Gu Yan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Gu Yan (顾砚)
Alias(es)	Third Herrscher; Herrscher of Possession; strongest Support-Attribute Ability User
Species/Race	Human transmigrator; Herrscher
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Huaguo Ability Department; Haishi Ability Bureau
Occupation/Role	S-Class Support-Attribute Ability User; combatant
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Third Herrscher Support System — 50% loaded; Physique 45	1	The system repairs his near-fatal injuries and identifies Plunder and Bestowal as his abilities.
Honkai Creature LV2	4	Acquired after Plunder activates, alongside Primary Healing and Tenacity.
System loading 60%; Physique 465; Honkai Creature LV13	16	The panel lists copied abilities including Ice Cones, Levitation, Mustard Seed Space, and multiple buffs/passives.
Honkai Creature LV27	20	Plundering Advanced Healing upgrades the passive and significantly improves his abilities and output.
S-Class Support-Attribute Ability User	34	His S-Class status is established; he later receives his S-Class ID. 34 38

Background

Gu Yan was a bookworm from another world who transmigrated into the body of an exchange student during the destruction of Jinshan City. Buried beneath several tons of rubble with a concussion and crushed legs, he bound the Third Herrscher Support System, which automatically reconstructed his body. He concluded that his memories had fused with those of the original Gu Yan, making the two effectively the same person. 1 3

The system initially identified him as the Third Herrscher and granted him immense physical strength, but Gu Yan concealed this fact by presenting himself as a Support-Attribute Ability User. He survived the initial Herrscher attack alongside Zhao Qi, then began copying powers from nearby Ability Users and Honkai creatures. 1 2 4

After fighting alongside Xu Muchi against Ji, Gu Yan disclosed a limited version of his copying ability to the Ability Department. Xu Muchi arranged for him to enter the organization under a B-Class certificate with A-Class potential, while privately expecting him to become the world's first S-Class support. Gu Yan chose to join despite preferring an easy life, receiving official authority to use his abilities in defense of the public. 11 14

Gu Yan's actual nature was eventually clarified: his apparent copying is an imitation of energy operation and flow through Honkai Energy—the authority of the Third Herrscher, the Herrscher of Possession. 14

Through an Insight Gem fragment, Gu Yan experienced the memories of Gu Ji, the Herrscher of Reason. He learned that his past self had been Gu Ji's younger brother and had fought and killed her while standing with humanity. Though he still considers the Herrscher an enemy of humanity, he carries guilt and sympathy for the abused girl Gu Ji once was. 34 35 36

Appearance

Gu Yan is described as exceptionally handsome, with a refined and elegant bearing that gives him the impression of a detached immortal. 4

• Tall and slender build. 4
• Cold, sharp eyes. 4
• His physique is powerful enough to crush a drink can into a marble-sized ball with a casual grip. 33
• Uses a long saber in serious swordsmanship matches. 40

Personality

Gu Yan is outwardly laid-back, sarcastic, and prone to complaining about work. He repeatedly calls himself a “support” and a reluctant combatant, framing official duties as oppression despite regularly placing himself in danger to protect others. 19 33

He is cautious and analytical, often hiding the full extent of his power to avoid attention or complications. His caution can turn into excessive suspicion, as when an unknown mental effect caused him to mistake Gu Li for an impostor. 11 17

Despite initially prioritizing his family over wider rescue operations, Gu Yan consistently acts to protect civilians, allies, and military personnel. He orders warships away from danger during the Kui Niu battle, worries about exposing others to risk, and patrols Haishi to prevent Honkai outbreaks near his home. 19 21 23 48

Abilities & Skills

Third Herrscher Authority

Gu Yan is the Third Herrscher, the Herrscher of Possession. His authority governs energy flow, allowing him to imitate and reproduce the operation of powers through Honkai Energy rather than being a conventional Ability User. 14

• His system identifies Plunder and Bestowal as his foundational abilities. 1
• His body produces and manipulates Honkai Energy, granting him abnormal physical strength and recovery. 1 20
• He has not formed a Herrscher Core, limiting how much of his energy output can be converted into direct combat strength. 20

Plunder

Plunder allows Gu Yan to obtain buffs, passive traits, skills, and copied abilities from targets. It has no stated cost or cooldown. 2

• Can obtain physical buffs such as Strength, Swiftness, Tenacity, Giant Strength, and Dragon Body. 2 4 16
• Has copied practical skills including medicine, reconnaissance, driving, and Ancient Martial Arts Mastery. 9
• Can acquire elemental and combat abilities, including Ice Cones, Fire Control, Water Control, Levitation, and Mustard Seed Space. 9 16
• He publicly claimed that copying required a target to use its ability within 20 meters; his actual range had expanded to approximately 400 meters. 11
• Plunder repeatedly failed to activate against Ji, the Herrscher of Reason. 9 11

Bestowal and Support Buffs

Gu Yan can apply copied characteristics and percentage-based enhancements to himself or others. His support drastically improves stronger allies because the boost remains proportional to the target's existing strength. 8 11

• Xu Muchi estimated that his enhancement raised her strength by about forty percent while also improving her spiritual-energy recovery. 8
• He secretly buffed Xu Muchi, Elfa, and Xu Ying during the assault on Ji. 27
• His healing and reinforcement buffs cannot cure Honkai Sickness in ordinary people; introducing his Honkai Energy can worsen their condition. 12

Martial Arts and Swordsmanship

By Plundering Xu Muchi's abilities, Gu Yan acquired Ancient Martial Arts Mastery at LV98. He later trains continuously through sparring and can fight without relying on special abilities. 9 38

• Uses combat awareness, anti-reconnaissance, and Breath Concealment to maneuver behind stronger opponents. 9
• Can use his hands, feet, and improvised weapons as lethal weapons by channeling Honkai Energy through advanced technique. 23
• Defeated nine Ability Users in a wooden-sword spar through physical prowess and swordsmanship alone. 38
• Fought Xu Muchi to a draw in a public martial-arts demonstration. 40

Concealment and Mobility

Gu Yan possesses several abilities suited to infiltration and rapid deployment.

• Breath Concealment hides his energy fluctuations. 9
• Shadowless increases movement speed by 30%, neural reaction speed by 10%, and energy-mobilization speed by 10%. 9
• Levitation allows him to travel through the air without stamina concerns. 16 21
• Nelly can perceive him despite his concealment. 48

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Long saber — A saber made from Mutated Soul Steel, given to Gu Yan by Morr. It can perfectly contain Honkai Energy. 37
• Quasi-Herrscher Core — Embedded in Gu Yan's saber; its performance in his hands is compared to a Divine Key. 40
• Mustard Seed Space — Used to store and retrieve his saber. 16 40
• Ability ID and dedicated device — Issued upon joining the Ability Department; the device provides internal-network access and a dedicated number. 14

Relationships

• Zhao Qi — Close friend and early survival partner. Zhao Qi keeps Gu Yan's copying ability secret and repeatedly fights beside him during Honkai outbreaks. 2 4 11
• Gu Li — Older sister and fellow Ability User. She is deeply protective of Gu Yan, while he hides much of the danger he faces to keep her from worrying. 14 33 38
• Xu Muchi — Superior, ally, and sparring partner. She recognizes Gu Yan's potential early, facilitates his Ability Department recruitment, and entrusts him with major operations. 11 14 22 40
• Ji / Gu Ji — The Herrscher of Reason and Gu Yan's past-life sister. He opposes her as an enemy of humanity but sympathizes with the abused girl she once was. 35 36
• Morr — Current form connected to Gu Ji. Morr gives Gu Yan his Mutated Soul Steel saber and does not answer his questions about Gu Ji's fate. 36 37
• Qin Hong'an — Leader of the Ability Department. He initially knows Gu Yan as a valuable S-Class support, then witnesses his combat power against Kui Niu and his swordsmanship against Xu Muchi. 14 23 40
• Li Shi — Ability Department veteran stationed at the Bohai Sea. He follows Gu Yan's operational orders during the Kui Niu incident and later develops a friendly rapport with him. 21 22 24
• Elfa Novagir — Black Dragon and allied combatant. Gu Yan Plundered Elfa's physique, giving him exceptional endurance. 10 27 40
• Nelly — A mysterious girl able to see through Gu Yan's concealment. Their first meeting is tense and marked by mutual suspicion. 48

Story Role / Major Arcs

Jinshan City and the First Herrscher

Gu Yan awakens as the Third Herrscher during Jinshan City's destruction, escapes with Zhao Qi, and first reveals his copied powers while fighting Deathsworn and an Assault-class Honkai beast. He later assists Xu Muchi against Ji, using Plundered martial arts and Ice Cones despite severe mental exhaustion. 1 4 9 10

Ability Department Recruitment

After the initial crisis, Xu Muchi supports Gu Yan's recruitment into the Ability Department. He joins under the cover identity of a Support-Attribute user with enhancement, acceleration, and healing abilities. 11 14

Honkai Outbreak Response

Gu Yan clears Honkai monsters in Haishi and Rongcheng with Xu Muchi, becoming increasingly willing to act beyond his own safety. Though he insists on securing his family's safety first, he accepts responsibility for protecting wider populations. 19 20

Bohai Sea Incident

Entrusted with authority over Bohai Sea combat units, Gu Yan confronts the Emperor-class Honkai beast Kui Niu. He destroys its cores, orders nearby warships to retreat, and defeats the creature with minimal casualties. 22 23 24

Herrscher of Reason Arc

Gu Yan joins the coalition against Ji, secretly enhancing multiple allies and fighting despite suffering life-threatening injuries. Later, the Insight Gem reveals his past connection to Gu Ji, reshaping his understanding of her and leaving him determined to protect her if possible without abandoning humanity. 27 30 34 36

S-Class Recognition

Gu Yan is formally recognized as the first S-Class Support-Attribute Ability User. He demonstrates his value by defeating nine Ability Users in a training match and drawing with Xu Muchi in a saber-and-sword duel meant to promote martial arts training. 34 38 40

Trivia

• Gu Yan is eighteen years old when he joins the Ability Department. 14
• He dislikes being called “Mr. Gu,” finding it awkward at his age. 14
• He repeatedly expresses a desire to live as a “lazy fish,” even while accepting increasingly dangerous assignments. 19 33
• He patrols near his home while grocery shopping, combining ordinary errands with protection against Honkai threats. 48