Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Killing Star; Xiao Emperor; Pavilion Master Xiao 505 647
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy and Enforcement Team; founder of Xiao Pavilion 313 505 605
Occupation/Role	Cultivator, alchemist, and Xiao Pavilion founder 585 605
First Appearance	168

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Third-stage Fighting Energy	168	Once the Xiao Family's youngest Fighter in a century, Xiao Yan's Fighting Energy mysteriously declined until he could no longer improve.
Ninth-stage Fighting Energy	313	Restored his cultivation within a year under Yao Chen's guidance.
Two-star Dou Zhe	313	Used Qi Gathering Powder to advance, then cultivated an Earth-grade method.
Nine-star Dou Zhe	343	Reached this level at age seventeen, exceeding Jia Nan Academy's S-rank potential standard.
Eight-star Da Dou Shi	374	Broke through from seven-star Da Dou Shi while preparing for the Three-Year Agreement.
Nine-star Da Dou Shi	399	Reached this level while traveling through the Black Corner Region with Yao Chen.
Dou Wang (temporary)	400	Used a Life Devouring Pill to forcibly obtain Dou Wang power at the cost of most of his lifespan.
Peak Dou Wang	505	Advanced through cultivation in the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower and extensive pill use.
Dou Emperor	505	Broke through after Ling Quan gravely injured him and drove him into three months of seclusion.
Peak Dou Emperor	505	Reached the peak in a little over a year while roaming the Black Corner Region.
Peak six-star Dou Zong	552	His cultivation and alchemy both rose rapidly after entering the Central Continent.
Nine-star Dou Zong	585	Advanced after leaving the Extreme Yin Land and preparing to enter a Dou Sheng's Cave Mansion.
Dou Zun	586	Used a self-refined Spirit Origin Creation Pill; excess energy left him bleeding and required further stabilization through battle.
Nine-star Dou Zun	605	Entered the Heavenly Tomb at this level.
Six-star Dou Zun	605	Xiao Xuan removed Dou Saint imprints from his body, lowering his realm but purifying his Dou Qi.
Peak nine-star Dou Zun	605	Xiao Xuan replaced his blood and granted him Xiao Clan bloodline power.
Peak one-star Dou Sheng	640	Participated in the Yao Clan's Medicine Canon to honor Yao Chen.

Background

Xiao Yan began cultivating at four, reached nine segments of Fighting Energy at ten, and became a Fighter at eleven—the youngest in the Xiao Family for a century. His Fighting Energy Vortex then vanished, and his strength steadily fell to the third stage of Fighting Energy despite repeated examinations and continued training 168.

The loss of his talent made him a target of ridicule, but he continued cultivating rather than resigning himself to idleness. Xiao Xun'er remained one of the few people to encourage him, telling him she believed he would reclaim his honor and dignity 168.

During Nalan Yanran's attempt to annul their engagement, Xiao Yan was offered a meeting with Pill King Gu He and assistance investigating his condition. Yao Chen instead revealed himself from the black ring Xiao Yan wore and offered strength, respect, and mentorship; Xiao Yan chose to become Yao Chen's disciple and publicly rejected the proposed terms 291.

Appearance

Xiao Yan is described as handsome and refined-looking. After returning to find the Jia Ma Empire reduced to ruins, his hair turned white overnight 505.

• A deathly aura appeared between his brows after he consumed the Life Devouring Pill; Yao Chen had him conceal it before returning to Jia Nan Academy 401.
• He manifests fiery-red Fighting Qi Armor as a Da Dou Shi 376.
• He uses a heavy ruler in battle, including during the Three-Year Agreement 379.

Personality

Xiao Yan is driven by pride, resentment toward humiliation, and a persistent need to prove that he is no longer powerless. His refusal of Xiao Yi Xian's generous compensation terms was a gamble on Yao Chen's promise rather than an acceptance of a settlement he felt would compromise his dignity 291.

He repeatedly accepts dangerous shortcuts when faced with a gap in power. He consumed the Life Devouring Pill because he was “sick of being weak,” accepting its lifespan cost for temporary Dou Wang strength; later, he risked the unstable energy of the Spirit Origin Creation Pill to reach Dou Zun faster 400 585.

Following the destruction of his home region, he became notably colder and more ruthless in the Black Corner Region, where others called him the Killing Star. Yao Chen's guidance and the consequences of that loss gradually taught him caution, reverence, and compromise 505.

Abilities & Skills

Dou Qi Combat

Xiao Yan is a high-level cultivator whose fighting style combines direct attacks, pill-assisted recovery, and explosive techniques.

• Cultivates a Low-grade Earth cultivation method, allowing sustained Dou Qi use while moving at full speed 369.
• Can manifest tangible Fighting Qi Armor at the Da Dou Shi stage 376.
• Uses the Earth-grade Flame Splitting Wave Ruler as a major finishing technique 377.
• His strongest strike during the Three-Year Agreement could approach a Dou Wang's full-force attack, but it could not overcome Nalan Yanran's two-star Dou Wang strength and High-grade Profound technique 378 379.

Alchemy

Under Yao Chen's instruction, Xiao Yan became an increasingly capable alchemist and used pill refinement to acquire resources.

• Was a third-grade alchemist when he found the Life Devouring Pills 400.
• Reached peak fifth-grade alchemy after becoming a Dou Emperor 505.
• Reached the peak of the seventh tier in the Central Continent 552.
• Successfully refined the eighth-grade Spirit Origin Creation Pill, which he used for his Dou Zun breakthrough 585.
• Founded Xiao Pavilion with the reputation of an eighth-grade alchemist, attracting powerful independent cultivators 605.

Heavenly Flames

Xiao Yan relies on Heavenly Flames in both combat and cultivation.

• Refined the Bone Spirit Cold Flame after stabilizing his Dou Zun realm 586.
• Asked Yao Chen whether Heavenly Flames could neutralize the power contained in a Dou Saint-level jade fragment, reflecting his interest in using flames to handle energy beyond his realm 559.
• Yao Chen's Bone Spirit Cold Flame was central to his mentorship and later entrusted legacy 586.

Xiao Clan Bloodline

Xiao Xuan replaced Xiao Yan's blood within the Heavenly Tomb.

• Removed the Dou Saint imprints that had distorted Xiao Yan's strength and purified his Dou Qi 605.
• Granted Xiao Yan bloodline power, raising him from six-star Dou Zun back to the peak of nine-star Dou Zun 605.

Equipment / Items

• Black Ring — Yao Chen's residence and the source of Xiao Yan's initial contact with his future master 291.
• Heavy Xuan Ruler — Xiao Yan's weapon during the Three-Year Agreement 379.
• Life Devouring Pill — A peak seventh-grade pill that temporarily elevated him to Dou Wang at the cost of most of his lifespan 400.
• Spirit Origin Creation Pill — An eighth-grade pill Xiao Yan refined to gather the immense energy required for a Dou Zun breakthrough 585.
• Bone Spirit Cold Flame — The Heavenly Flame he refined after becoming a Dou Zun 586.

Relationships

• Yao Chen / Yao Lao — Master and mentor residing in Xiao Yan's black ring. He restored Xiao Yan's path of cultivation, taught him alchemy, protected him in dangerous regions, and entrusted him with the Bone Spirit Cold Flame 291 399 586.
• Xiao Xun'er — Childhood companion and girlfriend. She believed in Xiao Yan during his powerless years, later supported him in the Heavenly Tomb, and confronted him over his disregard for his lifespan 168 504 605.
• Xiao Zhan — Father and Xiao Family patriarch. Xiao Yan persisted through his powerless years partly to avoid disappointing him 168.
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and opponent in the Three-Year Agreement. She defeated Xiao Yan at Misty Cloud Sect, after which their marriage contract and grudges were formally dissolved 291 379.
• Xiao Yi Xian — Gu He's disciple who offered compensation and an introduction to Gu He in return for accepting the annulment. Xiao Yan's refusal enraged her 290 291.
• Gu He — Pill King, judge of the Three-Year Agreement, and a figure whose power intimidates both Xiao Yan and Yao Chen. Gu He later learns of Xiao Yan's presence at the Pill Tower but considers him beneath his attention 374 553 554.
• Xiao Xuan — Xiao Yan's ancestor, encountered in the Heavenly Tomb. He purified Xiao Yan's Dou Qi and granted him Xiao Clan bloodline power 605.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Loss of Talent and Yao Chen's Apprenticeship

After years of unexplained decline, Xiao Yan rejects the path offered by Xiao Yi Xian and Gu He in favor of Yao Chen's guidance. His decision leads directly to the Three-Year Agreement with Nalan Yanran 291.

Jia Nan Academy

Xiao Yan returns to prominence by reaching two-star Dou Zhe, then nine-star Dou Zhe at seventeen. His potential shocks Jia Nan Academy's recruiter, and he requests leave to undergo trials in the Monster Mountain Range 313 343.

Three-Year Agreement

Xiao Yan arrives at Misty Cloud Sect as an eight-star Da Dou Shi and confronts Nalan Yanran, unaware that she has been raised to two-star Dou Wang. He exhausts his techniques and uses a Dragon Power Pill, but loses decisively; the engagement is dissolved and he leaves with Yao Chen 374 378 379.

Black Corner Region and the Life Devouring Pill

While seeking materials to restore Yao Chen's soul, Xiao Yan finds peak seventh-grade Life Devouring Pills. He consumes one to temporarily gain Dou Wang power, gaining strength at the cost of a shortened lifespan and a visible deathly aura 399 400 401.

Central Continent

After becoming a Dou Emperor and finding the Jia Ma Empire in ruins, Xiao Yan heads to the Central Continent to seek greater resources and revenge. He later reports the Soul Hall's plans to the Pill Tower and enters the Pill Gathering as Yao Chen's disciple 505 553.

Dou Zun Breakthrough and the Heavenly Tomb

Xiao Yan refines the Spirit Origin Creation Pill to force a Dou Zun breakthrough, then stabilizes himself through magical-beast battles and refines the Bone Spirit Cold Flame 585 586. In the Heavenly Tomb, Xiao Xuan purifies his condition and grants him Xiao Clan bloodline power 605.

Xiao Pavilion and the Medicine Canon

Xiao Yan establishes Xiao Pavilion in the Central Continent, using his strength and eighth-grade alchemy to recruit independent experts 605. As a peak one-star Dou Sheng, he wins the Medicine Canon's preliminary round and has Yao Chen's parents' names engraved on the Yao Clan ancestral monument 640.

Notable Quotes

“However, I refuse.” 291

“Teacher, please grant me this. I'm truly sick of being weak.” 400

“What had I endured three years of bitter cultivation for?” 378