Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Yan Xiao
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Clan; Canaan Academy
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; alchemist; disciple of Yao Lao
First Appearance	3

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Three-Stage Dou Qi Force	3	Reached this level at five years old after beginning cultivation at four, earning a reputation as a Xiao Clan genius.
Dou Practitioner	8	Broke through before his peers at age eleven, shortly before his Dou Qi began disappearing.
Three-Stage Dou Qi Force	8	Regressed overnight and remained stuck for a year while Yao Lao absorbed his cultivated Dou Qi.
One-Star Dou Practitioner	14	Recovered his cultivation after Yao Lao awakened and used Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid to accelerate his practice.
Nine-Star Dou Master	58	Reached this level while balancing Dou Qi cultivation with alchemy study.
Two-Star Great Dou Master	58	Advanced immediately after devouring the Green Lotus Core Flame; Yao Lao considered the sudden increase abnormal.
Approximately Seven-Star Great Dou Master	96	Fought Fan Ling while being surrounded by the Blood Sect.
Dou Emperor	178	Had obtained three Heavenly Flames and entered the Dou Emperor realm.

Background

Early talent and humbling

Xiao Yan began cultivating at four and reached Three-Stage Dou Qi Force by age five. Constant praise made him arrogant and complacent, prompting his father, Xiao Zhan, to ask Xiao Yun to train him 3 5 6.

He underestimated Gu Xun'er because he could not perceive her cultivation, only to be effortlessly defeated by her Nine-Stage Dou Qi Force. The loss forced him to confront the fact that stronger people and greater geniuses existed beyond Wutan City 7.

Loss of Dou Qi

After breaking through to the Dou Practitioner realm at eleven, Xiao Yan's Dou Qi suddenly began vanishing. He regressed to Three-Stage Dou Qi Force and endured a year as Wutan City's laughingstock, yet continued cultivating in secret despite the exhaustion and humiliation 8 9.

Xiao Yun eventually exposed the cause: Yao Lao, a soul residing within Xiao Yan's ancient ring, had been absorbing his Dou Qi. Xiao Yun deliberately delayed resolving the issue because he believed the setback would temper Xiao Yan's character 7 8 9.

Training under Yao Lao

After Yao Lao awakened, Xiao Yan accepted him as his teacher. With Yao Lao's guidance and Xiao Yun's Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, he resumed cultivation and mastered the Eight Extremes Collapse battle skill 9 12 14.

Three-Year Pact

When Nalan Yanran arrived to dissolve their engagement under pressure from the Misty Cloud Sect, Xiao Yan rejected her terms and instead issued her a letter of divorce. Xiao Yun arranged a three-year duel at the Misty Cloud Sect, where Xiao Yan would settle the matter publicly 19 20.

During the intervening years, Xiao Yan treated Nalan Jie’s Brand Poison under the disguised identity of Yan Xiao, gained fame in Jia Ma Holy City, and won the Imperial Capital's Alchemist Tournament 63 66. He later defeated Nalan Yanran at the Misty Cloud Sect with a flame lotus, fulfilling the pact and spreading his name throughout the imperial capital 68.

Black-Corner Region and Canaan Academy

Xiao Yan traveled with Xiao Yun toward Black Mark City, where he repelled attackers targeting his storage ring and defeated Shan Pu despite Shan Pu being a One-Star Great Dou Master 81 82. He later fought the Blood Sect, using his Heavenly Flame to suppress Fan Ling's blood-based techniques before retrieving a map fragment and the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill from Fan Ling’s storage ring 96 97.

After reaching Canaan Academy, Xiao Yan obtained jade pieces sealing the Fallen Heart Flame and Sea Heart Flame. He declined to remain at the academy, choosing instead to return home with Xiao Yun 134.

Appearance

During the Three-Year Pact, Xiao Yan wore a black robe and carried an enormous black ruler on his back 67.

• Carries the Heavy Xuan Ruler, a massive black ruler used in close combat 67 68.
• Uses a disguise mask and the identity Yan Xiao when concealing his connection to the Xiao Clan and Nalan Yanran 63 66.

Personality

As a child, Xiao Yan was proud of his talent and dismissive of those he considered weaker. His defeat by Gu Xun'er and subsequent loss of Dou Qi humbled him, giving him greater perseverance and a more mature outlook 7 9.

He places great importance on the Xiao Clan’s dignity. His refusal to accept Nalan Yanran's public pressure stemmed less from attachment to their engagement than from anger at the insult to his father and family 19.

Xiao Yan is composed in dangerous situations and frequently provokes opponents into exposing weaknesses. His taunts against Fan Ling were sharp enough for Xiao Yun to remark on his vicious tongue 96. In the Black-Corner Region, he also proves willing to kill attackers without hesitation 81.

Abilities & Skills

Heavenly Flames

Xiao Yan devoured the Green Lotus Core Flame given to him by Xiao Yun, causing his cultivation technique to evolve and his realm to rise sharply 58.

• Uses green Heavenly Flame in battle, including against Nalan Yanran during the Three-Year Pact 68.
• Fire-attribute energy and Heavenly Flames strongly suppress the Blood Sect's cultivation techniques 96 97.
• Possessed three Heavenly Flames by the time he entered the Dou Emperor realm 178.
• Acquired jade seals containing the Fallen Heart Flame and Sea Heart Flame 134.

Evolving Cultivation Technique

Xiao Yan practices a cultivation technique that evolved from Yellow Tier to Black Tier after he refined the Green Lotus Core Flame 58.

• Its evolution was connected to his unusual jump from Nine-Star Dou Master to Two-Star Great Dou Master 58.
• Yao Lao and Xiao Yun both considered its evolving nature a secret that must not be revealed to others 58.

Alchemy

Under Yao Lao's instruction, Xiao Yan studies alchemy alongside his Dou Qi cultivation 58.

• Treated Nalan Jie’s Brand Poison by controlling a Heavenly Flame while disguised as Yan Xiao 63 66.
• Won the Alchemist Tournament in Jia Ma Holy City 66.
• His skill with white flames drew the Hall of Souls’ attention because of its resemblance to Yao Chen’s Heavenly Flame 69.

Eight Extremes Collapse

Xiao Yan mastered the Eight Extremes Collapse after prolonged training 14.

• Could break a tree several centimeters thick with the skill 14.
• Yao Lao assessed that, at One-Star Dou Practitioner, the skill could allow Xiao Yan to escape unharmed from a Five-Star Dou Practitioner 14.

Heavy Xuan Ruler Combat

Xiao Yan wields the Heavy Xuan Ruler in direct combat 67 68.

• Used it against Fan Ling during the Blood Sect confrontation 96.
• Killed three street robbers with a single sweeping strike after they attacked him 81.

Equipment

• Ancient Ring — The ring containing Yao Lao’s soul body 9.
• Heavy Xuan Ruler — A giant black ruler carried on his back and used as his primary weapon 67 68.
• Storage Ring — Holds his equipment and acquired treasures 67 97.
• Disguise Mask — Provided by Ya Fei so he could treat Nalan Jie without exposing his identity 63.
• Pure Lotus Demon Flame map fragments — Two incomplete maps given to him by Xiao Yun before he left for Canaan Academy 73.
• Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill — Retrieved from Fan Ling’s storage ring 97.

Relationships

• Xiao Zhan — Father. Xiao Zhan worried that Xiao Yan's early praise would make him self-important and asked Xiao Yun to train him 5 6.
• Xiao Yun — Paternal uncle, protector, and major benefactor. Xiao Yun arranged the Three-Year Pact, gifted Xiao Yan the Green Lotus Core Flame, and repeatedly intervened when stronger enemies threatened him 20 58 97.
• Yao Lao / Yao Chen — Teacher and soul residing in Xiao Yan’s ancient ring. Yao Lao had absorbed Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi, then became his cultivation and alchemy mentor after being exposed 9 14.
• Gu Xun'er — Xiao Clan peer whom Xiao Yan addresses as Sister Xun'er. Her effortless victory over him humbled him, though their relationship cooled during his year of regression 7 8.
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and opponent in the Three-Year Pact. Xiao Yan divorced her after she attempted to dissolve their engagement through public pressure, then defeated her at the Misty Cloud Sect 19 68.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li — Elder brothers. Xiao Yan reunited with them in Stone Desert City before leaving to honor the Three-Year Pact 59.
• Ya Fei — Acquaintance at the Mittel Auction House. She helped arrange his disguised treatment of Nalan Jie 60 63.
• Zi Yan — Acquaintance from Canaan Academy who chose to leave with him after he obtained the Fallen Heart Flame 134.

Notable Quotes

“Do not think I, Xiao Yan, care so much about having you as a wife. This is a letter of divorce from this young master, expelling you from the Xiao Family!” 19

“Xiao Family, Xiao Yan, here to honor the pact.” 68

“Before making a move in your next life, you'd better figure out the gap between yourself and others.” 81