Xu Yanwu

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xu Yanwu (许炎武)
Alias(es)	Xing Tian; Yinglong; Head of the War Gods; Old Xu; Brother Xu; OtherGod (cover identity) 16 123 378 622 806 995
Gender	Male; he also operates a female body known as Nu Ba 740 797
Age	Over 5,000 years old; his ordinary appearance has remained that of a man in his early twenties 318 469
Affiliation	St. Freya Academy; cooperates with Anti-Entropy and the Divine Land’s defenders 502 725 733
Occupation/Role	School nurse and teacher; guardian, combat instructor, and creator of External Martial Arts 502 710
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 7 7

Background

Xu Yanwu is an ancient being whose identity survived in both Divine Land myth and remnants of the Previous Era. He was known as the Head of the War Gods in the Previous Era, while later Divine Land traditions remembered him as both Xing Tian and Yinglong. Dr. MEI’s research concluded that the crystal vessel connected to the Head of the War Gods may have been created by the former Fourteenth Herrscher. 123 1114

In the ancient Divine Land, Xu Yanwu aided numerous tribes by teaching farming, construction, weapon forging, and herbal medicine. He trained Lianshan, supported the Xuanyuan Tribe, and fought Honkai Beasts alongside Ji Lin, Danzhu, Cang Xuan, and Chi Yuan. 33 405 726 856

Xu Yanwu fought in the original war against Chi You under both his Xing Tian and Yinglong identities. The conflict left him severely injured; his main body sealed Chi You while an illusion formed from the heart in which he had sealed most of his emotions delivered a farewell to his companions. He subsequently spent millennia recovering. 622 1029

After awakening in the present era, Xu Yanwu initially lacked his original body and improvised an energy construct around his head. He later became involved with St. Freya Academy, where he served as a school nurse and gradually took on a protective, instructional role toward its Valkyries. 9 502

Appearance

Xu Yanwu normally presents as a tall, black-haired man who insists that he still looks young despite being repeatedly called an “uncle” or an old man. His physical form is highly mutable, ranging from energy bodies to massive combat avatars. 469 503

• His early temporary body was a round, blue-crystal energy construct with a disproportionately small head. 9
• His Xing Tian form is a headless giant in rough armor armed with a great axe and shield. 613 614
• He can shift from an apparently slender build into a heavily muscular combat physique. 979
• His female body, Nu Ba, contains a Herrscher-like Honkai Energy core and can be equipped with adaptive Soul Steel armor. 740 798
• He uses disguises and altered appearances when operating covertly, including a white-haired identity used to evade surveillance. 985 991

Personality

Xu Yanwu is outwardly playful, dramatic, and easily embarrassed. He enjoys acting imposing, creating alternate identities, competing at games, and complaining whenever others call him old. His attempts to appear intimidating often collapse into awkward comedy. 153 378 469 955

Despite this unserious surface, he is intensely protective of people he considers family or students. He intervenes for Kiana, Bronya, An, Yae Sakura, Huo An Ran, and other vulnerable people even when doing so complicates his own plans. 157 776 937 1079 1153

Xu Yanwu bears deep guilt over the first Chi You disaster and initially believes he must face Chi You alone to prevent his companions from being harmed again. Fu Hua, Danzhu, and Cang Xuan challenge this self-isolation, eventually persuading him to accept help rather than repeat the past. 792 824 825

He is also unusually introspective for someone so powerful. He questions the nature of good and evil, reflects on the burden of immortality, and recognizes that his persistence can place pressure on both himself and the people around him. 674 1092 1110

Abilities & Skills

Wish Fulfillment and Rule Manipulation

Xu Yanwu possesses an ability called Wish Fulfillment, allowing him to reshape available matter with energy drawn from the surroundings. Dr. MEI’s records further describe his power as a “key” capable of communicating with the world’s rules. 10 123

• Can reshape stone into tables, chairs, plates, and other simple objects. 10
• Can alter elements in succession, changing flame into water, plasma, a seed, earth, and back into flame. 123
• Can produce temporary weapons and constructs during battle. 761 864
• His early use of this power was crude and instinctive rather than fully understood. 123

Energy Physiology and Transformations

Xu Yanwu can form, alter, and enlarge bodies made from energy. His original body, alternate bodies, and avatars can function separately while remaining connected to his consciousness. 9 157 402

• Created an energy body after being separated from his own body. 9
• Transforms into Xing Tian, a giant form wielding the Gan Qi axe and shield. 613 614
• Can manifest an Yinglong avatar and wield the Dragon Spear. 402 806
• Possesses a female body with a high-adaptability Honkai Energy core. 740
• Can amplify his physique enough to physically restrain or overpower Chi You. 402 886

Soul and Consciousness Manipulation

While in soul form, Xu Yanwu developed extensive knowledge of souls through his connection to Yae Rin, Kallen, and Cecilia. 157

• Maintains multiple synchronized instances of himself across different locations and bodies. 157 776
• Planned to retrieve Kiana’s lost soul and merge it with K423’s soul, aided by the portion of his own soul within K423. 157
• Sealed most of his emotions into his heart, which could project an independent illusion of himself. 36 1029
• Can forcibly draw Herrscher Mei out of Mei’s consciousness. 457
• Can create virtual versions of himself within Saint Mark Space. 1164

Spatial, Illusion, and Stealth Techniques

Xu Yanwu can access and manipulate Imaginary Space, create isolated battlefields, and use illusions to evade detection. 683 985

• Created an Imaginary Space arena so he and Fu Hua could fight without endangering the training ground. 682 683
• Concealed his presence and left an illusionary double to distract surveillance personnel. 985
• Entered and controlled portions of Saint Mark Space while contesting Higu Maru’s authority. 1164

Combat Skill

Xu Yanwu’s close-quarters style was forged through repeated battles against Honkai Beasts and Chi You. It emphasizes using every part of the body as a weapon and overwhelming inhuman opponents with direct physical force. 679 680

• Can fight powerful enemies with bare hands, greatswords, axes, spears, sabers, firearms, and other weapons. 306 535 681
• Uses an aggressive, beast-like fighting style designed for enormous Honkai Beasts rather than ordinary human opponents. 679 680
• Developed advanced long-saber techniques through training and teaching Yae. 682
• Can spar evenly with Fu Hua after healing her injuries and equalizing their physical condition. 679 686
• Has enough combat experience to identify the difference between sparring swordsmanship and techniques intended to kill. 1153

External Martial Arts

Xu Yanwu created External Martial Arts to complement Divine Land’s Internal Energy Cultivation. It uses Honkai Energy to strengthen the body externally, improving endurance, resilience, recovery, and resistance to Honkai Energy. 708 710 712

• Treats physical conditioning as a combat discipline rather than ordinary exercise. 709
• Designed the system after Lianshan’s combination of physical training and internal Qi cultivation. 711
• Healed existing injuries before training students in the new system. 710
• Trained the Jiang Family patriarch and other Divine Land warriors through intense recovery and Honkai Energy exercises. 718
• Intended the system to address the poor endurance of fighters such as Ying Yingying. 709

Equipment

• Gan Qi — An axe-and-shield weapon associated with Xing Tian. Its weapon spirit recognizes Xu Yanwu as its old master’s friend and refused to attack him. 153 402
• Dragon Spear — Yinglong’s spear, used in the original Chi You war; later entrusted to Ying Yingying. 402 761
• Greatsword of Heavenly Fire — A greatsword used to freeze Xing Yaxiao’s axe during their confrontation. 153
• Jade Ring — Xu Yanwu’s sealed heart; it retained a heartbeat-like vibration and later triggered Fu Hua’s memories. 36 1028
• Soul Steel battle suit — Nu Ba’s adaptive armor, powered by her internal core and designed for long-range firepower and support; its theoretical output can reach battleship-main-cannon levels after sufficient preparation. 798
• Soul Steel long saber — A heavy saber used against the Armed Puppet and the Second Divine Key. 1316
• Rib-forged sword — A sword Xu Yanwu created from one of his ribs to support Yae Sakura’s recovery during her seal. 318

Relationships

• Fu Hua / Chi Yuan — Ancient comrade and frequent sparring partner. Fu Hua challenges Xu Yanwu’s habit of carrying every burden alone and presses him to accept help. 679 792 825
• Lianshan (Yan Emperor Jiang Zhu) — Xu Yanwu’s closest ancient friend and sworn “little brother.” Xu Yanwu trained him from a weak youth into a warrior, and their reunion after Lianshan’s survival deeply moves him. 36 652 858 859
• Ji Lin — A former friend and ally from the Chi You war. Xu Yanwu helped train her and continues seeking a way to restore her after her corruption and pursuit of revenge. 844 856 859
• Danzhu and Cang Xuan — Longtime companions who helped shape Xu Yanwu’s early forms and weapons. They later help him confront his guilt and accept their support against Chi You. 13 614 825
• Kiana Kaslana — Calls him “Uncle Xu.” Xu Yanwu considers her family and declares that he will protect her regardless of what others intend for her. 457 937
• Bronya Zaychik — One of the girls Xu Yanwu calls his niece. He mentors her, monitors her safety, and offers to intervene when Yae Sakura’s swordsmanship threatens her. 457 1153
• Yae Sakura — His swordsmanship student. Xu Yanwu gave her a rib-forged sword and treats her safety and growth as personal responsibilities. 318 682 1153
• Welt Yang — A respected ally with whom Xu Yanwu has repeatedly negotiated, offered medical aid, and shared responsibility for St. Freya’s residents. 108 502 733 942
• Xing Yaxiao — The sole present-day warrior Xu Yanwu recognizes from Xing Tian’s weapon inheritance. He asks her to call him “Master.” 458 622
• Huo An Ran — Someone Xu Yanwu cares for deeply during her medical treatment; he does not want her drawn into the dangers surrounding his future and past. 1079 1082
• Chi You — Xu Yanwu’s oldest and most destructive enemy. Their history drives much of his guilt, his training, and his refusal to abandon the Divine Land. 622 792 886
• Otto Apocalypse — A wary collaborator. Xu Yanwu cooperates with Otto when necessary but makes clear that he will stop any action that endangers humanity’s ability to fight the Honkai. 1085 1113

Story Role

Ancient Divine Land

• Assisted scattered tribes and helped establish the foundations of civilization through practical knowledge and military protection. 33
• Became part of the Xuanyuan Tribe after Ji Xuanyuan had repelled Chi You’s first invasion. 726
• Fought Chi You as both Xing Tian and Yinglong, ultimately sustaining grave injuries while sealing the threat. 622 1029

Modern Era and St. Freya

• Awakened without his original body, relying on unstable energy constructs and later multiple alternate forms. 9 157
• Chose not to harm Sirin despite her danger to humanity, believing he understood her hatred and grief. 108
• Joined St. Freya as a school nurse and became a protector, instructor, and unofficial guardian for its students. 502 944
• Created carnival events, repaired facilities, and helped establish a more stable daily life for Hyperion’s Valkyries. 469 470

Return of Chi You

• Led the modern response to Chi You’s reappearance, briefing Destiny, Anti-Entropy, and Divine Land representatives on the ancient threat. 725 726 733
• Initially intended to confront Chi You alone because of the losses suffered in the first war. 792
• Accepted assistance from Danzhu, Cang Xuan, Fu Hua, Lianshan, Durandal, and his female body, allowing the group to subdue Chi You through coordinated attacks. 825 886
• Reunited with Lianshan and renewed efforts to reach Ji Lin rather than merely defeat her. 858 859

Saint Mark Space and Memories

• Created a separate Saint Mark Space containing a virtual version of himself, using it to confront resentment connected to Yae Village without allowing that hatred to control his main self. 1164
• Faced different versions of himself, each carrying shared memories but different emotional choices and convictions. 1248
• Re-experienced memories of his younger self and gradually accepted that the person who once rejected sacrifice could still become someone who protects others. 1061 1066 1083

Notable Quotes

“I’m not the type to give up so easily, and besides... this feeling of starting from scratch is quite nice.” 963

“I am not God.” 1085

“No matter what others want to do, I will definitely protect her.” 937

Trivia

• Xu Yanwu writes and produces The Legend of Yan Emperor, using it to preserve and dramatize ancient Divine Land history. 625 792
• He is highly competitive in video games and once challenged Danzhu to a fighting-game race back to the shrine. 955
• He becomes unusually upset when people call him old, despite openly admitting to having lived for millennia. 469 991
• He once lost his game console, save files, computer, and manuscript drafts when Anti-Entropy mechas burned down his residence. 942
• Danzhu has repeatedly criticized his fashion sense and helped select more presentable clothing. 953