Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family of Wutan City 9 11
Occupation/Role	Second-grade alchemist; Dou Qi cultivator 76
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Third stage of Dou Qi	11	Recorded as “Fighting Energy: three stages” during the Xiao Family’s annual test; he is publicly mocked for his decline.
Ninth-stage Dou Zhe	14	Takes Chu Yang’s Qi Gathering Pill during the broken-engagement gathering and is reported to break through rapidly.
One-stage Dou Qi increase	20	Tests a Strength Advancement Pill alongside Xiao Mei and Xiao Ning; the pill raises each tester’s Dou Qi by one stage immediately.
Dou Practitioner	49	Identified as having recently advanced, though Xiao Yu reports that his combat techniques exceed those of the Xiao Family.
Dou Shi	86	Has reached the Dou Shi realm before beginning harsh desert training under Old Yao.
Two-star Dou Shi	107 108	Enters a Snake People Clan oasis while at two-star Dou Shi; he remains outmatched by Yue Mei, a Dou Wang.

Background / History

Xiao Yan is the son of Xiao Family Head Xiao Zhan. Once regarded as a cultivation genius, he becomes the target of ridicule after his Dou Qi falls to the third stage. Xun'er supports and comforts him following the Xiao Family’s annual strength test. 11

At the gathering concerning his engagement to Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yan condemns her attempt to annul it and rejects the compensation offered by the Misty Cloud Sect. Chu Yang intervenes before the confrontation can unfold as Xiao Yan expects, instead presenting a superior Qi Gathering Pill. 12 13

After regaining his progress, Xiao Yan begins training under Old Yao, the soul concealed within his ring. Old Yao provides cultivation methods, battle skills, alchemical guidance, and the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, though his caution toward Chu Yang repeatedly causes tension between the three. 49 72 115

Xiao Yan travels through the Monster Mountain Range, where he assists Xiao Yi Xian with a pill that delays the episodes caused by her poison body. He later becomes the target of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group and escapes pursuit with his Purple Cloud Wings before fighting alongside Chu Yang against the gray-robed elder and his Winged Condor. 67 69 70 71

After passing the Second-grade Alchemist examination, Xiao Yan heads toward the Tagor Desert to seek the materials needed to absorb a Heavenly Flame. Chu Yang provides him with a Third-order Demonic Core, the map fragment obtained from Hai Bodong, and repeated assistance despite Old Yao’s suspicions. 76 77 91

In the desert, Xiao Yan trains under extreme conditions, reunites with his brothers Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, and joins Chu Yang, Qing Lin, and Xiao Ding in investigating the underground magma sea. Qing Lin’s pupils reveal the location of a Heavenly Flame beneath the lava, leading Xiao Yan to pursue Queen Medusa’s Green Lotus Core Flame. 94 96 100 101 105

Appearance

Xiao Yan is commonly recognized by his black robes and the massive Mysterious Black Ruler carried on his back. 67 69

• Black-robed clothing. 67
• Carries the Mysterious Black Ruler. 69 110
• Uses the wing-like flying Dou Technique Purple Cloud Wings. 70 97

Personality

Xiao Yan is determined to pursue strength even when the risks are obvious. He willingly endures Old Yao’s harsh desert training and remains focused on obtaining Heavenly Flames despite the danger posed by Queen Medusa and the Snake People Clan. 94 105

He can be impulsive and reckless. His decision to secretly enter Yue Mei’s oasis, where he is discovered while spying on her, leaves him trapped against opponents far stronger than himself. Even so, he reacts resourcefully under pressure, using his Dou Qi cloak, Beast Fire, movement techniques, and Purple Cloud Wings to survive. 107 108

Xiao Yan is initially suspicious of Chu Yang’s motives, particularly when Chu Yang repeatedly offers valuable assistance. Over time, Chu Yang’s actions—saving him, supplying rare materials, and refusing to take his treasures—earn Xiao Yan’s gratitude and growing trust. 77 91 106

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Xiao Yan is an alchemist trained with Old Yao’s guidance. He passes the Second-grade Alchemist examination alongside Chu Yang, though Chu Yang’s Heavenly Flame-enhanced pill is judged superior. 76

• Refines a Great Strength Pill during the Second-grade assessment. 76
• Has refined high-grade pills including the Bone Regenerating Blood Merging Pill and Bodhisattva Great Return Pill, according to the recorded pill compendium. 56
• Uses alchemical pills to help Xiao Yi Xian delay the episodes caused by her poison body. 68

Flame Arts

Xiao Yan cultivates fire-attributed Dou Qi and wields both Beast Fire and Old Yao’s Bone Spirit Cold Flame. 71 86

• Bone Spirit Cold Flame — Used with Old Yao’s assistance to absorb the essence of the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake and burn away poison arrows. 100 115
• Beast Fire — Drives off the Winged Condor and supplements his protective Dou Qi in the magma cavern. 71 98
• Buddha's Rage Fire Lotus — A flame-combining technique referenced as one of Xiao Yan’s major future threats; its effectiveness can be countered by Chu Yang’s Lunar Soul Injury when their cultivation is comparable. 106

Combat Techniques

Old Yao provides Xiao Yan with techniques beyond the Xiao Family’s known arts, allowing him to defeat stronger or more experienced opponents through timing and surprise. 49

• Eight Extremes Collapse — Used in his attempted sneak attack against Yue Mei. 49 110
• Fire Blowing Palm — One of the techniques supplied by Old Yao. 49
• Dou Qi cloak / gauze robe — Provides protection against attacks and extreme heat. 108 98
• Limit — Despite his techniques and battle instincts, he is decisively outclassed by Dou Wang-level opponents such as Yue Mei. 108 109

Purple Cloud Wings

A flying Dou Technique that allows Xiao Yan to escape pursuers and cross dangerous terrain without being a Dou Wang. 70 97

• Used to flee the gray-robed elder in the Monster Mountain Range. 70
• Allows him to investigate the magma sea from above. 97
• Is visibly weaker than the genuine Dou Qi Wings possessed by Dou Wang Yue Mei. 108

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Mysterious Black Ruler — Xiao Yan’s heavy black weapon, carried during his travels and planted into the sand to evade Yue Mei’s poison. 69 110
• Purple Cloud Wings — Flying Dou Technique. 70
• Storage Ring — Holds his treasures, medicinal pills, and the Green Lotus Platform. 105 106
• Green Lotus Platform — Thousand-year earth-fire treasure; enhances cultivation speed and can release earth fire for escape or defense. 103 106
• Fire Lotus Seeds — Collected after the Green Lotus Core Flame is found missing. 105
• Third-order Demonic Core — Acquired from Chu Yang for use in preparing to swallow a Heavenly Flame. 76 77
• Fragmentary map — Given to him by Chu Yang after Chu Yang obtains it from Hai Bodong; it contains clues connected to Heavenly Flames. 91

Relationships

• Old Yao — Mentor and hidden soul within Xiao Yan’s ring; teaches him alchemy, cultivation, and combat while remaining deeply suspicious of Chu Yang. 49 72 115
• Chu Yang — Initially a rival and source of suspicion, but increasingly a trusted companion. Chu Yang saves Xiao Yan repeatedly, provides rare resources, and accompanies him into dangerous areas. 71 91 106
• Xiao Zhan — Father and Xiao Family Head; visibly overjoyed when Xiao Yan’s cultivation returns. 14
• Xun'er — Supportive companion who comforts Xiao Yan after his public humiliation and intervenes on his behalf during the engagement gathering. 11 12
• Xiao Yu — Clan relative and rival. After Xiao Yan injures her face and defeats her through a sneak attack, she retaliates and beats him decisively. 49 50
• Xiao Yi Xian — Friend from the Monster Mountain Range. Xiao Yan helps delay the episodes caused by her poison body. 67 68
• Xiao Ding — Elder brother; reunites with Xiao Yan in the Tagor Desert and worries over his pursuit of the Heavenly Flame. 95 97
• Qing Lin — A devoted companion who uses her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils to control the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake and locate the Heavenly Flame. 96 100
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée whose attempt to annul their engagement sparks their public confrontation. 12 13
• Yue Mei — Snake People Clan commander and Dou Wang who pursues Xiao Yan after discovering him inside her oasis. 107 108
• Queen Medusa — Target of Xiao Yan’s plan to obtain the Green Lotus Core Flame. 105

Story Role / Major Arcs

Declining Talent and the Broken Engagement

Xiao Yan’s early arc centers on his fall from genius to ridicule within the Xiao Family, followed by the arrival of Nalan Yanran and the Misty Cloud Sect. His refusal to quietly accept the annulment establishes his determination to reclaim his standing. 11 12

Recovery and Monster Mountain Range

After receiving Old Yao’s guidance and recovering his cultivation, Xiao Yan enters the Monster Mountain Range, aids Xiao Yi Xian, and becomes embroiled in the Wolf Head Mercenary Group’s pursuit. Chu Yang’s intervention during the gray-robed elder’s attack begins their more direct cooperation. 49 67 70 71

Alchemist Assessment and Desert Journey

Xiao Yan passes the Second-grade Alchemist examination, gathers materials needed for swallowing a Heavenly Flame, and travels to the Tagor Desert. His interactions with Hai Bodong and Chu Yang bring him a fragmentary map and resources necessary for his objective. 76 77 91

Search for the Green Lotus Core Flame

Xiao Yan trains in the desert, reunites with Xiao Ding, and ventures beneath the magma sea with Chu Yang and Qing Lin. Although the Green Lotus Core Flame is revealed to have been taken by Queen Medusa, Xiao Yan refuses to abandon his goal of obtaining it. 94 100 105

Trivia

• The available account gives conflicting reports on the Green Lotus Core Flame: one chapter states that Xiao Yan successfully obtains it, while a later chapter states that Queen Medusa had already taken it. 1 105
• Xiao Yan’s Purple Cloud Wings are repeatedly mistaken for genuine Dou Qi Wings, causing observers to briefly assume he is a Dou Wang. 70 97