Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Yan Xiao; Yan Yao; Zhang Yan (during a reincarnation setting) 26 237 464
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Clan leader; Panmen founder; Flame Alliance leader; Tianfu Alliance ally 107 424 560
Occupation/Role	Cultivator, alchemist, faction leader, disciple of Yao Chen/Old Yao 26 236 383
Status	Alive; reaches the Nine-star Dou Saint realm 576
First Appearance	Mentioned in Chapter 2; first depicted during the Xiao Family’s cultivation testing in Chapter 11 2 11

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Dou Qi Third Stage	11	At the beginning of his story, he is known for having fallen to the third stage.
Dou Ling	45	Reported to break through during the Alchemist Competition, which he wins.
Four-star Dou Grandmaster / Da Dou Shi	70 71	Faces Nalan Yanran at Misty Cloud Sect; the chapter sources retain both rank labels.
Dou Wang (temporary)	76	Borrows a portion of Old Yao’s power, defeats two sect elders, and unleashes the nearly perfected Nine Heavens Firefall Palm.
Seven-star Great Dou Master	96	Has advanced substantially by the time he reunites with Liuli at Jia Nan Academy.
Nine-star Great Dou Master	107	Cultivates in the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower and prepares to enter the Dou Ling realm.
Six-star Dou Ling	145	Defeats Yao Han and rises to thirteenth place on Jia Nan Academy’s Power Ranking.
Peak Seven-star Dou Ling	160	Stabilizes after the Fallen Heart Flame crisis begins.
Eight- to Nine-star Dou Ling	171	Liuli’s Secret Method forces his breakthrough to help him resist the Fallen Heart Flame.
Peak Dou Huang (temporary)	167	Old Yao merges with him to confront a Soul Hall Protector.
Seven-star Dou Huang (enhanced)	182	With Green Lotus Transformation and Liuli’s Dou Di bloodline, his strength can remain at this level.
Dou Emperor	197	Returns to the Jia Ma Empire after three years away, shocking the Mite’er Family.
Eight-star Dou Emperor	242	Notes that his rapid rise from three to eight stars has left his Dou Qi control needing refinement.
Dou Zong	291	Identified as a Dou Zong while confronting a disguised Nine-star Dou Venerate.
Late Three-star Dou Zong	351	Advances only modestly during two months of training beneath Jia Nan Academy.
Mid One-star Dou Saint	483	Reaches the realm through Liuli’s “blessing” while preparing for the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame.
Two-star Dou Saint	486	Possesses Heavenly Realm Great Perfection Soul Power and the Three Absolutes of Yellow Springs.
Five-star Dou Saint	507	Successfully absorbs the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame and gains Xiao Yi, its Fire Infant.
Late Five-star Dou Saint	509 510	Tempering in the Void Lightning Pool raises him beyond Yao Wangui’s strength.
Five-star Dou Zhe (reincarnation setting)	465	Regains cultivation while living with Xiao Yue Ming/Liuli in another world.
Early Nine-star Dou Saint	576	Absorbs twenty embryonic Heavenly Flames and battles Hun Tiandi to a standstill.

Appearance

Xiao Yan is a black-haired youth whose appearance becomes widely recognizable enough for portraits of him to circulate through Jia Nan Academy. He is frequently seen carrying his signature heavy ruler and wearing the black ring that houses Old Yao. 34 38 70

• Black hair. 34
• Often fights with the Mysterious Heavy Ruler. 71 95
• Wears a pitch-black Storage Ring inhabited by Old Yao. 70 76
• Can manifest wings refined from Sky Demon Phoenix bones for aerial movement. 350

Personality

Xiao Yan is guarded around unfamiliar people, having experienced treachery and hardship while traveling outside his home. He nevertheless judges people by their actions and gradually accepts Liuli’s friendship when her support proves genuine. 34 57

His central motivation is responsibility toward those close to him. He seeks strength to restore Old Yao, rescue his father, earn the Ancient Clan’s recognition, and protect the Xiao Family. 48 83 He refuses to let Liuli share the danger of refining the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame, choosing to face the risk alone despite its low chance of success. 505

In combat, Xiao Yan is decisive and ruthless toward hostile opponents, but he is not needlessly cruel. He attempts to stabilize Liu Qing after defeating him and uses his Life Flame to protect vital organs rather than recklessly trading his life away. 152 332

Abilities & Skills

Fen Jue and Heavenly Flame Control

Xiao Yan practices the Flame Mantra/Fen Jue, allowing him to refine and combine multiple Heavenly Flames. 175 365

• Begins with the Green Lotus Core Flame, whose appearance suppresses ordinary flames. 40
• Absorbs and controls the Fallen Heart Flame despite repeated attempts on his life and cultivation. 175 197
• Later controls the Green Lotus Core Flame, Fallen Heart Flame, Profound Yellow Flame, Sea Heart Flame, and Three Thousand Burning Flame simultaneously. 408
• Absorbs the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame after its intelligence and destructive will are erased, gaining its purified origin power. 504 507
• Ultimately refines twenty embryonic Heavenly Flames from the Ancient Emperor’s Cave Mansion. 576

Buddha’s Fury Lotus Flame

His signature self-created killing technique fuses multiple flames into a destructive lotus.

• Uses the technique against Liuli during their fire duel and against Gongsun Jie during the New Student Competition. 104 105
• Develops a three-and-a-half-color and later four-and-a-half-color version after strengthening his flames with Sea Heart Flame. 366
• Xiao Yi enables him to create the stronger Destruction – Fire Lotus. 507
• The technique can threaten opponents far above Xiao Yan’s nominal realm, but its formation and backlash originally imposed severe burdens. 104 350

Formless Dou Qi

A peculiar energy comprehended from a Dou Skill manual, capable of disrupting and redirecting techniques through force of intent. 72 150

• Uses Intent to destroy Nalan Yanran’s sword aura at its source. 72
• Redirects Yun Leng’s lethal attack back toward him. 78
• Breaks Yao Sheng’s Black Water Domain during the Power Ranking Tournament. 150
• Its use can heavily deplete Xiao Yan’s Soul Power. 72

Fire and Ruler Techniques

Xiao Yan combines Heavenly Flames with his heavy ruler to produce exceptionally destructive close- and mid-range attacks.

• Nine Heavens Firefall Palm — Creates up to nine layered flame-ring explosions; its completed form rivals Earth-tier techniques. 24 248
• Flame Splitting Wave Crushing Ruler — Earth-tier ruler art capable of seriously threatening Dou Wang-level opponents. 152
• Six Harmonies Roaming Body Ruler — Earth-tier intermediate ruler technique cultivated to minor success in the Magma World. 337 350
• Fire Blowing Palm — Adapted into repeated, compact flame-burst palm strikes. 95

Movement Techniques

• Three Thousand Lightning Movement — His principal movement Dou Skill, used to evade stronger foes and overwhelm opponents with speed. 86 146
• Three Thousand Lightning Illusions — Its advanced form, used to evade a concealed lethal strike during the final conflict. 535
• Nine-Line Sky Goose Wings — Refined from Sky Demon Phoenix bones, granting aerial mobility. 350

Alchemy and Soul Power

Xiao Yan’s alchemy develops alongside his cultivation, accelerated by his flame control and increasingly powerful Soul Power.

• Wins the Jia Ma Empire’s Alchemist Competition. 45
• Reaches Peak Sixth-grade Alchemist within six years of beginning alchemy. 187
• Can refine Seventh-grade pills and uses that status as political leverage. 236
• Is recognized as an Eighth-grade Alchemist while fighting Gongsun Lin. 366
• Possesses Spirit Realm Soul Power by the time he confronts Xiao Yi Xian, later reaching Great Perfection Spirit Realm and Heavenly Realm Great Perfection. 226 383 486
• Creates a Soul Doppelganger to restrain Yao Tian. 491

Bloodline and Physical Strength

Xiao Yan possesses an Ancient Void Dragon bloodline that manifests most visibly through his left arm.

• His bloodline-enhanced left arm shatters Yao Sheng’s dagger and knocks the Eight-star Dou Ling unconscious. 150
• The same bloodline dominates the dragon soul inside Huang Yizhong’s Shocking Dragon Spear, turning it against its owner. 248
• His physical condition improves enough to endure more powerful flame fusions and cross-realm combat. 131 145

Equipment

• Mysterious Heavy Ruler — Xiao Yan’s primary weapon; channels techniques such as Flame Splitting Wave Crushing Ruler. 71 152
• Pitch-black Ring — Storage Ring inhabited by Old Yao and used to conceal or store important resources. 70 76
• Nine-Line Sky Goose Wings — Flight wings refined from Sky Demon Phoenix bones. 350
• Shocking Dragon Spear — Seized after his Ancient Void Dragon bloodline suppresses its dragon soul. 248
• Heavenly Demon Puppet technique — Obtained from Demonic Flame Valley’s storehouse. 354
• Fire Energy Cards — Uses Fire Energy to cultivate in Jia Nan Academy’s Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower and funds Panmen with it. 92 107

Relationships

• Yao Chen / Old Yao — Master and mentor residing in Xiao Yan’s black ring; Xiao Yan’s desire to restore him is one of his main reasons for pursuing strength. 26 48 383
• Gongsun Liuli — Initially a mysterious benefactor whose identity Xiao Yan treats cautiously; they become trusted companions and romantic partners, with Xiao Yan later expressing his intention to marry her. 34 114 505 507
• Xiao Xun’er — Childhood companion and major romantic attachment; Xiao Yan seeks the Ancient Clan’s recognition partly to be worthy of her. 83 158 406
• Xiao Yi Xian — Close companion whom Xiao Yan repeatedly tries to save from the Calamity Poison Body and its mental consequences. 225 226 235
• Cai Lin / Medusa — Powerful ally who demands Xiao Yan refine the Spirit Fusion Pill; their relationship is marked by mutual reliance and frequent tension. 182 194
• Zi Yan — Friend from Jia Nan Academy who relies on him for pills and later joins the Tianfu Alliance because of their bond. 116 159 483
• Xiao Li — Older brother who supports Xiao Yan’s ambitions and accompanies him against the Misty Cloud Sect. 194 235
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and rival in the Three Year Agreement; Xiao Yan protects her from the aftermath of his own attack despite their conflict. 71 76
• Yao Han — Former opponent who becomes an ally after Xiao Yan identifies a treatment for the Extreme Yin Power within him. 107 111

Story Role & Major Arcs

• Early cultivation and Alchemist Competition — Xiao Yan studies under Old Yao, acquires the Green Lotus Core Flame, refines pills under the alias Yan Xiao, and wins the Jia Ma Empire’s Alchemist Competition. 26 40 45
• Three Year Agreement and Misty Cloud Sect conflict — He challenges Nalan Yanran, displays Formless Dou Qi, borrows Old Yao’s power to fight the sect, and escapes Yun Shan’s attempt to imprison him. 70 72 76 81
• Jia Nan Academy and Panmen — He reunites with Xun’er, enters the Inner Academy, establishes Panmen, and uses its Fire Energy and pill business to build influence. 90 107 348
• Fallen Heart Flame crisis — Xiao Yan resists and eventually absorbs the Fallen Heart Flame with Liuli’s support, disappearing underground for two years before reemerging vastly stronger. 171 175 179 197
• Revenge on the Misty Cloud Sect — Returning as a Dou Emperor, he gathers allies from the Xiao Clan, Jia Nan Academy, the Three Sects, and the Snake People before confronting Yun Shan and the Soul Hall’s forces. 194 197 210
• Black Corner Region expansion — He settles old scores, acquires resources and new techniques, strengthens the Xiao Clan, and becomes a feared power in the region. 182 351 354 560
• Central Continent and Ancient Clan recognition — Xiao Yan proves himself before the Ancient Clan by fighting Gu Yao and demonstrating five Heavenly Flames through the Five-Wheel Separation Fire Array. 406 408
• Demonic Fire campaign — He joins the struggle for the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame, refuses to risk Liuli’s life in the absorption process, succeeds alone, and gains Xiao Yi. 486 505 507
• Reincarnation episodes — In a modern-world setting, he lives with Xiao Yue Ming/Liuli, heals her vocal cords with Dou Qi, and rebuilds himself to Five-star Dou Zhe. 464 465 468
• Final rise — He leads the Xiao Clan’s expansion in the Black Corner Region, absorbs twenty embryonic Heavenly Flames, and reaches the early Nine-star Dou Saint realm. 560 576

Notable Quotes

“As I am now, I have to become stronger as quickly as possible.” 83

“Absorbing the demonic flame is too dangerous. I can’t let you take this risk.” 505

“Old dog Yun Shan, I’ll take your dog head and make you repay the lives of every member of the Xiao Family!” 209