Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Little Yanzi
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Clan; disciple of Yao Lao
Occupation/Role	Dou Qi cultivator; alchemy apprentice
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Third Stage Dou Qi	2	His Dou Qi had fallen to this level after Yao Lao absorbed it through the Bone Flame Ring. Once he removes the ring, the dissipation stops and he resumes cultivation. 2
Fifth Stage Dou Qi	8	Breaks through after training with Foundation Building Spirit Liquid. 8
Seventh Stage Dou Qi	48	Publicly demonstrates his recovered talent during the Xiao Clan testing ceremony. 48
Dou Zhe	90	Condenses a Fighting Qi Vortex with Yao Lao’s Qi Gathering Powder, returning to the realm he had previously attained. 90

Background

Xiao Yan grew up in the Xiao Clan alongside Xiao Yang. Xiao Zhan effectively helped raise Xiao Yang after the deaths of Xiao Yang’s parents, and the two youths became as close as brothers. 12

He had once reached the Dou Zhe realm, but his cultivation abruptly declined when Yao Lao’s soul began absorbing his Dou Qi through the Bone Flame Ring left by his mother. By the time Xiao Yang identifies the ring as the source, Xiao Yan has fallen to the third stage of Dou Qi and endured the clan’s disappointment and mockery. 2

Xiao Yan removes the ring and confirms that his Dou Qi no longer dissipates. When Yao Lao reveals himself and admits to absorbing a year’s worth of his cultivation, Xiao Yan angrily confronts him, but eventually accepts Yao Lao’s offer of instruction. He and Xiao Yang formally become Yao Lao’s disciples. 3 4

Personality

Xiao Yan is notably persistent. Even while his cultivation continued to vanish, he kept training rather than surrendering; Xiao Yang privately recognizes that such perseverance would be difficult for most people to maintain. 4

He is deeply loyal to Xiao Yang and treats him as family, crediting him for uncovering the truth behind his lost Dou Qi. 2 The two train, explore ruins, and face danger together throughout the early story. 13 17 20

Although he initially reacts emotionally to Yao Lao’s deception, Xiao Yan can be pragmatic when greater opportunities are at stake. He negotiates compensation for the lost year of cultivation, accepts Yao Lao as his master, and commits himself to the risky Burning Mantra despite its low projected chance of success. 3 4 40

He becomes increasingly decisive in dangerous situations. During the raid on the Jia Lie Clan, he kills Jialie Ao after Xiao Yang instructs him to take over. 31

Appearance

At the time of the Xiao Clan’s testing ceremony, Xiao Yan is fourteen years old. His face is described as still carrying youthful features. 3 48

• Often wears the Bone Flame Ring inherited from his mother. 2
• Uses a medicine cauldron suited to a beginner after Yao Lao judges his original cauldron unsuitable for his current skill level. 42

Abilities & Skills

Dou Qi Cultivation

Xiao Yan resumes cultivation after discovering that the Bone Flame Ring—not a flaw in his body—was draining his Dou Qi. His prior experience as a Dou Zhe leaves him with widened meridians and helps accelerate his recultivation. 2

• Reaches the seventh stage of Dou Qi by the Xiao Clan testing ceremony. 48
• Re-condenses a Fighting Qi Vortex and returns to the Dou Zhe realm with Qi Gathering Powder. 90
• Gains the ability to manifest fire from his Dou Qi for alchemy after beginning cultivation of a fire-attributed method. 91

Burning Mantra

Xiao Yan chooses Yao Lao’s evolvable Burning Mantra over a safer low-tier Earth-class cultivation technique. The method requires absorbing flames to evolve and has a success rate Yao Lao estimates at no more than twenty percent. 40

• Can evolve through the consumption of Beast Flames and, ultimately, Heavenly Flames. 40
• Is chosen because its potential offers a path beyond the limits of a conventional Earth-class technique. 40
• Its growth is slow and dangerous without suitable flames. 90

Alchemy

Yao Lao begins teaching Xiao Yan alchemy after he reaches the Dou Zhe realm. Xiao Yan is eager to learn and prepares a more appropriate beginner’s medicine cauldron for his training. 42 90

• Begins by learning to convert Dou Qi into flame within a medicine cauldron. 42
• Studies under Yao Lao, an alchemist who claims no one in the local empire can surpass him in alchemy. 4
• Receives the Soul Nourishing Technique from Xiao Yang during his early alchemy training. 91

Eight Extremes Collapse

Yao Lao teaches Xiao Yan the high-grade Profound-class Dou Technique Eight Extremes Collapse. 8

• An offensive technique with demanding physical-strength requirements. 8 9
• Xiao Yan undergoes Yao Lao’s harsh body-tempering training to build the physique needed to use it. 9 28

Treading Snow Without Trace

Xiao Yan learns the movement Dou Technique Treading Snow Without Trace alongside Xiao Yang under Yao Lao’s guidance. 23

• Requires sustained movement and precise release of Dou Qi through the feet when contacting water. 23
• Gives him a mobility-focused technique to complement his offensive training. 23

Equipment / Items

• Bone Flame Ring — A memento from Xiao Yan’s mother and Yao Lao’s dwelling place; it absorbed Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi before Yao Lao’s exposure. 2 3
• Medicine cauldron — A beginner-friendly cauldron purchased for his alchemy studies. 42
• Foundation Building Spirit Liquid — Cultivation bath liquid provided through Yao Lao’s alchemy and used during his recovery period. 5 8
• Qi Gathering Powder — Refined by Yao Lao to assist Xiao Yan’s return to the Dou Zhe realm. 90
• Soul Nourishing Technique — A technique given to him by Xiao Yang during alchemy training. 91

Relationships

• Xiao Yang — Closest companion and brother-like relative. Xiao Yang discovers the cause of Xiao Yan’s lost Dou Qi, supports his cultivation, and shares techniques and opportunities with him. 2 4 12 91
• Yao Lao — Master and alchemy instructor. Their relationship begins with hostility over the stolen Dou Qi but develops into a master-disciple bond. 3 4 42 90
• Xiao Zhan — Father and Xiao Clan patriarch. He is relieved by Xiao Yan’s recovered talent and remains concerned for his future. 48 56
• Xun’er — Childhood sweetheart and close companion. Xiao Yan’s desire to stand beside her openly influences his pursuit of greater strength. 23 40 55
• Nalan Yanran — His betrothed by an arranged engagement. Xiao Yan has no personal interest in the arrangement, which is later dissolved privately. 35 55 56
• Jialie Ao — Hostile rival connected to the attempt to abduct Xiao Yang. Xiao Yan kills him during the Jia Lie Clan raid. 29 31

History

Loss and Recovery of Talent

While Yao Lao resides in the Bone Flame Ring, he absorbs Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi for a year, leaving Xiao Yan unable to retain his cultivation. Xiao Yang’s suspicion of the ring reveals the cause, allowing Xiao Yan to remove it and regain the ability to cultivate. 2

After Yao Lao manifests, Xiao Yan demands accountability for his losses. The conflict ends with Yao Lao offering instruction in alchemy and accepting both Xiao Yan and Xiao Yang as disciples. 3 4

Back-Mountain Training and the Dou Huang Tomb

Under Yao Lao’s guidance, Xiao Yan trains his body, learns Eight Extremes Collapse, and practices alongside Xiao Yang. 8 9

He accompanies Xiao Yang and Yao Lao into the Magical Beast Mountain Range to investigate a map leading to a Dou Huang tomb. There, he assists in fighting Magical Beasts, harvesting materials, uncovering hidden treasures, and returning valuable Profound-class techniques to the Xiao Clan. 13 17 20

Jia Lie Clan Conflict

When Jia Lie Clan guards infiltrate the back mountain to abduct Xiao Yang, Xiao Yan helps expose the plot. 29 He later accompanies Xiao Yang and Yao Lao on a night raid against the Jia Lie Clan, where he kills Jialie Ao after the latter is interrogated about Emil. 31

Return to the Dou Zhe Realm

Xiao Yan publicly proves that his talent has returned by testing at the seventh stage of Dou Qi during the Xiao Clan ceremony. 48 After continued cultivation, he condenses his Fighting Qi Vortex and re-enters the Dou Zhe realm. 90

Following the breakthrough, he begins formal alchemy instruction and commits to cultivating the Burning Mantra. 90 91

Trivia

• Xiao Yan once threw the Bone Flame Ring away in anger, briefly forgetting that it was his mother’s memento. 3
• He is initially teased by Yao Lao over both Xun’er and his engagement to Nalan Yanran. 35
• His first alchemy task is Blood Coagulation Powder. 42