Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Future Flame Emperor 2
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Clan; Jia Nan Academy; disciple of Yao Chen 48 112
Occupation/Role	Cultivator and fourth-grade alchemist 110
Status	Alive 168
First Appearance	Ch. 2 (mentioned); Ch. 47 (first on-page appearance)

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Dou Zhe	35	Condensed a Dou Qi Vortex and became a Dou Zhe at age eleven.
Four Stages of Dou Qi	46	His cultivation regressed after his breakthrough, leaving him with only four stages of Dou Qi.
One-Star Dou Zhe	75	Rebuilt his cultivation from the beginning over two years after the regression was resolved.
Two-Star Dou Shi	92	Reached this level at age sixteen while preparing to enter Jia Nan Academy.
Da Dou Shi; Fourth-Grade Alchemist	110	Returned to Wutan City with both cultivation and alchemy credentials greatly improved.
Nine-Star Da Dou Shi	112	Entered the top five of the Inner Academy Selection Tournament.
Dou King	146	Had reached the Dou King realm while pursuing stronger flames and resources.
Peak Seven-Star Dou Zun	163	Inherited the Xiao Tribe's Dou Di Bloodline from Xiao Xuan in the Heavenly Tomb.

Background

Xiao Yan was born into the Xiao Clan of Wutan City as the youngest son of clan head Xiao Zhan. Regarded as the clan's great hope after becoming a Dou Zhe at eleven, he later suffered an inexplicable regression in cultivation that reduced him to four stages of Dou Qi. 35 46

Gu Xun'er brought Wu Yan to examine him. Wu Yan found no issue with Xiao Yan's body and traced the problem to the black ring left by Xiao Yan's mother. Once the ring was removed, Xiao Yan immediately retained the Dou Qi he cultivated. 47 48

The ring contained the remnant soul of Yao Chen, an Eighth-Rank Alchemy Grandmaster. Yao Chen admitted he had drained Xiao Yan's Dou Qi and offered alchemy instruction as compensation; Xiao Yan eagerly accepted him as his teacher. 48

Abilities & Skills

Flame Mantra

Xiao Yan cultivates the Flame Mantra, an evolving fire-attribute technique that Yao Chen considers his only realistic means of eventually closing the gap with Wu Yan. 92

• The technique had evolved to high-grade Yellow Tier through the Life Transforming Flame. 110
• Xiao Yan seeks Heavenly Flames to continue evolving it. 92 110
• He pursued the Green Lotus Core Flame in the Tager Desert, though its apparent connection to the Mittel Clan complicated that goal. 100

Alchemy

Under Yao Chen's guidance, Xiao Yan became a fourth-grade alchemist by the time he returned to Wutan City. 110

• He obtained certification as the Jia Ma Empire's youngest second-tier alchemist at age sixteen. 99
• He participated in the Mittel-backed Alchemist Tournament. 103 104
• His alchemical development is closely tied to Yao Chen's instruction and access to materials. 48 99

Xiao Tribe Dou Di Bloodline

Within the Heavenly Tomb, Xiao Xuan recognized Xiao Yan as a descendant and granted him the Xiao Tribe's Dou Di Bloodline. 163

• The inheritance raised him to the peak of the Seven-Star Dou Zun realm. 163
• It connected him directly to the Xiao Tribe's lost legacy and the Tou She Ancient God Jade. 113 163

Soul-Restraining Soundwave Technique

Xiao Yan acquired a soundwave Dou Technique from the Inner Academy Scripture Pavilion. 112

• The technique is capable of restraining souls. 112
• It is especially relevant because Yao Chen exists as a soul and Soul Hall pursues both master and disciple. 111 112

Equipment / Items

• Black ring — A keepsake from Xiao Yan's mother that housed Yao Chen's soul. 47 48
• Tou She Ancient God Jade — A fragment tied to the inheritance of the last Dou Di; it is the reason Soul Hall targets the Xiao Clan. 113 146
• Flame Mantra — His evolving fire-attribute cultivation technique. 92 110
• Soul-restraining soundwave Dou Technique — Obtained from Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy Scripture Pavilion. 112

Relationships

• Xiao Zhan — Father and head of the Xiao Clan; Xiao Yan returned to Wutan City in glory as a fourth-grade alchemist, making the clan celebrate his achievements. 110
• Yao Chen — Teacher and former soul within Xiao Yan's ring; offered to teach him alchemy after causing his cultivation regression. 48
• Gu Xun'er — Cousin who sought help for his regression and later advised him to entrust the jade to Wu Yan if he could not protect it. Their relationship became distant over time. 46 86 113
• Wu Yan — Identified the ring as the source of Xiao Yan's regression and later killed Wu Protector to save Xiao Yan and the Xiao Clan. Wu Yan nevertheless refuses to involve himself deeply in Xiao Yan and Yao Chen's conflicts. 47 111 105
• Xiao Xuan — Ancestor whose remnant soul granted Xiao Yan the Xiao Tribe's Dou Di Bloodline in the Heavenly Tomb. 163
• Nalan Yanran — Former betrothed; their marriage contract was annulled after Wu Yue announced that Nalan Yanran had caught Wu Yan's eye. 76

Major Arcs

Cultivation Regression

After his early breakthrough to Dou Zhe, Xiao Yan's cultivation mysteriously declined. Wu Yan's examination exposed the black ring as an external cause, and Yao Chen's emergence revealed the truth behind the loss of Dou Qi. 35 46 47 48

Rebuilding and Alchemy Training

Xiao Yan rebuilt his cultivation from the beginning, regained the Dou Zhe realm, and trained under Yao Chen in alchemy. By age sixteen, he was a two-star Dou Shi and the Jia Ma Empire's youngest second-tier alchemist. 75 92 99

Wutan City Attack

When Wu Protector attacked the Xiao Clan to seize the Tou She Ancient God Jade, Yao Chen took control of Xiao Yan's body to fight back. The battle left Xiao Yan helpless against the difference in strength until Wu Yan intervened from afar and froze Wu Protector to death. 111

Jia Nan Academy and the Heavenly Tomb

Xiao Yan entered Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy through the selection tournament and later learned of Gu Xun'er's overwhelming reputation there. In the Heavenly Tomb, he met Xiao Xuan, inherited the Xiao Tribe's Dou Di Bloodline, and reached the peak of Seven-Star Dou Zun. 112 163

Notable Quotes

“My strange illness is really cured!” 48

“Father, Xiao Clan, Wutan City, I, Xiao Yan, have returned!” 110

Trivia

• Xiao Yan was described as the future Flame Emperor while still a small child. 2
• His original cultivation regression ultimately led him to Yao Chen, whose guidance became the foundation of his path in alchemy. 48
• He initially considered joining the Mittel Clan after the Alchemist Tournament, but Wu Yan refused to accept him without first consulting Yao Chen. 104