Xiao Yan

Biodata

Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Flame Emperor
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Clan of the Battle Qi Continent; World-Creation Continent Xiao Clan; Xiao Clan Branch
Occupation/Role	Dou Emperor; alchemist; cultivator
Status	Active as of Chapter 50
First Appearance	Chapter 1, “Farewell”

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Flame Formula — initial Emperor Tier	22	His Flame Formula advances smoothly to the initial Emperor Tier after reaching the World-Creation Continent; its cultivation requires immense amounts of Emperor-Origin Qi. 22

Background / History

One year after the Battle of the Twin Emperors, Xiao Yan lives in Wu Tan City as the Xiao Clan’s Flame Emperor. He is the father of Xiao Xiao and remains close to Xun'er, Cai Lin, and his teacher Yao Lao. When a pillar of light appears at Twin Emperor Mountain, he senses that it is a passage beyond the Battle Qi Continent and prepares to depart. Before entering, he gives his gathered Emperor-Origin Qi to Xun'er so she may also advance toward Dou Emperor. 1

Xiao Yan crosses the lightning-filled passage and arrives at Guidance City on the World-Creation Continent. Though already a Dou Emperor, he immediately discovers that the new world restricts his Emperor Realm soul power and contains opponents far beyond the standards of his home continent. He is registered as the sole arrival from the Battle Qi Continent and brought to the local Xiao Clan outpost. 2 3

The outpost’s Heavenly Spirit Continent nobles mistreat Xiao Yan and other arrivals from marginal Lower Planes. Refusing Xiao Ming’s offer to join them, Xiao Yan stakes his life on a challenge against five Dou Emperors. He defeats Xiao Feng through a soul attack, counters assassin Xiao Yao’s invisibility and phantom techniques, detoxifies Xiao Yuting’s Calamitous Poison Body, and mutually incapacitates Xiao Shan after countering Heaven-Shaking Roar with Lion-Tiger Shattering Gold Chant. The final battle is postponed for ten years after Xiao Wanqing intervenes. 5 9

While traveling with the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan learns that his supposed Otherworldly Flame is the Fallen Star Flame, a Heavenly Fire of the World-Creation Continent. He also learns that entry into the Xiao Clan requires reaching the Mid-Grade Emperor King Realm and defeating a noble from the same ascension period during the ten-year clan-entry test. 10 12

During a conflict with the Xue Clan on Ten-Thousand-Zhang Mountain, Xiao Yan protects Xiao Yuting with Yellow Springs Heavenly Wrath, but an enemy’s soul attack sends both of them into a mountain ravine. In the aftermath, he receives information from Tuoshe Ancient Emperor about Qingcheng’s aura on his body, Qingguo, and the histories of Heavenly Fire and Heavenly Water. 14 18

Xiao Yan later enters the Xiao Clan Branch, where he becomes Xiao Jian’s roommate and joins Xiao Jun’s hunting group. After being overwhelmed by the Black Alliance Hunting Squad, he commits himself to improving his strength, studies alchemy at the Medicine Hall, and seeks stronger ruler techniques. 22 24 28 30 34

At an auction, Ning Jing secures the Emperor-Tier Intermediate Five-Foot Profound Flame for Xiao Yan under an agreement that he must repay ten times its price and fulfill one reasonable request. He later agrees to help Xiao Yuting support Xiao Wanqing and fight the Xue and Qin Clans when capable, while refusing to promise indiscriminate killing. 37 38 45

Xiao Yan enters the Beast Zone to refine medicine and pursue the battle skill thrown into its core region. He successfully refines Qi-Recovery Pills despite a deliberately altered prescription, then remains in seclusion for roughly a year. After emerging, he is relentlessly pursued by powerful Magic Beasts, gaining practical survival and combat experience despite remaining at the peak Emperor Spirit Realm. 47 48

Appearance

Xiao Yan is a lean young man frequently dressed in black robes. He carries himself with the composure of a veteran combatant, even when facing stronger opponents. 1 6 47

• Often wears black robes. 1 47
• Uses a massive ruler as his principal weapon. 2 14
• Can manifest bone wings for aerial movement. 8
• Possesses the aura of Qingcheng and bloodline power from the Void Ancient Dragon Clan’s Dragon Emperor Lineage. 17 29

Personality

Xiao Yan is fiercely protective of the people and continent he considers his own. Although he initially endures the World-Creation Continent Xiao Clan’s hostility out of respect for shared bloodline ties, he refuses to tolerate insults toward the Battle Qi Continent and risks his life to defend its dignity. 2 4 5

He is patient and pragmatic under pressure. Xiao Yan studies unfamiliar opponents, adapts quickly to new rules, and avoids accepting deals that would mortgage his future or require him to abandon his principles. 6 8 34 45

His confidence is tempered by self-awareness. He recognizes the immense gap between his former world and the World-Creation Continent, yet repeatedly chooses to cultivate, learn, and seek danger rather than resign himself to weakness. 3 8 30 45

Abilities & Skills

Emperor Realm Soul Power

Xiao Yan possesses Emperor Realm soul power, making him exceptionally dangerous against stealth-oriented opponents and enabling him to use soul-based attacks. 3 5 6

• Detects Xiao Yao’s invisible movements by concentrating his soul power within a limited radius. 6
• Uses a soul attack to incapacitate Xiao Feng without physically injuring him. 5
• Employs Yellow Springs Heavenly Wrath to disrupt an opponent attacking Xiao Yuting. 14
• His perception is heavily restricted on the World-Creation Continent: he can clearly sense roughly one hundred meters, while his soul power loses contact beyond five hundred meters. 2
• His soul power is described as early Emperor Realm for alchemy purposes. 34

Fallen Star Flame / Heavenly Fire

Xiao Yan’s flame, once believed to be an Otherworldly Flame, is identified as the Fallen Star Flame—a Heavenly Fire of the World-Creation Continent. 7 12

• Detoxifies the poison in Xiao Yuting’s blood, winning the third battle of Xiao Ming’s challenge. 7
• Restrains the icy battle qi used by a Black Alliance opponent, allowing Xiao Yan to continue circulating his battle qi. 28
• Causes the Medicine Hall’s alchemist-potential crystal to display the color of his flame. 30
• Begins transforming after exposure to the World-Creation Continent’s abundant Emperor-Origin Qi. 10
• Its possession makes Xiao Yan a potential target of the Murong Clan, which lost the flame. 35

Flame Formula

Xiao Yan’s primary cultivation method evolves after he reaches the World-Creation Continent. 10 22

• Reaches the initial Emperor Tier. 22
• Grants recovery ability superior to that of the other newly arrived Dou Emperors. 10
• Requires an enormous supply of Emperor-Origin Qi, limiting the speed of his cultivation in the Xiao Clan Branch. 22 34
• Xiao Yan seeks the Water-Fire Mutual Generation Formula as a means of accelerating his growth and confronting Heavenly Water. 19 30

Alchemy

Xiao Yan is recognized as an Emperor-Grade Alchemist by Xiao Ming, though he lacks familiarity with the World-Creation Continent’s alchemist system. 5 30

• Uses his flame and soul power to neutralize Xiao Yuting’s blood poison. 7
• Studies the Medicine Hall’s alchemist ranks, potential tests, and rules. 30
• Successfully refines first-grade Qi-Recovery Pills despite an elder secretly altering the prescription. 47
• Qi-Recovery Pills restore fifty percent of the battle qi of cultivators below the Emperor King Realm, though repeated use before complete exhaustion is ineffective. 47

Combat Techniques

Xiao Yan’s techniques originate largely from the Battle Qi Continent, placing him at a rank disadvantage against World-Creation Continent Emperor-Tier skills. 8 28

• Phantom-body technique — creates phantom bodies to survive Xiao Yao’s Myriad Phantom Forms. 6
• Vajra Glazed Body — body-strengthening technique used against Xiao Shan’s Emperor-Tier Vajra Body; it proves inferior in scale and force. 7 8
• Lion-Tiger Shattering Gold Chant — sonic battle skill used to counter Heaven-Shaking Roar and incapacitate Xiao Shan. 8
• Three-Thousand Lightning Movement — movement technique used for rapid travel, evasion, and fleeing stronger Magic Beasts. 26 48
• Wandering Flame, Three Rulers — ruler technique enhanced by Heavenly Fire; it fails to affect a significantly stronger Black Alliance opponent. 28

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Eternal Ancient Flame Ruler / Heavenly Fire Eternal Ancient Ruler — Xiao Yan’s signature ruler, used to break battle-qi arrows, contest opponents in close combat, and destroy his Beast Zone cave seal. 2 14 28 48
• Bone wings — used to gain altitude and deliver Lion-Tiger Shattering Gold Chant directly near Xiao Shan’s ear. 8
• Spirit-Storing Demon Ring — a ring capable of storing one kind of Heavenly Fire or Heavenly Water for a prolonged period; such beings can exert less than one percent of their power inside it. 50
• Small boat — given to Xiao Yan by the Spirit Life Water as repayment to the Murong Clan after he swears not to reveal its existence. 19
• Qi-Recovery Pills — first-grade pills personally refined by Xiao Yan during his Beast Zone seclusion. 47

Relationships

• Xun'er — Xiao Yan’s intimate partner and someone he vows to protect; he leaves her his share of Emperor-Origin Qi before entering the passage beyond the Battle Qi Continent. 1 2
• Cai Lin — Xiao Yan’s close partner and family member; her refusal to watch him depart reflects the pain caused by his journey beyond the Battle Qi Continent. 1 2
• Xiao Xiao — his daughter, whom Yao Lao personally guides at Starfall Pavilion to stabilize her foundation. 1
• Yao Lao — Xiao Yan’s teacher, whose advice about patience and restraint Xiao Yan carries into the World-Creation Continent. 1
• Xiao Yuting — fellow Xiao Clan member, poison cultivator, and increasingly trusted ally. Xiao Yan cures her poison, and she later supports his alchemy training and seeks his future aid for Xiao Wanqing. 7 19 34 45 47
• Xiao Wanqing — a Xiao Clan noble who postpones Xiao Yan’s fifth battle, explains the World-Creation Continent’s hierarchy, and recognizes his proud, unyielding character. 9 10 35
• Huang Lin — a fellow ascendant from Azure North Continent. Xiao Yan heals him, and Huang Lin becomes one of Xiao Yan’s strongest supporters among the marginal-plane arrivals. 4 5 8
• Xiao Jian — Xiao Yan’s roommate in the Xiao Clan Branch and hunting companion. They grow into mutual support while Xiao Yan respects Xiao Jian’s decision to settle his own conflict with Xue Rou. 22 27 39 45
• Ning Jing — Merchant Guild Alliance manager who obtains a battle skill for Xiao Yan in exchange for future repayment and a reasonable request; she later follows him into the Beast Zone to keep him alive. 37 38 46 49
• Tuoshe Ancient Emperor — a lingering consciousness who explains Qingcheng, Qingguo, and the history of Heavenly Fire and Heavenly Water to Xiao Yan. 18
• Little Doctor Fairy — Xiao Yan’s former companion with a Calamitous Poison Body. His experience with her poison helps him treat Xiao Yuting, and he later reflects on what she gave up for him. 7 34
• Zi Yan — through helping her absorb the Origin Dragon-Phoenix Fruit, Xiao Yan awakened Ancient Dragon Essence Blood and obtained Void Ancient Dragon Clan bloodline power. 29

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Departure from the Battle Qi Continent — leaves his family and the Xiao Clan behind to enter the newly opened passage to a higher world. 1 2
• Guidance City Challenge — defends the dignity of the Battle Qi Continent against Xiao Ming’s Heavenly Spirit Continent faction, defeating four opponents before the fifth battle is postponed. 4 9
• Ten-Thousand-Zhang Mountain Conflict — learns the conditions for joining the Xiao Clan, fights the Xue Clan alongside Xiao Wanqing and Xiao Yuting, and falls into a ravine after protecting Xiao Yuting. 12 14
• Heavenly Fire and Heavenly Water Revelations — discovers the Fallen Star Flame’s true nature, Qingcheng’s aura on his body, and the significance of the Water-Fire Mutual Generation Formula. 12 18 19
• Xiao Clan Branch Training — adapts to harsh branch life, forms bonds with Xiao Jian’s team, and seeks advancement through alchemy and battle skills. 21 34
• Auction and Ning Jing’s Agreement — seeks the ruler technique Five-Foot Profound Flame and accepts Ning Jing’s assistance despite the massive debt it creates. 36 39
• Beast Zone Seclusion — enters the Beast Zone to refine pills and pursue a lost battle skill, then survives prolonged pursuit by high-level Magic Beasts. 45 49

Notable Quotes

“Anyone who insults the people of Battle Qi Continent today will pay a terrible price.” 4

“If anyone truly wants to kill Xun'er, I'll kill them with my own hands first. I will never allow Xun'er to die, much less die before my eyes. I'll grow stronger. I definitely will grow stronger.” 26

Trivia

• Xiao Yan’s soul power could once scan half of the Battle Qi Continent, but is sharply restricted after arriving on the World-Creation Continent. 2
• He considers being addressed as “uncle” by younger cultivators particularly humiliating. 14
• Xiao Yan initially mistakes the Fallen Star Flame for an Otherworldly Flame from the Battle Qi Continent’s flame ranking. 7 12
• Ning Jing’s auction agreement leaves Xiao Yan with a stated debt of ten billion spirit coins and one hundred billion gold coins. 39