Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Clan; disciple of Medicine Elder (Yao Chen); core member of the Sacred Palace 24 187 249
Occupation/Role	Dou Qi cultivator; alchemist; ninth-rank treasure pill grandmaster 23 24 249
Cultivation	High Half-Saint (finale) 249
Status	Alive
First Appearance	Chapter 21

Background / History

Xiao Yan's soul originated from Earth, a “blue-and-white planet,” before he came to the Battle Qi Continent. He kept this transmigration secret from everyone around him. 22

He began cultivating Dou Qi at four, reached the ninth stage at ten, and became a one-star Dou Practitioner at eleven. His talent made him Wutan City's renowned young genius and the foremost member of the Xiao Clan's younger generation. 20 21

Two years before the clan test, his Dou Qi vortex vanished overnight. His cultivation then steadily declined despite continued effort, reducing him from a Dou Practitioner to the fourth stage of Dou Qi. The humiliation and ridicule he endured left him deeply frustrated and despondent. 21 22

Xie Tianxiao later revealed the cause: the soul residing in Xiao Yan's ancient black ring, Medicine Elder Yao Chen, had been absorbing his Dou Qi to restore himself. Xie Tianxiao used the essence of Seven Illusory Azure Spirit Saliva to awaken Yao Chen ahead of schedule, allowing Xiao Yan to confront him. 22 23

Although furious over the lost years of cultivation, Xiao Yan accepted Yao Chen as his master after learning that he possessed the fire-and-wood attributes required for alchemy. 23 24

After regaining his cultivation, Xiao Yan publicly repudiated his engagement to Nalan Yanran rather than passively accept her annulment. He then accepted her challenge to a three-year agreement at the Misty Cloud Sect. 85 86

Over the following years, he cultivated under Yao Chen, became a fifth-tier alchemist, and refined the twenty-third-ranked Xuanhuang Flame. His growth eventually brought him into the Sacred Palace's orbit, where he and Yao Chen agreed to support Xie Tianxiao through alchemy and service in exchange for resources and protection. 162 186 187

By the finale, Xiao Yan had become a high Half-Saint and a ninth-rank treasure pill grandmaster. He was engaged to Gu Xun'er as the Ancient Clan's son-in-law and retained the support of his revived ancestor Xiao Chen, while serving as a core member of the Sacred Palace. 249

Appearance

Xiao Yan is a youthful-looking young man with a delicate face, dark eyes, and a somewhat fair complexion. 21 22

• Often appears melancholy and withdrawn during the period of his declining cultivation. 21
• Wears an ancient black ring on his right hand; Yao Chen's soul resides within it. 22 23
• Develops a more composed and mature bearing after years of cultivation and hardship. 186

Personality

Xiao Yan is proud, emotionally direct, and unwilling to quietly accept humiliation. The loss of his cultivation leaves him confused and self-deprecating, but he still seeks an answer rather than surrendering to his circumstances. 21 22

He is wary of offers that appear too convenient. Even while desperate to regain his strength, he questions Yao Chen's motives before agreeing to become his disciple. 23

Despite his anger toward Yao Chen and hostility toward Xie Tianxiao's demands, Xiao Yan is protective of his new master. He also remains gentle and attentive toward Xiao Xun'er, valuing her support during his lowest period. 21 24

His confrontation with Nalan Yanran demonstrates his intense pride and refusal to let others dictate his dignity. Even while weaker than her, he transforms her attempted humiliation into his own repudiation of their engagement. 85 86

Following years of experience, Xiao Yan becomes markedly more cautious, humble, and pragmatic around overwhelming experts. He recognizes Xie Tianxiao's absolute superiority and chooses cooperation with the Sacred Palace as an opportunity to gain resources and further improve his alchemy. 186 187

Abilities & Skills

Dou Qi Cultivation

Xiao Yan was once a one-star Dou Practitioner but has regressed to the fourth stage of Dou Qi after Yao Chen absorbed his energy for two years. 21 23

• Began cultivating at age four. 20
• Reached the ninth stage of Dou Qi at age ten. 20
• Reached one-star Dou Practitioner at age eleven. 21
• Tested at the fourth stage of Dou Qi during the Xiao Clan's yearly assessment. 21
• Yao Chen promises to restore his progress and potentially bring him back to the Dou Practitioner realm by his coming-of-age ceremony. 23
• Recovered to the ninth stage of Dou Qi before his confrontation with Nalan Yanran. 85
• Later reached the peak of the Da Dou Shi realm and gained insight toward a Dou Ling breakthrough through his battle with Nalan Yanran. 186
• Ultimately advanced to the high Half-Saint realm. 249

Alchemy Aptitude

Xiao Yan naturally possesses the fire attribute with a trace of wood energy, fulfilling the fundamental requirement to become an alchemist. 23

• Accepted Yao Chen as his master specifically to learn alchemy. 23 24
• Yao Chen intends to teach him both cultivation and alchemy over the following two years. 24
• Became a fifth-tier alchemist while still under twenty years old. 186
• Ultimately became a ninth-rank treasure pill grandmaster. 249

Heavenly Flame

Xiao Yan refined the Xuanhuang Flame, the twenty-third-ranked Heavenly Flame. The flame instinctively fears Xie Tianxiao and his collection of Heavenly Flames. 186

• Xie Tianxiao chose not to seize the Xuanhuang Flame because its low rank offered him little benefit. 187
• Xiao Yan was permitted to retain the flame after agreeing to contribute to Xie Tianxiao's faction. 187

Secret Techniques

Xiao Yan possesses a strength-enhancing secret technique capable of temporarily raising his combat ability to the Dou Emperor level. 162

Power Progression

Time / Event	Cultivation or Advancement	Notes
Childhood	Ninth-stage Dou Qi at age ten	Regarded as Wutan City's foremost young genius. 20 21
Age eleven	One-star Dou Practitioner	Condensed a Dou Qi vortex. 21
Xiao Clan yearly assessment	Fourth-stage Dou Qi	Regressed after Yao Chen absorbed his Dou Qi for two years. 21 23
Repudiation of Nalan Yanran	Ninth-stage Dou Qi	His talent and cultivation had recovered, though he remained below Nalan Yanran's Five-Star Dou Practitioner cultivation. 85
Period before reunion with Xie Tianxiao	Nine-Star Da Dou Shi	Had stagnated at the peak and sought a breakthrough into Dou Ling. 186
Finale	High Half-Saint	Also recognized as a ninth-rank treasure pill grandmaster. 249

Equipment / Items

• Ancient black ring — A ring worn on his right hand that houses Yao Chen's soul. 22 23
• Xuanhuang Flame — The twenty-third-ranked Heavenly Flame refined by Xiao Yan. 186 187

Relationships

• Xiao Xun'er / Gu Xun'er — Close childhood companion and staunch defender. She encourages him after his public humiliation and believes he will reclaim his dignity and surpass his former self. Her identity as a member of the Ancient Imperial Clan is later revealed, and Xiao Yan ultimately becomes her fiancé and the Ancient Clan's prospective son-in-law. 21 22 88 249
• Yao Chen / Medicine Elder — Master. Yao Chen secretly drained Xiao Yan's Dou Qi for two years, but later accepts him as a disciple and promises to guide his cultivation and alchemy. Yao Chen later protects Xiao Yan during his confrontation with Xie Tianxiao and secures support for their alchemical work within the Sacred Palace. 23 24 187
• Xie Tianxiao — A mysterious powerful figure who reveals Yao Chen's existence and helps awaken him. Xiao Yan resents Xie Tianxiao's pressure on Yao Chen and calls him unreasonable, but later treats him cautiously and respectfully. He submits to cooperation with Xie Tianxiao's Sacred Palace in pursuit of greater resources and alchemical advancement. 22 24 26 186 187
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and rival. Xiao Yan repudiates their engagement in public and accepts her three-year challenge to fight at the Misty Cloud Sect. Their later battle gives him insight toward advancing beyond the Da Dou Shi realm. 85 86 186
• Xiao Chen — A powerful Xiao Clan ancestor. By the finale, Xiao Chen has reached the Six-Star Dou Sheng realm and supports Xiao Yan's position within the Ancient Clan and Sacred Palace. 249

Story Role / Major Arcs

Xiao Clan Assessment

At the Xiao Clan's test, Xiao Yan records only fourth-stage Dou Qi. Clan disciples mock his fall from genius to failure, while Xiao Xun'er silences them and stays by his side. 21

Discovery of Yao Chen

Seeking solitude on the back mountain, Xiao Yan meets Xie Tianxiao, who claims to know the reason for his disappearing Dou Qi. Xie Tianxiao restores enough of Yao Chen's soul strength to force the latter to emerge from the ancient ring. 22 23

Taking a Master

After learning that Yao Chen caused his regression, Xiao Yan initially lashes out at him. He ultimately accepts Yao Chen as his master after discovering his aptitude for alchemy and the opportunity to regain strength and status. 23 24

Devouring Owl Saint's Intervention

Xie Tianxiao pressures Yao Chen into serving him and surrendering the Bone Chilling Flame in the future. Xiao Yan is rendered unconscious by Xie Tianxiao's released aura and later learns that Yao Chen has entered the Devouring Owl Saint's command. 25 26

Repudiation of Nalan Yanran

When Nalan Yanran arrives to annul their engagement, Xiao Yan refuses to accept public humiliation. He writes his own repudiation document, seals it with a bloody handprint, and declares that they are strangers from then on. 85

Nalan Yanran subsequently challenges Xiao Yan to defeat her at the Misty Cloud Sect within three years. Xiao Yan accepts the agreement despite the gap between their cultivation. 86

Revelation of Xun'er's Identity

Xiao Yan learns from Yao Chen that Xun'er's background is tied to the Ancient Imperial Clan, a power far surpassing the Misty Cloud Sect. Although shaken by the revelation, he is encouraged to cultivate diligently and seek eventual recognition from her family. 88 89

Xuanhuang Flame and Sacred Palace Submission

After years of training, Xiao Yan obtains and refines the Xuanhuang Flame. When Xie Tianxiao returns, he briefly considers claiming the flame, forcing Xiao Yan to confront the vast disparity between them. 186 187

Xie Tianxiao ultimately allows Xiao Yan to keep the Xuanhuang Flame in exchange for Yao Chen's pill-refining services. Xiao Yan voluntarily offers his own contribution to the Sacred Palace, turning a potentially fatal confrontation into an alliance that advances his cultivation and alchemical prospects. 187

Rise in the Central Plains

Xiao Yan later discovers information concerning the Creation Saint's ancient ruins in the Beast Region, drawing Xie Tianxiao's attention to its Heaven-class Dou Technique, ancient pill formulas, and Dragon-Phoenix Origin Fruit. 232

By the finale, he has risen to high Half-Saint cultivation, becomes a ninth-rank treasure pill grandmaster, and is engaged to Gu Xun'er while holding a core position in the Sacred Palace. 249

Notable Quotes

“Perhaps coming to this world was a mistake from the start.” 22

“Whatever conditions you have, I'll agree to them!” 22

“Fine, I'll take you as my master. Teach me alchemy!” 23

“Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river! Never mock a young man for being poor!” 85