Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Brother Xiao Yan; Second Brother (to Hun Cang) 21 23
Species/Race	Xiao Clan descendant 156 158
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; Jia Nan Academy; Cang Alliance 115 116 140
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; alchemist; Cang Alliance leader in the Black Corner Region 62 140
Status	Alive 238
First Appearance	Chapter 1 (mentioned) 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Third Stage of Dou Qi	3	Recorded as “Rank: Low” during the Xiao Family strength test, after three years of regressing cultivation. 3
Eighth Stage of Dou Power	19	Reached during the following annual test, overturning his former reputation as useless. 19
Four-Star Da Dou Shi	62	Achieved after six months of desert training; also obtained Second-Rank Alchemist certification. 62
Nine-Star Great Dou Shi	76	Revealed his concealed cultivation during the Three Year Agreement duel against Nalan Yanran. 76
“Dou Emperor”	93	A passage describes his cultivation technique raising him from Nine-Star Great Dou Shi to this realm within days; later chapters identify his cultivation as Dou Huang. 93 115
Two-Star Dou Huang	115	Returned to Jia Nan Academy after two years away, shocking the Law Enforcement Team and academy students. 115 117
Dou Zong	150	Broke through in the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool. 150
Peak Nine-Star Dou Zun	158	Reached the peak of the realm after his Heaven Tomb bloodline replacement; this was later publicly revealed in the Jia Ma Empire. 158 161
Five-Star Dou Saint	196	Absorbed the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame and advanced to Five-Star Dou Saint. 196

Background

Xiao Yan is a transmigrator with a mature soul. He became a Dou Zhe at eleven through the advantages of that soul, but his Dou Qi subsequently regressed for three years until he tested at the Third Stage of Dou Qi. 3 5

After recognizing Hun Cang’s Earth-related riddles, Xiao Yan cautiously sought him out. Hun Cang identified the remnant soul in Xiao Yan’s ring as the cause of his vanishing Dou Qi; after taking Spirit Nurturing Liquid, Xiao Yan successfully absorbed Dou Qi without losing it. Grateful for the help, he asked Hun Cang to become his elder brother. 5 6

Hun Cang supplied cultivation resources, arranged for Yao Chen to teach him alchemy, and promised him a Heavenly Rank technique. Xiao Yan later rejected the promised technique at his father’s urging, deciding that he should not endlessly accept benefits without giving something back. 6 15 20 22

Appearance

Xiao Yan is a youthful-looking young man who commonly wears black combat attire and carries an oversized ruler across his back. He can manifest flame-like wings for high-speed aerial movement. 117

• Carries the Black Heavy Ruler in combat. 76
• Uses flame wings produced through a flying technique. 75 117
• During the Flame Emperor Dharma Form, his body grows taller and takes on the bearing of a flame deity. 232

Personality

Xiao Yan is proud, combative, and highly sensitive to humiliation. The years in which his Dou Qi disappeared left him unwilling to submit to those who belittle him, particularly Nalan Yanran, the Misty Cloud Sect, and Ling Quan. 10 76 144

He is also pragmatic about strength and connections. He leveraged the Spirit Revival Purple Pill to recruit Hai Bodong as a bodyguard, organized allies against Han Feng, and recognized after the Black Alliance battle that he needed a powerful partner at his side. 61 134 139

Despite his irreverent banter with Yao Chen, Xiao Yan is loyal to those who aid him. He remains deeply devoted to Hun Cang even after learning more of Hun Cang’s Hun Clan connections, reasoning that Hun Cang protected both him and the Xiao Family when he could have pursued the Ancient God Jade instead. 37 153

Abilities & Skills

Burning Art

Xiao Yan cultivates the Burning Art, a technique associated with Tou She Ancient God that can devour Heavenly Flames and evolve. Hun Cang believes its potential could ultimately carry Xiao Yan to the Dou Saint realm. 92 93 230

• Devours and fuses Heavenly Flames to improve its power. 140 196
• Allows Xiao Yan to wield the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame after absorbing it. 196 199
• Supports the Flame Emperor Dharma Form. 232

Heavenly Flame Techniques

Xiao Yan combines multiple Heavenly Flames into destructive attacks, adapting his techniques as his control improves. 132 133

• Flame Splitting Wave Ruler — Earth Tier Dou Technique used to defeat Nalan Yanran and end their betrothal. 77
• Flame Lotus / Six-Colored Flame Lotus — Fuses Heavenly Flames into an explosion powerful enough to injure both Fan Lao and Han Feng, though it heavily drains and injures Xiao Yan as well. 132 133 144
• Fire Disk — A flame-based construct that summons five Fire Spirits; it was destroyed by Hun Yuansheng, causing backlash to Xiao Yan. 198
• Five-Wheel Divine Flame Method — A difficult fire-control technique taught by Yao Tian Huo. 92 198

Heavenly Fire Three Profound Transformations

Hun Cang gave Xiao Yan this Secret Technique after his return to the Jia Ma Empire. It substantially boosts his strength, but leaves his body in pain after use. 146

• Xiao Yan activated all three transformations against the Blood Saber Saint. 156
• Its third transformation triggered the appearance of his Xiao Clan mark. 156

Heaven Refining Ancient Formation

An ultimate technique inherited from Jing Lian Yao Sheng. Xiao Yan uses it to restrain targets by suppressing spatial movement and draining Dou Qi. 187 198

• Forced six-star Dou Saint Hun Yuansheng to retreat. 198
• Is extremely taxing and not fully mastered by Xiao Yan. 198
• Can lose control after activation, requiring Xiao Chen and Zi Yan to suppress Xiao Yan and dismantle the formation. 199 200

Alchemy

Xiao Yan trained under Yao Chen and later earned Second-Rank Alchemist certification. 15 62

• Refined large quantities of pills for Zi Yan, including sweetened versions that earned her favor. 134
• Used his alchemical ability to replace Han Feng’s influence after taking over the Black Alliance. 140
• Offered Hai Bodong a Spirit Revival Purple Pill in exchange for protection. 61

Soul Assistance

Yao Chen’s soul resides within Xiao Yan’s ring and can lend him strength in dire battles. 5 78

• Yao Chen controlled Xiao Yan’s body to withstand and destroy the Cloud Smoke Covering Sun Formation. 81
• The power of the Dou Venerable soul knocked the Dou Zong Yun Shan unconscious. 83
• Reliance on this power lets Xiao Yan challenge opponents above his ordinary cultivation level, but is dependent on Yao Chen’s cooperation. 78 82

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Black Heavy Ruler — Xiao Yan’s primary heavy weapon; used defensively against Nalan Yanran and offensively against Yun Leng. 76 79
• Yao Chen’s ring — Formerly the source of his vanishing Dou Qi; later serves as Yao Chen’s residence and a source of guidance. 5 148
• Spatial Jade Slip — Given by Hun Cang and used to summon his protection against Ling Quan. 144
• Soul Crystal — Given by Hun Cang to help Xiao Yan suppress the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame’s consciousness. 187

Relationships

• Hun Cang — Sworn elder brother, benefactor, and primary patron. Hun Cang solved Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi problem, supplied resources and techniques, and repeatedly protected the Xiao Family. 5 6 21 153
• Yao Chen — Alchemy master and the remnant soul within Xiao Yan’s ring. Their relationship is marked by constant bickering, but Yao Chen sincerely supports Xiao Yan’s growth. 15 37 196
• Xiao Xun'er — Childhood companion and mutual love interest. Before leaving for her clan, she asked Xiao Yan to grow stronger and promised to wait for him. 143
• Xiao Zhan — Father and Xiao Family head. He protects Xiao Yan during the broken-engagement dispute and teaches him not to exploit Hun Cang’s generosity. 10 20
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li — Elder brothers and leaders of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. They reunite with Xiao Yan in Stone Desert City and support him during the Three Year Agreement. 61 62 75
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and rival. Xiao Yan defeated her in the Three Year Agreement, presented her a divorce letter, and formally ended their betrothal. 76 77
• Hai Bodong — Bodyguard and ally recruited with the promise of a Spirit Revival Purple Pill. 61
• Zi Yan — Senior sister and later ally. She rescued Xiao Yan from Fan Lao and Han Feng; in return, Xiao Yan refined pills for her and later relied on her strength in major conflicts. 133 134 198
• Xiao Xuan — Ancestor of the Xiao Clan. Xiao Yan sought Hun Cang’s help to revive him after meeting him in the Heaven Tomb. 156 158
• Han Feng — Yao Chen’s traitorous former disciple and Xiao Yan’s assigned target. Xiao Yan eventually killed him and took control of the Black Alliance’s territory. 93 140 146

Story Role / Major Arcs

Wutan City and the Disappearing Dou Qi

Xiao Yan begins as a fallen genius mocked for his Third Stage Dou Qi cultivation. His meeting with Hun Cang exposes the reason for his regression and establishes the elder-brother bond that reshapes his path. 3 5 6

Broken Engagement and the Three Year Agreement

When Nalan Yanran and the Misty Cloud Sect attempt to annul the engagement, Xiao Yan refuses to bow to their pressure and publicly invokes Hun Cang’s backing. Three years later, he arrives at the Misty Cloud Sect as a Nine-Star Great Dou Shi, defeats Nalan Yanran with Flame Splitting Wave Ruler, and ends the betrothal himself. 10 11 76 77

The conflict escalates into battles with the Misty Cloud Sect’s elders, Yun Shan, and Protector Wu. With Yao Chen’s assistance, Xiao Yan withstands the sect’s formation and defeats Yun Shan, while Yun Leng’s threats against the Xiao Family intensify Xiao Yan’s killing intent. 81 83 84

Jia Nan Academy and the Black Alliance

After returning to Jia Nan Academy as a two-star Dou Huang, Xiao Yan supports the Cang Alliance and declares that anyone who bullies its members will answer to him. 115 117

His campaign against Han Feng and the Black Alliance initially ends in severe injuries and casualties. He responds by recruiting Zi Yan and other academy experts, then defeats Han Feng and establishes the former Black Alliance territory as the Cang Alliance’s base outside Jia Nan Academy. 133 134 139 140

Central Continent and the Heaven Tomb

Driven by Xun'er’s departure and his encounter with Ling Quan, Xiao Yan decides that Hun Cang cannot protect him forever and leaves for the Central Continent. He breaks through to Dou Zong in the Heavenly Mountain Blood Pool before entering the Heaven Tomb with the ancient clans. 148 150 153

Within the Heaven Tomb, Xiao Yan awakens his Xiao Clan mark, meets Xiao Xuan, undergoes a bloodline replacement, and reaches peak Nine-Star Dou Zun. He then asks Hun Cang to help revive Xiao Xuan. 156 158

Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame and the Hun Clan Conflict

Xiao Yan joins the contest for the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame, receives its consciousness and Jing Lian Yao Sheng’s inheritance, then successfully absorbs the flame to reach Five-Star Dou Saint. 187 196

When Hun Yuansheng attacks the Jia Ma Empire, Xiao Yan confronts him with the Heaven Refining Ancient Formation. Although the formation forces Hun Yuansheng to retreat, Xiao Yan loses control of it and must be restrained by Xiao Chen and Zi Yan. 198 199 200

Notable Quotes

“Once my big brother, always my big brother!” 153

“Jia Ma Empire, I, Xiao Yan, have finally returned!” 146

“I need to grow stronger!” 148