Old Man Yao

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Yao Chen (药尘)
Alias(es)	Venerable Yao; Old Man Yao; Yao Lao
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Tianfu Alliance; Starfall Pavilion; Yao Clan
Occupation/Role	Alchemist; Xiao Yan’s master; Tianfu Alliance Vice Alliance Master; Yao Clan Grand Elder
Status	Alive; resurrected in a Dou Saint body 258 259
First Appearance	Detected dormant within the Bone Flame Ring 145

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Nine Revolutions Dou Venerate Peak	222, 258	His cultivation before death; he had already begun the Nine Transformations to Sainthood path.
Spirit Realm Perfection Soul	222	His soul realm during his lifetime. Death transformed his soul, leaving him with Heaven Realm potential despite his weakened Soul Body.
Soul Body with Three- to Four-Star Dou Ancestor-level power	222	Restored in part by two Soul Fusion Pills; remained wary of Soul Hall techniques that specifically target Soul Bodies.
Soul Body capable of roughly Six-Star Dou Ancestor power	241	Could easily overwhelm a Dou Emperor, but could not safely use his full power through Xiao Yan’s body.
Early One-Star Dou Saint	258, 259	Revived using Two-Star Dou Saint bones, a Nine-Colored Yin Yang Reversing Life Pill, and Half-Saint Phantom Fire Scorpion Dragon Beast Essence Blood.
Two-Star Dou Saint Early Stage	271, 272	Reached after dividing and refining Huangquan Yaosheng’s Essence Blood with Xiao Li.
Heaven Realm Late Stage Soul	273	Listed among his post-resurrection attainments alongside Ninth Grade Treasure Pill alchemy and three Heaven Rank Dou Techniques.
Four-Star Dou Saint Late Stage; Heaven Realm Great Perfection Soul	335	Revealed during his confrontation with Yao Wangui; his overwhelming growth allowed him to settle the grievance that had defined his exile.

Appearance

Yao Chen usually manifests as an elderly man in flowing white robes. Even as a Soul Body, he retains a kind, learned appearance and an air of long experience; his figure becomes translucent when weakened. 193 222 234

• Snow-white hair and beard.
• Deep, ancient-looking eyes associated with wisdom and countless past experiences.
• Wide-sleeved white robes.
• A calm, approachable expression that contrasts with his temper when his enemies or former clan are involved.
• Appears as white smoke condensing from the Bone Flame Ring while in soul form. 222

Personality

Yao Chen is proud of his alchemy, his Yao Clan heritage, and the reputation he earned as Venerable Yao. He dismisses Han Feng’s claim to be the “Yao Emperor,” regarding a mere Rank 6 Alchemist as unworthy of inheriting his name. 23 25

Han Feng’s betrayal and the Soul Hall’s pursuit left him deeply suspicious of others’ motives. When Xiao Li first approached him, Yao Chen questioned why a stronger alchemist would show him respect or offer help. Nevertheless, he accepts genuine loyalty and becomes fiercely committed to those who aid him. 222

As Xiao Yan’s teacher, he is demanding, teasing, and protective. He forces Xiao Yan into dangerous training, warns him against borrowing too much power, and provides practical solutions to challenges that would otherwise be fatal. 228 229 241 His enthusiasm for rare herbs, pills, and ancient Battle Skills also frequently makes him comedic and impulsive. 228 268 269

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

A legendary alchemist whose knowledge remains valuable even after his death. His post-resurrection growth eventually makes him one of the Tianfu Alliance’s two strategically essential Grade 9 Alchemists. 222 271

• Refined the Grade 6 Heavenly Profound Ice Nether Pill in less than two hours while only a Soul Body. 234
• Created enhanced Burning Blood medicinal liquid to temper Xiao Yan’s Fire Attribute body and foundation. 239
• Identified the ingredients and pill needed to safely subdue the Netherworld Poison Fire. 228
• Refined specialized high-grade pills to rebuild Venerable Feng’s talent and raise him to Nine Revolutions Dou Venerate Peak. 283
• Reached the level of a Ninth Grade Treasure Pill Alchemy Grandmaster after resurrection. 273

Bone Spirit Cold Fire

Yao Chen possesses the Bone Spirit Cold Fire, a Heavenly Flame that combines extreme cold with powerful flame control.

• Used it to refine the Heavenly Profound Ice Nether Pill in a Yin-rich desert environment. 234
• Used it alongside the Yellow Springs Palm to freeze Yao Wangui’s hand during their battle. 335
• Refused to give it to Medusa because it belonged to him rather than Xiao Yan. 241

Soul Techniques and Perception

Yao Chen’s soul underwent a transformation after his death, eventually reaching Heaven Realm Great Perfection. 222 335

• Can manifest independently from the Bone Flame Ring as a Soul Body. 193 222
• Previously possessed Xiao Yan to lend him combat power, though this was dangerous when facing Soul Hall experts. 239 241
• Could recognize the danger posed by Soul Hall Venerates and their methods for handling souls. 241 254
• His soul strength enabled him to obtain the Yellow Springs Finger and Yellow Springs Palm from Huangquan Yaosheng’s inheritance. 270 271

Yellow Springs Techniques

Yao Chen acquired powerful Heaven Rank techniques from the Yellow Springs Stone Stele. 269 270

• Yellow Springs Finger — Heaven Rank Low Grade technique inherited from Huangquan Yaosheng. 269 270
• Yellow Springs Palm — Heaven Rank Middle Grade technique; used to overpower Yao Wangui. 269 335
• Yellow Springs Heavenly Fury — A Heaven Rank High Grade sonic technique he sought to study, though the inheritance’s soul requirement made it exceptionally difficult. 269 270

Equipment / Items

• Bone Flame Ring — The inherited black ring in which his Soul Body remained dormant for years. 145 193
• Bone Spirit Cold Fire — His Heavenly Flame and primary alchemical flame. 234
• Yellow Springs Finger and Yellow Springs Palm inheritances — Obtained from Huangquan Yaosheng’s Yellow Springs Stone Stele. 270
• Two-Star Dou Saint body — The remains used by Xiao Li to restore him to life. 258

Relationships

• Xiao Yan — Disciple. Yao Chen agrees to mentor him, tempers his character, guides his Flame Mantra cultivation, and becomes one of his most important protectors. 222 228 283
• Xiao Li — Ally, benefactor, and fellow alchemist. Xiao Li arranged Yao Chen’s awakening, secured his mentorship of Xiao Yan, and personally resurrected him. 193 222 258
• Wang Ming — Formerly guided by Yao Chen after Ice River Valley severely injured him; his connection to Wang Ming helps persuade Yao Chen to assist Xiao Li. 23 193
• Han Feng — Former adopted son and disciple. Han Feng’s betrayal remains one of Yao Chen’s deepest wounds, and Xiao Yan vows to clear the house for him. 23 239
• Yao Wangui — Yao Clan adversary responsible for framing, expelling, and attempting to kill Yao Chen. Yao Chen eventually defeats him and vows to restore his parents’ names to the Ancestral Stele. 222 335
• Qing Fairy — An old romantic connection who still remembered and sought Yao Chen after his disappearance. 222
• Venerable Feng — Long-standing friend and Starfall Pavilion associate. Yao Chen relies on his management ability while improving his cultivation through pills. 259 283
• Yao Dan — Yao Clan Patriarch who later recognizes Yao Chen’s achievements and appoints him a Yao Clan Grand Elder. 349

History

Past and Death

In life, Yao Chen was a Nine Revolutions Dou Venerate Peak and Rank 8 Alchemist Peak. He had a reputation as the continent’s foremost alchemist and once saved the severely wounded Wang Ming, healing him and passing on medicinal-bath knowledge that later benefited Xiao Li. 23 222 258

His former disciple Han Feng betrayed him, and Yao Chen was subsequently killed while the Soul Hall pursued him. His death transformed his soul, but he remained trapped in the Bone Flame Ring and became distrustful of close relationships. 222 239

Bone Flame Ring and Xiao Yan

Yao Chen remained dormant inside the Bone Flame Ring passed down to Xiao Yan. Xiao Li discovered his presence before Yao Chen awakened and left a message asking him to watch over Xiao Yan, correct his arrogance, and accept him as a disciple if suitable. 145 193

After awakening, Yao Chen deliberately drained Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi, reducing him from a Dou Zhe to the Third Stage of Dou Qi. This began the hardship Xiao Li believed Xiao Yan needed to overcome his comfort and conceit. 193

Xiao Li later confronted Yao Chen directly and offered an agreement: Yao Chen would teach Xiao Yan, while Xiao Li would provide the resources and method to resurrect him. The promise of a Dou Saint body, revenge against Yao Wangui, and the chance to resolve his regrets convinced Yao Chen to accept. 222

Teaching Xiao Yan

Yao Chen guided Xiao Yan through the cultivation of the Flame Mantra and the absorption of multiple Heavenly Flames. He devised the Heavenly Profound Ice Nether Pill to help Xiao Yan subdue the poison-corroding Netherworld Poison Fire, though refining the pill greatly exhausted his Soul Body. 228 234

He trained Xiao Yan with Burning Blood, instructed him to reach Dou Master before leaving the Magical Beast Mountain Range, and agreed to teach him a suitable Earth Rank Battle Skill for the Black Heavy Ruler. 229 239 He also repeatedly warned Xiao Yan that relying on a teacher’s borrowed strength could not replace genuine personal cultivation. 241

Resurrection and Alliance Role

Xiao Li restored Yao Chen in Maple City using Two-Star Dou Saint remains, a Grade 8 Nine-Colored Yin Yang Reversing Life Pill, Half-Saint Magical Beast Essence Blood, and the Yin Yang Holy Flame. The procedure allowed him to bypass the Half-Saint stage and revive directly as an Early One-Star Dou Saint. 258

After his resurrection, Yao Chen helped develop the Tianfu Alliance through high-grade alchemy, acquired techniques from Huangquan Yaosheng’s inheritance, and advanced to Two-Star Dou Saint. 270 271 He later became a principal force behind Starfall Pavilion’s administration and the cultivation of its experts. 283

Return to the Yao Clan

Yao Chen confronted Yao Wangui at the Demon Fire Plains after the latter continued to treat him as an insignificant exile. Revealing Four-Star Dou Saint Late-Stage cultivation and a Heaven Realm Great Perfection soul, Yao Chen defeated him with the Yellow Springs Palm, Bone Spirit Cold Fire, and a prolonged beating. 333 335

He declared that he would restore his parents’ names to the Yao Clan Ancestral Stele regardless of opposition. 335 During the Medicine Ceremony, Yao Dan acknowledged the clan’s past failure and named Yao Chen a Grand Elder with authority equal to the Patriarch and Yao Wanhuo. 349

Notable Quotes

“Fine! I’ll do it! So long as I can brutally beat Yao Wangui, I will serve you without a single complaint!” 222

“Yao Wangui, for scum like you to hold power in the Yao Clan is the Yao Clan’s tragedy!” 335

Trivia

• Yao Chen initially accepted Xiao Li’s request partly because Wang Ming’s name reminded him of the young cultivator he had once aided. 193
• He was visibly impressed by the Xiao Clan’s Treasure Vault, especially its rare ingredients and large stock of Grade 8 pills. 228
• His resentment toward Yao Wangui became a major source of motivation for his cultivation after resurrection. 314