Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎) 215
Alias(es)	Little Yanzi; Green Emperor; Flame Emperor 416 462
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; disciple of Yao Chen; later the Soul Clan 215 246 582
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; alchemist; Yao Chen's disciple 246 457
Status	Deceased — killed alongside Xiao Zhan when Gu Xun'er used the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame 583
First Appearance	Chapter 215

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Low Third Stage Dou Qi	215	Once regarded as a Xiao Family genius, he tests at Low Third Stage after years of regression and is publicly treated as a “waste.”
Four-stage Dou Disciple	249	Breaks through overnight after becoming Yao Chen's disciple.
Five-stage Dou Disciple	281	Continues cultivating under Yao Chen, though his progress is constrained by repeated crises and a lack of resources.
Two Heavenly Flames	414	Had subdued the Mysterious Yellow Flame and Netherworld Poison Fire with Yao Chen's aid; Ye Feng forcibly extracts both flames.
Green Lotus Core Flame	456	Re-emerges with the nineteenth-ranked Heavenly Flame after losing his earlier flames.
Eighth-grade Alchemist	457	Refines an eighth-grade pill at the Pill Gathering; he uses his Heavenly Flame to complete its third color of Pill Lightning.
Dou Zun	463 496	Is captured by the Hall of Souls after reaching the Dou Zun realm.
Late Eight-star Dou Sheng	582	Reappears as a Soul Clan powerhouse. His and Xiao Zhan's growth is later attributed to secretly absorbing the energy of several destroyed clan realms 584.

Background

Xiao Family prodigy

Xiao Yan was once the Xiao Family's foremost young genius, but his cultivation declined for three years until he tested at only Low Third Stage Dou Qi. The loss of status leaves him humiliated and embittered, especially as Xiao Mei distances herself from him while Xiao Xun'er remains outwardly respectful 215.

He retains memories of a previous life on Earth and repeatedly questions how he can return there. After learning the truth behind his cultivation loss, however, he abandons that goal in favor of becoming powerful enough to punish those who humiliated him 243 245.

The ring and Yao Chen

The ancient Storage Ring left by his mother is the source of Xiao Yan's missing Dou Qi. It houses the remnant soul of Venerable Yao, Yao Chen, who had absorbed Xiao Yan's Dou Qi for three years to recover from slumber 245.

Xiao Yan initially curses Yao Chen and throws away the ring, but the ring returns and Yao Chen manifests before him. He ultimately accepts Yao Chen as his teacher, intending to use the renowned alchemist's knowledge to regain strength and pursue revenge 245 246.

Yao Chen gives him the Flame Mantra, a Yellow-tier Low-grade cultivation method that can evolve through the absorption of powerful energies such as Heavenly Flames. Xiao Yan is skeptical of the technique's initial rank, but accepts it because of its potential 247.

Appearance

Xiao Yan is introduced as a young, black-haired Xiao Family disciple whose formerly upright bearing becomes hunched under years of humiliation 215 244.

• Often conceals himself beneath a large black robe while carrying a heavy black ruler 281.
• Is described as relatively handsome when he reveals his face in Desert City 281.
• After joining the Soul Clan, his skin becomes pitch-black and his face appears shriveled, reflecting the drastic change in his condition 582.

Personality

Xiao Yan is proud, ambitious, and highly sensitive to humiliation. He maintains a composed exterior when confronted by influential figures, but internally vows to surpass them and stand at the peak of the continent 231.

His setbacks intensify his resentment. During the annulment dispute, he refuses to submit quietly, proposes a three-year challenge against Nalan Yanran, and frames his struggle through the declaration, “Do not bully the poor youth” 238. His anger later becomes focused on revenge against Ye Feng, Nalan Yanran, the Xiao Family, and Xun'er 244.

Despite his hostility toward Yao Chen after learning of the stolen Dou Qi, Xiao Yan recognizes Yao Chen's value and eventually comes to regard him as family. By the Four Pavilions Assembly, he is determined to restore Yao Chen's body and repay his teacher 245 414.

Abilities & Skills

Flame Mantra

The Flame Mantra is Xiao Yan's core cultivation method, received from Yao Chen.

• Begins as a Yellow-tier Low-grade cultivation method 247.
• Evolves by absorbing powerful energies, particularly Heavenly Flames 247.
• Enables him to survive the refinement of multiple Heavenly Flames with Yao Chen's assistance 414.
• Its development is repeatedly disrupted when Ye Feng strips Xiao Yan of acquired flames 414.

Heavenly Flame Control

Xiao Yan's ability to refine and wield Heavenly Flames distinguishes him from most young cultivators.

• Previously controlled the Mysterious Yellow Flame and Netherworld Poison Fire before Ye Feng removed them 414.
• Later acquires the nineteenth-ranked Green Lotus Core Flame 456.
• Uses the Green Lotus Core Flame to supplement the third color of his eighth-grade pill's Pill Lightning 457.
• His Green Lotus Core Flame remains part of his power after he joins the Soul Clan 582.

Alchemy

Under Yao Chen's tutelage, Xiao Yan becomes a notable young alchemist.

• Refines an eighth-grade pill during the Pill Gathering 457.
• Produces single-colored Pill Lightning, with its final color supplemented through his Heavenly Flame 457 458.
• His achievement is recognized as genuine eighth-grade alchemy, though observers note his reliance on Yao Chen's guidance 458.

Flame Splits Waves Ruler

Xiao Yan wields the Flame Splits Waves Ruler through his heavy black ruler.

• An Earth-tier Battle Skill and one of his principal offensive techniques 462.
• Can project an imposing flame attack, but proves ineffective against the Black and White Heavenly Venerates 462.
• Is later used during his Soul Clan assault against former allies 582.

Buddha's Rage Flame Lotus

Xiao Yan can form the Buddha's Rage Flame Lotus by combining flames.

• Uses it twice against the Black and White Heavenly Venerates 462.
• The technique nearly exhausts his Battle Qi when he possesses only the Green Lotus Core Flame and Beast Fire 462.
• Fails to meaningfully injure the two Dou Zun opponents under those conditions 462.

Equipment / Items

• Ancient Storage Ring — memento from his mother and vessel for Yao Chen's remnant soul 232 245.
• Heavy black ruler — Xiao Yan's usual weapon and the medium for Flame Splits Waves Ruler 281 462.
• Medicine cauldron — used during his Pill Gathering refinement of an eighth-grade pill 456 457.

Relationships

• Yao Chen — Teacher and remnant soul within Xiao Yan's ring. Yao Chen drains Xiao Yan's Dou Qi for three years, later accepts him as a disciple and teaches him the Flame Mantra; their relationship eventually resembles that of father and son 245 246 414.
• Xiao Zhan — Father and former Xiao Family Patriarch. Xiao Yan vows to restore his father's honor, but the two later appear together as Soul Clan traitors 240 582.
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée. Their engagement dispute results in a three-year pact: Xiao Yan is to challenge her at the Misty Cloud Sect 237 238.
• Gu Xun'er — Childhood friend who initially continues to treat him respectfully after his fall. Her view of Xiao Yan collapses after learning more about his conduct and origins; she ultimately kills him with the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame 215 244 583.
• Ye Feng — Primary rival and enemy. Ye Feng repeatedly humiliates Xiao Yan, exposes his circumstances, strips away two of his Heavenly Flames, and manipulates Yao Chen into continuing Xiao Yan's training 237 283 414.
• Xiao Yu — His cousin. She captures Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan after discovering their betrayal 285 583.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Annulment and the Three-Year Pact

Xiao Yan refuses to sell his mother's ring despite the Xiao Family's pressure and Ye Feng's interest in it, worsening his standing within the clan 231 232. When Nalan Yanran seeks to annul their engagement, he rejects the proposed compensation and negotiates a three-year delay before challenging her at the Misty Cloud Sect 237 238.

Apprenticeship under Yao Chen

After discovering that Yao Chen caused his cultivation decline, Xiao Yan becomes the Venerable's disciple. He begins rebuilding his cultivation, pursues alchemy, and seeks Heavenly Flames through the Flame Mantra 245 247.

Pursuit of strength and loss of his flames

Xiao Yan develops enough strength and notoriety to enter the Four Pavilions Assembly, where he aims to take first place and gather flames to restore Yao Chen's body 414. Ye Feng interrupts these ambitions by knocking him unconscious and extracting the Mysterious Yellow Flame and Netherworld Poison Fire from his body 414.

Pill Gathering and Hall of Souls capture

He returns to prominence at the Pill Gathering as an eighth-grade alchemist with the Green Lotus Core Flame 456 457. Soon afterward, the Hall of Souls captures him while seeking information related to the Tou She Ancient God Jade 463.

Soul Clan betrayal and death

Xiao Yan later reappears as a late Eight-star Dou Sheng aligned with the Soul Clan, attacking forces associated with the Feng Ye Alliance alongside Xiao Zhan 582. Xiao Yu captures both father and son, and Xun'er destroys them with the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame 583.

Notable Quotes

“Do not bully the poor youth!” 238

“One day, I, Xiao Yan, will make you all grovel at my feet!” 244