Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	“Little Yellow-Hair” / “Xiao Huang” (used by Qi Yan'er); “Yan Xiao” while Yao Chen operates under his identity 13 173 178
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Clan; later travels alongside Yao Chen and Qi Yan'er's group 7 207
Occupation/Role	Third Young Master of the Xiao Clan; cultivator and aspiring alchemist 7 72
Status	Active; appears during the Black-Corner Region conflict 307
First Appearance	Chapter 7

Background

Xiao Yan is Xiao Zhan's third son and a member of the Xiao Clan of Wu Tan City. Once regarded as talented, he has lost his Dou Qi by the time the Misty Cloud Sect visits the clan, leaving him withdrawn and routinely slighted by the Xiao Clan's Elders. The Second Elder even omits a seat for him at the clan gathering. 7 8

Though physically fifteen during the engagement dispute, Xiao Yan remembers a previous life and considers his true age close to forty. He is shown staring at seven-year-old Qi Yan'er due to a stated fixation on young girls; Yan'er immediately calls him a “creep.” 8

Appearance

Xiao Yan is a teenage youth with pitch-black eyes. During the crisis surrounding his engagement, he is physically fifteen, though he retains memories from before his transmigration. 7 15

• Often appears dispirited following the loss of his Dou Qi. 7
• Called “Little Yellow-Hair” by Qi Yan'er, a nickname he strongly resents. 13 15
• Later operates in a black robe while in the Black-Corner Region. 253 255

Personality

Xiao Yan is proud, resentful of his fall from talent, and acutely sensitive to humiliation. He refuses Nalan Yanran's proposed terms for ending their engagement, framing the annulment as an insult to both himself and the Xiao Clan. After being defeated and publicly rebuked, he vows to rise again. 12 15

His ambition frequently turns opportunistic. Upon learning that Yao Chen wants access to Qi Yan'er's father, Xiao Yan privately plans to use Yao Chen's scheme to win Yan'er's trust and obtain her Heaven Rank technique and treasures. 72 He nevertheless remains persistent when humiliated, repeatedly trying to retain Yao Chen's support and follow Qi Yan'er's party. 207

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy Aptitude

Yao Chen determines that Xiao Yan has the qualifications to pursue alchemy and begins teaching him after securing his obedience, though Yao Chen considers him only barely qualified. 71 72

• Learns about medicinal ingredients and observes Yao Chen's flame-based refinement. 71 72
• Is not initially a confirmed alchemist; he falsely claims the title when Xiao Zhan discovers floating medicinal ingredients. 73
• His cultivation is a major limitation: Yao Chen later derides him as unable even to cultivate a cultivation technique. 207

Connection to Yao Chen

Yao Chen resides in a ring connected to Xiao Yan and had absorbed Xiao Yan's Dou Qi, causing his years-long decline. 71 73

• Yao Chen can possess Xiao Yan's body and display Dou Huang-level power. 172 216
• This strength belongs to Yao Chen rather than Xiao Yan; Xiao Yan repeatedly acknowledges his dependence on him. 172
• Yao Chen does not formally accept him as a disciple, instead offering assistance only if Xiao Yan follows his arrangements. 71

Bone Spirit Cold Fire

Xiao Yan is initially associated with the Bone Spirit Cold Fire because it is wielded by Yao Chen through the ring. Xiao Xun'er identifies it as the eleventh-ranked Heavenly Flame. 73

• Xiao Yan does not originally understand the flame's identity or Yao Chen's background. 73
• Qi Yan'er later takes and absorbs the Bone Spirit Cold Fire from Yao Chen, depriving Xiao Yan of access to it through the ring. 78 79

Equipment / Items

• Yao Chen's ring — Houses Yao Chen's soul and enables his possession of Xiao Yan's body. 71 79 216
• Tou She Ancient God Jade pendant — Worn by Xiao Yan; an auctioned item is recognized as the same jade pendant. Xiao Yan had shown it to an old man in hopes of gaining favor and becoming stronger. 245 246
• Fragment map — Retrieved from a mountain cave; it perfectly joins Qi Yan'er's matching fragment and is revealed to be part of a treasure hunt prepared by her father. 116

Relationships

• Xiao Zhan — Father and Xiao Clan Head. Xiao Zhan is frustrated by Xiao Yan's conduct but panics and mobilizes a search when Xiao Yan leaves Wu Tan City. 13 80
• Xiao Xun'er — Longtime close friend who repeatedly helps him within the Xiao Clan, including offering him a seat when the Elders exclude him. Their relationship becomes strained by Xiao Yan's behavior and insecurities. 8 10
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée. Xiao Yan opposes her attempt to annul their engagement, but the engagement is dissolved after his defeat by Qi Yan'er. 12 15
• Qi Yan'er — Antagonistic acquaintance who calls him “Little Yellow-Hair” and defeats him in a single strike. She later repeatedly orders him to scout, unlock mechanisms, and carry out reconnaissance. 13 15 113 116 240
• Yao Chen — The soul within Xiao Yan's ring and his conditional mentor. Xiao Yan seeks his recognition and power, while Yao Chen manipulates and frequently disparages him. 71 72 207

Story Role / Major Arcs

Engagement Annulment

When Nalan Yanran arrives at the Xiao Clan to dissolve their engagement, Xiao Yan resists because he sees it as a public humiliation. Qi Yan'er challenges him to a spar; despite his confidence, he is defeated in one palm strike. Nalan Yanran formally annuls the engagement, and Xiao Yan collapses after the confrontation. 13 15

Yao Chen's Emergence

After fleeing to the Xiao Clan's Back Mountain, Xiao Yan begs the ring's inhabitant, Yao Chen, for help. Yao Chen agrees to make him stronger under strict conditions and begins directing him to gather medicinal ingredients. 71 72 Qi Yan'er exposes Yao Chen's role in draining Xiao Yan's Dou Qi, as well as the presence of the Bone Spirit Cold Fire. 73

Departure from Wu Tan City

After Qi Yan'er absorbs Yao Chen's Heavenly Flame and weakens his soul body, Xiao Yan leaves Wu Tan City with Yao Chen's ring. Xiao Zhan and Ya Fei respond by organizing searches for him. 79 80

Mountain Cave Incident

Xiao Yan attempts to claim a mountain cave as his own opportunity, only to learn it was prepared by Qi Yan'er's father for Yan'er. He is forced into scouting the cave and opening its locked stone boxes before attempting to keep a fragment map for himself. 113 116

Snake-People Race and Jia Nan Academy

Xiao Yan accompanies Yao Chen toward the Snake-People Race, hoping to use Yao Chen's name to join Qi Yan'er's group at Jia Nan Academy. Yao Chen exposes the plan, and the Snake-People Elders take Xiao Yan to the Ten Thousand Snakes Pit as punishment. 207

Black-Corner Region

Under Qi Yan'er's instruction, Xiao Yan uses rooftop “parkour” to draw the Blood Sect's attention and confirm Fan Ling's identity, though he is captured during the attempt and relies on Yao Chen for rescue. 240 He later escapes an auction venue by claiming a stomachache, abandoning Yao Chen behind. 244