Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Yan
Alias(es)	Green-Hatted Freak; Green-Headed Monster; Lord Sect Master 13 140 392
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Clan (formerly); He Yuan Sect (Lord Sect Master) 9 392
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; alchemist; leader of the He Yuan Sect 85 140 392
Status	Unknown; vanished alongside Xiao Huo and others after the heavenly tribulation descended 398
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Dou Qi Level Three	1 6	Following the identity shift, Xiao Yan is treated as an unknown passerby and retains only third-stage Dou Qi.
Two-star Dou Practitioner	50	Reaches this level while cultivating with Old Yao.
Six-star Dou Practitioner	77	Attains the level through intensive cultivation before the Xiao Clan coming-of-age ceremony.
Three-star Dou Master	79	Temporarily reaches this level after consuming a pill supplied by Old Yao; the pill carries permanent physical consequences.
Dou Emperor	140 147	Commands the He Yuan Mercenary Group and is later described as a Dou Emperor, though Xiao Huo overwhelms him.
Dou King to Dou Emperor	173	Breaks through to Dou King, then consumes another pill to force a rise to Dou Emperor during his fight with Xiao Huo.
Half-step Dou Venerate	393 394	Uses a short-lived secret technique that pushes him half a step into the Dou Venerate realm, at irreversible cost to his body.

Background / History

Xiao Yan originally possessed the identity, memories, relationships, and narrative role later assumed by Xiao Huo. When Xiao Huo transmigrates into the world, the System transfers Xiao Yan's identity and others' memories of him to Xiao Huo, leaving Xiao Yan unrecognized within the Xiao Clan and reduced to a “nameless passerby.” 1 2 6

He attempts to reclaim recognition from Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Zhan, but Xun'er treats him as a stranger, servants beat him for impersonating the young master, and Xiao Zhan orders him expelled from the clan. During this period, Xiao Huo takes Old Yao's ring and places an unremovable Green Oil Hat on Xiao Yan, turning him into an object of public ridicule. 6 8 9

Xiao Yan continues cultivating with Old Yao and repeatedly returns to challenge Xiao Huo. He proposes a three-year challenge at the Misty Cloud Sect, intending to reclaim Nalan Yanran and Xun'er if victorious, but is immediately humiliated again. 15 16

Appearance

Xiao Yan is commonly seen in green robes. After Xiao Huo places the Green Oil Hat on him, he is repeatedly identified by the conspicuous, permanently attached green headwear. 8 79

• Green robes 63 79
• Unremovable glowing green hat placed on his head by Xiao Huo 8
• Later manifests black wings and a dark, oppressive aura while using advanced or forcibly enhanced cultivation 174 393

Personality

Xiao Yan is driven by resentment over the loss of his former status, Xun'er's affection, and Nalan Yanran's engagement. He repeatedly frames his conflict with Xiao Huo as a mission to “take back” what belonged to him, even after his defeats become increasingly severe. 15 79 387

His determination can become destructive. He refuses Old Yao's warnings to retreat, considers killing Xun'er when she rejects him, and is willing to sacrifice his health, followers, and puppets for enough power to defeat Xiao Huo. 61 64 174 393

Despite his pride, he repeatedly relies on external assistance: Old Yao's possession, medicinal pills, the He Yuan Sect, monster beasts, and sacrificial puppets. His confidence repeatedly collapses when these advantages fail against Xiao Huo. 53 146 173 390

Abilities & Skills

Cultivation and Combat

Xiao Yan is a combat cultivator whose strength increases rapidly through Old Yao's guidance, pills, and secret techniques.

• Uses Catalytic Fire Palm and Eight Extremes Collapse in direct combat. 80
• Wields the Flame Splitting Wave Ruler, a Heaven Tier Dou Technique. 395
• Can fight while empowered by Old Yao, though this still proves insufficient against Xiao Huo's stronger techniques. 53 80
• His half-step Dou Venerate state grants exceptional endurance and allows him to withstand attacks that would normally overwhelm lower realms. 394 396

Alchemy

Under Old Yao's instruction, Xiao Yan produces medicinal resources to finance and accelerate his cultivation.

• Refines and sells Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid at the Mite'er Auction House. 20 31
• Uses pills to force breakthroughs, including the temporary rise to three-star Dou Master and later to Dou Emperor. 77 79 173
• Is described as a third-rank alchemist while gathering experts and resources in Wutan City. 90

Old Yao's Assistance

Old Yao is Xiao Yan's teacher and the spirit residing in his ring.

• Can take control of Xiao Yan's body and lend him combat power. 53
• Provides cultivation techniques, medicinal pills, and strategic advice. 31 77
• Warns Xiao Yan to retreat during encounters where Xiao Huo's strength exceeds their expectations. 38 61 80
• Gradually loses faith in Xiao Yan after witnessing Xiao Huo's control over the Bone Spirit Cold Flame. 176

Puppet and Beast Control

As leader of the He Yuan Sect, Xiao Yan builds forces around controlled magical beasts and enhanced puppets.

• Commands more than twenty Mating Apes, each comparable to a one-star Dou King. 146
• Employs a large monster-beast army against the Sacred Flame Sect. 381 387
• Uses five forcibly enhanced Dou Emperor Snake People puppets and orders them to self-destruct against Xiao Huo. 174
• Loses his monster-beast army when the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King compels them to submit to Xiao Huo. 390

Heavenly Flames and Heavenly Dao Thunderclouds

Xiao Yan uses powerful flame-based methods inherited through Old Yao and the He Yuan Sect.

• Employs the Bone Spirit Cold Flame to empower puppets. 175
• Attempts to use the Heavenly Dao Thunderclouds to claim the Green Lotus Core Flame and overpower Medusa. 172
• Later controls heavenly tribulation itself, directing it toward Medusa, Yun Yun, and Nalan Yanran. 398
• His control of the tribulation ultimately causes both himself and Xiao Huo's group to vanish. 398

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Old Yao's ring — Originally contains Old Yao and serves as the source of Xiao Yan's mentorship and support. 9 31
• Mysterious Black Ruler — Used to block attacks and execute Flame Splitting Wave Ruler. 395
• Green Oil Hat — A permanent mocking item placed on him by Xiao Huo; it cannot be removed. 8
• Black Shield — A defensive construct used against the Great Desolate Prison Heaven Finger. 395
• Cultivation pills — Used to force temporary breakthroughs despite severe consequences. 77 173 393

Relationships

• Xiao Huo — Primary rival. Xiao Huo takes over Xiao Yan's original identity and relationships, then repeatedly defeats and humiliates him. 1 9 80 392
• Old Yao — Teacher and ring-bound mentor who provides techniques, alchemy, possession, and advice; their relationship deteriorates as Old Yao loses confidence in Xiao Yan. 31 53 176
• Xiao Xun'er — Xiao Yan considers her his childhood sweetheart and remains obsessed with reclaiming her affection after she chooses Xiao Huo. 6 15 64
• Nalan Yanran — Xiao Yan considers her a former fiancée and repeatedly seeks to take her from Xiao Huo. 14 15 384
• Xiao Zhan — Xiao Yan appeals to him as his father, but Xiao Zhan does not recognize him and has him expelled from the Xiao Clan. 9
• Yun Leng and Yun Shan — Temporary allies during the Misty Cloud Sect conflict; Xiao Yan offers Yun Leng a monster-beast force while intending to exploit the sect's weakness for himself. 366
• He Yuan Sect — Xiao Yan's faction, through which he commands mercenaries, puppets, and a monster-beast army. 147 174 392

Story Role / Major Arcs

Identity Loss and Exile

After the System's identity alteration, Xiao Yan loses the Xiao Clan's recognition and all of his former relationships. His failed attempts to restore his position end in beatings, public humiliation, and expulsion from the clan. 6 9

Three-Year Challenge

Enraged by Xiao Huo's relationship with Nalan Yanran and Xun'er, Xiao Yan challenges Xiao Huo to meet at the Misty Cloud Sect in three years. The challenge becomes the basis for his long-term pursuit of strength and revenge. 15 16

Repeated Pursuit of Power

With Old Yao's assistance, Xiao Yan cultivates in secret, sells Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, and makes repeated attempts to surpass Xiao Huo. These efforts repeatedly end in defeat at the auction house, the Monster Beast Mountain Range, and the Xiao Clan coming-of-age ceremony. 31 38 61 79 80

He Yuan Sect and Desert Conflict

Xiao Yan rebuilds the He Yuan Mercenary Group into the He Yuan Sect, acquires powerful followers and controlled beasts, and seeks the Green Lotus Core Flame. His conflict with Xiao Huo escalates through Desert City and the Tagor Desert, where he repeatedly suffers defeat despite reaching Dou Emperor-level power. 140 146 173 176

Assault on the Sacred Flame Sect

As Lord Sect Master of the He Yuan Sect, Xiao Yan joins the conflict surrounding the Misty Cloud Sect and leads a monster-beast army against the Sacred Flame Sect. He captures Nalan Yanran but loses his military advantage when the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King subdues his forces. 381 385 390

Final Battle and Heavenly Tribulation

Xiao Yan forces himself to half-step Dou Venerate and fights Xiao Huo directly. After failing to overcome him through conventional techniques, he controls heavenly tribulation and targets Xiao Huo's allies. The tribulation engulfs Xiao Yan, Xiao Huo, Medusa, Yun Yun, and Nalan Yanran, leaving their immediate fates unknown. 393 396 398

Notable Quotes

“I challenge you.” 79

“I won't lose. No one knows how long I prepared for this battle. I, Xiao Yan, absolutely cannot fail!” 387

Trivia

• Xiao Yan's Green Oil Hat is specifically stated to be impossible to remove. 8
• He is repeatedly called a “Green-Headed Monster” after becoming associated with the He Yuan Mercenary Group. 140
• Although he builds armies and reaches high cultivation realms, several of his defeats occur after he underestimates Xiao Huo's hidden abilities. 147 173 390