Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xiao Yan (肖炎)
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Clan; Shrek Academy, Freshman Class 9
Occupation/Role	Soul Master; alchemist; freshman student
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Level 3 Soul Power	1	His power had regressed from innate level 10 after the Red Cloud Egg absorbed his cultivation and his original soul ring dissipated.
Level 5 Soul Power	2	Charmander hatched; Xiao Yan learned that they share soul power, restoring him to the path of a Soul Master.
Level 10 Soul Power	2 3	Pills refined with Charmander's flame restored him to innate full soul power overnight.
Level 15 Soul Power	12	Absorbed a thousand-year first soul ring from the Crimson Fire Boa; gained the first soul skill, Blazing Sun Domain.
Level 18 Soul Power	29	Absorbed Pseudo Bone Spirit Fire and broke through a bottleneck; Little Fire Dragon evolved into Charmeleon.
Level 19 Soul Power	32	Reached level 19 after continued cultivation and began seeking a second soul ring.

Background / History

Xiao Yan was originally an ordinary student from China before transmigrating into the Douluo Continent, retaining his name in his new life. Orphaned at a young age, he grew up relying on the people of Xiao Family Village. 1 7

At age six, he awakened innate full soul power and a fire-cloud-patterned Red Cloud Egg rather than the Xiao Clan’s ancestral Heavy Profound Ruler. The clan initially celebrated his talent, then regarded the unfamiliar martial soul as a disappointment. He acquired a hundred-year soul ring, but his cultivation subsequently regressed from level 10 to level 3 as the egg continually absorbed his soul power. 1

The egg hatched after three years as an independently intelligent Shiny Charmander, later called the Xiao Fire Dragon. Its hatching revealed that Xiao Yan’s lost power had nourished it, while his dissolved soul ring had become Charmander’s passive Solar Power ability. 2

Xiao Yan defeated his longtime rival Xiao Yulü in a duel for the Xiao Clan’s Shrek Academy recommendation letter, using Buddha Fury Fire Lotus. Both were severely injured, but Xiao Yulü honored the result and surrendered the letter. 3 4

While traveling through the Star Dou Forest, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yulü were separated after an encounter with the Kan-Water Profound Turtle. Tang Ya, Beibei, and Huo Yuhao rescued Xiao Yan, after which he joined them in hunting soul beasts. He later reunited with Xiao Yulü and helped him recover. 6 7 8 13

At Shrek Academy, Xiao Yan enrolled in Freshman Class 9 alongside Xiao Yulü. He established himself as the class monitor by defeating Xiong Hui and Wu Feng, confronted Zhou Yi over her conduct, and successfully argued for her suspension before Dean Du Weilun. 17 19 20 21 23

Appearance

Xiao Yan is a black-haired youth with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. His demeanor is commonly calm or indifferent, though he adopts a visibly confident and theatrical bearing during confrontations. 1 3 12 20

• During Martial Soul Possession, tough golden scales form over his arms, his fingertips become claw-like, and he develops a dragon tail. 3 20
• His possession state surrounds him with intense flames and substantially enhances his physical abilities. 10 20
• He can manifest pale blue Pseudo Bone Spirit Fire after absorbing the exotic fire. 29

Personality

Xiao Yan is patient and persistent. He continued cultivating through three years of regression because he believed the Red Cloud Egg was alive and would eventually hatch. 1

He is strategically minded and resourceful, preferring targets and methods that offer long-term value. He avoids unnecessarily dangerous prey, uses pills to strengthen himself and others, and chose to save and contract the Golden-Haired Lion King rather than immediately exploit it. 11 16 33 36

Though often sarcastic and unconcerned with aristocratic decorum, he protects those he considers friends. He tried to save Xiao Yulü from the Kan-Water Profound Turtle, aided him after their reunion, and confronted Mu En when Xiao Yulü was punished. 6 13 18

Abilities & Skills

Xiao Fire Dragon / Charmeleon Martial Soul

Xiao Yan possesses an intelligent Beast Martial Soul that shares its soul power with him. It hatched from the Red Cloud Egg as a Shiny Charmander and evolved into Charmeleon after absorbing the Red Orb and Pseudo Bone Spirit Fire. 2 29

• Can act independently in combat while Xiao Yan directs it from range. 9
• Can merge with Xiao Yan through Martial Soul Possession. 3
• Possesses strong fire control; Xiao Yan can create defensive fire zones and manipulate flames with precision. 10
• Its presence exerts bloodline-based suppression over weaker beast-type martial souls. 37
• Evolved into Charmeleon after the Pseudo Bone Spirit Fire absorption. 29

Martial Soul Possession

Xiao Yan merges with the Xiao Fire Dragon or Charmeleon to gain a half-dragon form and enhanced combat ability. 3 20 31

• Increases his physical strength and flame control severalfold. 20
• Grants golden scales, claws, a dragon tail, and draconic fire abilities. 3 20
• Requires substantial soul power and mental energy when used alongside high-output flame techniques. 4 10

Alchemy

Xiao Yan refines medicinal pills using the Xiao Fire Dragon’s flame and seeks to establish alchemy in the Douluo Continent. 2

• Purple Sun Pills — refined from Purple Sun Flowers; accelerate soul-power circulation and cultivation. Xiao Yulü used one to advance from level 13 to level 17. 16 19
• Dragon Blood Pills — temporarily improve physical constitution, stamina, and endurance; Xiao Yan uses them to support soul-ring absorption and resist pressure. 11 18
• Essence Replenishment Pill — used to help Xiao Yulü recover after his injuries. 13
• Created a high-tier healing pill that saved the Golden-Haired Lion King’s life. 36

Burning Technique

A cultivation technique Xiao Yan reconstructed from his memories. It is intended to devour and evolve through the absorption of different fires. 14 15

• Allows him to cultivate fire-based power suited to his martial soul. 15 16
• Motivates his search for fire-attributed materials and exotic flames. 16 29
• Enables self-created flame techniques without relying solely on soul skills. 20

Blazing Sun Domain

Xiao Yan’s first soul skill, obtained from the thousand-year Crimson Fire Boa. 11 12

• Creates an area-of-effect scorching environment. 12 13
• Amplifies allies’ strength and soul-power circulation. 13
• Enhances fire-attributed attacks, including Xiao Yulü’s Flame Splitting Wave Devouring Ruler. 13
• Provides offensive, defensive, and team-support value. 12

Pseudo Bone Spirit Fire

A pale blue flame absorbed by Xiao Yan, which helped him reach level 18 and evolve his martial soul. 29

• Can freeze opponents despite being a flame. 32
• Was used to defeat the level 40 Xu Sanshi in a sparring match. 31 32
• Can be shaped into constructs, including a folding fan. 32

Fire Techniques

• Buddha Fury Fire Lotus — a destructive fire lotus first used against Xiao Yulü; its use nearly exhausted Xiao Yan’s soul power and mental energy. 3 4
• Buddha’s Fury Ice Lotus — a combined attack of extreme cold and extreme heat, used against Xu Sanshi. 31
• Blazing Fist: Heaven-Shattering — used to incapacitate the Datura Snake without killing it, allowing Tang Ya to absorb its soul ring. 9
• Blazing Fist: Earth Fiend — a ground-based flaming strike used against Xiong Hui. 20
• Fire Spin — acquired after Charmeleon’s evolution; used to knock the Great Sun Rainbow from the sky. 29

Xiao Fire Dragon / Charmeleon Skills

• Scratch — claw attack. 2
• Growl — lowers an opponent’s attack. 2
• Smokescreen — releases smoke to obstruct opponents. 12
• Dragon Breath — a breath attack that can cause paralysis. 12
• Solar Power — passive ability formed from Xiao Yan’s original hundred-year soul ring. 2

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Purple Sun Pills — cultivation-boosting pills personally refined by Xiao Yan. 16 19
• Dragon Blood Pills — body-strengthening pills used for breakthrough support and pressure resistance. 11 18
• Essence Replenishment Pills — recovery medicine. 13
• Purple Sun Flower Dew — used to lure the Blazing Fire Ant Queen. 33 34
• Red Orb — energy source integrated by Charmeleon during its evolution. 29

Relationships

• Xiao Yulü — rival, fellow Xiao Clan member, roommate, and close companion. Their duel began their relationship as acknowledged equals; Xiao Yan repeatedly protects and assists him. 1 4 13 18
• Charmander / Charmeleon — intelligent Beast Martial Soul and combat partner; shares Xiao Yan’s soul power and acts in coordination with him. 2 29
• Tang Ya — rescuer and hunting companion; Xiao Yan helped secure her thousand-year soul ring. 7 9
• Beibei — hunting companion and sparring contact; invited Xiao Yan to join the Tang Sect after learning of his alchemy. 8 10 30
• Huo Yuhao — friend and younger teammate; Xiao Yan trained his Spiritual Detection Sharing and encourages his development. 7 12
• Ning Tian — classmate and prospective Freshman Tournament teammate; offered Xiao Yan intelligence on fire-attributed soul beasts. 25
• Wu Feng — classmate and tournament teammate; challenged Xiao Yan, then became part of his planned team. 21 24 37
• Xiong Hui — classmate defeated by Xiao Yan; later received low-grade Purple Sun Pills and cultivation guidance from him. 20 24 25
• Golden-Haired Blazing Lion King (“Goldie”) — ten-thousand-year soul beast saved by Xiao Yan and bound through a Subordination Contract. 36 37
• Zhou Yi — teacher who attempted to force Xiao Yan’s transfer; Xiao Yan opposed her actions, contributing to her suspension. 21 23
• Mu Jin — Freshman Class 9 homeroom teacher; allowed Xiao Yan to decide whether to transfer classes and later approved his leave for experiential training. 19 21 26
• Xu Sanshi — senior sparring opponent; Xiao Yan and Xiao Yulü challenged him to test themselves against his high defense. 30 32

Story Role / Major Arcs

Red Cloud Egg and Xiao Clan Duel

After his cultivation collapses to level 3, Xiao Yan awaits the hatching of his Red Cloud Egg. Charmander’s birth restores his power, allowing him to defeat Xiao Yulü and claim the Shrek Academy recommendation letter. 1 2 3 4

Star Dou Forest Expedition

Xiao Yan accompanies Xiao Yulü toward Shrek Academy, survives the Kan-Water Profound Turtle incident, meets Tang Ya’s group, and gains his thousand-year first soul ring from the Crimson Fire Boa. 5 7 8 11 12

Shrek Academy Freshman Period

He enters Freshman Class 9, asserts leadership through duels, builds a team around Ning Tian and Wu Feng, and opposes Zhou Yi’s coercive attempt to recruit him. 17 19 21 23 25

Pseudo Bone Spirit Fire and Charmeleon Evolution

Seeking fire-attributed opportunities, Xiao Yan absorbs the Pseudo Bone Spirit Fire, reaches level 18, and evolves the Little Fire Dragon into Charmeleon. 26 29

Second Soul Ring Hunt and Goldie

Xiao Yan enters Sunset Forest alone to seek a second soul ring. He ultimately saves the Golden-Haired Lion King, forms a Subordination Contract with it, and returns late for the Freshman Assessment riding the soul beast. 32 33 34 36 37

Notable Quotes

“I came. I shouldn't have come, yet here I am.” 3

“Then, let the match begin!” 3

“My apologies, but the Freshman Tournament will be taken over by me.” 36

Trivia

• Xiao Yan’s original hundred-year soul ring did not vanish permanently; it transformed into Charmander’s passive Solar Power ability. 2
• He deliberately concealed his purple thousand-year soul ring at Shrek Academy by using a chant to mask his movements. 20
• He named the Golden-Haired Lion King “Goldie,” despite the beast’s visible dissatisfaction with the name. 36