Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Third Young Master
Species/Race	Human; transmigrator 175
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; Jia Nan Academy Inner Academy; Starfall Pavilion; Heavenly Mansion Alliance 193 249 392
Occupation/Role	Cultivator, alchemist, Inner Academy elder, and leading figure of the Heavenly Mansion Alliance 193 352 392
Status	Alive 470
First Appearance	Chapter 157

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Sixth Stage Dou Qi	176	Reached in two months after devising a nature-attunement cultivation method.
Dou Wang	180	Reached by age ten; his body was described as limiting further growth.
Peak Eight-Star Dou Huang	188	Reached after six months underground; brought the Dragon Flame Art to the peak of its second layer and gained insight into Rhythm.
Dou Zong	202	Broke through after overcoming the Dou Huang bottleneck in the Heaven Burning Qi Refining Tower.
Peak Dou Zun	247	His level two years before emerging from seclusion as a Dou Sheng.
One-Star Dou Sheng	247	Emerged from two years of seclusion after obtaining the Bodhi Heart; sealed space and confronted multiple Soul Hall experts.
Late One-Star Dou Sheng	295	Absorbed a gathered energy storm during cultivation.
Two-Star Dou Sheng	311	Broke through after one hundred days of bloodline tempering; his body became comparable to an Ancient Void Dragon's.
Five-Star Dou Sheng	392	Revealed this aura while confronting the Yao Clan over Yao Wangui's insult to Old Yao.
Six-Star Dou Sheng	412	His strength surged while refining a Nine-Rank Profound Pill.
Mid Six-Star Dou Sheng	415	Refined the remaining Profound Pill energy over ten days, consolidating a further increase.

Background

Xiao Yan is a transmigrator who began cultivating battle qi out of fascination with the Dou Qi Continent and a desire to grow strong enough to awaken the soul within his ring, Old Yao. Lacking pills, wealth, and a high-grade cultivation method, he experimented with posture, divided-attention training, and meditation until he developed a method based on sensing and drawing in natural energy 175.

His accelerated cultivation awakened Old Yao, who offered instruction and an evolving cultivation method. Xiao Yan tested Old Yao's intentions before accepting him as his master; he also learned that Old Yao had been betrayed and killed by his senior disciple, Han Feng 176 177.

Within five years, Xiao Yan had become a Dou Wang and Sixth-grade Alchemist. He strengthened the Xiao Family through high-level cultivation methods, Dou Techniques, pills, and business reforms before leaving home to seek experience and Heavenly Flames capable of evolving the Burning Art 180 181.

Appearance

Xiao Yan is consistently described as exceptionally handsome, with a mature bearing that makes him appear older than his actual age.

• At age ten, he was approximately 1.6 meters tall, fair-skinned, and notably handsome from persistent physical training and cultivation 180.
• After another half-year of growth, he stood around five feet nine inches, wore black robes, and kept his jet-black hair in a ponytail with loose bangs framing his face 189.
• Following his Demonic Flame Space seclusion, he returned with black hair and flame-lotus patterns visible within his pupils 350.
• During his later return to Jia Nan Academy, he wore flowing black robes and let his long black hair hang loose 448.

Personality

Xiao Yan is inventive and intensely self-driven. Rather than accepting slow progress, he repeatedly tests unconventional solutions: he develops a nature-attunement cultivation method, reforms his family’s businesses, and uses intelligence gathering to prepare for major enemies 175 180 211.

He is outwardly confident, teasing, and often shameless in social situations, particularly around people he likes. He can also be calculating, such as when he tested Old Yao before agreeing to become his disciple or concealed aspects of his background from Su Qian 176 189 190.

His confidence becomes ruthless when his allies or teacher are threatened. He organizes retaliation against hostile sects, refuses to tolerate insults toward Old Yao, and openly challenges stronger opponents when he believes their actions endanger those under his protection 251 390 392.

Abilities & Skills

Evolving Flame Cultivation

Xiao Yan cultivates an evolving flame-based method taught by Old Yao.

• Old Yao’s cultivation method can evolve, an ability so rare that Old Yao knew of no comparable technique 177.
• The Burning Art had evolved to high-grade Yellow tier by the time Xiao Yan left the Xiao Family, but its limit had become a major reason for his search for Heavenly Flames 181.
• He cultivated the Dragon Flame Art to the peak of its second layer and reached the Divine realm within it 188.
• His cultivation is dependent on obtaining stronger Heavenly Flames; without them, the Burning Art’s progression becomes restricted 181.

Heavenly Flames and Evil Flame

Xiao Yan possesses and manipulates multiple Heavenly Flames, including the dangerous Evil Flame.

• He can shape Evil Flame into dragons and other forms with instant hand seals after reaching the Realm of Form 187.
• Evil Flame is corrosive enough that Old Yao suffered severe soul damage while helping Xiao Yan suppress it 188.
• He refined the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame after preparing the Flame Cold Grand Formation with Xun Er’s support 348 352.
• His Heavenly Flames later formed the Fire Infant, Little Yi, allowing him to unleash the Destruction Fire Lotus 349.
• Little Yi’s Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame was powerful enough to restrain Elder Wanhuo, a Six-Star Dou Sheng, during Xiao Yan’s confrontation with the Yao Clan 390.

Alchemy

Xiao Yan is a grandmaster-level alchemist whose skill develops alongside his cultivation.

• He had reached Sixth-grade Alchemy by age ten 180.
• He could refine any medicinal pill below the sixth tier when joining Jia Nan Academy 193.
• He creates Medicine Cauldrons directly from Heavenly Flame, demonstrating exceptional fire control and soul strength 256.
• He withstood Black Demon Thunder while refining a Ninth-grade precious pill that could assume Xiao Yan’s human form 169.
• He later refined a Nine-Rank Profound Pill, causing Pill Rain and heavenly lightning tribulation 401.
• His Pill Codex performance and high-rank pill refinement establish him as a contender for the continent’s foremost alchemist 390 401.

Soul Cultivation

Xiao Yan’s soul cultivation is unusually advanced and becomes one of his defining advantages.

• He can condense his soul into a human-shaped avatar capable of acting independently 294 319.
• His soul reached Heavenly Realm Great Perfection after absorbing Soul Origin 319 385.
• Xiao Xuan’s gift and nearly two years inside the Heavenly Tomb enabled him to advance to the Emperor Realm of the soul 426 431.
• His Emperor Realm soul allows him to withstand or pressure experts whose Dou Qi cultivation exceeds his own 431 432.

Physical Body and Bloodline

Xiao Yan’s body is strengthened by fused bloodlines and specialized body techniques.

• The Vajra Glazed Body enlarges his frame and hardens his body into dark-gold armor-like flesh 291.
• His clan tattoo can raise his aura from the initial to late One-Star Dou Sheng stage 291.
• Bloodline tempering cleansed and strengthened his body until it no longer lost to an Ancient Void Dragon’s physique 311.
• His bloodline combines Xiao Clan, Ancient Clan, and Dragon-Phoenix bloodline characteristics 311.
• His physical resilience is crucial when absorbing violent pill energy, though even he risks severe injury or explosion from excess power 408.

Combat Techniques

• Flame Splitting Wave Ruler — Used to overwhelm Han Feng, Han Beng, and Fan Lao 231.
• Evil Flame Tyrant Dragon — A flame construct deployed against Han Feng’s group 231.
• Draw Slash — Killed Fan Lao in a single strike after his failed sneak attack 231.
• Great Heavenly Creation Palm — Creates a massive black halo with devouring force; its power rose dramatically after Xiao Yan became a Dou Sheng 287.
• Yellow Springs Finger, Palm, and Heavenly Wrath — Inherited directly from the Yellow Springs Demonic Sage’s remnant soul, along with the creator’s insights 292 297.
• Buddha’s Wrath Samsara — A new technique unveiled against Gu You, Old Demon Tian Ming, and the Third Heavenly Venerate 264.
• Five-Round Separation Fire Method — Condenses five Heavenly Flames into a massive fire wheel 380.
• Destruction Fire Lotus — Unleashed through Little Yi after Xiao Yan transformed his flames into a Fire Infant 349.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Ring containing Old Yao — The ring housed Old Yao’s soul and glowed during Xiao Yan’s cultivation before Old Yao awakened 176.
• Evil Flame Demonic Blade — A 1.2-meter blade capable of releasing soul-dragging pressure and Evil Flame that kills both body and soul 187.
• Magical Beast Horn Sheath — Made by Xiao Yan to house the Evil Flame Demonic Blade 187.
• Storage Ring — Used to carry medicinal ingredients, pills, fireworks, and other supplies 208 296.
• Tou She Ancient God Jade fragment — Xiao Yan possesses the final jade piece required to open Tou She Ancient God’s cave mansion 426.

Relationships

• Old Yao / Yao Chen — Master and disciple. Xiao Yan accepted Old Yao as his master, inherited his evolving cultivation method, and swore to help restore his body; he later fiercely defended Old Yao’s dignity before the Yao Clan 177 190 390.
• Xiao Xun Er — Childhood companion and beloved. Their bond deepened after Xiao Yan made time for her despite cultivation, and they later planned to marry after rescuing Xiao Zhan 176 349.
• Xiao Zhan — Father. Xiao Zhan supports Xiao Yan’s decision to travel, while Xiao Yan continues to provide the Xiao Family with methods, pills, and information 180 211.
• Zi Yan — Close, sibling-like companion. Xiao Yan protects and cares for her from her time as a newly transformed magical beast through her rise as Dragon Emperor 190 221 306.
• Su Qian — Ally and Jia Nan Academy’s Grand Elder. Su Qian admitted Xiao Yan to the Inner Academy, accepted him as an elder, and later supported him against Han Feng 190 193 231.
• Han Feng — Old Yao’s treacherous senior disciple and Xiao Yan’s enemy. Han Feng murdered Old Yao and pursued Heavenly Flames, leading Xiao Yan to investigate and confront him 177 211 231.
• Yao Ming — Political ally and beneficiary of Xiao Yan’s aid. Xiao Yan supported Yao Ming’s return to leadership of the Nine Nether Nether Python Clan; Yao Ming later fought beside him and supported East Dragon Island 291 295 301.
• Cai Lin — Trusted companion and ally. Xiao Yan protected her after she was injured in the Star Realm battle and later intervened when the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan targeted her 247 371.
• Xiao Yi Xian — Close companion and Heavenly Mansion Alliance ally. She remained at Xiao Yan’s side through major conflicts and updated him on Cai Lin after his return from seclusion 352 376.
• Xiao Xuan — Ancestor and mentor. Xiao Xuan entrusted Xiao Yan with knowledge of Origin Emperor Qi and enabled his advance to the Emperor Realm of the soul 426 431.
• Hu Jia — Romantic interest whose relationship with Xiao Yan develops through teasing, affection, and shared travels 206 214.

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Departure from the Xiao Family — Leaves home after reaching the peak of Dou Wang, seeking Heavenly Flames to evolve the Burning Art and surpass its limitations 181.
• Evil Flame and Jia Nan Academy — Obtains and develops the Evil Flame, meets Zi Yan, and becomes an Inner Academy elder through his strength and alchemy 187 190 193.
• Han Feng Conflict — Investigates Han Feng, exposes his interest in the Inner Academy’s Heavenly Flame, and defeats Han Feng’s forces alongside Su Qian 211 231.
• Rise of Starfall Pavilion — Emerges as a One-Star Dou Sheng to defend injured allies, becoming the pavilion’s central pillar and initiating plans against Soul Hall 247 249 250.
• Nether River Alliance Retaliation — Personally defeats multiple Half-Saints and destroys the Nether River Alliance’s major sects to establish Starfall Pavilion’s prestige 251.
• Nine Nether Nether Python Clan Arc — Aids Yao Ming, fights Yao Xiaotian and the Grand Elder, and inherits the Yellow Springs Demonic Sage’s techniques and blood essence 291 292 297.
• Ancient Void Dragon Conflict — Supports East Dragon Island and Zi Yan against the Three Dragon Islands and Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan, later reaching Two-Star Dou Sheng 300 306 311.
• Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Arc — Prepares for the flame’s descent, completes Heavenly Realm Great Perfection, and ultimately refines the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame 319 348 352.
• Pill Codex and Yao Clan Confrontation — Defends Old Yao against the Yao Clan, displays Five-Star Dou Sheng strength, and refines a Nine-Rank Profound Pill 390 392 401.
• Heavenly Tomb and Final War Preparations — Receives Xiao Xuan’s aid, advances to Emperor Realm soul, protects Jia Nan Academy, and seeks Tou She Ancient God’s inheritance against the Hun Clan 426 431 448 470.

Trivia

• Xiao Yan made a guitar while at the Xiao Family and used it with heart-shaped fireworks to surprise Hu Jia 208.
• His experiences from two lifetimes contribute to the maturity that makes others mistake him for someone much older 189.