Yang Xiao

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Yang Xiao (杨啸)
Alias(es)	Wang Yulang; Boss Zhao; Zhao Hu (impersonation)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Vermilion Bird Tower; infiltrates the Peace Sect under disguises
Occupation/Role	Waiter at Vermilion Bird Tower; covert cultivator
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Nine Cicada Hearing Technique — First Hearing	1	Obtains Uncle Liu's thirty years of cultivation experience by observing his qi.
Spirit Cicada Transformation	6	The Nine Cicada Hearing Technique sublimates during a life-or-death confrontation; grants greatly enhanced hearing and allows him to perceive opponents' movements through sound.
Cowhide realm	14	Uses the phantom of the Myriad Phenomena Heaven-Swallowing Art to devour food and strengthen his body.
Bronze Skin realm	17	Advances after devouring meat and vegetables, which balance the violent energy within his body.
Advanced Iron Skin realm	19	Breaks through after devouring Zhao Hu and further accumulating nourishment; can shatter a wooden stool without injury.
Peak Iron Skin realm	25	Devours Mr. Zou's Haoran Qi with a black-and-white taiji manifestation, remaking his meridians and raising his Iron Skin to its peak.
Azure Cloud Sword Art — minor mastery	20	Learns Li Wenyao's sixty years of sword-cultivation insights from a bamboo slip; can project a sword ten paces.
Shadowless Divine Skill	50	Uses Qi-Observing Stealing Technique on Zhang Long to acquire an incomplete version; his exceptional body lets him withstand its usual side effects.

Background / History

Yang Xiao is a transmigrator who awakens as a sickly waiter in Vermilion Bird Tower. His father is dead, his aptitude and innate bones are considered poor, and Uncle Liu initially believes he is destined to die young without becoming a martial artist. 1

His situation changes when he discovers his maxed-out comprehension and Qi-Observing Stealing Technique. By observing the qi above a martial practitioner's head, he can experience their training as though it were his own; however, the technique can only be used once per day, and forcing a second observation severely drains his essence, qi, and spirit. 1 2

Yang Xiao initially intends to remain inconspicuous in Vermilion Bird Tower, cultivate in secret, and eventually reach grandmasterhood or even invincibility. As he uncovers the Peace Sect's infiltration of the tower and becomes a target of Zhang Long, Zhao Hu, and Boss Zhao, survival pushes him toward increasingly ruthless and deceptive methods. 1 19 30

After the Scripture Pavilion's old man determines that his illness leaves him with only three months to live, Yang Xiao seeks the Azure Cloud Sect's teachings for a solution. His encounter with the faceless woman in white later sends mysterious red threads through his meridians, resolving the fatal imbalance between his hardened body and shortened lifespan. 38 39 41

Appearance

Yang Xiao is a handsome but thin and sickly-looking young man. His frail appearance causes others to underestimate him, even after he becomes exceptionally powerful at the Iron Skin realm. 6 38

• Described as handsome enough to draw attention from Vermilion Bird Tower's dancers. 6 7
• Initially has an unhealthy, weak constitution and frequently coughs. 1 2
• His body becomes hardened “from the inside out” after his cultivation advances, despite retaining his outwardly frail image. 38
• Can alter his face, height, build, and bearing with the Thousand Illusion Dagger. 33

Personality

Yang Xiao is cautious, observant, and intensely practical. He prefers to lie low, collect information, and avoid danger rather than confront powerful opponents directly. Even after learning of the Peace Sect's plans, his first instinct is often to protect himself by staying out of the conflict. 2 19

He is also an accomplished actor. Yang Xiao maintains the image of a deferential waiter, uses flattery to placate Fairy Bai, feigns infatuation with a painting to mislead Xiao Zhao, and convincingly impersonates both allies and enemies. 2 8 31 33

While he can be kind—such as helping Ye Feng and treating him to a meal—he becomes ruthless when threatened. He kills Zhao Hu and Boss Zhao, devours evidence through his phantom, and plans to eliminate Zhang Long before Zhang Long can act against him. 3 4 19 29

Abilities & Skills

Maxed-Out Comprehension

Yang Xiao can thoroughly understand cultivation methods and martial arts after obtaining another person's training experience.

• Enables him to grasp Uncle Liu's decades of experience with the Nine Cicada Hearing Technique. 1
• Allows him to comprehend the Azure Cloud Mental Method at a glance. 40
• Does not erase the importance of his own aptitude, foundation, physical ability, or cultivation resources. 20 25 27

Qi-Observing Stealing Technique

Yang Xiao observes qi dynamics above people, techniques, and items to gain knowledge or abilities.

• Identifies martial strength through the color and length of qi above a person's head. 2
• Can acquire a target's martial skill, cultivation experience, memories, and insights. 1 44
• Can perceive qi from martial techniques and weapons, including golden-radiance artifacts. 15 30
• Limited to one use per day; a second attempt can leave him depleted or potentially kill him. 2
• After absorbing Haoran Qi, he can sense goodwill or malice within observed qi. 31

Myriad Phenomena Heaven-Swallowing Art

An evolved form of the Yellow Heaven Body-Casting Scripture: Warrior Chapter, centered on a phantom that devours matter and energy. 14

• Devours food and flesh to strengthen Yang Xiao's body without ordinary minor-realm bottlenecks. 9 14
• Devours enemies and can yield fragmented memories, such as Zhao Hu's knowledge of the Peace Sect's infiltration plan. 19
• Can erase remains and evidence after a killing. 19 29
• Uses black and white currents in a taiji formation to devour Haoran Qi more efficiently. 25
• His refined meridians demand roughly ten times the cultivation resources required by ordinary practitioners of the same level. 27
• The phantom becomes increasingly independent after acquiring “flesh and blood” from black qi. 37

Spirit Cicada Transformation

An evolved auditory art derived from the Nine Cicada Hearing Technique.

• Lets Yang Xiao hear distant conversations and perceive movements with his eyes closed. 6
• Allows him to eavesdrop on hidden plots, including Peace Sect activity. 6 34
• Reveals abnormal beings and hidden structures, such as Li San's skeletal nature and the captives beneath the cloth shop. 43
• Consumes immense essence, qi, and spirit when used extensively. 6 22

Azure Cloud Sword Art

A foundational immortal-sect sword art acquired from a fragment of Li Wenyao's cultivation notebook. 20

• Reaches minor mastery through Li Wenyao's sixty years of recorded insights. 20
• Allows a rudimentary flying-sword attack, referred to as the Ten-Step Flying Sword. 20 38
• Yang Xiao can only project the sword ten paces, far below the hundred paces expected at the same level of mastery due to his poor innate talent. 20

Thousand Illusion Dagger

A divine weapon that changes Yang Xiao's appearance and bearing through blood-linked simulations. 30 33

• Lets him transform into Boss Zhao, Zhao Hu, Song Que, and other identities. 33 42 43
• Can alter physical traits such as height and build. 33
• Simulations are more accurate when Yang Xiao possesses the target's memories. 33
• Originally consumes the wielder's lifespan; Yang Xiao considers this drawback manageable through the Myriad Phenomena Heaven-Swallowing Art. 33

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Thousand Illusion Dagger — Golden-radiance divine weapon used for transformations and impersonation. 30 33
• Mystic Fire Buckle — Communication item obtained through Ye Feng; its hidden compartment contains a Shadow Feather Talisman. 14 19
• Shadow Feather Talisman — Detects activity within a hundred li; has three uses remaining when Yang Xiao discovers it. 19
• Black Iron Martial Introduction — Loaned by Old Man Liu, granting access to the Scripture Pavilion. 21 38
• Azure Cloud Mental Method bamboo slip — Scripture Pavilion text that Yang Xiao comprehends and practices. 39 40

Relationships

• Uncle Liu — Senior waiter and Yang Xiao's first martial source; warns him about Vermilion Bird Tower's rules, while Yang Xiao secretly acquires his Nine Cicada Hearing Technique experience. 1 2
• Ye Feng — Fellow low-ranking worker and trusted junior associate; Yang Xiao helps him, while Ye Feng shows loyalty and assists with errands and communication. 3 4 14 27
• Fairy Bai — Peace Sect Saintess and Two-Blood martial powerhouse; Yang Xiao appeases her with flattery and receives silver from her. 2 3
• Xiao Zhao — Hidden martial expert within Vermilion Bird Tower; Yang Xiao repeatedly misdirects her suspicions through acting. 8 14
• Zhang Long — Peace Sect disciple who plots to kill Yang Xiao; Yang Xiao later impersonates Zhao Hu to gain his trust and investigate his blood-exchange plan. 9 43 49
• Zhao Hu — Peace Sect disciple who attempts to murder Yang Xiao; Yang Xiao kills and devours him, then later impersonates him. 19 43
• Boss Zhao — Song Que's confidant and Zhao Hu's associate; Yang Xiao kills him and uses the Thousand Illusion Dagger to assume his identity. 29 30 33
• Li Weifeng — Upright Qingzhou martial artist deceived by Yang Xiao while he poses as “Wang Yulang.” 31 32
• Song Qingshan — Peace Sect hall master forced into a blood oath after Yang Xiao disguises himself as a martial grandmaster. 34
• Woman in White — Faceless, nonhuman-seeming zither player whose intervention cures Yang Xiao's life-threatening condition. 40 41

Story Role / Major Arcs

Vermilion Bird Tower Waiter

Yang Xiao begins as an apparently ordinary waiter, discovers his Qi-Observing Stealing Technique, and secretly learns martial arts while navigating the tower's rigid hierarchy. 1 2

Peace Sect Conspiracy

He uncovers the Peace Sect's planned infiltration of Vermilion Bird Tower, learns that Zhang Long and Zhao Hu intend to murder him, and begins using deception to survive among hidden sect members. 8 9 19

Zhao Hu and Boss Zhao Conflict

Yang Xiao kills Zhao Hu when Zhao Hu comes for his wealth, obtains intelligence by devouring him, then defeats the disguised Boss Zhao through traps, misdirection, and an improvised chicken-drumstick “flying sword.” 19 28 29

Scripture Pavilion and Immortal Arts

After gaining access to the Scripture Pavilion, Yang Xiao discovers sect techniques, obtains the Azure Cloud Sword Art, and pursues a cure for his worsening condition through the Azure Cloud Sect's teachings. 15 20 38 39

Thousand Illusions Infiltration

Using the Thousand Illusion Dagger, Yang Xiao impersonates Boss Zhao and Zhao Hu to infiltrate the Peace Sect, manipulate Song Qingshan, and learn of Zhang Long's preparations for blood exchange. 33 34 43 49

Trivia

• Yang Xiao calls his advanced body-forging art the Myriad Phenomena Heaven-Swallowing Art. 14
• He initially sets himself a sixty-year plan of quiet cultivation in Vermilion Bird Tower. 1
• His “Daoist flying sword” used against Boss Zhao is actually a chicken drumstick. 29
• The Scripture Pavilion old man considers him the strongest Iron Skin practitioner in Vermilion Bird Tower. 38