Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Xiao Yanzi; Third Young Master
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; Jia Nan Academy
Occupation/Role	Xiao Family prodigy; Jia Nan Academy student
First Appearance	Chapter 56

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
One Star Dou Zhe	56	Had broken through the Dou Qi Cyclone at age ten after beginning Dou Qi cultivation at four and reaching the ninth stage at eight.
Two Star Dou Zhe	56	Reached the level through cultivation; his status as the Xiao Family younger generation's leading talent was widely recognized.
Two Star Dou Shi	65, 66	Advanced rapidly after Yao Lao awakened within his ring and began assisting his cultivation.
Seven Star Da Dou Shi	172, 174	Ranked among Jia Nan Academy Outer Academy's top four students; challenged Xiao Xun'er during her Inner Academy admission gauntlet.
Eight Star Da Dou Shi	191	His level when Yao Lao told him the shattered Ancient Jade meant he had no fate with the Dou Di inheritance.

Background / History

Xiao Yan's soul originated on Earth before inhabiting his body on the Dou Qi Continent. He had been an ordinary person in his previous life, but came to embrace his new world as he grew up. He began cultivating Dou Qi at four, reached the ninth stage at eight, and became a Dou Zhe at ten. His exceptional talent made him the center of attention within the Xiao Family and Wutan City 56.

When Gu Yuan placed Xiao Xun'er in the Xiao Family, Xiao Yan was immediately curious about her and struck up a friendly conversation with her. He was shaken to learn that the eight-year-old Xun'er was already an Eight-Star Dou Zhe, far beyond his own Two-Star level 57 58. Yun Xi later sensed a Heavenly Flame aura within Xiao Yan's black ring; Xun'er borrowed the ring, enabling Yun Xi to devour the Bone Chilling Flame, before returning it five years later 58 64 65.

During those five years, Yao Lao awakened inside the ring and began mentoring Xiao Yan. By the Xiao Family Coming-of-Age Ceremony, he had reached Two Star Dou Shi and was regarded as one of the Jia Ma Empire's foremost young geniuses 65 66.

The Misty Cloud Sect's attempt to annul his engagement to Nalan Yanran forced Xiao Yan into open conflict with a vastly superior faction. He refused to accept terms that would dishonor his father and family, then accepted Yun Yun's condition: he would face Nalan Yanran at the Misty Cloud Sect in three years, with the engagement dissolved if he lost 92 93.

Xiao Yan eventually joined Jia Nan Academy. When Xun'er arrived to claim direct admission to the Inner Academy, he faced her in the admission competition. Despite unleashing his strongest Earth Rank Dou Skill, he was decisively outmatched by the Five-Star Dou Ling Xun'er 155 172 174 175 176. Xiao Zhan later entrusted him with the Xiao Family's Clan Leader's Inheritance Jade before he left for the academy 155 156.

Appearance

Xiao Yan was an immature-looking boy at ten, later growing into a sturdy, fit young man through sustained training. He is commonly seen in black clothing and fights with an enormous black ruler 56 65 174.

• At age ten, he had an ordinary, immature face 56.
• His teenage physique is described as sturdy and fit 65.
• He wears black during the Xiao Family Coming-of-Age Ceremony and at Jia Nan Academy 65 174.
• His signature weapon is the Mysterious Heavy Ruler, an enormous black ruler weighing over a hundred jin 174.

Personality

Xiao Yan takes visible pride in his talent and enjoys being recognized. He is disappointed when Xiao Family juniors fail to identify him during the Dou Qi Test, and he tries to impress Xun'er with his cultivation achievements 61. His self-assurance can cross into narcissism, though he is also mischievous and avoids humiliating Little Fatty after winning their bet 61 62.

He is intensely driven by cultivation. He dismisses Xiao Mei to continue training and endures repeated assassination attempts as part of the hardships Yao Lao considers necessary for his growth 90. When confronted by Yun Yun and the Misty Cloud Sect, his concern for his father's honor outweighs caution, leading him to accept the three-year challenge despite the immense difference in status and resources 92 93.

Abilities & Skills

Dou Qi Cultivation

A highly talented cultivator who progressed from One Star Dou Zhe at age ten to Two Star Dou Shi by his mid-teens, then entered Jia Nan Academy's Outer Academy top four as a Seven Star Da Dou Shi 56 66 172.

• Wields fiery red Dou Qi 174.
• Can form Dou Qi Armor in combat 174.
• Received substantial cultivation guidance from Yao Lao after the latter awakened in his ring 65.

Eight Extremes Collapse

A close-range strike that carries concealed follow-up force.

• Its hidden force entered Xun'er's body after their initial clash, forcing her to expel it before it could cause further harm 174.
• Used at full power against Xun'er during their Jia Nan Academy match 174.

Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler

An Earth Rank Dou Skill performed through the Mysterious Heavy Ruler.

• Xiao Yan's strongest displayed attack during his match with Xun'er 175.
• Generates a massive dark-red ruler beam and violent energy fluctuations that required academy elders to reinforce the arena defenses 175.
• Was overcome by Xun'er's Nine Phoenix Sacred Flame Palm, Flame God Palm 175 176.

Suction Palm

A ranged pulling technique.

• Pulled the Mysterious Heavy Ruler back to Xiao Yan while he was being launched away, allowing him to arrest his momentum by driving it into the arena floor 174.

Yao Lao's Assistance

Yao Lao is a soul residing in Xiao Yan's ring and serves as his teacher.

• Accelerated Xiao Yan's cultivation after awakening 65.
• Helped shield Xiao Yan from the aftermath of Xun'er's Earth Rank attack during their academy battle 176.
• Can assess threats and provide strategic guidance, but does not normally intervene unless Xiao Yan faces a life-or-death situation 90.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Mysterious Heavy Ruler — enormous black ruler used as Xiao Yan's primary weapon and as the medium for Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler 174 175.
• Black Ring — formerly contained the Bone Chilling Flame and houses Yao Lao's soul 58 64 65.
• Xiao Family Clan Leader's Inheritance Jade — entrusted to Xiao Yan by Xiao Zhan when he departed for Jia Nan Academy 155 156.

Relationships

• Xiao Zhan — father and Xiao Family patriarch; supports Xiao Yan's three-year agreement and regards him as the best candidate for the next clan leader 56 93 155.
• Xiao Xun'er — fellow Xiao Family resident and fellow prodigy; Xiao Yan is drawn to her and repeatedly seeks her company, though she remains distant. Their academy duel demonstrates the vast gap in their strength 59 65 174 176.
• Yao Lao — teacher and soul residing in Xiao Yan's ring; mentors him, accelerates his cultivation, and intervenes in critical danger 65 90 176.
• Nalan Yanran — fiancée who sought to annul their engagement; their dispute resulted in a three-year agreement to fight at the Misty Cloud Sect 91 93.
• Yun Yun — Misty Cloud Sect Master and Nalan Yanran's teacher; established the terms of Xiao Yan's three-year agreement 93.
• Xiao Yi Xian — Xun'er's friend; Xiao Yan shows clear interest in her upon meeting her 90 94.
• Xiao Mei — cousin whose advances Xiao Yan dismisses so he can focus on cultivation 90.
• Little Fatty (Xiao Da) — clan junior who bet that Xiao Yan could not be a Two-Star Dou Zhe; Xiao Yan lets him off with the lesser demand of buying him a meal 61 62.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Xiao Family Prodigy

Xiao Yan is introduced as the Xiao Family's celebrated young genius, whose Two-Star Dou Zhe cultivation at ten makes him the subject of admiration throughout Wutan City 56.

Xun'er's Arrival

He welcomes Xiao Xun'er to the Xiao Family and develops an immediate fascination with her, though her superior cultivation and guarded background leave him discouraged and curious 57 58.

Coming-of-Age Ceremony

With Yao Lao's guidance, Xiao Yan becomes a Two-Star Dou Shi and draws praise from the Xiao Family's guests. Xun'er's Nine-Star Dou Shi result subsequently eclipses the attention he receives 65 66.

Three-Year Agreement

After the Misty Cloud Sect attempts to end his engagement with Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yan rejects the humiliation of an imposed annulment and agrees to challenge her three years later 92 93.

Jia Nan Academy

Having joined Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Yan becomes one of the Outer Academy's top four students. He is selected to fight first against Xun'er in her Inner Academy admission gauntlet, but her Five-Star Dou Ling cultivation decisively surpasses him 172 174 176.

Notable Quotes

“We are both human. What makes you think I am inferior to Nalan Yanran?” 93

“Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Do not look down on the poor youth!” 93