed his body to continue attacking after he had surrendered conscious control 41.
• Reduced his judgment enough that he failed to respond to Gu tearing a large hole in his back 42.
• Used his remaining Gu Essence to detonate his corpse after leaving it 42.

Yellow Springs Water

The earthworm produced a highly corrosive liquid through Lu Yan’s body 41.

• Burned Jiang Yiming’s palms and corroded Red Tail and Ghost Face on contact.
• Coated exposed flesh, dripped through floor tiles, and could be spat as a projectile.
• Did not dissolve attacking Gu instantly, allowing Jiang to exploit brief contact windows and wage a battle of attrition 41 42.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Black iron claws — A pair of weapons concealed in his sleeves that fitted over his palms 38.
• Mask and black robes — Concealed his identity and altered appearance 35 38.
• Sought-after auction item — Tu Ming promised him an object bought for 2.5 million yuan. Jiang later suspected that a recovered black rune stone was that item; it was subsequently found to contain a brief-use invisibility talisman 37 43 45.

Relationships

• Lu Li — Chief of Lu Family Village; issued the notice declaring Lu Yan an Evil Gu Master and offering a reward for his death 38.
• Tu Ming — Transactional associate who promised an auctioned item in exchange for Lu Yan bringing him Yulan 37.
• Yulan — Accepted the commission to eliminate him. Her successful mission later earned her a magic treasure 38 50.
• Jiang Yiming — Intervened to help Yulan and devised the attrition strategy that forced the earthworm out of Lu Yan’s body 38 42.
• Eight-Tailed Earthworm — The evil Gu responsible for his corruption; became the controller of his body and ultimately destroyed it to facilitate its own escape 40 41 42.

Notable Quotes

“You've said so much, but you need the strength to win in the end. All I have to do is kill you two right now, and all your schemes will vanish like smoke!” 38

“Lord Gu ate my heart and will grant me even greater power!” 40