Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Flame Emperor 614
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; Jia Nan Academy; founder of Pan Gate; Heavenly Mansion Alliance 562 473
Occupation/Role	Soul? no
Occupation/Role	Alchemist, combatant, faction leader, and later leader of the Heavenly Mansion Alliance 545 473
Status	Alive; becomes the first Dou Di in ten thousand years and foresees a future departure for the Great Thousand World 614
First Appearance	Chapter 18

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Lost cultivation	18	Once a prodigy, Xiao Yan repeatedly loses the cultivation he recovers, leading his family and former friends to treat him as worthless.
Nine-Star Dou Practitioner / Dou Zhe	481 483	His cultivation talent visibly returns, stunning the Xiao Family.
Future Dou Di projection	483	A projection resembling Xiao Yan, surrounded by twenty-three Heavenly Flames, manifests as evidence that his future self attained a Dou Di Body.
Dou Master	488	Secretly reveals to Xiao Zhan that he has advanced and possesses cultivation methods and Dou Techniques from Yao Chen.
Seven-Star Dou King	490	His coming-of-age test shocks the Xiao Family; he reaches this rank in a little over half a year.
Dou Zong	501	Reveals his strength to Xiao Ding and Xiao Li after reuniting with them in Stone Desert City.
Three-Star Dou Emperor	524	Erupts with an equal Three-Star Dou Emperor aura during his decisive battle with Nalan Yanran.
Dou Huang	526	Uses Earth-tier Combat Skills against Nalan Yanran and ultimately defeats her.
Half-Emperor	581	Continues assimilating inherited power, crossing into Half-Emperor and nearing the Dou Emperor realm.
Near-Dou Emperor	583 597	His accepted future strength leaves him only half a step from the realm; he is later described as infinitely close to it.
Dou Di	613 614	Proves himself emperor, absorbs the Shetuo Ancient Emperor's Emperor Flame, and becomes the first Dou Di in ten thousand years.

Background / History

Xiao Yan was once recognized as a cultivation prodigy, but his strength repeatedly vanished, making him the target of contempt within the Xiao Family. When his childhood betrothed, Nalan Yanran, sought to annul their engagement, he vowed to prove himself within three years rather than accept humiliation 18.

The cause of his decline was Yao Chen, whose soul had entered the Bone Flame Ring and unknowingly absorbed Xiao Yan's Dou Qi for three years. After awakening, Yao Chen recognized Xiao Yan's perseverance and talent, accepted him as a disciple, and began training him in cultivation and alchemy 472.

Under Yao Chen's guidance, Xiao Yan rebuilt his foundation through medicinal training, combat conditioning, and the absorption of flames. He refined the Amethyst Winged Lion King's purple flame and the Green Lotus Core Flame, evolving the Burning Art while advancing through the early Dou Qi ranks 472.

During his travels, Xiao Yan formed close bonds with the Little Doctor Immortal and Qing Lin, reunited with his elder brothers in the desert, and returned to settle the three-year agreement with Nalan Yanran. Their battle at the Cloud Mist Sect ended in his victory 500 501 526.

At Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Yan became a leading new student, founded Pan Gate, and won the Inner Academy Strong Ranking competition after defeating major rivals including Bai Shan, Wu Hao, Hu Jia, Bai Cheng, Yao Sheng, and Liu Qing 551 562 595. His conflict with Han Feng—Yao Chen's traitorous former disciple—became central to his efforts to protect his teacher and oppose Soul Hall 609 611.

Xiao Yan eventually rises to lead the Heavenly Mansion Alliance alongside Yao Chen, defeats the Soul Clan, destroys Soul Hall, and reaches the Dou Di realm after absorbing the Emperor Flame. He later returns to the Jia Ma Empire with his family, while sensing that his path will eventually lead to the Great Thousand World 473 614.

Appearance

Xiao Yan is a black-robed young man with a delicate, handsome face and a composed bearing. He is frequently identified by the enormous Heavy Xuan Ruler carried across his back 544 551.

• Usually wears black robes, including a cloak used to conceal his identity at the Mittel Auction House 487.
• Carries the oversized Heavy Xuan Ruler, whose weight suppresses his physical performance until removed 501 575.
• His eyes can become filled with azure flame while activating the Heavenly Flame Three Profound Transformations 550.
• Displays jade-green flame wings when using his flying Dou Skill 592 608.
• As a Dou Di, bears a multicolored flame mark on his forehead 613.

Personality

Xiao Yan is proud, resilient, and unwilling to accept degradation. Even after losing his cultivation and becoming a target of ridicule, he refuses to submit to Nalan Yanran's annulment and stakes his future on a three-year promise 18.

He is cautious when dealing with strangers and resources, disguising himself for auctions and arranging ambushes against hostile forces when necessary 487 535. In battle, he can be ruthless and overwhelming, particularly when opponents threaten Pan Gate, his teacher, or those under his protection 550 564.

Despite this severity, Xiao Yan is compassionate toward people treated as weak or disposable. He helps Qing Lin despite her mixed heritage, supports his brothers' cultivation, protects his family, and treats Zi Yan with patience despite her violent reputation 501 580 584.

Abilities & Skills

Dou Qi Combat

Xiao Yan is a highly adaptable close-range fighter whose physical combat improves sharply when he removes the Heavy Xuan Ruler.

• Uses fists, elbows, knees, palms, and kicks in rapid close-quarters combinations 550 575.
• Can overwhelm weapon users before they can establish distance or execute techniques 550.
• Conceals his true strength behind suppressed aura and the ruler's weight 562 575.
• Possesses combat strength beyond his displayed rank due to inherited future power 543 583.

Heavenly Flames and Burning Art

Xiao Yan cultivates the Burning Art, a Qi Method capable of evolving through the absorption of powerful flames.

• Refines the Amethyst Winged Lion King's purple flame into an origin Core Flame, advancing the Burning Art to the middle yellow class 472.
• Absorbs the Green Lotus Core Flame, advancing the Burning Art to the middle xuan class 472.
• Wields the Green Lotus Core Flame and Bone Spirit Cold Flame in battle against Han Feng 609 610.
• Uses the Emerald Fire Lotus, combining Heavenly Flame power into a destructive attack capable of overpowering Han Feng's own flames 612.
• Ultimately absorbs the Shetuo Ancient Emperor's Emperor Flame upon becoming a Dou Di 614.

Alchemy

Trained by Yao Chen, Xiao Yan is an exceptional alchemist capable of refining medicines far beyond those expected of his apparent age.

• Refines Foundation Establishment Elixir and auctions it through the Mittel Auction House while disguised 487 488.
• Refines a Ninth-grade Heavenly Spirit Marrow Pill in front of Ya Fei 489.
• Provides medicinal pills and cultivation resources to Xiao Zhan, Xiao Ding, and Xiao Li 489 501.
• Refines pills ranging from third to sixth grade while strengthening Zi Yan's body 581.
• Is acknowledged by the Little Doctor Immortal as her master in alchemy 545.

Movement and Combat Techniques

Xiao Yan possesses several high-level techniques learned or developed through Yao Chen's instruction and his own cultivation.

• Six Harmonies Roaming Body Ruler — A ruler technique used to counter Nalan Yanran's Wind Spirit Splitting Sword 525.
• Three Thousand Lightning Movement — A low Earth-tier movement technique that grants extreme speed 472.
• Lion-Tiger Golden Shattering Roar — A sound-wave Dou Technique used to injure Yao Sheng and create a decisive opening 472 591.
• Heavenly Flame Three Profound Transformations — A flame-based secret technique; its Green Lotus Transformation raises Xiao Yan's aura to Dou Ling level during the Inner Academy selection battles 550.
• Flying Dou Skill — Forms flame wings that allow aerial movement and combat 591 592.

Spiritual Strength

Xiao Yan possesses powerful spiritual perception and soul-related abilities.

• Saves a spiritual body from a Soul Hall member during a black storm in the Black Corner Region 528.
• Uses spiritual strength to detect threats and assess concealed danger 510.
• His soul strength and control over Heavenly Flames allow him to contend with Han Feng, despite losing Yao Chen's direct support in battle 610.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Heavy Xuan Ruler — An enormous weighted ruler that suppresses Xiao Yan's speed and strength while carried; removing it produces a sudden surge in combat ability 501 575.
• Bone Flame Ring — The ring that housed Yao Chen's soul before it came into Xiao Yan's possession 472.
• Black cloak — Used to disguise his appearance and physique while conducting business at the Mittel Auction House 487.
• Heavenly Flame Ancient Ruler — Formed after Xiao Yan absorbs the Emperor Flame and becomes a Dou Di 614.

Relationships

• Yao Chen — Teacher and alchemy mentor. Yao Chen trains Xiao Yan after awakening from the Bone Flame Ring; Xiao Yan later fights Han Feng and Soul Hall to protect and avenge him 18 472 609.
• Xiao Xun'er — Childhood companion, trusted partner, and wife. She publicly embraces Xiao Yan at Jia Nan Academy and remains confident in his strength; they marry after he becomes a Dou Di 540 614.
• Nalan Yanran — Former childhood betrothed and rival. Her annulment of their engagement inspires Xiao Yan's three-year vow; he later defeats her at the Cloud Mist Sect 18 526.
• Little Doctor Immortal — Traveling companion, alchemy disciple, and later wife. She accompanies Xiao Yan through major journeys and recognizes him as her alchemy master 500 545 614.
• Qing Lin — Xiao Yan's maid, companion, and later wife. He protects her from prejudice over her mixed human and snake-person heritage 501 614.
• Cailin / Medusa — Powerful ally and later wife; she appears during Xiao Yan's battle with Han Feng and kills Han Feng's body after his defeat 611 614.
• Yun Yun — Former Cloud Mist Sect leader whom Xiao Yan encounters during his mountain training; she later becomes one of his wives 472 614.
• Zi Yan — Friend, Pan Gate ally, and later wife. Xiao Yan refines pills for her and helps her pursue the strength needed to control her transformed form 580 581 614.
• Xiao Zhan — Father. Xiao Yan entrusts him with cultivation resources and later acts to secure the Xiao Family after Soul Hall attacks 489 584.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li — Elder brothers. Xiao Yan reunites with them after years apart and supplies pills to help them advance 501.
• Han Feng — Yao Chen's traitorous former disciple and Xiao Yan's senior brother. Xiao Yan defeats him while avenging Yao Chen and opposing Soul Hall 609 611.

Trivia

• Xiao Yan's future self appears as a Dou Di projection surrounded by twenty-three Heavenly Flames before he openly reaches that realm 483.
• He gains first place in Jia Nan Academy's Strong Ranking, with Zi Yan second and Xun'er third 595.
• His future inherited strength is described as having once reached the Great Ruler level 543.