Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Yan'er; “Destined Protagonist” (system designation) 2 16
Gender	Male 2
Affiliation	Xiao Family 1
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; disciple of Yao Lao 2
Status	Alive 90
First Appearance	Chapter 1 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Nine-stage Dou Zhi Qi	7	Reveals his full strength while shielding Xiao Yi Xian from Wolf Head mercenaries.
Peak Dou Ling (temporary)	17	Reaches this level through Yao Lao’s remaining soul power while combining Bone Chilling Flame, poison power, and Dou Qi for the Buddha Fury Poison Lotus.
Five-Star Dou Grandmaster Peak	42	Breaks through after the black ring guides the fusion of Chaos Demon Flame and Bone Chilling Flame into the embryonic Chaos Fire Seed. His soul power also reaches Mortal Realm Grand Perfection.

Background

For three years, Yao Lao unknowingly absorbed Xiao Yan's Dou Zhi Qi from within the black ring on his finger, leaving Xiao Yan unable to condense Dou Zhi Qi and subject to humiliation. Nalan Yanran cites this condition when rejecting their engagement; Xiao Yan resolves to defeat her within three years. 1 2

Xiao Zhan reveals the cause of Xiao Yan's decline and urges him to take Yao Lao as his master. Xiao Yan accepts, receives the Xuan-tier high-grade Burning Heaven Technique from his father, and begins harsh foundational training under Yao Lao. 2

After receiving the Di-tier Flame Splitting Devouring Wave Ruler, Xiao Yan leaves for the Magical Beast Mountain Range to begin practical training and pursue the Burning Mantra's path of fire refinement. Before his departure, Xiao Zhan provides him with life-saving medicines, Flowing Cloud Steps, and a protective jade shard. 3 5

Appearance

Xiao Yan is a young man whose features still retain some boyishness. His expression and eyes are repeatedly characterized by resolve, especially after regaining a path to cultivation. 2

• Often carries the Heavy Xuan Ruler in combat. 10 17
• Wears a black ancient ring on his left hand. 23 25
• Wears the formal attire of a direct descendant of the Xiao Family on formal occasions. 59

Personality

Xiao Yan begins with deep self-reproach over his lost cultivation, calling himself worthless despite his father's encouragement. Once he learns the truth about Yao Lao, he responds with determination rather than resentment, committing himself to training and to fulfilling the three-year agreement with Nalan Yanran. 2

He is fiercely protective of those he accepts as his own. He openly confronts He Meng to defend Xiao Yi Xian, reveals his concealed strength when mercenaries attack her, and repeatedly risks his life to protect her from stronger enemies. 7 24 38

Xiao Yan is loyal to both his father and Yao Lao. He worries intensely over Xiao Zhan's injuries, guides Bronze Fragment energy to nourish Yao Lao's weakened soul, and continues fighting even when he lacks the power to directly intervene. 22 28 30

Abilities & Skills

Burning Mantra and Chaos Fire Seed

Xiao Yan practices the Burning Mantra, a cultivation method capable of refining foreign fire-attribute energy. Its grade rises after he survives the fusion of the Chaos Demon Flame and Bone Chilling Flame. 7 42

• Refines absorbed fire energy cautiously; impure foreign energy can endanger the user. 7
• Uses the Burning Mantra to forcibly merge poison power, Dou Qi, and Bone Chilling Flame during battle. 17
• Possesses an embryonic Chaos Fire Seed, formed from the Chaos Demon Flame and Bone Chilling Flame. 42
• The Chaos Fire Seed bears Chaos, Ice-Cold, and Incineration characteristics and requires continued nourishment and evolution. 42
• His Burning Mantra reaches quasi-Earth-tier low-grade after the fusion. 42

Fire Lotus Techniques

Xiao Yan's strongest attacks are destructive flame-lotus techniques, often made possible by Yao Lao's assistance or by integrating Xiao Yi Xian's poison power.

• Receives the Di-tier Flame Splitting Devouring Wave Ruler from Xiao Zhan. 3
• Uses a prototype of the ruler technique with Yao Lao's borrowed power against Mu Li. 10
• Unleashes Buddha Fury Fire Lotus, annihilating Mu Li and the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's forces; the aftermath releases lethal gray-white poison gas. 11
• Creates Buddha Fury Poison Lotus by combining Yao Lao's soul power, Bone Chilling Flame, his Dou Qi, and Xiao Yi Xian's poison power. 17
• Destroys a Soul Hall soul-shadow clone with Buddha Fury Fire Lotus while rescuing Ya Fei. 74
• These techniques inflict severe backlash: his meridians are damaged after the first Fire Lotus, and he collapses unconscious after the Poison Lotus. 11 17

Combat Techniques and Movement

• Mountain-Splitting Palm — Uses the Xuan-tier low-grade technique to repel Wolf Head mercenaries while defending Xiao Yi Xian. 7
• Thunder-Gallop Palm — Learned from Yao Lao; Xiao Yan reports that it greatly improves his combat capability. 3
• Flowing Cloud Steps — Earth-tier low-grade movement technique given by Xiao Zhan to improve speed and evasion. 5
• Purple Cloud Wings — Obtains a scroll for a Xuan-tier high-level flight Dou Technique from the secret cave. 9
• Soul perception — Uses refined perception to identify spatial fluctuations and evade traps in the Myriad Poisons Ancient River. 36

Black Ring and Bronze Fragments

The black ring on Xiao Yan's left hand is tied to the Bronze Fragments and the Bronze Immortal Palace. Its powers are dangerous enough that Xiao Zhan orders Xiao Yan to conceal its existence and abnormal reactions. 23 24 28

• Bronze Fragment energy nourishes Yao Lao's weakened soul. 22 30
• The ring produces a dark-gold barrier that blocks Gu You's attempt to seize Xiao Yi Xian's Poison Source Crystal Core. 26
• Its ancient power suppresses Gu You's soul power, provoking fear from the clone. 26
• Activates against You Lao and shatters the Demon Peak, exposing another Bronze Fragment. 38
• Guides the fusion that creates the Chaos Fire Seed. 42

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Heavy Xuan Ruler — Primary weapon used in the Flame Splitting Devouring Wave Ruler and Fire Lotus techniques. 10 17
• Black Ring — Ancient ring linked to Bronze Fragments, Yao Lao's soul, and powerful defensive phenomena. 22 26
• Bronze Fragments — Ancient fragments that resonate with the ring and provide energy that nourishes Yao Lao. 22 25
• Protective jade shard — Contains Xiao Zhan's soul imprint and Dou Qi; can create a Dou King-comparable defensive barrier and alert Xiao Zhan to Xiao Yan's location when crushed. 5
• Detoxification Spirit Bead — Used by Xiao Yi Xian to suppress the poison backlash and injuries Xiao Yan suffers after the Buddha Fury Poison Lotus. 17

Relationships

• Xiao Zhan — Father. Xiao Zhan supports Xiao Yan's apprenticeship, supplies rare techniques and protective items, and repeatedly intervenes to protect him. Xiao Yan is deeply concerned whenever his father is gravely injured. 2 5 22 28
• Yao Lao — Master and mentor. Yao Lao caused Xiao Yan's lost Dou Zhi Qi by absorbing it for three years, then accepts him as a disciple and trains him. Xiao Yan later uses the Bronze Fragments to nourish Yao Lao's weakened soul. 2 22 30
• Xiao Yi Xian — Closest companion and Woe Poison Body symbiote. Xiao Yan protects her from persecution, encourages her to control rather than fear her constitution, and forms the initial Woe Poison Body Symbiosis Contract with her. 7 12 38
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée. Her contempt for Xiao Yan's lost cultivation drives his commitment to defeat her after three years of training. 1 2
• Ya Fei — Xiao Yan saves her from Soul Hall assassins and works with her when she chooses to use herself as bait against further attackers. 73 74
• Queen Medusa — An ally of Xiao Zhan's faction whom Xiao Yan treats with respect after surviving the Desert of Buried Immortals together. 47

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Engagement crisis and apprenticeship — After Nalan Yanran's rejection, Xiao Yan learns that Yao Lao caused his cultivation loss, accepts him as master, and commits himself to the three-year agreement. 1 2
• Magical Beast Mountain Range — Xiao Yan leaves Wutan City for training, meets Xiao Yi Xian in Green Mountain Town, and becomes her defender after the Wolf Head Mercenary Group targets her. 5 6 7
• Seven-Colored Poison Scripture conflict — He remains at Xiao Yi Xian's side as she inherits the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture, then uses Yao Lao's power and the Buddha Fury Fire Lotus to defeat Mu Li's forces. 9 10 11
• Misty Cloud Sect pursuit — Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian are ambushed by Yun Sheng and Misty Cloud Sect disciples. He deploys the Buddha Fury Poison Lotus, but the backlash leaves him unconscious and costs Yao Lao his remaining active soul power. 17
• Snake Abyss Oasis and Bronze Fragments — Xiao Yan discovers further Bronze Fragments, learns of the ring's danger, and helps protect Xiao Yi Xian during repeated poison-core backlashes. 22 24 28
• Desert of Buried Immortals — While seeking another Bronze Immortal Palace Fragment, Xiao Yan fights alongside Xiao Yi Xian against You Lao and survives the Demon Peak's collapse when the ring activates. 29 38
• Chaos Fire Seed and Soul Hall conflict — Xiao Yan fuses two Heavenly Flames, reaches Five-Star Dou Grandmaster Peak, rescues Ya Fei from Soul Hall attacks, and later joins Yao Lao in destroying a Soul Hall stronghold at heavy personal cost. 42 74 80

Notable Quotes

“No matter the dangers or the exhaustion, I, Xiao Yan, will not retreat a single step!” 2

“Who dares touch her!” 7

“I do!” 36