Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Yan (蕭炎)
Alias(es)	Yan Xiao 326
Species/Race	Human 381
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Clan; later defected to the Soul Hall 345 395
Occupation/Role	Dou Qi cultivator; Third-Rank Alchemist; former disciple of Yao Chen (Yao Lao) 325 405
Status	Captured and brought back by Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin 433
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
One-Star Fighter	1	Broke through at age eleven, becoming the youngest Fighter in the Xiao Clan and Wutan City in a century.
Approximately Fourth Stage Dou Qi	13 14	His Dou Qi vanished; he could only use residual Dou Qi Energy and was exposed during his duel with Ga Lie Ao.
Three Stages of Dou Qi	82	Remained stalled and withdrew to the back mountain daily to cultivate.
Dou Zhe	252	Reached the realm after roughly four years of regression and recovery; immediately chose to convert to the Burning Art.
Four-Star Fighter	324	His cultivation method advanced to Yellow High Rank.
Dou Shi Peak	325	Reached the peak after nearly a year of training in the Demon Beast Mountain Range; also attained Third-Rank Alchemist status.
Two-Star Great Fighter	332	Advanced directly from Fighter peak after taking the Three-Patterned Spirit Clearing Pill.
Temporary Seven-Star Great Fighter	340	Used the Heavenly Flame Three Transformations to force a short-term increase in cultivation.
Beyond Dou Ling	414	His cultivation rose substantially while training in the Beast Domain, though no precise realm is given.

Background

Xiao Yan was a mediocre youth in his previous life before transmigrating to the Dou Qi Continent. His reborn soul aided his early cultivation, allowing him to become an exceptional Xiao Clan prodigy. At eleven, he reached One-Star Fighter and was praised as Wutan City's greatest genius in a century; the acclaim fed his vanity and superior attitude. His father, Xiao Clan Head Xiao Zhan, openly took pride in his success. 1

His standing collapsed when his Dou Qi disappeared. Reduced to roughly the Fourth Stage of Dou Qi, he was defeated and publicly humiliated by Ga Lie Ao, after which he became increasingly withdrawn, depressed, and resentful of Xiao Se's continued growth. 14 21 25

A weak soul body, Yao Chen—known as Yao Lao—resided in Xiao Yan's ring. Yao Lao revealed himself early following Xiao Yan's public confrontation with Nalan Yanran over their engagement, judging Xiao Yan's impulsive conduct disappointing but deciding to train him nonetheless. 158

Personality

Xiao Yan's early confidence is rooted in his extraordinary talent and the attention it earned him. When that talent vanishes, his pride becomes a source of instability: he lashes out at Xiao Xun'er, accepts fights he is poorly positioned to win, and turns a private engagement dissolution into a public humiliation. 8 13 156

He is highly determined when pursuing strength. His recovery from Three Stages of Dou Qi to Dou Zhe, followed by his decision to cultivate the dangerous Burning Art, is motivated by a desire to regain dignity, avenge humiliation, and protect Xun'er. 252

His later actions are driven increasingly by envy and resentment toward Xiao Se, whom he sees as having surpassed him in power, fortune, and Xun'er's affection. Following the Xiao Clan's destruction and his own repeated setbacks, this resentment hardens into a willingness to betray Yao Chen and join the Soul Hall for resources and survival. 314 345 388 395 405

Abilities & Skills

Burning Art

An unusual cultivation method that can evolve through devouring Heavenly Flames. Xiao Yan accepted its extreme risks after reaching Dou Zhe. 252

• Yao Lao transmitted the method to him so he could convert his Dou Qi. 253
• Its progression was limited by Xiao Yan's lack of Heavenly Flames; Yao Lao relied on captured beast flames to support his cultivation instead. 325 332
• Yao Lao warned that failure while devouring a Heavenly Flame could annihilate Xiao Yan's soul. 252

Heavenly Flame Three Transformations

A secret technique acquired from the Alchemist Guild that draws on unusual flames to explosively raise combat strength. 336

• Temporarily elevated Xiao Yan to Seven-Star Great Fighter during the Three-Year Agreement. 340
• Its four-star enhancement was insufficient to bridge the gap against Nalan Yanran's higher cultivation, technique, and combat ability. 342

Stone Crushing Palm

A palm technique used during his confrontation with Ga Lie Ao.

• Initially sent Ga Lie Ao flying. 13
• Failed once Ga Lie Ao prepared for it; Xiao Yan's use of Dou Qi Energy rather than true Dou Qi was exposed. 14

Mysterious Heavy Ruler

Xiao Yan's principal weapon during the Three-Year Agreement.

• Favors forceful close-quarters attacks. 339
• Was repeatedly neutralized by Nalan Yanran's superior agility and swordsmanship. 339 340

Alchemy

Xiao Yan became a Third-Rank Alchemist during his training in the Demon Beast Mountain Range. 325

• Gathered materials for the Earth Spirit Pill, which Yao Lao refined for his planned attempt to devour Fallen Heart Flame. 381
• His alchemical work and cultivation depended heavily on Yao Lao's guidance. 325 332

Equipment

• Black Ring — Holds Yao Lao's soul body. 25 314
• Mysterious Heavy Ruler — Heavy weapon used in the Three-Year Agreement. 339
• Earth Spirit Pill — Prepared for an attempt to devour Fallen Heart Flame. 381
• Xiao Clan Head's jade token fragment — Recovered after the Xiao Clan's annihilation and worn on a red cord. 345

Relationships

• Xiao Zhan — Father and Xiao Clan Head. Xiao Yan sought him after the clan massacre; Xiao Zhan was later found alive after the Soul Hall branch hall's destruction. 345 412
• Yao Chen / Yao Lao — Former mentor whose soul resided in Xiao Yan's ring. Yao Lao trained and protected him, but ultimately disowned him after Xiao Yan defected to the Soul Hall and betrayed him. 158 342 405
• Xiao Xun'er — Childhood companion and the person Xiao Yan wanted to protect. Their relationship cooled after his loss of talent, and Xun'er later became wholly disappointed by his betrayal. 154 252 402
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and rival. Their broken engagement led to the Three-Year Agreement, which Xiao Yan lost after being decisively outmatched. 158 337 342
• Xiao Se — Fellow Xiao Clan member and central object of Xiao Yan's envy and hatred. Xiao Yan blamed him alongside the Soul Hall for the Xiao Clan's destruction and later falsely claimed Xiao Se possessed the Ancient Jade. 25 345 395
• Soul Hall — Organization Xiao Yan joined in exchange for protection and access to resources after betraying Yao Chen. 395 398

Major Arcs

Loss of Talent

Xiao Yan's Dou Qi disappears after his early rise as a prodigy. His defeat by Ga Lie Ao publicly reveals that he is no longer a true Dou Zhe, destroying his reputation and pushing him into isolation. 14 21

Engagement Dissolution and Three-Year Agreement

Nalan Yanran seeks to dissolve their engagement privately, but Xiao Yan publicly confronts her. His actions embarrass Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Clan, while Nalan Yanran challenges him to meet her at the Yun Lan Sect in three years. 156 158

After recovering his cultivation under Yao Lao, Xiao Yan faces Nalan Yanran in the agreement. Despite using the Heavenly Flame Three Transformations and fighting with his Mysterious Heavy Ruler, he is forced to admit defeat. 339 340 342

Xiao Clan Annihilation

Upon returning to Wutan City, Xiao Yan finds the Xiao Clan massacred by Grebe Protector of the Soul Hall. Learning that Xiao Zhan is missing, he vows revenge against both the Soul Hall and Xiao Se. 345

Fallen Heart Flame Plot

Xiao Yan uses his connection to Xiao Se and Xiao Yu to gain access to Canaan Academy's Inner Academy, then joins a mysterious Dou Zong in stealing Fallen Heart Flame from the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower. 365 366 389

Defection to the Soul Hall

Unable to accept his setbacks and seeking resources to restore his strength, Xiao Yan betrays Yao Chen to the Soul Hall. He offers information about the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade—falsely claiming Xiao Se possesses it—in exchange for his own survival and for Xiao Zhan's safety. 395 398

Notable Quotes

“Nalan Yanran, I, Xiao Yan, will repay today's humiliation a hundredfold someday.” 158

“The Three-Year Agreement, the Three-Year Agreement... Haha, so I, Xiao Yan, am nothing but a joke. Just a joke!” 342