Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; Canaan Academy
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; self-taught alchemist
Age	Twelve during Canaan Academy's Inner Academy Selection Tournament 37 49
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Ninth Stage Battle Qi	2	Reached at age ten through six years of diligent cultivation and exceptional talent, without external resources.
One-Star Dou Practitioner	3	Consumed fourth-grade Qi-Gathering Powder, endured the strain on his meridians, and condensed a Dou Qi Vortex.
Five-Star Dou Practitioner	14	Reached after four months of relentless cultivation with the Sacred Sun Technique.
Six-Star Dou Practitioner	14	Broke through after absorbing a potent diluted batch of Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid.
Seven-Star Dou Practitioner	29	Absorbed the final medicinal efficacy of deluxe Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid after nearly two months of alchemy and cultivation.
Nine-Star Dou Practitioner	35	Advanced through Super Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid and replicated Bloodflame Pills.
Three-Star Great Dou Master	37	Revealed at Canaan Academy registration; Xiao Xun’er identifies his progression from Dou Practitioner at age ten to this realm.
Peak Five-Star Great Dou Master	42	Exposed after defeating Four-Star Great Dou Master Raina in a single attack.

Background

Xiao Yan’s memories from a previous life awaken in the Xiao Family of Wutan City. Expecting to inherit the Bone Flame Ring and Yao Lao’s guidance, he instead receives the Palm-Heaven Bottle, a green artifact that absorbs moonlight and condenses liquid capable of rapidly maturing medicinal herbs 1.

He verifies the bottle’s effect by turning a Spirit-Gathering Herb seed into a hundred-year herb overnight. Recognizing the danger of exposing this resource, he plans to convert its output into cultivation methods, pills, alchemical knowledge, and other long-term advantages while keeping its existence secret 1 3.

Without Yao Lao as a teacher, Xiao Yan builds his own path through foreknowledge, alchemy, cultivation resources, and calculated alliances. He aims beyond settling his engagement with Nalan Yanran, pursuing power, Strange Flames, advanced alchemy, and eventually the Dou Emperor realm 1 35.

Appearance

Xiao Yan is repeatedly noted for his handsome, sharply defined features and composed bearing. At the Xiao Family’s annual test, he wears a black robe with golden patterns; later descriptions emphasize his tall, slender build and fair, jade-like complexion 4 12 39.

• Often wears black robes.
• Carries a persistent medicinal fragrance from years spent cultivating herbs, refining pills, and handling poisons 12 39.
• Uses disguises, cloaks, gloves, and altered voice to conceal his identity during sensitive dealings 2 3.

Personality

Xiao Yan is methodical, pragmatic, and highly conscious of risk. Rather than relying on the Palm-Heaven Bottle openly, he tests it, limits conspicuous herb transactions, and turns rare resources into hidden advantages 1 3.

He favors preparation over direct confrontation. Poison, misdirection, economic pressure, aerial ambushes, and targeted assassinations are all tools he uses against stronger or better-protected enemies 21 24 28.

Despite his ambition and confidence, he supports the Xiao Family with techniques, pills, wealth, and equipment. He also encourages Xiao Yu to continue pursuing Canaan Academy even when she considers abandoning that goal to defend him 35 37.

Abilities & Skills

Sacred Sun Technique

An Advanced Profound Rank fire-attributed cultivation method purchased by the Xiao Family at the Mittel Auction House.

• Refines and compresses Battle Qi during each circulation, changing it into pale-golden, purer fire-attributed energy 11.
• Greatly increases the capacity and energy-absorption rate of Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi Vortex 11.
• Provides a foundation for his unusually fast cultivation, powerful flame techniques, and abundant Dou Qi reserves 14 22.

Alchemy

Xiao Yan develops as an alchemist without formal early instruction, using experimentation, recovered notes, and the Palm-Heaven Bottle’s herb supply.

• Successfully refines Rejuvenation Powder, Blood-Clotting Powder, Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, Force-Accumulating Pills, and other medicines 14 19 29.
• Reconstructs incomplete formulas through repeated tests and ingredient substitution 14 16.
• Becomes recognized as a third-grade alchemist by Canaan Academy’s recruitment staff 37.
• Advances to Fourth-Rank Alchemist status by the Inner Academy Selection period 46 49.
• Borrows Xiao Xun’er’s Golden Emperor Incinerating Flame through the Unity Return Art to refine the third-grade Spirit Awakening Pill 35.

Flame Control and Beast Flames

Xiao Yan uses fire-control arts for both alchemy and combat.

• Lionheart Sacred Flame — A fifth-tier Beast Flame fused into his Dou Qi Vortex; it purifies his Battle Qi and raises First Sun Scorching Sky to the peak of Advanced Profound Rank power 16.
• Moon-Howling Azure Wolf Beast Flame — A sixth-tier Beast Flame selected from Old Man Huo’s collection to support stronger fire techniques 46.
• Golden Emperor Incinerating Flame — Xiao Xun’er’s fourth-ranked Strange Flame; Xiao Yan can temporarily access a portion of it through their shared secret art 35.

First Sun Scorching Sky

An Advanced Profound Rank fire-control Dou Technique taught by Xiao Xun’er.

• Forms controlled golden flames that aid both combat and alchemy 12.
• Its power rises with the quality of the user’s flame; Beast Flame use raises it to the peak of Advanced Profound Rank 12 16.
• Defeated a poisoned Dou Practitioner, injured Han Bo, and killed a Blue Flame Serpent with overwhelming force 21 26 30.

Mad Lion Roar

An Advanced Profound Rank weapon-based Dou Technique recovered from the treasure cave.

• Has no stated Dou Qi attribute restriction and is most effective when used with a saber 7.
• Condenses Dou Qi into a golden energy lion around or from a weapon 23 25.
• Killed Nine-Star Dou Practitioner Mu She after breaking through his Wind Blade Frenzy Dance 32.
• Was strong enough to overwhelm Instructor Ruo Lin’s Intermediate Profound Rank Water Mandala 38 39.

Twin Suns Burning Wind

An Earth Tier Dou Technique connected to the later portions of First Sun Scorching Sky.

• Uses the Moon-Howling Azure Wolf Beast Flame to create two enormous green fire spheres 50.
• Draws upon the energy of heaven and earth during activation 50.
• Overwhelmed Han Xian’s Dan Flame technique; Hu Gan had to intervene to prevent the second sphere from seriously killing him 50.

Flying Dou Technique

An Advanced Profound Rank technique recovered from the treasure cave.

• Creates two branch meridians from Xiao Yan’s spine and manifests purple-black eagle wings 22.
• Enables short-distance aerial travel before reaching the Dou King realm 22.
• Allows covert infiltration, escape, and aerial ambushes 24 28.
• Can later be combined with Dou Qi wings and movement techniques for speed approaching a Dou Sect’s level 22.

Poisoncraft

Using the Seven-Colored Poison Classic, Xiao Yan develops poisons as part of his combat strategy.

• Prepared a sleeping poison that weakened a hired Dou Practitioner before their duel 18 21.
• Uses Corpse-Dissolving Powder to erase evidence after ambushes 25.
• Refined the Stone Miasma Pill, capable of petrifying even a Great Dou Master, to kill Han Bo 28.
• Understands the Purple Luo Flower poison used to devastate Thousand Medicine Hall’s herb-gathering valley 31 32.

Equipment and Items

• Palm-Heaven Bottle — Produces moonlight-condensed green liquid that rapidly matures medicinal herbs; Xiao Yan uses it to sustain his alchemy and cultivation resources 1 14.
• Crimson Flame Berserk Blade — A saber forged from the Blazing Male Lion’s Magic Core, bones, flesh, blood, black iron, and geng metal 23.
  • Can release Flame Burst Impact, comparable to an Intermediate Profound Rank Dou Technique 23.
  • Carries Killing and Baleful Intent that can pressure an opponent’s mind, but may also affect Xiao Yan 24 26.
• Storage Rings — Used to conceal supplies, herbs, medicines, equipment, and even the Fire Cloud Wolf 12 47.
• Third-tier medicinal cauldron — Taken from Han Bo’s Storage Ring and used to withstand more demanding alchemical refinement 29 34.
• Fire Cloud Wolf / Little Red — A Fire Cloud Wolf raised through medicinal dregs and unstable Bloodflame Pills; later becomes a rare third-tier variant and Xiao Yan’s mount 35 49 50.

Relationships

• Xiao Zhan — Father and Xiao Family patriarch. He supports Xiao Yan’s cultivation, joins the treasure-cave expedition, and trusts him with major family strategy 4 5 25.
• Xiao Xun’er — Childhood companion, cultivation partner, and trusted confidante. She teaches him First Sun Scorching Sky, learns the Sacred Sun Technique from him, and shares the Unity Return Art 11 35.
• Ya Fei — Mittel Auction House chief auctioneer and Xiao Yan’s business ally. She provides intelligence, materials, auction access, and custom equipment while gradually uncovering his hidden capabilities 12 20 24.
• Xiao Yu — Family member and frequent assistant in medicine production. Their relationship is marked by teasing, mutual concern, and Xiao Yan’s support for her Canaan Academy ambitions 19 37.
• Little Fairy Doctor — Thousand Medicine Hall healer who becomes Xiao Yan’s assistant and companion in the Magic Beast Mountain Range. They share an interest in medicine, poison, and the Calamity Poison Physique 30 33 34.
• Ruo Lin — Canaan Academy instructor who recognizes Xiao Yan’s extraordinary potential, tests his combat strength, and helps guide him toward Inner Academy opportunities 37 38 39.
• Old Man Huo — Alchemy Department elder who seeks to recruit Xiao Yan and permits him to select treasures from his private collection 42 46.
• Nalan Yanran — His arranged fiancée. Xiao Yan intends to personally dissolve the engagement rather than wait for the Nalan Family to act 10 20.
• Yao Lao — The mentor Xiao Yan expected to receive through the Bone Flame Ring. Without that inheritance, Xiao Yan follows a more self-reliant path, though Yao Lao’s medicines and legacy remain points of comparison 1 14 38.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Palm-Heaven Bottle and Early Breakthrough

Xiao Yan replaces the expected Bone Flame Ring inheritance with the Palm-Heaven Bottle, trades matured Spirit-Gathering Herbs for Qi-Gathering Powder, and becomes a One-Star Dou Practitioner at age ten 1 3.

Treasure Cave and Wutan City Rise

He directs Xiao Zhan to a hidden cave near Qingshan Town, securing rare techniques, medicinal herbs, and seeds. He later helps Xiao Zhan acquire the Sacred Sun Technique through a staged auction strategy 4 7 9.

Jialie Family Conflict

Xiao Yan counters the Jialie Family’s medicinal monopoly with Rejuvenation Powder, Blood-Clotting Powder, and Force-Accumulating Pills. He kills their alchemist Han Bo after engineering a conflict meant to leave the alchemist vulnerable, contributing to the Jialie Family’s collapse and the Xiao Family’s rise as Wutan City’s foremost clan 19 28 29.

Qingshan Town and Thousand Medicine Hall

After the Xiao Family acquires Thousand Medicine Hall, Xiao Yan leads an herb-gathering expedition into the Magic Beast Mountain Range. He defeats Mu She, subdues the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, and seeks to restore the poisoned herb valley 30 32.

Canaan Academy

Xiao Yan enters Canaan Academy alongside Xiao Xun’er, Xiao Yu, and the Little Fairy Doctor. His Three-Star Great Dou Master cultivation, self-taught alchemy, and combat strength overwhelm the academy’s usual newcomer test 36 37.

Inner Academy Selection

Seeking direct entry to the Inner Academy and access to the Scripture Pavilion, Xiao Yan defeats Raina and Han Xian, reveals peak Five-Star Great Dou Master strength, acquires a sixth-tier Beast Flame, and masters the Earth Tier Twin Suns Burning Wind 42 46 50.

Notable Quotes

“I will cultivate this method properly, but not to surpass Nalan Yanran in strength. In a few years, I will visit the Nalan Family and dissolve the engagement.” 10

“How dare you think you're worthy of teaching me a lesson, you Jialie old dog?!” 27

Trivia

• The Palm-Heaven Bottle produces one drop of green liquid every five days on the Dou Qi Continent 1.
• Xiao Yan began cultivating at age four and became a Dou Practitioner at age ten 2 37.
• Ya Fei identifies Xiao Yan’s disguised identity through his distinctive medicinal scent rather than his appearance 12 13.
• His initial goal at the Sacred Sun Technique auction was not to purchase the scroll himself, but to manipulate rival bidders into allowing Xiao Zhan to buy it cheaply 9.