Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Xiao Yanzi
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Clan; later identified as the Young Pavilion Master of Starfall Pavilion 337
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; Seventh-Grade Peak Alchemist 335
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Mentioned in Chapter 1; physically appears in Chapter 25 1 25

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Four-Star Dou Ling	132	Breaks through after nearly two years at the Jia Nan Academy Inner Academy. 132
Two-Star Dou Zong	183	Reaches this realm through cultivation aided by Yao Chen's resources before entering the Gu Realm. 183
Seventh-Grade Peak Alchemist	335	Refines a Seventh-Grade Pill and uses its pill lightning to call for his ancestor, Xiao Chen. 335 336

Background

Xiao Yan is the son of Xiao Zhan, the Xiao Family patriarch of Wutan City. Once Wutan City's unrivaled young genius, he grew up alongside Xun'er and formed a close bond with her. 5

Xun'er continued supporting him after leaving Wutan City, secretly providing Gu Clan Dou Techniques and a Child Fire of the Golden Emperor Burning Flame. Her continued involvement with Xiao Yan became a central cause of the breakdown between herself and Gu Fei. 1 5

Gu Yao, enraged by Xiao Yan's connection to Xun'er, sent a Low-level Dou Zong assassin after him. Xiao Yan survived only because Yao Chen intervened, but the rescue left his master in deep soul slumber. 9 25 36

Appearance

Xiao Yan is a black-clad young man who commonly carries a massive black ruler on his back. During his travels, he bears visible wounds and sword scars from repeated battles. 25 85

• Carries a massive black ruler, later identified as the Mysterious Heavy Ruler. 25 85
• Has lingering scars and a faint scent of blood after the duel with Nalan Yanran. 85
• Keeps Yao Chen's soul within an inconspicuous black Storage Ring. 25 132

Personality

Xiao Yan is deeply devoted to those he considers family. His father's disappearance immediately overrides his other plans, and he remains determined to find Xiao Zhan despite having no clear lead. 132 325

He is also highly conscious of the disparity between his own strength and that of the Ancient Races. Encounters with the Gu Clan leave him intimidated and humiliated, yet these setbacks repeatedly strengthen his resolve to cultivate. 82 183 186

Although prideful and sometimes reckless when cornered, Xiao Yan is capable of putting aside his dignity for Yao Chen's sake. He approaches Gu Fei for aid despite believing Gu Fei may resent him over Xun'er. 188

Abilities & Skills

Dou Qi Combat

Xiao Yan develops his fighting ability through life-and-death training in the Monster Mountain Range. 36

• Uses Eight Extremes Collapse through his black ruler to kill a second-tier Gale Wolf. 36
• Relies on practical combat experience to contend with magical beasts beyond what his cultivation alone would normally permit. 36
• Uses a strand of Golden Emperor Burning Flame Child Fire against Nalan Yanran during their three-year duel. 85
• Was unable to match Nalan Yanran's Da Dou Shi cultivation and Misty Cloud Sect techniques without resorting to the Child Fire. 85

Alchemy

Alchemy is one of Xiao Yan's principal paths to strength.

• Places third in the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Grand Meet. 81
• Reaches Seventh-Grade Peak Alchemist status by the time he returns to Wutan City. 335
• Refines a Seventh-Grade Pill specifically to attract Xiao Chen's attention through pill lightning. 335 336

Equipment / Items

• Mysterious Heavy Ruler — His primary weapon in battle. 85
• Black Storage Ring — Houses Yao Chen's soul. 25 132
• Family Head Inheritance Jade Tablet — A jade shard containing Xiao Zhan's Soul Imprint; Xiao Yan initially refuses to surrender it because of its connection to his father. 196
• Golden Emperor Burning Flame Child Fire — Gifted by Xun'er and used during the duel with Nalan Yanran. 1 85

Relationships

• Yao Chen / Yao Lao — Teacher and benefactor. Yao Chen saves Xiao Yan from Gu Yao's assassin, later resumes guiding his cultivation, and advises him throughout the search for Xiao Zhan. 25 85 132 325
• Xun'er — Childhood companion and former close confidante. She provides him with Gu Clan techniques, the Golden Emperor Burning Flame Child Fire, and medicine for Yao Chen's soul injuries, but their relationship grows distant after her return to the Gu Realm. 1 36 81 185 197
• Xiao Zhan — Father and Xiao Yan's strongest emotional anchor. Xiao Yan dedicates himself to finding him after learning of his disappearance. 132 325
• Xiao Chen — Ancient ancestor of the Xiao Clan. Xiao Yan successfully summons him with pill lightning, and Xiao Chen agrees to help search for Xiao Zhan. 336
• Gu Fei — Initially connected to Xiao Yan through Xun'er and treated as an unreachable rival. Xiao Yan later seeks his help for Yao Chen and receives help extracting Xiao Zhan's Soul Imprint from the inheritance jade. 81 188 196
• Gu Yao — Hostile Gu Clan genius who develops murderous intent toward Xiao Yan over Xun'er and later attempts to kill him during the dispute over a Sky Tomb slot. 6 199
• Nalan Yanran — Rival in the three-year agreement duel; Xiao Yan defeats her after using the Golden Emperor Burning Flame Child Fire. 85
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li — Elder brothers who welcome him warmly upon his return to Wutan City and support his plan to contact Xiao Chen. 335

Story Role / Major Arcs

Monster Mountain Range Training

Following the assassination attempt that leaves Yao Chen dormant, Xiao Yan travels to Green Mountain Town and enters the Monster Mountain Range with a mercenary team. He trains through repeated battles, kills a Gale Wolf with Eight Extremes Collapse, and reunites with Xun'er, who apologizes for the attack carried out because of her circumstances. 25 36

Alchemist Grand Meet and Three-Year Agreement

Xiao Yan takes third place at the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Grand Meet, where Princess Yao Yue's performance makes him question his own talent. 81

He later faces Nalan Yanran in their three-year agreement. Outmatched after she reveals Da Dou Shi cultivation, he turns to the Golden Emperor Burning Flame Child Fire and defeats her; Yao Chen awakens afterward. 85

Jia Nan Academy and Xiao Zhan's Disappearance

Xiao Yan advances to Four-Star Dou Ling at the Inner Academy, but abandons his plans when Xiao Ning reports that Xiao Zhan has vanished. He suspects the Misty Cloud Sect, though Yao Chen finds no proof and instead notes its unexplained influx of Dou Emperors. 132 134

Gu Realm and the Ancient Jade

Upon entering the Gu Realm as a Two-Star Dou Zong, Xiao Yan is overwhelmed by the strength of its younger generation and suffers public humiliation from Ling Quan and Gu Yao. 183 191 192

He approaches Gu Fei to request help for Yao Chen, then faces Gu Clan elders seeking the Xiao Clan's Ancient Jade. Gu Fei extracts Xiao Zhan's Soul Imprint from the jade shard, allowing Xiao Yan to relinquish the item without losing the trace of his father. 187 195 196

Xun'er later explains that the Tou She Ancient God Jade is divided among the Ancient Eight Clans and can open the Ancient Emperor Cave Abode. She also tells Xiao Yan of Xiao Xuan's failed attempt to reach Dou Di and the destruction of the Ancient Xiao Clan. 197

Summoning Xiao Chen

Still seeking Xiao Zhan years later, Xiao Yan returns to Wutan City and refines a Seventh-Grade Pill to call upon Xiao Chen. Xiao Chen answers the summons, learns of Xiao Zhan's disappearance, and agrees to assist Xiao Yan in the search. 335 336

Notable Quotes

“A descendant of the Xiao Clan wishes to meet our ancestor!” 335