Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎) 8
Alias(es)	Yan Xiao; “Xiao Yi Xian” while disguised at the Black Seal City auction 155 228
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Family; disciple of Yao Chen; Jia Nan Academy student 8 12 244
Occupation/Role	Dou Qi cultivator and alchemist 159 160
Status	Active 249
First Appearance	Chapter 8

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Three Duan Dou Qi	8	His cultivation has declined to this level by the annulment ceremony, though his fighting spirit remains intact. 8
Dou Master	61	Reaches Desert City after growing from the third stage of Dou Disciple to Dou Master under Yao Chen’s guidance. 61

Background / History

Xiao Yan is the third young master of the Xiao Family and Nalan Yanran’s nominal fiancé. At the Xiao–Nalan engagement ceremony, he arrives late to find no seat reserved for him and endures open contempt from his own clan. Rather than collapse into self-pity, he remains outwardly composed and self-mocking. 8

After Nalan Yanran annuls their engagement, Xiao Yan publicly vows that he will not suffer the same humiliation again and promises to challenge her in three years. 9 Soon afterward, he accepts Yao Chen as his master. Yao Chen undertakes to restore him to the Dou Practitioner realm and begins directing his cultivation through medicinal materials and external stimulation. 12

Xiao Yi Xian becomes a crucial early ally. Although not related by blood, she introduces herself to Xiao Xun'er as Xiao Yan’s sister and later leaves Xiao Yan the Sword Control Technique before departing Wutan City. Her departure strengthens his resolve to pursue power alongside Yao Chen. 18 27

Appearance

At his introduction, Xiao Yan appears to be fifteen or sixteen years old, with a handsome but still youthful face. His faintly self-mocking smile and dark eyes conceal an unextinguished will to fight. 8

• Carries the Heavy Black Ruler during the Three-Year Agreement. 164 165
• Frequently wears black robes while traveling and fighting. 164
• Uses a Storage Ring worn on his chest, which serves as Yao Chen’s residence. 17 61
• By his arrival in Desert City, he is described as resolute and more mature than during his time in Wutan City. 61

Personality

Xiao Yan is resilient under humiliation. His treatment at the engagement ceremony leaves him wounded and isolated, but he turns that resentment into a concrete three-year challenge rather than surrendering to despair. 8 9

He is intensely driven to grow stronger and will endure embarrassment, danger, and hardship for a useful opportunity. He accepts Yao Chen as his master, pursues Heavenly Flames, restarts his alchemy after failure, and even publicly humiliates himself to obtain the Three Thousand Lightning Movement. 12 63 159 235

He also has a mischievous and opportunistic side. He begs Xiao Yi Xian for money, is described as greedy, and can be vain about his appearance, though his familiarity with Xiao Yi Xian allows them to trade insults without breaking their alliance. 13 31 235

Abilities & Skills

Dou Qi Combat

Xiao Yan develops from a disgraced low-level cultivator into a capable Dou Master who can travel through the Tagel Desert in pursuit of the Green Lotus Core Flame. 61 76

• Uses Dou Qi wings for sustained flight, though his reserves can be exhausted by prolonged aerial movement. 72 76
• Defeats Nalan Yanran in the Three-Year Agreement. 165
• Demonstrates the resolve to continue fighting after alchemy failures and setbacks. 159 160

Heavenly Flames

Xiao Yan pursues Heavenly Flames as essential resources for his cultivation and Flame Mantra path. 63

• Possesses the Green Lotus Core Flame, whose aura is recognized by Fan Ling. 225
• Uses the Buddha’s Rage Flame Lotus to defeat Nalan Yanran. 165
• Absorbs the fifteenth-ranked Sea Heart Flame, further improving his alchemical potential. 243
• Uses multiple flames during the Alchemist Convention’s final round. 160

Alchemy

Under Yao Chen’s instruction, Xiao Yan becomes a capable pill refiner and competes directly against Xiao Yi Xian during the Jia Ma Empire’s Alchemist Convention. 159 160

• Restarts his refinement after his cauldron explodes in the final round. 159
• Successfully refines a fourth-grade Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill. 160
• Treats Xiao Yi Xian as both a friendly rival and a standard he wants to surpass in alchemy. 159 160

Three Thousand Lightning Movement

Xiao Yan acquires the Earth-tier low-grade movement technique Three Thousand Lightning Movement from Xiao Yi Xian. 235

• Accepts Xiao Yi Xian’s condition and shouts “I am a pig” three times to receive the scroll. 235
• Begins practicing the technique with Yao Chen after obtaining it. 238

Yao Chen’s Possession

Yao Chen can take control of Xiao Yan’s body in emergencies, lending him combat power far beyond his own cultivation. 72 167

• Yao Chen repels Xiao Ling'er and severely injures Chi Han while using Xiao Yan’s body. 72
• During the Misty Cloud Sect conflict, Yao Chen possesses Xiao Yan to confront approaching Dou Spirit elders. 167 168
• Extended possession places severe strain on Xiao Yan’s body and can leave him near collapse. 169

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Heavy Black Ruler — Xiao Yan’s signature weapon during the Three-Year Agreement. 164 165
• Storage Ring — Worn on his chest; houses Yao Chen’s soul. 17 61
• Three Thousand Lightning Movement scroll — Given to him by Xiao Yi Xian after he meets her demand. 235
• Green Lotus Core Flame — A Heavenly Flame used in combat and alchemy. 165 225
• Sea Heart Flame — The fifteenth-ranked Heavenly Flame, absorbed after Han Feng’s death. 243

Relationships

• Yao Chen / Yao Lao — Master and mentor. Yao Chen restores Xiao Yan’s cultivation path, resides in his Storage Ring, and can possess his body to protect him. 12 72 167
• Xiao Yi Xian — Non-blood-related sister, ally, rival, and occasional protector. She supports his growth, intervenes when the Misty Cloud Sect seeks to detain him, and later accompanies him toward Jia Nan Academy. 18 165 243 244
• Xiao Xun'er — Close companion who waits for his return and ensures both Xiao Yan and Lin Dong can join Jia Nan Academy’s Inner Academy selection. 18 245 249
• Xiao Zhan — Father and Xiao Family patriarch. Xiao Yan’s vow after the annulment is explicitly made to restore his father’s honor. 8 9
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée whose annulment of their engagement drives the Three-Year Agreement; Xiao Yan defeats her after three years. 8 9 165
• Hai Bodong — Ally who initially bargains with Xiao Yan over a Heavenly Flame map, then serves as his bodyguard after Xiao Yan helps restore his strength. 113
• Cai Lin — Allied protector during the Misty Cloud Sect conflict; she fights Yun Shan while Xiao Yan’s group is threatened below. 163 167

Story Role / Major Arcs

Engagement Annulment

Xiao Yan’s public humiliation at the Xiao Family and Nalan Yanran’s annulment launch his determination to rise. He declares the Three-Year Agreement and leaves to begin cultivating under Yao Chen. 8 9 12 27

Tagel Desert and Heavenly Flame Pursuit

He reunites with Xiao Yi Xian in Desert City as a Dou Master and pursues the Green Lotus Core Flame. His journey includes working with Hai Bodong, seeking the flame’s location, and surviving Yue Mei’s pursuit through the desert. 61 63 76

Alchemist Convention

As Yan Xiao, he enters the Jia Ma Empire’s Alchemist Convention. Though his cauldron explodes during the final round, he regains his composure and refines a fourth-grade Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill, ultimately losing to Xiao Yi Xian’s two-pill refinement. 155 159 160

Three-Year Agreement and Misty Cloud Sect Conflict

Xiao Yan challenges and defeats Nalan Yanran at the Misty Cloud Sect using the Buddha’s Rage Flame Lotus. When the sect attempts to detain him over accusations concerning Gu He’s Heavenly Flame, Xiao Yi Xian intervenes and the confrontation escalates into a wider battle. 165 167

Black Corner Region and Jia Nan Academy

After traveling through the Black Corner Region, Xiao Yan reunites with Xiao Yi Xian, obtains the Three Thousand Lightning Movement, and absorbs the Sea Heart Flame. Xiao Yi Xian then brings him to Peace Town, where he reports to Jia Nan Academy after a two-year absence. 235 243 244

Notable Quotes

“Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Do not bully a poor young man!” 9

“In three years, I will find you!” 9

“I want to become stronger!” 27

“I am a pig! I am a pig! I am a pig!” 235

Trivia

• Xiao Yi Xian once impersonates Xiao Yan, burns down a settlement in his name, and causes the real Xiao Yan to be attacked when he arrives there the next day. 222
• Xiao Yan later disguises himself as “Xiao Yi Xian” at the Black Seal City auction. 228
• His determination to obtain the Three Thousand Lightning Movement is strong enough that he accepts Xiao Yi Xian’s deliberately humiliating bargain without backing down. 235