Old Yao

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Old Yao (药老)
Alias(es)	Teacher; Old Fox
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Yan
Occupation/Role	Alchemist; Xiao Yan's mentor and combat adviser
Status	Soul body concealed within Xiao Yan's Storage Ring 49 87
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background / History

Old Yao was already guiding Xiao Yan during the pursuit of the Green Lotus Core Flame. He warned his disciple that the seemingly harmless Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python was Queen Medusa's true body and could become dangerous if she recovered her nature. 1

Before becoming a soul body, Old Yao was an extraordinary alchemist with extensive connections. His present condition forces him to remain hidden inside Xiao Yan's ring, particularly because the Soul Hall once nearly destroyed his soul body and remains his greatest fear. 54 87

He trains Xiao Yan in techniques including the Burning Art, Fire Blowing Palm, Explosive Steps, and Eight Extremes Collapse, while also supplying medicinal preparations and practical guidance. His early investment in Xiao Yan is not wholly selfless: he expects his disciple to help him in the future. 49 70 91

Appearance

Old Yao normally remains unseen as an incorporeal soul. When he manifests, he may appear as a vague shadow or a ghostly face formed from pale-white flame. 81 103

• A bodiless, nearly invisible soul form. 81
• Associated with eerie pale-white Bone Spirit Cold Flame. 39 81
• Usually speaks directly to Xiao Yan from within the Storage Ring. 88 101

Personality

Old Yao is calculating and guarded. He treats Chu Yang's repeated “coincidental” appearances around Xiao Yan as suspicious and regards him as a possible schemer rather than accepting his help at face value. 87 126

His caution is rooted in experience and survival. Fear of the Soul Hall frequently keeps him from manifesting openly, even when Xiao Yan is threatened. 73 78 88

As a mentor, he is demanding but protective. He stops Xiao Yan from rashly destroying the Green Lotus, shields him from poison arrows, and lends him strength when confronting enemies beyond his realm. 104 115 99 Chu Yang's apparently selfless treatment of Xiao Yan eventually leaves Old Yao moved and ashamed of his own initial ulterior motives. 91

Abilities & Skills

Bone Spirit Cold Flame

Old Yao possesses the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, a pale-white Heavenly Flame that he can wield through Xiao Yan.

• Burned the alchemist Liu Xi to nothingness. 39
• Protected Xiao Yan by incinerating a barrage of Snake People poison arrows. 115
• Absorbed the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake's essence to replenish its energy. 100
• Can form a protective barrier around Xiao Yan during Queen Medusa's evolution. 129
• Its manifestation was suppressed when confronted by Di Jun's higher-ranked Heavenly Flame avatar. 81

Soul-Body Combat Support

Though lacking a physical body, Old Yao can lend power to Xiao Yan and take control of his body when necessary.

• Enables Xiao Yan to use the Earth-tier Flame Splitting Wave Ruler against the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake. 99
• Uses suction force to pull Xiao Yan away from the Green Lotus before he is burned. 104
• Considered taking control of Xiao Yan's body to fight the sealed Hai Bodong. 88
• Temporarily held against the Purple Crystal Lion Wing King through combat experience and the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, despite being outmatched in raw strength. 40

Alchemy and Medicinal Knowledge

Old Yao is a highly accomplished alchemist capable of refining high-tier pills and teaching Xiao Yan medicinal arts.

• Refined Foundation Building Medicinal Liquid to improve Xiao Yan's cultivation efficiency. 17
• Refined the fourth-tier Burning Blood pill, a fire-attribute training medicine. 55
• Is regarded as capable of refining sixth-tier medicinal pills. 91
• Identifies rare materials and explains the value of the Green Lotus's treasures to Xiao Yan. 104

Soul Perception and Expertise

Old Yao's experience and soul perception allow him to assess threats that Xiao Yan cannot.

• Determined that the disguised Hai Bodong had once been a Dou Huang despite his sealed condition. 88
• Recognized Qing Lin's Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils and their control over serpentine magical beasts. 100
• Identified the Green Lotus Core Flame when Xiao Yan and Chu Yang reached its location beneath the magma sea. 102
• Warned Xiao Yan that the Green Lotus itself was protected by flame capable of melting a steel sword instantly. 104

Relationships

• Xiao Yan — Mentor and disciple. Old Yao provides techniques, alchemy, combat support, and harsh guidance while relying on Xiao Yan for his own future aims. 70 91 99
• Chu Yang — Distrustful observer and occasional adversary. Old Yao secretly confronted Chu Yang, retreated after encountering his Heavenly Flame and undead summons, and continues to suspect his motives toward Xiao Yan. 81 87 126
• Soul Hall — Old Yao's greatest fear. Its past pursuit nearly destroyed his soul body, forcing him to hide and avoid revealing his aura. 81 87
• Purple Crystal Lion Wing King — Combat opponent. Old Yao recognized its strength and fought it while it covered Chu Yang's retreat. 40
• Hai Bodong — Old Yao recognized the disguised Ice Emperor's former Dou Huang strength and considered intervening against him through Xiao Yan. 88

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Guidance of Xiao Yan

Old Yao advises Xiao Yan on the danger of Queen Medusa's transformed body and supports his early pursuit of Heavenly Flames. 1

Liu Xi Incident and Conflict with Chu Yang

Using Xiao Yan as his vessel, Old Yao kills Liu Xi with the Bone Spirit Cold Flame. Soon afterward, he clashes with the Purple Crystal Lion Wing King while Chu Yang escapes. 39 40

A later midnight attack on Chu Yang is identified as Old Yao's work after Chu Yang observes the Bone Spirit Cold Flame and recognizes the assailant's soul-body nature. Old Yao flees when confronted with Di Jun's flame and undead summons associated with the Soul Clan. 81

Tagor Desert and Hai Bodong

Old Yao remains concealed while Xiao Yan searches for Heavenly Flames in the Tagor Desert. Chu Yang exploits Old Yao's fear of the Soul Hall to discourage him from assisting against Hai Bodong, though Old Yao considers intervening when Xiao Yan faces mortal danger. 87 88

Chu Yang's decision to give Xiao Yan Hai Bodong's map fragments without demanding compensation profoundly affects Old Yao, who recognizes that Chu Yang may genuinely care for his disciple. 90 91

Green Lotus Core Flame Expedition

Old Yao protects and directs Xiao Yan through the underground magma sea, helps defeat the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake, and identifies the Green Lotus Core Flame. 99 100 102

When the flame is absent from the Green Lotus Platform, Old Yao restrains Xiao Yan's anger and teaches him not to destroy the lotus or remove its stem, preserving the possibility of a future flame. 103 104

Queen Medusa's Evolution

During Queen Medusa's evolution, Old Yao uses the Bone Spirit Cold Flame to shield Xiao Yan from the lightning within the energy barrier. After the apparent destruction of Queen Medusa's snake form, he urges Xiao Yan to prioritize subduing the Heavenly Flame. 129