Gu Changsheng

Biodata

Name	Gu Changsheng (顾长生)
Alias(es)	Prefect Gu; Prefect
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Demon Slayer Division
Occupation/Role	Prefect of the Demon Slayer Division; mentor to Wang Xuan
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 210

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Innate Stage	209 213	Began cultivating at eighteen and reached the Innate Stage within two years.
Celestial Being Realm	209	Became the first peerless genius in Great Yuan history to reach the realm before age fifty.
Mystic Art Realm (reported decline)	211	After angering a peerless powerhouse during his travels, his Martial Path foundation was damaged and his cultivation reportedly regressed.
Grotto-Heaven Realm	212	Mo Tianxing identifies him as a young Grotto-Heaven Realm cultivator after his return; his displayed strength is stated to exceed the Heaven-Human Realm.

Background / History

Gu Changsheng rose from poverty to become one of Great Yuan's most celebrated Martial Path prodigies. After beginning cultivation at eighteen, he reached the Innate Stage within two years, placed among the top three in the Nine Provinces Martial Arts Tournament, and attained the Celestial Being Realm before fifty. 209 213

During later travels across the continent, he provoked a peerless powerhouse and suffered damage to his Martial Path foundation. Rumors held that his cultivation fell by two major realms and continued declining, after which he was assigned to Azure Province as chief of the Demon Slayer Division. 209 211

As Prefect, Gu Changsheng earned a notorious reputation for radical, ruthless methods. He eliminated numerous aristocratic families, challenged secluded powerhouses, and deterred demons and monsters from invading Azure Province's borderlands. Huang Yin, the True Man, was among those defeated by him in a single move. 209

Gu Changsheng later vanished for decades, with many believing he had died in the Demon Domain. He returned during the Linshui County crisis, where he stopped Helian Wuji's ritual and confronted the Soul Calming Holy Mother's descending avatar. 210 211

Appearance

Gu Changsheng appears to be a handsome young man in his early twenties, despite being over a hundred years old. His youthful appearance is attributed to reaching the Innate Stage at a young age. 218

• Usually wears green clothing. 210
• Has handsome features and a habitual smile. 210 218
• His relaxed, carefree appearance contrasts sharply with his overwhelming presence in battle. 211 218

Personality

Gu Changsheng is exceptionally bold, arrogant, and unrestrained. He openly challenged powerful seniors in his youth, awakened secluded experts for fights, and treats threats from major sects or evil gods with mockery rather than caution. 209 211 221

Behind his abrasive conduct, he is protective of promising members of the human race. He refuses to expose Wang Xuan's secrets merely out of curiosity, intervenes against the Blood Offering Seed, and deliberately arranges difficult opportunities to accelerate Wang Xuan's growth. 220 241 243

He also possesses an unexpectedly playful and roguish side. While holding the severed arm of the Soul Calming Holy Mother, he repeatedly taunts and embarrasses her in an attempt to obtain knowledge of Ghost Dao Mystic Arts. 218 220

Abilities & Skills

Martial Cultivation

Gu Changsheng possesses cultivation at least at the Grotto-Heaven Realm, with combat power far beyond ordinary Heaven-Human Realm experts. 211 212

• Froze the void across a five-hundred-mile radius while confronting the Soul Calming Holy Mother's avatar. 211
• Easily immobilized Helian Wuji and destroyed the Divine Embryo sustaining the Holy Mother's descent. 210
• Previously defeated Huang Yin, the True Man, in one move. 209
• His return caused Azure Province's sects and noble families to reassess his recovered strength. 211 212

Crimson Emperor—Godslaying Sword

A sword technique used against the Soul Calming Holy Mother's avatar. 211

• Summons a jade-like crimson sword and manifests an emperor-like giant form. 211
• Severed the arm of the Soul Calming Holy Mother's avatar in a single strike. 211
• The feat forced the Holy Mother to retreat and established Gu Changsheng as a feared force among Azure Province's powerhouses. 211 212

Detection and Suppression

Gu Changsheng can perceive unusual powers concealed within others and suppress threats linked to evil gods. 220 241 243

• Detected the aura of the Holy Mother of Pity Life and other abnormal fluctuations within Wang Xuan. 215 241
• Identified Dao inscriptions within Wang Xuan that he states are associated with god-level techniques. 241
• Used a pure Yang sacred seed to sever most of the connection between Wang Xuan's Blood Offering Seed and the Holy Mother of Pity Life. 243 244

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Eight Desolations Demon Subduing Pagoda — Gu Changsheng's treasure artifact; its power halted the expansion of the vortex through which the Soul Calming Holy Mother attempted to descend. 210 211
• Crimson Emperor—Godslaying Sword — crimson jade-like sword wielded to sever the Soul Calming Holy Mother's avatar arm. 211
• Soul Calming Holy Mother's severed arm — taken after the battle and kept in his Storage Bag; Gu Changsheng uses it to pressure the Holy Mother for Ghost Dao knowledge. 211 218
• Pure Yang sacred seed — an immensely powerful seed used to weaken the Blood Offering Seed within Wang Xuan. 243 244
• Thunder Dao Essence Crystal — presented to Lei Hong in exchange for allowing Wang Xuan to remain at the Heavenly Thunder Sect and use its Thunder Pool. 239
• Life-saving talisman — given to Wang Xuan in exchange for gathering Black Jade Orchid; it can be activated three times, each protection lasting half an hour. 264

Relationships

• Wang Xuan — Mentor and protector. Gu Changsheng helps him address the Blood Offering Seed, secures access to the Heavenly Thunder Pool, and sees potential in his dual cultivation. 220 243 250
• Soul Calming Holy Mother — Enemy and unwilling source of information. Gu Changsheng severed her avatar's arm, keeps it captive, and seeks her knowledge of Ghost Dao Mystic Arts. 211 218
• Holy Mother of Pity Life — Old adversary. Their enmity resurfaces when she attempts to turn Wang Xuan into a puppet. 243 244
• Helian Wuji — Enemy defeated during the Linshui County incident; Gu Changsheng later orders the Helian Family's annihilation. 210 212
• Zhuge Wudi — Demon Slayer Division associate who conveys Gu Changsheng's summons and assists in bringing Wang Xuan to meet him. 212 217
• Lei Hong — Hostile “old friend” and former opponent. Lei Hong fears Gu Changsheng's strength but accepts his terms after receiving a Thunder Dao Essence Crystal. 221 239
• Guo Feng — Heavenly Thunder Sect Grand Elder repeatedly pressured by Gu Changsheng into providing resources and access to the Thunder Pool for Wang Xuan. 222 223
• Mo Tianxing — Lord of Azure Province who recognizes Gu Changsheng's recovered strength and identifies him as a Grotto-Heaven Realm cultivator. 212

Story Role / Major Arcs

Linshui County Incident

Gu Changsheng returns from decades of disappearance when Helian Wuji attempts to summon the Soul Calming Holy Mother. He freezes Helian Wuji, destroys the Divine Embryo, stops the descent, and severs the avatar's arm with the Crimson Emperor—Godslaying Sword. 210 211

After the crisis, he orders Zhuge Wudi to annihilate the Helian Family and cease pursuit of the retreating Soul Calming Sect. 212

Wang Xuan's Blood Offering Seed

Recognizing the danger within Wang Xuan, Gu Changsheng offers methods to resolve the Blood Offering Seed rather than immediately destroying it himself. He takes Wang Xuan to the Heavenly Thunder Sect, forcibly secures Thunder Pool access, and teaches him the Soul Summoning Tribulation Art. 219 223 225

When the Holy Mother of Pity Life attempts to seize Wang Xuan through the seed, Gu Changsheng intervenes directly, using his pure Yang sacred seed to sever their connection and leave Wang Xuan to finish refining the remaining power. 243 244

Black Mountain Request

Gu Changsheng asks Wang Xuan to collect Black Jade Orchid in Black Mountain, explaining that he needs the otherwise ordinary herb to repay a favor. In return, he gives Wang Xuan a three-use life-saving talisman. 264

Notable Quotes

“This time, I'll chop off one of your arms first, and when I become a god in the future, I'll go to the Netherworld to kill you!” 211

“This arm of yours is my property!” 220

Trivia

• Although he is over a hundred years old, Gu Changsheng claims to retain the appearance of a young man because he reached the Innate Stage at twenty. 218
• He paints as a hobby; Wang Xuan initially sees his work as blank paper, while Gu Changsheng insists that it must be understood with the heart. 264
• The Heavenly Thunder Sect's elders retain deep resentment and fear from Gu Changsheng's earlier visit, when he forcibly disturbed Lei Hong's seclusion and defeated him. 221 223