Liu Yan

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Liu Yan (柳岩)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Yi Xian's retinue
Occupation/Role	Fifth-grade Alchemist; Xiao Yi Xian's servant and alchemy instructor
First Appearance	24

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Fourth-grade Alchemist	24	Already an established Rank 4 Alchemist when he submits his soul imprint to Xiao Yi Xian.
Fifth-grade Alchemist	33	Studies a Fifth-grade handbook supplied by Xiao Yi Xian, endures repeated cauldron explosions, and finally produces a fifth-grade pill.
Peak Dou Ling	121	Reaches peak Dou Ling through consumption of elixirs and Dou Emperor Magical Beast meat.
Two-star Dou Wang	151	Advances into the Dou King realm while serving in the Imperial Capital.

Background

Liu Yan was a Fourth-grade Alchemist who had reached his rank at thirty-nine but remained stalled there for eleven years. When confronted by Xiao Yi Xian, he chose survival and future opportunity over resistance, voluntarily offering his soul imprint. Its acceptance gave Xiao Yi Xian control over his life and death, formally making him her servant 24.

He quickly proved useful as both an alchemist and a practical adviser. Xiao Yi Xian brought him into the Monster Mountain Range, where he witnessed her standing atop the Dou King Magical Beast Chi Han—a sight that confirmed to him that he had attached himself to an extraordinary patron 32 33.

Xiao Yi Xian later gave him a handbook left by a Fifth-grade Alchemist. The gift broke his long stagnation: after several failed attempts and cauldron explosions, Liu Yan refined a fifth-grade pill and advanced to Fifth-grade Alchemist 33.

Appearance

Liu Yan is described as having a handsome, mature face. He commonly wears the robes and badge of a Fifth-grade Alchemist, visibly displaying the rank he worked years to obtain 33 56.

• His face was repeatedly blackened by soot while attempting to break through to Fifth-grade Alchemist 33.
• He wears luxurious alchemist robes and a five-star badge when accompanying Xiao Yi Xian in public 122.
• He is often mistaken for an important figure because of his prestigious rank, even while deferring to Xiao Yi Xian 122 147.

Personality

Liu Yan is pragmatic and self-preserving. Rather than gamble his life against Xiao Yi Xian, he judged that serving a powerful prodigy offered better prospects than fighting and dying. He considers the ability to bend without breaking a virtue 24.

Once committed, he is consistently respectful and loyal. He addresses Xiao Yi Xian as “Miss,” or “Young Master” when she travels under her male disguise, and follows her decisions even when they separate the group 122 171.

He also takes genuine pride in alchemy. His frustration at failed cauldrons gives way to indignation and joy when he finally reaches Fifth-grade, while teaching Xiao Yi Xian allows him to appreciate a student willing to learn from mistakes 33 119.

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Liu Yan is a Fifth-grade Alchemist with experience in refining pills, controlling flames, and obtaining ingredients.

• Reached Fifth-grade after studying the handbook provided by Xiao Yi Xian 33.
• Follows standard alchemist exchanges when Chi Han requests pills, requiring ingredients in return for refinement 33.
• His rank grants him considerable social status; city guards and guild personnel treat him with deference 56 122.
• Fama recognizes his advancement to Fifth-grade Alchemist as significant progress 154.

Alchemy Instruction

Liu Yan serves as Xiao Yi Xian's first hands-on alchemy teacher.

• Explains that pill refinement requires precise control of both Dou Qi and soul power 119.
• Identifies excessive heat as the immediate cause of Xiao Yi Xian's first furnace explosion and explains how reducing it could have prevented the failure 119.
• Supervises her subsequent refining attempts and prepares to intervene when her use of the Green Lotus Core Flame becomes dangerous 120.
• Supports Xiao Yi Xian's rapid rise from novice to Third-grade Alchemist 119 121.

Purple Fire and Wood-Attribute Dou Qi

Liu Yan possesses the Purple Fire of the sixth-tier Amethyst Winged Lion King and wood-attribute Dou Qi.

• Uses Purple Fire to incinerate attacking fish monsters during the Ancient Spirit Forbidden Land incident 50.
• His Beast Flame shows instinctive submission before Xiao Yi Xian's Green Lotus Core Flame 120.
• Uses inexhaustible wood-attribute Dou Qi to nourish the gravely injured Zhou Chen while retreating from Luokong City's Alchemist Guild 133.

Dou King Cultivation

By the Imperial Capital arc, Liu Yan has entered the Dou King realm.

• Reaches Two-star Dou Wang while living with Xiao Yi Xian's group 151.
• Volunteers to confront Gu He during the conflict at the Misty Cloud Sect 167.
• Is injured during the ensuing battle, demonstrating that he remains below veteran opponents such as Gu He 169.

Equipment / Items

• Fifth-grade Alchemist handbook — Given by Xiao Yi Xian; enabled his breakthrough from Fourth-grade to Fifth-grade Alchemist 33.
• Fifth-grade Alchemist robes and badge — Worn publicly as both professional identification and a mark of status 56 122.
• Alchemy cauldron — Used during his repeated breakthrough attempts and later pill refinement 33.
• Xiao Yi Xian's sixth- and seventh-grade alchemy notes — Entrusted to him when she leaves for the Black Corner Region and Jia Nan Academy 171.

Relationships

• Xiao Yi Xian — Master and benefactor. Liu Yan submits his soul imprint to her, receives the resources needed to advance, and later teaches her practical alchemy 24 33 119.
• Chi Han — Fellow retainer and frequent pill client. Chi Han becomes friendlier after Liu Yan reaches Fifth-grade, hoping he will refine pills for it 33.
• Zhou Chen — Old acquaintance and fellow former Fourth-grade Alchemist. Liu Yan introduces Xiao Yi Xian to him and later evacuates him from Lei Wujie's attack 125 133.
• Xiao Ling'er — Entrusted to Liu Yan and Chi Han's care when Xiao Yi Xian leaves to investigate Yun Yun's battle with the Amethyst Winged Lion King 35.
• Gu He — Opponent during the battle following the Three-Year Agreement; Liu Yan volunteers to engage him 167.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Submission in Wutan City

Liu Yan becomes Xiao Yi Xian's servant after offering his soul imprint. His choice is driven by the belief that following her offers a safer and brighter future than opposing her 24 25.

Monster Mountain Range and Alchemy Breakthrough

He travels with Xiao Yi Xian and Xiao Lan into Chi Han's territory, survives his terrifying first encounter with the Dou King Magical Beast, and receives the handbook that allows him to become a Fifth-grade Alchemist 32 33.

Companion and Instructor

Liu Yan accompanies Xiao Yi Xian through Blackrock City, the Ancient Spirit Forbidden Land, and Desert City. As her interest in alchemy grows, he becomes the person who corrects her technique and supervises her earliest refinement attempts 43 46 56 119.

Luokong City Incident

When Lei Wujie attacks the Alchemist Guild, Xiao Yi Xian orders Liu Yan to escape with the severely wounded Zhou Chen. Liu Yan protects Zhou Chen with pills and wood-attribute Dou Qi while trusting Xiao Yi Xian to face the enemy 133.

Imperial Capital and Three-Year Agreement

Liu Yan serves as Xiao Yi Xian's driver, attendant, and cook during the Imperial Capital alchemist competition. He witnesses her victory, then joins her side during the Misty Cloud Sect conflict 154 162 167.

Parting in the Imperial Capital

After the escape from Yun Shan, Xiao Yi Xian orders Liu Yan and Chi Han to remain in the Imperial Capital for their safety. Though reluctant, Liu Yan accepts her decision and receives her advanced alchemy notes before she departs 171.

Notable Quotes

“Liu Yan will surely be loyal to you.” 24