In the vast world of Battle Through the Heavens (斗破苍穹), countless powerful cultivators have risen and fallen. Yet among them, five individuals stand out as the pinnacle of strength, wisdom, and influence. These five legendary figures each carved a unique path across the continent, leaving behind tales of tragedy, glory, and in one case, a surprising victory by doing… almost nothing. Yes, we’re talking about Gu Yuan—our beloved master of passive wins.
Let’s explore who these five supreme powerhouses are and what fate had in store for each of them.
1. The Alchemy Fanatic: Founder of the Pill Tower
At the peak of the alchemy world stood the mysterious Founder of the Pill Tower, a cultivator who reached the early stage of Nine-Star Dou Sheng. A genius in refining medicine, he devoted his entire existence to the legendary Ninth-Grade Golden Pill, said to be second only to the elusive Emperor-Grade Embryo Pill. However, fate was cruel. Despite exhausting his life’s energy, he failed to produce a true Ninth-Grade Golden Pill.
Instead, he created a mutated Ninth-Grade Mysterious Pill capable of taking on human form. This single pill alone attained the terrifying level of Six-Star Dou Sheng. As he prepared to enter seclusion and recover, disaster struck—Hun Tiandi, the fearsome Soul Emperor, arrived to steal his soul body, hoping to use it as a stepping stone to help Void Swallowing Flame reach the Dou Di realm.
In a final act of defiance, the founder embedded a sliver of his consciousness into the pill and detonated himself, destroying his soul rather than becoming fuel for Hun Tiandi’s ambition. The pill later became known as the Old Ancestor of the Pill Tower, continuing the founder’s legacy. A tragic end for the greatest alchemist of his age.
2. The Flame Wielder: Ancestor of Burning Flame Valley
A master of fire and close friend to Xiao Xuan, the Ancestor of Burning Flame Valley reached the mid-stage of Nine-Star Dou Sheng. While he was a fire specialist, it was Xiao Xuan who truly unlocked the secrets of fusing Heavenly Flames. The Flame Ancestor owed much of his knowledge to Xiao Xuan, who even passed down the Three Mysterious Transformations of Heavenly Flame to him before his final battle, hoping to secure a path for his descendants.
Unfortunately, after Xiao Xuan’s death, the Ancestor suffered the same fate as many others—betrayed and ambushed by Hun Tiandi. Despite his strength, even he could not escape the clutches of a villain who had prepared for every eventuality.
3. The Fallen Genius: Xiao Xuan
Often hailed as the greatest prodigy of the last thousand years, Xiao Xuan reached the late stage of Nine-Star Dou Sheng and was on the brink of becoming a Dou Di. As a member of the once-mighty Xiao Clan, he attempted something bold—using the entire clan’s bloodline as a catalyst to ascend.
But Xiao Xuan was unaware that the source energy of the Dou Di realm had vanished with the disappearance of the ancient Tuoshe Ancient Emperor. He could only reach the pseudo-emperor level before realizing his failure. In a desperate final act, he blasted Hun Tiandi with three Heavenly Flames and destroyed four of his strongest undead guardians, leaving the Soul Clan severely weakened for a millennium.
Even in death, Xiao Xuan continued to protect his people. A fragment of his soul lingered in the Heavenly Tomb, where he later helped Xiao Yan—his descendant—replace his bloodline and soul, helping him ascend to the Dou Di realm. Though he died, his legacy lived on through his clan.
4. The Scheming Mastermind: Hun Tiandi
If you’re looking for the most terrifying villain in Battle Through the Heavens, look no further than Hun Tiandi, the emperor of schemes. Not only was his strength unparalleled, but his cunning and patience set him apart from every other powerhouse.
For over a thousand years, he plotted meticulously, preparing everything from soul transfers to the creation of the Slaughter Emperor Blood Blade, a weapon designed to kill even Dou Dis. His ambition? To ascend to godhood and rule the continent.
But fate is ironic. For all his planning, Hun Tiandi couldn’t account for one thing: Xiao Yan, the protagonist with multiple plot armors. Despite laying a millennia-long trap, Hun Tiandi ultimately fell to Xiao Yan and his allies. His defeat proved one thing—no matter how powerful the villain, they can’t beat the MC with hacks.
5. The “Couch Champion”: Gu Yuan
Last but not least, let’s talk about the ultimate dark horse—Gu Yuan, the Patriarch of the Gu Clan.
Gu Yuan reached the level of One-Star Dou Di, which makes him technically stronger than most of the others who fell short. But here’s the kicker—he barely did anything to deserve it. While others died tragically, sacrificing themselves or being ambushed, Gu Yuan mostly stayed on the sidelines.
He couldn’t kill Void Swallowing Flame, he couldn’t beat Hun Tiandi, he failed to protect the ancient jade, and even missed out on the Emperor-Grade Embryo Pill. Yet, he had a powerful asset that none of the others did: a Dou Di son-in-law—Xiao Yan.
Through his connection to Xiao Yan, Gu Yuan ascended effortlessly to the Dou Di realm. He didn’t have to scheme, fight, or die heroically. He just had to survive. While others sacrificed everything for the greater good, Gu Yuan simply outlived them and reaped the rewards.
Think about it—Candle Kun was stronger but didn’t make it. Xiao Xuan was a genius but ended up a wandering soul. Hun Tiandi schemed for eternity and still died. Gu Yuan? He lived, he watched, and when the time came, he just walked into the Dou Di realm with Xiao Yan.
Final Thoughts
The five strongest figures in Battle Through the Heavens each followed different paths, from relentless alchemy to fiery revenge, from ambitious scheming to passive survival. In the end, strength alone wasn’t enough. The real winner wasn’t the most talented, or the most ruthless—it was the one who knew when to hold back and when to bet on the right person.
Gu Yuan may not have been the strongest in life, but he sure won in the end. Sometimes, lying low and letting your genius son-in-law do the heavy lifting is all it takes to reach the top.
