Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Jia Nan Academy; Pan Sect; founder of Xiao Gate 51 82
Occupation/Role	Inner Academy student, cultivator, alchemist, and leader of the anti–Misty Cloud Sect alliance 82 99 105
Status	Alive 110 111
First Appearance	Chapter 4

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Early-stage Dou Spirit	53	Faces Half-Step Dou King Liu Qing in the Strong Ranking Competition despite a major realm disadvantage.
Post-underground-seclusion increase (realm unstated)	73	Emerges alive from seclusion with a powerful, steady aura and a solid foundation; Su Qian confirms that the retreat brought substantial gains.

Appearance

Xiao Yan is a black-haired young man usually dressed in black robes, with a resolute bearing and a massive ruler carried across his back. 5 45

• Handsome features marked by travel weariness when he rushes to Xiao Li's bedside. 45
• Carries a heavy black ruler as his signature weapon. 4 5
• Can manifest purple Dou Qi wings for flight. 15
• His black eyes are often the only visible feature beneath his Fire Armor. 53

Personality

Xiao Yan is determined to confront threats directly rather than surrender before a battle begins. Even after Wu Hao and Hu Jia admit that the final gatekeepers are far beyond them, he refuses to retreat without trying. 5

He is deeply protective of his family and allies. Xiao Li's injury drives him to rush from the Inner Academy, while the Xiao Clan's losses become the central motive behind his campaign against the Misty Cloud Sect. 45 105 108 His resolve can harden into ruthlessness when facing Yun Shan, whom he holds responsible for the Xiao Clan's blood debt. 108

In combat, Xiao Yan is adaptable and analytical. He adjusts to Yao Sheng's unorthodox dagger style, identifies openings under pressure, and uses his techniques only when they can decisively change the fight. 52 He also leads pragmatically, gathering factions and experts before moving against the Misty Cloud Sect. 94 105

Abilities & Skills

Flame Manipulation

Xiao Yan controls the Green Lotus Core Flame and can combine it with purple flame to produce highly destructive attacks. 7 52

• Forms a green-and-purple lotus attack described as a pseudo-Buddha's Fury Fire Lotus. 7 53
• Uses the Green Lotus Core Flame to counter corrosive water-attribute Dou Qi. 52
• Condenses Fire Armor around his body, enduring repeated strikes from Liu Qing's claw technique. 53
• Can use the Green Lotus Core Flame during high-rank pill refinement. 99

Black Heavy Ruler Techniques

Xiao Yan fights with a heavy ruler, combining direct power with rapid adaptation.

• Holds two older students at bay alone during the Fire Energy Forest competition. 4
• Uses the ruler's weight and reach against unconventional opponents. 52
• Combines weapon combat with flame techniques rather than relying on either alone. 52 53

Eight Extremities Collapse

A close-range explosive punch technique.

• Uses it to defeat Yao Sheng after stunning him with a roar. 52
• Exchanges it directly against Liu Qing's Great Rending Coffin-Splitting Claw. 53

Three Thousand Lightning Movement

A high-speed movement technique used to overcome difficult fighting styles.

• Xiao Yan pushes it to its limit against Yao Sheng, improving his ability to avoid and counter the latter's twin daggers. 52
• His speed draws attention when he takes the Strong Ranking Competition stage. 48

Alchemy

Xiao Yan is an alchemist trained by Yao Chen.

• Assists Qin Han and Yao Chen in their three-person refinement of the seventh-tier White Bone Flame-Generating Pill. 96 98
• Handles the fusion stage of the refinement, combining large masses of medicinal liquid under Yao Chen's guidance. 99 100
• Refines the seventh-rank Soul Tempering Pill with the Green Lotus Core Flame. 99

Strategic Leadership

• Distributes medicinal pills to his exhausted teammates immediately after battles in the Fire Energy Forest. 4
• Leads Xiao Gate's expansion and integrates forces in Maple City before returning to the Jia Ma Empire. 82
• Unites the Xiao Clan, Mite'er Family, Alchemist Guild, imperial family, and other allies against the Misty Cloud Sect. 104 105

Equipment

• Heavy black ruler — Xiao Yan's primary weapon, carried on his back and used in combat throughout the Inner Academy period. 4 5
• Storage Ring — used to carry personal items and equipment. 15
• Medicinal pills — used to restore his team's strength after battles. 4

Relationships

• Xiao Xun'er — His girlfriend and closest companion in the Inner Academy. They coordinate closely in battle, and Xun'er later secures Qin Han's promise to aid Xiao Yan's return to the Jia Ma Empire. 5 54 58
• Yao Chen / Old Yao — His teacher and alchemy mentor. Yao Chen guides Xiao Yan through dangerous cultivation and pill-refinement processes. 15 99
• Qin Han — A fellow Jia Nan Academy student, occasional flame-related rival, and later ally. Qin Han saves Xiao Li, supports Xiao Yan's campaign, and works with him in refining the White Bone Flame-Generating Pill. 45 96 104
• Xiao Li — Xiao Yan's Second Brother. Xiao Yan is deeply affected by Xiao Li's poisoning and later reunites with him after emerging from underground seclusion. 45 73
• Xiao Ding — A leading figure of the Xiao Clan who helps coordinate the alliance against the Misty Cloud Sect. 96 104
• Medusa — A powerful and volatile associate connected to Xiao Yan's underground seclusion. She pursues him upon awakening, but later saves him and kills Han Feng. 73 78
• Zi Yan — An ally who accompanies Xiao Yan's side during the Jia Ma Empire campaign and volunteers to face a Soul Hall Dou Zong. 104 110
• Yun Yun — The Misty Cloud Sect Leader. Their reunion is emotionally tense; Yun Yun urges Xiao Yan to leave while he remains committed to confronting the sect. 105
• Yun Shan — Xiao Yan's principal enemy in the Jia Ma Empire and the target of his revenge for the Xiao Clan's suffering. Xiao Yan defeats and kills him. 105 108
• Han Feng — Enemy leader of the Black Alliance. Xiao Yan defeats him during the battle for Maple City before Medusa kills him. 77 78

Story Role / Major Arcs

Fire Energy Hunting Competition

Xiao Yan leads five new students through the Fire Energy Forest, defeating several older-student teams as their coordination improves. He personally fights two opponents with his ruler while Xiao Xun'er eliminates another opponent and joins him to finish the battle. 4

At the final checkpoint, he refuses to surrender despite learning that the gatekeepers are exceptionally dangerous Inner Academy experts. 5 During the confrontation, he reveals the ability to combine green and purple flames into a lotus-shaped attack. 7

Fallen Fire Sect Ruins

After consulting Yao Chen, Xiao Yan chooses to join Jia Nan Academy's expedition to the Fallen Fire Sect Ruins despite the dangers involved. 15 When trapped within the Blood Refining Formation, he identifies the Formation Eye as the key to breaking the formation and shares this information with Qin Han. 33

Strong Ranking Competition

Xiao Yan defeats Yao Sheng by adapting to his corrosive dagger techniques, stunning him with a roar, and finishing him with Eight Extremities Collapse. 52 He later fights Liu Qing to a draw; both combatants sustain severe injuries, and Xiao Yan enters seclusion to recover. 53 54

Underground Seclusion and the Black Alliance

Xiao Yan survives underground and remains in seclusion after Jia Nan Academy loses the Fallen Heart Flame to Han Feng's attack. 65 He eventually emerges with increased strength and joins Su Qian's planned offensive against the Black Alliance. 73

During the battle in Maple City, Xiao Yan defeats Han Feng, shifting the battlefield's momentum in Jia Nan Academy's favor. 77 Medusa subsequently intervenes to save Xiao Yan from the Soul Hall's chains and kills Han Feng. 78

Return to the Jia Ma Empire

After establishing Xiao Gate and consolidating forces in Maple City, Xiao Yan prepares to settle his blood feud with the Misty Cloud Sect. 82 94 He assists Qin Han and Yao Chen in refining the White Bone Flame-Generating Pill shortly before the campaign. 96 99

Xiao Yan then leads a multi-faction alliance to Misty Cloud Mountain, disrupts Yun Yun and Gu He's wedding, defeats Gu He in ten moves, and confronts Yun Shan. 105 He ultimately kills Yun Shan in vengeance for his father, the Xiao Clan's dead, and the harm done to Xiao Li. 108

Soul Hall Assault

Following Yun Shan's death, Soul Hall surrounds the gathered factions with a barrier and reveals that Yao Chen's soul is within Xiao Yan. 109 Though badly exhausted, Xiao Yan insists on fighting until Yao Chen stops him from taking on another opponent. 110

Notable Quotes

“Today, follow me—
To Misty Cloud Sect.
To kill Yun Shan!” 105

“Yun Yun! Someone must pay for the Xiao Clan's blood debt!!” 108