Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Yan Xiao
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; Ling Xiao Pavilion
Occupation/Role	Alchemist; pill refiner for Ling Xiao Pavilion
Origin	Earth
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Dou Zhe	36	Reached Dou Zhe at age eleven, setting a Xiao Family record.
Third Stage Dou Qi	1 36	His Dou Qi declined from his early prodigy status and became permanently stuck at the Third Stage for years.
Eighth Stage Dou Qi	20	Publicly demonstrated his recovered cultivation during the Xiao Family test, restoring his confidence and the family’s prestige.
Ninth Stage Dou Qi	22	Reached the Ninth Stage at his coming-of-age test.
Six-star Dou Practitioner	55	Recovered to this level within a year of resuming cultivation.
Four-star Da Dou Shi	79	Reached this realm before the Three Year Agreement and used Xiao Peng’s pill to strengthen himself further.
Dou Ling	137	Fought Xiao Peng using the Buddha’s Rage Fire Lotus; Xiao Peng recognized his power as impressive for a Dou Ling.
Four-star Dou Wang	154	Had reached this realm after emerging from the Heavenly Incineration Qi Refining Tower.
Nine-star Dou Wang	159	Planned to absorb the Sea Heart Flame to make the next breakthrough.
Five-star Dou Emperor	162	Successfully absorbed Heavenly Flames and advanced to the Dou Emperor realm.

Background

Xiao Yan was once one of the Xiao Family’s foremost young geniuses. He became a Dou Zhe at eleven, but his cultivation abruptly began declining until he was stranded at the Third Stage of Dou Qi. The fall made him the target of years of ridicule and transformed him from a proud, showy child into someone notably more reserved. 1 12 36

His stagnation was tied to Old Yao’s presence and absorption of his Dou Qi. Once Old Yao began openly guiding him, Xiao Yan resumed cultivation and learned alchemy, though he initially guarded his teacher’s identity as his greatest secret. 8 14

Nalan Yanran’s public annulment of their engagement enraged Xiao Yan and led him to establish the Three Year Agreement. His eventual victory over her ended their engagement, but the Misty Cloud Sect attempted to detain him afterward and placed a wanted notice on both him and Xiao Peng. 3 4 81 85

Personality

Xiao Yan is determined, disciplined, and highly conscious of humiliation. During his years of weakness, he endured mockery without openly causing trouble, then trained through harsh self-tempering methods once he found a path to recover. 13 36

He is cautious with his secrets and initially prioritizes his own safety in dangerous situations. However, the Misty Cloud Sect’s pursuit forces him to confront his responsibilities toward the Xiao Family; he returns to Wu Tan City, urges the family to flee, and later chooses to return to the Jia Ma Empire despite having Liu Fei and Xiao Xiao to protect. 42 85 154 155

Xiao Yan trusts Xiao Peng despite recognizing that his cousin has many unexplained secrets. After learning that they are both from Earth, he gains a renewed sense of belonging and resolve. 102 236

Abilities & Skills

Dou Qi Cultivation

Xiao Yan recovers from his years-long cultivation decline and progresses from the Third Stage of Dou Qi to a five-star Dou Emperor.

• Possesses exceptional recovery speed after receiving Old Yao’s guidance. 14 20 22
• Reached four-star Da Dou Shi in time to challenge Nalan Yanran. 79
• Advanced from Dou Ling to Dou Wang and ultimately Dou Emperor through continued training and Heavenly Flame absorption. 137 154 159 162

Alchemy

Old Yao teaches Xiao Yan alchemy alongside cultivation. His skill later becomes a practical asset to Ling Xiao Pavilion. 14 137

• Joined Ling Xiao Pavilion as its principal pill-refining worker in exchange for Fire Energy. 137
• Used his alchemical reputation and rapid cultivation growth to draw speculation that he had a powerful alchemist master. 22
• Sought Han Feng’s alchemy manuals and medicinal herbs in hopes of helping Old Yao awaken. 157

Heavenly Flames and Buddha's Rage Fire Lotus

Xiao Yan wields multiple flames and combines them into destructive lotus techniques.

• Used the Green Lotus Core Flame and Purple Beast Flame to create a miniature Buddha’s Rage Fire Lotus. 135
• Coated the Black Heavy Ruler in the Green Lotus Core Flame during his duel with Xiao Peng. 136
• Learned to condense and control a Three-color Buddha’s Rage Fire Lotus with Xiao Peng’s assistance, using it to destroy Han Feng’s castle. 156
• Produced a Four-Colored Destruction Fire Lotus that annihilated Yan Luotian. 172
• Absorbed Heavenly Flames to attain the five-star Dou Emperor realm. 162

Heavy Ruler Combat

Xiao Yan’s main weapon is the Black Heavy Ruler, which he uses in direct combat and ambushes.

• Led freshmen in an ambush against senior Inner Academy students using the ruler as the force that opened the attack. 134
• Uses sweeping, heavy strikes and flame-enhanced attacks to pressure opponents. 135 136
• Carried the ruler into the Three Year Agreement against Nalan Yanran. 79 81

Equipment / Items

• Black Heavy Ruler — Xiao Yan’s primary weapon in battle. 79 134 135
• Storage Ring — Used to carry his belongings and conceal evidence of Old Yao’s teachings. 14
• Ice Fire Barrier-Breaking Pill — Given by Xiao Peng to assist his preparations for the Three Year Agreement. 77 79

Relationships

• Xiao Peng — Cousin, ally, and fellow transmigrator from Earth. Xiao Peng supports Xiao Yan with pills, training, protection, and strategic guidance; Xiao Yan later joins Ling Xiao Pavilion under him. 77 85 137 236
• Xiao Zhan — Father. Xiao Yan returns to him when the Misty Cloud Sect’s retaliation threatens the Xiao Family, earning Xiao Zhan’s pride for his maturity and strength. 85 177
• Old Yao — Secret mentor who taught Xiao Yan cultivation and alchemy after absorbing his Dou Qi. 8 14
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and opponent in the Three Year Agreement. Xiao Yan defeats her and permanently ends their ties. 3 79 81
• Liu Fei — Partner and mother of his daughter. Xiao Yan promises to marry her, accept the Liu Family’s judgment, and never allow her to suffer injustice. 153 154
• Xiao Xiao — Daughter with Liu Fei; she was one hundred days old when Xiao Yan emerged from the Heavenly Incineration Qi Refining Tower. 153
• Hai Bodong — Powerful protector who intervenes when the Misty Cloud Sect moves against Xiao Yan after the Three Year Agreement. 81 85
• Ling Xiao Pavilion — Xiao Yan joins the faction as a pill refiner and is told that he may someday inherit its Pavilion Master position. 137 138

Story Role / Major Arcs

Three Year Agreement

After Nalan Yanran publicly breaks their engagement, Xiao Yan endures three years of training to reclaim his dignity. He travels to the Misty Cloud Sect with Xiao Peng, challenges Nalan Yanran, and defeats her, ending the agreement and their engagement. 3 4 79 81

Misty Cloud Sect Pursuit

The Misty Cloud Sect responds to Xiao Yan’s victory by accusing him of murder and issuing a wanted notice against him and Xiao Peng. Xiao Yan realizes his family is endangered, returns to Wu Tan City, and helps arrange the Xiao Family’s retreat to the Black Wind Valley Secret Fortress. 81 85 86

Inner Academy and Ling Xiao Pavilion

Xiao Yan enters Jia Nan Academy’s Inner Academy, demonstrates the Buddha’s Rage Fire Lotus in combat, and is recruited into Ling Xiao Pavilion. His alchemy becomes one of the faction’s key resources. 134 135 137

Fallen Heart Flame and Fatherhood

After two years in the Heavenly Incineration Qi Refining Tower, Xiao Yan emerges alongside Liu Fei and their newborn daughter, Xiao Xiao. He commits to marrying Liu Fei and protecting their family, then nevertheless returns to the Jia Ma Empire when the Xiao Family faces renewed danger. 153 154 155

Revenge and the Fall of the Misty Cloud Sect

Xiao Yan joins Xiao Peng in attacking Han Feng to avenge Old Yao, using a Three-color Buddha’s Rage Fire Lotus in the assault. He later reaches Dou Emperor after absorbing Heavenly Flames and helps bring about the Misty Cloud Sect’s disbandment. 156 162 166

Notable Quotes

“I, Xiao Yan, have never allowed my women to suffer injustice. I accept the Liu Family’s test.” 154

“I swear in the name of the Xiao Family. I will never betray this mother and daughter.” 155

“When soldiers come, we'll meet them with generals; when water comes, we'll block it with earth. With you here, I feel at ease.” 175

Trivia

• Xiao Yan and Xiao Peng both originate from Earth, a fact Xiao Peng reveals to him much later in the story. 236
• A statue of Xiao Yan stands at the entrance to Jia Nan Academy’s Heavenly Incineration Qi Refining Tower. 153
• His alias, Yan Xiao, is used while he keeps a low profile in the Jia Ma Empire’s Imperial Capital. 73