Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; Canaan Academy Alchemy Hall
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; third-grade Alchemist; Yao Chen's disciple
Status	Deceased; killed by Ao Qing in the Heavenly Tomb 166
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Second Stage Dou Qi	13	Reached this level in less than one year of cultivation, becoming a celebrated Xiao Family prodigy.
One-Star Dou Zhe	48	Achieved Dou Zhe at age twelve; his Dou Qi was subsequently absorbed by Yao Chen.
Eight Stage Dou Qi	48	Fell from One-Star Dou Zhe after Yao Chen drained his Dou Qi.
Third Stage Dou Qi	49	Continued decline left him unable to cultivate.
Ninth Stage Dou Qi	54	Restored through the seventh-grade Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill, though he could not immediately break through to Dou Zhe.
Six- or Seven-Star Great Dou Shi	76	Possessed this cultivation during the confrontation with Nalan Yanran, Zi Yan, and Qing Lin; he was also a third-grade Alchemist.
Nearly Dou Wang	119	At sixteen, he was described as close to the Dou Wang realm.
Peak Dou Wang	93	After subduing the Fallen Heart Flame through Fen Jue, his strength rose from Dou Ling to peak Dou Wang.
Two-Star Dou Zun	162	Ao Qing enhanced his cultivation upon entering the Heavenly Tomb.

Background / History

Xiao Yan was born into the Xiao Family of Wutan City and began cultivating at six years old. He quickly distinguished himself as a genius, reaching the Second Stage Dou Qi within his first year of training. During this period, he frequently visited Xiao Xun'er, believing his talent and future strength would eventually secure their marriage despite the disparity between their family backgrounds 13.

At twelve, Xiao Yan became a Dou Zhe and proudly sought Xiao Xun'er's approval. She rejected his plans to marry or elope with her, making clear that even becoming a Dou Huang would not win her family's consent. That night, Yao Chen—concealed within Xiao Yan's ring—absorbed his Dou Qi, beginning Xiao Yan's abrupt decline 48.

His cultivation collapsed to the Third Stage Dou Qi, and he found himself unable to gather Dou Qi at all. Ostracized by relatives who had once praised him, Xiao Yan came to view strength as the basis of status and personal freedom 49 53. Xiao Zhan ultimately traded the Xiao Family's inherited Ancient Jade for help, obtaining the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill to restore his son's talent 51 54.

After recovering to the Ninth Stage Dou Qi, Xiao Yan learned that Yao Chen had caused his decline. Though angered, he accepted Yao Chen as his master and began preparing to cultivate and study alchemy under him 54 55.

Personality

Xiao Yan was initially intensely self-confident about his talent, assuming that attaining Dou Wang or Dou Huang would be enough to overcome the obstacles between himself and Xiao Xun'er. Her rejection and his subsequent loss of cultivation severely challenged that outlook 48.

His period of weakness made him more conscious of the world's cruelty and strengthened his resolve to control his own fate through cultivation 53 54. However, after regaining power under Yao Chen's protection, he became arrogant and reckless. During the dispute with Nalan Yanran, Zi Yan, and Qing Lin, his greed and lecherous behavior disgusted Nalan Yanran and destroyed Gu Xun'er's remaining affection for him 76 78.

Later, he showed greater restraint at Canaan Academy, agreeing to keep a low profile and focus on cultivation rather than provoking conflict with Nalan Yanran 111 116.

Abilities & Skills

Cultivation

Xiao Yan possessed notable cultivation talent from childhood and recovered rapidly after his talent was restored.

• Reached Dou Zhe at age twelve 48.
• Advanced from the Third Stage Dou Qi to the Ninth Stage Dou Qi after consuming the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill 54.
• Reached at least the Six- or Seven-Star Great Dou Shi realm within three years of recovering 76.
• Was elevated to Two-Star Dou Zun by Ao Qing inside the Heavenly Tomb 162.

Alchemy

Yao Chen accepted Xiao Yan as a disciple and offered to teach him alchemy 54 55.

• Became a third-grade Alchemist by the time of the Xiao Family engagement dispute 76.
• Was assigned to work in Canaan Academy's Alchemy Hall as the condition for his enrollment and protection 113.
• Planned to refine pills alongside Yao Chen while cultivating at Canaan Academy 127.

Strange Fire and *Fen Jue*

Xiao Yan's cultivation method allowed him to benefit from Strange Fire.

• Sealed himself with the rioting Fallen Heart Flame to protect Canaan Academy and subdue the flame 93.
• Successfully subdued the Fallen Heart Flame, raising his strength from Dou Ling to peak Dou Wang 93.
• Later recovered a young Fallen Heart Flame from the underground Magma World and gave it to Canaan Academy, restoring the Heavenly Flame Refining Tower's heart-flame tempering function 93.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Ring containing Yao Chen — the vessel in which Yao Chen remained hidden before his awakening 48 54.
• Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill — seventh-grade pill used to restore Xiao Yan's cultivation and talent 54.

Relationships

• Xiao Zhan — father; sacrificed the Xiao Family's Ancient Jade to secure a cure for Xiao Yan's lost cultivation 51 54.
• Yao Chen — master; initially drained Xiao Yan's Dou Qi while recovering, then accepted him as a disciple and taught him cultivation and alchemy 48 54 55.
• Xiao Xun'er — childhood companion and Xiao Yan's unrequited love interest; she rejected his marriage plans and later left the Xiao Family, recognizing that their paths differed 48 84.
• Nalan Yanran — former fiancée and adversary; Xiao Yan confronted her during the engagement dispute, while later being advised to avoid conflict with her at Canaan Academy 76 116.
• Zi Yan — opponent during the Xiao Family conflict; her strength overwhelmed Yao Chen and contributed to Xiao Yan's defeat 76.
• Ao Qing — powerful figure who arranged Xiao Yan's admission to Canaan Academy but ultimately killed him in the Heavenly Tomb 113 166.
• Xiao Xuan — Xiao Clan ancestor; entrusted Xiao Yan with the remaining Xiao Clan bloodline power in the Heavenly Tomb 163.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Loss and Restoration of Talent

Yao Chen's awakening caused Xiao Yan's Dou Qi to vanish, reducing him from One-Star Dou Zhe to the Third Stage Dou Qi. Xiao Zhan's intervention and the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill restored his potential, after which Yao Chen became his master 48 49 54.

Xiao Family Engagement Conflict

Xiao Yan returned to confront the dispute surrounding Nalan Yanran's engagement. He fought alongside Xiao Zhan while Yao Chen engaged Zi Yan, but Zi Yan's superior strength forced Yao Chen to retreat and left the Xiao Family estate destroyed 76.

Canaan Academy

Xiao Yan entered Canaan Academy under Ao Qing's conditions, agreeing to work in the Alchemy Hall. He sought growth while attempting to avoid attention connected to Strange Fire and his prior conflict with Zi Yan's group 111 113.

Fallen Heart Flame

Xiao Yan became remembered at Canaan Academy for sealing himself with the Fallen Heart Flame during its rampage. He subdued the flame through Fen Jue, gained immense strength, and later supplied the academy with a young Fallen Heart Flame to replace the one it had lost 93.

Heavenly Tomb

Ao Qing brought Xiao Yan into the Heavenly Tomb and elevated him to Two-Star Dou Zun. Xiao Yan met ancestor Xiao Xuan, who prepared to pass on the Xiao Clan's remaining bloodline power. Before Xiao Yan could realize that legacy, Ao Qing killed him while he cultivated 162 163 166.

Trivia

• Xiao Yan is stated to have transmigrated from modern society 12.
• His loss of cultivation became the opening Ao Qing had anticipated for obtaining the Xiao Family's Ancient Jade through strategy rather than force 13.
• Canaan Academy remembers him as a hero for containing the Fallen Heart Flame crisis 93.