Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; later associated with the Spirit Hall
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; alchemist
Status	Alive; later returns to Wutan City to protect the Xiao Family 444
First Appearance	Chapter 350

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Dou Qi Stage One	346	Reached this stage after only five days of cultivation, earning Xiao Zhan's pride.
Dou Zhe	357	Challenges Li Xuan after advancing, unaware that Li Xuan is vastly stronger.
Dou Qi Stage Three	374	His cultivation regresses mysteriously over several years, making him the target of ridicule.
Dou Qi Stage Four	382	Breaks through after refining and using Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid under Old Man Yao's guidance.
Two-Star Dou Zhe	397	Revealed during the Xiao Family Coming-of-Age Ceremony.
Nine-Star Dou Huang	431	Reaches this level through years of dangerous cultivation and slaughter in the Black Corner Region.
Nine-Star Dou Venerate	441	Attains this realm through the Spirit Hall's pills at the cost of severe vitality loss and prematurely whitening hair.

Background / History

Xiao Yan is the son of Xiao Family head Xiao Zhan and a transmigrator. Initially hailed as the Xiao Family's greatest young genius for condensing Dou Qi in five days, he is proud, ambitious, and certain that his talent will secure Xiao Xun'er's affection. Li Xuan's arrival overturns that confidence: Xiao Yan sees Li Xuan grow close to Xun'er and becomes determined to surpass him. 350 353 354

After reaching Dou Zhe, Xiao Yan challenges Li Xuan in an attempt to reclaim Xun'er's attention. Li Xuan effortlessly blocks his attacks, repeatedly slams him into the ground until he loses consciousness, then kisses Xun'er in front of him. The humiliation solidifies Xiao Yan's hostility toward Li Xuan. 357 359 360

Over the following years, Xiao Yan's Dou Qi declines to Stage Three, leaving him mocked by the Xiao Family. Nalan Yanran subsequently annuls their engagement because she has fallen for Li Xuan, intensifying Xiao Yan's resentment. On the back mountain, he encounters Old Man Yao, the soul residing in his ring, and accepts his offer of guidance. 374 376 378

Under Old Man Yao, Xiao Yan refines Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid, studies alchemy, and works to regain his strength. Yet every advance is overshadowed by Li Xuan's greater achievements—whether in cultivation, alchemy, influence, or relationships—deepening Xiao Yan's jealousy and desperation. 379 380 382 392

Xiao Yan trains in the Magical Beast Mountain Range and later the Black Corner Region, where his pursuit of strength becomes increasingly ruthless. After reaching Nine-Star Dou Huang, he accepts a pill from the Spirit Hall despite Old Man Yao's warning and becomes dependent on its cultivation resources. 398 431 432

After three years of pill-assisted cultivation, Xiao Yan reaches Nine-Star Dou Venerate but learns that Li Xuan is already a Nine-Star Dou Saint and Ninth Grade Alchemist. The revelation breaks his confidence. When Xiao Man is poisoned during the fall of a Spirit Hall branch, Li Xuan saves her with a Ninth-Grade Pill. Xiao Yan ultimately abandons his rivalry, accepts Li Xuan's help, and returns to Wutan City to quietly guard the Xiao Family. 442 443 444

Appearance

Xiao Yan is depicted as a young man who later carries a long saber and develops an increasingly cold, bloodthirsty presence during his time in the Black Corner Region. 431

• Carries a long saber while operating in the Black Corner Region. 431
• His hair becomes more than half white after years of overtaxing his vitality through pill-assisted cultivation. 441
• His appearance becomes distorted and blood-red after consuming the Spirit Hall's pill. 432

Personality

Xiao Yan begins as arrogant and highly self-assured, convinced that his early talent makes him superior to the other youths of Wutan City. He is especially possessive regarding Xiao Xun'er, viewing Li Xuan's closeness with her as a personal affront. 350 353 359

His defining trait becomes an obsessive need to surpass Li Xuan. Repeated defeats and comparisons turn this competitiveness into jealousy, rage, and eventually a willingness to accept dangerous pills and join the Spirit Hall for power. 377 392 431 433

Despite his deterioration, Xiao Yan deeply cares for Xiao Man. Her near-death experience forces him to recognize her importance, and Li Xuan's rescue of her becomes a turning point that ends Xiao Yan's hostility. 442 443 444

Abilities & Skills

Dou Qi Cultivation

Xiao Yan possesses exceptional initial cultivation talent and later accelerates his growth through Old Man Yao's instruction, Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid, and Spirit Hall pills.

• Condensed Dou Qi within five days. 346
• Reached Dou Zhe before suffering a prolonged loss of Dou Qi. 357 374
• Advanced from Two-Star Dou Zhe to Nine-Star Dou Huang and then Nine-Star Dou Venerate. 397 431 441
• His final rapid growth severely overdraws his vitality. 441

Alchemy

Old Man Yao trains Xiao Yan in alchemy as part of his plan to close the gap with Li Xuan.

• Refines Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid under Old Man Yao's direction. 382
• Sells Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid through the Mittel Auction House while disguised as an old man. 387
• His alchemical progress is consistently compared unfavorably with Li Xuan's rapid advancement. 384 394

Martial Techniques

Xiao Yan is capable of using Dou Techniques in combat.

• Uses a Dou Technique against Li Xuan during their duel, but is completely overpowered. 359
• Demonstrates martial skill with a long saber in the Black Corner Region. 431

Equipment / Items

• Black ring — Contains Old Man Yao's soul and becomes the source of Xiao Yan's cultivation and alchemy guidance. 378
• Long saber — His primary weapon during his time in the Black Corner Region. 431
• Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid — Refined to restore and improve his cultivation. 379 382
• Spirit Hall cultivation pills — Used to force his advancement to Nine-Star Dou Venerate, at great physical cost. 432 434 441

Relationships

• Li Xuan — Rival whom Xiao Yan repeatedly seeks to surpass; after Li Xuan saves Xiao Man and preserves Xiao Yan's cultivation, Xiao Yan relinquishes his hatred and becomes deeply grateful. 359 380 443 444
• Xiao Xun'er — Xiao Yan initially desires to pursue her, but she is affectionate toward Li Xuan, fueling his jealousy. 350 359 360
• Xiao Zhan — Father and Xiao Family head; initially proud of Xiao Yan's talent, but later rebukes him after witnessing Li Xuan's superior aptitude. 346 354
• Old Man Yao — Mentor residing within Xiao Yan's ring; teaches him alchemy and cultivation, but becomes disappointed by Xiao Yan's increasing ruthlessness. 378 382 431
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée who annuls their engagement because she wishes to pursue Li Xuan. 376 377
• Xiao Man — His loyal maid; her sacrifice and poisoning reveal her importance to Xiao Yan, and Li Xuan later saves her life. 442 443
• Ya Fei — A woman Xiao Yan initially wishes to pursue, only to discover her affection for Li Xuan. 394
• Little Doctor / Xiao Rou — Xiao Yan develops feelings for her while traveling in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. 399

Story Role / Major Arcs

Xiao Family Rivalry

Xiao Yan's rivalry with Li Xuan begins when Li Xuan joins the Xiao Family and immediately develops a close bond with Xiao Xun'er. Xiao Yan challenges Li Xuan after becoming a Dou Zhe but suffers a crushing public defeat. 350 357 359 360

Fall from Genius Status

Xiao Yan's cultivation falls to Dou Qi Stage Three, and he becomes the Xiao Family's laughingstock. Nalan Yanran's annulment, motivated by her attraction to Li Xuan, further damages his pride. 374 376 377

Old Man Yao's Disciple

After meeting Old Man Yao, Xiao Yan begins learning alchemy and using Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid to rebuild his strength. His desire to become an alchemist is driven largely by the hope of one day overcoming Li Xuan. 378 379 382

Descent into Obsession

Xiao Yan's failure to close the gap with Li Xuan pushes him toward increasingly dangerous methods. He trains through slaughter in the Black Corner Region, accepts the Spirit Hall's pills, and becomes consumed by hatred and a need for strength. 431 432 433

Redemption and Retirement

When Xiao Man is fatally poisoned, Xiao Yan's own resources and Old Man Yao's help prove insufficient. Li Xuan intervenes with a Ninth-Grade Pill, saving her; afterward, Li Xuan also agrees to preserve Xiao Yan's cultivation. Xiao Yan abandons his pursuit of power and returns to protect the Xiao Family. 443 444

Notable Quotes

“I will definitely surpass Li Xuan!” 378

“Strength, I want strength, I must improve myself, I want powerful strength!!” 433

“Thank you. I will surely remember your kindness.” 443