Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Yan Xiao; Yao Yan
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Clan; Jia Nan Academy; Flame Alliance; Pill Tower
Occupation/Role	Cultivator, alchemist, and leader of the Flame Alliance
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 4

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Second-Stage Dou Qi	23	Successfully cultivated before age three and advanced two stages during his first session through the Three-Origin Circulation Method and Primordial Origin Pill.
Sixth-Stage Dou Qi	25	Reached the beginning of Foundation Establishment; his body, meridians, and soul power continued strengthening with every advancement.
Seventh-Stage Dou Qi	34	Advanced after obtaining the Medicine Spirit Sacred Body, though its immense energy requirements limited the immediate gain.
Dou Zhe	80	Condensed a Dou Qi Whirl with Tier 4 Qi Gathering Powder, but the ancient black ring immediately dispersed it.
Dou Shi	88	Reached the Dou Shi realm in less than a year after entering Jia Nan Academy; gained access to Dou Qi Gauze.
Nine-Star Dou Shi Peak	108	Refined two Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills, but his constitution's high resource consumption only brought him to the peak of the realm.
Great Dou Master	119	Advanced to Nine-Star Great Dou Master through repeated cultivation in the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower.
Dou Ling	138	Fused the Yin-Yang Twin Flames after consuming ripened Icefire Dragon Whisker Fruits.
Peak Dou Wang	98	Reached the peak of the Dou Wang realm before confronting Han Feng.
Dou Huang	98	Advanced after obtaining Sea Heart Flame during Medicine Elder's revenge against Han Feng.
Peak Dou Huang	98	Further advanced by fusing Fallen Heart Flame.
Dou Zong	98	Broke into the Dou Zong realm after his campaign against the Yunlan Sect and Soul Hall.
Peak Two-Star Dou Zun	99	Fused Green Lotus Core Flame and Netherworld Poison Flame over two years.
Eight-Star Dou Zun	99	Reached this stage after condensing a false Heavenly Flame and acquiring the Profound Yellow Flame.
One-Turn Dou Zun	147	Compressed his immense Dou Qi through the Flame Mantra after a prolonged bottleneck at Nine-Star Dou Zun.
Two-Star Dou Saint	188	Refined Demon Saint Blood Essence to advance from One-Star to Two-Star Dou Saint.
Six-Star Dou Saint	236	Refined Black Demon Lightning in the Nihility Lightning Pool alongside the Nine Dragons Lightning Flame.
Seven-Star Dou Saint	244	Reached this realm while pursuing the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame's Demon Flame Origin.
Emperor Realm Soul	249	Emerged from the Sky Tomb with soul power exceeding that of most Dou Saints.

Background

Xiao Yan's first simulated future was defined by loss. Medicine Elder Yao Chen, concealed within an ancient ring, drained Xiao Yan's Dou Qi for more than three years after crippling him shortly after he became a Dou Zhe. The resulting loss of strength led to Nalan Yanran publicly breaking their engagement. 4 5

Armed with knowledge from the Life Simulator, Xiao Yan rejected another powerful ring and an unusable Heaven Tier cultivation technique in favor of the eighth-grade Primordial Origin Pill. He judged that the pill's lasting improvement to his body and aptitude would offer the most reliable route to changing his fate. 5

The Primordial Origin Pill granted him adult-level physical strength within a year and continued improving his physique as he grew. Before age three, he mastered the Three-Origin Circulation Method, began cultivating Dou Qi, and immediately reached Second-Stage Dou Qi. 6 22 23

He later selected the Medicine Spirit Sacred Body, gaining a constitution that strengthened his body through medicinal energy, ripened herbs, and enhanced those around him. Its benefits came with a major drawback: Xiao Yan requires vastly more cultivation energy and medicinal resources than ordinary practitioners. 34 37

Appearance

Xiao Yan is a handsome young man typically seen in black robes. His dark eyes can take on a pale-white hue when he channels the Bone Chilling Spirit Flame through his eye technique. 46 108 241

• Exceptional physique, capable of contending with a Seven-Star Great Dou Master through physical strength alone. 42
• Broad, resilient meridians strengthened by the Primordial Origin Pill and Medicine Spirit Sacred Body. 25 85
• Often carries a jade ruler, Storage Ring, and flame-related equipment. 118

Personality

Xiao Yan is calculating and pragmatic, especially when choosing cultivation resources or confronting stronger factions. He selected the Three-Origin Circulation Method not for immediate personal power, but because it could improve the future of the Xiao Clan's younger generation. 22

His experiences with Yao Chen made him suspicious of mentors and opportunities that appear too convenient. Even after becoming Yao Chen's disciple, he remains aware that Yao Chen once harmed him to test his potential. 5 67 68

Family and allies strongly influence his decisions. Xiao Yan repeatedly uses his abilities to treat Xiao Lin, nourish Xiao Xun'er's meridians, protect vulnerable academy students, and seek methods to save those endangered by hostile factions. 35 119

Abilities & Skills

Medicine Spirit Sacred Body

A rare constitution acquired as a simulation reward that turns Xiao Yan into an exceptionally resource-intensive but overwhelmingly powerful cultivator among peers of the same realm. 34 37

• Ripens medicinal herbs planted near his cultivation area. 37
• Releases a restorative warmth that can improve injuries and alleviate poison. 35 62
• Greatly strengthens his body, meridians, bones, skin, and Dou Qi reserves. 34 42
• Requires several times, or even dozens of times, the medicinal energy needed by ordinary cultivators. 34 108

Three-Origin Circulation Method

Xiao Yan's foundational cultivation method, chosen for its usefulness to the Xiao Clan as well as himself. 22

• Absorbs both heaven-and-earth energy and hidden spiritual energy. 22
• Nourishes meridians while gradually strengthening soul power. 22
• Enabled Xiao Yan to cultivate successfully before age three and break through to Second-Stage Dou Qi in one session. 22 23

Flame Mantra and Heavenly Flames

Xiao Yan chose the evolvable Flame Mantra over a low-grade Earth Tier cultivation technique. By devouring flames, it can rise in rank and unlock greater potential. 10 14

• Fused the Bone Chilling Spirit Flame, ranked eleventh among Heavenly Flames. 85
• Advanced the Flame Mantra to Middle Profound Tier after absorbing the Green Lotus Core Flame. 44
• Fused the Yin-Yang Twin Flames to reach the Dou Ling realm. 138
• Later obtained and refined flames including Sea Heart Flame, Fallen Heart Flame, Netherworld Poison Flame, Profound Yellow Flame, Nine Dragons Lightning Flame, and the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame's origin. 98 99 102 244
• Can create destructive composite attacks such as Buddha's Fury Fire Lotus. 44 97

Emperor Flame Immortal Armor

A Heavenly Flame-based armor obtained through a simulation reward. 54

• Forms a thick protective layer of ice through the Bone Chilling Spirit Flame. 110
• Shielded both Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er during an attempted breakthrough under attack. 110
• Can refine incoming Dou Techniques into energy for Xiao Yan to absorb. 110

Alchemy and Medicinal Arts

Xiao Yan studies alchemy under Medicine Elder and uses the profession to fund cultivation, stabilize markets, and support allies. 43

• Successfully refined a Five-Tier Dragon Strength Pill on his second attempt. 52
• Uses alchemy to obtain cultivation resources and aid Jia Nan Academy students. 52 119
• Reached Sixth-Rank Alchemist status during a later simulated academy period. 97
• Treated Nalan Jie's Luo Poison when even Pill King Gu He could not resolve it. 150

Soul and Perception Techniques

Xiao Yan possesses unusually strong soul power, further enhanced by the Three-Origin Circulation Method and later cultivation. 22 80

• Condensed and tempered the Soul Devouring Sword, a technique specialized against soul bodies such as Soul Hall members. 67
• Uses an eye technique to observe opponents' Dou Qi flows and anticipate attacks. 115
• Achieved Emperor Realm soul power after leaving the Sky Tomb. 249

Combat Techniques

Xiao Yan combines close-combat arts, flame techniques, movement skills, and defensive methods rather than relying on a single fighting style.

• Eight Extremities Collapse — close-range technique that stacks up to eight layers of force; at full mastery, its power rivals a Low Earth Tier technique. 9
• Absorbing Palm and Flame-Blowing Palm — techniques learned and mastered rapidly under Medicine Elder. 17
• Lava Heaven-Burning Art — includes Void Vortex Force and Lava Heaven-Breaking Force. 23
• Three Thousand Lightning Movement — movement technique cultivated for speed and mobility. 52 76
• Yellow Springs Finger, Yellow Springs Palm, and Yellow Springs Heavenly Wrath — Demon Saint techniques acquired with detailed cultivation methods and insights. 186 187

Equipment / Items

• Ancient black ring — contains Yao Chen's soul and was responsible for dispersing Xiao Yan's Dou Qi after his Dou Zhe breakthrough. 80
• Sea Heart Inner Armor — High Xuan Tier armor capable of resisting many attacks from the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King. 44
• Heritage Jade Pendant / Xiao Clan ancient jade — a Xiao Clan treasure connected to the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor and sought by Soul Hall. 39 52
• Azure Fire Crystal Card — high-grade Inner Academy cultivation card allowing access to the first six floors of the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower. 118
• Emperor Flame Immortal Armor — Heavenly Flame-powered defensive armor. 54 110

Relationships

• Lin Shuiyao — Xiao Yan's mother. He is determined to treat her illness and later cultivates alongside her as she becomes a Jia Nan Academy instructor. 7 67
• Xiao Lin — Xiao Yan's grandfather and early cultivation guide. Xiao Yan uses the Medicine Spirit Sacred Body's restorative aura in an effort to help him recover from severe injuries. 23 35
• Xiao Zhan — Xiao Yan's father and Xiao Clan leader. Xiao Yan bids him farewell before leaving Wutan City to pursue further training. 16 17
• Xiao Xun'er — Xiao Yan's cousin, closest companion, and frequent cultivation partner. He secretly nourishes her meridians, while she repeatedly supports him in combat and at Jia Nan Academy. 7 110 119
• Yao Chen / Medicine Elder / Venerable Yao — Xiao Yan's eventual master. Their relationship began in hostility because Yao Chen drained Xiao Yan's Dou Qi, but Xiao Yan later accepted apprenticeship and worked to help revive him. 5 68 102
• Nalan Yanran — Xiao Yan's fiancée-turned-rival. Their broken engagement led to the Three-Year Pact and an enduringly complicated relationship. 4 46 69
• Ya Fei — Mittel Auction House partner and later romantic associate. Their partnership began through medicinal ingredients and Xiao Yan's alchemical business. 16 43
• Xiao Yi Xian / Little Fairy Doctor — ally whose Calamity Poison Body Xiao Yan repeatedly seeks to control or cure. 19 44 66
• Yun Yun / Yun Zhi — injured Dou Huang Xiao Yan treated under the name Yun Zhi; she was later revealed as the Yunlan Sect's sect master. 28 48
• Queen Medusa / Cai Lin — powerful Snake-People Tribe leader and uneasy ally. Xiao Yan treats her poisoning and later shares a deeper bond with her. 62 76
• Zi Yan — Void Ancient Dragon in human form. Their rivalry over medicinal herbs develops into friendship and cooperation. 97 120 138
• Han Feng — Yao Chen's traitorous former disciple and one of Xiao Yan's major enemies. Xiao Yan kills him and absorbs the Fallen Heart Flame. 68 76
• Soul Hall — hostile organization targeting the Xiao Clan's ancient jade and responsible for taking Yao Chen's soul. 52 98 249

Story Role / Major Arcs

Changing Fate Through Simulation

After learning that Yao Chen's ring caused his loss of Dou Qi, Xiao Yan uses the Life Simulator's rewards to alter his childhood, choosing the Primordial Origin Pill and later the Medicine Spirit Sacred Body. 5 34

Xiao Clan Prodigy

Xiao Yan begins cultivating before age three, rapidly becomes the Xiao Clan's foremost genius, and uses his growing strength to support Xiao Lin, Lin Shuiyao, and Xiao Xun'er. 23 25 35

Jia Nan Academy

He enters Jia Nan Academy early with Lin Shuiyao and Xiao Xun'er, demonstrates exceptional combat ability, enters the Inner Academy, and establishes a faction to protect exploited Outer Academy students. 67 88 119

Heavenly Flame Path

Xiao Yan commits to the Flame Mantra and risks his life fusing increasingly powerful Heavenly Flames, beginning with the Bone Chilling Spirit Flame and continuing through the Yin-Yang Twin Flames and later flames. 85 138

Conflict with Yunlan Sect and Soul Hall

The Three-Year Pact, the Yunlan Sect's actions against the Xiao Clan, and Soul Hall's pursuit of the Xiao Clan ancient jade push Xiao Yan into open conflict with the Jia Ma Empire's strongest forces. 48 52 98

Central Plains and Pill Tower

After entering the Central Plains, Xiao Yan expands the Flame Alliance, joins the Pill Tower, searches for further Heavenly Flames, and rescues Medicine Elder from Soul Hall. 99 102

Demon Flame Space

Xiao Yan enters the Demon Flame Space to confront the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame. Drawing on repeated simulations and the Purifying Lotus Demon Saint's legacy, he identifies the space's illusion and pursues the Demon Flame Origin. 241 243 244

Notable Quotes

“Maybe it was a dream.” 66

“No one can hurt us.” 110