Prince Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Prince Yan
Alias(es)	Xia Yan; Great Xia's Legend; Sword King; Unbeaten Legend
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Great Xia
Occupation/Role	Third Prince of Great Xia; peerless swordsman; defender of the Human Race
First Appearance	Chapter 53

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Pre-Xiantian / peak Houtian	56	Though not publicly recognized as Xiantian, he was already considered invincible among his contemporaries after effortlessly defeating two peak Ninth-Rank experts.
Xiantian Realm	61	Revealed that he had secretly entered Xiantian long before the Barbarian King's breakthrough; Condensing Abyss concealed his aura and prevented heavenly phenomena.
Five Tribulations Realm, fourth-tribulation peak	82	His realm is disclosed while travelling with Ning Chen.
Three Calamities Realm	174	After enduring the Five Tribulations, he stands at the Three Calamities Realm and is considered the sole person capable of challenging a Five Tribulations expert from that level.
King Realm	1215	Guards the passage between the Human and Demonic Realms against Asura for ten years.
Sword Dao bridge / fiftieth Great Dao	1558	His sword breaks free of the Underworld King's Great Dao, manifesting a new Sword Dao bridge beside the forty-nine established Great Dao bridges.

Background

Prince Yan is the third of the Xia Emperor's surviving brothers and was renowned throughout Great Xia for both intellect and martial talent. The previous emperor reportedly intended to establish him as Crown Prince, but Prince Yan refused the position; the reigning emperor's accession was consequently made possible by his concession. He never married or had children, choosing an unconstrained life apart from the struggle for power 53 54.

His lack of political ambition earned him unusual leniency from the Xia Emperor, though his fiefdom remained subject to imperial scrutiny. Across Great Xia, he was respected as a living legend whose charisma, talent, and martial ability eclipsed those of the reigning emperor 53 54.

Before becoming known as Great Xia's Prince Yan, he fought the then-Barbarian Crown Prince outside the Great Xia palace. Their rivalry gave rise to the saying, “Northern Yan, Southern Barbarian,” and the two agreed to fight again upon reaching Xiantian 59.

Appearance

Prince Yan is a handsome, cold-featured man whose composed bearing is repeatedly described as both simple and noble. He typically wears blue, cyan, or green robes and carries an ancient sword rack rather than a conventional scabbard 54 173 319.

• Black hair and a calm, handsome face 173.
• Usually dressed in plain blue-green robes that remain neat even while travelling 54 173.
• Carries several ancient swords on a back-mounted sword rack 105 173.
• His sword pressure alone can make even high-level martial artists feel suffocated 466.

Personality

Prince Yan is calm, direct, and notably detached from status, court politics, and worldly disputes. He rarely raises his voice, yet his authority is sufficient to command obedience from those around him. His indifference is not cruelty: he will personally apologize when his guest is disrespected and refuses to exploit an opponent's vulnerable breakthrough 54 55 60.

He values strength, clarity, and the pursuit of the sword above schemes. This often puts him at odds with Ning Chen's calculating methods, which he dismisses as “trivialities,” but he nonetheless protects and guides Ning Chen over many years 82 685.

When the innocent or those under his protection are threatened, his demeanor turns cold and lethal. He is willing to face overwhelming odds alone, whether against sects, foreign experts, Demon Kings, or the Underworld King 232 355 976 1558.

Abilities & Skills

Peerless Swordsmanship

Prince Yan is regarded as one of the strongest swordsmen of his era and later as the foremost swordsman of the Human Race. His style combines extreme precision with speed, allowing him to disrupt an opponent's technique before it can fully develop 175 667.

• Fought the Martial Lord of the Eternal Night Divine Cult to a near draw despite the latter's superior recovery and two qi seas 175.
• Defeated seven Xiantian experts in Featherfall Valley without being forced into retreat 169.
• Defeated the Calamity King and three Four Extremes experts, killing Xuankong and Xuanlie 232.
• Fought Mu Changge, another supreme swordsman, to a draw; both were injured 667.
• Suppressed the Master of Taibai Manor's Dao Sword and defeated his ultimate move with overwhelming ease 520.

Azure-Crimson Twin Swords

His signature weapons are the Azure and Crimson Swords, whose opposing cold and fire attributes allow rapid shifts between offense and defense. The Azure Sword emphasizes control and defense, while the Crimson Sword is exceptionally fast and aggressive 60 169 175.

• Azure-Crimson Shared Breath, One Qi Without Delusion — Combines both swords into a cloud-disk-like technique capable of consuming enemy attacks 175 620.
• Three Swords Share the Sky, Life and Death Bound — An ultimate sword art used against the Martial Lord 175.
• Can use the pair to protect companions from environmental hazards and battle aftershocks 223 232.
• The swords possess distinct sword intent and can recognize what they have touched through their connection with Prince Yan 56.

Condensing Abyss

Condensing Abyss is a black Seal Sword that conceals Prince Yan's cultivation and acts as his decisive weapon 61.

• Sealed part of his power, hiding his Xiantian breakthrough from heaven and earth 61.
• Its sword light can devour space and suppress an opponent's aura and power 61.
• Used in One Sword Seals All Weapons, No Dao Under Heaven, a technique that defeated the Master of Taibai Manor's ultimate Dao Sword 232 520.

Sword Intent

Prince Yan possesses an exceptional sensitivity to sword aura and sword intent, a talent that few others can perceive or understand 56 189.

• Detected that Ning Chen had not been castrated after the latter touched the Azure Sword 56.
• Recognized A'man's ability to sense sword intent and tested her using several of his swords 189.
• Can imbue sword qi into another person; he placed a Dao Sword qi pattern in Yin'er's hand 621.
• His sword intent can form barriers against sandstorms, arrows, and battlefield shockwaves 223 232 355.

Great Dao of the Sword

As the Sword King, Prince Yan eventually challenges the established laws of heaven with a Sword Dao of his own 1552 1558.

• Injured the Underworld King, a being associated with one of the forty-nine Great Daos, for the first time in countless ages 1558.
• Manifested the Heavenly Chapter as a prelude to his own Great Dao 1558.
• Caused a fiftieth Great Dao bridge, the Sword Dao bridge, to appear beside the existing forty-nine 1558.

Equipment

• Azure Sword — One of the Azure-Crimson Twin Swords; associated with frost and defensive control. It was repaired by A'man 169 189.
• Crimson Sword — One of the Azure-Crimson Twin Swords; associated with blazing heat and extreme speed 169 175.
• Condensing Abyss — Black Seal Sword that concealed his Xiantian cultivation and devours surrounding power 61.
• Sand Sword — A sword able to form barriers of flowing sand and block powerful attacks 175.
• War-Stopping Sword, Zhigge — Retrieved from Peerless City after Prince Yan defeated its defenders 55 56.
• Immortal Slaughter — One of the six swords deployed when defending the Divine Land against Fourth Realm experts 976.
• King's Sword — A heavy sword used against King Realm and Imperial Dao opponents 977 1225.
• Sword Rack — An ancient rack that carries and summons his swords; A'man frequently carries it during their travels 105 173.

Relationships

• Ning Chen — Initially his Sword Attendant for a one-year agreement, Ning Chen becomes Prince Yan's long-term junior and companion. Prince Yan repeatedly protects, heals, and guides him, while Ning Chen later risks his life to prevent Prince Yan from dissipating into the Dao 55 59 685 1227.
• A'man — A close travelling companion and sword disciple. Prince Yan recognizes her rare sword-heart talent, protects her in battle, and allows her to carry his sword rack 173 189 232.
• Barbarian King — Long-standing rival from their youth. Their first clash established the “Northern Yan, Southern Barbarian” reputation; they later duel after the Barbarian King reaches Xiantian 59 60 61.
• Xia Ziyi — His nephew, who addresses him as Third Imperial Uncle. Prince Yan recognizes Xia Ziyi's benevolence but considers him unsuited to rule as emperor 105.
• Prince Tai — His elder brother. Prince Yan rebukes Prince Tai for testing Ning Chen without regard for his dignity, then apologizes to Ning Chen on his brother's behalf 55.
• The Master — Directs Prince Yan to bring Ning Chen to the Academy so Confucian righteous aura can neutralize the Phoenix Blood 169.
• Mu Changge — A fellow pinnacle swordsman. Their duel ends in a draw, leaving both injured and acknowledging the other's skill 667.
• Martial Lord — His opponent in the western battlefield; their battle tests Prince Yan's swordsmanship against the Martial Lord's overwhelming power and Undying Body 174 175.
• Underworld King — His opponent at the peak of All Heavens, where Prince Yan's Sword Dao directly challenges the Demonic Dao 1552 1558.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Recruitment of Ning Chen

Prince Yan first appears in Peerless City, where he identifies Ning Chen as a suitable Sword Attendant. When Prince Tai casually tests Ning Chen with a sword, Prince Yan openly objects, apologizes to Ning Chen, and offers him the position in exchange for accompanying him to Sword City 54 55.

He later retrieves Zhigge from Peerless City, defeats the Wind and Rain Envoys, and helps Ning Chen survive the Heaven-Revolving Pill's dangerous medicinal power 55 56 59.

The Barbarian Dynasty Duel

Prince Yan travels south to settle his long-standing rivalry with the Barbarian King. He initially fights at a disadvantage against the King's divine power, but reveals Condensing Abyss and his concealed Xiantian cultivation after the Barbarian King's breakthrough 60 61.

Great Xia's Civil Crisis

During the turmoil following the Xia Emperor's downfall, Prince Yan returns to protect Ning Chen from powerful enemies and helps suppress Ning Chen's injuries. He also annihilates the experts covering Prince Yue's escape from his estate, demonstrating that his apparent detachment does not extend to rebellion against Great Xia 79 105.

Wars Against Northern Mongol and the Eternal Night Divine Cult

Prince Yan infiltrates the Northern Mongol Royal Court to protect Ning Chen and withstands a Xiantian opponent during their escape 80 81. Later, he obtains Phoenix Blood from Featherfall Valley by defeating seven Xiantian experts and journeys west to fight the Martial Lord 169 174.

His battle with the Martial Lord establishes him as one of the few people capable of challenging the supposedly invincible Divine Cult leader 175.

Guardian of A'man and the Scroll of Nothingness

Prince Yan travels with A'man, recognizes her potential as a sword cultivator, and protects her while pursuing the Scroll of Nothingness. When surrounded by Buddhist and clan experts, he kills multiple Three Calamities experts and helps carve the Scroll into their hearts so its contents can be transmitted to the Divine Land 173 189 355.

Conflict with the Four Extremes Realm

Prince Yan becomes one of Great Xia's principal defenders against the Four Extremes Realm. He defeats the Calamity King and three powerful allies, then later confronts the Four Extremes Realm Lord above the Great Xia Imperial City 232 320.

Retribution in Central Province

After learning of the events surrounding Ning Chen in the Knowing Fate Pavilion, Prince Yan travels to Central Province to seek justice. He severely wounds Luoshen and cripples the Human Sovereign Mo Qingbai's cultivation 466 516.

Defense of the Divine Land

When foreign Fourth Realm experts and kings descend upon the Divine Land, Prince Yan stands alone as its foremost defender. He wounds five Fourth Realm experts, faces multiple kings, and later fights alongside Young Master Xiaobai against the invading forces 976 977.

Ten-Year Vigil at the Two-Realm Passage

Prince Yan guards the passage to the Primeval Demonic Realm for ten years, preventing Demonic Race forces from entering the Human Realm. He remains undefeated against waves of King Realm experts, defeats the Heavenly Demon Third Prince Xuanlie and his allies, and confronts four peerless Demon Kings at once 1215 1217 1223.

He later wounds the Seven Luminaries Demonic Emperor with the Immortal Slaying Sword and Human Sword, defeating the Emperor's ultimate technique with the Immortal Sword Prelude, Chapter of Heaven 1224 1225.

Battle at the Peak of All Heavens

As the Sword King, Prince Yan confronts the Underworld King, the strongest Martial God of the Heavenly Realm. Though injured by the immense gap between mortal and divine power, he creates a Sword Dao bridge that directly contests the Underworld King's Demonic Dao 1552 1558.