Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Yan Xiao; Chen Yan 126 342
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Clan; Pan Gate; Starfall Pavilion / Four Pavilions 206 451
Occupation/Role	Cultivator, alchemist, and Starfall Pavilion Young Pavilion Master 451
First Appearance	Chapter 16 16

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Seventh Stage Dou Qi, high level	16	Revealed during the Xiao Clan coming-of-age preliminary test.
Five-Star Dou Practitioner	42	Broke through after Lin Yuan shared wine with him.
Peak Seven-Star Dou Master	120	Prepared to advance further.
Nine-Star Dou Master	121	Reached while training under Elder Yao.
Da Dou Shi	132	Reunited with Lin Yuan after subduing the Wind Fury Dragon Flame.
Three-Star Great Dou Master	154	Suppressed an imminent fourth-star breakthrough to further refine and consolidate his Dou Qi.
Seven-Star Dou Ling	239	Prepared for the Inner Academy Power Ranking Competition.
Eight-Star Dou Spirit	251	Entered the Power Ranking Competition aiming for first place.
Near Dou Wang	253	Won the Power Ranking Competition and received Origin Heart Flame Body Tempering, removing obstacles to a Dou Wang breakthrough.
Three-Star Dou Wang	285	Secured the position of Starfall Pavilion Young Pavilion Master.
Eight-Star Dou Huang	451	Recognized as a Seventh-Grade Alchemist at age twenty-two.
Two-Star Dou Sect	524	Reported to have reached the Dou Sect realm while traveling under the Chen Yan identity.
Peak Dou Sect	564	Advanced five stars within half a year, aided by Elder Yao's pill-based cultivation support.
Two-Star Dou Venerate	603	Emerged from seclusion having also reached Mid Spirit Realm in soul cultivation.
Mid Spirit Realm Soul	603	Strengthened his capacity for soul-based techniques and alchemy.

Background / History

Xiao Yan was once known as a cultivator whose talent had failed, but he recovered it three years before the Alchemy Convention and progressed from a Four-Star Dou Practitioner to a Da Dou Shi in roughly a year and a half. His renewed rise was built on Elder Yao's mentorship, the Flame Mantra, and access to resources and techniques far beyond those available to ordinary Jia Ma Empire cultivators 3 126 132.

He entered the Magical Beast Mountain Range to temper himself under the burden of the Heavy Xuan Ruler, hunting First-Tier Magical Beasts while relying on Elder Yao's guidance and protection against threats beyond his level 41. During this training, he first encountered Lin Yuan, beginning a relationship that developed into cooperation, mutual recognition, and long-term rivalry 41 42 132.

After training in the Jia Ma Empire and winning the Alchemist Grand Meeting under the alias Yan Xiao, Xiao Yan fulfilled the Three-Year Agreement at Misty Cloud Sect. He defeated Nalan Yanran, publicly revealed his identity, and declined to claim her as a maid after preventing her attempted suicide 150 158 159.

Personality

Xiao Yan is determined, proud, and highly competitive, particularly when facing peers such as Lin Yuan and Feng Qing'er. Lin Yuan's rapid progress repeatedly pushes him to demand harsher training from Elder Yao rather than surrender to discouragement 150 253.

He is also disciplined in cultivation. When he was on the verge of advancing from Three-Star to Four-Star Great Dou Master, he deliberately halted the breakthrough to compress and stabilize his Dou Qi, recognizing that a rapid rise without foundation would harm his future 154.

Despite his pride, Xiao Yan values loyalty, dignity, and restraint. He refused to exploit Nalan Yanran after defeating her, fought Yao Ziyou despite a cultivation gap to defend Elder Yao's honor, and remained composed when Ling Quan exposed his Xiao Clan identity 159 607 617.

Abilities & Skills

Flame Mantra and Heavenly Flames

Elder Yao gave Xiao Yan the Flame Mantra, which became the foundation of his advancement and enabled him to pursue and integrate Heavenly Flames 3. He later subdued the Wind Fury Dragon Flame while still at the Dou Shi stage 132.

• The Wind Fury Dragon Flame provides high-quality fire- and wind-element energy, empowering his movement techniques and combat Dou Qi 132 158.
• Its appearance as a bright yellow flame produces a “hundred flames paying homage” phenomenon during alchemy 149.
• He later developed a second mutation of his Dou Qi through the Flame Demon Pure Profound Pill 577.
• Xiao Yan eventually considered abandoning the Flame Mantra route in favor of a cultivation method connected to the Xiao Clan legacy 411.

Alchemy

Alchemy is one of Xiao Yan's principal fields of cultivation, learned under Elder Yao and closely tied to his Heavenly Flames.

• Became a Grade Three Alchemist by the time his Yan Xiao identity was investigated in Jia Ma Holy City 126.
• Won the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Grand Meeting while refining the Azure Origin Spirit Casting Pill 149 150.
• Successfully refined a Seventh-Grade Low-Grade medicinal pill, completing his apprenticeship under Elder Yao 451.
• Uses the Spirit Ascension Method, Elder Yao's most prized and dangerous spiritual refining technique, in high-level pill refinement 634.

Heavy Xuan Ruler

Xiao Yan's signature weapon is the massive Heavy Xuan Ruler, which suppresses his Dou Qi and imposes extreme physical strain during training 41.

• Used to build endurance, physical strength, and combat discipline in the Magical Beast Mountain Range 41.
• Forms the core of his close-range fighting style, including the Flame Splitting Wave Devouring Ruler 577.
• Can be set aside in battle to remove its suppression and sharply increase his speed and Dou Qi output 159.

Fire Wind Movement Steps

An Earth Tier Mid Level dual-attribute movement technique inherited from Elder Yao 158.

• Combines fire and wind for both explosive acceleration and agility 158.
• Its performance is enhanced by the Wind Fury Dragon Flame's fire- and wind-element energy 158.
• Used prominently during the Three-Year Agreement and against Feng Qing'er 158 577.

Soul Techniques and Fire Control

Xiao Yan possesses strong soul power and has increasingly integrated it into both combat and alchemy.

• Learned fire-control techniques from Elder Yao after studying Lin Yuan's mixed fire-control combat style 239.
• Reached Mid Spirit Realm in soul cultivation after seclusion 603.
• Used Spirit Realm Soul Power to create an opening against Feng Qing'er and launch a counterattack 578.
• Fought Yao Ziyou in a soul duel, using Heavenly Flame support to compensate for inferior pure soul power 607.
• Employs the Soul Profound Seal alongside the Three Luminaries Destroying God Seal 579.

Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame

A temporary enhancement technique that uses Heavenly Flame power to drastically increase Xiao Yan's combat strength 578.

• Raised his aura to the Dou Venerate realm during his battle with Feng Qing'er 578.
• Provides short-term strength rather than a permanent cultivation breakthrough 578.
• Was insufficient to secure victory when Feng Qing'er answered with her Bloodline Spirit Devour technique and concealed body 578 579.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Heavy Xuan Ruler — massive black ruler that suppresses Dou Qi and serves as his primary weapon 41.
• Bone Flame Ring — the ring associated with Elder Yao's soul presence and guidance 229 245.
• Wind Fury Dragon Flame — Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flame, central to his Flame Mantra cultivation and combat style 132 159.
• Golden puppet — a bodyguard puppet that later reached a level comparable to a Dou Venerate 524.
• Storage ring from Elder Yao — contains resources, contacts, routes, and a space jade slip for Xiao Yan's Central Plains training 451.

Relationships

• Elder Yao / Yao Chen — master and father figure. Elder Yao provides the Flame Mantra, alchemical instruction, combat techniques, resources, and long-term protection; Xiao Yan is fiercely protective of his teacher's honor 3 451 607.
• Lin Yuan — ally, mentor-like senior, and friendly rival. Their relationship includes exchanges, shared plans, alchemy transactions, and mutual recognition as competitors 132 207 566.
• Gu Xun'er — childhood companion and romantic partner. She repeatedly supports and protects Xiao Yan, while helping him pursue the Xiao Clan legacy and Dou Di bloodline 206 397 398.
• Nalan Yanran — former fiancée and opponent in the Three-Year Agreement. Xiao Yan defeated her but spared her from the humiliation of becoming his maid; they later meet without the former hostility 159 574.
• Venerable Feng — Elder Yao's old friend and a senior figure who recognizes Xiao Yan's potential, supports his development, and connects him to Starfall Pavilion 253 283.
• Mu Qingluan — fellow Starfall Pavilion disciple and junior sister figure; she accompanies him during later travels and is attentive to his emotional reactions 537 572.
• Ya Fei — old acquaintance who assists him in gathering medicinal ingredients and remains a meaningful connection from his Jia Ma Empire years 132 564.
• Ling Quan — hostile Ancient Clan commander whom Xiao Yan defeats after his identity is exposed at the Heavenly Pride Contest Assembly 617.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Jia Ma Empire and Magical Beast Mountain Range

Xiao Yan begins rebuilding his strength through harsh field training while carrying the Heavy Xuan Ruler. His first encounter with Lin Yuan and Lin Yuan's recognition of Elder Yao establish the wider stakes surrounding him 41 42.

Alchemist Grand Meeting

Under the Yan Xiao alias, Xiao Yan enters the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Grand Meeting to refine the Azure Origin Spirit Casting Pill. He wins the convention, establishing himself as an exceptional young alchemist and drawing the attention of major Jia Ma Empire factions 137 149 150.

Three-Year Agreement

Xiao Yan confronts Nalan Yanran at Misty Cloud Sect as a Three-Star Great Dou Master. He uses the Fire Wind Movement Steps, Heavenly Flames, and the Heavy Xuan Ruler to overcome her Four-Star Great Dou Master cultivation, settle the Xiao Clan's grievance, and demonstrate mercy in victory 158 159.

Xiao Clan Evacuation

After learning of the Hall of Souls' interest in the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan becomes responsible for deciding which relatives can be protected through Lin Yuan's relocation plan. His authority within the clan rises sharply after his victories and public reputation 167 170 177.

Inner Academy and Pan Gate

At Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Yan develops Pan Gate, defeats Yan Hao to secure a place on the Strong Ranking, and adopts a more versatile combat style inspired by Lin Yuan's integration of fire control with martial combat 206 236 239.

Starfall Pavilion

Xiao Yan becomes Starfall Pavilion's Young Pavilion Master after defeating Xu Lie and earning the recognition of the pavilion's elders. Elder Yao and Venerable Feng prepare him to inherit both Starfall Pavilion's position and Elder Yao's connections 283 451.

Xiao Clan Legacy

Gu Xun'er reveals that Ancestor Xiao Xuan prepared a Dou Di bloodline and path to sainthood for Xiao Yan in the Heavenly Tomb. Xiao Yan is given eight years to reach the Dou Venerate realm and become worthy of receiving the Xiao Clan inheritance 397 398.

Heavenly Pride Contest Assembly

Xiao Yan enters the Heavenly Pride Contest under his true name, defeats Ling Quan after his Xiao Clan identity is exposed, and reaches the final against Feng Qing'er. Although he temporarily rises to the Dou Venerate realm with the Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame, Feng Qing'er ultimately defeats him through superior preparation and a hidden body technique 617 577 578 579.

Notable Quotes

“Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river; don't bully a young man because he's poor.” 397