Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Clan
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; Yao Chen's disciple
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 65

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Three-stage Dou Qi	65	A young prodigy of the Xiao Clan; begins researching the nature of Dou Qi and considers using it to help Xiao Xun'er.
Dou Qi vanishing	149	Yao Chen secretly absorbs his Dou Qi after Ye Yan replaces his ring with Yao Chen's Storage Ring, deliberately driving Xiao Yan into despair and testing his resilience.
Seventh-stage Dou Qi	191	His talent is restored through Yao Chen's guidance and the Foundation Building Spirit Liquid; Nalan Su confirms his realm.
One-star Dou Zhe	216	Breaks through after an extended period of foundation-building and cultivation, reaching the same major realm as Nalan Yanran with two years remaining before their duel.

Background / History

Xiao Yan was recognized as a gifted Xiao Clan child, reaching the third stage of Dou Qi at a young age. He showed unusual maturity and concern for Xiao Xun'er, offering to use his own Dou Qi to nourish her meridians despite her cold constitution being incurable. 65 73

After Xiao Xun'er rejected his attempt to secretly nourish her meridians, Xiao Yan sought to explain himself and continued trying to repair their strained relationship. 74 76

Prior to his decline, Xiao Yan became embroiled in a public dispute with Xiao Yu after she accused him of deliberately entering a concealed hot spring while she was bathing. Xiao Yan maintained that he had entered by accident, while the incident damaged his standing among the gathered clansmen. 138

Ye Yan and Yao Chen covertly arranged for Yao Chen to inhabit Xiao Yan's ring. Yao Chen then began absorbing Xiao Yan's Dou Qi, leaving him powerless. Xiao Yan panicked and sought help from his father, Xiao Zhan, while Ye Yan observed the beginning of his downfall from hiding. 149

For more than three years, Xiao Yan endured the contempt of many Xiao Clan members without giving up. Yao Chen judged that this prolonged hardship had strengthened his disciple's endurance and character. 184

After Yao Chen refined Foundation Building Spirit Liquid, Xiao Yan's talent recovered. Within roughly a year, he rose from the third to the seventh stage of Dou Qi and regained the confidence to face Nalan Yanran's proposed annulment. 184 191 192

Xiao Yan eventually learned that Yao Chen had deliberately concealed the reason for his vanished Dou Qi in order to temper his endurance and mental fortitude. Though angered by the deception, he recognized the benefits of Yao Chen's guidance and became grateful for his teacher. 196

Following further foundation-building, Xiao Yan advanced into the Dou Zhe realm. He regarded this breakthrough as placing him on equal footing with Nalan Yanran's current cultivation stage and strengthening his prospects in their remaining two-year duel period. 216

Personality

Xiao Yan is compassionate and unusually mature for his age. He sincerely worries about Xiao Xun'er's health, accepts rejection without resentment, and continues looking for ways to help her. 65

He is proud of his talent and sometimes becomes overconfident after making progress, but Yao Chen regularly corrects this tendency by reminding him of the wider cultivation world and Ye Yan's exceptional advancement. 187

His years of lost cultivation leave him more resilient and composed. During the engagement dispute, he avoids an impulsive confrontation and handles the situation calmly. 195

Although deeply upset when he discovers Yao Chen's deception, Xiao Yan is capable of reflecting on his own past arrogance and acknowledging the value of the hardships that shaped him. 196

Abilities & Skills

Dou Qi Cultivation

Xiao Yan possesses strong natural aptitude and a solid foundation developed through Yao Chen's training.

• Reached three-stage Dou Qi while still young. 65
• Regained his cultivation talent after years of suppressed progress. 184
• Advanced to seventh-stage Dou Qi within a year of recovery. 191 192
• Broke through to become a one-star Dou Zhe after consolidating his foundation. 216
• His foundation is considered solid by Xuan Yi, though she judges that he still needs substantial growth. 191 196

Alchemy

Yao Chen trains Xiao Yan in alchemy and refines medicinal preparations to restore his cultivation.

• Assisted Yao Chen in refining Foundation Building Spirit Liquid. 184
• Wishes to learn to refine and sell medicinal liquids himself rather than rely on Yao Chen's superior products. 184
• Is described by Xuan Yi as having sufficient potential to potentially enter the Pill Gathering in roughly a dozen years. 196

Equipment / Items

• Yao Chen's Storage Ring — secretly placed on Xiao Yan by Ye Yan; houses Yao Chen's soul and absorbs Xiao Yan's Dou Qi. 149
• Foundation Building Spirit Liquid — temporary medicinal liquid that helps restore his cultivation talent; each batch lasts two months. 184
• Green Wood Pulse-Nurturing Pills — gifted by Ye Yan. 220
• Earth Fire Lotus Seed — a Ye Yan gift connected to Heavenly Flames. 220

Relationships

• Xiao Zhan — father; Xiao Yan turns to him in panic when his Dou Qi begins disappearing. Xiao Zhan supports him throughout his powerless years and is overjoyed by the restoration of his talent. 149 192
• Xiao Xun'er — clan relative and early concern of Xiao Yan; he attempts to help nourish her meridians and later receives support from her during his powerless years. 65 73 188
• Yao Chen — teacher and mentor; secretly causes Xiao Yan's loss of Dou Qi, later restores his talent and guides his cultivation and alchemy. Xiao Yan eventually learns the purpose of Yao Chen's deception and accepts him with renewed gratitude. 149 184 196
• Ye Yan — powerful senior acquaintance and an architect of Xiao Yan's encounter with Yao Chen; Xiao Yan eventually suspects Ye Yan's involvement in his vanished Dou Qi and learns of the scheme. Ye Yan later provides him with cultivation resources while also intending to aid Nalan Yanran. 138 149 195 196 220
• Nalan Yanran — fiancée who seeks to annul their engagement; Xiao Yan accepts a three-year duel arrangement rather than simply submit. By the time he reaches the Dou Zhe realm, two years remain before their match. 191 195 216
• Xiao Yi Xian — one of the few people who treats Xiao Yan kindly during his years of decline. 188
• Xiao Yu — clan relative who accused Xiao Yan of deliberately intruding upon her secluded hot spring; Xiao Yan insisted that the entry had been accidental. 138

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Concern for Xiao Xun'er

Xiao Yan visits Xiao Xun'er and offers to use his Dou Qi to help manage her unstable meridians. He later plans to enter her courtyard at night to nourish them, an event watched by Ye Yan. Xiao Xun'er misinterprets the attempt as having ulterior motives, leaving their relationship strained despite Xiao Yan's attempts to explain himself. 65 73 74 76

Vanishing Dou Qi

Yao Chen begins draining Xiao Yan's Dou Qi through the ring secretly placed by Ye Yan. Xiao Yan falls from genius to apparent failure, beginning several years of humiliation and hardship within the Xiao Clan. 149

Talent Restoration

With Yao Chen's help, Xiao Yan regains his talent. He reaches seventh-stage Dou Qi, impresses Nalan Yanran, and regains the standing needed to answer her annulment request on his own terms. 184 191 192

Revelation of Yao Chen's Scheme

Xiao Yan discovers that Yao Chen and Ye Yan were connected to his vanished Dou Qi. Yao Chen explains that the ordeal was intended to develop Xiao Yan's endurance and mental fortitude; after reflecting on his growth, Xiao Yan reconciles with his teacher. 195 196

Breakthrough to Dou Zhe

After further training and foundation-building under Yao Chen, Xiao Yan breaks through to become a Dou Zhe. He sees the advancement as an important step toward defeating Nalan Yanran during their future duel. 216

Yao Chen's Physical Reconstruction

Ye Yan and Xuan Yi provide the resources necessary to restore Yao Chen's body. Xiao Yan is relieved but also recognizes how dependent he remains on his teacher's guidance. After the reconstruction succeeds, Yao Chen advances to junior Half-Saint, giving Xiao Yan a powerful protector. 196 220 223

Three-Year Agreement

Xiao Yan commits to a future duel with Nalan Yanran. Ye Yan mischievously chooses to aid both sides, giving Xiao Yan resources while also agreeing to help Nalan Yanran train. 195 220