Gu Xingzhou

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Gu Xingzhou (古星洲)
Alias(es)	Director Gu; Teacher; Uncle Gu
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Great Xia; former Education Bureau; Ten Thousand Beast Mountain cooperation
Occupation/Role	Martial artist; former Director of the Education Bureau; Ten Thousand Beast Mountain livestream host
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 49

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Golden Body Realm (Fourth Realm)	54	Revealed as a fourth-realm martial artist while attempting Saintification to suppress the Moon-Swallowing Toad.
Severed realm for tournament entry	418	Cuts down his cultivation to qualify for the World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament, whose entrants cannot exceed the Star Vortex Realm. The self-inflicted damage worsens his remaining lifespan.

Background / History

Gu Xingzhou served Great Xia for decades on the border, where he accumulated extensive military merits fighting Demon Monsters. He later became Director of the Education Bureau, concealing his naturally youthful appearance behind a middle-aged guise because he felt it carried more authority. His Golden Body’s core intent is longevity: after comrades died on the border, he resolved to live on in their stead. 466

During the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Martial Exam, an earth-vein upheaval carried him to the summit, where sixteen four-star Great Demons surrounded him. He detonated three of his seventy-two Blood Qi Star Vortices to shatter the Hundred-Eyed Demon Crow’s illusion, then used Saintification to suppress the Moon-Swallowing Toad rather than allow the demons to reach the examinees. 49 50

He endured nearly three days of cold, heat, and psychological harassment while his damaged Golden Body slowly failed. Ji Ruo, Liang Shixian, and Wind God Falcon Aunt eventually rescued him; Gu Xingzhou ended the incomplete Saintification process and survived with severe injuries. 54

Believing that his inadequate preparation had contributed to the Martial Exam’s casualties, Gu Xingzhou resigned as Education Bureau Director. He sought redemption by returning to the front lines, but instead became closely involved in Great Xia’s partnership with Ten Thousand Beast Mountain, including negotiating the exchange of human “fertilizer” for Spirit Herbs and Spirit Fruits. 71 97 98

He later became a livestream host for the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Spirit Herb Cultivation Base, publicizing the human–Tree Demon partnership and helping lower Spirit Herb prices. 108 181

At Eight Treasures Stronghold, Gu Xingzhou helped confront his distant nephew, Gu Shaoxuan, and assisted with evacuating villagers through an All-Encompassing Mirror portal. During the Netherworld crisis, he secretly transferred half his life source to Swordsman Li after Li burned his own lifespan defending the stronghold. 236 238 251 252

To challenge the blessed grotto-heaven sects and reclaim honor for Great Xia, Gu Xingzhou later severed his realm to enter the World’s Number One Martial Arts Tournament. Though Ji Ruo ultimately restored Gu Xingzhou’s eliminated companions and won the tournament, he publicly honored Gu Xingzhou as a “World’s Number One” for his lifelong service and sacrifices. 418 446 466

Appearance

Gu Xingzhou’s true appearance is that of a sharp-featured young man, despite being fifty-nine years old. He formerly altered his appearance to look middle-aged while leading the Education Bureau. 98 466

• Sharp brows, starry eyes, and an imposing bearing in his natural form. 98
• Usually presented himself as a stern middle-aged official during his tenure as Director. 98
• His hair later developed gray at the temples after he gave half his life source to Swordsman Li. 419
• His body and Martial Golden Body take on a blazing red-gold color when he draws heavily on his power. 49 50

Personality

Gu Xingzhou is deeply protective of younger martial artists. Even while badly wounded on Ten Thousand Beast Mountain, he repeatedly prioritized Ji Ruo and Liang Shixian’s futures over his own, prepared to destroy further Star Vortices and burn his life force to get them out safely. 58 62

He carries immense guilt over the Martial Exam casualties and explicitly calls himself a sinner. Rather than deflect responsibility, he resigns from office and tries to make amends through action. 97 98 103

Despite this burden, Gu Xingzhou is cheerful, blunt, and fond of joking about his own looks. He is capable of humility as well: when his sentient martial arts prove more skilled than he is, he formally asks them to teach him. 98 427 428

Abilities & Skills

Golden Body Realm and Saintification

A fourth-realm Golden Body martial artist with a Martial Golden Body formed through his Qi Vessels, Star Vortices, true essence, and martial will. 50 54

• Developed seventy-two Blood Qi Star Vortices before the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain incident. 49
• Can self-detonate Star Vortices for devastating anti-demon force, though doing so mutilates the corresponding acupoints and permanently damages his future. 49 50
• Used incomplete Saintification to imprison the Moon-Swallowing Toad beneath his solidifying Martial Golden Body. 50 54
• His Golden Body can manifest as a defensive projection that shields allies from effects such as a Gravity Field. 58

Heavenly Stele Palm

Gu Xingzhou’s primary palm art, capable of creating enormous golden-red palm prints resembling inscribed heavenly steles. 49

• Eight Gates Stele creates eight massive Heavenly Stele palm imprints at once. 49
• Can produce a thirty-meter palm strike against powerful opponents. 237
• Possesses enough force to crush large numbers of Demonic Beasts in a single attack. 238
• Its sentient manifestation later criticizes Gu Xingzhou’s application of the technique and becomes one of his teachers within the Martial Dao Secret Realm. 427 428

Startling Swan Escape

An advanced linear-dash movement technique that turns Gu Xingzhou into a streak of radiant light. 49

• At full output, it can approach four times the speed of sound. 49
• Used for rapid pursuit, battlefield traversal, and searching complex underground tunnel networks. 238
• Its sentient manifestation later trains Gu Xingzhou to better integrate movement with the Heavenly Stele Palm. 427 428

Earth-Vein Communication and Portal Use

Gu Xingzhou can send information through an Earth Vein by circulating Blood Qi at a special frequency, allowing other martial artists to locate and reinforce him when ordinary communication fails. 57

• Used an All-Encompassing Mirror fragment to establish portals between locations, including Ten Thousand Beast Mountain and Eight Treasures Stronghold. 103 235
• Maintained a large-scale evacuation portal despite the considerable energy cost of transporting villagers and powerful Great Demons. 238

Turtle Breathing Technique

A survival technique used to deceive the Star Tribulation into treating its target as dead. 251

• Gu Xingzhou survived a Star Tribulation strike by feigning death beneath a carbonized exterior. 251
• He alerted other surviving martial artists to rise after the tribulation passed, revealing that several had used the same technique. 251

Life-Source Transfer

Gu Xingzhou possesses a secret art capable of transferring his life source to another person. 251

• Gave half of his remaining life source to Swordsman Li after Li burned his own lifespan in battle. 251 252
• Provoked Li into a hand-to-hand fight so that the proud swordsman would accept the transfer without being directly offered charity. 251 252
• The sacrifice left Gu Xingzhou with diminished lifespan; after severing his realm, he estimated he had only three years left. 419

Equipment / Items

• All-Encompassing Mirror fragment — Former core component of the Secret Realm Teleportation Device; awarded to Ji Ruo by Gu Xingzhou, then used by both for travel and evacuation portals. 103 105 235
• Education Bureau communications device — Used during his tenure and in coordination with Great Xia’s martial artists.
• Livestream equipment — Used to introduce Ten Thousand Beast Mountain’s Spirit Herb Cultivation Base and its Demon inhabitants to the public. 108 181

Relationships

• Ji Ruo — Former examinee and student figure whom Gu Xingzhou tried to protect during the Martial Exam; their relationship becomes one of mutual trust, guidance, and familial affection. 54 57 103 419
• Liang Shixian — Ji Ruo’s class monitor and Gu Xingzhou’s student; Gu Xingzhou recognizes Liang’s resolve and entrusts him with protecting Ji Ruo’s secrets. 60 62
• Aunt Jing Lan / Wind God Falcon Aunt — Powerful Demon ally from Ten Thousand Beast Mountain; she frequently bullies Gu Xingzhou but cooperates with him to protect Ji Ruo and Great Xia. 106 236 497 507
• Mountain God Wood — Partner in the Great Xia–Tree Demon resource exchange; Gu Xingzhou helped formalize the agreement that provided humans with Spirit Herbs and Fruits. 71 108
• Swordsman Li — Fellow senior martial artist and close friend. Gu Xingzhou gave Li half his life source after Li exhausted his own protecting Eight Treasures Stronghold. 251 252
• Gu Shaoxuan — Distant nephew who was believed to have died twenty-five years earlier; Gu Xingzhou investigated and confronted him during the Eight Treasures Stronghold incident. 236 237
• Tang Dong — Old acquaintance with a teasing, competitive dynamic; Tang Dong’s later advancement leaves Gu Xingzhou grumbling about his own lack of progress. 257
• White Cat — Initially terrified of Gu Xingzhou because he had struck her during the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain incident; he later apologizes after learning her history. 237 251

Story Role / Major Arcs

Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Martial Exam

• Is displaced to the mountaintop by the Earth-Turning Dragon’s earth-vein upheaval and besieged by Great Demons. 49
• Breaks an illusion by destroying three Blood Qi Star Vortices. 49
• Uses Saintification to suppress the Moon-Swallowing Toad and prevent the demons from advancing. 50
• Is rescued by Ji Ruo’s group after nearly three days of torture and attrition. 54
• Calls reinforcements through the Earth Vein and continues assisting despite destroying further Star Vortices. 57 58

Great Xia–Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Cooperation

• Negotiates a formal resource agreement with Mountain God Wood after losing his teleportation device. 71
• Resigns from the Education Bureau over the Martial Exam tragedy and turns toward frontline service. 97 98
• Organizes the distribution of Life-Giving Fruits and helps Ji Ruo sell his self-created Martial Techniques. 105
• Becomes a public-facing promoter for Ten Thousand Beast Mountain’s Spirit Herb cultivation program. 108 181

Eight Treasures Stronghold Crisis

• Arrives with Jing Lan and Mountain God Wood after learning of Gu Shaoxuan’s connection to his family. 235 236
• Battles to recover stolen Martial Saint statues and helps evacuate the stronghold’s villagers. 237 238
• Is immobilized by the Eye Demon during the Netherworld incursion and survives the resulting Star Tribulation with Turtle Breathing. 246 251
• Secretly gives half his life source to Swordsman Li, preserving Li’s ability to live and fight. 251 252

World’s Number One Martial Arts Tournament

• Severs his realm to compete against the blessed grotto-heaven sects and restore Great Xia’s standing. 418 419
• Is targeted by sect disciples but survives through training under his own sentient martial arts. 427 428 443
• Searches for his eliminated companions and entrusts Ji Ruo with finding them. 446
• Receives public recognition as a “World’s Number One” for his service, sacrifices, and dedication to Great Xia. 466

Journey with Ji Ruo

• Reflects on Ji Ruo’s growth while continuing to offer him counsel on humility, cultivation, and the Celestial Realm. 419 469
• Asks to travel alongside Ji Ruo, wanting to see the wider world with the younger generation. 469
• Accompanies Ji Ruo, Jing Lan, Emily, and others during the conflict in Cloud Foothills Heaven. 497 501

Notable Quotes

“My name is Gu Xingzhou. I’m a sinner.” 103

“It’s only half a life. What’s the big deal?” 252

“The luckiest thing that’s ever happened to me was meeting you back then in Ten Thousand Beast Mountain.” 421

Trivia

• Gu Xingzhou repeatedly asks others whether he is handsome after returning to his youthful appearance. 98 102
• He became a livestream host for Ten Thousand Beast Mountain despite originally intending to return to the front lines. 181 465
• Aunt Jing Lan and Mountain God Wood once respectively knocked him down and dragged him underground because he ended a call with Ji Ruo before they could speak to him. 181
• His sentient martial arts call him “trash” and “useless,” which he accepts as deserved criticism rather than taking offense. 427 428