Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Xiao Family genius; formerly derided as the Xiao Family’s “good-for-nothing” 27 104
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; Jia Nan Academy; disciple of Lin Che 4 27 107
Occupation/Role	Cultivator and swordsman
Status	Alive; departed the Black Corner Region to travel and cultivate independently 187
First Appearance	4

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Three-Star Dou Zhe	8	Restored his lost Dou Qi and reached this realm within three days after taking Lin Che’s Fifth-grade Qi Whirl Pill.
Four-Star Dou Practitioner	23 27	Continued cultivating rapidly after regaining his talent; planned to enter Jia Nan Academy to prepare for the Three-Year Pact.
Five-Star Dou Master / Dou Shi	71 74	Reached this level roughly one year after joining Jia Nan Academy; accounts use both “Dou Master” and “Dou Shi” for his rank.
Three-Star Dou Spirit	103	Arrived at the Misty Cloud Sect to challenge Nalan Yanran under the Three-Year Pact.
Dou King	139	Became one of Jia Nan Academy’s most outstanding disciples, noted for both his realm and refined swordsmanship.
Dou Emperor	187	Reported this breakthrough in a letter to Lin Che after years of tempering and travel.

History

Loss of Dou Qi

Xiao Yan was once the Xiao Family’s youngest Dou Zhe and its greatest hope for revival. Over three years, however, he became unable to gather Dou Qi and fell to the third stage of Dou Qi, bringing him scorn from clan members who had previously flattered him. His father, Xiao Zhan, continued to believe that he would return to his peak. 4 5

The cause of Xiao Yan’s decline was the Storage Ring he wore: Old Yao, a soul residing within it, had absorbed Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi for three years. Despite his declining cultivation, Xiao Yan continued training alone at the Xiao Family’s back mountain. 6

Restoration and Jia Nan Academy

Lin Che offered to restore Xiao Yan’s strength in exchange for the Xiao Family’s Tou She Ancient God Jade. After Xiao Yan accepted a Fifth-grade Qi Whirl Pill, he recovered to Three-Star Dou Zhe in three days, regaining both his confidence and the clan’s recognition. 5 6 8

Although Lin Che initially refused to take disciples, Xiao Yan pledged that he would never refuse a future request from his benefactor. Lin Che also taught him a sword dance, beginning Xiao Yan’s pursuit of swordsmanship. 8

Xiao Yan later left Wutan City with Xiao Xun'er to attend Jia Nan Academy. He viewed the academy’s cultivation environment as essential to becoming strong enough for his impending Three-Year Pact with Nalan Yanran. 27

Three-Year Pact and Apprenticeship

Before the pact, Xiao Yan asked Lin Che to accept him as a disciple. Lin Che agreed only if Xiao Yan could defeat Nalan Yanran. 75

At the Misty Cloud Sect, Xiao Yan—then a Three-Star Dou Spirit—fought Nalan Yanran to settle their engagement dispute. He wielded Earth-tier sword techniques and a flame given by Xiao Xun'er, ultimately defeating her despite exhausting his Dou Qi and breaking his sword in the final exchange. 103 104 105 106

After the match, Xiao Yan formally severed his engagement with Nalan Yanran. Having fulfilled Lin Che’s condition, he became Lin Che’s disciple and was introduced to Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin as his senior sisters. Lin Che then sent him away with a sword and Peach Blossom Wine, instructing him to travel, train, and return for a test in three years. 107 108

Later Travels

Xiao Yan remained associated with Jia Nan Academy, where his rapid rise to Dou King and his swordsmanship earned the admiration of the Thousand Hundred Elders. He reunited there with his second brother, Xiao Li. 139

After later leaving the Black Corner Region, Xiao Yan sent Lin Che a letter stating that he had reached the Dou Emperor realm. He vowed to continue pursuing greater realms and to live up to both his teacher’s guidance and the Xiao Family’s legacy. 187

Appearance

Xiao Yan is a tall, slender young man with a handsome, refined appearance, dark eyes, and a habitual lazy smile. When he visited Lin Che before entering Jia Nan Academy, he wore black clothes and bore a multicolored flame imprint on his forehead. 27 74

• Dark, deep-set eyes described as gentle and profound. 27
• A distinctive multicolored flame mark on his forehead. 27 74
• Often carries a longsword; later appeared at Jia Nan Academy in red robes. 104 139

Personality

Xiao Yan’s three years of humiliation made him deeply aware of the opportunism within his clan. Rather than surrendering to his condition, he continued training and seized Lin Che’s offer as his chance to reclaim his strength. 4 5 6

He is intensely driven to become stronger, initially to reclaim his lost status and later to surpass every limit before him. His determination to defeat Nalan Yanran, earn Lin Che’s recognition, and eventually seek realms as high as Dou God reflects this ambition. 27 75 187

Despite his pride, Xiao Yan can be humble toward respected seniors. The Thousand Hundred Elders noted both his formidable ability and his modest response to praise. He also retains strong loyalty to his family, reacting angrily to the Blood Sect’s persecution of Xiao Li. 139 147

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship

Xiao Yan trained in swordsmanship after Lin Che taught him a sword dance. By the time he reached the Dou King realm, Jia Nan Academy regarded his swordsmanship as exceptionally refined. 8 139

• Uses a silver-white longsword given by First Elder Su Qian during the Three-Year Pact. 104
• Practiced swordsmanship in the hope of one day reaching Lin Che’s level. 104
• Could sense disturbances in the wind with his eyes closed during combat, allowing him to react to Nalan Yanran’s speed. 104 105

Spirit Sword Slash

An Earth-tier sword Dou Skill used during his duel with Nalan Yanran. 104

• Multiplies his airborne longsword into more than a dozen energy-formed swords. 104
• Was countered by Nalan Yanran’s Wind Push Stance, showing that the technique alone could not secure victory. 104

Blazing Heaven Slash and Flame Power

Xiao Yan possesses a strange flame given to him by Xiao Xun'er, identified in battle as the Golden Emperor Blazing Heaven Flame. 105 106

• Used the flame to empower the Earth-tier Blazing Heaven Slash against Nalan Yanran. 105
• The final clash generated a shockwave powerful enough to threaten the Misty Cloud Sect arena. 105
• Forcing the technique left his Dou Qi in chaos and depleted his ability to continue fighting; his sword snapped under the strain. 106

Equipment / Items

• Fifth-grade Qi Whirl Pill — Given by Lin Che; enabled his rapid restoration to Three-Star Dou Zhe. 6 8
• Silver-white longsword — Given by First Elder Su Qian and used in the Three-Year Pact. 104
• Sword from Lin Che — Sent with Xiao Yan when he departed to train after becoming Lin Che’s disciple. 107
• Peach Blossom Wine — A cultivation wine given by Lin Che; Xiao Yan was warned to drink no more than two ounces daily due to its violent Dou Qi energy. 108

Relationships

• Lin Che — Benefactor, mentor, and later teacher. Lin Che restored Xiao Yan’s talent, accepted him as a disciple after the Three-Year Pact, and sent him to gain experience through travel. Xiao Yan later called him both teacher and father in his letter. 5 107 108 187
• Xiao Zhan — Biological father and Xiao Family patriarch. He supported Xiao Yan throughout the loss of his Dou Qi and celebrated his recovery. 4 8
• Xiao Xun'er — Close companion who calls him “Brother Xiao Yan” and fiercely protects his interests. She accompanied him to Jia Nan Academy and provided him with the strange flame used against Nalan Yanran. 5 27 106
• Nalan Yanran — Former betrothed and rival in the Three-Year Pact. Xiao Yan defeated her, then formally ended their engagement. 103 106 107
• Xiao Li — Xiao Yan’s second brother. They reunited at Jia Nan Academy after Xiao Li’s pursuit of revenge brought him to the Black Corner Region. 138 139
• Old Yao — Soul residing in Xiao Yan’s Storage Ring during his decline; Old Yao’s absorption of Dou Qi caused Xiao Yan’s lost cultivation. 6
• First Elder Su Qian — Jia Nan Academy elder who gave Xiao Yan a sword and later arranged cultivation support for him. 104 147

Notable Quotes

“I never said your withdrawal of the engagement was wrong. It’s the way you chose that was wrong.” 106

“A teacher for a day is a father for life. You are my teacher, and you are my father.” 187