Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao family; Canaan Academy; Starfall Pavilion
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; alchemist; disciple of Yao Lao
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 4

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Declining Dou Qi	4	His Dou Qi continually disappears; he hides the problem from Xiao Yuan.
Five-Star Dou Zhe	76	Reaches this level after advancing from Third Stage Dou Qi in roughly a year and a half.
Five-Star Dou Grandmaster	154	Revealed upon returning to Canaan Academy after two years away.
Six-Star Dou Grandmaster	157	Breaks through during the Inner Academy Selection Competition.
Six-Star Dou Ling	201	Advances while recovering from injuries.
Dou Zun	393	Breaks through after refining the Three Thousand Burning Flame.
Nine-Star Dou Zun	433	His aura is assessed at Nine-Star Dou Zun after extended cultivation.
Peak Nine-Star Dou Zun	446	Stated to be at the peak of the realm while preparing for the Purification Lotus Demon Fire.
Dou Sheng	470	Has advanced to Dou Sheng and receives higher-level cultivation resources from Xiao Yuan.
Dou Emperor	506	Advances alongside Xiao Yuan; their breakthroughs revitalize the Xiao family's Dou Emperor bloodline.

Background / History

Xiao Yan initially suffers from a mysterious loss of Dou Qi and is embarrassed to let his brother Xiao Yuan know. His cultivation later recovers dramatically, allowing him to rise from Third Stage Dou Qi to Five-Star Dou Zhe within a year and a half. 4 76

He becomes the disciple of the alchemist Yao Lao, who guides his cultivation and alchemy. Xiao Yan also shares techniques and resources with Xiao Yuan, including the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Transformations and Earth Fire Lotus Seeds. 24 99 142

After taking leave from Canaan Academy with Xiao Yuan, he spends two years training and returns as a Dou Grandmaster. He later enters the Inner Academy, where he and Xiao Yuan build influence through combat, pill trading, and the Lion Heart Society. 77 154 179 181

Xiao Yan refines the Three Thousand Burning Flame and enters the Dou Zun realm. He subsequently cultivates under Xiao Xuan's guidance, activates the Xiao family Clan Crest, and reaches Nine-Star Dou Zun. 393 432 433

By the finale, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yuan both become Dou Emperors. Their ascension restores vitality to the Xiao family's depleted bloodline and establishes the family as the continent's foremost power. 506

Personality

Xiao Yan is determined and pragmatic. He recognizes the danger of unstable advancement and deliberately consolidates his Dou Qi rather than pursuing rapid but shallow progress. 201

He is deeply protective of Xun Er and resolves to become strong enough to stand beside her despite opposition from the Ancient Clan. He also remains loyal to Yao Lao, prioritizing the restoration of his teacher's physical body. 201 393

His bond with Xiao Yuan is marked by trust, competition, and mutual support. He learns from Xiao Yuan's more aggressive approach while retaining his own cautious, analytical judgment. 143 187

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Xiao Yan is an exceptional alchemist trained by Yao Lao.

• Refines high-quality pills for the Inner Academy's Fire Energy trade, including the Three-Striped Green Spirit Pill. 179
• Refines a Rank 8 pill during the Pill Gathering, drawing five-colored pill lightning. 352
• Uses Yao Lao's Spirit Raising Method to improve the effects of his pill. 352
• Discusses alchemy and cultivates alongside Cao Ying after reaching higher realms. 470

Strange Fire

Xiao Yan possesses and refines powerful flames.

• Uses the Qing Lian Earthly Core Fire, which helps him consolidate Dou Qi faster than ordinary cultivators. 142 201
• Refines the Three Thousand Burning Flame, enabling his breakthrough to Dou Zun. 393
• Pursues the Purification Lotus Demon Fire. 150 446

Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Transformations

A secret technique from Burning Flame Valley that temporarily raises the user's strength through Strange Fire. 142

• Xiao Yan receives the complete three transformations while cultivating in the Heavenly Tomb. 432
• The technique serves as the basis for activating the Xiao family Clan Crest. 142 432
• He activates all three transformations during battle with Gu Yao. 417

Five-Colored Fire Lotus

A destructive fire-based attack.

• First displayed against Gu Yao during the Ancient Clan Coming-of-Age Ceremony. 418 419
• Its violent energy gives Gu Yao a sense of imminent death after his Dou Qi is depleted. 419

Soul Strength

Xiao Yan develops formidable soul power through alchemical cultivation.

• Reaches the intermediate Spirit Realm after consuming the Spirit Elevation Soul Nourishing Pill. 337
• His gaze after cultivating beneath the Bodhi Ancient Tree gives others the sensation that their souls are exposed. 455

Equipment / Items

• Heavy black ruler — carried during the Canaan Academy Selection Competition. 152
• Storage Ring containing Yao Lao — entrusted to Xiao Yuan temporarily and later returned to Xiao Yan. 140
• Thunder Bat Sky Wings — recovered from Fan Ling's Storage Ring and intended for refinement. 150

Relationships

• Xiao Yuan — Older brother and closest ally; they share cultivation resources, fight together, and support each other's ambitions. 24 142 393
• Yao Lao / Yao Chen — Master and alchemy teacher; Xiao Yan is devoted to restoring Yao Lao's physical body. 24 337 393
• Xun Er — Beloved partner; they are separated by the Ancient Clan, but both resolve to become strong enough to remain together. 201 413
• Cao Ying — Alchemical rival who grows interested in him after he surpasses her in an assessment; later cultivates and discusses alchemy with him. 338 470
• Xiao Yu — Relative and fellow Canaan Academy student; she worries about him and Xiao Yuan during their absences. 28 154
• Xiao Li — Brother who challenges him to a spar after Xiao Yan arrives in Shi Mo City. 94
• Little Fairy Doctor — Ally who guards him during pill refinement and later cooperates with Xiao Yuan's group. 249
• Xiao Xuan — Xiao family ancestor who guides Xiao Yan's later cultivation and provides techniques for his Clan Crest. 429 432

Story Role / Major Arcs

Recovery and early cultivation

Xiao Yan begins as a youth whose Dou Qi vanishes, but rapidly recovers his cultivation after gaining Yao Lao as his teacher. His rise astonishes Canaan Academy's recruiters and establishes him as one of the Xiao family's greatest talents. 4 76

Canaan Academy and the Inner Academy

He returns from extended training as a Dou Grandmaster, competes in the Inner Academy Selection Competition, and advances to Six-Star Dou Grandmaster. Within the Inner Academy, he supports Xiao Yuan's Lion Heart Society through alchemy and combat. 154 157 179

Separation from Xun Er

When Ling Quan's group comes to take Xun Er back to her clan, Xiao Yan and Xun Er confess their feelings and part after a farewell kiss. Xiao Yan vows to reach Dou Emperor so that he can protect her and be with her. 201

Pill Tower and Pill Gathering

Xiao Yan enters the Pill Tower's sphere of influence, becomes recognized as a next-generation candidate among the Pill Tower's Three Giants, and distinguishes himself at the Pill Gathering by refining a Rank 8 pill with five-colored lightning. 338 352

Heavenly Tomb and Xiao family revival

He trains with Xiao Xuan in the Heavenly Tomb, activates the Xiao family Clan Crest, and reaches Nine-Star Dou Zun. His and Xiao Yuan's eventual advancement to Dou Emperor restores the Xiao family's bloodline and future prosperity. 432 433 506

Trivia

• Xiao Yan initially regards Xiao Yuan's cultivation talent as superior to his own. 76
• He calls Xiao Yuan “Third Brother.” 24
• During the Canaan Academy Selection Competition, he arrives carrying a black ruler nearly as tall as himself. 152