Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Yan Xiao; Yun Yan; “Yao Chen”
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; Jia Nan Academy; Falling Star Pavilion
Occupation/Role	Alchemist; cultivator; Su Qingyun’s sworn brother and disciple of Old Ya
First Appearance	2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Regressed Dou Qi	3	Su Qingyun gives him two rare Dou Qi Grass to restore his regressed cultivation.
Six-Star Dou Shi	100	Reaches Dou Shi and rises six stars within months through the Green Lotus Core Flame Fire Seed, medicinal resources, pills, body refinement, and punishing training.
Six-Star Dou Shi	113	Breaks through to the Six-Star Dou Shi realm while studying advanced alchemy and preparing restorative medicines for Su Qingyun.
Great Dou Master	128	Breaks through after half a year of cultivation; condenses a Flame Dou Armor after witnessing Su Qingyun’s Emperor Immortal Armor.
Intermediate Great Dou Master	134	Revealed during the Three-Year Agreement duel with Nalan Yanran; only one star below her Five-Star realm.
Peak Dou Spirit	163	Absorbs the Fallen Heart Flame with Su Qingyun’s plan, Mysterious Water Power, and Old Ya’s assistance; stands one step from Dou Wang.
One-Star Dou Wang	165	Has become a One-Star Dou Wang by the Falling Star Pavilion expedition.
Dou Zong	214 216	Returns to besieged Jia Nan Academy as a Dou Zong and battles the Five-Star Dou Zun Old Ghost Picking Stars.
Half-Step Dou Zun	209	Has advanced to Half-Step Dou Zun; his soul power has reached the Heaven Tier.

Background / History

Xiao Yan’s cultivation regressed before the story’s early events, leaving him vulnerable to ridicule and uncertainty. He met Su Qingyun at Falling Immortal Stream, chose to follow him, and promised not to expose his existence without permission. Su Qingyun aided his recovery with rare Dou Qi Grass and became the person Xiao Yan trusted most 3 7.

Nalan Yanran’s attempt to annul their engagement initially angers him, but Xiao Yan ultimately agrees that the engagement may end if Su Qingyun has feelings for her. When Su Qingyun places faith in him to win the Three-Year Agreement, Xiao Yan resolves to cultivate diligently enough to defeat her 7 9.

Old Ya became Xiao Yan’s alchemy master and later provided him with techniques, pills, and guidance. Xiao Yan’s subsequent training was exceptionally severe: he used the Green Lotus Core Flame Fire Seed, medicinal treasures, body-refinement methods, and even overdraw his life force while trying to become strong enough to rescue Su Qingyun from the Snake-People Tribe 100.

After following Su Qingyun’s plans through the Black Corner Region and Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Yan acquired the Fallen Heart Flame and reached peak Dou Spirit far earlier than expected. He later learned that Su Qingyun was also from Earth and that he himself possessed the potential to become a Dou Emperor 163 211.

Appearance

After his desert training, Xiao Yan becomes taller, more mature, and visibly hardened by combat. His appearance attracts considerable attention in Stone Desert City and during his return to the Desert Iron Mercenary Group 73 74.

• Darker skin following prolonged desert cultivation 100.
• Body covered in scars from harsh training 100.
• Callused finger joints from sustained combat and body refinement 100.
• Wears a purple robe and seven-star badge as a Level 7 Alchemist 237.

Personality

Xiao Yan is intensely loyal, especially toward Su Qingyun. He repeatedly measures his own progress against his ability to protect his sworn brother, believing that a comfortable future is meaningless if he cannot save him 100.

Though he can be impulsive and inexperienced—such as when he purchases a useless alchemy book for five million Gold Coins—he learns from correction and remains determined to improve. Old Ya considers his loyalty and righteousness his most redeeming qualities 62 225.

He grows more composed with experience. Even under pressure from Yun Shan, he refuses to abandon Su Qingyun’s honor, and he accepts Su Qingyun’s strategic counsel when the Soul Hall captures his family members 138 209.

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Xiao Yan is an alchemist trained by Old Ya and steadily develops from refining lower-grade pills to competing in the Pill Gathering.

• Successfully refines the Grade 2 Ice Heart Pill despite struggling during the process 67.
• Learns to prepare nourishing pills and tonics while aiding Su Qingyun’s recovery 113.
• Becomes a Level 7 Alchemist, publicly identified by a seven-star badge 237.
• Refines an eighth-grade pill during the Pill Gathering semifinals to suppress Old Man Mugu 238.
• His alchemy skill allows him and Su Qingyun to rapidly earn Pill Coins while staying in the Pill Tower under the names Yun Qing and Yun Yan 234.

Heavenly Flames

Xiao Yan uses multiple Heavenly Flames as both cultivation resources and decisive combat tools.

• Absorbs the Fallen Heart Flame through Su Qingyun’s arrangements and Old Ya’s help 163.
• Obtains the Five-Ringed Departing Fire after entering Jia Nan Academy’s Heavenly Flame Refining Tower 211.
• Seeks Han Feng’s Sea Heart Flame because it is necessary for the evolution of Fen Jue 211.
• Can fuse three Heavenly Flames into a Three-Colored Fire Lotus 214.

Buddha’s Fury Fire Lotus

A powerful Heavenly Flame technique taught by Su Qingyun.

• Uses it to injure Yun Shan and create time for Su Qingyun to intervene 139.
• The technique is described as an extraordinarily powerful Heavenly Flame bomb 114 139.
• Requires Heavenly Flames and carries immense destructive force 114.

Flame Dou Armor

A defensive Dou Qi armor condensed after Xiao Yan’s breakthrough to Great Dou Master.

• Inspired by Su Qingyun’s Emperor Immortal Armor 128.
• Demonstrates his ability to manifest his fire-based Dou Qi into armor 128.

Demon Sealing Flame

A high-level Dou Technique used against Old Ghost Picking Stars.

• Allows Xiao Yan to injure and pressure a Five-Star Dou Zun despite being a Dou Zong 216.
• Cannot fully overcome the realm gap against a Dou Zun opponent 216.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Ring containing Old Ya’s soul — Originally offered to Su Qingyun; remains central to Xiao Yan’s connection with Old Ya 3 11.
• Green Lotus Core Flame Fire Seed — Left by Su Qingyun and used during Xiao Yan’s rapid Dou Shi-stage advancement 100.
• Snake Tail Pouch and disguise potion — Provided by Hai Bodong for infiltration of the Snake-People Tribe 100.
• Falling Star Pavilion token — Used to gain an audience with Venerable Feng Xian 163.
• Seven-star Alchemist badge — Worn during the Alchemist Grand Meeting 237.

Relationships

• Su Qingyun — Sworn brother, benefactor, mentor, and the person Xiao Yan is most determined to protect. Xiao Yan follows Su Qingyun’s plans, defends his honor, and risks himself to rescue him 7 100 138 211.
• Old Ya — Master and alchemy teacher. Old Ya guides Xiao Yan’s cultivation, provides pills and techniques, and later receives a new body refined by Su Qingyun 11 113 209.
• Xiao Xun’er — Close companion who works with Xiao Yan and Su Qingyun; Xiao Yan supports her potential relationship with Su Qingyun 16.
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and rival in the Three-Year Agreement. Their broken engagement motivates Xiao Yan’s early cultivation 7 9 134.
• Xiao Zhan — Father. Xiao Yan is distressed when the Soul Hall captures him and seeks to rescue him, though Su Qingyun urges patience 7 209.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li — Elder brothers and leaders of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. They reunite warmly with Xiao Yan in Stone Desert City 73 74.
• Xiao Yu — Sister. Xiao Yan provides her with high-grade pills and considers leaving Jia Nan Academy to protect her from the Soul Hall threat 222.
• Hai Bodong — Ally during the Snake-People Tribe infiltration; provides Xiao Yan’s disguise materials and tactical guidance 100.
• Zi Yan — Companion encountered through Jia Nan Academy; travels with Xiao Yan and Su Qingyun and later provides blood for Xiao Yan at Su Qingyun’s request 163 211 237.
• Venerable Feng Xian — Falling Star Pavilion contact whom Xiao Yan approaches using a Pavilion token 163.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Falling Immortal Stream and the Three-Year Agreement

Xiao Yan meets Su Qingyun, begins recovering his cultivation, and gains new confidence. Nalan Yanran’s engagement annulment and her wager involving Su Qingyun turn Xiao Yan’s duel into a personal test of both strength and loyalty 3 7 9.

Tagor Desert

Xiao Yan travels with Su Qingyun, reunites with his brothers, and pursues the Green Lotus Core Flame. When Su Qingyun is taken into the Snake-People Tribe’s sphere of influence, Xiao Yan trains ruthlessly and agrees to infiltrate the tribe disguised as a Snake-Girl 73 74 100.

Cloud Mist Sect Conflict

After reaching Great Dou Master, Xiao Yan faces Nalan Yanran in the Three-Year Agreement. He later refuses Yun Shan’s pressure to disavow Su Qingyun and uses Buddha’s Fury Fire Lotus against him when attacked 134 138 139.

Jia Nan Academy and Falling Star Pavilion

Following Su Qingyun’s strategy, Xiao Yan enters Jia Nan Academy, acquires the Fallen Heart Flame, and rises from peak Dou Spirit to Dou Wang. He then travels to Falling Star Pavilion with Zi Yan to seek Venerable Feng Xian 163 165.

Soul Hall War

When Jia Nan Academy is besieged, Xiao Yan returns as a Dou Zong and confronts Old Ghost Picking Stars. Although he can injure the Five-Star Dou Zun with his Heavenly Flames, Su Qingyun’s return ultimately saves him and ends the battle 214 216.

Pill Tower and Alchemist Grand Meeting

Xiao Yan enters the Pill Tower under the name Yun Yan, earns recognition through alchemy, becomes a Level 7 Alchemist, and reaches the Pill Gathering semifinals by refining an eighth-grade pill 234 237 238.

Notable Quotes

“If I can’t save Brother Qingyun, what’s the use of having a smooth future cultivation path for me?” 100

“Who else but me!” 211

Trivia

• Xiao Yan decides to change his name to Yan Xiao after Su Qingyun’s achievements while disguised as him create overwhelming expectations around the name “Xiao Yan” 207.
• He was mistaken for Su Qingyun’s follower or guard by Princess Yaoye, who did not initially recognize him as the Xiao Family’s former prodigy 120.
• Xuan Yi mistakes Old Ya, in his childlike new body, for Xiao Yan’s son 225.