Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Yan Xiao; Flame Emperor 126 681
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Clan; Jia Nan Academy; Underworld Pill Pavilion (Deputy Pavilion Master) 115 672
Occupation/Role	Alchemist; cultivator; Flame Emperor 119 681
Status	Alive 741
First Appearance	Chapter 2 2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Third Stage Dou Qi	7	His cultivation had been secretly drained for three years by Yao Chen, leaving him the target of ridicule within the Xiao Clan. 7
Nine-Star Dou Master	115	Reached after two years of harsh training under Yao Chen, much of it in the Black Corner Region. 115
Dou Wang	374	Crossed the Dou Ling realm and became a Dou Wang after absorbing the Fallen Heart Flame and Sea Heart Flame. 374
Dou Venerate Peak	510	His cultivation had risen to the peak of the Dou Venerate realm. 510
Dou Venerate — one-star increase	634	Devouring the Heavenly Flames of Old Man Mu Gu and Yao Feng raised his cultivation by one star. 634
Eight-Star Dou Sheng	674	Overwhelmed Soul Clan alchemist Hun Xuzi with his superior cultivation. 674
Dou Emperor	681	Absorbed the Emperor Origin connected to Tou She Ancient God and proclaimed himself the Flame Emperor. 681
Third Grade Supreme	688	Entered the Great Thousand World and fought two Fifth Grade Supremes of the Blood God Clan. 688
Nine Grade Supreme	702	Reached the Nine Grade Supreme realm. 702
Upper Earthly Sovereign	740	Advanced after finding and absorbing two Sacred Flames during his travels through the Great Thousand World. 740

Background / History

Xiao Yan’s early cultivation collapsed when Yao Chen, a soul residing in his ring, absorbed the Dou Qi he had cultivated for three years. Furious when he learned the truth, Xiao Yan nevertheless accepted Yao Chen’s offer of guidance, driven by the need to restore his reputation before his coming-of-age ceremony and defeat Nalan Yanran in their Three-Year Agreement. 7

Under Yao Chen’s training, Xiao Yan became both a formidable cultivator and an alchemist. He spent much of his time training beyond Jia Nan Academy in the Black Corner Region, returning to the Imperial Capital as a Nine-Star Dou Master. 115

He later reclaimed the Xiao Family’s honor by defeating Nalan Yanran at the Misty Cloud Sect. His identity as Yan Xiao—an alchemist competing under a pseudonym—was exposed in the aftermath, revealing that he and Xiao Yu were blood brothers rather than merely fellow disciples. 147 149

Appearance

Xiao Yan is described as a black-robed young man with a resolute face. Following his prolonged training in the Black Corner Region, he carries a lingering scent of blood and killing intent. 115

• Usually wears black robes. 115
• Carries a massive ruler on his back. 115
• Uses disguises when necessary, including an Appearance Recovery Pill that turns his features ordinary. 123

Personality

Xiao Yan is intensely determined and refuses to accept the humiliation of being dismissed as talentless. His primary early motivation is restoring the Xiao Family’s standing and proving that he is not “trash.” 7 116

He can be calm and courteous toward allies, particularly those who have aided him, but is ruthless when confronting enemies. He crippled Hong Chen during their duel and later killed members of the Scorpion Demon Trio rather than allow them to obstruct his pursuit of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame. 458 646

Abilities & Skills

Burning Art and Heavenly Flames

Xiao Yan cultivates the Burning Art, a technique whose defining property is devouring and fusing Heavenly Flames. 533

• Initially possessed a Sub-Flame of the Fallen Heart Flame, which he used to remove Nalan Jie’s Brand Poison. 121
• Absorbed the Fallen Heart Flame and Sea Heart Flame beneath the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower, keeping both acquisitions secret. 374
• Received sub-flames of the Bone Spirit Cold Flame and Green Lotus Core Flame from Xiao Yu. 537
• Merged Three Thousand Burning Flame, Sea Heart Flame, and Fallen Heart Flame into the Three Thousand Fallen Heart Flame. 573
• Possessed five Heavenly Flames after devouring the flames belonging to Old Man Mu Gu and Yao Feng. 634
• Ultimately used Ten Thousand Flames Return to gather Heavenly Flames across the continent and attain the Dou Emperor realm. 681

Alchemy

Xiao Yan is a high-level alchemist trained by Yao Chen.

• Passed the Imperial Capital Alchemist Guild’s assessment as a Tier-Two Alchemist. 119
• Refined Emperor Pills for the Han Family as a Sixth-grade Alchemist. 451 452
• Reached Rank 8 Alchemist status after his Soul Power entered the Spiritual Realm. 514
• Demonstrated superior refinement skill during the Pill Gathering, producing Three-Colored Pill Lightning. 536
• Used the Spirit Enhancement Method, four Heavenly Flames, and a blood sacrifice to strengthen his pill during the Pill Gathering’s final stages. 537
• Served as Deputy Pavilion Master of the Underworld’s Pill Pavilion. 672

Combat Techniques

• Flame Splitting Wave Ruler — A ruler technique used to counter Nalan Yanran’s Extreme of Wind: Sunset Glow during the Three-Year Agreement. 149
• Buddha’s Rage Fire Lotus — A fire-lotus technique he prepared to use against Old Man Mu Gu and later employed while fighting Blood God Clan Supremes. 523 688
• Three Thousand Lightning Movement — A lightning-based movement technique used alongside Buddha’s Rage Fire Lotus. 688
• Three Mystic Transformations of Heavenly Fire — A flame-dependent cultivation method particularly suited to Xiao Yan because of his ability to absorb multiple flames. 638

Soul and Flame Control

Xiao Yan possesses enough control over the Fallen Heart Flame to guide magma back into the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower and replenish its cultivation fire for Jia Nan Academy. 374 414

Equipment

• Massive ruler — His characteristic weapon, carried across his back. 115
• Ring containing Yao Chen — The ring in which Yao Chen’s soul resided and from which he guided Xiao Yan’s cultivation. 7
• Dark-red medicine cauldron — Used for refining the Appearance Recovery Pill. 121
• Ancient map of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame — Taken from Earth Scorpion. 646

Relationships

• Yao Chen / Yao Lao — Teacher and mentor. Though Yao Chen’s absorption of Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi caused three years of hardship, he later trained Xiao Yan in cultivation and alchemy. 7 115
• Xiao Yu — Blood brother, ally, and fellow alchemy prodigy. They support one another in major conflicts, share flame-related resources, and later cooperate against threats to the Xiao Clan and the continent. 149 537 646
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li — Elder brothers who celebrate Xiao Yan’s recovery and alchemy talent. 116
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and opponent in the Three-Year Agreement. Xiao Yan defeated her at the Misty Cloud Sect; their relationship later became intimate and romantic. 149 375 666
• Han Yue — Senior sister from Jia Nan Academy. She sought Xiao Yan’s help when the Han Family needed a Sixth-grade Alchemist. 451
• Xin Lan — Xiao Yan agreed to act as her fiancé in order to help the Ye Family retain its position among the Five Great Clans. 509
• Zi Yan — Ally and companion connected to the Underworld and Ancient Void Dragon Clan; Xiao Yan supports her clan’s affairs alongside Xiao Yu. 494 621
• Xuan Yi — A Pill Tower Giant who values Xiao Yan as Yao Chen’s disciple and recruits him to represent Danta against Soul Hall interference. 510 523

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Recovery and Yao Chen’s mentorship — Learns why his cultivation declined, accepts Yao Chen’s guidance, and commits himself to overcoming the Three-Year Agreement. 7
• Imperial Capital and Alchemist Grand Meeting — Becomes a Tier-Two Alchemist, uses the alias Yan Xiao, treats Nalan Jie’s poison, and competes in the Grand Meeting. 119 121 126
• Three-Year Agreement — Challenges and defeats Nalan Yanran before the Misty Cloud Sect, restoring the Xiao Family’s honor. 147 149
• Jia Nan Academy and Fallen Heart Flame — Pursues the Fallen Heart Flame, ultimately absorbs it together with the Sea Heart Flame, and becomes a Dou Wang. 280 374
• Central Plains and Han Family conflict — Supports the Han Family through Sixth-grade pill refinement and confronts the Hong Family and Wind Lightning Pavilion. 451 458
• Pill Gathering — Enters the Pill Gathering, navigates its illusory realm, contests Soul Hall-aligned alchemists, and displays high-level alchemy. 523 524 536 537
• Ancient Races and Demon Flame crisis — Works with Xiao Yu, Yao Chen, and the Xiao Clan to pursue the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame and revive the Xiao Clan’s legacy. 646 667 668
• Flame Emperor — Absorbs the Emperor Origin left by Tou She Ancient God and becomes the Flame Emperor. 681
• Great Thousand World — Continues seeking Sacred Flames, reaches the Upper Earthly Sovereign realm, and establishes the Endless Fire Domain in the Extreme North Land. 740 741

Notable Quotes

“What matters is that I must wash away the Xiao Family's humiliation. I must prove to everyone that I, Xiao Yan, am not trash!” 116

“If you want to refine pills, then refine pills. If you want to fight, then fight. I've long found your Soul Clan unpleasant!” 674

“I am the Flame Emperor!” 681