Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Little Yan; “Flame Dragon Hero” (self-styled); “Alchemy Grandmaster Xiao Yan” (self-styled) 65 168
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Clan; Misty Cloud Sect (joined as a condition of his betrothal to Yun Yun) 3 145
Occupation/Role	Alchemist; disciple of Yao Chen; cultivator of the Burning Incantation 4 8
Status	Alive; left gravely injured and unconscious after using a four-colored fire lotus against Venerable Mu Gu 194
First Appearance	Chapter 3, “Huo Yuhao and Xiao Yan” 3

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Three stages of Dou Qi	3	His Dou Qi had declined to this level after vanishing for a year; it could not remain in his dantian. 3
Dou Qi restored	5	Recovered his Dou Qi after two months of secluded cultivation under Yao Chen’s guidance. 5
One-Star Dou Zhe	8	Broke through after intensive training and converted his Dou Qi to the Burning Incantation. 8
Two-Star Dou Zhe	18	Opened his Spiritual Sea and became able to cultivate the Purple Cloud Wings. 18
Middle Yellow-class Burning Incantation	26	Advanced the technique by fusing Beast Flame, but the altered Dou Qi later became uncontrollable. 26
Six-Star Dou Zhe	27	Regained control of the Burning Incantation after a mysterious intervention and immediately broke through. 27
Eight-Star Dou Zhe	39	Advanced one star after taking medicine from Huo Yuhao; declared his intent to reach Dou Master. 39
Nine-Star Dou Zhe	59	Displayed exceptional strength during Jia Nan Academy recruitment. 59
High Xuan-rank Burning Incantation	64	His cultivation technique advanced after the Heavenly Flame fusion. 64
Dou Emperor (temporary, Yao Chen-assisted)	122	Yao Chen merged into his body, raising Xiao Yan’s aura beyond Dou Wang and stabilizing it at Dou Emperor. 122
Dou Wang	134	Had reached Dou Wang by the time he resolved to propose to Yun Yun. 134
Mid Earth-tier Burning Incantation	156	His current Burning Incantation level during his spar with Huo Yuhao. 156
Unity of Heaven and Man (glimpsed)	176	Reached the threshold of the realm after an extreme pill-refining session and subsequent cultivation. 176

Background & History

Xiao Yan came from another world and was once recognized as Wutan City’s genius. A year before Huo Yuhao’s return, all of his Dou Qi began disappearing immediately after cultivation, reducing him to three stages of Dou Qi and making him the target of public ridicule. He initially resigned himself to abandoning cultivation and becoming a businessman instead. 3

Huo Yuhao discovered that the ring around Xiao Yan’s neck housed Yao Chen, whose spiritual power had been absorbing Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi to awaken. Though Xiao Yan reacted with open hostility, he eventually accepted Yao Chen as his master; Huo Yuhao became Yao Chen’s second disciple as well. 3 4

Under Yao Chen’s harsh body-tempering regimen and the Heavenly Cycle Art, Xiao Yan recovered his Dou Qi. He later chose the slower but evolving Burning Incantation, motivated by his wish to refine a body for Yao Chen and remain with Xiao Xun’er. 5 6 8

Personality

Xiao Yan remains playful and irreverent even when facing setbacks. He teases Huo Yuhao, mocks enemies, and often makes grand declarations about surpassing others, though his arrogance is regularly punctured by Huo Yuhao and Yao Chen. 3 10 29

He is stubbornly resilient. He endures Yao Chen’s painful training, pursues the dangerous Burning Incantation despite its risks, and continues working to close the gap after Huo Yuhao and Xiao Yi Xian surpass him. 6 8 29

His enthusiasm can become recklessness. He overextends himself using the Whirlwind Profound Heavy Ruler against the Crimson Ice Serpent, forces entry into the Sand Mercenary Corps’ compound, and repeatedly attempts dangerous flame fusions. 12 26 42

Despite this impulsiveness, Xiao Yan is deeply loyal. He immediately gave up his Beast Flame core to stabilize the newborn Nine Li Heavenly Flame, and later burned his own spiritual power to control a four-colored fire lotus while protecting Yao Chen and his allies. 63 193

Abilities & Skills

Burning Incantation

An evolving fire-attributed cultivation art chosen by Xiao Yan despite its slow initial cultivation speed. It can absorb flames to improve its grade, but its early Beast Flame fusion caused his Dou Qi to become uncontrollable. 8 26

• Advanced to middle Yellow class after fusing Beast Flame. 26
• Reached high Xuan rank following the Heavenly Flame fusion. 64
• Reached mid Earth tier by his later spar with Huo Yuhao. 156
• Cannot freely switch back to the Heavenly Cycle Art once the Burning Incantation’s altered Dou Qi takes hold. 26

Flame Control

Xiao Yan refines and weaponizes Beast Flames and Heavenly Flames, combining them with Dou Techniques and his own spiritual power. 22 157

• Refined the fourth-tier Cloud Flame from the Fire Cloud Leopard. 22
• Sacrificed his Beast Flame core to help stabilize the Core Flame of the Nine Li Heavenly Flame. 63
• Can split fused flames into the cyan-and-crimson Double Fire Feathers attack. 157
• Used the Green Lotus Core Flame and Nine Separation Phoenix Flame as the foundation of Buddha’s Fury Lotus. 157
• Temporarily incorporated Yao Chen’s Bone Spirit Cold Flame and a wisp of Nine Li Ice Flame into a four-colored fire lotus. 193

Buddha’s Fury Lotus

A compressed flame lotus formed from multiple flames and stabilized through Xiao Yan’s own intent.

• Its rotation distorts and fractures the surrounding space. 157
• A two-colored version forced Huo Yuhao to use a saber combat skill, though Huo Yuhao judged its preparation time too long. 157
• Xiao Yan later developed sufficient control to use a three-colored version before attempting the unstable four-colored version against Mu Gu. 193
• The four-colored version required him to ignite his spiritual power and left him severely injured despite a life-saving barrier. 193

Dou Techniques and Combat Training

Xiao Yan trains primarily through close-range techniques, body tempering, and the Profound Heavy Ruler. 5 9

• Eight Extremes Collapse — Black-grade high-level technique taught by Yao Chen; later combined with rotational force and Beast Flame. 5 29
• Whirlwind Profound Heavy Ruler — A ruler technique used to destroy a second-tier Crimson Ice Serpent; its reckless use caused Qi deviation. 12
• Whirlwind Fire Fist — A Beast Flame-infused punching technique effective enough to seriously wound a transformed opponent nearing Dou Ling-level physical strength. 53
• Purple Cloud Wings — Flying Dou Technique given to him after his Spiritual Sea opened. 18
• Flame wings — When temporarily empowered by Yao Chen, his Purple Cloud Wings became crimson flame wings. 122

Alchemy

Yao Chen trains Xiao Yan as an alchemist, and Xiao Yan’s fire affinity and growing flame control support his rapid advancement. 22 46

• Refined a second-tier Blood-Coagulating Pill, proudly announcing his first documented successful pill refinement. 46
• Became a sixth-tier alchemist after a sudden insight into circulating Mental Power like Dou Qi. 168 169
• Shared the Mental Power circulation method with Huo Yuhao, Yao Chen, and Xiao Yi Xian, allowing them to improve their own mental cultivation. 169
• Competed with Gu He and Xiao Yi Xian in high-level pill refinement, later glimpsing Unity of Heaven and Man through cultivation. 176

Intent and Spiritual Power

Xiao Yan can merge spiritual power with Dou Qi to form a personal intent similar in nature to the intent behind Ruler Over All. This intent helps him stabilize and control advanced flame combinations. 157

Equipment

• Ancient Flame Ring — The ring that housed Yao Chen’s soul and initially absorbed Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi. 3
• Profound Heavy Ruler — A heavy training weapon carried on his back to temper his body, speed, and control. 9
• Spirit Artifact Gauntlets — Gauntlets that channel the natural energy stirred by his punches rather than containing a fixed skill. 28
• Purple Cloud Wings scroll — Flying Dou Technique provided by Huo Yuhao after Xiao Yan opened his Spiritual Sea. 18
• Communication Spirit Device — A long-distance communication pendant made and distributed by Xiao Yan. 65
• Flame Dragon Armor — A full set of fourth-grade Spirit Artifact armor that Xiao Yan proudly named himself; Yao Chen immediately destroyed it for being excessively showy. 65
• Spirit artifact armor and invincibility barrier — Protective equipment used during the confrontation with Venerable Mu Gu; the armor shattered under the four-colored fire lotus’s backlash, while the barrier saved Xiao Yan’s life. 193

Relationships

• Huo Yuhao — Fellow son of the Xiao Clan, closest companion, and friendly rival. Their banter is constant, but they repeatedly support each other in combat, cultivation, and major risks. 3 10 63 157
• Yao Chen — Master. Yao Chen drained Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi while awakening, then became his cultivation and alchemy teacher; their relationship is marked by harsh training and mutual teasing. 3 4 6
• Xiao Zhan — Father. Xiao Zhan supports Xiao Yan’s decision to leave Wutan City and make his own way in the world. 9
• Xiao Xun’er — Beloved companion. Xiao Yan chose the Burning Incantation partly because he wanted to remain with her, and later declared that he would not give her up. 8 134
• Nalan Yanran — Fiancée. She left a letter suggesting that their engagement might be ended, though they did not meet during her visit to the Xiao Clan. 54
• Yun Yun — Betrothed. Xiao Yan publicly proposed to her and agreed to join the Misty Cloud Sect to receive Yun Shan’s approval. 145
• Xiao Yi Xian — Traveling companion and ally. They trained together, defeated Mu Li together, and fought alongside one another during the battle with Mu Gu. 14 193
• Gu He — Alchemy rival and later ally. Their competition pushed Xiao Yan’s confidence in alchemy, while Gu He eventually risked his life to help Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian escape. 155 194
• Hai Bodong — Companion and occasional target of Xiao Yan’s challenges and jokes; they fought together against the snake people. 39 122
• Ya Fei — An acquaintance whose feelings complicate Xiao Yan’s romantic life; she teasingly confronted him over his plans to propose to Yun Yun. 134

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Loss of Dou Qi and apprenticeship — After a year without retainable Dou Qi, Xiao Yan learns that Yao Chen in his ring caused the loss. He becomes Yao Chen’s disciple, restores his cultivation, and begins training in alchemy and body tempering. 3 4 5
• Magic Beast Mountain Range journey — Travels with Huo Yuhao, Yao Chen, and Xiao Yi Xian to gather materials. He develops the Profound Heavy Ruler style, fights the Crimson Ice Serpent, acquires Beast Flame, and grows through dangerous training. 9 12 22
• Burning Incantation crisis — Fuses Beast Flame into the Burning Incantation, advances its grade, then loses control of his own Dou Qi before recovering and breaking through to Six-Star Dou Zhe. 26 27
• Return to Wutan City and academy recruitment — Returns with his companions, confronts the situation surrounding Nalan Yanran’s visit, and displays Nine-Star Dou Zhe strength during Jia Nan Academy recruitment. 54 59
• Creation of the Nine Li Heavenly Flame — Contributes blood essence, spiritual power, bird-type beast cores, and his Beast Flame core to the creation of a true Heavenly Flame. 63 64
• Misty Cloud Sect proposal — Proposes to Yun Yun before the entire sect and accepts Yun Shan’s condition to join the Misty Cloud Sect in exchange for their betrothal. 145
• Sixth-tier alchemy breakthrough — Becomes a sixth-tier alchemist and introduces a method of circulating Mental Power to strengthen it. 168 169
• Battle with Venerable Mu Gu — Risks his life to launch a four-colored fire lotus after Mu Gu attacks Yao Chen, leaving himself gravely injured. 193 194

Notable Quotes

“Fine. Let’s gamble!” 63

“I won’t run from my responsibilities! But Xun’er— I absolutely won’t give her up either!” 134

“Old bastard! If you want us dead, then use your life to pay for it!” 193

Trivia

• Xiao Yan calls himself the Flame Dragon Hero while wearing the Flame Dragon Armor; Yao Chen immediately punches him through the armor for showing off. 65
• He made sunglasses in his previous life or prior world, presenting them as his only notable contribution from that world. 33
• He once dressed in black for an assassination attempt because novels from his previous world taught him that assassins should wear black tight-fitting clothes. 41