Elder Yao

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Yao Tianhuo was once a Dou Venerate known as the Heavenly Flame Venerate. Shortly after first advancing to Dou Venerate, he traveled with his close friend Liu Rufeng. When Yao Tianhuo later found the Liu Family massacred, he traced the crime to the Ghost Yin Sect and its master, Gui Yuan. He stormed the sect alone, killed three elders and twelve protectors, and severely wounded Gui Yuan with the Five Rounds Leaving Fire Method; Gui Yuan escaped and disappeared for centuries. 925

His original cultivation eventually peaked at Mid-Tier Dou Venerate. His innate aptitude alone would have made reaching Half-Saint exceedingly difficult, even over an entire lifetime. 1068

By the time he meets Lin Ming, Elder Yao exists as a damaged soul body. Lin Ming repairs him in a remote forest near Jia Nan Academy, allowing him to recover his strength and resume active combat. 386 He subsequently protects Lin Ming against the Hall of Souls, blocking Iron Protector's soul chain and fighting despite his lack of a physical body. 395

During the battle at Misty Cloud Sect, Elder Yao uses the Fallen Heart Flame to form a Flame Flood Dragon and devour the fierce soul created from Yun Shan's soul and numerous other souls. He later refines its purified soul power with Lin Ming's help, greatly restoring his condition. 431 441 After awakening, he has recovered to the peak of Eight-Star Dou Ancestor in soul power. 454

Elder Yao helps the group penetrate an ancient altar's restriction and subsequently assists Lin Ming in obtaining the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame's Origin Fire Seed. During the extraction, he burns his Soul Origin to suppress the flame's consciousness while Xiao Yi Xian and Zi Yan defend them. 454 460 Before the group's departure for Middle Continent, he also helps Lin Ming and the Luo Family Old Ancestor repair Tianya City's unstable Space Wormhole. 489

During the conflict with Ice River Valley, Elder Yao suppresses Bing Xuan and Bing Hua, then pierces their defenses with soul-flame spears. He later joins Lin Ming and the others in attacking Tian Shuang Zi, but the Dou Venerate's ice domain shatters his flaming palm and nearly collapses his soul body. 511 512 516 517

Lin Ming eventually prepares a complete resurrection for him using Half-Saint remains and a Bone-Regenerating Soul-Melding Pill. Elder Yao fuses with the remains, obtains a physical body, and directly completes Nine Revolutions to become a peak Nine-Revolution Dou Venerate. 527 529 The process takes place on East Dragon Island, with Lin Ming and Xiao Yi Xian guarding him and Hei Qing preventing interference from the Ancient Void Dragon Clan. Eighth-Order Scorpion Dragon Beast essence blood and the Purple Extreme Annihilation Flame are also used in refining his new body. 527 528 529

After his resurrection, Elder Yao continues accompanying and protecting Lin Ming. At Ye Courtyard, he discovers that an Ancient Bronze Fragment's secret lies within its green patina rather than the metal itself, preparing the residue for Lin Ming to refine. Later, he rescues Lin Ming from Elder Mu Gu's Soul Barrier, seals the surrounding space, and gravely injures Mu Gu before Xuan Kongzi intervenes. 565 576

Elder Yao and Xiao Yi Xian urge Lin Ming to establish a force of his own, leading to the founding of the Five Elements Sect. Elder Yao argues that personally handling every matter wastes Lin Ming's reputation and resources, and that a sect is necessary to contend with the Soul Hall. He and Xiong Zhan reclaim Ice River Valley as the sect's residence, recover its resources, and drive away rival forces. After the founding ceremony, Elder Yao and Xiao Yi Xian remain responsible for the sect while Lin Ming travels to the Southern Region. 629 630

He later becomes the Great Elder of the Five Elements Sect and advances further into the Half-Saint Realm with Saint Soul Marrow. 720 834 Before that breakthrough, he defends the sect against the Third Heavenly Venerate despite the latter's superior Half-Saint cultivation. Their direct clash leaves Elder Yao injured, demonstrating that his powerful resurrected body cannot fully compensate for the difference in realms and mastery of the power of rules. 743 744

As a Half-Saint, Elder Yao accompanies Lin Ming to the hidden trading venue at the Ancient Treasure Pavilion. Afterward, he ambushes the Cloud Rain Sect's Tian Xie Zi, Di Xie Zi, and Ren Xie Zi, injuring them with Space Annihilation before Lin Ming captures them. 842 851

After several months of quiet cultivation, Elder Yao fully stabilizes his Half-Saint realm. He continues serving the sect, including supervising core disciples' formation joint-attack training. 919 995 During the Heaven Nether Sect's attack, he confronts his old enemy Gui Yuan above Broken Blade Snow Peak. He wounds Gui Yuan by sending a fire wolf into the latter's black mist, burning its resentful souls, before preparing his remaining four fire beasts to meet a nine-headed nether dragon. 925 926 927

He subsequently reaches Mid-Tier Half-Saint, but both he and Lin Ming recognize that his cultivation is approaching the limit of his resurrected body's potential. Lin Ming therefore refines a Demonic Fire Pill for him and gives him the remaining Saint Soul Marrow to help him overcome that bottleneck. 1068 1069 The completed pill bears three Pill Patterns and is intended to improve his aptitude, strengthen his Dou Qi flames, and open a path toward High-Tier Half-Saint and eventually Dou Saint. 1069

Later, Elder Yao shares tea with Lin Ming while looking over the flourishing sect, expressing his relief and amazement at how far they have come. Lin Ming promises to help him again when he attempts to reach Dou Saint; this remains a future goal rather than a confirmed breakthrough. 1088

Appearance

As a soul body, Elder Yao appears as an ethereal elderly man with white hair and beard, a solemn expression, scorching fire-attribute energy, and immense soul pressure. His soul form becomes nearly tangible after recovering much of his strength. 489 454

Following his resurrection, he possesses a fully solid physical body and is later described with a middle-aged appearance, deep eyes, and an aura that is powerful yet deliberately restrained. 536 720

• White hair and beard while in soul form. 489
• Ruddy complexion and brilliant eyes after recovering to peak Eight-Star Dou Ancestor. 454
• Appears in plain white robes with handsome features and eyes marked by ancient experience when confronting Elder Mu Gu. 576
• Often wears scarlet robes during major confrontations. 925
• His presence carries intense fire-attribute energy and oppressive soul pressure. 489 927

Personality

Elder Yao is confident, hearty, and deeply experienced. He is willing to confront stronger enemies directly, but he does not rely on force alone; his analysis of ancient formations and battle situations shows patience and precision. 395 454

He values repayment of kindness and develops a genuine mentor-and-friend bond with Lin Ming. After Lin Ming helps refine the fierce soul, Elder Yao promises to remember the favor and praises Lin Ming's mastery of the Five Rounds Leaving Fire Method. 441 514

His calmness hardens into open hostility toward Gui Yuan, whose past atrocities against the Liu Family remain a personal grievance centuries later. 925

Although he can manage sect affairs and recognizes the strategic importance of building an organization, he openly prefers cultivation and fighting to routine administration. When Xiao Yi Xian returns to the sect, he expresses relief at being able to leave mundane affairs to her. 629 833

He takes genuine pride in the Five Elements Sect's prosperity and its disciples' confidence, regarding its development with deep satisfaction. 1088

Abilities & Skills

Five Rounds Leaving Fire Method

Elder Yao's self-created fire technique and the martial legacy he passes on to Lin Ming.

• Previously used to burn half of the Ghost Yin Sect into a sea of fire and defeat Gui Yuan. 925
• Used again against Gui Yuan during the battle at Broken Blade Snow Peak. 927
• Lin Ming's mastery of the technique brings Elder Yao relief, as he sees his life's work carried forward. 514
• Condenses five enormous flaming beast forms—a wolf, leopard, lion, tiger, and flood dragon—when confronting the Heaven Nether Sect. 926
• Developed through centuries of research, consultation of ancient texts, and searches for suitable flames. Elder Yao had never gathered five flames powerful enough to reveal its full potential, making Lin Ming's achievements a fulfillment of his longstanding hopes. 514
• Uses a fire wolf to burn the resentful souls within Gui Yuan's black mist and injure him. 927

Fallen Heart Flame

A soul-restraining Heavenly Flame used by Elder Yao against Hall of Souls techniques and soul bodies while he lacks a physical body.

• Lin Ming gives him Fallen Heart Flame strengthened with Dou Qi to compensate for the disadvantages of fighting without a physical body. 430
• Forms the flame into a transparent Flame Flood Dragon. 431
• Devours the fierce soul created using Yun Shan's soul, whose soul power is later refined to restore Elder Yao. 431 441
• Demonstrates fine flame control by shaping the Fallen Heart Flame into a cauldron to refine the fierce soul. 435

Flame Dealing Technique and Lifebound Flame

Elder Yao later cultivates the Flame Dealing Technique given to him by Lin Ming. Although he does not possess a Heavenly Flame during the battle with the Heaven Nether Sect, he has fused numerous flames into a Lifebound Flame whose power is comparable to some Heavenly Flames. 926

Soul Techniques

Elder Yao possesses exceptionally strong soul power and specialized methods for restraining or capturing soul bodies.

• Blocks Iron Protector's soul chain with a precise strike despite initially lacking a body. 395
• Burns his Soul Origin to condense an invisible mountain of soul power, accompanied by an ancient Soul Calming Incantation, to suppress the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame's core consciousness. 460
• Overwhelms Three-Star Dou Ancestor Protector Xuan and brands his Soul Origin with a Soul Imprint. 473
• Seals Protector Xuan's extracted soul into a jade bottle. 473
• Assists Xiao Yi Xian by restraining Iron Protector with his pressure, allowing her Calamity Poison Gas to seal him. 473
• Transforms soul power into fire pythons and condensed soul-flame spears when fighting Bing Xuan and Bing Hua. 511 512
• His soul pressure is sufficient to make even Dou Venerates struggle to breathe. 621

Formation Analysis

Elder Yao has extensive knowledge of ancient formations and restrictions.

• Identifies the nine beast-head carvings around an altar as bloodline-responsive keys for a protective formation. 454
• Determines that the formation can be deceived by combining Zi Yan's dragon bloodline with Lin Ming's Heavenly Flames and his own soul-power control. 454
• Guides the group through the formation's energy nodes, enabling them to enter the altar's inner space. 454

Spatial Manipulation

Elder Yao retains knowledge of spatial techniques from his former Dou Venerate cultivation and demonstrates increasingly powerful spatial control after his resurrection.

• Works with Lin Ming and the Luo Family Old Ancestor to restore a blurred Spatial Mark and stabilize Tianya City's Space Wormhole in approximately one hour. 489
• Seals the space around Elder Mu Gu before breaking through his defenses. 576
• Uses Space Annihilation to injure the three Cloud Rain Sect elders despite their combined Three Scorpion Yin Fiend Palm. 851
• Solidifies space during his battle with Gui Yuan. 927

Combat Experience

As a former Dou Venerate and later Half-Saint, Elder Yao is a frontline defender for the Five Elements Sect.

• Defeats Protector Xuan quickly enough to assist Xiao Yi Xian in a separate battle. 472 473
• Suppresses the two Seven-Star Dou Ancestors Bing Xuan and Bing Hua simultaneously while still a soul body. 511
• Rescues Lin Ming from Elder Mu Gu and gravely injures the Soul Hall elder before Xuan Kongzi stops the confrontation. 576
• Shields Five Elements Sect disciples by confronting the Third Heavenly Venerate's pressure during Soul Hall's assault. 743
• Faces both the Heaven Nether Sect and his Half-Saint enemy Gui Yuan at Broken Blade Snow Peak. 925 926
• Forces Gui Yuan to retreat from a vicious claw attack by refusing to defend and instead delivering a powerful counterpunch toward his head. 927
• Supervises core disciples' formation joint-attack training in the sect's Secret Valley. 995

Relationships

• Lin Ming — Mentor, friend, and primary benefactor. Lin Ming restores Elder Yao's soul, helps him refine the fierce soul, reconstructs his body, and provides the Saint Soul Marrow for his Half-Saint breakthrough. Later, Lin Ming gives him a Demonic Fire Pill and the remaining Saint Soul Marrow in hopes of overcoming his cultivation bottleneck. He subsequently promises further help when Elder Yao attempts to reach Dou Saint. 386 441 529 834 1069 1088
• Xiao Yi Xian — Fellow Five Elements Sect leader and battlefield ally. They coordinate in defending the sect during Soul Hall and Heaven Nether Sect attacks. They also jointly encourage Lin Ming to establish the sect and oversee it during his absence. 743 926 629 630
• Ya Fei — Fellow Five Elements Sect leader. Ya Fei manages strategy and resources while Elder Yao acts as the sect's principal high-level combatant. 925 926
• Liu Rufeng — Close friend known as the Clear Wind Sword, whom Elder Yao met shortly after becoming a Dou Venerate. The massacre of Liu Rufeng's family drives Elder Yao's longstanding vendetta against Gui Yuan. 925
• Gui Yuan — Sworn enemy. Gui Yuan destroyed the Liu Family; the massacre drove Elder Yao to attack the Ghost Yin Sect centuries earlier. The two reunite as Half-Saints. 925
• Protector Wu — Hall of Souls enemy whose fierce soul Elder Yao devours with the Fallen Heart Flame. 431 432
• Protector Xuan — Hall of Souls opponent captured by Elder Yao using a Soul Imprint. 472 473
• Elder Mu Gu — Soul Hall enemy whom Elder Yao gravely injures while rescuing Lin Ming from a Soul Barrier. 576
• Xiong Zhan — Fellow founding leader of the Five Elements Sect. They jointly reclaim Ice River Valley and its resources for the new sect. 629
• Yao Chen — Fellow elder cultivator, distinct from Elder Yao despite their similar forms of address. They exchange recollections and fire-control knowledge while Yao Chen visits the Five Elements Sect. 919 920

Notable Quotes

“Great kindness needs no thanks! I will remember your help wholeheartedly.” 441

“Back then, I could beat you into fleeing like a stray dog. Today, I can do the same.” 925

“Lin Ming, you brat, this old man has lived for so many years, but I truly never thought I'd see this day.” 1088

Trivia

• Elder Yao is Yao Tianhuo, the Heavenly Flame Venerate, and is distinct from Yao Chen, who is also called Venerable Yao. 576 919
• His resurrection does more than restore his former strength: the Half-Saint remains give him the potential to surpass his previous limits. 527 529
• The body used for his resurrection belonged to an expert who had reached High-Tier Half-Saint, explaining both his rapid advancement beyond his original aptitude and the later limits he encounters. 1068
• He considers Lin Ming's mastery of the Five Rounds Leaving Fire Method the continuation of his personal legacy. 514
• Lin Ming expects the remaining Saint Soul Marrow to bring Elder Yao to the peak of Mid-Tier Half-Saint. He intends the Demonic Fire Pill to improve Elder Yao's aptitude and flames, potentially enabling him to reach High-Tier Half-Saint and eventually pursue Dou Saint; these are anticipated benefits, not confirmed breakthroughs. 1069
• Lin Ming's later promise to assist his future Dou Saint attempt does not establish that Elder Yao has already reached that realm. 1088

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