Yan Xiaohu

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Yan Xiaohu (闫小虎)
Alias(es)	Third Senior Brother; Li Si; Zhang San 137 140
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Taiqing Sect — Little Spirit Peak; later a White Jade Grand Ruins Academy Outer Courtyard student 1 191
Occupation/Role	Core Disciple of Little Spirit Peak; Mo Xingjian's third disciple 8 97
Status	Alive; remains at Taiqing Sect and takes responsibility for the Old Hen's care 351
First Appearance	Chapter 1 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Earth Vein Foundation Establishment	8	Already a Foundation Establishment cultivator when he supports Zhou Qing's lecture. His foundation was formed by refining Earth Vein Energy he found during a demon-slaying mission. 8 97
Golden Core Realm — Great Perfection	83	Uses his Golden Core pressure to subdue Li Shitao and force information about the Blood Tai Sui. 83
Nascent Soul Realm	112	Successfully forms a Nascent Soul after preparing a Nascent Soul Pill and establishing a private refining chamber. 112 116
Mid Nascent Soul Realm	164	His cultivation has advanced to the mid stage; he later remains at this stage while returning to Taiqing Sect. 164 231

Background

Before joining Taiqing Sect, Yan Xiaohu made a living by pretending to be a god or ghost. He had acquired a low-level cultivation method and learned enough to deceive ordinary people, prompting Mo Xingjian to take him in for his talent and quick wits. 83

Mo Xingjian initially sought Heavenly Dao Energy for Yan Xiaohu's foundation, but suffered repeated serious injuries in the search. Yan Xiaohu ultimately found and refined a wisp of Earth Vein Energy during a demon-slaying mission, choosing not to make his master continue risking himself. 97

Yan Xiaohu and Zhou Qing developed a notorious reputation after being caught peeping on bathing Grand Elders; the incident became a long-running joke within the sect. Their history made Yan Xiaohu an immediate suspect whenever similar accusations arose, despite a lack of evidence. 2 39

Appearance

Yan Xiaohu is a chubby, round-faced young cultivator with small eyes and single eyelids. He insists that his eyes are not shifty, but rather “small eyes that focus light.” 8 74 207

• Round face and notably round head. 8
• Small eyes and single eyelids. 88 207
• Once wore a red robe with green trousers in an attempt to stand out to the Ninth Princess; the outfit was widely considered gaudy. 87 88

Personality

Yan Xiaohu is opportunistic, financially shrewd, and unabashedly pragmatic. He keeps careful expense records for reimbursement, turns Zhou Qing's recovery into a profitable “kind intention” donation campaign, and openly distributes shares to the followers who helped him collect it. 48 73 74

His greed and mischief coexist with real loyalty. He was hurt by the poor reception for Zhou Qing's lecture, repeatedly supports Zhou Qing in dangerous investigations, and became determined to improve his own cultivation after believing his weakness contributed to Zhou Qing's injury. 8 83 110

He can be evasive when responsibility is dangerous—such as feigning a stomachache to avoid a Grotto-Heaven assignment—but proves resolute when others are threatened. He refused to cooperate with a Nascent Soul Realm Yin Spirit and continued assisting his allies despite the danger. 9 83

Abilities & Skills

Rampage Nascent Soul

Yan Xiaohu's Nascent Soul is the Rampage Nascent Soul, ranked fourteenth among Earth-grade Nascent Souls. 163

• Its Nascent Soul Mark temporarily raises his cultivation by one minor realm without side effects. 163
• He used the amplification to raise his combat cultivation to the mid Nascent Soul Realm during the confrontation with Li Hanshan and Yu Ziqi. 173
• The awakened mark gives him a 30% chance of reaching the Transformation Spirit Realm. 163

Alchemy and Refinement

Yan Xiaohu is capable of refining pills and uses his Nascent Soul Fire for more advanced refinement work. 101 116

• Refined a flawed Azure Spirit Recovery Pill into a high-quality pill and sold it at a significant profit. 101
• Built a concealed underground refinement chamber beneath his residence. 116
• Initially sought Nascent Soul Pill ingredients to assist his own breakthrough. 97 102

Combat and Fieldcraft

Yan Xiaohu fights with a large saber and is an alert, adaptable combatant. 100

• Identifies advantageous terrain and assesses battlefield conditions before engagements. 83
• Gives tactical instructions to allies during the Ghost City escape. 83
• Uses disguises and false names for infiltration, including posing as Azure Flame Dao Palace disciples during the Azure Feather Immortal Sect operation. 135 137

Equipment / Companions

• Large saber — his principal weapon; he used it against Peng Si in the Bei Mang Mine. 100
• Old Hen — a long-term animal companion kept at his residence; Yan Xiaohu continues caring for it even after its return in a strange condition. 116 351
• Identity Token — used to establish his identity as a Taiqing Sect disciple while operating under an alias. 137

Relationships

• Zhou Qing — Junior brother and closest companion. Yan Xiaohu defends him, worries over his injuries, and resolves to strengthen himself so he will not be a burden in future crises. 8 110
• Mo Xingjian — Master. Mo Xingjian recognized Yan Xiaohu's talent before he entered the sect and personally sought a superior foundation opportunity for him. 83 97
• Lu Yaoyao — Fellow Taiqing Sect disciple and frequent teammate. Yan Xiaohu helped guide her during the Ghost City expedition and later fought beside her against Li Hanshan. 82 173
• Li Shitao / Su Wanli — Former evil-spirit adversary and uneasy acquaintance. Yan Xiaohu had previously used black dog blood against her, later pressured her for information, and eventually encountered her again in Soaring Cloud Prefecture. 83 102 103
• Yuan Ya — Azure Feather Immortal Sect disciple who knew Yan Xiaohu only through his Li Si disguise and mourned his reported “death.” 137 140
• Qian Dafu — Taiqing Sect shopkeeper and contentious acquaintance. Despite their past quarrels, Qian Dafu offered Yan Xiaohu lodging, information, and more than three hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones toward his Nascent Soul Pill efforts. 102

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Early Taiqing Sect period — Supports Zhou Qing after the bathing accusation, assists with sect errands, and becomes involved in the failed lecture scheme that demonstrates his far greater reputation among the Outer Sect. 1 8
• Ghost City expedition — Uses his Golden Core Great Perfection pressure to obtain intelligence from Li Shitao, helps coordinate the group against evil spirits, and refuses to compromise with the Nascent Soul Realm Yin Spirit. 83
• Soaring Cloud Prefecture journey — Works with Zhou Qing to search for Nascent Soul Pill materials, profit from repairing flawed pills, and eventually prepares for his own Nascent Soul breakthrough. 101 102 112
• Azure Flame Dao Palace conflict — Infiltrates Azure Feather Immortal Sect with Zhou Qing, assists in uncovering the Humanoid Puppet operation, and enters Youhuang City under the Li Si identity. 135 137 140
• Blood Bone Old Ghost operation — Organizes an ambush at Bei Mang Mine with Zhou Qing, Pei Yan, Shi Zhen, and Lei Luo, then helps expose Sima Yaoji's possession of Pei Yan. 160 161 162
• White Jade Grand Ruins Academy — Is repeatedly targeted by a mysterious white-robed figure and Enforcement Hall misunderstandings. Rather than follow Zhou Qing and Lu Yaoyao into the Inner Courtyard, he remains in the Outer Courtyard to identify and confront the person responsible. 191 193 207
• Return to Taiqing Sect — Returns with Zhou Qing, Lu Yaoyao, and Li Daoxuan as Spirit Skull Mountain undergoes a new anomaly; by this point, he is a Mid Nascent Soul Realm cultivator who remains protective of Zhou Qing. 231

Notable Quotes

“I, Yan Xiaohu, am an upright and honorable man. How could I yield to an evil spirit like you?” 83

“Women will only affect the speed of my drawing my saber.” 116

“Not only are my eyes small, but my heart is also small.” 100