Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Yan (萧焰)
Alias(es)	Old Xiao 97
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; Falling Cloud Sect disciple through Gu Ling's appointment as a sect elder 159
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; alchemy student
Status	Alive 176
First Appearance	Chapter 71

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Cultivation regressed; regarded as a cripple	73	Gu Ling reveals that he had siphoned Xiao Yan's cultivation, leaving him to begin again from nothing.
Spirit Gathering Realm	97	Having recovered through training and resources, Xiao Yan is described as having reached this realm.
Qi Gathering Realm	104	Immediately before refining a new Spirit Flame, his cultivation is described as Qi Gathering Realm; this designation is not reconciled with the earlier Spirit Gathering Realm account.
Spirit Condensation Realm	106	Breaks through after refining a Spirit Flame and fusing it with the Falling Star Flame's Child Flame.
Return to Origin Realm	155	Reaches the same realm as Liu Ruyan in time for their three-year duel.

Background

Xiao Yan was once a recognized genius of the Xiao Family before his cultivation inexplicably regressed, leaving him branded as worthless. The cause was Gu Ling, a soul residing within Xiao Yan's ring, who had siphoned his cultivation out of necessity. Though furious at the revelation, Xiao Yan accepted Gu Ling as his master after being offered instruction in alchemy. 73

When Liu Ruyan sought to end their engagement, Xiao Yan answered with a blood-marked divorce letter and declared that he would rise again. He challenged her to meet him in three years at the Falling Cloud Sect, turning the humiliation of his downfall into a personal deadline. 71

Mo Shang became a crucial supporter during Xiao Yan's recovery, first providing cultivation resources and later forcing the valuable Falling Star Flame's Child Flame into his hands. Xiao Yan accepted the help as a debt to be repaid rather than an excuse to exploit his benefactor. 73 74 75

Appearance

At the three-year pact, Xiao Yan appears as a black-clad youth with a composed bearing and a scorching aura that reflects his fire cultivation. 155

• Wears a ring that houses Gu Ling's soul. 104
• Emits intense fire-attributed spiritual power in battle. 156
• His demeanor becomes noticeably steadier and more mature over the three years following his cultivation regression. 155

Personality

Xiao Yan is proud, determined, and unwilling to accept the judgment that his loss of cultivation made him worthless. Even after being reduced to starting over, he commits himself to surpassing his former self and meeting Liu Ruyan's challenge. 71 73

He has a defined moral boundary. When Gu Ling tempts him to rob Mo Shang after receiving a storage ring of treasures, Xiao Yan refuses to betray someone who has shown him goodwill. He later states that he will not betray trust or righteousness or slaughter innocents for profit. 73 74

His kindness is measured rather than indiscriminate. He offers food and water to the rabbit-eared girl in the desert, but initially refuses to abandon his own mission to escort a stranger across the desert. 100

Despite his resolve in cultivation, Xiao Yan is notably inexperienced with romance. He fails to recognize Liu Ruyan's feelings even after learning of her sacrifices, initially proposes sparring when she suggests doing something meaningful together, and requires blunt intervention from his friends before asking her out properly. 174 175 176

Abilities & Skills

Spirit Flame Refinement and Manipulation

Xiao Yan possesses a fire-oriented cultivation path and successfully withstands the dangerous refinement of a wild Spirit Flame.

• Received a subsidiary flame of the Falling Star Flame from Mo Shang. 75
• Prepared cold-attributed heavenly treasures and a sixth-grade Ice Spirit Heart-Protecting Pill to weaken the wild Spirit Flame before refinement. 104 105
• Endured a day-long refinement process with Gu Ling's guidance and Mo Shang's healing support. 105 106
• Fused the newly acquired Spirit Flame with the Falling Star Flame's Child Flame, creating a new strange flame. 106
• Reveals a natal Spirit Flame during his duel with Liu Ruyan; its heat suppresses her ice-attributed spiritual power. 156

Fire Techniques

• Crimson Flame Heaven-Burning Palm — Condenses crimson flames into a massive palm strike capable of melting the Martial Arena's bluestone floor into lava. 156
• Dao of Fire — Gu Qingzhou predicts that Xiao Yan will cultivate the Dao of Fire to a realm surpassing even a Dao Lord. 77

Alchemy

Xiao Yan became Gu Ling's disciple specifically because Gu Ling offered to teach him alchemy. 73

• Gu Ling is a ninth-grade alchemist and serves as Xiao Yan's primary instructor. 159 161
• Bai Chen praises Xiao Yan's fire control as promising material for alchemy. 161
• Learns the Exploding Pill Art from Bai Chen, a secret technique that seals unstable failed pills and uses them as thrown weapons. 161

Combat Resolve

• Charges a human trafficker upon learning that the man may know his missing sister's whereabouts. 102
• Persists through the physical and spiritual agony of Spirit Flame refinement rather than abandon the attempt. 105
• Defeats Liu Ruyan despite her supreme-grade ice spiritual root and Return to Origin Realm cultivation. 156 157

Equipment / Items

• Storage ring — Received from Mo Shang with heavenly treasures, cultivation manuals, martial techniques, medicinal pills, and two fourth-grade spirit artifacts. 73
• Spirit ring — The ring in which Gu Ling's soul resided before revealing himself to Mo Shang's group. 104
• Heaven-and-Earth Teleportation Talismans — Receives two from Mo Shang during the ruin expedition. 114

Relationships

• Gu Ling — Master and ring-dwelling soul who caused Xiao Yan's regression by siphoning his cultivation, then accepts him as a disciple and guides his recovery, Spirit Flame refinement, and alchemy studies. 73 104 105
• Mo Shang — Friend, benefactor, and self-proclaimed “angel investor.” Mo Shang supplies resources, the Falling Star Flame's Child Flame, healing during refinement, and continued support without demanding repayment. 73 75 105 117
• Liu Ruyan — Former fiancée and childhood acquaintance. Their broken engagement motivates Xiao Yan's recovery; after he learns that she secretly supported him, they reconcile and begin exploring their feelings. 71 158 175 176
• Younger sister — Was abducted from Purple Sun City three years earlier and later taken by an unidentified cloaked figure. Xiao Yan remains determined to find her. 102 103 106
• Bai Chen — Gu Ling's old friend and Xiao Yan's martial uncle, who offers to teach him the Exploding Pill Art. 161
• Jiang Shuyu — Mo Shang's companion who travels with Xiao Yan during the desert Spirit Flame expedition and later supports his relationship with Liu Ruyan. 100 175
• Jinlin — Fellow Falling Cloud Sect member who helps push Xiao Yan toward courting Liu Ruyan, often through aggressive “advice.” 158 175 176

Story Role / Major Arcs

Broken Engagement and New Master

After Liu Ruyan ends their engagement, Xiao Yan vows to restore his reputation and challenges her to a duel three years later. He discovers that Gu Ling caused his cultivation loss, but becomes Gu Ling's disciple in exchange for the chance to learn alchemy and recover his strength. 71 73

Mo Shang's Investment

Mo Shang sees Xiao Yan's exceptional traits and potential, providing a ring full of resources and the Falling Star Flame's Child Flame. Xiao Yan's refusal to exploit Mo Shang's generosity confirms Gu Ling's judgment of his character. 73 74 75

Desert Spirit Flame Expedition

While pursuing a Spirit Flame with Mo Shang and Jiang Shuyu, Xiao Yan encounters leads concerning his abducted sister. Mo Shang retrieves the Spirit Flame through a Heavenly Connection Realm bodyguard, after which Xiao Yan refines it with Gu Ling's guidance and Mo Shang's healing aid. 102 103 105 106

Ruin Exploration

Xiao Yan invites Mo Shang to explore a sealed ruin whose entrance can only be opened by a cultivator of the Path of Stars. After the expedition, Mo Shang gives Xiao Yan the remaining treasures and medicinal herbs, further deepening Xiao Yan's sense of indebtedness. 114 117

The Three-Year Pact

Xiao Yan arrives at Falling Cloud Sect as a Return to Origin Realm cultivator and fulfills his agreement with Liu Ruyan. Using his Spirit Flame and Crimson Flame Heaven-Burning Palm, he defeats her; however, he leaves without resentment and considers the duel proof of his own growth. 155 156 157

Joining Falling Cloud Sect

Xiao Yan declines Mo Shang's direct invitation to join Falling Cloud Sect because he already has a master. Mo Shang instead recruits Gu Ling as an elder, allowing Xiao Yan to become a Falling Cloud Sect disciple through his master. 159

Reconciliation with Liu Ruyan

Mo Shang reveals that Liu Ruyan secretly supplied the resources Xiao Yan believed came from him and had broken off the engagement to spur Xiao Yan forward rather than abandon him. Xiao Yan meets her at Water Spirit Peak, accepts that his resentment has faded, and begins returning her feelings. 158 174 175 176

Notable Quotes

“Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—do not bully the poor young man!” 71

“Though I, Xiao Yan, am no saint, I have my own bottom line. I cannot do things like betraying trust and righteousness or slaughtering innocents...” 74

“Our grievances end here. Farewell.” 157

Trivia

• Mo Shang's appraisal identifies Xiao Yan as possessing two purple-gold traits, one golden trait, and one purple trait; named examples include Never Bully a Poor Young Man and Flame Emperor. 74
• Xiao Yan is repeatedly overwhelmed by the scale of Mo Shang's wealth, particularly his casual use of rare teleportation talismans and a Heavenly Connection Realm bodyguard. 103 114
• He considers himself perpetually unable to repay Mo Shang because every meeting seems to add another favor to his debt. 106 117