Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎) 1
Alias(es)	Little Yan; Xiao Yanzi 1 46
Gender	Male 1
Affiliation	Xiao Clan; Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy 85
Occupation/Role	Third Young Master of the Xiao Clan; alchemist 46 62
Status	Alive; traveling toward the Central Plains with Qing Lin 137
First Appearance	Chapter 1 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Dou Zhe	1	Broke through at age eleven, placing him ahead of his peers.
Eighth stage of Dou Force	12	His cultivation regressed amid a mysterious condition caused by Yao Lao's intervention.
Five-star Dou Zhe	41	Reached this level within four months of renewed cultivation.
Dou Master	46	Recovered to this realm despite losing a year of training while Yao Lao drew his Dou Qi.
Peak Dou Master	68	Achieved after subduing the Green Lotus Core Flame with Yao Lao's assistance.
One-star Da Dou Shi	77	Displayed when he arrived in the Black-Corner Region to find Xiao Li.
Eight-star Da Dou Shi	81 85	Entered Jia Nan Academy with exceptional Dou Qi and alchemy ability.
Three-star Dou Ling	99	Reached this level before the Three-Year Agreement.
Five-star Dou Ling	105	Publicly revealed his realm before fighting Nalan Yanran at age sixteen.
Low-level Dou King	137	Had advanced to this realm by the time he and Qing Lin headed toward Tianbei City.

Background / History

Xiao Yan is the third son of Xiao Zhan and the younger brother of Xiao Ding and Xiao Li. A Dou Zhe at eleven, he was originally proud and complacent because his talent surpassed that of his peers. He has lived two lives and possesses unusually strong soul power, though Xiao Li initially chose not to interfere too heavily with his destined growth. 1

His cultivation later collapsed to the eighth stage of Dou Force. Rather than becoming embittered, he endured the setback with determination, while Xun'er and other members of the Xiao Clan continued to support him. Yao Lao eventually began guiding him, turning his lost year into the foundation for a rapid recovery. 12 46

Xiao Yan reunited with Xiao Li after becoming a Dou Master. Xiao Li supplied him with a large store of medicinal herbs for alchemy practice and encouraged his ambition to surpass him, though their spar showed the large gap that still remained. 46

At Shimo City, Xiao Li offered to help him obtain a Heavenly Flame. Xiao Yan subsequently introduced Yao Lao to his brothers, subdued the Green Lotus Core Flame, and later acquired the Sea Heart Flame from Han Feng. 61 62 68 79

Appearance

Nalan Yanran initially regards Xiao Yan as plain-looking, but by nearly fourteen he has grown noticeably more mature and stands about 1.75 meters tall. 56 77

• Uses black robes to conceal his identity while traveling in the Black-Corner Region. 77
• His eyes flash cyan-blue after emerging from seclusion before the Three-Year Agreement. 104
• Can fly through a flying Dou Technique. 85

Personality

Xiao Yan begins as a gifted but prideful child, yet his loss of cultivation tempers that arrogance. He remains determined to recover, trusts his family deeply, and is willing to place Yao Lao's ring in his brothers' hands without hesitation. 1 12 62

He is more compassionate than Xiao Li and initially struggles to accept the latter's policy of eliminating entire enemy families. During the destruction of the Misty Cloud Sect, he questions the killing of ordinary disciples before accepting Xiao Li's reasoning that those who took up arms against them had become enemies. 63 114

Despite his strength, Xiao Yan is calm and detached when confronting Nalan Yanran. He considers the Three-Year Agreement a matter to settle quickly rather than a contest worthy of prolonged attention. 104 105

Abilities & Skills

Fire-Attribute Cultivation

Xiao Yan cultivates the Burning Mantra and possesses a fire attribute suited to alchemy and Heavenly Flames. 61 85

• Subdued the Green Lotus Core Flame with Yao Lao's help, reaching peak Dou Master. 68
• Obtained the Sea Heart Flame following Han Feng's capture. 79 85
• Uses two Heavenly Flames as the basis for his strongest fire techniques. 85

Buddha Fury Fire Lotus

A fire-lotus attack created from Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flames. 85

• Defeated a Dou Ling during the Fire Energy Hunting Competition. 85
• Struck an academy elder hard enough to leave him covered in dust and soot. 85

Alchemy & Puppet Refinement

Xiao Yan is an alchemist under Yao Lao's guidance and was recognized as a third-tier alchemist upon joining Jia Nan Academy. 46 84

• Received extensive medicinal herbs from Xiao Li to develop practical alchemy experience. 46
• Refined two Human-Demon Puppets with combat power comparable to six- or seven-star Dou Emperors. 115
• Also refined a half-step Dou Zong puppet. 115

Dou Techniques & Mobility

Xiao Yan possesses several high-level combat and movement techniques. 46 85

• Eight Extremities Collapse — a close-range explosive strike; Xiao Li effortlessly caught it during their spar. 46
• Flame Splitting Wave Devouring Ruler — one of his primary offensive Dou Techniques. 85
• Three Thousand Lightning Movement — movement technique used alongside his flying Dou Technique. 85

Yao Lao's Tutelage

Yao Lao serves as Xiao Yan's teacher, guide, and occasional combat partner. 62 77

• Guided Xiao Yan through the subjugation of the Green Lotus Core Flame. 68
• Can possess Xiao Yan's body in battle; during the Soul Hall conflict, Yao Lao confronted Protector Wu while using Xiao Yan as his vessel. 112
• His guidance provides Xiao Yan with advanced knowledge of alchemy, cultivation, and Heavenly Flames. 46 68

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Bone Flame Ring — the ring inhabited by Yao Lao. 112
• Storage Ring — received from Xiao Li, containing medicinal herbs for alchemy practice. 46
• Green Lotus Core Flame — Heavenly Flame subdued with Yao Lao's assistance. 68
• Sea Heart Flame — Heavenly Flame taken from Han Feng. 79 85
• Human-Demon Puppets — two high-level Dou Emperor combat puppets refined by Xiao Yan. 115

Relationships

• Xiao Li — His second brother, strongest supporter, rival, and source of resources; Xiao Yan is determined to catch up to him. 1 46 61
• Xiao Ding — His eldest brother; Xiao Yan selects a wood-attribute Qi Method for him from Jia Nan Academy's Scripture Library. 61 85
• Xiao Zhan — His father and the Xiao Clan Head, who remains concerned for him throughout his cultivation decline. 12
• Yao Lao — His teacher and mentor, residing within the Bone Flame Ring. 62 77
• Xun'er — A close companion who encourages him during his downfall and continues her relationship with him after entering Jia Nan Academy. 12 97
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and opponent in the Three-Year Agreement; Xiao Yan defeats her and ends their engagement. 56 105
• Medusa — Helped her evolution using the Green Lotus Core Flame; she later fights alongside him and Yao Lao against Protector Xuan. 68 79
• Hai Bodong — Receives the Purple Spirit Recovery Pill from Xiao Yan and protects the Xiao Clan in return. 100
• Qing Lin — Travels with Xiao Yan toward Tianbei City after developing her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. 137

Story Role / Major Arcs

The Three-Year Agreement

Nalan Yanran visits the Xiao Clan to discuss ending her engagement to Xiao Yan. He accepts an agreement to settle the matter through a future battle, seeking an apology to the Xiao Clan and recognition of the broken engagement. 56 57

Three years later, Xiao Yan arrives at the Misty Cloud Sect as a five-star Dou Ling. He catches Nalan Yanran's strongest attack with one hand, declares her defeated, and ends their engagement. 104 105

Conflict with the Misty Cloud Sect

The Misty Cloud Sect attempts to detain Xiao Yan over the Xiao Clan's destruction of the Mo Clan. Xiao Yan openly acknowledges his role, knowing that his family and the Thunder Sect stand behind him. 106 108

During the ensuing battle, he fights beside Thunder Sect disciples while Yao Lao remains concealed as a reserve force. When the Soul Hall intervenes, Yao Lao possesses Xiao Yan to confront Protector Wu. 110 112

Central Plains Journey

After the Jia Ma Empire and Black-Corner Region conflicts, Xiao Yan continues traveling with Qing Lin toward the Central Plains. By this point, he is a low-level Dou King, while Yao Lao remains by his side. 137

Notable Quotes

“I have come to fulfill our appointment. Enough with the nonsense; I have other matters to attend to.” 105