Old Yao

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Yao Chen (药尘)
Alias(es)	Old Yao; Venerable Yao; Heavenly Refining Medicine Saint; Heaven Refining Medicine Emperor
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; Starfall Pavilion; Yao Clan; Heavenly Mansion Alliance
Occupation/Role	Alchemist; Talisman Master; puppet and artifact refiner; Xiao Yan's teacher; Yao Clan Leader
Status	Alive; resurrected from a Soul Body
First Appearance	2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Peak Nine-revolutions Dou Zun; mid-Heavenly Realm Soul	26	His strength before death; he was also an Eight-grade Alchemist Grandmaster.
Soul Body; approximately One-star Dou Zong when possessing Xiao Yan	17	His pre-seclusion combat limit after awakening early.
Two-star Dou Zong; Four-star Dou Zong through possession	26	After studying the Divine Movement Chapter, he refined his Soul Power and condensed a Two-seal Heavenly Talisman.
Three-Seal Heavenly Talisman Master; equivalent to Six-star Dou Zong	46	Refined 108 Tier-3 puppets and used Wind and Thunder Tribulation to evolve them into formations.
Five-Seal Heavenly Talisman Master; peak Dou Zong combat power	56	Expected to condense two additional Fire Talismans using the Seven-Colored Soul Nurturing Fruit.
Dou Zun Magnate	87 90	Revealed as Venerable Yao while confronting Wu Ya; displayed spatial control and mastery of the Thunder Fire Body Refining Array.
Four-star Dou Sheng; Greater Talisman Master	261 262	Resurrected in a new body, opened a genuine Mud Pill Palace, and became the Heavenly Refining Medicine Saint.
Late Five-star Dou Sheng	389 392	Advanced with the Bodhi Great Returning Pill and was selected as the first cultivator to undergo Hundred Lifetimes Reincarnation.
Six-star Dou Sheng	392	Broke through after ten days of Hundred Lifetimes Reincarnation.
Emperor Realm Soul	393	His soul gained the Immortal and Indestructible Trait; Soul Power alone could exert Eight-star Dou Sheng-level combat strength.
Early Nine-star Dou Sheng soul combat power	479	Estimated his strengthened soul could reach this level.
Dou Di / Emperor Realm	576 577	Reached the Dou Di Realm after twenty years of cultivation and took the title Heaven Refining Medicine Emperor.
Lower Earthly Sovereign	622	His aura in the Great Thousand World is described as pure Lower Earthly Sovereign Spiritual Energy.

Background / History

Yao Chen was once Venerable Yao, an Eight-grade Alchemist Grandmaster, Peak Nine-revolutions Dou Zun, and the former pavilion master of Starfall Pavilion. Before his death, he possessed a mid-Heavenly Realm Soul and stood only half a step from sainthood. 26 175 188

After being reduced to a Soul Body, he remained within an Ancient Ring that eventually passed to Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan used Seven Illusory Clear Spirit Saliva obtained through the Mite'er Family to awaken him early, then formally accepted him as his teacher. 2

His early condition left him unable to create a Mud Pill Palace or fully restore his former strength. Xiao Yan gave him the Divine Movement Chapter from the Talisman Master system, allowing Yao Chen to refine his soul, develop talisman techniques, and greatly improve the strength he could wield without possessing Xiao Yan. 17 26

Yao Chen helped restore Hai Bodong by using the Bone Spirit Fire Talisman to undo Queen Medusa's Snake Seal Technique. He also created the Spirit Ascension Pill formula, developed puppet formations, and steadily expanded the Xiao Family's resources and defensive strength. 27 32 46

His former disciple Han Feng betrayed him and joined the Soul Hall. This betrayal, along with the Soul Hall's role in his death, became a central source of Yao Chen's resentment and motivated his use of the Human Emperor Banner against Soul Hall and Soul Clan forces. 168 194 503

Xiao Yan eventually revived Yao Chen using Dragon Clan essence blood, Yao Chen's skeleton, and exotic flame. After completing a month-long transformation and overcoming the resulting tribulation, Yao Chen returned with a physical body as a Four-star Dou Sheng and Heavenly Refining Medicine Saint. 259 261

He later returned to the Yao Clan, demanded its leadership, and was recognized as clan leader after the Medicine Emperor intervened against the clan's entrenched elders. Under his rule, the Yao Clan began mass-refining high-grade soul-nurturing pills. 380 386 387

Appearance

While existing as a Soul Body, Yao Chen usually appeared as an ethereal elderly figure, often concealed beneath a black robe. After resurrection, he regained a refined and exceptionally handsome human form, described as elegant with a faintly bewitching quality. 26 261

• Initially manifests as an illusory, floating Soul Body. 17
• Commonly wears black robes while concealing his identity. 26
• Has an aged voice and habitually strokes his beard. 26 56
• After resurrection, wears an ancient, simple alchemist's robe. 479

Personality

Yao Chen is confident, proud of his attainments, and highly protective of his disciples. Even as a weakened Soul Body, he refused to allow a “mere Dou Emperor” to threaten Xiao Yan. 2

He is deeply appreciative of Xiao Yan's loyalty and repeatedly acknowledges that his resurrection and later advancement would have been impossible without his disciple. In turn, he takes pride in Xiao Yan surpassing him. 170 379 576

His temperament combines an immortal-sage façade with theatrical humor. He borrows dramatic lines from stories Xiao Yan told him when activating his formations, and reacts indignantly when mistaken for an Otherworldly Demon ally. 87 266

Yao Chen is also intensely obsessed with research. He eagerly pursues new cultivation systems, puppet materials, souls, corpses, formations, pills, and artifacts; rare refining materials can make him visibly ecstatic. 262 604 721

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Yao Chen is an elite alchemist whose knowledge remains valuable even after his death and resurrection.

• Refined the Purple Heart Barrier Breaking Pills consumed by Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Family elders. 2
• Created the Spirit Ascension Pill formula, capable of raising a Dou Ling's strength by one star. 32
• Was formerly an Eight-grade Alchemist Grandmaster. 26
• Refined Ninth-grade pills in batches after becoming Yao Clan Leader, producing multiple pills per cauldron. 387
• Became the Heavenly Refining Medicine Saint upon resurrection and later the Heaven Refining Medicine Emperor after reaching Dou Di. 261 576

Soul and Talisman Mastery

Through the Talisman Master system, Yao Chen transformed his limitations as a Soul Body into a distinct combat path.

• Studied the Divine Movement Chapter to refine and solidify his Soul Power. 17
• Condensed a Two-seal Heavenly Talisman despite lacking a physical Mud Pill Palace. 26
• Uses the Bone Spirit Cold Flame as a substitute Mud Pill Palace, allowing him to fight more effectively than through possession. 80
• Opened a genuine Mud Pill Palace after obtaining a physical body. 261
• Achieved an Emperor Realm Soul, enabling long-range attacks anywhere his Soul Power reaches. 393
• Can exert Eight-star Dou Sheng-level strength using Soul Power alone after reaching Emperor Realm Soul. 393

Puppet Refinement and Formations

Yao Chen combines alchemy, talismans, formation arts, Soul Hall techniques, corpses, and souls to create and command large-scale combat forces.

• Refined 108 Tier-3 puppets and evolved them through tribulation into Yuan Li and Dou Qi formations. 46
• Created a Puppet Battle Array capable of opposing a high-rank Half-Saint. 200
• Uses the Two Extremes Heavenly Refining Great Formation alongside his puppets and vengeful souls. 326
• Can refine powerful enemy corpses into puppets and Soul Bodies into obedient vengeful souls. 326 431
• Planned to use Corpse Demon Clan materials to upgrade the Eight Divisions Heavenly Demon Coffin and Human Emperor Banner to a level capable of trapping and killing Earthly Sovereign experts. 604

Human Emperor Banner

The Human Emperor Banner is Yao Chen's defining weapon and the core of his vengeful-soul legion.

• Houses vengeful souls, including Great Saint Gu You, who serves as Yao Chen's Soul Slave. 265
• Allows Yao Chen to command hundreds of Dou Sheng-level Main Souls and large numbers of puppets. 430
• Was upgraded into a Low-grade Sacred Artifact after Yao Chen reached Dou Di. 576
• Can strengthen its Main Souls by consuming refined souls and energy bodies. 393 487
• Its refined souls become fanatically loyal to Yao Chen. 431

Body Tempering Support

Yao Chen developed methods to improve the physical bodies of allies.

• Created the Thunder Fire Body Refining Array by combining tribulation lightning with the extreme cold and heat of Bone Spirit Cold Flame. 87
• Guided Xiao Han to mastery of the Great Sun Thunder Body. 87
• Provided Hai Bodong with an adapted Great Sun Thunder Body technique. 88
• Can adjust the Thunder Fire Body Refining Array's intensity through a Conversion Formation. 86

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Ancient Ring — his original refuge as a Soul Body and the vessel through which he accompanied Xiao Yan. 17
• Bone Spirit Cold Flame / Bone Spirit Fire Talisman — used for talisman cultivation, combat, seal-breaking, and lending power to Xiao Yan. 27 80
• Human Emperor Banner — banner containing Yao Chen's vengeful-soul legion; later refined into a Low-grade Sacred Artifact. 194 576
• Eight Divisions Heavenly Demon Coffin — releases and supports puppet forces in battle. 326
• Emperor Slaying Ghost Blood Array Formation Disks — gifted to Yao Chen by Xiao Yan after his ascension to Dou Di. 576
• Bone Emperor Coffin — Low-grade Sacred Artifact given to him by Xiao Yan. 603
• Ten Thousand Corpse Coffin — Low-grade Sacred Artifact given to him by Xiao Yan. 603

Relationships

• Xiao Yan — disciple; Yao Chen's closest companion and benefactor, responsible for awakening and later resurrecting him. Yao Chen guides Xiao Yan's cultivation while Xiao Yan supports his teacher's research, revenge, and advancement. 2 26 259 576
• Han Feng — former disciple who betrayed Yao Chen and joined Soul Hall; Yao Chen ultimately refined him into the Human Emperor Banner. 168 170
• Hai Bodong — ally and respectful junior; Yao Chen broke the Snake Seal Technique restricting Hai Bodong's strength and later taught him body-tempering methods. 27 88
• Great Saint Gu You — Soul Slave and leading Main Soul within the Human Emperor Banner; fiercely loyal to Yao Chen. 265 393
• Wind Venerable — old friend and fellow Starfall Pavilion figure; assisted in Yao Chen's affairs after his return. 175 261
• Yao Dan — former Yao Clan Leader; displaced after Yao Chen's return, then became a respectful assistant in Yao Chen's pill refinement. 380 387
• Yao Wangui — Yao Clan elder tied to Yao Chen's expulsion; Yao Chen seeks to make him answer for past grievances. 109 379
• Lin Dong — Xiao Yan's sworn brother and an ally who supplied rare medicinal materials for Yao Chen's Emperor Grade Soul Nurturing Pills. 577

Story Role / Major Arcs

Xiao Yan's Early Mentor

Yao Chen awakens ahead of schedule and becomes Xiao Yan's teacher, providing pills, cultivation guidance, protection, and the confidence to face the Misty Cloud Sect. 2

Talisman Master Development

After receiving the Divine Movement Chapter, he develops a talisman-based cultivation route, gains Heavenly Talisman Master abilities, and begins experimenting with puppets, formations, and cross-system cultivation. 17 26 46

Protector of the Xiao Family

Yao Chen breaks Hai Bodong's seal, strengthens the Xiao Family's defenses, and lends Xiao Yan controlled power for battles against stronger opponents. 27 80 90

Revenge Against Soul Hall

The revelation of Han Feng's betrayal and the Soul Hall's role in Yao Chen's death drives him to confront Soul Hall experts, capture souls, and build the Human Emperor Banner into a force of revenge. 168 194 503

Resurrection and Return to the Yao Clan

Xiao Yan rebuilds Yao Chen's body, allowing him to return as the Heavenly Refining Medicine Saint. He later challenges the Yao Clan's leadership and becomes its clan leader. 259 261 380 386

Master of the Vengeful Soul Legion

With an Emperor Realm Soul and continuously enhanced artifacts, Yao Chen commands hundreds of Dou Sheng-level vengeful souls and puppets, making him a major force in conflicts against the Soul Clan and other ancient factions. 393 430 503

Ascension Beyond the Dou Qi Continent

After twenty years of cultivation, Yao Chen reaches the Dou Di Realm and becomes the Heaven Refining Medicine Emperor. In the Great Thousand World, he continues refining Sacred Artifacts and seeks materials capable of elevating them further. 576 604 624

Notable Quotes

“Although this Teacher is now only a Soul Body, a mere Dou Emperor is not qualified to bully my disciple!” 2

“Old Man is Venerable Yao, Yao Chen.” 90

“This Old Man is pure as ice and clean as jade, upright to the bone!” 266

“The luckiest thing in Old Man's life was taking in a disciple like you.” 576

Trivia

• Yao Chen believes that, had he possessed a Mud Pill Palace while still a Soul Body, he could have become an Immortal Talisman Master. 26
• He considers the collision of cultivation systems from different worlds a major opportunity for research. 71
• His use of vengeful souls and demonic materials repeatedly causes others to mistake him for an Otherworldly Demon affiliate. 265 266
• Despite his sage-like bearing, he can become visibly excited by rare corpses, Demonic Souls, and artifact-refining materials. 604 721