Xiao Yan

Biodata

Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family
Occupation/Role	Dou Qi cultivator; rival of Ye Hao
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Dou Qi Stage Three	1	His cultivation is cited by Nalan Yanran as a reason for ending their engagement in the first simulation.
One-star Dou Emperor	2	Reaches this realm over the ten years of the pact with Ye Hao under Old Yao’s guidance.
Dou Qi Stage One	39	In the fifth simulation, his Dou Qi has been drained by Yao Chen’s presence in his ring.
Dou Qi Stage Four	43	Recovers his cultivation talent after Ye Hao removes Old Yao and the ring.
Dou Shi	91	Reaches the Dou Shi realm while traveling through the desert under Yao Lao’s guidance.
Peak Dou Zong	97	Uses a Cultivation Direct Upgrade Card, rising to the peak of Dou Zong and standing one step from Dou Zun.

Background / History

During the first simulation, Nalan Yanran publicly ends her engagement to Xiao Yan in the Xiao Family hall, calling his Dou Qi Stage Three cultivation inadequate and openly displaying her attachment to Ye Hao. Humiliated and enraged, Xiao Yan declares a Ten-Year Pact with Ye Hao. 1

Over the following decade, Old Yao helps him rise from a Three-stage Dou Disciple to a One-star Dou Emperor. At the pact’s conclusion, however, Ye Hao overwhelms him in a single exchange and blocks his Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler. Xiao Yan then attempts to merge multiple Heavenly Flames, loses control due to his rage, and dies in the resulting backlash. 2

In a later Wu Tan City timeline, Nalan Yanran again seeks to annul their engagement. Xiao Yan accepts the separation and focuses on pursuing Xun Er instead. He offers to help Xun Er search for Ye Hao, but internally intends to drive Ye Hao out of Wu Tan City if they meet. 11 14

When Xiao Yan sees Ye Hao apparently upsetting Xun Er, he confronts Ye Hao physically and is swiftly thrown down and kicked away. He demands that Old Yao help kill Ye Hao, but Old Yao refuses after recognizing Ye Hao as an Eight-star Da Dou Shi. Xiao Yan leaves after promising to repay the humiliation “a hundredfold.” 18

His pursuit of Xun Er becomes increasingly obsessive. After watching Ye Hao and Xun Er leave Wu Tan City together, he secretly follows them into the Monster Mountain Range; Old Yao repeatedly has to protect him from low-level magical beasts. 28 29 34

In the fifth simulation, Ye Hao seals the ring containing Yao Chen, allowing Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi to stop disappearing. Xiao Yan’s cultivation talent returns, but Ye Hao declines Xiao Zhan’s request to accept him as a disciple. 39 43

Personality

Xiao Yan is proud, competitive, and deeply sensitive to public humiliation. His feud with Ye Hao repeatedly provokes declarations of future revenge, including his insistence that he will eventually surpass his rival. 1 18 26

He is intensely jealous where Xun Er is concerned. Xun Er recounts that he repeatedly tried to approach her as a child and continued pestering her after being rejected; later, he vents his frustration by cutting down a tree while shouting Ye Hao’s name. 28 29

Despite frequently being frightened by opponents beyond his level, Xiao Yan can force himself to proceed when guided by Old Yao. He enters the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King’s territory even while terrified of the fourth-order beasts guarding it. 36

Abilities & Skills

Dou Qi Cultivation

Xiao Yan possesses considerable cultivation potential, particularly when guided by Old Yao. His development differs across the novel’s simulations and routes, ranging from early-stage Dou Qi to peak Dou Zong. 2 97

• Advanced from a Three-stage Dou Disciple to One-star Dou Emperor in ten years in the first simulation. 2
• Regained his natural cultivation talent once Old Yao’s ring was removed in the fifth simulation. 39 43
• Reached peak Dou Zong through a system-issued Cultivation Direct Upgrade Card. 97

Old Yao’s Guidance

Old Yao serves as Xiao Yan’s teacher and resides within a ring worn by him.

• Old Yao provides cultivation guidance and warns him against reckless combat decisions. 2 18
• Uses the Bone Spirit Cold Flame to drive back magical beasts threatening Xiao Yan. 36
• His presence drains Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi in the fifth simulation until Ye Hao seals the ring. 39

Flame Techniques

Xiao Yan employs powerful flame-based techniques but struggles to control them when emotionally unstable.

• Flame Splitting Tsunami Ruler — his strongest named Dou Technique during the Ten-Year Pact; Ye Hao blocks it without difficulty. 2
• Heavenly Flame fusion — attempts to fuse multiple flames as a desperate measure against Ye Hao, but the process backfires and kills him in the first simulation. 2
• Ghostly Flame — manifests amid his resentment toward Ling Chen during his later desert journey. 91

Ancient Dragon Emperor Bloodline

In a later system route, Xiao Yan gains the Ancient Dragon Emperor Bloodline.

• Grants immunity to fire damage. 97
• Flames below the level of Heavenly Flame cannot break his defense. 97

Equipment / Items

• Black ruler — a massive, rugged black ruler carried during his desert journey. 91
• Ring containing Old Yao — serves as Old Yao’s vessel until Ye Hao seals and removes it in the fifth simulation. 18 39
• Ancient Emperor’s Jade of Tuoshe — awarded by the system; gathering all eight pieces can open Ancient Emperor Tuoshe’s cave abode. 97

Relationships

• Ye Hao — principal rival; their conflict begins with Nalan Yanran’s broken engagement and becomes a Ten-Year Pact, followed by repeated resentment and confrontations. 1 2 18
• Nalan Yanran — former fiancée; she ends their engagement in multiple simulation timelines. 1 11
• Gu Xun Er — childhood acquaintance and the object of his persistent affection; she repeatedly rejects his attempts to get close to her. 14 28 29
• Old Yao / Yao Lao — mentor and protector residing in Xiao Yan’s ring; guides his cultivation while restraining his impulsiveness. 2 18 36
• Xiao Zhan — father; supports Xiao Yan’s wish to marry Xun Er despite recognizing the gap between them. 29
• Queen Medusa — captures him after discovering that he watched her bathe in the desert. 91
• Zi Yan — ally who recalls their past-life connection and asks his help in rescuing her father, Zhu Kun; Xiao Yan promises to assist her. 97
• Ling Chen — a rival whose achievements fuel Xiao Yan’s jealousy and motivate his search for a Heavenly Flame. 91

Notable Quotes

“Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, do not bully a young man for being poor!” 1

“Today's humiliation, one day I will repay a hundredfold!” 18