Gu Youwei

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Gu Youwei (顾幼薇)
Alias(es)	Empress (past life) 10 34
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Cangshan Sword Sect disciple (former) 10 91
Occupation/Role	Reincarnated cultivator; former Empress
Status	Alive 251
First Appearance	Chapter 4 4

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Body Tempering Realm, Sixth Level	15	Reportedly reached within three days and recovered from severe injuries in less than a day after consuming medicinal dregs. 15
Body Tempering Realm, Tenth Level	7	Recovered from Gu Chen's devastating strike and reached the realm's tenth level within several days. 4 7
Innate Realm	28	Cultivated at a powerful spiritual-energy source while evading Cangshan Sword Sect; intended to continue into the Profound Gang Realm. 27 28
Body Tempering Realm, Third Level	37	Her cultivation fell sharply after using Chiling against Cangshan Sword Sect. 37
Innate Realm, Ninth Level	37	Recovered to the ninth level after cultivating through the morning, but could not break through to the Profound Gang Realm. 37
Innate Realm, stabilized	48	Her cultivation stabilized after several days of training; she relied on Chiling to offset the gap against Gu Chen. 48

Background & History

Gu Youwei was an Empress in her previous life and retained those memories after rebirth. She initially believed that Gu Chen had stolen the Heavenly Dao Bone that belonged to her, fueling her hatred and her determination to surpass and kill him. She had also participated with Wei Qingyu in the plan to kill Gu Chen in their previous life. 28 40 91

She was taken in by Gu Zhengchun and Liu Caiyun, whom she regarded as loving parents. They instead presented her to Cangshan Sword Sect Master He Changsong as payment for preferential treatment toward Gu Feng; Gu Zhengchun explicitly stated that she was not his biological daughter. 10

At Cangshan Sword Sect, He Changsong confined and monitored her behind a barrier, intending to exploit her. Gu Youwei discovered the barrier's core beneath her bathtub, broke it, and fled after learning from Gu Feng that her placement in the sect had been a scheme. 13 22 27 30

While escaping, she reached Xuanjian Pond and resonated with the sealed Divine Sword Chiling—the weapon she had wielded as an Empress. Chiling recognized her as its master and ignored the sect's seal, allowing Gu Youwei to fight back against He Changsong and the sect. 30 34

Gu Youwei killed He Changsong, wiped out Cangshan Sword Sect, then returned to confront Gu Zhengchun and Liu Caiyun. After confirming their betrayal, she killed both of them but allowed the Gu Family's surviving servants to flee. 38 39 91

Appearance

Gu Youwei is described as exquisitely featured, with a delicate face. When wielding Chiling, she is surrounded by a crimson, berserk killing aura that can terrify or overwhelm nearby cultivators. 16 29 34

• Carries the red-glowing Divine Sword Chiling. 30 80
• Her gaze becomes notably cold and hostile when confronting betrayers or threats to Gu Chen. 31 34
• Her weakened condition is frequently visible after overusing Chiling, including coughing blood and sustaining severe internal injuries. 81 106

Personality

Gu Youwei began her second life desperate for parental affection and convinced that Gu Chen was the source of her suffering. Her trust in Gu Zhengchun, Liu Caiyun, and He Changsong made their betrayal especially devastating; afterward, she became intensely hostile toward betrayal and willing to kill those she considers threats. 7 13 39

Her view of Gu Chen changed after an old physician could not detect a Heavenly Dao Bone within her. She concluded that the bone had always belonged to Gu Chen, rather than having been stolen from her, and began seeking forgiveness and trying to protect him despite his refusal to accept her efforts. 56 57 90

She is fiercely protective once she accepts someone as an ally. This extends beyond Gu Chen: on Nether Spirit Island, she shielded Jiang Mengxi from the Five Poisons Tower despite acknowledging that she had no obligation to risk herself for her. 194

Abilities & Skills

Divine Sword Chiling

Chiling is an ancient Divine Sword that recognizes Gu Youwei as its sole qualified master due to their innate resonance from her past life. It can break free of seals, emit devastating crimson sword energy, and drastically elevate her combat ability. 34

• Summons Chiling from a sealed stone prison through her command. 34
• Releases crimson sword energy capable of cutting through structures and killing Cangshan Sword Sect disciples. 34 106
• Enabled her to slaughter Thunderclap Hall and kill its master, Wang Xingbang. 80 81
• Its use inflicts severe backlash when Gu Youwei lacks Empress-level cultivation, draining her Internal Energy and damaging her body. 37 81 105 106
• Can assist her recovery by restoring damaged vital energy and improving her resilience. 75 113 251

Swordsmanship and Internal Energy

Gu Youwei is a capable sword fighter even when unable to control Chiling, using ordinary swords and Internal Energy in direct combat. 120 147

• Broke Du Mingyang's Internal Energy barrier and wounded his face during their confrontation on Nether Spirit Island. 194
• Fought in the Martial Arts Tournament specifically to probe Han Wusheng's techniques for Gu Chen. 247
• Was unable to resist Han Wusheng's immobilizing technique and was defeated by a single punch. 247 248

Recovery and Cultivation Aptitude

Gu Youwei possesses extraordinary recovery speed and cultivation talent, though she mistakenly attributed part of her potential to a Heavenly Dao Bone that was not actually in her body. 6 7 56 57

• Recovered from broken ribs and internal-organ damage shortly after Gu Chen's attack. 4 6
• Her meridians recover rapidly through the special spiritual energy associated with Chiling. 56 75
• Retains cultivation knowledge from her former life as an Empress. 10 24

Equipment

• Divine Sword Chiling — Ancient Divine Sword and Gu Youwei's bonded weapon; enormously powerful but dangerous to use below Empress-level cultivation. 34 105 106
• Ordinary longsword — Used defensively when her injuries prevent her from controlling Chiling. 120
• Sandalwood box of Spiritual Medicine — Obtained after Thunderclap Hall's destruction; initially intended for Gu Chen, then consumed to recover enough strength to protect him. 82 90 91

Relationships

• Gu Chen — Her biological brother. She initially hated him, attempted to kill him, and believed he had taken her Heavenly Dao Bone; after learning this belief was false, she sought to apologize and repeatedly risked herself to protect him. 49 57 90 105
• Gu Zhengchun and Liu Caiyun — Her adoptive parents. They sold her to He Changsong for Gu Feng's benefit; Gu Youwei killed them after discovering their betrayal. 10 38 39
• He Changsong — Former master and captor at Cangshan Sword Sect. He confined Gu Youwei and intended to exploit her; she killed him after obtaining Chiling. 13 22 34 38
• Gu Feng — Gu Family son who pursued her on He Changsong's behalf and revealed the truth about her being sent to the sect as a gift. 29 30 38
• Wei Qingyu — Gu Chen's former fiancée and Gu Youwei's past-life sister-in-law. They once helped plot against Gu Chen, but now cooperate to protect and assist him. 91 113 173
• Jiang Mengxi — Gu Chen's companion. Gu Youwei defended her against Du Mingyang and the Five Poisons Tower on Nether Spirit Island. 194
• Han Wusheng — Martial Arts Tournament opponent whose sealing technique immobilized Gu Youwei before he defeated her. 247 248

Story Role / Major Arcs

Cangshan Sword Sect

Gu Youwei's placement in Cangshan Sword Sect exposes the Gu Family's betrayal and places her under He Changsong's captivity. Her escape leads her to Chiling, which transforms her from a trapped disciple into the force responsible for Cangshan Sword Sect's destruction. 10 27 34 91

Immortal County

After arriving in Immortal County to kill Gu Chen, she is severely injured by him and learns from an old physician that she does not possess the Heavenly Dao Bone. This revelation shifts her from revenge to atonement: she attempts to give Gu Chen Spiritual Medicine, eliminates Thunderclap Hall to protect him, and later attacks Long Lingxiao when he threatens him. 48 56 57 80 90 106

Lingyin Province and Nether Spirit Island

Gu Youwei joins Wei Qingyu in pursuing the Martial Arts Tournament so they can scout dangers and assist Gu Chen. On Nether Spirit Island, she protects Jiang Mengxi from the Five Poisons Tower, only to be incapacitated by Du Mingyang's poisonous mist and captured as bait for the Bone-Corroding Beast. 173 184 194 195

Martial Arts Tournament

Gu Youwei enters the third round against Han Wusheng intending to expose his abilities for Gu Chen's benefit. Han immobilizes her with an unknown sealing technique, then defeats her with one punch; after Chiling restores her fatal injuries, she warns Wei Qingyu that Gu Chen may have fallen for the same technique. 247 248 251

Notable Quotes

“I, Gu Youwei, hate betrayal the most.” 39

“He Changsong must die, and you must die. Gu Chen, even more so, must die!” 39