Yao Lao

Biodata

Name	Yao Lao (药老)
Alias(es)	Yao Chen; Venerable Yao; Medicine Saint
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Starfall Pavilion; formerly the Yao Clan
Occupation/Role	Alchemist; mentor to Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan
Status	Alive; restored from a soul body to a physical body
First Appearance	48

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Peak Dou Ling; Fifth Grade Alchemist	46	Reveals his strength while annihilating the Oba Family with a Heavenly Flame.
Spirit Realm Soul Strength	124 125	Restores part of his soul through a spiritual liquid, enabling him to absorb Spiritual Energy and refine Grade 7 pills.
Dou Zun-level soul-body strength	244 249	His recovering soul can contend with, and with effort kill, a One-Star Dou Zun; Xiao Yuan becomes capable of bearing all of Yao Lao's power.
Advanced Half-Saint	399	Reappears with a physical body and strength comparable to Gu You.
Dou Sheng	399 400	Using the Dou Sheng Skeleton and Ancient Heavenly Phoenix Blood Essence, he bypasses the usual Half-Saint transition and enters the Dou Sheng realm.
Heaven Realm Great Perfection Soul Strength	442 474	His soul pressure spreads across the Little Pill Tower; this attainment would place his authority in the Yao Clan below only its highest leaders.
Peak One-Star Dou Sheng	456	Confronts the Great Heavenly Venerable, whose aura is not weaker than his own.

Background / History

Yao Chen was born into the Yao Clan, one of the Ancient Eight Clans, though his own Dou Emperor Bloodline had nearly faded away. In his youth, he sought the Bone Spirit Cold Fire alongside Feng Xian, later known as Wind Venerable. A Soul Imprint eventually reveals that Martial Mistress Han sacrificed herself to save him, while the resulting loss of memory became tied to the Bone Spirit Cold Fire. 255 335

Yao Wangui, the Yao Clan elder responsible for punishments, expelled Yao Chen from the clan without distinguishing right from wrong. Before his parents died, Yao Chen had promised to earn the right to engrave their names on the Yao Clan's Clan Monument; that unfulfilled promise remained central to his estrangement from the clan. 473 486

After becoming a renowned Central State alchemist, Yao Chen was betrayed by Han Feng. His physical body was destroyed in an ambush involving deadly poison, and Soul Hall was implicated in the attack. He survived as a soul body, residing within a black storage ring. 285 305

As Yao Lao, he first serves as Xiao Yan's hidden teacher, then accepts Xiao Yuan as a second disciple after recognizing the latter's unusual Five Qi Palace cultivation. He provides both brothers with cultivation methods, Dou Techniques, alchemy instruction, and protection against enemies beyond their own strength. 48 95 214

Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan repeatedly help restore his soul and prepare his resurrection. With materials including a Dou Sheng Skeleton and Ancient Heavenly Phoenix Blood Essence, Yao Lao regains a physical body and advances into the Dou Sheng realm during the defense of Starfall Pavilion. 124 395 399 400

Yao Lao later confronts the Yao Clan again, forcing its members to acknowledge his Heaven Realm Great Perfection soul strength. After the Yao Clan crisis, Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan relocate his parents' graves to Starfall Pavilion and erect the clan monument nearby, fulfilling Yao Lao's lifelong wish. 474 497

Appearance

Yao Lao initially manifests as an illusory, aged soul body emerging from a storage ring. After resurrection, he possesses a genuine physical body and appears as a handsome white-haired man, looking markedly younger than his former phantom form. 48 399

• Aged, phantom-like appearance while in soul form. 48
• White hair after regaining a physical body. 399
• Frequently carries or resides within the ancient black Ancient Flame Ring. 338 375
• Often associated with pale-white Bone Spirit Cold Fire. 124 139

Personality

Yao Lao is highly knowledgeable, observant, and patient in instruction. He recognizes the rare potential of both Xiao brothers and freely shares techniques, soul-cultivation methods, and alchemical knowledge to help them develop. 95 124 186 214

His past betrayal makes him cautious about trust, but he is deeply protective once he accepts someone as a disciple. He is willing to expend soul power to protect Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan, personally confront Soul Hall experts, and retaliate against those who injure his students. 46 186 399

Despite his seniority, Yao Lao can be wryly exasperated by his disciples' behavior. He nevertheless takes clear pride in their growth and eventually acknowledges that they can stand on their own. 186 361

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Yao Lao is a renowned alchemist whose reputation in Central State endured even during the years he was presumed dead.

• Was capable of refining Rank 8 pills at his peak, though he could not withstand Rank 9 pill lightning at that time. 260
• Regains the ability to refine Grade 7 pills after restoring his Soul Strength to the Spirit Realm. 124 125
• Personally teaches Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan pill refinement, cultivation methods, and the principles required for high-level alchemy. 124 214 438
• Is regarded by many as Central State's foremost alchemist, with even the Pill Tower Three Giants acknowledging his superior attainment. 399

Soul Strength

Yao Lao's soul is his greatest asset during his disembodied state and remains formidable after his resurrection.

• Can conceal his aura, establish barriers, and suppress or attack other souls with overwhelming Soul Strength. 124 222 234
• Transfers spiritual energy to Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan, helping both achieve minor soul-realm breakthroughs. 124
• Can manipulate and torture Soul Bodies, as demonstrated against the Gray-robed Man. 139
• Reaches Heaven Realm Great Perfection, allowing his soul pressure to influence the entire Little Pill Tower. 442 474

Bone Spirit Cold Fire

Yao Lao wields the pale-white Bone Spirit Cold Fire, a Heavenly Flame closely bound to his soul and past.

• Incinerates the Oba Family after effortlessly killing Oba Pa. 46
• Extracts and refines medicinal properties during alchemy. 124
• Torments Soul Bodies and assists in interrogation. 139
• Contains a hidden Soul Imprint connected to Yao Lao's lost memories and Martial Mistress Han. 334 335
• Its temporary removal alleviates the pain caused by the concealed imprint. 334

Power Bestowal and Guidance

Yao Lao can lend his power to his disciples, though doing so consumes strength while he remains in soul form.

• Temporarily elevates Xiao Yuan to the Dou Emperor level. 148
• Allows Xiao Yuan to borrow his power against Protector Wu. 222
• Imprints a copy of Three Thousand Lightning Movement for Xiao Yuan and guides Xiao Yan through its cultivation. 186
• His power can only be fully unleashed through a sufficiently durable host body; Xiao Yuan becomes capable of bearing it after strengthening himself. 249

Spatial and Combat Mastery

After recovering sufficient strength, Yao Lao demonstrates control over space and overwhelming battlefield power.

• Conceals himself through Space Power and creates powerful seals around captured souls. 234
• Defeats Gu You's Dark Skeleton King and crushes Gu You's soul after his resurrection. 399
• Freezes enemies in place and destroys Soul Hall and Tianming Sect forces in a single attack. 399 400
• Forces the Great Heavenly Venerable to retreat with support from Tongxuan Elder. 456

Equipment / Items

• Ancient Flame Ring — Ancient black storage ring that houses Yao Lao's soul and nourishes his recovery. 338 375
• Black Demon Cauldron — Cauldron used to refine restorative spiritual liquid and other medicinal products. 124
• Bone Spirit Cold Fire — Heavenly Flame bound to Yao Lao and used in combat, alchemy, and soul manipulation. 124 139

Relationships

• Xiao Yuan — Disciple. Yao Lao recognizes his Five Qi Palace method, teaches him cultivation methods and alchemy, and later relies on him for his resurrection and recovery of lost memories. 95 214 335
• Xiao Yan — Disciple. His original apprentice and the bearer of Yao Lao's ring; Yao Lao guides his alchemy, Heavenly Flame cultivation, and combat growth. 35 186 446
• Wind Venerable (Feng Xian) — Lifelong friend and former companion in the search for Bone Spirit Cold Fire. Wind Venerable searches for Yao Lao after his disappearance and supports Starfall Pavilion after his return. 213 285 376
• Xuan Yi — Old acquaintance and one of the Pill Tower Three Giants. She expresses long-held feelings for Yao Lao and helps care for his soul body. 333 334 338
• Martial Mistress Han / Han Shanshan — A figure from Yao Lao's past who sacrificed herself to save him; her connection to the Bone Spirit Cold Fire was hidden by his lost memories. 335 497
• Han Feng — Former disciple and betrayer. Han Feng's ambush destroyed Yao Lao's physical body, and his name still provokes a strong emotional response from Yao Lao. 144 285 305
• Yao Wangui — Yao Clan elder who expelled Yao Lao from the clan. Their unresolved grievance reignites upon their reunion. 473 474
• Yao Dan — Yao Clan Leader. His relationship with Yao Lao is complicated by their shared clan heritage and the clan's past treatment of Yao Lao. 489

Story Role / Major Arcs

Wutan City Protector

Yao Lao openly intervenes when the Oba Family threatens the Xiao Clan. He kills Oba Pa and eradicates the remaining Oba Family members with Heavenly Flame, enabling the Xiao Clan to take control of Wutan City. 46 47

Mentor of the Xiao Brothers

He becomes the principal alchemical and cultivation mentor for Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan. His instruction includes elemental cultivation methods, alchemy, Soul Strength, Heavenly Flames, and movement techniques. 95 124 186 214

Soul Hall Conflict

Yao Lao's history with Han Feng and Soul Hall drives much of the brothers' later conflict. His soul-body condition limits his ability to act openly, but he repeatedly assists against Soul Hall Protectors and prepares Starfall Pavilion to resist larger attacks. 144 222 235 393

Resurrection and Defense of Starfall Pavilion

After Xiao Yuan gathers exceptional resurrection materials, Yao Lao returns to a physical body and advances to Dou Sheng. His reappearance prevents Soul Hall and the Tianming Sect from destroying Starfall Pavilion. 395 399 400

Return to the Yao Clan

Yao Lao faces the clan that expelled him, while Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yan defend his honor against Yao Wangui and the Medicine Clan. The eventual relocation of his parents' graves fulfills his old promise to them. 473 497

Notable Quotes

“If I truly recover my peak strength, then forget the Jia Ma Empire—even on this entire continent, you two little fellows will be able to walk sideways!” 125

“As long as those people do not act, trash like you is no threat to me!” 399

“Speaking of which, it was all thanks to you two. Otherwise, not to mention reaching Dou Sheng, even recovering my peak strength would have been extremely difficult.” 400