Gu Ci

Biodata

Power Progression

Background and History

Gu Ci was a celebrated Gold Medal Instructor at Jiangnan No. 1 High School. His former disciples became rising figures in the Federation military or renowned Garrison Envoys. After a devastating upheaval ten years before Chen Fan’s training, he vowed never to take another disciple and withdrew from public life 43.

His first disciple, Lin An, died after being ambushed on a Starry Sky Frontline mission. Gu Ci believed Yang Feng and Xiao Beixuan had leaked Lin An’s location to the alien race, but his ten-year investigation produced no direct evidence 57 134.

Appearance

Gu Ci is a middle-aged man with an initially unremarkable appearance and a lean build 43 135.

• Clothing: Usually wears gray clothes or robes faded by washing; he is later seen in white robes 43 55 265.
• Eyes and hair: Messy hair and deep, lifeless-looking eyes 43.
• Voice: Characteristically hoarse and cold 44 45.
• Presence: Can become so difficult to sense that Chen Fan’s spiritual sense fails to detect him 45.

Personality

Gu Ci is severe, direct, and willing to put students through dangerous training. He values perseverance and a strong foundation over rapid advancement, arguing that a genius needs real combat rather than protection from risk 45 46 49.

Lin An’s death left him withdrawn and reluctant to teach, but Chen Fan’s determination revived both his ambition and his fear of losing another disciple. Although he supports Chen Fan’s dangerous choices, he warns him about their consequences and repeatedly acts to protect him 44 57 142 178.

His reserved manner can give way to arrogance, sharp humor, or open hostility. He trades insults with Tuoba Xiong, provokes rival instructors, and is prepared to confront powerful enemies over his students 91 124 134.

Abilities & Skills

Golden Body Combat

A veteran of the Federation’s front lines, Gu Ci fights with a dark-gold, scarlet-streaked aura and a ruthless style 135.

• Suppressed three Golden Body Realm assassins at once, aiming for vital points and trading injuries with them 135.
• Fought a Three-Eyed Demon Race Golden Body protector in the void, later attacking him with golden lightning 189 195.

Ice and Snow Domain

Gu Ci can create a domain filled with snowflakes that carry freezing power 243.

• Slowed attacks from dozens of alien Golden Body experts, though their combined power nearly shattered the domain 243.
• Used it to shield Chen Fan during his Golden Body breakthrough 244.

Sword Intent

Gu Ci possesses sharp protective Sword Intent 265 267.

• Used it to maintain a calm area around himself and Chen Fan under the pressure of visiting academy representatives 265.
• His protection was shattered by Chen Fan’s aura after Chen Fan reached Golden Body perfection 267.

Concealment and Perception

Gu Ci can suppress his presence to an extraordinary degree and examine another martial artist’s internal condition 44 45 97.

• Observed the movement of Chen Fan’s Qi and Blood from dozens of meters away 44.
• Probed Chen Fan’s body with a cautious stream of energy and identified his white jade bones as an acquired constitution mutation 97.

Martial Arts Instruction

Gu Ci emphasizes foundation-building, combat experience, and techniques suited to the individual student 46 48 139.

• Used gravity training to compress and purify Chen Fan’s Qi and Blood before allowing him to focus on increasing its quantity 45 47.
• Explained the dangers and potential rewards of the Invincible Path, then directed Chen Fan to challenge leading prodigies across Blue Star 72 73.
• Arranged for Chen Fan to enter the Myriad Laws Source Realm and develop his own cultivation chapters, judging ordinary techniques unsuitable for his foundation 139 141.

Relationships

• Chen Fan — Gu Ci’s disciple. His resolve persuaded Gu Ci to teach again; the two later pledged to face the Xiao and Yang Families together 45 57 134.
• Lin An — Gu Ci’s first disciple, an orphan he raised like a son. His death left Gu Ci grieving and suspicious of Yang Feng and Xiao Beixuan 57 134.
• The Old Principal — Asked Gu Ci to come out of seclusion and teach Chen Fan 43 44.
• Tuoba Xiong — A rival instructor who tried to recruit Chen Fan. He and Gu Ci clashed, exchanged insults, and argued over the drained Barbarian Blood Pool 91 97.
• Yang Feng and Xiao Beixuan — Gu Ci believed they arranged Lin An’s death, though he found no direct proof 134.
• The White Emperor — Restored Gu Ci’s body and Golden Body origin through his token after Gu Ci was gravely injured 178.
• Shen Xuan, Su Qingyue, and Tuo Bashan — Trainees who accompanied Chen Fan and Gu Ci to the Blue Star Training Camp 101 107.

Story Role and Major Arcs

Chen Fan’s Training

After observing Chen Fan create the Five Elements Stars Transformation, Gu Ci offered to teach him. He began with weighted gravity training, then took him to an underground boxing arena to help him break through the mortal Qi and Blood limit 44 45 48.

When Chen Fan reached the usual limit of 110 calories and sought to go further, Gu Ci warned that forcing his qi sea to expand could cripple him. He ultimately agreed to support him and secured a place in the Tiannan Junior High Exchange Tournament, whose first-place reward included the Crimson Flame Earthheart Lotus 57 58 62.

The Invincible Path and Blue Star Training Camp

Gu Ci sent Chen Fan to challenge the leading prodigies of Blue Star’s regions, starting with Shen Xuan in Jiangbei. He also sought resources for his student, including access to Jiangxi’s Barbarian Blood Pool 73 78 91.

At the Blue Star Training Camp, Gu Ci obtained an appointment as special chief instructor with authority equal to Zhao Xin’s. He secured privileged accommodations for Chen Fan and his companions and challenged them to reach the camp’s top four within three months 107 113.

Greedy Wolf Star and the Xiao–Yang Conflict

At the exchange tournament on Greedy Wolf Star, Gu Ci singled out Xiao Nanfeng as a target. After Chen Fan killed Xiao Nanfeng, Gu Ci argued that his student had acted in self-defense; the Federation Envoy agreed after reviewing the evidence 124 131.

Gu Ci then disclosed his suspicions about Lin An’s death. When three Xiao Family assassins attacked their ship, he ordered Chen Fan to stay aboard and confronted them in space 134 135.

Myriad Laws Source Realm

Gu Ci arranged Chen Fan’s entry into the Myriad Laws Source Realm, warning that no rescue would be available inside. After Gu Ci was gravely injured in a later confrontation, the White Emperor restored him. Gu Ci subsequently accepted Chen Fan’s decision to face the realm’s alien prodigies and prepared frontline intelligence for him 141 175 176 178 182.

When alien Golden Body experts attacked Chen Fan and other captives, Gu Ci shielded them and opened a spatial passage. Chen Fan broke out of the barrier to fight, and Gu Ci helped defend him while he completed his Golden Body breakthrough 243 244.

Notable Quotes

“Uncut jade must be honed to an edge with blood.” 49

“Since you want to walk this path, I... will walk it with you!” 57

“Your path is yours to walk. As your teacher... I’ll just be the one who hands you the knife.” 178