Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Little Yanzi
Gender	Male
Age	Twelve when he first breaks through to Dou Practitioner 2
Affiliation	Xiao Clan; disciple of Yao Chen
Occupation/Role	Cultivator, alchemist, and Yao Chen's senior disciple
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
One-star Dou Practitioner	2	Breaks through on his first attempt without Qi Gathering Powder.
One-star Dou Shi	4	Yao Chen uses the Teaching Art to transfer cultivation; Xiao Yan stops the process when his body reaches its limit.
Two-star Dou Shi	25	Achieved through a month of cultivation and practice with the Devouring Wave Flame Splitting Ruler.
Five-star Dou Grandmaster	26	Reaches the realm after Yao Chen imparts cultivation to him.
Three-star Dou King	32	Reaches this realm after several further cultivation transmissions from Yao Chen.
Two-star Dou Emperor	56	Breaks through while Yao Chen helps him and Xiao Yi Xian overcome their bottlenecks.
One-star Dou Zong	63	After a month of arena training with his cultivation sealed down to one-star Dou Ling, Yao Chen removes the seal and imparts cultivation.
Three-star Dou Zong	93	Advances two stars through more than half a year of personal cultivation.
Six-star Dou Venerable	116	Yao Chen raises him from peak Dou Zong through cultivation impartation in the Flame Domain.
Peak Nine-star Dou Sheng	140	Xiao Xuan identifies his cultivation upon Xiao Yan's arrival in the Heavenly Tomb's third level.

Background

Xiao Yan is a member of the declining Xiao Clan. At twelve, he attempts to become the first person from his clan in a century to break through to Dou Practitioner, enduring the pain of repeatedly striking his bottleneck until he succeeds. 1 2

Soon afterward, Yao Chen emerges from the ancient ring inherited from Xiao Yan's mother. Initially wary and armed with a dagger, Xiao Yan accepts Yao Chen as his master after witnessing his power and sincerity. He kowtows in the apprenticeship ceremony and begins cultivating under him. 2

Yao Chen teaches him the Flame Mantra, an evolvable cultivation method, then uses the Teaching Art to rapidly raise his cultivation. Xiao Yan is entrusted with the Heavy Profound Ruler and Flame Splitting Wave Ruler, establishing the ruler-and-flame fighting style he continues to develop. 3 4 5

After departing the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan meets Yao Chen's second disciple, Xiao Yi Xian. The two train together in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, study medicinal herbs, and develop mutual affection while remaining senior and junior disciples. 28 29 30 31

Appearance

Xiao Yan is first identified as a twelve-year-old boy. Later, he is depicted as a black-clad youth who carries the Heavy Profound Ruler on his back. 2 64

• Carries an oversized black ruler as his signature weapon. 4 64
• Often fights while surrounded by blue Heavenly Flame. 66

Personality

Xiao Yan is determined and pain-tolerant, repeatedly pushing through dangerous cultivation barriers rather than retreating. He is conscious of the Xiao Clan's decline and treats restoring and protecting his family as a personal responsibility. 1 29 55 63

He is deeply respectful toward Yao Chen, consistently addressing him as Teacher and crediting his growth to his master's guidance. His loyalty is explicit: after receiving the Flame Splitting Wave Ruler and the promise of a Heavenly Flame, he vows to repay Yao Chen “with my life.” 5

Though competitive with Xiao Yi Xian's rapid progress, Xiao Yan's response is to train harder rather than resent her. He is also protective toward Gu Xun Er, gathering energy cores for her in the Heavenly Tomb instead of keeping them for himself. 29 137

Abilities & Skills

Flame Mantra

Yao Chen teaches Xiao Yan the Yellow-tier low-level Flame Mantra, an evolvable cultivation method that improves by devouring new Heavenly Flames. 3

• Requires Heavenly Flames as the material for each evolution. 3
• Enables Xiao Yan's fire-based combat style and supports his ability to wield multiple Heavenly Flames. 3 92
• Provides the foundation for his later flame techniques and alchemy. 32 34

Heavenly Flames

Xiao Yan wields powerful blue flames, including the Ice Lotus Blazing Flame and the Heart Lotus Sea Ice Flame. 34 66

• Uses the Ice Lotus Blazing Flame to refine peak Tier 5 Dou Ling Pills. 34
• Condenses the Heart Lotus Sea Ice Flame into a blue flame lotus that severely injures Yun Shan. 66
• Uses the Heart Lotus Sea Ice Flame to defeat fifty-three opponents simultaneously. 97
• Seals the space around Yao Chen's body-refinement process for Xiao Xuan. 144

Ruler Techniques

Xiao Yan's primary combat techniques are performed with the Heavy Profound Ruler.

• Flame Splitting Wave Ruler — Earth-tier low-level technique taught by Yao Chen; when used with the Heavy Profound Ruler, its power can rival an Earth-tier mid-level technique. 4 5
• Devouring Wave Flame Splitting Ruler — An improved application Xiao Yan develops through continued practice. He uses it against Yun Shan and against the fifty-three challengers. 25 66 97
• Earth-Splitting Mountain-Crushing Strike — Earth-tier low-level technique received from Yao Chen after the Black Seal Auction House conflict; Xiao Yan masters its basics through persistent training. 42
• Heavy Profound Ruler — Its exceptional weight and Dou Qi-suppressing effect make it both a training tool and a defensive weapon. 4

Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Changes

A Xiao Clan technique created by Xiao Xuan from clan tattoos, intended to greatly amplify Xiao Yan's strength. 91

• Completes the first transformation in a single day. 91 92
• Enters Burning Flame Valley's inheritance grounds to cultivate the second transformation. 92
• Receives the third transformation directly from Xiao Xuan without receiving Xiao Xuan's remaining bloodline power. 142

Five-Wheel Fire-Separation Method

An Earth-tier advanced Dou Technique taught by Yao Chen in the Flame Domain. Once all five fire spirits are formed, its power is comparable to a Heaven-tier technique. 117

• Xiao Yan initially struggles to control his flame, but succeeds in forming the first wolf-shaped fire spirit after repeated attempts. 117
• Requires the formation of five spirits for its full power. 117

Alchemy

Xiao Yan possesses naturally strong soul force and is regarded by Yao Chen as suited to become an alchemist. 25

• Independently refines high-quality Tier 4 pills and can barely refine simple Tier 5 pills after six months of training. 32
• Successfully refines a peak Tier 5 Dou Ling Pill twice in four attempts, approaching the threshold of a sixth-tier alchemist. 34
• Is later considered capable of refining Tier 8 medicinal pills. 102
• Wins the Alchemist Grand Meeting in the Pill Region, receiving an ancient soul-cultivation technique as his champion's reward. 106

Equipment

• Heavy Profound Ruler — A pitch-black heavy ruler gifted by Yao Chen; suppresses Dou Qi and is used with Xiao Yan's ruler techniques. 4 5
• Black Demon — A black medicine cauldron bestowed by Yao Chen and used in Xiao Yan's Tier 5 pill refinement. 34
• Ancient ring — His mother's heirloom ring, from which Yao Chen awakens. 2

Relationships

• Yao Chen — Master and mentor. Yao Chen recognizes Xiao Yan's talent, teaches him cultivation methods, Dou Techniques, alchemy, and repeatedly imparts cultivation at personal cost. 2 4 25 116
• Xiao Yi Xian — Junior sister and fellow disciple. Their initially awkward relationship becomes affectionate through shared training, herb study, and battles. 29 30 31 46
• Gu Xun Er — A person Xiao Yan cares for deeply. He keeps Yao Chen's identity secret from her, later protects her in the Heavenly Tomb, and gives her collected energy cores. 25 28 137
• Xiao Zhan — Father. Xiao Yan bids him farewell before leaving on his long training journey and remains driven to protect and restore the Xiao Clan. 28 55
• Xiao Xuan — Ancestor and founder of the Xiao Tribe. Xiao Yan pays him reverence in the Heavenly Tomb and receives the third transformation of the Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Changes from him. 140 142
• Zi Yan — Ally and fellow member of Yao Chen's group. Xiao Yan trains alongside her at Jia Nan Academy and is later entrusted with accompanying Yao Chen to the Gu Clan ceremony. 63 128
• Tang Zhen — Valley Master of Burning Flame Valley, who allows Xiao Yan access to the inheritance grounds for the Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Changes. 91 92

Story Role / Major Arcs

Apprenticeship and early cultivation

Xiao Yan becomes Yao Chen's first new disciple after awakening as a one-star Dou Practitioner. He receives the Flame Mantra, the Heavy Profound Ruler, and the Flame Splitting Wave Ruler, then rapidly grows through Yao Chen's Teaching Art. 2 3 4 5

Training with Xiao Yi Xian

After leaving the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan meets his junior sister Xiao Yi Xian in Green Mountain Town. They train in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, study herbs together, and begin learning alchemy under Yao Chen. 28 29 31

Black Corner Region and Han Feng

Xiao Yan refines high-grade Dou Ling Pills in preparation for an auction, receives the Earth-Splitting Mountain-Crushing Strike, and fights alongside Xiao Yi Xian against Han Feng. 34 42 46

Jia Nan Academy and the Misty Cloud Sect

Xiao Yan trains in Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy Arena under a seal that reduces him to one-star Dou Ling. When the seal is removed, he reaches Dou Zong and confronts the Misty Cloud Sect, severely injuring Yun Shan with his Heavenly Flame lotus. 63 66

Pill Region and Burning Flame Valley

Xiao Yan receives the Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Changes and demonstrates exceptional talent by completing its first transformation in one day. He later wins the Alchemist Grand Meeting against the other participants. 91 92 106

Soul Hall conflict

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian fight together against Soul Hall protectors, using their flames and techniques to hold the line until Yao Chen intervenes. 112 114

Flame Domain and return to the Gu Clan

Within the Flame Domain, Yao Chen raises Xiao Yan from peak Dou Zong to six-star Dou Venerable and teaches him the Five-Wheel Fire-Separation Method. Xiao Yan later accompanies Yao Chen to Ancient Saint City and enters the Gu Clan's Ancient Realm. 116 117 130

Heavenly Tomb

Xiao Yan explores the Heavenly Tomb with Xun Er, defeats energy entities for her benefit, and meets Xiao Xuan in the third level. He refuses to accept an inheritance that would destroy Xiao Xuan's remnant soul, instead receiving only the third transformation technique. 137 140 141 142

Notable Quotes

“Teacher, for all you have done for me, I, Xiao Yan, will surely repay you with my life!” 5

“Many thanks, Teacher! You just need to follow along; I will handle the fighting.” 63

“Many thanks to Ancestor and Teacher for your great kindness; Xiao Yan will certainly not fail your expectations!” 142