Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Yang Yan (used while concealing his identity) 102
Gender	Male
Age	16 92
Affiliation	Xiao Family; Jia Nan Academy (admitted, then granted leave) 86 93
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; alchemist; Yao Chen's disciple 10 86
First Appearance	Chapter 2: I Became Xiao Yan's Uncle? 2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Third stage Dou Qi	2	Recorded at the Xiao Family annual test after three years of apparent decline; Yao Chen had been secretly absorbing his Dou Qi. 2 10
Dou Qi restored	4	Successfully cultivates Dou Qi again, regaining his talent and confidence.
One-star Dou Zhe	80	Publicly reveals his breakthrough during the coming-of-age ceremony.
Six-star Dou Zhe	88 92	Reaches this level largely through relentless pill refining; exceeds Jia Nan Academy's normal admission ranking.

Background / History

Xiao Yan spent three years enduring ridicule within the Xiao Family after his cultivation fell to the third stage of Dou Qi. The hardship tempered his will rather than breaking it, leaving him more mature and steady than before. During the annual test, Gu Xun'er defended him against the clan's mockery. 2

He then met Yang Chen, his previously unknown maternal uncle. Yang Chen recognized him as Yang family blood, promised to nurture him, and temporarily took the storage ring left by Xiao Yan's mother. 2 Yang Chen later learned that Yao Chen's soul resided in the ring and had been absorbing Xiao Yan's Dou Qi; rather than destroy Yao Chen, Yang Chen required him to properly train Xiao Yan. 3

After regaining his ability to cultivate, Xiao Yan refused to accept the Xiao Family elders' disrespect and confronted them publicly. 4 5 When Nalan Yanran sought to dissolve their engagement, he rejected the humiliation and entered a three-year agreement to surpass her. 6 8

Xiao Yan later accepted Yao Chen as his master. Under Yao Chen's guidance, he began studying alchemy and cultivating the Flame God Art through punishing fire-based training. 10 35 36 He ultimately became an alchemist, using his pill refining to restore the Xiao Family's position during its trade conflict with the Jia Lie Family. 86 87

Yang Chen eventually revealed that Xiao Yan's mother had not simply died of illness: she had been severely injured while protecting the Xiao Family during pregnancy, and the damage led to her death. Xiao Yan vowed to become stronger and seek vengeance. 82

Appearance

Xiao Yan is a tall, upright young man with a handsome, dignified appearance. After recovering his cultivation, he carries himself with a calm confidence that sharply contrasts with his former reputation as a “good-for-nothing.” 4

• Often seen in dark or black robes. 4 73
• Uses a loose black robe and hood when operating under the identity “Yang Yan.” 73 102
• Carries the oversized Heavy Xuan Ruler during his mountain-range training. 95 100

Personality

Three years of humiliation made Xiao Yan stubborn, resilient, and more restrained than he once was. He refuses to tolerate injustice indefinitely, as shown when he publicly challenges the Xiao Family elders after his strength begins to return. 2 5

He is deeply protective of his dignity and determined to defeat Nalan Yanran through his own efforts rather than depend on Yang Chen's power. 35 96 However, he remains competitive and occasionally impatient, a flaw Yang Chen exposes by defeating him without using Dou Qi during the coming-of-age ceremony. 81 97

Abilities & Skills

Dou Qi Cultivation

Xiao Yan's cultivation recovered after Yao Chen stopped draining his Dou Qi. He advances rapidly through harsh training, alchemy, and the Flame God Art. 4 35 36

• Reached six-star Dou Zhe by the Jia Nan Academy recruitment. 88 92
• Trains in the Fire Refining Grand Array and endures Solar True Fire to strengthen his body and Dou Qi. 36 72
• His fire-element cultivation continuously draws energy into his body even when he is not deliberately cultivating. 88
• Possesses the potential to absorb the beast flame given by Yang Chen after reaching the seventh stage of Dou Qi. 72

Alchemy

Yao Chen trains Xiao Yan as an alchemist, while Fa Ma recognizes his talent and offers guidance. 10 96

• Refines Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid for sale at the Mite'er Auction House. 73
• Refines medicine for the Xiao Family, helping it counter the Jia Lie Family's commercial pressure. 86 87
• Identifies rare materials such as blood lotus essence. 95
• Uses relentless pill refinement to improve both his alchemy and Dou Qi. 87 88

Combat and Mobility

A month of practical training in the Magic Beast Mountain Range substantially improves Xiao Yan's combat experience and command of Dou Techniques. 104

• Escapes a pack of second-tier magical beasts using his improved skills and Purple Cloud Wings. 104
• Dares to infiltrate the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's cave for the Purple Spirit Crystal and Companion Amethyst Source. 107
• Can rely on Yao Chen to take control of his body in extreme danger. 107

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Storage ring — A keepsake from his mother and Yao Chen's dwelling place. 2 3
• Heavy Xuan Ruler — Enormous ruler-like weapon carried during his Magic Beast Mountain Range training. 95 100
• Ten Thousand Beast Cauldron — Medicine cauldron given by Yang Chen; supports his pill refining. 79 86 97
• Purple Cloud Wings — Used for escape and aerial mobility. 104
• Purple Spirit Crystal — Taken from the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's cave. 107
• Companion Amethyst Source — Xiao Yan takes half of the source from the same cave. 107
• Beast flame — A flame given by Yang Chen, intended for absorption once Xiao Yan reaches the required level. 72

Relationships

• Yang Chen — Maternal uncle, protector, and major source of support. Yang Chen restores Xiao Yan's confidence, arranges for Yao Chen to train him, and expects him to face the Yunlan Sect as a future trial. 2 3 20
• Yao Chen / Medicine Elder — Master and alchemy mentor. Yao Chen had unknowingly caused Xiao Yan's decline by absorbing his Dou Qi, then accepts him as his final disciple and trains him in cultivation and alchemy. 10 35 36
• Xiao Xun'er — Close companion who defends Xiao Yan during his humiliation and openly supports him against Nalan Yanran. 2 5 9
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and rival in the Three-Year Agreement. Xiao Yan is determined to defeat her to reclaim his dignity. 6 8 96 97
• Xiao Zhan — Father. Their relationship is strained by Xiao Zhan's inability to protect Xiao Yan from clan mistreatment and his tendency to rely on Xiao Yan during family crises. 2 82 86
• Zi Yan — Yang Chen's daughter and Xiao Yan's self-proclaimed elder sister. She uses her spatial ability to force him to acknowledge her as “Elder Sister.” 89 90
• Fa Ma — Senior alchemist who tests Xiao Yan's soul force, recognizes his talent, and provides guidance during his training near the Magic Beast Mountain Range. 95 96 100
• Xiao Yi Xian — A fellow herb-gatherer Xiao Yan meets in the Magic Beast Mountain Range while using the alias Yang Yan. 102

Story Role / Major Arcs

Fall and Recovery

Xiao Yan begins as a mocked youth whose cultivation has mysteriously regressed. Yang Chen's arrival reveals his maternal lineage and places him under the protection of both his uncle and, secretly, Yao Chen. 2 3 10

Three-Year Agreement

After Nalan Yanran's attempt to dissolve their engagement, Xiao Yan rejects the humiliation and accepts a three-year deadline to surpass her. The agreement becomes the driving pressure behind his cultivation. 6 8 35

Rise of an Alchemist

Xiao Yan learns alchemy under Yao Chen, sells Foundation Building Spiritual Liquid through the Mite'er Auction House, and becomes the Xiao Family's answer to its commercial crisis. 73 86 87

Jia Nan Academy Recruitment

Xiao Yan demonstrates six-star Dou Zhe cultivation, surpassing the academy's ordinary ranking system. He meets Zi Yan and is admitted to Jia Nan Academy, though he requests leave to continue preparing for his agreement with Nalan Yanran. 89 92 93

Magic Beast Mountain Range Training

While training in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, Xiao Yan meets Fa Ma and Xiao Yi Xian, improves his field-combat ability, and risks entering the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's cave for valuable materials. 95 102 104 107

Notable Quotes

“I just want to be able to cultivate.” 2

“Xiao Yan greets Elder Sister!” 89

Trivia

• Xiao Yan believes Yao Chen's identity is secret from Yang Chen, unaware that Yang Chen had already confronted Yao Chen and arranged for him to train Xiao Yan. 3 10
• His disguised identity, “Yang Yan,” is easily compromised by Ya Fei, who recognizes him through details such as his hand and behavior. 73 74