Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Xiao Yan 2
Alias(es)	Nie Feng; Bu Jingyun; Xiongba 111 199 366
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Clan; disciple of Medicine Elder; Canaan Academy; founder and true master of Tianxia Guild 26 292 324 338
Occupation/Role	Alchemist; cultivator; Tianxia Guild leader 278 324
Status	Active; secretly returned to the Ancient Clan's Heavenly Tomb to revive Xiao Xuan amid the war against the Soul Clan 520
First Appearance	Chapter 2 — “Transmigrating into Xiao Yan” 2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Dou Zhe	2	A record states that, after beginning cultivation at age three, he condensed a Dou Qi Vortex and became a Dou Zhe at age ten. 2
Dou Zhe	27	Formed a highly compressed Dou Qi Vortex with soul perception and the Gathering Qi Powder. 27
One-Star Dou Zhe	32	Recorded by the Black Stone Stele after his late arrival at the Xiao Clan test. 32
Nine-Star Dou Zhe	127	Reached this level after fusing battle skills with Eight Extremes Collapse. 127
Dou Master	136	His Heavenly Flame Core absorbed liquid Dou Qi and produced black-and-white energy, completing the breakthrough. 136
Three-Star Dou Zhe	152	Registered during the Xiao Clan ceremony; this result conflicts with the earlier Dou Master breakthrough record. 152
One-Star Dou Ling	231	His cultivation reached Dou Ling after absorbing energy from the Green Lotus Core Flame, despite far greater gains in body, soul, and flame power. 231
Dou Huang	278	Reportedly rose from Dou Zhe to Dou Huang within three years and surpassed many veteran Dou Huangs. 278
Peak Dou Wang	319	His body was preserved after the Yin-Yang Twin Flame devoured three Heavenly Flames, raising him to the peak of the Dou Wang realm. 319
Peak Dou Huang	324	His physical body, soul, and Heavenly Flame all advanced alongside his peak Dou Huang cultivation. 324
Seven-Star Dou Sheng	513	Reached Seven-Star Dou Sheng after absorbing energy from the Lotus Demonic Flame and Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame. 513

Background / History

Transmigration and the Xiao Clan

Chu Li transmigrated to the Dou Qi Continent and became Xiao Yan. Aware that he had become the future Flame Emperor, he began cultivating early to avoid the humiliation, lost Dou Qi, and broken engagement associated with Xiao Yan's original fate. 2

Within the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan trained relentlessly in the Back Mountain and began experimenting with dangerous combinations of Dou Techniques. His earliest attempts to fuse Blazing Fire Palm with Eight Extremes Collapse severely damaged and numbed his arm, but he persisted rather than abandon the method. 8

He defeated Xiao Ning and continued training immediately afterward, considering Nalan Yanran—not minor clan rivals—to be the opponent he needed to overcome. 10 He later defeated Nalan Yanran in their public confrontation. 35 36

Medicine Elder's Disciple

Medicine Elder accepted Xiao Yan as a pill-refining disciple and directed him to establish a secluded refining platform on the Xiao Clan's Back Mountain. 26 After using Gathering Qi Powder to form his Dou Qi Vortex, Xiao Yan discovered the Yin-Yang Twin Flame within himself. 27 28

Despite being warned that the Flame Mantra required devouring Heavenly Flames and had only a thirty-percent success rate even for someone possessing one, Xiao Yan chose it immediately. The Yin-Yang Twin Flame devoured and mutated the technique, causing it to operate automatically at a level comparable to a high-grade Profound Rank method. 29

The Jia Ma Empire and Qingshan Town

Xiao Yan concealed his identity as the alchemist Nie Feng in the Imperial Capital, where he became known for pill refinement and helped the Imperial Family and major clans refine Longevity-Extending Pills. 111 When mercenary groups and Princess Yao Ye's forces targeted him, he fought alone against an army for three days and nights, killing more than ten thousand cavalrymen. 101 102 111

He later travelled to Qingshan Town, waited more than ten days for Xiao Yixian, and joined Myriad Medicine Hall's herb-gathering expedition into the Warcraft Mountains. 113 He followed Xiao Yixian to a hidden cave, became involved in the conflict with Mu Li and the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, and eventually stormed the group’s headquarters alone to rescue her. 114 129 130 131

Rise of the Xiao Clan

After returning home, Xiao Yan helped reshape Wutan City's balance of power. He had prepared an ambush against the Jia Lie Clan in advance and personally broke their numerical advantage with Cloud-Discharging Palm, Flame Fist, and Wind God Leg. 162

The Xiao Clan ultimately destroyed the Jia Lie and Oba clans. Xiao Yan left much of the final confrontation to Xiao Zhan, providing support and healing rather than claiming the battle for himself. 165

Heavenly Flames, Canaan Academy, and Tianxia Guild

In the Tager Desert, Xiao Yan pursued the Green Lotus Core Flame, fought the Twin-Headed Flame Spirit Snake in magma, and eventually used the flame's energy to evolve the Yin-Yang Twin Flame. 213 228 231

After entering Canaan Academy and returning to its Inner Academy, Xiao Yan sought deeper cultivation in the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower. 292 306 307 He devoured Han Feng's Sea Heart Flame, after which the Yin-Yang Twin Flame also consumed the Falling Heart Flame and Bone Spirit Cold Flame, pushing his body beyond its limit. 318 319

Following a month-long coma, Xiao Yan founded Tianxia Guild. He appointed Nalan Yanran as the Wind God Hall master and gave her a child flame capable of accelerating cultivation through heart fire. 324

Central Plains and Ancient Clan Conflicts

Xiao Yan expanded his influence through the Mitel Family, Poison Sect, Misty Cloud Sect, Snake People, and Sky Snake Mansion, with his long-term moves suggesting an effort to unify the Northwestern Continent. 278 Tianxia Guild later emerged victorious alongside Canaan Academy against the Black Alliance, with Xiao Yan secretly intervening to kill enemy leaders. 337

In the Central Plains, he won the Five Great Clans assessment, gained recognition as Medicine Elder's disciple, and pursued higher-grade alchemy and Heavenly Flames. 403 He spent more than a year subduing the Three Thousand Burning Flame, gaining its stellar-energy absorption and Undying Body traits. 424 425

Xiao Yan later entered the Ancient Clan, confronted resistance from Xun'er's pursuers and commanders, and earned acknowledgment from Xiao Xuan, the ancestor of the Xiao Clan. 454 458 473 During the conflict with the Soul Clan, he reached Seven-Star Dou Sheng and used Xiao Xuan's remnant soul to force Nihility Devouring Flame to retreat. 513

Appearance

Xiao Yan is described as tall and straight, with flawless features and deep eyes carrying wisdom and decisiveness. 32

• Possesses a black-and-white intersecting mark on his forehead following Heavenly Flame Body Tempering; Medicine Elder could not identify it as any known clan mark. 43
• Can alter his appearance when using false identities, including the personas Nie Feng, Bu Jingyun, and Xiongba. 111 199 366
• Often carries a broad black greatsword across his back during combat and training. 45

Personality

Xiao Yan is intensely ambitious and unwilling to accept an ordinary life. Even before acquiring a Heavenly Flame, he accepted the danger of subduing one because he refused to remain a powerless figure on the Northwestern Continent. 26

Medicine Elder considers him unusually mature, calm under pressure, and free of the impulsiveness expected of a young man. Xiao Yan remains composed around figures such as Fama, Gu He, the Jia Ma Imperial Family, and Nalan Yanran. 71

His composure does not make him passive. Xiao Yan prepares ambushes, cultivates in dangerous conditions, creates techniques beyond his realm, and uses political influence as deliberately as martial strength. 162 278 He is particularly uncompromising toward enemies and factions that threaten his family or companions. 331

He also shows a protective and compassionate side: he treats Qinglin with dignity, leaves food and water for a rescued family, and repeatedly risks himself to save Xiao Yixian. 199 226 326

Abilities & Skills

Yin-Yang Twin Flame

Xiao Yan's innate Heavenly Flame consists of a life-giving white Yang Fire and destructive black Yin Fire. It is initially ranked twenty-first among the Heavenly Flames, though its capacity to evolve makes it far more dangerous than its starting rank suggests. 28

• Yang Fire — Accelerates plant growth, improves healing-pill quality, restores Xiao Yan from serious injuries, and strengthens his body and bloodline. 28 38 46
• Yin Fire — Withers living matter and reduces it to dust. 28
• Flame control — Xiao Yan can alter the flame’s temperature, shape it into living forms, divide it into separate black and white flames, and use it for delicate alchemy. 28 38
• Devouring — The flame can consume cultivation methods, natural energy, Beast Flames, Heavenly Flames, and fire-attributed treasures to evolve. 29 231 318 518
• Formation core — Its formless state allowed Xiao Yan to use it as the hidden core of the Myriad Phenomena Return-to-Origin Tai Chi Formation. 366

Yin-Yang Twin Flame development	Chapter	Result
Ranked twenty-first Heavenly Flame	28	Revealed as a mysterious dual-aspect flame with separate life and destruction properties. 28
Devoured and mutated the Flame Mantra	29	Began operating the cultivation method automatically. 29
Became a true Heavenly Flame	231	After absorbing Green Lotus Core Flame energy, exceeded the Green Lotus Core Flame and was estimated at eighteenth in the ranking. 231
Devoured Sea Heart, Falling Heart, and Bone Spirit Cold Flames	318–319	Its power became too great for Xiao Yan's body to withstand without the Yin-Yang Profound Dragon Pill. 318 319
Reached fifth place in the Heavenly Flame Ranking	425, 430	Gained stellar-energy absorption and the regenerative traits of the Three Thousand Burning Flame. 425 430
Evolved beyond ordinary Heavenly Flames	518, 520	After consuming every flame in the Flamefire Domain, its power became no weaker than Nihility Devouring Flame. 518 520

Flame Mantra

The Flame Mantra is an evolving cultivation method that can surpass the Heaven Tier by devouring Heavenly Flames. Medicine Elder obtained it by chance and preserved it because it contained a method that could revive him. 29

• Began as a low-level Yellow Rank technique, but mutated into a self-operating method comparable to high-grade Profound Rank after interacting with the Yin-Yang Twin Flame. 29
• Reached high Profound Rank after the Heavenly Flame grew stronger. 193
• Reached low-grade Earth Tier after the Green Lotus Core Flame’s energy was absorbed. 231
• Continuously refines ambient energy without requiring Xiao Yan’s active cultivation. 29 148

Body Tempering and Recovery

Xiao Yan uses Heavenly Flame Body Tempering to burn and strengthen his body from within. His first attempt rendered him unconscious but left behind the black-and-white forehead mark. 43

• His physical strength reached the level of a Tier Six Magical Beast after absorbing the Green Lotus Core Flame’s energy. 231
• Later, his body became comparable to an eighth-tier Magical Beast, allowing him to endure techniques that would rupture ordinary meridians. 324 328
• The Three Thousand Burning Flame’s traits grant an Undying Body: he can recover from nearly any injury so long as he is not reduced to pulp. 425

Alchemy

Medicine Elder trained Xiao Yan in alchemy, where his powerful soul perception and exceptional flame control gave him an advantage from the beginning. 26 38

• Refined Blood-Coagulating Powder as a novice using Yang Fire. 38
• Became a First-Grade Alchemist and later used the Nie Feng identity to rise to Third Grade. 53 111
• Refined Gathering Qi Powder and became a Fourth-Grade Alchemist within roughly a year of beginning his training. 146
• Won the Alchemist Grand Ceremony and became a Seventh-Grade Alchemist. 278
• Reached Mortal Grade Grand Completion in soul power, theoretically enabling refinement of any pill below the eighth grade. 231
• Refined a sixth-grade pill in less than half a day and an Imperial Pill in two hours before Tianxia Guild’s assembled experts. 363

Battle Techniques

Xiao Yan repeatedly merges techniques and force principles to create attacks beyond their original rank.

• Eight Extremes Collapse — Uses Manifest Force to shatter defenses and Hidden Force to explode inside the target. He ultimately fused eighteen layers of both forces into other techniques. 42 127
• Cloud-Discharging Palm — A long-range fusion of Blazing Fire Palm and Eight Extremes Collapse. 53
• Flame Fist — A high-grade Profound Rank flaming fist technique; when fused with Eight Extremes Collapse, it gains expanded range and internal destructive force. 53 127
• Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms — His favored technique after fusion with Eight Extremes Collapse; later enhanced with Dragon Qi to potentially attack the soul. 127 303
• Wind God Leg — A technique created by combining Eight Extremes Collapse with Heavenly Net Art, capable of offense and evasion. 127
• Three Points Return to Origin Qi — A technique formed from Wind God Leg, Cloud-Discharging Palm, and Flame Fist. Its power approaches the Heaven Tier, but it can rupture Xiao Yan’s body without Medicine Elder’s intervention. 138
• Mad Lion’s Roar — A destructive Dou Technique whose testing caused explosions and tremors across Xiao Yixian’s valley. 125

Soul and Formation Arts

Xiao Yan possesses unusually strong soul perception, allowing him to compress Dou Qi, control fine alchemical processes, and sustain multiple simultaneous tasks. 27 38 135

His Myriad Phenomena Return-to-Origin Tai Chi Formation can absorb incoming attacks and strengthen itself. Its full strength came from nearly a thousand Dou Huangs and the Yin-Yang Twin Flame serving as its core. 366

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Black ring — Contains a vast internal space filled with Dou Techniques and pill formulas; later associated with Xiao Xuan. 82 476
• Storage Ring — Used to carry medicinal cauldrons, ingredients, and other items. 38
• Two-Port Cauldron — A dark-red medicinal cauldron identified as appropriate for novice alchemists. 38
• Black greatsword — A broad weapon that has blocked Magical Beast attacks and protected Xiao Yan in close combat. 45
• Snow Mastiff Armor — Protected him from magma and was strengthened by its environment. 213
• Sea Heart Soft Armor — Given by Yun Yun as repayment for saving her. 224
• Earth Monster Puppets — Strengthened by absorbing pill-refining lightning; Xiao Yan later upgraded them with rare metals using the Yin-Yang Twin Flame. 363 430

Relationships

• Medicine Elder / Yao Chen — Master and alchemy teacher. He entrusted Xiao Yan with the Flame Mantra, guided his cultivation, and depended on him for resurrection. 26 29 403
• Xiao Xun'er — Childhood companion and primary romantic partner. Their bond is marked by separation, jealousy, mutual protection, and Xiao Yan’s promise to restore her Divine-Grade Bloodline. 140 295 473
• Xiao Yixian — Physician from Qingshan Town and close companion. Xiao Yan rescued her from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, helped establish her power, and repeatedly intervened to save her life. 130 326 371
• Xiao Zhan — Father. Xiao Yan supports him and the Xiao Clan with healing medicine, cultivation resources, and strategic protection. 112 165
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li — Elder brothers and captains of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. Xiao Yan reunited with them after proving his overwhelming physical strength in their spar. 226
• Yun Yun — Misty Cloud Sect leader and romantic partner. Xiao Yan remains concerned for her despite the political consequences of their relationship. 225 267
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and former opponent. Their relationship improves after Xiao Yan apologizes and appoints her Wind God Hall master of Tianxia Guild. 35 324
• Qinglin — Treated by Xiao Yan as a younger sister. She remains devoted to him after he shows her respect and helps her develop the Bishi Sanhua Pupil. 226 228
• Medusa — Close ally who accompanies Xiao Yan against the Lotus Demonic Flame and remains beside him during major battles. 499 506
• Xiao Xuan — Xiao Clan ancestor. He acknowledged Xiao Yan’s genius, later took control of Xiao Yan’s body against Nihility Devouring Flame, and became the subject of Xiao Yan’s resurrection plan. 473 513 520

Notable Quotes

“I did not come to Dou Qi Continent to be a useless nobody. So what if they are Heavenly Flames?” 26

“Thirty percent? That's enough! I thought it was only ten percent!” 29

Trivia

• Xiao Yan’s pre-transmigration identity is Chu Li. 2
• He often hides his true cultivation, causing others to mistake him for an ordinary person or underestimate him entirely. 285 293
• He created several techniques by fusing existing Dou Techniques rather than relying solely on inherited manuals. 127 278
• His automatic cultivation and Xiao Yixian’s poison-based advancement were described as “cheating” compared with Xun’er’s conventional cultivation speed. 148