Gu He

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Gu He (古河)
Alias(es)	Dan Emperor; Dan King
Species/Race	Human; transmigrator from Earth inhabiting Gu He's body
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Misty Cloud Sect (Honorary Elder); Jia Nan Academy (Elder)
Occupation/Role	Alchemist; sect leader; master of multiple disciples
First Appearance	1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Three-star Dou Wang	2	His cultivation upon awakening the Disciple System.
Four-star Dou Wang	4	Advanced by extracting nineteen years of cultivation.
Five-star Dou Wang	4	Continued refining the extracted cultivation.
Six-star Dou Wang	4	Continued breakthrough in the alchemy room.
Seven-star Dou Wang	4	Continued breakthrough in the alchemy room.
Eight-star Dou Wang	4	Reached after absorbing the nineteen years of cultivation.
Nine-star Dou Wang	13	His cultivation before seeking a Dou Emperor breakthrough.
Dou Emperor	17	Refined an energy sphere equivalent to five years of nine-star Dou Wang cultivation over ten days.
Two-star Dou Emperor	39	Reached through system-assisted cultivation fusion.
Three-star Dou Emperor	39	Advanced an hour after reaching two-star.
Four-star Dou Emperor	39	Reached after roughly three hours of refinement.
Five-star Dou Huang	56	Began refining twenty years of cultivation.
Six-star Dou Huang	56	Continued rapid advancement.
Seven-star Dou Huang	56	Continued rapid advancement.
Peak Eight-star Dou Huang	56	Tempered his body and unstable Dou Qi afterward with the Divine Fire Body Tempering Chapter.
Peak Nine-star Dou Huang	75	Used the Imperial Pill and seven days of cultivation; became one step from Dou Zong.
Two-star Dou Zong	90 94	Refined twenty-seven years of nine-star Dou Huang cultivation in an energy pool.
Three-star Dou Zong	105	Advanced after refining a Dou Zong Pill and continuing to absorb ambient energy.
Five-star Dou Zong	145	Refined fifteen years of cultivation after strengthening his body with Marrow Cleansing Body Tempering Fluid.
Peak Nine-star Dou Zong	178	Reached after two months of continued growth and resource accumulation.
Dou Zun	232	Broke through after consuming a Pill to Break Dou Zun and cultivating in seclusion for ten days.
Peak Five-star Dou Zun	305	Reached before returning from seclusion and teaching Han Yue.
Six-star Dou Zun	414	Broke through after refining returned cultivation.
Seven-star Dou Zun	414	Continued refining the same returned cultivation.
Peak High-level Half-Saint	524	Reached after absorbing cultivation returned by Qing Lin and Liu Ling; stood one step from One-star Battle Saint.
One-star Battle Saint	550	Could contend with the physically powerful South Dragon King despite the latter's late Three-star Battle Saint cultivation.
Mid Two-star Battle Saint	558	Achieved by refining thirty years of cultivation returned after empowering Cai Lin.
Peak Two-star Battle Saint	656	Approached the limit of the realm while refining forty-nine years of returned cultivation.

Background / History

Gu He was originally a renowned Jia Ma Empire alchemist who won the Alchemist Competition at a young age, became an Honorary Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, and reached the Sixth-Grade Alchemist realm by age thirty. His cultivation had reached the Dou Wang realm, earning him the title of Dan Emperor Gu He. 1

A reader from Earth transmigrated into Gu He's body and inherited his memories. Aware of Gu He's original fate, he resolved to alter it after awakening the Ten Thousandfold Return for Disciple System, which rewards him for bestowing techniques, treasures, insights, and cultivation upon disciples. 1

His initial system rewards included Anointment, Immortal-like Demeanor, the Seven Orifice Exquisite Pill Heart, Void Projection, and a temporary Nine-star Battle Saint Trial Card. The Pill Heart removed future alchemy bottlenecks, while Void Projection gave him a means to send an equal-strength projection to a disciple carrying one of his Void Jade Talismans. 2

Gu He shifted his priorities from personal alchemy alone to producing disciples capable in both cultivation and pill refinement. He deliberately sought talented disciples, trained them through resources and combat experience, and used their advancement to fuel his own cultivation through the system's returns. 33

Seeking greater access to spirit medicines, Gu He joined Jia Nan Academy as an elder. His Sixth-Grade pill refinement and exceptional speed earned the confidence of Grand Elder Su Qian, who granted him unrestricted access to the academy's medicinal-ingredient vaults. 238 240

Appearance

After receiving Immortal-like Demeanor, Gu He's already handsome appearance became more refined and his physique more proportionate. He is commonly seen in white robes and carries an ethereal, scholarly bearing. 1 17

• Tall and well-proportioned, with a jade-like complexion. 1
• Possesses a detached, immortal-like aura that makes even familiar disciples notice his changed presence. 2
• Has long hair reaching his waist during his Dou Emperor breakthrough. 17
• Often appears in clean white robes, especially when projecting himself or confronting enemies. 304 581

Personality

Gu He is calm, deliberate, and highly ambitious. He treats cultivation as both a personal pursuit and a long-term strategy: he selects gifted disciples, provides them with exceptional resources, and uses their growth to strengthen himself. 1 33

He is attentive and protective toward his disciples, frequently arriving through projections or spatial movement when they face danger. He gives them meaningful choices, rewards their progress, and expects them to become self-sufficient rather than remaining dependent on his protection. 2 106 437

His kindness is selective. Gu He can be generous to allies, civilians, and disciples, but he is ruthless toward hostile forces—particularly Soul Hall members—and is willing to deceive, infiltrate, kill, or seize resources when it serves his plans. 112 173 677 702

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Gu He began as a Sixth-Grade Alchemist and later became a Seventh-Grade Alchemist. The Seven Orifice Exquisite Pill Heart grants him extraordinary alchemical potential and removes future bottlenecks. 2 178

• Refined a Sixth-Grade Pill with a 100% success rate in less than half a day. 240
• Refined the Azure Nether Longevity Pill for Mittel Tengshan. 84
• Refined the Po E Pill that restored Hai Bodong's sealed cultivation. 131
• Successfully refined an Eighth-Grade Tianxuan Guyuan Pill while intercepting its Five-Colored Pill Lightning. 490
• Possesses the inheritance and lifetime alchemical insights of a Ninth-Grade Alchemist. 15

Disciple System and Anointment

The Ten Thousandfold Return for Disciple System rewards Gu He when he teaches, gifts, or empowers recognized disciples. Anointment allows him to directly impart cultivation techniques, Dou Techniques, secret arts, cultivation insights, and Dou Qi. 1

• Transfers cultivation directly into disciples to accelerate their breakthroughs. 3 340 437
• Receives superior returns after bestowing techniques or treasures. 37 81
• Uses disciple growth as a major source of his own returned cultivation. 524
• Requires genuine master-disciple relationships; he avoids coercing disciples because the system may not recognize an unwilling bond. 113

Destiny Divine Flame and Divine Fire Art

Gu He cultivates the Divine Fire Art, a Heaven-tier technique suited to devouring and refining Heavenly Flames. Its Divine Flame Body Tempering Chapter strengthens both his body and Dou Qi. 32 75

• Uses Destiny Divine Flame to refine violent cultivation energy and stabilize rapid advances. 39 75
• Can burn souls directly; Wu Protector's soul was nearly destroyed by the flame. 172
• Devoured and refined the Undying Fire despite its attempt to consume him. 145
• Used Origin Divine Fire to annihilate attacking Snake People. 112
• His high-grade cultivation method gives his Dou Qi exceptional density, enabling him to contest opponents above his realm. 550

Soul Techniques

Gu He possesses powerful soul cultivation and several soul secret arts, later reaching the Spirit Realm and eventually Great Perfection Heavenly Realm in soul power. 178 702 713

• Soul Restraint Art — can seize the soul body of anyone whose soul force is weaker than his; opponents of similar cultivation may also be vulnerable. 179
• Soul Fusion Art — enables infiltration and control strategies involving Soul Hall members. 4 677
• Soul Splitting Art — creates a Soul Avatar capable of operating separately from his main body. 225
• Soul Avatar — can be observed over great distances once Gu He's soul reaches the Spirit Realm. 4
• Absorbed Soul Origin from Soul Hall's Human Hall to elevate his Soul Realm. 702 713

Void Projection

Void Projection lets Gu He condense Void Jade Talismans from his blood essence. When a talisman is crushed, he projects himself to the user's location at his full strength for half an hour. 2

• Used projections to rescue Liu Ling from Queen Medusa. 304
• Appeared before Han Yue during conflicts with the Wind Thunder Pavilion and magical beasts. 428 437
• Responded to Zi Yan's summons on Ancient Dragon Island. 581
• A projection cannot persist indefinitely and lasts only half an hour. 2

Movement and Spatial Techniques

Gu He has mastered several high-level movement techniques and can traverse space with exceptional speed.

• Within Reach, Yet Worlds Apart — an Earth-tier advanced movement technique anchored through soul power; enables near-teleportation but rapidly consumes Dou Qi over long distances. 81 882
• Void Thunder God Flash — a Heaven-tier low-grade movement technique that permits void traversal and transformation into numerous lightning bolts; as long as one bolt remains, Gu He can reconstruct his body. 305 306
• Three Thousand Lightning Illusory Body — an advanced lightning clone technique; Gu He condensed its first clone after two hours of study. 503

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Dragon Soul Cauldron — Gu He's principal alchemy cauldron, used in refining the Po E Pill and other high-grade medicines. 84 131
• Mysterious Ice Sacred Armor — Eighth-Grade demonic-core soft armor that can protect him from Dou Zong-level opponents and partially resist Dou Zun attacks. 98
• Battle Saint Cultivation Trial Card — a consumable trump card that grants Nine-star Battle Saint strength for half an hour. 2
• Void Jade Talismans — blood-essence talismans that trigger his Void Projection. 2
• Green Lotus Sacred Platform — a flying cultivation treasure that increases cultivation speed fifteenfold and can form a powerful defensive shield. 122
• Wind Chant — a sword embedded with a fifth-grade wind-attribute magical core that amplifies wind-attribute Dou Qi. 159
• Heavenly Demon Puppet — a puppet-refinement secret art requiring a body, soul, and demonic core. 225

Relationships

• Liu Ling — First disciple. Gu He trains him in alchemy, cultivation, soul techniques, and combat; Liu Ling later becomes a Fifth-Grade Alchemist and the leader of Stone Desert City's foremost mercenary group. 2 304
• Little Doctor Immortal (Xiao Yi Xian) — Disciple selected for her Calamity Poison Body. Gu He first approached her cautiously in Qingshan Town before accepting her as a disciple and accelerating her cultivation. 10 11 16
• Nalan Yanran — Disciple whom Gu He supports through pills, combat training, and direct aid to her family; he removed Nalan Jie's Scorched Poison at her request. 33 184
• Qing Lin — Disciple possessing the Jade Snake Three Flower Pupils. Gu He protected the Desert Iron Mercenary Group partly to approach her without frightening or coercing her. 112 113
• Zi Yan — Disciple and Dragon Emperor. She deeply respects Gu He, summons him in crises, and receives significant cultivation support from him. 5 581
• Han Yue — Disciple from the Han Family. Gu He helped her repeatedly break through, taught her Three Thousand Lightning techniques, and entrusted her with decisions concerning defeated enemies. 261 305 437 476
• Cai Lin / Queen Medusa — Initially an adversary over the Green Lotus Core Fire, later accepted Gu He as her master. He elevated her from Five-star Dou Zong to Peak Nine-star Dou Zong. 127 340
• Yun Yun — Gu He's wife. Their relationship develops through mutual affection and protection; Gu He gave her the Mysterious Ice Sacred Armor and Earth Fire Lotus Seeds. 161 501
• Hai Bodong — Old acquaintance and transactional ally. Gu He refined pills that restored Hai Bodong's strength, while Hai Bodong supplied maps, materials, and favors. 109 130 131
• Su Qian — Grand Elder of Jia Nan Academy. Su Qian recruited Gu He as an elder and rewarded his alchemy with access to the academy's medicinal vaults. 238 240

Story Role / Major Arcs

Awakening the Disciple System

After transmigrating into Gu He's body, he accepts the identity of Dan Emperor Gu He, obtains the Disciple System, and begins reshaping his predetermined future through discipleship and rapid cultivation. 1 2

Building a Disciple Lineage

Gu He takes in Liu Ling, Little Doctor Immortal, Nalan Yanran, Qing Lin, Zi Yan, Han Yue, and Cai Lin over the course of the story. He gives them techniques, cultivation, pills, spirit beasts, and missions intended to make them powerful independent figures. 3 25 134 261 340 476

Jia Nan Academy Elder

Seeking higher-grade medicinal resources, Gu He joins Jia Nan Academy. His alchemy earns him the academy's trust, while his interest in the Fallen Heart Flame and Soul Hall activity draws him into the Black Corner Region's conflicts. 238 240 246 247

Tagor Desert and the Snake People

Gu He travels to the Tagor Desert to find Qing Lin, Hai Bodong, the Green Lotus Core Fire, and the Netherworld Demonic Flame map fragments. His conflict with Queen Medusa ends with him securing the Heavenly Flame and eventually accepting her as a disciple. 106 112 127 129 130

Soul Hall Infiltration

Using Soul Avatars, Puppet Seeds, and Soul Fusion techniques, Gu He infiltrates Soul Hall operations. He captures and exploits Soul Hall Protectors, plans to seize their Soul Origin reserves, and ultimately destroys the Human Hall to strengthen his Soul Realm. 172 225 677 702

Central Continent and Ancient Dragon Clan

Gu He accompanies and protects Zi Yan during the conflict involving the Three Dragon Kings. His rising Battle Saint cultivation, spatial techniques, and Heavenly Flame arts establish him as a major force against the Ancient Dragon Clan's internal enemies and the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan. 549 550 558 570

Notable Quotes

“From now on, I am Dan Emperor Gu He.” 1

“Only by becoming powerful in their own right can they truly do as they please.” 33

“As long as any disciple under me makes a breakthrough in cultivation, your teacher will give another reward.” 5