Yao Lao

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Yao Lao (药老)
Alias(es)	Venerable Yao 30
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Yao Clan (formerly); Starfall Pavilion (co-founder); Tang Wulin's master
Occupation/Role	Top-tier alchemist; mentor and protector of Tang Wulin
Status	Active as a remnant soul residing in a Spirit Ring 1 30
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background / History

Yao Lao was born into a branch family of the Yao Clan, one of the Dou Qi Continent's eight ancient clans. His exceptional alchemical talent surpassed that of the clan's main-line descendants, provoking the elders' resentment. They rigged an alchemy competition, framed him for stealing medicinal herbs, and had him exiled from the clan. 30

After decades of traveling alone, Yao Lao reached great heights in cultivation and alchemy. His reputation spread across the Dou Qi Continent, where he was respectfully called Venerable Yao. He later co-founded the Starfall Pavilion with a close friend, establishing it among the continent's four great pavilions. 30

He accepted an orphan with notable alchemical talent as his only disciple and taught him for more than a decade. The disciple ultimately colluded with the Soul Clan to obtain a cultivation technique, lured Yao Lao into an ambush, and stabbed him in the back while Yao Lao was attempting to protect him. Yao Lao escaped only by preserving a remnant soul within a Spirit Ring. 30

The Spirit Ring eventually reached the Douluo Continent and was picked up by Tang Wulin. Yao Lao remained dormant until he absorbed Tang Wulin's unusually strong life force for three years, allowing him to manifest again. He later acknowledged this drain as a debt he needed to repay. 1 2 30

Appearance

Yao Lao manifests as an elderly, translucent figure with an ethereal presence. His form is often accompanied by white light, reflecting his existence as a soul rather than a living body. 1 7

• White beard. 1
• Usually appears in a calm, hands-behind-back posture. 1
• Can dissolve into white light and return to the Spirit Ring. 7 31
• While possessing Tang Wulin, his host's eyes take on a shrewd, calculating expression unlike Tang Wulin's usual demeanor. 26

Personality

Yao Lao is proud of his status as an alchemist and repeatedly corrects Tang Wulin when the boy assumes alchemy has little combat value. He is blunt, easily irritated by arrogance, and willing to intimidate enemies who threaten those under his protection. 3 4 26

Despite his sharp manner, he is observant and protective. He recognizes Tang Wulin's patience, work ethic, and kindness early on, eventually considering him suitable material for a disciple. His concern becomes increasingly personal as he guides Tang Wulin through the Golden Dragon King seal crisis and later accepts him as his formal disciple. 3 11 49

Yao Lao remains deeply affected by his former disciple's betrayal. Tang Wulin's formal pledge never to betray his master or ancestors causes Yao Lao to recall that past betrayal, but he chooses to trust Tang Wulin. 30 49

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Yao Lao was regarded as a top-tier alchemist on the Dou Qi Continent. His knowledge allows him to identify medicinal properties, revise formulas for local ingredients, and create pills with effects far beyond ordinary market medicines. 2 9 30

• Provided Tang Wulin with pill formulas to sell in exchange for dragon-type soul beast blood. 7 9
• Adapted recipes to Douluo Continent herbs after studying a local herb compendium. 9
• His fifth- and sixth-grade formulas were considered extremely valuable despite being incomplete adaptations. 9 10
• Uses the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record: Herb Chapter to improve his formulas and develop medicines suited to soul masters. 49
• Plans for Tang Wulin to eventually refine high-grade pills because Yao Lao's soul state limits his own alchemy. 49

Bone Chilling Flame

Yao Lao wields the Bone Chilling Flame, a Heavenly Flame characterized by extreme cold externally and intense heat internally. 2 11

• Suppressed Tang Wulin's prematurely erupting Golden Dragon King seal. 6
• Replaced the rare cold- and heat-aligned herbs needed to temper Tang Wulin's body before seal absorption. 2
• Assisted Tang Wulin's circulation of the Burning Mantra during the first seal's absorption. 11
• Can freeze and melt Purple-Grade Mechas while incapacitating their pilots without killing them. 27
• Its use in seal absorption inflicts severe alternating cold and heat on the recipient. 2 11

Burning Mantra

The Burning Mantra is a cultivation technique Yao Lao found in a secret realm during his youth; he did not create it himself. He passed it to Tang Wulin to guide the Bone Chilling Flame and absorb Golden Dragon King power. 11 31

• Allows its practitioner to guide Heavenly Flames using soul power in place of battle qi. 11 40
• May eventually forge a perfect physical body for Yao Lao if cultivated to a sufficient level. 31
• Yao Lao's restoration additionally requires a top-tier Title Douluo's corpse, soul-nourishing medicine, top-tier bloodline essence, a Grade Eight pill, and mastery of at least three Heavenly Flames. 31

Possession and Combat

Yao Lao can possess Tang Wulin's body and exert overwhelming combat power despite lacking his original physical form. This strains Tang Wulin severely, leaving him unconscious for days with depleted energy, organ damage, and violent energy in his meridians. 26 29 30

• Confronted Guang Biao after Tang Wulin was incapacitated. 26
• Defeated the East Sea City Mecha Brigade's forces, including Purple-Grade Mechas and Guang Biao's Black-Grade Mecha. 27
• Pursued Guang Biao and damaged his Black-Grade Mecha with a single punch. 27
• Overpowered Shancheng, a Title Douluo, shattering his Level 9 defensive soul tool and two-word Battle Armor with one strike. 28
• Created a spatial rift to return Tang Wulin's body to Wu Zhangkong after the battle. 29

Eight-Level Collapse

Yao Lao possesses the Eight-Level Collapse, a domineering strength-based battle technique. He modified it for Tang Wulin by adapting its battle-qi activation method to soul power. 27 40

• Delivers layered hidden force, with eight successive bursts released after the initial strike. 46
• Can be combined with Tang Wulin's Golden Dragon Claw, allowing its hidden forces to inherit the claw's crushing property. 40
• Has a heavy cost in both soul power and blood essence when used by Tang Wulin. 46

Equipment / Items

• Spirit Ring — The vessel containing Yao Lao's remnant soul after his betrayal. 1 30
• Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record: Herb Chapter — A comprehensive Tang Sect herb record that Yao Lao studies to advance his alchemy and improve his formulas. 49

Relationships

• Tang Wulin — Initially the source of the life force that awakened Yao Lao; later Yao Lao's first friend in the Douluo Continent, student, and formal disciple. Yao Lao protects him, teaches him the Burning Mantra and Eight-Level Collapse, and begins teaching him alchemy. 1 26 40 49
• Old Tang — A fellow soul-like presence within Tang Wulin. Though they initially argue over Yao Lao absorbing Tang Wulin's life force, they cooperate to resolve the first Golden Dragon King seal. 1 2 12
• Unnamed former disciple — Yao Lao's only disciple from the Dou Qi Continent, whom he raised and taught for over a decade before being betrayed and ambushed by him. 30
• Shancheng — Title Douluo and East Sea City Soul Master Legion commander. Yao Lao spared Guang Biao after Shancheng accepted one of his punches and promised to protect Tang Wulin and his friends from further harassment. 28 29
• Guang Biao — Soul Emperor and captain of the East Sea City Mecha Brigade. Yao Lao defeated and intimidated him after he attempted to harm Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, and Xie Xie. 26 27

Story Role / Major Arcs

Golden Dragon King Seal Crisis

Yao Lao reveals himself to Tang Wulin after the boy acquires Golden Scale. He identifies the danger posed by Tang Wulin's eighteen seals, offers the Bone Chilling Flame as a substitute for rare herbs, supplies pill formulas to fund the needed dragon-type blood, and guides Tang Wulin through absorbing the first seal. 1 2 7 11

When Tang Wulin cannot absorb the final portion of the first seal, Yao Lao proposes having Golden Scale absorb the remaining power. The plan succeeds, allowing Tang Wulin to survive and gain the Golden Dragon Claw. 11 12

East Sea City Mecha Brigade Incident

After Guang Biao breaks his promise to release Tang Wulin's group and attempts to capture them, Yao Lao possesses Tang Wulin and intervenes. He defeats the Mecha Brigade, forces Guang Biao's surrender, and later takes the Black-Grade Mecha and a storage soul tool as compensation. 26 27 29

Yao Lao ultimately spares Guang Biao after Shancheng intervenes, recognizing that he will be unable to protect Tang Wulin continuously after the battle. 28

Formal Master-Disciple Bond

After receiving the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record: Herb Chapter, Yao Lao decides to train Tang Wulin in alchemy. He explains that alchemy can strengthen soul masters and that Tang Wulin will be needed to refine the pill required for Yao Lao's eventual resurrection. 49

Tang Wulin formally becomes Yao Lao's disciple, pledging to treat him like a father, study alchemy diligently, and never betray his master or ancestors. 49

Notable Quotes

“I am no spirit master, nor do I belong to this world.” 1

“I am the greatest alchemist.” 4

“My temper has never been particularly good. As it happens, the child you bullied is my first friend in this world.” 26

“To be kind is to harbor a benevolent heart to aid the masses, while also retaining a discerning mind so as not to be naive.” 40