Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Yan Xiao; “Little Yanzi”; Flame Emperor
Species/Race	Human; member of the Xiao Clan
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Clan; disciple of Yao Chen; Jia Nan Academy’s Inner Academy 1 14 181
Occupation/Role	Cultivator, alchemy student, and contender in the Three-Year Agreement
Status	Alive 276
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Eighth Stage Dou Qi	1	Publicly tested at the Xiao Clan; he had risen five stages within a year, restoring confidence in the clan’s future.
Two-Star Dou Zhe	62	Successfully cultivated the Fen Jue, an evolvable technique that can grow by devouring flames.
Seven-Star Dou Zhe	117	Refined the Green Lotus Core Flame and raised the Fen Jue to the intermediate Xuan tier; was nearing a Dou Shi breakthrough.
Nine-Star Dou Zhe	120	Displayed exceptional aptitude during Jia Nan Academy’s enrollment assessment.
Peak Nine-Star Dou Grandmaster	180	Fought the Old Demon of Earth while Yao Chen controlled his body.
Three-Star Dou Zun	199	Obtained Dou Zun-level Flame Lizardmen as cultivation resources.
Peak Dou Emperor (reported)	221	Prepared to depart for the Central Plains; this rank is reported after the earlier three-star Dou Zun account.

Background

Xiao Yan was a renowned Xiao Clan prodigy: he began cultivating at four, reached the ninth stage of Dou Qi at ten, and condensed a Dou Qi Cyclone to become the clan’s youngest Dou Zhe in a century at eleven 6. His cultivation then regressed for three years, leaving him at the third stage of Dou Qi. The regression was caused by the slumbering Yao Chen unconsciously absorbing spiritual energy through the Bone Flame Ring; after awakening, Yao Chen deliberately prolonged the hardship to temper Xiao Yan’s character 6 12.

At fifteen, Nalan Yanran publicly annulled their engagement, leading Xiao Yan to establish the Three-Year Agreement with her 6. His talent recovered soon afterward, and his rise to the eighth stage of Dou Qi in a single year shocked Wutan City’s leading factions 1.

Yao Chen eventually revealed himself as Xiao Yan’s teacher. Under his guidance, Xiao Yan pursued alchemy, high-level Dou Techniques, and the dangerous evolvable cultivation method Fen Jue 14 64.

Personality

Xiao Yan is proud, competitive, and deeply unwilling to accept charity. When Yun Yun offered compensation should he lose the Three-Year Agreement, he rejected it outright, insisting that anything not won in the duel would be mere “private charity” 84.

He is also loyal to those he considers family. He trusts Xiao Ting not to withhold anything that could be safely shared, but refuses to depend on his cousin’s protection forever 15. This loyalty extends to Yao Chen: Xiao Yan openly defended his master when Yao Ling insulted him 209.

Despite his ambition, Xiao Yan retains a teasing, humorous side, particularly around Xiao Ting and Yao Chen 20 48.

Abilities & Skills

Fen Jue

An evolvable fire-attribute cultivation method chosen over a lower Earth-tier alternative.

• Can advance by swallowing flames, ultimately allowing multiple Heavenly Flames to coexist 62 64.
• Xiao Yan confirmed its evolvability by absorbing the Amethyst Winged Lion King’s sub-flame with the assistance of the Amethyst Spirit Fruit 64.
• Reached intermediate Xuan tier after he refined the Green Lotus Core Flame 117.
• Later attained high Earth-tier quality through his accumulated flames 193.
• Its advancement depends on locating and surviving the refinement of increasingly rare flames 65 80.

Alchemy

Xiao Yan began studying alchemy after becoming a Dou Zhe, under Yao Chen’s guidance 27.

• Possesses the fire affinity and soul potential required for alchemical training 12 27.
• Uses alchemy as part of his plan to obtain resources, prepare for flame refinement, and support Yao Chen’s eventual restoration 80 221.
• Yao Chen’s experience and techniques remain central to his development as an alchemist 14 82.

Combat Techniques and Mobility

Xiao Yan has accumulated several techniques through Yao Chen and Xiao Ting.

• Learned Xuan-tier Dou Techniques during his early recovery 14.
• Received the Fire Blowing Palm, later pairing it with the Suction Palm before moving on to more advanced techniques 16.
• Learned the Eight Extremities Collapse from Yao Chen 16.
• Received a high-tier Xuan-class fire-attribute Dou Technique and a Flight Dou Technique from Xiao Ting 48.
• Uses flight techniques for long-distance travel and battlefield mobility 134 181.

Soul Potential and Yao Chen’s Possession

Xiao Yan was born with an unusually strong soul, which draws additional energy from the world during cultivation 12.

• His powerful soul enabled Yao Chen to awaken from the Bone Flame Ring after Xiao Yan reached the Dou Zhe realm 12.
• Yao Chen can temporarily possess Xiao Yan’s body and raise its combat output far beyond Xiao Yan’s own realm 179.
• While possessed during the battle over Zixiao City, Xiao Yan’s body emitted the aura of a four-star Dou Zong 179.
• This is external assistance from Yao Chen rather than Xiao Yan’s independent cultivation level.

Equipment / Items

• Bone Flame Ring — Holds Yao Chen’s soul and was responsible for Xiao Yan’s early cultivation regression 12.
• Flight Dou Technique — Granted by Xiao Ting; made from the wings of a Tier 5 Devil Beast 48 49.
• Dou Shi Pill — Given by Xiao Ting to support Xiao Yan’s breakthrough from the Dou Zhe realm 117.
• Soul Recovery Pill — Given by Xiao Ting after Yao Chen’s possession depleted soul power during the Zixiao City battle 181.

Relationships

• Xiao Ting — Cousin and closest supporter. Xiao Ting protected him during his years of regression, helped provide techniques and pills, and repeatedly pushes Xiao Yan to become self-reliant 12 48 117.
• Yao Chen / Yao Lao — Teacher and mentor. Yao Chen caused Xiao Yan’s regression while dormant, then trained him in cultivation, alchemy, and the Fen Jue 12 14 64.
• Xiao Zhan — Father and Xiao Clan head. Xiao Yan’s recovery and breakthroughs restore Xiao Zhan’s hopes for the clan 14 85.
• Xun’er — Childhood companion addressed as “Cousin Xiao Yan.” She deduced Yao Chen’s connection to him and later investigated the Fen Jue with him 14 65.
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée whose annulment of their engagement led to the Three-Year Agreement 6 84.
• Yun Yun — Nalan Yanran’s teacher. Xiao Yan once aided her while she used the alias “Yun Zhi”; she later pledged an impartial Three-Year Agreement duel 50 84.
• Yao Ling — Hostile Yao Clan descendant who insulted both Xiao Yan and Yao Chen, provoking Xiao Yan’s public defense of his master 209.
• Feng Zunzhe — Ally through Yao Chen. He intervened against the Soul Hall and guided Xiao Yan’s group toward Burning Flame Valley 221.

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Return of the Xiao Clan prodigy — Xiao Yan publicly demonstrates his recovered talent, reaching the eighth stage of Dou Qi and overturning Wutan City’s perception of him 1.
• Three-Year Agreement — Following Nalan Yanran’s annulment, he vows to reclaim the Xiao Clan’s honor through a fair duel rather than accept compensation 6 84.
• Yao Chen’s disciple — Learns the truth behind his regression, accepts Yao Chen as his master, and begins rebuilding his foundation through cultivation and alchemy 12 14.
• Fen Jue path — Chooses the evolvable Fen Jue, refines the Amethyst Winged Lion King’s sub-flame, and targets further flames to strengthen both himself and Yao Chen 64 80 117.
• Jia Nan Academy — Enters the academy with nine-star Dou Zhe strength, seeking the Inner Academy and its Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower 64 120.
• Defense of Zixiao City — Fights the Old Demon of Earth under Yao Chen’s possession during the Soul Hall and Demon Flame Valley assault; Xiao Ting’s arrival secures the battle 179 180.
• Central Plains conflicts — Defends Yao Chen against Yao Ling, prepares to enter the Central Plains, and is rescued by Xiao Ting during the Soul Hall’s siege of Burning Flame Valley 209 221 223.
• Future cultivation route — Xiao Ting arranges for Xiao Yan to continue evolving Fen Jue through Heavenly Flames until he reaches peak nine-star Dou Sheng, after which Xun’er’s breakthrough is intended to enable his own path to Dou Di 276.

Notable Quotes

“I will personally reclaim the humiliation Nalan Yanran brought upon my Xiao Clan a year ago.” 84

“If I cannot take it back during the duel, I would rather not have it as private charity.” 84

“Brother Ting is amazing.” 193

“In your eyes, I am an ant, but in the eyes of these clan leaders, what difference is there between you and me? Aren’t you just a slightly larger ant?” 238