Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Yan (蕭炎)
Species/Race	Human; member of the Xiao Clan
Gender	Male
Age	15 during the bounty issued against him; 16 by the Purple Leaf Orchid incident 74 197
Affiliation	Xiao Family; Mercenary Guild; Brotherhood (vice-captain) 320
Occupation/Role	Cultivator, mercenary, and later patriarch of the Xiao Family 333
Status	Alive 333
First Appearance	Chapter 2 2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Dou Zhe	128	Had reached the realm at age twelve before his Dou Qi began disappearing.
Third Stage of Dou Qi	74	Listed as a fifteen-year-old assassination target in Wutan City.
Fourth Stage of Dou Qi	127	Registered for Jia Nan Academy at this level after the loss of his ring.
Peak Ninth Stage of Dou Qi	165	Advanced five stages in a little over one month.
Dou Zhe Four Stars	165	Formed a Dou Qi Cyclone after consuming Ling Li's fourth-grade Qi Gathering Powder; Ling Li devoured the excess energy to prevent overload.
One-Star Dou Shi	197	Identified at this rank while baiting pursuers seeking his Purple Leaf Orchid.
Dou Spirit	322	Held a Silver Mercenary Guild Badge, denoting Dou Spirit strength, when he arrived for the Three-Year Agreement.
Seven-Star Dou Spirit	325	His stable cultivation level during the prolonged duel with Nalan Yanran.
One-Star Dou Wang (temporary)	325 326	A Devouring Spirit Pill forcibly raised him from Seven-Star Dou Spirit to One-Star Dou Wang; he lacked the experience and control to use the power effectively.
Unspecified reduced cultivation	331	His cultivation later fell after the transaction with Ling Li, and the scorching aura of his Volcanic Stone Flame vanished.

Background

Xiao Yan was born with innate knowledge and unusually formidable Soul Power. Xiao Zhan entrusted the Xiao Clan's supreme treasure to him because of his exceptional intelligence and potential, believing he could become central to the clan's revival 120 130.

He had once reached the Dou Zhe realm at age twelve, but his cultivation collapsed when Yao Chen, a soul residing in the black ring left by Xiao Yan's mother Gu Yue, absorbed his Dou Qi for three years. The loss transformed him from a celebrated genius into an object of ridicule within the Xiao Family 78 128.

Nalan Yanran publicly annulled their engagement, prompting Xiao Yan to resolve to regain his strength. Although Yao Chen offered to train him, Xiao Yan remained distrustful after learning that the soul had caused his decline and could potentially seize control of his body 78 119.

Appearance

Xiao Yan is a black-robed youth whose face retains some youthful innocence, tempered by a maturity unusual for his age 130.

• Typically wears black robes 130 197
• Often rests alone on the Xiao Family's back mountain when troubled 78 130
• Uses earth-yellow crystalline armor over his limbs in combat 323

Personality

Xiao Yan is cautious, calculating, and deeply suspicious of people who seek influence over him. He comes to distrust both Yao Chen and Gu Xun Er after recognizing that each may have ulterior motives tied to his body, bloodline, or possessions 119 126 130.

Despite this wariness, he initially prefers an easy, quiet life over relentless cultivation. The annulment, repeated threats to his family, and the burden of the Xiao Clan gradually force him into a more responsible role 78 126 333.

He can be ruthless when facing enemies. While pursued for the Purple Leaf Orchid, he deliberately led his pursuers into an ambush by Dou Spirit experts and showed no remorse as they were killed 197.

Abilities & Skills

Attribute-Neutral Dou Qi

Xiao Yan's sea of qi contains a milky-white Dou Qi Cyclone that accepts energy of every attribute without discrimination. Ling Li attributes this phenomenon to the exotic treasure within Xiao Yan's body 165.

• Can absorb medicinal energy of multiple attributes simultaneously 165
• Can cultivate and use Dou Techniques of every attribute 165
• His unusual constitution made him a highly suitable vessel for Yao Chen's possession 78
• The nature and full capabilities of the treasure remain unclear 130 165

Earth Spirit Techniques

Xiao Yan specializes in earth-oriented body cultivation and combat techniques, forming earthen crystals over his body and delivering exceptionally heavy blows 323 325.

• Mountain-Shaking — reinforces a punch with earth crystals and force 323
• Shaking Peak — enhances striking power 325 342
• Molten Rock — expands attack range 342
• Explosive Step — improves speed 342
• Trembling Blade — targets and disrupts weapons 326 342
• Flower Painting — specializes in evasion 325 342
• Sealing Mountain — creates a massive flaming energy palm 325 326

Volcanic Stone Flame

Xiao Yan wielded the seventeenth-ranked Mysterious Flame, the Volcanic Stone Flame, during the Three-Year Agreement 324.

• Coats his attacks in dark-red flames 324 325
• Countered Nalan Yanran's sword and Mysterious Flame 324
• Its magma fire poison injured Nalan Yanran even after the direct force of his punch subsided 328
• Its scorching aura disappeared after his later agreement with Ling Li 331

Devouring Spirit Pill

Xiao Yan used a fifth-tier Devouring Spirit Pill as a last resort during his duel with Nalan Yanran 326.

• Temporarily elevated him from Seven-Star Dou Spirit to One-Star Dou Wang 325
• Allowed him to disarm Nalan Yanran and strike her with Sealing Mountain 325
• Did not grant matching control, aerial experience, or mastery of Dou Qi Wings 326
• Left him vulnerable once Nalan Yanran adapted to his sudden increase in power 326

Tactical Combat

Xiao Yan combines deception with restraint rather than openly displaying his full capabilities 197.

• Lured Great Fighting Master pursuers into a prepared ambush 197
• Cooperated with Liu Qing and two other Dou Spirit experts to eliminate the group 197
• Concealed his ability to evade Scarface's final attack, avoiding unnecessary exposure of his strength 197

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Ancient black ring — relic left by his mother Gu Yue; housed Yao Chen's Soul Body and the Bone Spirit Cold Flame before Ling Li seized it 78 127.
• Massive ruler — wielded while Yao Chen temporarily controlled Xiao Yan's body to shatter a black-mist-covered wall fragment 119.
• Raging Lion's Fury — the Xiao Family's highest-grade cultivation technique, given to Xiao Yan by Xiao Zhan 165.
• Lion Mountain Split — Dou Technique accompanying Raging Lion's Fury 165.
• Tou She Ancient God Jade — Xiao Clan treasure later surrendered to Ling Li to protect the Xiao Family 330 331.
• Storage Ring — handed to Ling Li as part of the terms for locating Xiao Zhan 330.

Relationships

• Xiao Zhan — father and Xiao Family patriarch. Xiao Zhan supported Xiao Yan throughout his years of decline, entrusted him with the clan's supreme treasure, and later disappeared after being abducted; Xiao Yan ultimately succeeded him as patriarch 120 130 330 333.
• Gu Xun Er — longtime childhood companion who remained close to him for eleven years. Xiao Yan increasingly feared her hidden agenda, later learned she had been sent to obtain the Tou She Ancient God Jade, and eventually asked Ling Li to erase his memories of her 130 133 330 333.
• Yao Chen — soul formerly dwelling in Xiao Yan's ring. Yao Chen drained Xiao Yan's Dou Qi, offered to become his master, and later demonstrated the ability to control Xiao Yan's body; Xiao Yan was relieved when Ling Li took the ring 78 119 127.
• Nalan Yanran — former fiancée whose public annulment drove Xiao Yan to pursue strength. They fought their Three-Year Agreement match, where Xiao Yan relied on the Devouring Spirit Pill to briefly reach her realm 78 323 325 326.
• Ling Li — initially accepted a bounty to kill Xiao Yan, then took Yao Chen's ring and later assisted Xiao Yan's breakthrough with Qi Gathering Powder. Their relationship became transactional when Xiao Yan exchanged his Mysterious Flame, Storage Ring, finger, and ancient jade for help locating Xiao Zhan 74 127 165 330 331.
• Xiao Yu — cousin with a strained relationship stemming from Xiao Yan intruding on her bath three years earlier. She nevertheless worried over him when Ling Li took his ring and later when Xiao Zhan vanished 126 127 331.
• Liu Qing, Lin Xiuyai, and Lin Yan — fellow members of the Brotherhood. Lin Xiuyai served as captain, while Xiao Yan, Liu Qing, and Lin Yan served as vice-captains; Liu Qing also aided Xiao Yan in the Purple Leaf Orchid ambush 197 320.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Jia Nan Academy and the Brotherhood

After Ling Li took Yao Chen's ring, Xiao Yan entered Jia Nan Academy at only the fourth stage of Dou Qi. He then rapidly advanced to Dou Zhe Four Stars with Ling Li's Qi Gathering Powder 127 165.

When Jia Nan Academy was destroyed, Xiao Yan joined the Mercenary Guild with Lin Xiuyai, Liu Qing, and Lin Yan. The four founded the Brotherhood, moved the Xiao Family into their Black Corner Region territory, and established the family in Pan City 320 328.

Three-Year Agreement

Xiao Yan arrived at the Cloud Mist Sect to fulfill the Three-Year Agreement as a Dou Spirit-level mercenary. He fought Nalan Yanran using the Volcanic Stone Flame and Earth Spirit techniques, but his Dou Qi reserves could not match a true Dou Wang's sustained recovery 322 324 325.

He used a Devouring Spirit Pill to force a temporary breakthrough to One-Star Dou Wang and struck Nalan Yanran with Sealing Mountain. Nalan Yanran recovered and regained the advantage through superior control and aerial mobility before Ling Li intervened; the Cloud Mist Sect publicly declared the match a draw 325 326 330.

Xiao Zhan's Disappearance and the Ancient Jade

After Xiao Zhan was abducted, Xiao Yan sought Ling Li's aid while being hunted by cultivators coveting his Mysterious Flame. He accepted Ling Li's terms, surrendering his possessions and part of his body in exchange for help finding his father 330 331.

Recognizing the danger that the Tou She Ancient God Jade posed to the entire Xiao Family, Xiao Yan later gave it to Ling Li. He also requested that Ling Li erase his memories of Gu Xun Er, choosing the family's safety over his past attachment 333.

Notable Quotes

“So strength really is everything? Without strength, you're worse than shit. At least nobody goes out of their way to step on shit...” 78