Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Starfall Pavilion's Young Pavilion Master 91 144
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Household; disciple of Yao Lao; Starfall Pavilion 22 91
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; Starfall Pavilion Young Pavilion Master 91 144
Status	Alive 188
First Appearance	Chapter 17

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Fifth Stage of Dou Qi	17	Yao Xuan identifies him as having recently risen from the Third Stage; Yao Lao has not yet taught him the Flame Mantra.
Three-Star Battle Master	78	Reached after one year of cultivation at Jia Nan Academy.
Dou Master	130	Emerges from seclusion after receiving Yao Lao's direct guidance and medicinal support.
Five-Star Dou Spirit	143	Advances from One-Star Dou Spirit during seclusion under Yao Lao's assistance.
One-Star Dou King	167	Breaks through within the Misty Cloud Sect's Life-and-Death Gate, though his Dou Qi is initially unstable.
Three-Star Dou Wang	179	Continues advancing and receives an upgraded Heavenly Flame child flame from Yao Xuan.

Background / History

Xiao Yan was once regarded as the “useless young master” of the Xiao Household after his Dou Qi mysteriously declined for three years. The cause was Yao Lao, a remnant soul residing in his Storage Ring who had awakened by absorbing Xiao Yan's Dou Qi. Yao Lao later accepted responsibility for this and took Xiao Yan as his disciple. 19 21 25

While still in Wu Tan City, Xiao Yan met Yao Xuan after following him from the Miter Auction House. Because both were connected to Yao Lao, Yao Xuan treated Xiao Yan as a brother and used his status as an alchemist and Dou Wang to aid the Xiao Household. 19 22 24 Yao Xuan supplied cultivation resources for Xiao Yan and pills that strengthened Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Household elders. 24 30

Xiao Yan later enrolled at Jia Nan Academy, where he focused on training and reunited with Yao Xuan and Yao Lao after a year apart. 64 77 78 He left the academy for the Central Plains after accepting Yao Lao's advice that greater strength was necessary to protect the people important to him, joining Starfall Pavilion as its Young Pavilion Master. 91 92

After preparing at Starfall Pavilion, Xiao Yan returned to the Jia Ma Empire to fulfill his Three-Year Pact with Nalan Yanran. He insisted on facing her alone rather than relying on Starfall Pavilion's power, decisively defeated her, and later chose to eradicate the Misty Cloud Sect after its elders attempted to detain and destroy him. 150 157

Following the sect's destruction, Xiao Yan learned that the Xiao Clan had once been one of the Ancient Eight Clans. Soon afterward, his father, Xiao Zhan, was abducted by Soul Hall operative Wu Ying, giving Xiao Yan a new reason to seek strength and return to the Central Plains. 159 161 167

Appearance

Xiao Yan is a tall, straight-backed young man whose bearing becomes increasingly calm and resolute as his cultivation grows. He is seen training in a simple blue robe at Jia Nan Academy and later favors fitted black clothing. 77 144

• Wears a loose black robe while concealing his identity at the Miter Auction House. 17
• Uses Purple Cloud Wings for aerial travel and combat mobility. 151
• Wields the Black Heavy Ruler in his duel with Nalan Yanran. 152

Personality

Xiao Yan is determined, grateful, and deeply protective of his family. He remembers Yao Xuan's support toward the Xiao Household and vows to repay it, while his desire to rescue Xiao Zhan becomes his central motivation after Soul Hall's attack. 24 160 167

He values personal honor and prefers to resolve his own grievances through his own strength. Despite being backed by Starfall Pavilion and Yao Xuan, he refuses to use a group of experts to pressure the Misty Cloud Sect during the Three-Year Pact. 150 151

His experiences make him more decisive. After the Misty Cloud Sect repeatedly targets him and his family, he chooses its eradication rather than extending mercy. 157

Abilities & Skills

Ruler Combat

Xiao Yan fights with the Black Heavy Ruler and can match high-level techniques with powerful, direct strikes.

• Uses the Black Heavy Ruler to injure Nalan Yanran during their duel. 152
• Employs Flame-Splitting Tsunami Ruler to overcome Nalan Yanran's Wind Technique: Sunset Radiance. 152
• Receives the Six Harmonies Wandering Body Ruler, a technique combining movement and ruler attacks through six stackable forms. 128 130

Flight

Yao Xuan gives Xiao Yan the flying Battle Skill Purple Cloud Wings before their journey to the Central Plains.

• Learns the technique in seven days. 92
• Uses the wings to arrive at Misty Cloud Mountain for the Three-Year Pact. 151

Heavenly Flame Child Flame

Yao Xuan gives Xiao Yan a wisp of the Dragon Lotus Profound Sea Flame as a child flame.

• Can be used for alchemy and combat. 89
• Receives an upgraded child flame after Yao Xuan refines the Yin-Yang Twin Flame. 179
• Declines Yao Xuan's offer to refine the Yin-Yang Twin Flame for him, believing Yao Xuan needs it more and that his child flame is sufficient. 167

Three Mysterious Transformations of Heavenly Flame

Yao Xuan transmits the secret art of the Three Mysterious Transformations of Heavenly Flame directly into Xiao Yan's soul.

• The technique is described as crucial to Xiao Yan's future cultivation path. 188
• Xiao Xuan created the art, and it is tied to activating the Xiao Clan Pattern. 188

Equipment / Items

• Black Heavy Ruler — Xiao Yan's weapon during the Three-Year Pact. 152
• Purple Cloud Wings — flying Battle Skill provided by Yao Xuan. 92
• Six Harmonies Wandering Body Ruler — ruler technique purchased by Yao Xuan for Xiao Yan's upcoming duel. 128 130
• Dragon Lotus Profound Sea Flame child flame — a combat and alchemy flame gifted by Yao Xuan. 89
• Xiao Clan Ancient Jade — entrusted to him by the Xiao Household's First Elder after Xiao Zhan's disappearance. 159

Relationships

• Yao Lao (Yao Chen) — teacher and mentor. Yao Lao accepts Xiao Yan as a disciple after absorbing his Dou Qi for three years and later guides his cultivation with techniques and pills. 21 25 78
• Yao Xuan — sworn brother through Yao Lao; a protector and benefactor who supports Xiao Yan's cultivation, equips him with techniques, and stands beside him against the Misty Cloud Sect and Soul Hall. 22 89 130 158
• Xiao Zhan — father and Xiao Household clan leader. Xiao Yan's determination to grow stronger intensifies after Xiao Zhan is abducted by Soul Hall. 22 159 160
• Nalan Yanran — opponent in the Three-Year Pact. Xiao Yan defeats her in an open duel at Misty Cloud Mountain. 151 152
• Hai Bodong — protector recruited by Yao Xuan to safeguard the relocated Xiao Household in the Jia Ma Imperial Capital. 160 161
• Little Doctor Fairy — fellow Starfall Pavilion ally who trains alongside Xiao Yan and joins the Four Pavilions Assembly delegation. 143
• Yun Ling and the Misty Cloud Sect — antagonists who attempt to detain Xiao Yan following his victory over Nalan Yanran. 154 157

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Wu Tan City and Yao Lao's return — Begins recovering from his lost-cultivation period, meets Yao Xuan, and receives support for both himself and the Xiao Household. 17 30
• Jia Nan Academy — Enrolls in the academy, trains for a year, and reunites with Yao Lao and Yao Xuan. 64 77 78
• Central Plains journey — Leaves Jia Nan Academy for Starfall Pavilion to pursue greater strength and prepare for the Three-Year Pact. 91 92
• Four Pavilions Assembly — Takes part in the younger generation's melee to temper himself, then withdraws rather than contesting Feng Qing'er's victory. 143 144
• Three-Year Pact — Returns to the Jia Ma Empire and defeats Nalan Yanran as a Five-Star Dou Spirit. 150 153
• Fall of the Misty Cloud Sect — Refuses Yun Ling's unjust demands and decides the sect must be destroyed after its repeated hostility. 154 157
• Soul Hall crisis — Learns of the Xiao Clan's ancient heritage and seeks strength after Xiao Zhan's abduction. 159 167

Notable Quotes

“Xiao Household, Xiao Yan, challenges the mountain! The Three-Year Pact arrives as promised today!” 151

“The Three-Year Pact is an agreement between Nalan Yanran and me alone. What I want is an open and fair duel.” 150

“Only by leaving this place and growing stronger without cease will I be qualified to protect everything I wish to protect.” 92