Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Yan Xiao (disguise)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; Jia Nan Academy Inner Court; Pill Tower alliance
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; alchemist; Yao Chen's disciple
Status	Deceased
First Appearance	Chapter 9

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Eighth-stage Dou Disciple	9	At age nine, he is the Xiao Family's center of attention; his Dou Qi has not yet been absorbed by Yao Chen.
Third-grade Alchemist level	142	Yao Chen judges his alchemy to be at least comparable to a Third-grade Alchemist.
Second-grade Alchemist	145	Identified as a Second-grade Alchemist during his meeting with the Mite'er Family.
Dou Grandmaster	158	Reaches the realm after Yao Chen refines pills for him before the Three-Year Agreement.
Temporary Dou Emperor-level power	169	Yao Chen takes control of his body, raising his aura beyond peak Dou Emperor and close to Dou Ancestor.
Two-star Dou Zun	467	Arrives at the Pill Tower as an Eighth-grade Alchemist and Two-star Dou Zun.
Eighth-grade Alchemist	467	His arrival at the Pill Tower establishes his greatly increased alchemical status.
Peak Dou Zun (claimed)	471	States that he has reached peak Dou Zun and intends to advance further through his Xiao Clan bloodline.
Temporary bloodline power	612	His bloodline activates against Hun Xuzi, granting a brief surge of power that proves insufficient.

Background

Xiao Yan was born into the Xiao Family of Wutan City. At nine years old, he had already reached the eighth stage of Dou Disciple and was celebrated as the family's leading youth. Liu Xi considered eliminating him early, but refrained because of the uncertainty surrounding Xiao Xun'er's feelings and the protection of her Dou Emperor guards. 9

After Nalan Yanran broke their engagement, Xiao Yan developed a consuming resentment toward her and the Misty Cloud Sect. Under the guidance of the soul-body alchemist Yao Chen, he resolved to become strong enough to reach the pinnacle of the Dou Qi Continent and make Nalan Yanran regret the humiliation. 142

The Soul Hall later annihilated the Xiao Family in pursuit of the Tou She Ancient God Jade. Xiao Yan, Xiao Li, and Xiao Xun'er were the only known survivors. A letter from his father revealed the jade's danger and its connection to a supreme expert's cave mansion; Xiao Yan chose to return to Jia Nan Academy's Inner Court to seek the Heavenly Flame and gain strength to save Xiao Zhan. 195 199

Appearance

Xiao Yan is a black-clothed youth of unremarkable height and appearance, distinguished by his resolute expression and the pitch-black giant ruler carried on his back. His eyes can reveal suppressed gloom, madness, hatred, and determination. 142

• Wears black robes. 142
• Carries the Mysterious Heavy Ruler, nearly as tall as himself. 142 159
• Keeps Yao Chen within a pitch-black Storage Ring. 146
• Uses the identity Yan Xiao and a mask during the Alchemist Convention. 149

Personality

Xiao Yan is intensely driven, proud, and resilient. He remains composed when dismissed by the Mite'er Family elders, confidently relying on Yao Chen's reputation and knowledge despite his own lower standing. 145

His determination frequently becomes vengeful obsession. After losing the Three-Year Agreement, he refuses Nalan Yanran's offer of treatment and apology, seeks Yao Chen's power to destroy the Misty Cloud Sect, and attempts another attack on her. 162 Even when faced with Yun Shan and a severe power gap, he chooses to fight rather than surrender. 169

The destruction of his family makes him more measured: he acknowledges that attacking the Soul Hall without sufficient strength would be reckless, focusing instead on cultivation and rescuing his father. 199

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Xiao Yan is trained by Yao Chen, a renowned Eighth-grade Alchemist, and progresses from a level suitable for Third-grade Alchemy to becoming an Eighth-grade Alchemist himself. 142 467

• Participates in the Jia Ma Empire Alchemist Convention under the alias Yan Xiao. 149
• Fails to refine the Windwalk Pill within the allotted time, exposing a lack of refinement-technique practice. 153
• His status as an Eighth-grade Alchemist accompanies his arrival at the Pill Tower. 467

Earth Tier Fighting Skills

Xiao Yan employs powerful ruler techniques in battle, though they consume Dou Qi rapidly. 160

• Flame Strike — Earth Tier Fighting Skill used against Nalan Yanran. 160
• Flame Splitting Wave Ruler — empowered with Yao Chen's Bone Spirit Cold Flame during the Three-Year Agreement; later used by Yao Chen while controlling Xiao Yan's body. 161 170
• Eight Extreme Collapse — used in close combat against Nalan Yanran. 159
• His stamina and depth of Dou Qi are weaknesses in prolonged combat. 159 160

Bone Spirit Cold Flame

Xiao Yan can wield Yao Chen's Bone Spirit Cold Flame when borrowing his teacher's power. His control is initially crude. 161 163

• Powers the Flame Splitting Wave Ruler in his final exchange with Nalan Yanran. 161
• Draws Queen Medusa's interest, contributing to her intervention on his behalf. 163
• Cannot be fully controlled by Xiao Yan at this stage. 163

Borrowed Power and Bloodline

Yao Chen can lend Xiao Yan strength or take control of his body in extreme situations. 163 169

• Yao Chen's possession temporarily raises Xiao Yan's aura to a level comparable to a Dou Ancestor. 169
• Xiao Yan's cultivation is built upon Xiao Clan bloodline power, which enhances his talent but carries drawbacks. 482
• His bloodline briefly activates against Hun Xuzi, but Hun Xuzi overwhelms him regardless. 612

Equipment

• Mysterious Heavy Ruler — pitch-black giant ruler used as his principal weapon. 142 159
• Black Storage Ring — Yao Chen's residence while in soul form. 142 146
• Spatial Jade Slip — given by Gu Xun'er; Xiao Yan preserves its single use for rescuing Yao Chen rather than attacking Liu Xi. 471
• Ancient jade slip — inherited through Xiao Zhan's brocade pouch; tied to the Xiao Family's destruction and the Tou She Ancient God Jade. 199

Relationships

• Yao Chen — teacher and soul-bound mentor; trains Xiao Yan in cultivation and alchemy, lends him power in battle, and is later captured by the Soul Hall. Xiao Yan gathers allies to rescue him. 142 163 210 471
• Nalan Yanran — former fiancée and adversary in the Three-Year Agreement; Xiao Yan seeks acknowledgment of the engagement and revenge for the Xiao Family's humiliation. 142 158 162
• Xiao Xun'er — childhood companion and steadfast supporter; she protects and advises him, and provides the Spatial Jade Slip intended for Yao Chen's rescue. 167 199 471
• Xiao Li — surviving relative and ally after the Xiao Family's annihilation; the brothers pursue separate paths to rebuild their family's strength. 198 199
• Xiao Zhan — father; leaves Xiao Yan a warning concerning the ancient jade before being killed by Hun Xuzi. 199 612
• Liu Xi — rival and hostile observer; Liu Xi recognizes Xiao Yan's talent, later places a Soul Seal on him, and ultimately burns Xiao Yan's corpse after killing Hun Xuzi. 150 471 612
• Hu Jia and Wu Hao — former Inner Court companions; their friendship fractures when Xiao Yan steals the Fallen Heart Flame and attempts to leave with Xun'er. 206
• Yun Shan — Misty Cloud Sect ancestor whom Xiao Yan confronts after the Three-Year Agreement; Yao Chen assumes control of Xiao Yan's body to fight him. 168 169

Story Role / Major Arcs

Alchemist Tournament

Xiao Yan enters Jia Ma Holy City to participate in the Alchemist Tournament, intending to visit the Mitter Auction House and Alchemist Guild. He competes under the disguise Yan Xiao, but fails the Windwalk Pill refinement round. 142 149 153

Three-Year Agreement

At Misty Cloud Mountain, Xiao Yan fulfills his pact with Nalan Yanran after reaching Dou Grandmaster. He demands a life-and-death duel, fights her with the Mysterious Heavy Ruler and Earth Tier skills, and ultimately loses. 158 159 160 161 162

Refusing to accept defeat, he attacks again and escalates the conflict until Yun Shan intervenes. Yao Chen possesses his body to battle Yun Shan, severely injuring the Misty Cloud Sect ancestor before Xiao Yan's side escapes. 162 168 169 170

Fall of the Xiao Family and Inner Court Conflict

After learning that the Soul Hall annihilated the Xiao Family and abducted Xiao Zhan for the ancient jade, Xiao Yan returns to Jia Nan Academy seeking the Fallen Heart Flame. 199 203

He steals the Inner Court's Heavenly Flame, clashes with Hu Jia and Wu Hao, and releases the rioting Fallen Heart Flame when confronted. The act results in Pan Gate's dissolution and severe consequences for the remaining Xiao Family students at the academy. 206 212

Rescue of Yao Chen

Following Yao Chen's capture, Xiao Yan rises to Dou Zun and Eighth-grade Alchemist, seeking support from the Pill Tower and gathering nine Dou Zun allies for a rescue mission. 210 467 471

His forces fight through the Soul Hall toward the Heavenly and Human Halls, suffering heavy losses. Yao Chen is eventually rescued, but the aftermath leaves both master and disciple focused on gaining power and exacting retribution against the Soul Hall. 475 482

Death

Hun Xuzi reveals that he killed Xiao Zhan and fed his corpse to wolves, provoking Xiao Yan's bloodline to activate. Despite the temporary power increase, Xiao Yan is effortlessly crushed. Liu Xi then kills Hun Xuzi, incinerates Xiao Yan's corpse with Green Flame, and takes Hun Xuzi's possessions. 612