Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Flame Emperor; Demon King Xiao
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; Yan Alliance; Starfall Pavilion
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; Alchemist; leader of the Yan Alliance
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 4

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Dou Qi Stage Three	11	Yao Lao identifies Xiao Yan's cultivation as Dou Qi Stage Three while urging him to face the three-year challenge against Nalan Yanran.
Dou Qi Stage Four	17	Reaches Stage Four after half a month of cultivation.
Dou Qi Stage Nine	24	His test result shocks the Xiao Family after his recovery from three years of lost Dou Qi.
Four-star Dou Zhe	59	Advances through months of training and medicine refinement before leaving for further training.
Dou Master	66	Enters the Dou Master realm during three months in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
Three-star Dou Huang	159	Reaches this level after absorbing the Sea Heart Flame.
Saint realm	299	Enters secluded cultivation after obtaining the Three Bodhi Treasures in pursuit of a breakthrough.
Half-step Earth Supreme	374	Travels the Great Thousand World alongside Xiao Han at this realm.
Earth Supreme	423	Breaks through in one attempt after refining the Netherworld Ghost Flame.

Background / History

Xiao Yan was once close to Xun Er and regarded as an outstanding member of the Xiao Family. His Dou Qi then disappeared over three years, leaving him at the bottom of a society where cultivation determines status. He endured rejection and mockery, including Xiao Mei's deliberate indifference, but retained his attachment to those who stood by him. 4 21

Nalan Yanran of the Cloud Mist Sect came to the Xiao Family to annul her engagement to him. The humiliation became the starting point of Xiao Yan's determination to regain his strength and challenge her in three years. 7 11

The cause of his lost Dou Qi was Yao Lao, a soul residing in Xiao Yan's storage ring. After Yao Lao revealed that he had absorbed Xiao Yan's Dou Qi, Xiao Yan overcame his initial anger, accepted Yao Lao as his teacher, and began rebuilding his cultivation. 10

He trained alongside Xiao Han, first as a friendly competitor and later as a brother-in-arms. Their paths diverged after their training in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, but they reunited repeatedly to confront threats to their family, allies, and the Cloud Mist Sect. 17 66 73 173

Following the destruction of the Cloud Mist Sect, Xiao Yan rose to lead the Yan Alliance and became one of the Jia Ma Empire's legendary figures. His goals remained centered on becoming stronger, rescuing his missing father, and pursuing additional Heavenly Flames. 174

Personality

Xiao Yan is composed under public humiliation and increasingly indifferent to the changing attitudes of those who once looked down on him. Rather than seeking their approval, he focuses on the wider Dou Qi Continent and the people he values. 21 24

He is deeply loyal to family, friends, and teachers. His response to the Xiao Family's persecution, Yao Lao's sacrifice, and later threats against Xiao Han demonstrates a willingness to confront overwhelming enemies for those close to him. 111 173 510

Despite his severity toward enemies, Xiao Yan can show restraint. After the Cloud Mist Sect's defeat, he allowed innocent disciples to leave and spared Yun Shan at Yun Yun's request. 173

Abilities & Skills

Heavenly Flame Control

Xiao Yan possesses the ability to control and refine powerful flames, using them as the foundation of his combat strength and cultivation advancement.

• Obtained the Green Lotus Core Flame, which substantially strengthened him. 111
• Created and wielded the Buddha's Fury Lotus, a destructive Heavenly Flame technique. 111 173
• Refined the Sea Heart Flame, reaching Three-star Dou Huang afterward. 159
• Refined the Netherworld Ghost Flame, ranked thirty-sixth on the Great Thousand World Divine Flame Ranking, and broke through to Earth Supreme. 423
• Sought the Purifying Demonic Flame to evolve his Fen Jue cultivation technique to the Heavenly Rank. 309

Alchemy

Under Yao Lao's guidance, Xiao Yan refined medicines during his early travels and developed into a formidable alchemist.

• Refined healing medicines with Xiao Han in preparation for wilderness training. 59
• Won the Alchemist Grand Meeting using the Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill. 111
• Received the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python Saliva as a result of his victory. 111

Ruler Techniques

Xiao Yan fights with a heavy ruler and employs high-powered Dou Techniques.

• Uses the Heavy Xuan Ruler in combat and training. 66
• Learned the Earth Tier technique Flame Splitting Wave Devouring Ruler from Yao Lao. 66
• Defeated Upper-level Earth Supreme Chen Zeting with a single ruler glow, destroying Chen's Quasi-Sacred Object. 427

Equipment / Items

• Storage Ring — Yao Lao initially resided within Xiao Yan's ancient ring. 10
• Heavy Xuan Ruler — Xiao Yan's signature weapon during his early training and travels. 66
• Black Ruler — Wielded when he challenged Nalan Yanran at the Cloud Mist Sect. 111
• Green Lotus Core Flame — A Heavenly Flame acquired and refined by Xiao Yan. 111
• Sea Heart Flame — A Heavenly Flame absorbed before his return to the Jia Ma Empire. 159
• Netherworld Ghost Flame — A Divine Flame refined to reach Earth Supreme. 423

Relationships

• Xiao Han — Brother, training partner, and frequent ally. They support each other's ambitions, reunite to destroy the Cloud Mist Sect, and later cooperate against major enemies. 10 73 173 427 510
• Yao Lao — Teacher and alchemy mentor. Yao Lao restored Xiao Yan's path to cultivation and was willing to burn his Soul Power to save him. 10 111
• Xun Er — Closest early confidante. She remained devoted to Xiao Yan during his lowest period and supported his ambitions. 4 21 59
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée whose annulment of their engagement drove Xiao Yan's early resolve; he later challenged her at the Cloud Mist Sect. 7 111
• Yun Yun — Former Cloud Mist Sect Master whom Xiao Yan aided and later brought to the Yan Alliance after the sect's defeat. She confessed her feelings for him. 73 173 174
• Xiao Zhan — Father. Xiao Yan learned that Xiao Zhan had disappeared after the Cloud Mist Sect's attack on the Xiao Family. 111
• Xiao Li — Mother. Xiao Yan freed her from imprisonment at the Cloud Mist Sect. 171
• Hai Bodong — Ally who assisted Xiao Yan during his conflict with Yun Shan. 111
• Lin Dong — Ally who helped Xiao Yan contain the Netherworld Ghost Flame. 423
• Han Xue — Benefactor from Tianbei City; Xiao Yan later aided the Han Family in repayment for her past help. 309

Story Role / Major Arcs

Loss of Dou Qi and the Three-Year Agreement

Xiao Yan begins as a disgraced youth whose lost Dou Qi makes him an object of scorn. Nalan Yanran's annulment of their engagement pushes him toward his eventual challenge of the Cloud Mist Sect. 7 11

Yao Lao's Disciple

Yao Lao reveals himself as the source of Xiao Yan's depleted Dou Qi and takes him as a disciple. Under Yao Lao's guidance, Xiao Yan rapidly returns to Dou Qi Stage Nine and becomes a Dou Zhe. 10 24 29

Magical Beast Mountain Range Training

Xiao Yan travels with Xiao Han and Yao Lao, reaches the Dou Master realm, and learns Blowing Flame Palm, Absorbing Palm, and Flame Splitting Wave Devouring Ruler. 66

Conflict with the Cloud Mist Sect

After winning the Alchemist Grand Meeting and challenging Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yan becomes embroiled in escalating conflict with the Cloud Mist Sect. The disappearance of his father and harm done to the Xiao Family turn the dispute into a personal war. 111

Xiao Yan and Xiao Han ultimately defeat the sect's forces. Xiao Yan destroys Protector Wu with Buddha's Fury Lotus, disbands the Cloud Mist Sect, and allows its innocent disciples to leave. 173

Yan Alliance and Central Plains

Following the sect's fall, Xiao Yan becomes a leading figure of the Yan Alliance. He later reunites with Xiao Han in the Central Plains, where they eliminate the leaders of factions besieging the Starfall Pavilion and support the Han Family. 174 309

Great Thousand World

Xiao Yan continues pursuing Divine Flames and higher cultivation in the Great Thousand World. He advances from Half-step Earth Supreme to Earth Supreme after refining the Netherworld Ghost Flame, aided by Xiao Han and Lin Dong. 374 423

Trivia

• Xiao Yan was initially frustrated by Xiao Han's faster cultivation progress, though Xiao Han believed Xiao Yan's growth would surge once he acquired Heavenly Flames. 59 66
• He became a celebrated hero of Jia Nan Academy after forcing the Fallen Heart Flame back toward its seal, though he was swallowed into the Heavenly Flame Refining Pagoda in the process. 150
• Xiao Yan was known as Demon King Xiao while demonstrating sufficient strength to defeat four peak Dou Zong experts and more than a dozen Dou Huang alone. 155