Yao Chen

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Yao Chen (药尘)
Alias(es)	Venerable Yao
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Long's faction
Occupation/Role	Alchemist; former mentor of Xiao Yan
Status	Alive; restored from a soul body to a physical body
First Appearance	Chapter 44

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Nine-star Dou Venerate, ninth-turn peak	2	His peak cultivation before becoming a soul body; stated to be one step from Half-Saint.
Nine-star Dou Emperor	72	His strength while inhabiting Xiao Yan's ring; he considers killing Xiao Long and Xiao Xun'er.
Dou Ancestor	104	His recovered strength allows him to refine the seventh-grade Yin Yang Life Extending Pill.
Half-Saint	107	Reborn in a physical body and reaches Half-Saint; chooses to continue cooperating with Xiao Long.
One-star Dou Saint	137	Fights the two-star Great Heavenly Venerate, but is disadvantaged by the realm gap.
Late-stage one-star Dou Saint	150	Negotiates for the Nine Dragon Thunder Gang Fire.
Unspecified higher Dou Saint level	317	Appears during the war against the Soul Clan and defeats a Soul Clan Dou Saint with one strike.

Background / History

Yao Chen first awakens from dormancy within Xiao Yan's ring and reveals that he had absorbed Xiao Yan's Dou Qi for three years. He shows little remorse, instead provoking Xiao Yan and eventually acting as his teacher. His knowledge, pills, techniques, and Bone Spirit Cold Flame are treated as the foundation of Xiao Yan's rapid rise. 44 55 58

When Xiao Long confronts Xiao Yan over the ring, Yao Chen manifests with the power of a nine-star Dou Emperor and attempts to eliminate Xiao Long and Xiao Xun'er. Xiao Long instead offers him a path to rebirth through the Flame Mantra and nearby Heavenly Flames. Tempted by the promise of a new body within a year, Yao Chen abandons Xiao Yan and joins Xiao Long. 72 73

Yao Chen later strips Xiao Yan of his possessions, including his cultivation techniques and Bone Spirit Cold Flame, after deciding that Xiao Yan failed to protect him. 74 He then confronts his former disciple Han Feng in Maple City. Though initially hindered by his soul-body state, he captures Han Feng's soul after Han Feng's physical body is destroyed and imprisons him for torture. 97 99 101

Using Protector Xuan's corpse and the Yin Yang Life Extending Pill, Yao Chen is restored to a physical body. His rebirth also raises him to the Half-Saint realm. Although he acknowledges that the ancient clans and Hall of Souls remain far stronger, he continues his alliance with Xiao Long to pursue further strength and eventual revenge against the Hall of Souls. 104 105 107

Personality

Yao Chen is pragmatic, ambitious, and strongly motivated by the prospect of rebirth and greater power. He is willing to abandon Xiao Yan, bargain for Heavenly Flames, employ deception, and turn captured enemies' souls into puppet materials when it benefits his goals. 73 74 133 148 171

He is also calculating rather than blindly arrogant. After reaching Half-Saint, he recognizes that he remains insignificant before the Hall of Souls and the Dou God Clans, choosing continued cooperation with Xiao Long over acting alone. 107

Despite his ruthlessness, Yao Chen retains loyalty toward people he values. He immediately responds to Feng Xian's plea when Starfall Pavilion is attacked, and later carries out Xiao Long's orders efficiently after accepting the strength of their alliance. 142 159

Appearance

During much of the early story, Yao Chen exists as a soul body hidden inside Xiao Yan's ring. After his restoration, he returns as the physically reborn Venerable Yao. 44 105 149

• Appears in soul form while travelling with Xiao Long's group in Maple City. 97
• Is reborn by fusing his soul with Protector Xuan's restored corpse. 105
• Is widely believed in the Central Continent to have died before revealing himself publicly. 149

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Yao Chen is an elite alchemist whose status and pill-refining ability make him a major asset to Xiao Long's faction.

• Was described as the continent's number one alchemist while mentoring Xiao Yan. 58
• Refines the seventh-grade Yin Yang Life Extending Pill after recovering to Dou Ancestor. 104
• Is a peak eighth-grade alchemist by the negotiation for the Fallen Star Flame. 112
• Is later identified as an eighth-grade alchemist in Sacred Pill City. 120
• Becomes a ninth-grade alchemist and is able to provide multiple ninth-grade pills. 331

Soul Techniques

Yao Chen possesses powerful soul-based combat and restraint abilities.

• Uses a soul hand to seize Han Feng's weakened soul body. 101
• Seals the space surrounding a Hall of Souls branch to prevent escape and interference. 131
• Prevents Xue He from self-destructing, kills him, and retains his soul for puppet refinement. 133
• Severely wounds the Great Heavenly Venerate with a soul attack. 141
• Uses the Soul Locking Chain to capture the Great Heavenly Venerate's escaping soul. 141

Puppet Refinement

Yao Chen regards souls as valuable materials for creating puppets.

• Captures injured Hall of Souls Dou Venerates' souls for refinement into puppets. 133
• Assists Xiao Long's efforts to create and improve Demonic Puppets. 143

Combat Experience

His former status as a peak Dou Venerate gives him extensive combat knowledge even while weakened.

• Believes a nine-star Dou Emperor can readily kill an ordinary five-star Dou Emperor due to the vast difference in strength and his experience. 72
• Easily incapacitates two Dou Venerates after attaining Dou Saint. 132
• Defeats a Soul Clan Dou Saint with a single strike while assisting Yuan Ya. 317

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Bone Spirit Cold Flame — Originally possessed by Yao Chen; he takes it back from Xiao Yan after leaving him. 55 74
• Great One Soul Shield — Soul-defense technique used against the Great Heavenly Venerate's Bone Emperor Blade. 137
• Soul Locking Chain — Used to prevent the Great Heavenly Venerate's soul from escaping. 141
• Yin Yang Life Extending Pill — Seventh-grade pill refined by Yao Chen and used in the process of restoring his body. 104 105

Relationships

• Xiao Long — Ally and benefactor. Xiao Long promises Yao Chen a new body, facilitates his rebirth, and repeatedly works with him to obtain Heavenly Flames and oppose the Hall of Souls. 73 105 141
• Xiao Yan — Former disciple. Yao Chen initially mentors him, but abandons him for Xiao Long's offer and later strips him of his techniques and Bone Spirit Cold Flame. 44 73 74
• Han Feng — Former disciple and enemy. Yao Chen is disgusted by Han Feng's conduct, confronts him over the Bone Spirit Cold Flame and Flame Mantra, then captures his soul after his defeat. 97 99 101
• Xiao Xun'er — Xiao Long's ally and a combat partner. She helps defeat enemies that Yao Chen incapacitates, including Hall of Souls Dou Venerates. 132 133
• Feng Xian — Junior brother and leader of Starfall Pavilion. Yao Chen immediately returns to defend Starfall Pavilion when Feng Xian requests help. 159 160
• Hall of Souls — Principal enemy. The organization seeks Yao Chen's capture, while he seeks revenge for its past actions against him. 101 131 136
• Xuan Kongzi and Xuan Yi — Former Pill Tower associates whose loyalties clash with Yao Chen's attempt to take the Three Thousand Burning Flames. 171

Story Role / Major Arcs

Awakening and Defection

Yao Chen awakens in Xiao Yan's ring, reveals his role in Xiao Yan's lost Dou Qi, and begins training him. When Xiao Long offers him rebirth through Heavenly Flames, he defects and leaves Xiao Yan behind. 44 58 73

Rebirth and Revenge

After reclaiming his resources from Xiao Yan, Yao Chen helps confront Han Feng and gains vengeance by imprisoning Han Feng's soul. Xiao Long then helps create a body for him, restoring Yao Chen to physical life and Half-Saint strength. 74 101 105 107

War against the Hall of Souls

Yao Chen seals a Hall of Souls branch, hunts its members, harvests their souls for puppets, and directly confronts the Great Heavenly Venerate. Though initially pressured by the stronger opponent, he helps defeat and capture the Heavenly Venerate's soul. 131 133 137 141

Central Continent Campaigns

Yao Chen uses his status and alchemy to pursue major Heavenly Flames, including the Fallen Star Flame and Nine Dragon Thunder Gang Fire. He also defends Starfall Pavilion from the Ancient Clan and later participates in the theft of the Three Thousand Burning Flames from the Pill Tower. 112 150 159 171

Later Activities

During the Nine Heavens Heavenly Court's war with the Soul Clan, Yao Chen arrives unexpectedly and saves Yuan Ya by eliminating a Soul Clan Dou Saint. He later agrees to pay Xiao Long five ninth-grade pills for the opportunity to travel to other worlds. 317 331

Trivia

• Yao Chen is originally from the Yao Clan, one of the eight ancient clans. 107
• The Hall of Souls' Hall Master, Hun Miesheng, personally orders that Yao Chen be captured alive. 136
• He is willing to risk five ninth-grade pills for the possibility that worlds exist beyond the Dou Qi Continent. 331