Elder Yao

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Elder Yao; Yao Chen
Alias(es)	Venerable Yao; Saint Yao; Ring Elder
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Starfall Pavilion founder; formerly of the Yao Clan 218 751
Occupation/Role	Alchemy grandmaster; mentor to Xiao Yan and Wei Yang
Status	Alive; resurrected in a refined body 633
First Appearance	Chapter 55

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Nine-turn Dou Venerate Peak (former peak)	218	Before losing his body, Yao Chen was one of the continent’s foremost experts and the publicly acknowledged leading alchemist.
Peak Dou Ling (weakened Soul Body)	281	His soul had been severely depleted after helping Xiao Yan refine the Fallen Heart Flame.
Peak Dou Wang (Soul Body)	281	Recovered substantially after consuming Fourth-Grade Peak Soul Nourishing Liquid.
Near Heaven Realm (soul)	622	The Gold-grade Soul Infant Fruit completely restored his Origin Soul Qi, leaving him less than half a step from the Heaven Realm.
Dou Sheng / Saint	633	Successfully merged with his refined body and ascended to sainthood in a single breakthrough.
Heaven Realm, peak Initial Stage (soul)	634	His soul advancement enabled him to potentially refine Grade 9 Treasure Pills.
Three-star Early-stage Dou Saint	831	Confronted Yao Wangu after returning to matters involving the Yao Clan.
Eight-star Peak Dou Sheng	1055	Among Starfall Pavilion’s strongest remaining members after Wei Yang and Xiao Yan departed for the Great Thousand World.

Background / History

Yao Chen was born into the Yao Clan, one of the Eight Ancient Clans. His Dou Di Bloodline was so thin that it was considered negligible; after failing a mission, he was expelled by Yao Wangu. Though the clan later offered to take him back after he became Saint Yao, he refused, declaring that he identified only as Yao Chen rather than as a member of the Yao Clan. 751 831

After leaving the clan, Yao Chen rose to prominence as Venerable Yao: a Nine-turn Dou Venerate Peak and the continent’s publicly acknowledged foremost alchemist. He left the Pill Tower and founded Starfall Pavilion, while retaining considerable influence within the Pill Tower. 218

Before meeting Xiao Yan, Yao Chen was betrayed by Han Feng, the disciple he had raised as a son. The betrayal made him guarded toward prospective disciples, despite his immediate recognition of Wei Yang’s exceptional soul talent. 56 281

His return to the Yao Clan was ultimately motivated by a promise to his parents: to cultivate until he was worthy of having their names carved upon the Ancestral Clan Monument. 821 882

Appearance

Elder Yao initially appears as an aged, transparent Soul Body emerging from Xiao Yan’s ring. He has a white beard and an elderly, illusory appearance. 55 56

• During his Soul Hall captivity, he becomes visibly frail, white-haired, and aged. 574
• After resurrection, he possesses a complete physical body refined to match his former appearance. 624
• His Saint-level aura can distort and nearly collapse the surrounding space when not restrained. 633

Personality

Elder Yao is sharp-tongued, proud, and fond of playful bargaining. He often puts on a displeased senior’s manner when speaking with Wei Yang, yet readily asks for Soul Nourishing Liquid and other help when he needs it. 107

Han Feng’s betrayal left him cautious and initially self-interested in accepting disciples; he hoped Xiao Yan could eventually help restore his body and treated Wei Yang’s talent as a possible contingency. Over time, that practical beginning became genuine paternal affection. He comes to regard Xiao Yan and Wei Yang as his sons and their children as his own grandchildren. 616 674

He is deeply proud of his disciples’ talent, resilience, and achievements. Even after his own strength is surpassed, he takes joy in their growth rather than resentment. 574 746 920

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Yao Chen is a renowned alchemy grandmaster whose knowledge, reputation, and instructional ability made him one of the continent’s most respected alchemists.

• Was publicly acknowledged as the foremost alchemist in the Central Plains during his time as Venerable Yao. 218
• Possesses systematic alchemist inheritances and common pill formulas from First through Seventh Grade. 69
• Improved the efficacy of Soul Nourishing Liquid refined by Wei Yang by nearly twenty percent. 66
• Reached the soul-realm requirement to refine Grade 9 Treasure Pills after entering the Heaven Realm. 634
• Is later recognized as a Ninth Grade alchemy grandmaster. 751

Bone Chilling Flame

The Bone Chilling Flame is Elder Yao’s Natal Heavenly Flame, fused with his soul and body.

• Ranked eleventh among Heavenly Flames; combines extreme cold with extreme heat. 71
• Can sense the aura of other Heavenly Flames at close range. 57
• Cannot be extracted without seriously damaging Elder Yao’s vitality. 71
• Its origin was left to Xiao Yan alongside the Bone Flame Ring when Elder Yao departed to face Soul Hall. 396

Soul and Spatial Power

Elder Yao’s soul perception allows him to judge talent, identify soul-realm progress, and recognize unusual physiques or flames. 56 57 107

After becoming a Dou Sheng, he gains vastly greater command of Spatial Power.

• Can condense Spatial Power in his hand strongly enough to collapse space. 633
• His uncontrolled breakthrough aura shakes the secret chamber and nearly causes space to collapse. 633
• Reached the Heaven Realm, peak Initial Stage, in the path of the soul. 634

Mentorship

Elder Yao is an accomplished teacher whose disciples become leading cultivators and alchemists.

• Secretly observed and tested Xiao Yan before accepting him as a disciple. 56
• Guided Wei Yang in alchemy through their early exchanges and later formally accepted him as a disciple. 121 636
• Instructs Wei Shuo and Xiao Xiao in cultivation and identifies Xiao Xiao’s potential as an alchemist. 674
• Takes pride in having trained Xiao Yan and Wei Yang, both champions of the Pill Gathering. 567 578

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Ancient Black Ring — The ring in which Elder Yao’s Soul Body resided when he first appeared to Xiao Yan. 55
• Bone Flame Ring — A ring containing crucial information left for Xiao Yan before Elder Yao’s presumed capture. 396
• Bone Chilling Flame origin — Entrusted to Xiao Yan as part of Elder Yao’s final preparations before leaving the valley. 396

Relationships

• Xiao Yan — First disciple. Elder Yao selected and trained him, later entrusting him with the Bone Chilling Flame and urging him to rely on Wei Yang after Soul Hall’s approach. 56 394 396
• Wei Yang — Initially an alchemical trading partner and valued junior; Elder Yao regretted not accepting him earlier, then formally took him as a disciple after his resurrection. 280 636
• Han Feng — Former disciple whose betrayal left Elder Yao deeply wounded and distrustful of others. 56 281
• Xian'er — A talented junior whom Elder Yao praises for her politeness, soul talent, and cultivation potential. 107
• Wei Ye and Wei Shuo — Granddisciples whom Elder Yao dotes on, examines for their Special Physiques, and intends to teach. 575 578
• Xiao Xiao — Granddisciple whose fire-and-wood affinity and powerful soul lead Elder Yao to foresee alchemical potential. 674
• Yao Wangu — Yao Clan elder who expelled Yao Chen after his failed mission; their reunion remains openly hostile. 751 831
• Yao Clan — His birth clan and source of lasting resentment; he returns only to honor his parents and fulfill his old promise. 751 882

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Ring Elder and Xiao Yan’s mentor — Reveals himself from Xiao Yan’s ring after Wei Yang detects his presence, then becomes Xiao Yan’s guide in cultivation and alchemy. 55 56
• Wei Yang’s early ally — Trades techniques, alchemical knowledge, and resources with Wei Yang while gradually coming to value him as much as Xiao Yan. 66 69 280
• Soul Hall conflict — Defends Xiao Yan against Yun Shan, reveals himself as Yao Chen, and becomes a target of Soul Hall because of the Bone Chilling Flame and his influence. 335 336
• Disappearance and captivity — Leaves Xiao Yan to confront Soul Hall’s threat, is captured, and endures years of imprisonment while refusing Soul Hall’s recruitment. 394 567
• Rescue and resurrection — Is rescued by Wei Yang’s group, recovers his Origin Soul Qi, receives a refined body, and ascends directly into the Dou Sheng realm. 574 622 633
• Teacher of two disciples — Formally accepts Wei Yang as a disciple, becoming the master of Xiao Yan and Wei Yang while guiding their children as granddisciples. 636 674
• Return to the Yao Clan — Returns for the Pill Ceremony and the Ancestral Clan Monument, confronting the clan that expelled him while supported by his disciples. 882 883 888
• Witness to the Emperors’ rise — Recognizes Wei Yang’s ascension through the awakening of Wei Ye and Wei Shuo’s bloodlines, then confirms that both Wei Yang and Xiao Yan have become Emperors. 968 969

Notable Quotes

“You two are both this old man's greatest pride in life.”
— Elder Yao, speaking of Xiao Yan and Wei Yang 394

“But this Yao is not the Yao of the Yao Clan!”
— Elder Yao, rejecting his former clan identity 751