Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Yan Xiao
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; Jia Nan Academy; Bright Cult
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; alchemist; Bright Cult representative
Status	Alive 320
First Appearance	1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Stage Nine Dou Qi	1	Recognized as the Xiao Family's young genius at age ten.
Dou Zhe	2	Breaks through at age eleven, becoming the Xiao Family's youngest Dou Zhe.
Stage Three Dou Qi	2	His strength mysteriously vanishes after age twelve, reducing him from Dou Zhe to Stage Three.
Stage Five Dou Qi	136	His cultivation begins recovering after the long regression.
Stage Nine Dou Qi	176	The Xiao Family's coming-of-age test confirms that his talent has returned.
One-star Dou Zhe	180	Secretly breaks through again and reveals his return to the Dou Zhe realm.
Five-star Great Dou Shi	248	Reaches this level through the hardships undertaken for the Three Year Pact.
Dou Zun	316	Advances after a year of further training while working with the Bright Cult.

Background

Xiao Yan began as the Xiao Family's celebrated prodigy, reaching Stage Nine Dou Qi at ten and becoming a Dou Zhe at eleven. His confidence turned into arrogance during this period, but his cultivation suddenly collapsed when he turned twelve, leaving him at Stage Three Dou Qi and subjecting him to the clan's ridicule 1 2 23.

His decline is connected to the ring containing Yao Chen's soul. Xiao Yan eventually recognizes the ring's potential as a costly but powerful opportunity, and Yao Chen becomes his teacher and guide 29 136. The years spent powerless temper Xiao Yan's character; when his cultivation returns, he is notably calmer and more restrained than the gifted child he had been 176.

Personality

Xiao Yan is intensely proud of his family name and especially protective of Xiao Zhan. Nalan Yanran's public attempt to dissolve their engagement enrages him not only because of the insult to himself, but because it humiliates his father and the Xiao Family 138 247.

His early losses leave him sensitive to humiliation and prone to anger, particularly toward Xiao Bai. However, he repeatedly demonstrates resilience: he continues cultivating through years of mockery, accepts help when Xiao Zhan is abducted, and chooses to pursue strength before attempting to enter the Central Continent 14 23 250 257.

Over time, Xiao Yan becomes more pragmatic and mature. He is willing to put aside old grievances with Xiao Bai when their interests align, though he remains wary of Xiao Bai's motives and methods 250 253.

Abilities & Skills

Dou Qi Combat

Xiao Yan is a direct, decisive fighter whose experience in dangerous environments gives him a more practical combat style than Nalan Yanran's sheltered upbringing 247.

• Uses close-quarters strikes and weapon combat alongside Dou Techniques.
• Fought Nalan Yanran to a draw in ordinary exchanges before overpowering her strongest technique 247.
• Held his ground against a Dou Wang and a hidden Dou Emperor during the Falling Stone Mountain battle 286.
• Uses ambushes and terrain assessment rather than charging blindly into hostile situations 286.

Roar of the Mad Lion

An inherited sonic Dou Technique used during his first confrontation with Xiao Bai.

• Destroyed Xiao Bai's rotating Dou Qi disc during the Xiao Family martial competition 13.
• Was regarded as a Clan Leader's Dou Technique by the Xiao Family elders 13.
• Could not overcome Xiao Bai's more advanced Mystic Seal on its own 13.

Heavenly Flame Techniques

Xiao Yan acquires a blood-red Heavenly Flame after Xiao Bai obtains the Green Lotus Core Flame 245.

• Combines flames through soul control to form the Lesser Buddha's Rage Fire Lotus 247.
• Defeats Nalan Yanran's Extreme Wind: Setting Sun Radiance with the Fire Lotus 247.
• Uses flame-enhanced combat against enemies seeking Yao Chen's ring 286.
• Later receives map fragments connected to the third-ranked Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame 316.

Alchemy

Xiao Yan develops as an alchemist under Yao Chen's guidance.

• Uses the alias Yan Xiao while competing in the Alchemist Conference 245.
• Wins the conference and preserves the Jia Ma Empire Alchemist Association's reputation 245.
• Refines or prepares medicinal products such as Qi Gathering Powder during his return to cultivation 182.
• His alchemical skill and Yao Chen's reputation make him a valuable asset to the Bright Cult 315 316.

Equipment / Items

• Ancient Storage Ring — Houses Yao Chen's soul and is sought by Han Feng and the Soul Hall 286 287.
• Mysterious Heavy Ruler — Xiao Yan's primary weapon during the Three Year Pact and later battles 247 256.
• Tou She Ancient God Jade — A jade token inherited from Xiao Zhan; tied to the secret of becoming a Dou Di and the Soul Hall's pursuit of the Xiao Family 257 258.
• Atomic Bombs — Provided by Xiao Bai for Xiao Yan's planned visit to the Ancient Clan 316.

Relationships

• Xiao Bai — Cousin, early rival, later ally and benefactor. Xiao Bai defeats and humiliates him during the Xiao Family competition, but later supports him during the Three Year Pact, helps investigate Xiao Zhan's disappearance, and brings him into the Bright Cult 13 246 250 315.
• Xiao Xun'er / Gu Xun'er — Childhood companion and romantic partner. She remains devoted during his years of weakness; Xiao Yan later learns she is a member of the Ancient Clan 24 179 258.
• Yao Chen / Yao Lao — Teacher and mentor residing in Xiao Yan's ring. He guides Xiao Yan's cultivation and alchemy, temporarily takes control of Xiao Yan's body in battle, and is later captured by the Soul Hall 136 287.
• Xiao Zhan — Father and Xiao Family Clan Leader. Xiao Yan's determination to rescue him from the Soul Hall drives his plans to eventually enter the Central Continent 138 256 257.
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and Three Year Pact opponent. Their public engagement dispute becomes a matter of family honor; Xiao Yan defeats her, then stops her suicide attempt and releases her from their past conflict 138 247 248.
• Han Feng — Yao Chen's traitorous former disciple. He seeks Yao Chen's ring and battles Xiao Yan at Falling Stone Mountain 286.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Loss of Cultivation and Xiao Family Rivalry

After falling from Dou Zhe to Stage Three Dou Qi, Xiao Yan becomes the target of ridicule within the Xiao Family. He clashes with Xiao Bai during the martial competition, using the Roar of the Mad Lion but ultimately suffering defeat and serious injuries 12 13 14.

Recovery and the Engagement Dispute

Xiao Yan gradually regains his cultivation and reaches Stage Nine Dou Qi before once again becoming a Dou Zhe. When Nalan Yanran's representatives seek to dissolve their engagement publicly, he refuses to accept the humiliation and establishes the Three Year Pact 136 176 180.

Three Year Pact

Using the identity Yan Xiao, Xiao Yan wins the Alchemist Conference and obtains a new Heavenly Flame before travelling to Misty Cloud Mountain. He defeats Nalan Yanran with the Lesser Buddha's Rage Fire Lotus, then prevents her from taking her own life and allows both of them to move on 245 247 248.

Search for Xiao Zhan

After the Xiao Family is attacked and Xiao Zhan disappears, Xiao Yan seeks Xiao Bai's help. He learns that Soul Hall took his father to the Central Continent, learns of the Xiao Clan's ancient heritage, and resolves to grow strong enough before attempting a rescue 250 256 257 258.

Jia Nan Academy and Bright Cult

Xiao Yan returns to Jia Nan Academy, enters the Inner Academy, and becomes involved in conflicts over Yao Chen and the Heavenly Flames. After Yao Chen is captured, Xiao Yan accepts Xiao Bai's offer to join the Bright Cult in exchange for support against the Soul Hall 285 287 315.

Notable Quotes

“Your choice was not wrong, Nalan Yanran. Your method was.” 247

“I'm going to Central Continent!” 256

“If you can truly help me fight the Soul Hall, then I'll join you!” 315