Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Little Flame; Yan Xiao
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Clan; Jia Nan Academy
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; alchemist; Xiao Yao's twin younger brother
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 1 (birth)

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Two-Star Dou Zhe	22	Recognized by the Nalan patriarch as an exceptional seven-year-old cultivator.
One-Star Battle Master	38	Revealed during the Xiao Clan's Dou Qi assessment at age eleven.
Ninth Stage Dou Qi	42	His cultivation regresses over roughly half a year as Yao Lao begins absorbing his Dou Qi.
Seventh Stage Dou Qi	49	His cultivation begins recovering; Xiao Yao expects him to reach Dou Zhe or higher before the coming-of-age ceremony.
Battle Master	76	Reaches the realm again and is already capable of refining second-tier medicinal pills.
Three-Star Battle Master	98	Advances while training under Yao Lao in the Magic Beast Mountain Range.
One-Star Dou Ling	309	Enters the Three-Year Pact against Nalan Yanran with confidence in this cultivation.

Background

Xiao Yan was born into the Xiao Clan alongside his near-identical twin, Xiao Yao. While the brothers look alike enough for Xun'er to mistake them for twins immediately, Xiao Yao is regarded as the elder brother and calls him “Little Flame.” 6

As a child, Xiao Yan distinguished himself through rapid cultivation, reaching Two-Star Dou Zhe at seven and One-Star Battle Master at eleven. His talent made him a celebrated prodigy within the Xiao Clan. 22 38

His cultivation later began to regress without an apparent physical cause, isolating him from the clan and reducing him to the ninth stage of Dou Qi. Xiao Zhan asked Xiao Yao to support and guide him through this period, while Xiao Yan ultimately endured the setback and trained under Yao Lao. 42 79

Appearance

Xiao Yan is a black-clothed youth with dark eyes and a strong resemblance to Xiao Yao. 6 307

• Nearly identical in appearance to his twin brother, Xiao Yao. 6
• Frequently wears black clothing. 307
• Uses a massive Heavy Xuan Ruler in battle. 314
• Can manifest Purple Cloud Wings for aerial movement. 324

Personality

Xiao Yan is proud, determined, and deeply protective of his family's honor. Nalan Yanran's public attempt to dissolve their engagement deeply humiliates him, but he answers it with a three-year challenge rather than submission. 48 49

His loss of cultivation forces him to mature. He comes to value strength, accepts Xiao Yao's advice not to rely excessively on pills, and persists through Yao Lao's punishing training. 38 52 81

Despite his pride, Xiao Yan is grateful to those who support him. He trusts Yao Lao enough to insist on refining a body for his teacher himself, and he remains close with Xiao Yao through teasing, shared meals, training, and mutual support. 93 99 399

Abilities & Skills

Dou Qi Cultivation

Xiao Yan possesses exceptional cultivation talent, though his progress is disrupted by Yao Lao's absorption of his Dou Qi before recovering through disciplined training. 38 42 76

• Reached One-Star Dou Ling by the Three-Year Pact. 309
• Uses green Dou Qi and flame-based techniques in combat. 314 317
• Continues practical combat training as a sparring partner for Qing Lin, Zi Yan, and Zi Lin. 446

Alchemy

Xiao Yan is an alchemist whose refinement skills develop alongside his cultivation. 76

• Can refine second-tier medicinal pills after returning to the Battle Master realm. 76
• Refines the Three-Stripe Green Spirit Pill during the Jia Ma Empire's alchemist competition. 380
• Prepares to refine a body for Yao Lao using a Dou Zun-level corpse. 399

Flame Mantra and Heavenly Flames

Xiao Yan cultivates the Flame Mantra and wields Heavenly Flames, which underpin several of his strongest techniques. 413 414

• Had already refined the Green Lotus Core Flame before receiving further Heavenly Flames. 413
• Receives the Fallen Heart Flame and Sea Heart Flame from Xiao Yao. 413 414
• Must refine the two new Heavenly Flames before his cultivation can surpass that of Zi Yan and Zi Lin. 446

Great Void Technique

A Heaven-Tier spatial battle skill taught to him by Xiao Yao. 99

• Allows traversal through the void before reaching the Dou Zong realm. 99
• At his initial Battle Master level, he can cross only one or two meters at a time. 99
• Its range and duration depend on the amount of Dou Qi expended. 99

Three Mysterious Changes of Heavenly Flame

A secret technique that temporarily amplifies Xiao Yan's strength through Heavenly Flames. 413 414

• Used during the conflict at the Misty Cloud Sect. 413
• Is incomplete and inflicts severe backlash on his body and meridians. 413 414
• Taught to Xiao Yao in exchange for Heavenly Flames; Xiao Yao believes he can improve it. 413 414

Buddha's Fury Fire Lotus

A destructive flame-fusion battle technique that Xiao Yan regards as dangerous even with his experience. 414

• Fuses multiple Heavenly Flames into a highly destructive Fire Lotus. 414
• Requires the Flame Mantra to perform. 414
• Even a two-colored version can devastate the surrounding training ground. 414

Equipment

• Heavy Xuan Ruler — Xiao Yan's massive weapon, carried on his back during the Three-Year Pact. 314
• Purple Cloud Wings — Wing-type Dou Technique used to evade Yun Leng in the air. 324
• Ancient Storage Ring — Houses Yao Lao's spirit and serves as the source of their mentor-disciple connection. 24 307
• Protective charm sachet — Flame-patterned sachet embroidered and gifted by Yao Yue before his departure for Jia Nan Academy. 423

Relationships

• Xiao Yao — Twin elder brother, mentor, and closest supporter. Xiao Yao provides pills, teaches him the Great Void Technique, trains beside him, and supports him through the Three-Year Pact. 38 49 99 309
• Xiao Zhan — Father. Xiao Yan vows to restore his father's dignity after Nalan Yanran's public dissolution attempt. 48 49
• Yao Lao — Teacher and mentor residing in Xiao Yan's ancient ring. Xiao Yan trains under him and later insists on refining a body for his resurrection himself. 81 399
• Xun'er — Childhood companion who worries for him during his training journey and proudly speaks of his accomplishments. 76 81
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and opponent in the Three-Year Pact. After losing their duel, she honors her wager and becomes his maid. 48 320
• Yao Yue — The Jia Ma Imperial Family proposes a future marriage agreement between them; Xiao Yan accepts her protective charm and promises an answer after his studies. 423
• Medusa — Behaves affectionately toward Xiao Yan after Xiao Yao subdues and spares her. 309
• Xiao Yu — Older cousin who bickers with him but remains concerned about his absence from Jia Nan Academy. 38 296
• Qing Lin, Zi Yan, and Zi Lin — Training partners under Xiao Yao; Xiao Yan serves as their daily sparring partner. 446

Story Role / Major Arcs

Cultivation Regression

Once praised as the Xiao Clan's foremost young genius, Xiao Yan abruptly loses cultivation as Yao Lao begins drawing Dou Qi from him. The experience strips away his earlier confidence but becomes the foundation for his later resolve. 38 42

Three-Year Pact

When Nalan Yanran publicly seeks to dissolve their engagement, Xiao Yan refuses to accept the humiliation and challenges her to a duel at the Misty Cloud Sect three years later. 48 49

He fulfills the challenge at One-Star Dou Ling, defeats Nalan Yanran, and tries to leave the sect before Yun Leng attempts to detain him by force. 309 320 322

Training in the Magic Beast Mountain Range

Xiao Yan leaves the Xiao Clan with Xiao Yao and trains under Yao Lao's supervision. His early training includes carrying the Heavy Xuan Ruler, enduring harsh physical conditioning, practicing under a waterfall, and fighting Magical Beasts. 81 93 98

Jia Nan Academy Training

After joining Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Yan continues developing as both a cultivator and alchemist. Xiao Yao later incorporates him into a demanding group-training regime, using him as the sparring partner for Qing Lin, Zi Yan, and Zi Lin. 76 446

Conflict with the Soul Hall

Following the Soul Hall's attack on the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan vows to destroy the organization for both the Xiao Clan's suffering and Yao Lao's persecution. 377

Notable Quotes

“Father, three years from now, Yan'er will go to the Misty Cloud Sect and personally wipe away today's humiliation for you!” 49

“Today, let us settle the grievances of the past. The humiliation you brought upon my Xiao Clan back then will be repaid today!” 314

“Whether it is the Xiao Clan's grudge or my teacher's, one day, I, Xiao Yan, will uproot Soul Hall!” 377