Old Yao

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Old Yao (药老); Yao Chen 59
Alias(es)	Medicine Venerable; Medicine Saint 60 294
Species/Race	Ring-bound spirit/soul; later restored to a physical body 3 292
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Former Pill Tower Elder; founder of Starfall Pavilion 58
Occupation/Role	Alchemist; Xiao Yan's master and mentor 3
Status	Alive; identifies himself as the Medicine Saint after emerging from seclusion 294
First Appearance	Chapter 3 (explicit appearance as the ancient ring's spirit) 3

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Ring-bound spirit	3	Reveals himself as the spirit of Xiao Yan's ring and accepts him as a disciple. 3
Dou Zong	10	Recovers to the Dou Zong stage after refining the Seven Illusions Green Spirit Saliva. 10
High-Level Dou Zong combat power	19	After consuming the Seven Illusions Green Spirit Saliva and Soul Life Fruit, can wield power comparable to a High-Level Dou Zong and kills the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King. 19
Skeleton vessel fusion	103	Fuses with a Three-Revolutions Dou Zun Skeleton prepared and tempered through the Heaven Refining Ancient Array. 103
Dou Sheng breakthrough attempt	139	Uses a small space centered on the Heaven Refining Ancient Array while attempting to break through to Dou Sheng. 139
Physical resurrection	292	Xiao Yan completes a seven-day resurrection process; the skeleton grows flesh and skin into Old Yao's form. 292
Medicine Saint	294	Emerges from seclusion and publicly adopts the title “Medicine Saint.” 294

Background / History

Yao Chen was once a Pill Tower Elder, but abandoned the position and established Starfall Pavilion instead. He was an eighth-grade peak alchemist and possessed the eleventh-ranked Heavenly Flame, the Bone Spirit Cold Flame. 3 58 60

His pursuit of the evolving cultivation method known as the Burning Art contributed to his downfall. Han Feng, his former disciple, repeatedly sought to learn the uncertain technique; after Yao Chen refused, Han Feng secretly contacted the Soul Hall and betrayed him. 60 255

Reduced to a spirit residing within an ancient ring, Old Yao absorbed Xiao Yan's Dou Qi while at his weakest. Xiao Yan eventually discovered the ring's involvement, and Old Yao emerged to acknowledge himself as its spirit. He framed the encounter as a test and offered Xiao Yan the chance to become his disciple. 1 3

As Xiao Yan's master, Old Yao supplied cultivation methods, Dou Techniques, pill recipes, medicinal resources, and alchemy instruction. His early assistance established Xiao Yan's physical foundation and accelerated the younger cultivator's progress. 3 4

Old Yao gradually restored his strength through medicinal and soul-nourishing treasures. By the time of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's appearance, he could act with High-Level Dou Zong-level power, kill the sixth-grade magical beast, and retrieve its heart and Magical Core. 10 19

When Han Feng's betrayal was confirmed, Old Yao was overcome by anger, disappointment, and confusion. Although Han Feng was killed, Old Yao chose to preserve his soul so Xiao Yan could later use it to refine the Sea Heart Flame. 60

Xiao Yan later arranged Old Yao's restoration through increasingly powerful skeletal vessels. After a seven-day process, Old Yao was successfully resurrected in a physical body and subsequently emerged from seclusion calling himself the Medicine Saint. 280 292 294

At Xiao Yan's request, Old Yao relinquished the origin fire seed and his imprint on the Bone Spirit Cold Flame without demanding an explanation. Xiao Yan used the flame in his plan to restore Han Shanshan, Old Yao's senior sister. 211

Appearance

After regaining a body, Old Yao appears as a white-haired, somewhat gaunt old man with an alert and healthy spirit. 294

• Resides within an ancient ring during his soul state. 3
• Has white hair after emerging from his later seclusion. 294
• Carries the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, a pale Heavenly Flame. 3 17

Personality

Old Yao is blunt, sarcastic, and easily exasperated by Xiao Yan's shameless demands, often responding with a slap or a cutting remark. Despite this, he takes clear pleasure in teaching and gradually regains a sense of humanity through their master-disciple relationship. 3 4

He is cautious about risks that Xiao Yan treats lightly, especially the refinement of Heavenly Flames and reckless advancement. His concern consistently outweighs his irritation: when Xiao Yan returns stronger but potentially endangered, Old Yao prioritizes confirming his disciple's safety over examining his gains. 26 28 150

Old Yao also values talent. He becomes invested in Dan Chen's development, personally guiding her alchemy after her integration with the Fallen Heart Flame. 292 294

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Old Yao is an eighth-grade peak alchemist whose knowledge encompasses pill recipes, medicinal refinement, physical-tempering medicines, and advanced pill production. 4 53 60

• Provides Xiao Yan with a complete body-strengthening pill set ranging from first to fifth grade. 4
• Refines medicinal liquid to accelerate Xiao Yan's early cultivation. 4
• Refines the Purple Crystal Lion Heart Pill from the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's heart and Magical Core. 20
• Agrees to refine high-grade pills including the Spirit Recovery Purple Pill, Imperial Pill, Soul Cleansing Pill, and Sect Breaking Pill. 53
• Teaches alchemy to Xiao Yan, Yao Ling, and later Dan Chen. 3 211 294

Bone Spirit Cold Flame

Old Yao possesses the eleventh-ranked Heavenly Flame, the Bone Spirit Cold Flame. 3

• Uses the flame to teach Xiao Yan alchemy. 3
• Ripens Green Fate Fruits into Bone Spirit Fate Fruits. 17
• Uses its power in spiritual and medicinal refinement. 17
• Later relinquishes its origin fire seed and personal imprint to Xiao Yan. 211

Soul Power and Spatial Arts

Even while bodyless, Old Yao can project soul power, sense nearby cultivators, intimidate opponents, and act through Xiao Yan. 10 11

• Scans Xiao Yi Xian and identifies her unusual physique. 11
• Releases an aura that severely injures four Peak Dou Emperor Snake People Elders. 34
• Teaches Dou Zongs how to maintain spatial wormholes. 60
• Opens and manipulates a small space centered on the Heaven Refining Ancient Array. 139
• Tears through space to transport Xiao Yan to the Ancient Realm. 150

Combat

Old Yao's restored strength allows him to serve as Xiao Yan's protector in conflicts beyond the latter's realm. 19

• Kills the sixth-grade Purple Crystal Winged Lion King. 19
• Identifies the strengths and weaknesses of magical beasts and opposing cultivators during battle. 19
• Suppresses Peak Dou Emperor-level opponents through released aura alone. 34

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Ancient Ring — Old Yao's residence during his spirit state; it is worn by Xiao Yan. 3 50
• Storage Ring — Used to keep medicinal herbs and refinement materials. 4
• Bone Spirit Cold Flame — Eleventh-ranked Heavenly Flame and Old Yao's defining flame. 3

Relationships

• Xiao Yan — Master and disciple. Old Yao provides methods, resources, protection, and alchemy training; Xiao Yan later orchestrates his resurrection and seeks to make him a Medicine Saint. 3 60 292
• Han Feng — Former disciple whose betrayal of Old Yao led to lasting anger and disappointment. Han Feng contacts the Soul Hall over the Burning Art and is ultimately killed. 60
• Xuan Yi — Former lover and close acquaintance. She reunites with Old Yao after recognizing Yao Chen and helps act against Han Feng. 59 60
• Dan Chen — Junior disciple guided by Old Yao after his resurrection; he takes a personal interest in her alchemy. 292 294
• Yao Ling — Disciple from the Yao Clan whom Old Yao teaches alchemy. 200 211
• Han Shanshan — Old Yao's senior sister, who once sacrificed herself to help him survive the Bone Spirit Cold Flame; Xiao Yan later acts to restore her. 211

Notable Quotes

“That's right, I am the spirit of the ring. You passed my test, so now I can give you a chance to take me as your master...” 3

“It's not just anger, but also disappointment, confusion, and many other emotions.” 60

“However, you can call me Medicine Saint now.” 294