Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Brother Yan; Little Yanzi
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Clan; Jia Nan Academy; Starfall Pavilion; Heavenly Mansion Alliance
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; alchemist; former Jia Nan Academy student
Status	Alive
First Appearance	75

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Eighth-stage Dou Qi	75 80	Recognized as the Xiao Clan's once-in-a-century genius at eight years old.
Dou Practitioner	88	Condensed a Dou Cyclone after intensive cultivation; became Wu Tan City's leading young genius.
Two-Star Dou Practitioner	140	Reached this level after previously having only three segments of Dou Qi.
Four-Star Dou Practitioner	157	Earned an A-grade potential assessment when entering Jia Nan Academy.
Six-Star Dou Master	174	Refined the Green Lotus Core Flame and trained under Yao Chen in the Magic Beast Mountain Range.
Two-Star Dou King	241	Revealed Dou Qi Wings during his arena challenge against Hun Xiu.
Two-Star Dou Saint	325	Arrived at the Ancient Realm with a cultivation level that surprised Hun Xiu.
Four-Star Dou Saint	347	Emerged from seclusion having recovered from his injuries and advanced further.
Seven-Star Dou Saint	424	Reached this realm after a year refining the Purifying Demonic Flame in the Demonic Flame Space.
Dou Di	494	Successfully overcame the Emperor Tribulation, becoming the first Dou Di in ten thousand years.

Background / History

Early life

Xiao Yan is a member of the declining Xiao Clan and the son of Clan Head Xiao Zhan. Although the clan appears to be a minor Wu Tan City power, he later learns that it was once one of the Eight Ancient Clans. His father's disappearance is connected in some way to the Soul Hall. 207 239 240

He began cultivating at four and was already at the eighth stage of Dou Qi by age eight, making him the pride of the Xiao Clan. His early engagement to Nalan Yanran initially strengthened his standing, but the engagement eventually ended when he wrote a letter of divorce. 75 80 88 140

Xiao Yan carries a Storage Ring inhabited by the remnant soul of Yao Chen, who becomes his teacher and provides him with cultivation methods, guidance, a heavy ruler, and access to rare resources. 140 157

Training and Jia Nan Academy

Driven partly by resentment toward Yun Xiu—later revealed to be Hun Xiu—Xiao Yan took a year away from Jia Nan Academy to undergo harsh training in the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Yao Chen gave him a heavy ruler forged from Flame Meteorite Profound Iron, which suppresses Dou Qi and serves as both a weapon and training burden. 157

After returning to Wu Tan City, Xiao Yan found his father missing and the Xiao Clan nearly destroyed by the Jialie and Aoba Clans. He saved the clan, eliminated both hostile factions, and restored the Xiao Clan as Wu Tan City's foremost power before reporting to Jia Nan Academy. 207

At Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Yan rose rapidly through the Inner Academy's Power Ranking. Within half a year of entering the Inner Academy, he challenged Liu Qing and lost by only half a move, becoming second on the ranking; he was later recognized as its top-ranked student despite losing his battle with Hun Xiu. 241 245

Central Plains and the Demonic Flame

After leaving Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Yan entered the Central Plains, married Tang Huo'er of Burning Flame Valley, became Starfall Pavilion's Young Pavilion Master, and helped Yao Chen regain a body by refining one with Heavenly Flames. 292

He reached the Two-Star Dou Saint realm before visiting the Ancient Realm, where his rivalry with Hun Xiu intensified. A subsequent defeat left him stripped of his Heavenly Flames, but he recovered through seclusion and advanced to Four-Star Dou Saint. 325 340 347

Xiao Yan later spent a year inside the Demonic Flame Space refining the Purifying Demonic Flame. He emerged as a Seven-Star Dou Saint, discovered that Starfall Pavilion and the Heavenly Mansion Alliance had been destroyed, and vowed revenge against Hun Xiu. 424 430

During his reunion with Tang Huo'er, Xiao Yan learned that he had a daughter, Xiao Huo'er. The revelation shifted his priorities toward protecting his remaining family while pursuing revenge more cautiously. 429 430

Ascension to Dou Di

Xiao Yan cultivated for half a year within Ancient Emperor Tuoshe's legacy before breaking through to Dou Di. He then attacked the Hun Realm, shattered its protective formation, captured Soul Emperor, and confronted Hun Xiu as an equal in realm but not in combat strength. 494 496 503

Appearance

Xiao Yan is a thin, black-haired young man of ordinary appearance. He is most often seen in a black robe with a massive black ruler carried across his back; despite his unassuming looks, his bearing is repeatedly described as exceptional. 75 207 429

• Wears black robes. 75 207
• Carries a large black heavy ruler. 157 241
• Has a thin build and an otherwise ordinary face. 75 420
• Projects an increasingly sharp and dangerous aura as his cultivation rises. 207 426

Personality

Xiao Yan is intensely competitive, proud, and exceptionally unwilling to accept defeat. Repeated losses to Hun Xiu fuel his determination to grow stronger, even when Yao Chen warns him that he is outmatched. 147 157 174 327

His attachment to Gu Xun'er develops into persistent, unwanted pursuit at Jia Nan Academy, despite her repeatedly making clear that she does not return his feelings. 237 238

Despite his pride, Xiao Yan can reflect on his conduct. After being injured and losing his Heavenly Flames, he acknowledges that he had treated Tang Huo'er poorly and resolves to devote himself to her instead of remaining fixated on Gu Xun'er. 340

Abilities & Skills

Fennel Technique

A cultivation technique taught by Yao Chen that can evolve by refining Heavenly Flames. Yao Chen presents it as Xiao Yan's path to eventually surpassing Yun Xiu. 157

• Remained a Heaven Tier technique even after Hun Xiu extracted Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flames. 347
• Its advancement is tied to Xiao Yan's acquisition and refinement of Heavenly Flames. 157 347
• Allowed Xiao Yan to refine the Purifying Demonic Flame during his year in the Demonic Flame Space. 420 424

Heavenly Flames

Xiao Yan specializes in Heavenly Flames, using them for cultivation, combat, alchemy, and the evolution of his cultivation technique. 157 241 292

• Green Lotus Core Flame — Ranked eighteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking; used against Hun Xiu during their Jia Nan Academy battle. 176 241
• Nine Dragon Thunder Gang Flame — Burning Flame Valley's inherited Heavenly Flame, acquired after Xiao Yan married Tang Huo'er. 292
• Bone Chilling Flame — Given to him by Yao Chen in preparation for confronting the Hun Clan. 292
• Purifying Demonic Flame — Refined in the Demonic Flame Space; greatly increased Xiao Yan's cultivation and became a core part of his later power. 424 433
• Hun Xiu once extracted all of Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flames, leaving him devastated and forcing him to rebuild his strength. 340

Heavy Ruler Techniques

Xiao Yan fights with a ruler forged from Flame Meteorite Profound Iron. The weapon is extremely heavy, suppresses his Dou Qi while worn, and supports the Earth Tier techniques taught by Yao Chen. 157

• Flame Splitting Wave Ruler — A ruler technique used against Hun Xiu in the Tagor Great Desert and later in the Jia Nan Academy arena. 175 241
• Heavenly Flame Ancient Ruler — His ultimate ruler technique, eventually formed from twenty-three Heavenly Flames. 504
• The ruler's weight serves as constant restraint training; releasing that restraint can produce a sudden increase in combat performance. 157

Physical Dou Skills

Xiao Yan employs close-combat Dou Skills alongside his ruler techniques.

• Eight Extremities Collapse — Used in his early spar with Yun Xiu and later against Hun Xiu in the desert. 146 175
• Buddha's Fury Lotus — A last-resort attack attempted during his Jia Nan Academy battle with Hun Xiu. 243

Flight Dou Skill

Xiao Yan possesses the Purple Cloud Wings, allowing him to fly before reaching the Dou King realm. 176

• Surprised observers because his flight capability appeared while he was still a Six-Star Dou Master. 176
• Later gained genuine Dou Qi Wings upon reaching the Dou King realm. 241

Alchemy and Soul Power

As Yao Chen's disciple, Xiao Yan is an alchemist with exceptionally strong soul power. 157 295

• His soul power was strong enough to seal the Dou Qi of the severely wounded West Dragon King. 295
• He used Heavenly Flames to refine a body for Yao Chen. 292
• His soul power later reached Heaven Realm Great Perfection, though Hun Xiu considered it inadequate against Emperor Realm Soul users. 473

Dou Di Dharma Body

After reaching Dou Di, Xiao Yan manifests a flame-based Dharma Body capable of controlling the world's fires. 503

• Engages Hun Xiu's Dou Di Dharma Body directly in giant-scale combat. 503
• Was ultimately overpowered by Hun Xiu's sword-intent-based Dharma Body despite sharing the same realm. 503 504

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Flame Meteorite Profound Iron Heavy Ruler — A uniquely heavy ruler that suppresses Xiao Yan's Dou Qi and functions as his primary weapon. 157
• Storage Ring — Houses Yao Chen's remnant soul and stores Xiao Yan's belongings. 140 148
• Purple Cloud Wings — Flight Dou Skill used before he developed natural Dou Qi Wings. 176
• Purifying Demonic Flame map fragments — The completed map led Xiao Yan to the Purifying Demonic Flame, though contact with it initially raised fears of possession. 347 348

Relationships

• Xiao Zhan — Father and Xiao Clan Head. His disappearance drove Xiao Yan to investigate the Soul Hall and seek greater strength. 207 240
• Yao Chen — Master and mentor whose remnant soul resides in Xiao Yan's Storage Ring. He provides cultivation techniques, weapons, healing, Heavenly Flames, and continual guidance. 140 147 157 347
• Tang Huo'er — Wife and mother of Xiao Huo'er. Xiao Yan initially married her partly to obtain Burning Flame Valley's Heavenly Flame, but later resolves to treat her sincerely. 292 340 429
• Xiao Huo'er — Daughter with Tang Huo'er. Xiao Yan meets her for the first time after emerging from the Demonic Flame Space. 429 430
• Gu Xun'er — Childhood companion and Xiao Yan's unrequited love. He persistently pursues her at Jia Nan Academy, but she chooses Hun Xiu instead. 237 238 325
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée. She initially developed affection for Xiao Yan, but their engagement later ended in divorce. 80 140
• Hun Xiu / Yun Xiu — Principal rival. Xiao Yan's resentment toward him began in the Xiao Clan and escalated through repeated defeats, the loss of his Heavenly Flames, and the destruction of forces tied to Xiao Yan. 140 147 340 430
• Ancestor Huoyun — Senior ally and adviser who supports Xiao Yan's recovery, verifies that he was not possessed, and urges caution against stronger enemies. 347 348 430
• Xiao Chen — Xiao Clan ancestor whose strength and survival reinforce Xiao Yan's awareness of the Xiao Clan's past greatness. 371 394

Trivia

• Xiao Yan is a transmigrator. 75 325
• He was known in Jia Nan Academy as a “love-struck fool” because of his devotion to Gu Xun'er. 237
• His rise from the Jia Ma Empire to Dou Saint astonished even members of the Ancient Clan. 325 326
• He became the first Dou Di to appear on the continent in ten thousand years. 494