Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; Jia Nan Academy; founder of Pan Gate 111
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; alchemist; Xiao Family’s prospective clan leader 53 113
Status	Alive 707
First Appearance	Chapter 1 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Dou Disciple	1	Had already begun cultivating when Xiao Ling first considered his place in the Xiao Family.
Dou Practitioner	22	Reached this realm at age eleven, becoming a leading Jia Ma Empire genius.
Dou Zhi Qi, Third Stage	22 31	His Dou Qi regressed over several months as Yao Chen absorbed it, leaving him unable to advance for two and a half years.
Dou Disciple, Ninth Grade	53	Recovered from Third Grade to Ninth Grade within two months after Xiao Ling resolved his condition.
Dou Practitioner	53	Re-condensed his Dou Qi Vortex with a Qi Gathering Pill.
Three-Star Dou Practitioner	53	Reached this level after a further four months of cultivation.
Six-Star Dou Grandmaster	113	Approached the High-tier Dou Grandmaster realm under Elder Huo’s tutelage.
Nine-Star Dou Ling	199	Reached one step below Dou King after winning the Strong Ranking Tournament and receiving Fallen Heart Flame body refinement.
Dou King	313	Broke through with Jia Nan Academy’s support before travelling independently to the Middle Continent.
Seven-Star Dou Emperor	316	His level during the Four Directions Pavilion Assembly.
Four-Star Dou Zong	377	Reported after several months of further change and cultivation; this rank is inconsistent with the earlier Seven-Star Dou Emperor report.
Five-Star Dou King	50	Reported immediately after Xiao Ling restored his talent; this account conflicts with the more detailed recovery sequence in Chapters 53 and 113.

Background

Xiao Yan was once the Xiao Family’s foremost young genius, cultivating from age four and reaching Dou Practitioner at eleven. After Xiao Ling surpassed him, Xiao Yan became increasingly overbearing and often challenged or bullied Xiao Ling’s peers. He also resented Xiao Ling’s guidance after losing their spars, mistaking it for condescension. 2 31

At twelve, his cultivation abruptly declined to Third-Stage Dou Zhi Qi. The cause was Yao Chen’s absorption of his Dou Qi through the Bone Flame Ring, though neither Xiao Yan nor his family initially understood it. The Xiao Family exhausted resources and invited alchemists to examine him, but found no physical abnormality. The prolonged loss of power subjected him to ridicule and alienated former companions. 22 31

Xiao Ling eventually examined Xiao Yan and restored his cultivation talent. Xiao Yan accepted responsibility for his earlier conduct and apologized to his cousin, while Xiao Ling forgave him. He then rapidly rebuilt his cultivation, turned to alchemy, and became a First-Grade Alchemist. 50 53

When Nalan Yanran sought to dissolve their arranged engagement, Xiao Yan agreed that marriage should be self-determined but demanded a duel to settle the matter publicly. He defeated her in a single move, then used the compensation provided by the Misty Cloud Sect to support his alchemy training. 55 56

At Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Yan became Elder Huo’s disciple and founded Pan Gate after organizing freshmen against senior students. He later chose an independent journey through the Middle Continent rather than accompany Xiao Ling under a faction’s protection. 68 111 199

Appearance

As he matured, Xiao Yan grew taller and more robust, with a formerly wheat-colored complexion refined into fairer, smoother skin. His facial contours became sharper and more mature. 139

• Black-robed while maintaining a low profile at the Alchemist Tower. 377
• Calm, confident bearing while displaying a high-grade pill after pill refinement. 381
• Sustained a bloody shoulder wound during his duel with Nalan Yanran, but healed it with a Second-grade Healing Pill. 55

Personality

Xiao Yan is proud and strongly protective of his dignity and family’s reputation. During the engagement dispute, he rejected a passive dissolution and insisted on proving himself through a duel, even while agreeing with Nalan Yanran’s principle of personal choice. 55

His years of lost cultivation tempered his earlier arrogance. After recovering, he showed restraint toward rapid-advancement pills, matured enough to acknowledge his past mistakes, and became more measured in assessing risk and his own limits. 50 52 627

He retains an independent, adventurous temperament. He preferred travelling the Middle Continent freely over joining a faction arranged by Xiao Ling, though he is practical enough to regard his cousin as support when threatened by Ice River Valley. 199 313

Abilities & Skills

Cultivation

Xiao Yan rebuilt his cultivation after its regression and continued advancing through academy training, body refinement, and independent adventures. 53 199 313

• Recovered from Third-Stage Dou Zhi Qi to Three-Star Dou Practitioner within roughly half a year. 53
• Improved his combat skill and consolidated his cultivation by hunting Energy Bodies in the Heavenly Tomb. 627
• Won Jia Nan Academy’s Strong Ranking Tournament and received Fallen Heart Flame Origin body refinement. 199
• Escaped a volcanic eruption using a flying skill gifted by Xiao Ling. 413

Alchemy

Xiao Yan possesses fire Dou Qi with a trace of Wood Attribute, giving him the aptitude to become an alchemist. 49

• Became a First-Grade Alchemist shortly after recovering his cultivation. 53
• Studied under Elder Huo, who accepted him as a disciple after recognizing his potential and dedication. 68
• Received Han Feng’s Sixth-grade alchemy notes through Qing Lin and Yao Chen. 111
• Was considered capable of becoming an alchemy grandmaster with proper cultivation. 128
• Could refine high-grade pills by his early twenties and later successfully refined peak Seventh-grade pills. 381 448

Soul Power

His soul power reached the peak of the Mortal Realm during his time in the Middle Continent. 377

• Developed sufficient control to participate in increasingly advanced alchemy. 377 381
• Entered Spirit Realm soul power according to the account of Xiao Ling restoring his talent; this report conflicts with later descriptions of his Mortal Realm peak. 50 377

Equipment / Items

• Bone Flame Ring — contained Yao Chen’s remnant soul and was responsible for absorbing Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi before Xiao Ling intervened. 50
• Compendium of Pharmacology — gifted by Yao Yue while Xiao Yan could not cultivate, beginning his study of alchemy. 49
• Earth Demon Puppet — left by Xiao Ling with the Xiao Family; reduced the danger Xiao Yan faced in the Middle Continent. 313
• Storage Ring of Energy Cores — given by Xiao Ling for cultivation in the Heavenly Tomb. 627
• Incomplete Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame map — acquired at auction before Xiao Ling exchanged it for a Ninth-grade healing pill. 707

Relationships

• Xiao Ling — cousin, former rival, benefactor, and continuing source of guidance. Xiao Ling restored Xiao Yan’s talent, arranged his alchemy apprenticeship, and provided resources and protection. 50 68 627 707
• Xiao Zhan — father. He spent significant Xiao Family resources trying to restore Xiao Yan’s cultivation and remained concerned for his son after the duel with Nalan Yanran. 31 55
• Yao Chen — remnant soul within the Bone Flame Ring. Though he initially absorbed Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi, he later provided alchemy opportunities and recognized Xiao Yan’s talent. 50 111 128
• Elder Huo — alchemy master at Jia Nan Academy who accepted Xiao Yan as his disciple. 68
• Xiao Xun'er — clan cousin who kept Xiao Ling informed of Xiao Yan’s declining cultivation; later praised Xiao Yan’s improvement in the Heavenly Tomb. 22 627
• Yao Yue — Imperial Princess and friend. She introduced Xiao Yan to alchemy, gifted him pharmacology material, and later supplied him with Beast Fire. 49 57
• Nalan Yanran — former fiancée. Their engagement was dissolved after Xiao Yan defeated her in a duel; he later no longer held resentment over the matter. 55 670
• Lin Yan — fellow Jia Nan Academy alumnus and friend. Xiao Yan rescued him in the Middle Continent, and they later attended the Four Directions Pavilion Assembly together. 313

Story Role / Major Arcs

Decline in the Xiao Family

After losing his status as the family’s top genius, Xiao Yan became antagonistic toward Xiao Ling’s peers. His later cultivation regression left him ostracized and unable to understand the cause of his condition. 2 22 31

Restoration and Engagement Duel

Xiao Ling cured Xiao Yan’s cultivation problem, enabling him to resume training and pursue alchemy. Nalan Yanran’s attempt to end their engagement culminated in Xiao Yan’s decisive victory and formal dissolution of the arrangement. 50 53 55

Jia Nan Academy and Pan Gate

Xiao Yan entered Jia Nan Academy, became Elder Huo’s alchemy disciple, and gained influence among freshmen by leading them against senior students. He established Pan Gate while maintaining good relations with Xiao Ling’s Supreme Freedom Gate. 68 111

Middle Continent Journey

After reaching Dou King, Xiao Yan chose to travel independently through the Middle Continent. He relied on the Earth Demon Puppet during dangerous encounters, gained a reputation through repeated adventures, and became entangled with Ice River Valley. 313

Later Alchemy and Clan Affairs

Xiao Yan continued pursuing advanced alchemy, reaching the ability to refine peak Seventh-grade pills. He later accompanied Xiao Ling and Xun'er to the Ancient Clan’s coming-of-age ceremony and trained in the Heavenly Tomb. 448 608 627

Trivia

• Xiao Yan is a few days younger than Xiao Ling. 22
• Before his regression, he was regarded as the Jia Ma Empire’s youngest Dou Practitioner aside from Xiao Ling. 37
• He believes in free love and does not support arranged marriage, reflecting memories of his prior life on Blue Star. 38 670
• He had been caught peeping on Xiao Yu while she bathed, resulting in reprimand from the Xiao Family’s First Elder. 5 6