Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Flame Emperor 220 225
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; Xiao Clan 5 59
Occupation/Role	Cultivator, alchemist, disciple of Old Yao 3 7
Status	Active 241
First Appearance	Chapter 1 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Four Stage Dou Qi	2	Reached after three years; his earlier loss of Dou Qi was attributed to a secret soul-perception technique.
One-star Dou Zhe	5	Broke through after consuming a pill-patterned Qi Gathering Powder.
Peak Four-star Dou Zhe	8	Refined and absorbed the enhanced Dry Blue Water Flame.
Five-star Dou Zhe	9	Broke through during secluded cultivation after returning to Wutan City.
Peak Six-star Dou Zhe	9	Advanced after refining the Peach Blossom Flame.
Eight-star Dou Zhe	9	Reached after refining the Earth Flame; the Flame Mantra evolved to advanced Yellow-tier.
Four-star Dou Shi	17	Broke through to Dou Shi and advanced four stars during two days of seclusion with a Fate Fruit.
Peak Five-star Dou Shi	17	Continued advancing after refining two Beast Flames.
Peak Seven-star Dou Shi	17	Perfectly assimilated the Bone Spirit Fate Fruit and Beast Flame power over the following six months.
Seven-star Dou Ling	52	Reached through sustained pill refinement while preparing resources for the Xiao Family.
Eight-star Dou Ling	58	Broke through by one star while recovering from his injuries.
Nine-star Dou Ling	63	Advanced through repeated pill refinement using Han Feng's equipment.
Nine-star Dou King	77	Broke through after two additional months cultivating in the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower.
Dou Emperor	78	Advanced in the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower; Su Qian identifies him as the Inner Courtyard's fourth student to reach this realm.
Four-star Dou Zong	110	Advanced after absorbing the Red Lotus Karmic Fire and cultivating with the Heaven and Earth Arrays.
Five-star Dou Zong	114	Advanced after a month of cultivation in the Scorching Volcano Range.
Peak Nine-turn Dou Zun	162	Reached alongside Heavenly Realm Great Perfection in soul cultivation.
Half-Saint	165	Broke through after three years of seclusion in the Heavenly Tomb using Queen Worm Essence Blood.
Late-stage Six-star Dou Sheng	187	Publicly identifies himself at this level upon arriving at East Dragon Island.
Dou Di	211	His breakthrough is recognized across the Dou Qi Continent; he seals his children's Dou Di bloodlines afterward.

Background / History

Xiao Yan's cultivation once fell from One-star Dou Practitioner to the Third Stage of Dou Qi, leaving him subject to ridicule and straining the Xiao Family's willingness to continue devoting resources to him 1. He later revealed that his lost Dou Qi resulted from secretly cultivating a technique that enhanced his soul perception rather than from damaged talent 2.

After encountering Old Yao within a ring, Xiao Yan accepted him as his master. He immediately used Old Yao's name, knowledge, and Xuan-tier methods to strengthen his standing within the Xiao Family, while Old Yao began directing his cultivation, body tempering, alchemy, and acquisition of flames 3 4.

Xiao Yan turned alchemy into a source of wealth and influence for the Xiao Family. His First Grade pills supported the family's Dou Zhes, and the resulting income helped the family recover economically 5. His growing reputation later drew the support of the Jia Ma Imperial Family, the Snake People Clan, the Misty Cloud Sect, and the Mite'er Family, which competed to supply the resources he required 68.

Appearance

Xiao Yan was a fourteen-year-old Second Grade Alchemist when he entered the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Guild 8. His body undergoes extensive refinement throughout his cultivation, eventually surpassing Zi Yan and some seventh-tier magical beasts in physical strength 103.

• Carries the Heavy Black Ruler during training and travel; he can practice Eight Extremes Collapse while bearing it 10.
• Develops Heavenly Phoenix Wings before later refining the Dragon Phoenix Heavenly Wing 113 300.
• The Dragon Phoenix Heavenly Wing manifests as dark wings accompanied by dragon roars, phoenix cries, wind, and thunder 301.
• When activating the wing's power, his eyes can take on vertical slits and emit an oppressive, draconic presence 301.

Personality

Xiao Yan is highly transactional and resource-conscious. He repeatedly exchanges cultivation methods, pill recipes, flame information, and alchemical assistance for rare materials, allies, and long-term political leverage 46 152. He is willing to use deception when it benefits him, including posing as a possessor of an Ancient Void Dragon bloodline to manipulate Feng Qing'er into a temporary alliance 110.

His ambition is tempered by a practical understanding of power. He pursues Heavenly Flames, superior cultivation methods, and dangerous body-tempering arts with little hesitation, but recognizes that personal strength must take priority before he can effectively support others 73 106. His confidence can become recklessness, particularly when powerful flames cloud his judgment or when he risks severe injuries to force a breakthrough 57 106.

Despite his calculating nature, Xiao Yan is attentive toward people he considers his own. He provides resources and training for the Xiao Family, Qing Lin, Xiao Yi Xian, Zi Yan, and his disciples, and he repeatedly works to protect or improve their futures 47 52 132 152.

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Xiao Yan is an exceptionally fast-learning alchemist whose refining skill develops alongside his cultivation.

• Refined First Grade Stone Skin Pills and Muscle Growth Pills for the Xiao Family 5.
• Passed the First and Second Grade Alchemist assessments in a single visit to the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Guild; his assessment pill possessed a pill pattern 7.
• Rose from Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade Alchemist within only a few years, becoming a central supplier for major Jia Ma Empire factions 68.
• Is identified as a Ninth Grade Alchemist by the time he reaches East Dragon Island 187.
• Can refine high-grade pills, including the Yin Yang Profound Dragon Pill at eight-grade level with four-colored pill lightning 110.
• Teaches alchemy and cultivation to disciples including Gu He, Yao Yue, and Dan Chen 132 208 292.

Flame Mantra / Burning Art

Xiao Yan's flame-based cultivation method evolves by refining Beast Flames and Heavenly Flames.

• The Flame Mantra reached Profound-tier low-grade after he refined two fifth-tier Beast Flames 17.
• It evolved to low-tier Heavenly level after Xiao Yan absorbed the Red Lotus Karmic Fire 110.
• The Burning Art is described as an Emperor Grade cultivation method capable of fusing Heavenly Flames 256.
• After refining eight Heavenly Flames, his Burning Art reached advanced Heavenly tier 297.
• His refined flames include the Green Lotus Core Flame, Fallen Heart Flame, Three Thousand Yan Flame Fire, Nine Dragon Thunder Gang Fire, Turtle Spirit Earth Fire, Flame of Life, Eight Desolations Destruction Flame, and a strand of Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame 297.

Soul Cultivation

Xiao Yan's soul power is a defining advantage, allowing him to control flames, attack directly with his soul, and cultivate techniques beyond his Dou Qi realm.

• His soul power exceeded that of an ordinary Da Dou Shi while he was still breaking through to Dou Zhe 5.
• Cultivating the Great Dream Soul Evolution Technique advanced him to mid-Spirit Realm 106.
• He later reached late Spirit Realm, then Spirit Realm Great Perfection through Earth Core Soul Marrow 110 132.
• His soul reached Heavenly Realm Great Perfection while he stood at peak Nine-turn Dou Zun 162.
• After refining the Nether Flame Heavenly Fire and part of the Void Devouring Flame, he broke through to Emperor Realm Soul 196.

Body Tempering

Xiao Yan repeatedly uses pills, flames, lightning, and dangerous Dou Techniques to forge an abnormally powerful physique.

• Trained Eight Extremes Collapse to absorb medicinal power and build physical strength 4.
• Cultivated Molten Earth Splitting Body by using the Dry Blue Water Flame to simulate magma 9.
• Developed the Earth-tier High-grade Peerless Prison Body by detonating violent energy in his meridians and repairing the resulting damage 52.
• Peerless Prison Body allows him to gather surrounding world energy for cultivation and can eventually draw energy across a hundred-mile radius 73.
• His body became comparable to an eighth-grade magical beast after repeated Heavenly Flame tempering 293.

Heavenly Fire Three Profound Transformations

A flame-amplification secret technique taught through Xiao Xuan's inheritance.

• First Transformation: Red Lotus Transformation — Raises Xiao Yan from Four-star Dou Zong to the peak of Seven-star Dou Zong with negligible lasting harm 113.
• Second Transformation: Meteor Heart Transformation — Raises him to Nine-star Dou Zong, but his Heavenly Flames clash within his meridians and can inflict severe injuries 113.
• Combined combat form — Xiao Yan can layer the technique with Peerless Prison Body, using the Emperor Flame to control and weaponize the pressure created by clashing flames 113.
• Clan Mark stage — The technique's fourth stage draws upon the Xiao Clan's Clan Mark 264.

Dou Techniques

• Eight Extremes Collapse — High Profound-tier technique that produces stacked hidden forces; all eight layers together can rival an Earth-tier technique 4 171.
• Five Wheel Leaving Fire Method — A five-stage fire-control art that forms wolf, leopard, lion, tiger, and flood dragon fire spirits; four Heavenly Flame constructs can make its power comparable to a Heavenly-tier technique 85.
• Heavenly Wrath Soul Breaking Finger — Heavenly-tier low-grade Xiao Clan technique learned and rapidly mastered through daily sparring with Blood Saber Saint 162.
• Silken Play — Earth-tier advanced movement technique that uses invisible soul-and-Dou-Qi threads to interfere with, control, or tear apart an opponent's body 267.
• Explosive Flame Charge — Earth-tier intermediate movement technique that applies explosive fire Dou Qi to rapid movement and close-range strikes 267.
• Lion's Roar Shakes the Eight Directions — Sonic-wave technique used in attempts to subdue powerful Heavenly Flames and force Feng Qing'er into her true form 106 110.

Formations and Puppetry

Xiao Yan uses formations to concentrate energy, suppress Heavenly Flames, and support cultivation.

• Modified the Heaven Refining Ancient Array into Heaven and Earth formations that can store energy for battle or breakthroughs 103.
• Used Heavenly and Earth Arrays in an attempt to suppress the Red Lotus Karmic Fire 106.
• Forged an intelligent Heavenly Demon Puppet from a Dou Sheng skeleton, Seven-star Dou Sheng Energy Core, and Fallen Heart Flame sub-flame 162.
• Used puppet formations, soul attacks, Fallen Heart Flame, and Heavenly-tier techniques to kill the Black and White Heavenly Venerates 288.

Flight and Spatial Mobility

• Refined Heavenly Phoenix Wings from a Heavenly Demon Phoenix's wings 101.
• Later mastered the high-tier Heavenly-grade Dragon Phoenix Heavenly Wing, granting extreme flight speed and spatial control 300 301.
• Can cross thousands of feet without visible movement after activating the Dragon Phoenix Heavenly Wing 301.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Heavy Black Ruler — Used to impose constant physical pressure during travel and combat training 10.
• Medicine Cauldron — Purchased from the Mite'er Auction House when Xiao Yan began refining medicine and cultivating simultaneously 256.
• Han Feng's high-grade Storage Ring — Used during his pill-refining period after obtaining it 63.
• Myriad Beast Cauldron — Han Feng's cauldron, used by Xiao Yan to refine Blood Burning Spirit Ascension Pills and recovery medicines 63.
• Space Jade Slip — Given by Xuan Kongzi to establish a direct spatial passage to the Star Domain 139.
• Dragon Phoenix Heavenly Wing — High-tier Heavenly-grade flying Dou Technique refined using Dragon Phoenix Blood 300 301.

Relationships

• Old Yao — Master and mentor. Old Yao guides Xiao Yan's cultivation, alchemy, body tempering, flame refinement, and later receives Xiao Yan's help in obtaining a new body 3 4 292.
• Xiao Zhan — Father. Xiao Zhan supports Xiao Yan with family resources and trusts his son's potential despite the loss of his Dou Qi 2 5.
• Xiao Yi Xian — Old Yao's disciple and Xiao Yan's fiancée. Xiao Yan helps her cultivate and control the Calamity Poison Body; she agrees to marry him after he recovers from his battle with Vulture Protector 12 57 101.
• Gu Xun'er — Childhood friend and romantic partner. Their relationship deepens through shared secrets, cultivation, and political cooperation with the Ancient Clan 124 150 165.
• Gu Yuan — Gu Xun'er's father and a powerful supporter who provides Xiao Yan with rare flames, resources, guidance, and access to the Heavenly Tomb 262 300.
• Xiao Xuan — Ancestor and master. Xiao Xuan accepts Xiao Yan as his disciple, provides techniques and resources, and later receives revival through Xiao Yan's efforts 158 162 200.
• Zi Yan — Close companion and romantic partner. Xiao Yan supports her evolution into a Dragon Phoenix; she confesses her feelings, and he later introduces himself publicly as her husband 139 140 187.
• Qing Lin — Follower who continues to call Xiao Yan “Young Master” even after reaching Dou Sheng 47 213.
• Yao Yue — Registered disciple. Xiao Yan initially declines her request because she already has a teacher, but later accepts her through an agreement with Jia Xing Tian 7 8.
• Gu He — Registered disciple and subordinate in alchemy-related work 54 132.
• Dan Chen — Disciple trained by Xiao Yan in a suitable Heavenly Grade cultivation method after becoming his student 291 292.
• Queen Medusa — Ally who pledges loyalty to Xiao Yan after he reveals the value of the Spirit Transformation Heavenly Soul Fruit 34.

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Loss of Dou Qi and apprenticeship — Xiao Yan avoids years of humiliation by exposing the true cause of his lost Dou Qi and accepting Old Yao as his master 2 3.
• Revitalizing the Xiao Family — He uses alchemy, cultivation methods, and family alliances to restore the Xiao Family's finances and raise its combat strength 5 52.
• Imperial Capital recognition — He earns Second Grade Alchemist status, gains the attention of Fa Ma and the imperial family, and accepts Yao Yue as a registered disciple 7 8.
• Flame acquisition and rapid advancement — Xiao Yan refines Beast Flames and Heavenly Flames to evolve his cultivation method, improve his body, and accelerate his realm progression 8 9 17.
• Jia Nan Academy — He enters the academy system seeking the Library Pavilion, Fire Energy, and access to stronger cultivation resources; he later breaks through to Dou Emperor in the Inner Courtyard 47 78.
• Central Continent expansion — He strengthens the Ye Family, aids Xiao Yi Xian against the Calamity Poison Body, forms alliances, and pursues increasingly dangerous Heavenly Flames 101 103 110.
• Heavenly Tomb inheritance — Xiao Yan reaches the deepest level of the Heavenly Tomb, becomes Xiao Xuan's disciple, trains against Blood Saber Saint, and acquires Xiao Clan Heavenly-tier inheritances 158 162.
• Ancient-clan and Soul Hall conflict — He defeats powerful Soul Hall opponents, revives Xiao Xuan, and becomes a decisive figure in the shifting balance among the ancient clans 165 200.
• Dou Di breakthrough and reform — After becoming Dou Di, Xiao Yan establishes twenty-two Sky-Supporting Pillars across the Dou Qi Continent, each containing a Heavenly Flame and offering academy graduates a route toward Dou Emperor 211 214.
• Great Thousand World — As the Flame Emperor, Xiao Yan continues expanding his influence beyond the Dou Qi Continent, gathers high-level flames, and develops forces spanning multiple continents 220 225 236.

Notable Quotes

“My name is Xiao Yan, the Xiao from Xiao Xuan.” 158

“I, for one, detest tragedies...” 211