Yao Lao

Biodata

Power Progression

Background and History

Yao Chen was born into the Yao Clan with a thin Dou Emperor bloodline. His father died young, and his mother raised him through hardship. Despite his talent for cultivation and alchemy, Yao Wangui framed him during a youth alchemy competition by planting a forbidden herb among his ingredients. Yao Chen was expelled and later hunted by members of the punishment faction 386 1363 1491.

After his expulsion, he became master of Starfall Pavilion and the continent’s foremost Alchemist. He raised Han Feng as a disciple but withheld the dangerous Flame Mantra from him. Han Feng joined the Soul Hall against him; after an ambush weakened Yao Chen, Han Feng and Mu Gu attacked him, and Mu Gu killed him. His damaged soul escaped into a Storage Ring 385 386 942.

Story Role

Awakening and Xiao Yan’s training

Xiao Lin discovered Yao Lao’s sleeping soul in Yang Xiyue’s ring. After noticing it was absorbing a small portion of her cultivated Dou Qi, he took the ring and nourished the soul. Herbs and pills beneficial to the soul helped Yao Lao awaken earlier than he otherwise would have 227 232 384 385.

Xiao Lin asked Yao Lao to teach his grandson Xiao Yan. Wary after Han Feng’s betrayal, Yao Lao observed the boy and questioned his emotional distance from his family. He eventually agreed to teach him, on condition that Xiao Lin not interfere 387 396.

Yao Lao secretly absorbed Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi, causing three cultivation declines. When he revealed himself, Xiao Yan was initially furious, but came to appreciate his guidance. Yao Lao helped him rebuild his cultivation and learn the basics of alchemy. Xiao Yan later formally became his disciple and chose the Flame Mantra, hoping it would help resurrect his teacher 417 418 458.

Return to Starfall Pavilion and resurrection

Yao Lao accompanied Xiao Yan through his search for Heavenly Flames and confrontations with the Soul Hall. When Xiao Yan could no longer sustain borrowed power in a battle against Han Feng, Yao Lao took control of his body and overpowered his former disciple 512 552 749.

After returning to the Central Plains, Yao Lao reunited with Feng Xian and Starfall Pavilion. Xiao Yan used a Dou Sheng corpse left by Xiao Lin to resurrect him. Newly revived as a Dou Sheng, Yao Lao destroyed the Soul Hall forces attacking the pavilion, sparing Mu Gu for questioning 899 1055 1062.

Lost memories

Yao Lao discovered that he could not remember how he had subdued the Bone Spirit Cold Flame. Feng Xian and other old friends withheld what they knew, so Yao Lao sought answers from Mu Gu, his former fellow disciple. Mu Gu revealed their teacher’s name: Han Shanshan 468 921 1068.

Yao Lao gave the Bone Spirit Cold Flame to Xiao Yan, hoping his disciple could uncover its secret. Xiao Yan discovered that Han Shanshan had sacrificed her soul to help Yao Lao subdue it; a faint trace of her true spirit remained within the flame. Separating that trace and restoring her remained only a possibility 1070 1072.

Return to the Yao Clan

Xiao Yan helped clear Yao Lao’s name after Yao Wangui’s framing came to light. Yao Wanhuo invited him back and offered him control of the punishment branch. Yao Lao accepted, then resigned as leader of the Heavenly Mansion Alliance so he could help rebuild the clan; Xiao Yan succeeded him as alliance leader 1491 1494 1495 1541.

Appearance

As a remnant soul, Yao Lao appeared as a faint, wavering elderly figure in a white robe with billowing sleeves. After his resurrection, he could return to a youthful appearance 386 1110.

• Face: Aged and exceptionally kind in his soul form.
• Eyes: Deep, with a look of hard-won wisdom.
• Hair: White when he first appeared before Xiao Yan 386 417.

Personality

Yao Lao values gratitude and repaying kindness. Xiao Lin’s trust moved him, and he took Xiao Yan’s character as seriously as his cultivation talent. His painful experience with Han Feng made him cautious about accepting another disciple 386 396 401.

He is protective and patient as a teacher. Although he wants revenge on Han Feng and the Soul Hall, he repeatedly tells Xiao Yan not to rush, preferring to abandon an opportunity for revenge rather than sacrifice his disciple. He can also tease Xiao Yan, including during their first meeting 417 459 555 665.

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Before his death, Yao Lao was renowned as the continent’s foremost Alchemist and had reached peak eighth tier 386 1483.

• Taught Xiao Yan the basics of refining medicine and continued passing on his knowledge 418 459.
• Prepared a Blood Lotus Pill to help Xiao Yan refine the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame and an Amethyst Restoration Pill that helped Yun Yun recover 512 559.

Soul power and borrowed strength

Even as a remnant soul, Yao Lao could use soul power and lend strength to Xiao Yan 417 513.

• Sealed Xiao Yan’s room before revealing himself 417.
• Could fight while controlling Xiao Yan’s body, using his own combat experience 749 750.
• Borrowed power consumed Yao Lao’s soul power and was limited by what Xiao Yan’s body could withstand. At one point, Xiao Yan could endure power beyond Dou Emperor for no more than three minutes 513 548 665.

Bone Spirit Cold Flame

Yao Lao possessed the ghostly white Bone Spirit Cold Flame, ranked eleventh among Heavenly Flames. It combined freezing cold with searing heat, though its power was diminished while his soul was weakened 469.

• Shaped it into a sword to cut through Han Feng’s Sea-Binding Net 749.
• Gave it to Xiao Yan after his resurrection, both to help his disciple and to investigate its connection to his lost memories 1069 1070.

Dou Techniques

• Flame Wheel Dance — Used against Han Feng while controlling Xiao Yan’s body 749.
• Great Wilderness Palm — Followed his Bone Spirit Cold Flame attack with this technique against Han Feng 749.

Relationships

• Xiao Yan — Disciple and eventual successor as Heavenly Mansion Alliance leader. Yao Lao guides his cultivation and alchemy; Xiao Yan works to revive him and clear his name 458 1062 1494 1541.
• Xiao Lin — Friend and Xiao Yan’s grandfather. He nourished Yao Lao’s remnant soul and entrusted Xiao Yan to his teaching 385 396 1498.
• Han Feng — Former disciple whom Yao Lao raised from childhood. Han Feng betrayed him with the Soul Hall, leaving Yao Lao deeply wary of taking another disciple 385 387 739.
• Mu Gu — Former fellow disciple and enemy. He helped kill Yao Lao, but later revealed their teacher’s name during an interrogation 942 1068.
• Han Shanshan — Yao Lao’s teacher, whose identity and connection to the Bone Spirit Cold Flame were among his lost memories. She sacrificed her soul to help him subdue the flame 1068 1072.
• Feng Xian — Old friend at Starfall Pavilion. He welcomed Yao Lao back but refused to disclose the truth behind his missing memories 899 921.
• Hu Jiujiu — His fiancée. They reunited and embraced at Starfall Pavilion after a long separation 921 1110.
• Xuan Yi and Fairy Qing (Hua Yu) — Former confidantes whom Yao Lao felt he had wronged. After his resurrection, Fairy Qing and Hu Jiujiu met amicably at Starfall Pavilion 921 1314.
• Yao Wangui — Yao Clan elder who framed Yao Lao and arranged his expulsion and pursuit 1363 1491.