Dragon King

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Gu Shenwei (顾慎为)
Alias(es)	Dragon King (龙王); Leader of the Dragons; King of the Five Peaks 340 879
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Great Snow Mountain; Dragon Army; Jade City
Occupation/Role	Ruler, military commander, swordsman, former assassin
Status	Alive 1073

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Wu Dao Divine Skill—rapid advancement	300	Diligent cultivation greatly increases his Internal Force; his icy True Qi freezes Lotus Leaf during their duel. 300
Yin–Yang True Qi revealed	619	His Internal Force is identified as containing both chilling evil Qi and two streams of True Qi, Yin and Yang. 619
Cold-Qi purgation	940	Uses Ice Qi in a desperate defense against Wild Horse, expelling turbid energy that had accumulated for years; the immediate threat of Qi Deviation is reduced, though not conclusively cured. 940
Death Sutra adapted to Internal Force	945–947	Applies the Death Sutra’s principles to Internal Force combat, absorbs Luo Qikang’s strike to the dantian, and returns it through his Yin–Yang True Qi to win. 945 947

Background / History

Gu Shenwei’s family was exterminated by Golden Peng Fortress, leaving him driven by revenge against the Unrivaled King and the fortress that destroyed his life. He concealed himself within Golden Peng Fortress for years before escaping and gathering followers around him. 861 976

By the time he became Dragon King, Great Snow Mountain had united behind him. Its swordsmen had already won three battles against Shule’s elite troops, while Gu Shenwei’s knowledge of Golden Peng Fortress made him the centerpiece of the campaign against it. 263 Daga’s forging of nine “divine” weapons further strengthened the mountain people’s faith in their leader; Gu Shenwei publicly tested the weapons by severing the chieftains’ swords and rallying the crowd toward war. 266

He later turned the Dragon Army into a major military force, using both battlefield victories and political arrangements—such as enfeoffing new kings—to extend his influence across the Western Regions. 473 476

Appearance

Gu Shenwei is a pale, young-looking man of relatively slender build. His quiet appearance frequently conflicts with the larger-than-life image created by rumor and fear. 300 861

• Pale complexion, often described as sickly or ice-like. 300 805
• Body covered in scars and described as hard as stone to the touch. 861
• Usually carries both a saber and a sword. 411
• Rumors routinely exaggerate his height, weapon size, and physical strength. 411 955

Personality

The Dragon King is highly suspicious, disciplined, and unwilling to act without sufficient information. He treats betrayal as an ordinary human response rather than an exceptional crime, preferring to prepare contingencies instead of relying on unconditional loyalty. 515 628

His strategic restraint coexists with a ruthless willingness to take risks. He can save enemies or spare traitors when doing so serves a larger purpose, but he is equally capable of using intimidation, execution, and political manipulation to secure control. 624 947 963

The Old Khan King and Silver Eagle identify “madness” as the core of Gu Shenwei’s ambition: an ability to endure isolation, setbacks, and slaughter in pursuit of revenge and power. 627

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship and Saber Techniques

Gu Shenwei is regarded as the strongest martial artist in the Dragon Army. His fighting style is practical, lethal, and shaped by his background as an assassin. 472 538

• Uses the pure Death Sutra swordplay while suffering from Qi Deviation. 623
• Employs the Gu Clan Saber Technique against the Qingcheng Sect’s Spiritual Rhinoceros Sword. 707
• Defeats opponents through unexpected movements and ruthless timing rather than conventional martial-world etiquette. 708
• Can adapt sword principles for Internal Force confrontations. 945 946

Internal Force

His Internal Force is unusually cold, dangerous, and difficult for orthodox martial artists to understand. 300 618

• Sends chilling energy into opponents, producing visible frost and paralysis. 300
• Possesses Yin and Yang True Qi, allowing him to receive and redirect hostile Internal Force. 619 947
• Withstood a direct strike to the dantian during his duel with Luo Qikang. 947
• His power has repeatedly caused or worsened Qi Deviation, making prolonged Internal Force contests dangerous. 618 893 946

Assassination and Infiltration

His assassin training remains central to his methods, particularly during investigations and political crises.

• Infiltrates guarded locations, including the Dragon Court and the Royal Palace. 568 610
• Moves effectively through darkness and urban terrain with He Nu. 568
• Uses disguises and indirect manipulation to conceal his movements and intentions. 792
• Remains cautious even when entering seemingly secure locations, observing patrol patterns before acting. 896

Command and Political Strategy

Gu Shenwei combines military leadership with calculated political maneuvering.

• Builds loyalty through land grants, pardons, promotions, and selective protection. 473 625
• Enfeoffs rival royal heirs to deepen divisions among the five kingdoms. 476
• Uses the Red-Crowned Great Peng to transform the Imperial Guard’s fear into allegiance. 727 728
• Issues decrees to control violence in Jade City and limit his enemies’ ability to act openly. 947
• Treats alliances as temporary arrangements and anticipates betrayal from allies and enemies alike. 515 628

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Five Peaks Saber — One of Daga’s nine divine weapons; styled after the Narrow Sabers of Golden Peng Fortress and presented with the command to “drink the enemy’s blood.” 266
• Nine divine weapons — Forged by Daga for Great Snow Mountain and ceremonially received by the Dragon King. 266
• Wooden Sword — Used in his Internal Force duel against Lotus Leaf. 300
• Gudo Saber — Stolen from his residence by Careless Crimson Soul. 303

Relationships

• Fang Wenshi — Principal strategist and political adviser; assists with intelligence, diplomacy, and long-term expansion plans. 535 547 1073
• Dugu Xian — Dragon Army commander and Gu Shenwei’s adopted son; repeatedly proves his value in suppressing rebellion and planning military operations. 473 476
• Shangguan Ru — Longtime associate and trusted collaborator; fights alongside him and later receives responsibility for Shangguan Cheng. 686 707 1073
• He Nu — Dragon King’s guard and frequent partner in covert operations; accompanies him against Fa Yan and during the investigation of Fu Yuan. 334 568
• Chu Nanping — Loyal swordsman and subordinate; supports Gu Shenwei during the Lotus Leaf duel and guards the Royal Palace during his seclusion. 300 791
• Old Man Mu — Former notorious martial artist who becomes a strategist, adviser, and erratic subordinate. 535 617 947
• Shulitu — Young Beiting prince placed under Gu Shenwei’s guardianship; becomes a political ally and potential Khan King. 697 728
• Wild Horse — A volatile ally and rival whose resentment of Gu Shenwei’s martial ability eventually leads to direct conflict. 633 940
• Unrivaled King — Gu Shenwei’s principal enemy and the target of his long-held revenge; Gu Shenwei ultimately kills him. 449 1068

Story Role / Major Arcs

Great Snow Mountain and the War Against Golden Peng Fortress

Gu Shenwei consolidates Great Snow Mountain, receives Daga’s divine weapons, and turns the mountain people’s faith into support for war against Golden Peng Fortress. 263 266 He then begins a terror campaign in Jade City, killing key enemies and planting black blood flags to undermine Stone Fortress’s prestige. 279

Building the Dragon Army

He expands his power through alliances with the kingdoms around Xiaoyao Sea, political enfeoffments, and the absorption of soldiers and martial artists into the Dragon Army. 473 476 625

Beiting and the Dragon Court Succession Crisis

The Dragon King enters Beiting as an outsider whose title is initially dismissed as a martial-world nickname. 537 544 He navigates competing princes, survives the Dragon Court Assembly, and uses martial victories to gain political standing. 567 618 623

After the Old Khan King’s death, he becomes embroiled in the succession struggle, is accused of assassination, and fights for influence over the Imperial Guard. 664 668 686

The Red-Crowned Great Peng and the Imperial Guard

Gu Shenwei cuts down the Old Khan King’s black-horse banner and summons the Red-Crowned Great Peng before the Imperial Guard. The bird’s arrival gives him a divine reputation and leads one hundred thousand Imperial Guards to submit. 727 728

Rule of Jade City

Returning to Jade City with an army, Gu Shenwei establishes his authority over local rulers and Central Plains martial artists. 930 944 After defeating Luo Qikang, he issues an order banning killing within Jade City to restrain hostile forces and reinforce his rule. 947

Revenge Against the Unrivaled King

Gu Shenwei finally kills the Unrivaled King amid the collapse of the Iron Mountain bandits. Dugu Xian’s Dragon Army simultaneously defeats the Golden Peng Army, ending the immediate military threat from Golden Peng Fortress. 1068

The Grand Plan

Following his revenge, Gu Shenwei considers a larger strategy: consolidating the Western Regions, influencing the new Khan King Shulitu, and eventually contending with the Central Plains. 1073

Notable Quotes

“There are no miracles in this world.” 728

“Surrender to live, defy to die.” 708

Trivia

• The title Dragon King was originally self-proclaimed by the Tianshan Swordsmen and lacked recognition from major powers. 522 537
• Han Fen is capable of imitating Gu Shenwei’s appearance and mannerisms closely enough to impersonate him. 792
• His reputation is so exaggerated that some people expect him to be twice as tall as an ordinary man or capable of leaving footprints in stone with a single step. 411 955
• The Red-Crowned Great Peng is central to his image in Beiting, where its appearance turns him from a feared outsider into a figure of apparent divine favor. 727 728