Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Yan Xiao
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; Jia Nan Academy; Starfall Pavilion
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; alchemist; disciple of Yao Chen; Young Pavilion Master of Starfall Pavilion
First Appearance	Chapter 191

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Dou Qi, Third Stage (Low Tier)	191	Publicly tested on the Demonic Stone Tablet; his stagnant cultivation becomes the basis for his clan’s ridicule.
Dou Qi, Eighth Stage	209	Advances five stages within one year, an achievement described as unprecedented.
Fighter	219	Reaches this level within three further months; Lin Ming identifies his cultivation through the old-man disguise.
Six-Star Dou Shi	286	Advances while meditating and seeks Yao Chen’s help to increase his strength before the Three Year Agreement.
Two-Star Dou Grandmaster	305	Reveals his realm during the duel with Nalan Yanran and forms self-repairing Dou Qi armor.
Dou Emperor	363	Arrives during the Inner Academy conflict with an aura strong enough to alter the battlefield’s balance.
Six-Star Dou King	412	Returns to the Misty Cloud Sect with Wings of Dou Qi; also possesses a fused Heavenly Flame.
Nine-Star Dou King (temporary)	414	Uses Heavenly Fire Three Xuan Transformations to temporarily raise his strength from Six-Star to Nine-Star Dou King.
One-Star Dou Venerate	790	His cultivation level at the beginning of his three-year training within the Heaven Tomb.
Seven-Star Dou Venerate	790	Emerges from the Heaven Tomb after advancing six stars in three years.
Peak Seven-Star Dou Venerate	840	His cultivation and unusually ancient, powerful bloodline are recognized by Yao Chen and Lin Ming’s companions.

Background

Xiao Yan is the Third Young Master of the Xiao Family in Wutan City. As a child, he began cultivating Dou Qi, but his progress later stagnated, leaving him at the Third Stage and making him a target of public derision within his own clan 7 191.

At the Xiao Family’s clan meeting, Nalan Yanran arrived to annul their engagement. After enduring both the annulment and the humiliation surrounding it, Xiao Yan declared that he would personally divorce her and erase the disgrace within three years 191.

His fortunes changed dramatically under the tutelage of Yao Chen, also called Old Yao or Medicine Venerable. Xiao Yan’s cultivation surged from the third to the eighth stage of Dou Qi in a year, and he rapidly developed as an alchemist while seeking medicinal ingredients through the Mittel Auction House 209 219.

Following the Three Year Agreement, Xiao Yan defeats Nalan Yanran and formally severs all ties between himself, the Nalan Family, and the Misty Cloud Sect. He later joins Starfall Pavilion alongside Yao Chen, becoming its Young Pavilion Master 308 898.

Within the Heaven Tomb, Xiao Yan receives assistance from his ancestor Xiao Xuan, who activates the final Dou Di bloodline of the Xiao Clan through a bloodline exchange. This awakening greatly accelerates his later cultivation and gives his aura an exceptionally ancient, powerful quality 790 840.

Appearance

Xiao Yan is a young man frequently seen in dark or black robes. He uses disguises when conducting sensitive transactions and is particularly recognizable by the enormous black ruler he carries.

• Black-robed youth carrying a peculiar, oversized black ruler 303
• Previously used a black robe and hood to pose as an elderly man at the Mittel Auction House 219
• Manifests green flame armor in battle 347
• Possesses Wings of Dou Qi after attaining the Dou King realm 412
• Later wears fitted black robes and bears the steadier, battle-tempered demeanor of a veteran cultivator 840

Personality

Xiao Yan is notably composed under public pressure. Even while surrounded by the Misty Cloud Sect’s disciples and elders, he approached the Three Year Agreement without visible fear or agitation 303.

His pride is closely tied to his family’s honor and to the humiliation he suffered from Nalan Yanran’s annulment. This motivates his relentless cultivation and his refusal to yield against opponents with superior realms, including Yun Shan 191 286 414.

He is also cautious and capable of deception when needed. He concealed his identity while purchasing medicinal ingredients, lied to Lin Ming about Yao Chen’s whereabouts, and used a surprise assault against Yun Shan when a direct confrontation left him disadvantaged 219 236 415.

Xiao Yan is intensely competitive, particularly when compared with Lin Ming, but he does not allow envy to override his principles. After realizing that Lin Ming had concealed the true value of the Pill Beast, Xiao Yan refuses to consider taking it from an ally despite his frustration and determination to catch up 686 687.

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Xiao Yan is an accomplished alchemist trained by Yao Chen.

• Reaches the fourth-grade alchemist level within the three years following his humiliation at the Xiao Family 304
• Is recognized as a sixth-grade alchemist capable of refining a sixth-grade pill at a young age 271 276
• Refines an Eighth Grade pill during the Pill Gathering 603
• Uses the dangerous Method of Spirit Ascension to improve a completed pill’s spirituality 603
• Produces unprecedented five-colored Pill Lightning after enhancing the pill with spiritual material and Yao Chen’s spiritual mass 604
• Is regarded as highly talented and resilient in alchemy by Cao Ying 600

Heavenly Flames

Xiao Yan wields Heavenly Flames as both combat and alchemical tools.

• Possesses the Green Lotus Core Flame, obtained after pursuing information provided through Lin Ming 272
• Later gains a flame believed to be a fusion of the Green Lotus Core Flame and the Wind Fury Dragon Flame 412
• Employs the Bone Spirit Cold Flame during alchemical contests, demonstrating control over multiple Heavenly Flames 297 298
• Uses Heavenly Flame in pill forging and Spirit Ascension 603
• Summons the Wind Fury Dragon Flame against Yun Shan when his Dou Qi and transformation time are running out 418
• Forms a Buddha Flame Fire Lotus from three Heavenly Flames during his battle against Yun Shan 421

Heavenly Fire Three Xuan Transformations

A secret technique that sharply increases Xiao Yan’s combat strength for a limited time.

• Raises his strength from Six-Star to Nine-Star Dou King against Yun Shan 414
• Creates a time constraint and heavily pressures his available Dou Qi 418
• Leaves him severely weakened after use, especially when combined with the expenditure of fighting a Dou Ancestor 429

Fire Lotus

Xiao Yan’s exclusive, high-risk fire-based Dou Skill.

• Requires time to complete; Lin Ming delays Yun Shan so Xiao Yan can finish forming it 419
• Silently annihilates matter in its path before detonating into a massive energy storm 420
• Defeats Yun Shan, though the aftermath leaves Xiao Yan unconscious 420
• Its three-flame Buddha Flame Fire Lotus is credited with leaving Yun Shan vulnerable before Protector Wu devours Yun Shan’s soul 421

Ruler Techniques

Xiao Yan fights with the Xuan Heavy Ruler and powerful ruler-based skills.

• Uses the Xuan Heavy Ruler during his duel with Nalan Yanran 304
• Counters Nalan Yanran’s sword techniques with Eight Extremes Collapse 304
• Uses the Earth Tier Flame Splitting Wave Ruler against Wind’s Extreme: Setting Sun Radiance 306 307

Dou Qi Armor

Xiao Yan can condense armor from Dou Qi at the Dou Grandmaster realm.

• Forms Dou Qi armor after exposing his Two-Star Dou Grandmaster cultivation 305
• The armor repairs minor injuries sustained in battle 305

Xiao Clan Bloodline

Xiao Yan possesses the surviving Dou Di bloodline of the ancient Xiao Clan.

• Xiao Xuan uses the power of his remnant soul to exchange blood with Xiao Yan and activate the Xiao Clan’s final preserved Dou Di bloodline 840
• The awakened bloodline gives Xiao Yan an ancient, majestic aura and contributes to his extraordinary cultivation progress after the Heaven Tomb 840

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Xuan Heavy Ruler — Xiao Yan’s distinctive oversized black ruler and primary weapon 303 304
• Disguise mask — Used under the identity “Yan Xiao”; acquired through the Mittel Family 287
• Ring containing Yao Chen — The ring from which Yao Chen manifests in soul form 219
• Ancient Insect Emperor Robe — A body-stored defensive treasure bestowed by Xiao Xuan. It can assume the appearance of ordinary clothing while continuously defending Xiao Yan through Dou Qi consumption 790

Relationships

• Yao Chen / Old Yao / Medicine Venerable — Teacher and mentor. Yao Chen guides Xiao Yan’s cultivation and alchemy, encourages him to surpass Lin Ming, and entrusts others with Xiao Yan’s safety 220 286 416. Xiao Yan remains fiercely devoted to Yao Chen and is willing to offer anything in exchange for a means to save him 429.
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and opponent in the Three Year Agreement. Her annulment of their engagement drives Xiao Yan’s pursuit of strength; he later defeats her at the Misty Cloud Sect and declares that she and the Xiao Family are completely unrelated 191 308 412.
• Lin Ming — Fellow transmigrator and recurring ally-rival. Lin Ming sees through Xiao Yan’s disguise, trades with Yao Chen, aids him indirectly against Yun Shan, and remains a major benchmark for Xiao Yan’s growth 219 242 419 840. Though Lin Ming’s concealed gains in the Pill Hall frustrate Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan refuses to betray their friendship over the Pill Beast 686 687.
• Xiao Zhan — Father and Xiao Family patriarch. Xiao Yan receives no public intervention from him during the clan meeting, while Xiao Zhan later faces threats connected to the Xiao Family’s ancient jade 191 246.
• Xun Er — Companion who exits the Heaven Tomb with Xiao Yan after three years of training. She later works alongside him to secure the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Origin under the Ancient Clan’s protection 790 1044.
• Xiao Xuan — Ancestor who entrusts the future of the Xiao Clan to Xiao Yan before his departure from the Heaven Tomb. Xiao Xuan also helps awaken Xiao Yan’s final Dou Di bloodline and gives him the Ancient Insect Emperor Robe 790 840.
• Xiao Chen — Ancestor who saves Xiao Yan from Hun Miesheng’s fatal strike and reveals their ancestral connection 1045.
• Yun Shan — Dou Ancestor and major adversary. Xiao Yan battles him despite a severe realm gap and ultimately defeats him with the Fire Lotus; Protector Wu then kills Yun Shan and devours his soul 414 420 421.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Three Year Agreement

After Nalan Yanran annuls their engagement, Xiao Yan vows to wash away the humiliation within three years 191. He arrives at the Misty Cloud Sect carrying his black ruler and calmly announces, “Xiao Family, Xiao Yan, has come to fulfill the appointment!” 303.

During the ensuing duel, he reveals both his growth as a Two-Star Dou Grandmaster and his mastery of powerful ruler techniques. His Flame Splitting Wave Ruler overwhelms Nalan Yanran’s ultimate sword skill before Yun Yun intervenes to stop the final strike 305 306 307.

The Misty Cloud Sect subsequently concedes the match. Xiao Yan refuses Yun Yun’s offer of compensation and declares that Nalan Yanran and the Xiao Family are unrelated from that day onward 308.

Jia Nan Academy and the Inner Academy Conflict

At Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Yan participates in the Strong Ranking selection and faces Qin Zhen, ranked fifth, as a dark-horse challenger 347. During the conflict involving the Black Corner Region, he appears as a Dou Emperor and clashes with Fan Lao using Earth Tier Fighting Skills 363.

Conflict with Yun Shan

Xiao Yan returns to the Misty Cloud Sect to seek justice after the Xiao Family suffers repercussions from the sect 412. Although he initially fights at a significant disadvantage against Yun Shan, he uses Heavenly Fire Three Xuan Transformations, coordinates with Yao Chen, and eventually deploys the Fire Lotus with Lin Ming’s assistance 414 415 419.

The Fire Lotus defeats Yun Shan, but Xiao Yan is left unconscious afterward. Protector Wu subsequently kills Yun Shan and extracts and devours his soul, leaving Xiao Yan and Yao Chen to confront the threat posed by the Soul Hall protector 420 421.

Pill Gathering

As Yao Chen’s disciple, Xiao Yan becomes a prominent competitor at the Pill Gathering. He risks the Method of Spirit Ascension to elevate an Eighth Grade pill beyond its formed state, eventually creating historic five-colored Pill Lightning 558 603 604.

The competition further establishes his ability to control multiple Heavenly Flames and his resilience after technical setbacks in high-level pill refinement 595 600.

Heaven Tomb Training

Xiao Yan trains in the Heaven Tomb for three years alongside Xun Er. He enters as a One-Star Dou Venerate and emerges as a Seven-Star Dou Venerate; Hun Ya and Hun Li are found dead after the training period, with observers suspecting Xiao Yan’s involvement 790.

Before leaving, Xiao Xuan gives him the Ancient Insect Emperor Robe and assists in awakening the Xiao Clan’s final Dou Di bloodline. By the time Xiao Yan later reunites with Lin Ming and Yao Chen’s acquaintances, he has reached peak Seven-Star Dou Venerate 790 840.

Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Conflict

During the struggle for the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Origin, Xiao Yan and Xun Er secure the origin while under the Ancient Clan’s protection. Hun Miesheng, having revealed early-stage Five-Star Dou Saint cultivation, demands the treasure and threatens the Ancient Clan 1044.

When Hun Miesheng attempts to kill Xiao Yan with a palm strike, Xiao Chen intervenes. Xiao Chen identifies himself as Xiao Yan’s ancestor and shields him from the attack before battling Hun Miesheng 1045.

Notable Quotes

“Xiao Family, Xiao Yan, has come to fulfill the appointment!” 303

“If this is the capital for your arrogance, then today is the day you, Nalan Yanran, will pay the price!” 305

“Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, do not bully a young man when he is poor!” 191

Trivia

• Xiao Yan is described as a transmigrator who had been an adult in his previous life 228.
• His identity as “Yan Xiao,” champion of an alchemist tournament, is exposed when he displays his Heavenly Flame during the Three Year Agreement 304.
• His peak Seven-Star Dou Venerate aura carries an ancient bloodline presence recognized as exceptionally powerful by Qing Lin 840.
• Xiao Yan’s black-robed appearance and enormous ruler remain recognizable even after he becomes a prominent expert of the Central Plains 840 898.

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