Yao Chen

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Yao Chen (药尘)
Alias(es)	Venerable Yao
Species/Race	Human; deceased, surviving as a spiritual body
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Yan's mentor; ally and alchemy instructor to Xiao Qing
Occupation/Role	Former continent-leading alchemist; cultivator and soul-body adviser
Status	Active as a soul residing in the Bone Flame Ring
First Appearance	Chapter 53

Background / History

Yao Chen was formerly known as the continent’s number-one alchemist. He states that he stood one step from the Ninth-Grade Realm and possessed Peak Nine-Turn Dou Zun cultivation, placing him on the verge of becoming a Saint 56. He was later plotted against by a Soul Hall Venerable Elder, leaving him in his current weakened spiritual state 76.

His former disciple, Han Feng, betrayed him with Mu Gu’s involvement. Han Feng later admits resentment toward Yao Chen over a cultivation method he believed had been withheld from him; Xiao Qing captures Han Feng’s soul so Yao Chen can eventually confront him 153.

After his death, Yao Chen resided within Xiao Yan’s Bone Flame Ring. He secretly absorbed Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi, claiming that he was tempering the boy for eventual discipleship; Xiao Qing openly condemns the act as improper 55. Following Xiao Qing’s intervention, Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi stops leaking, and Yao Chen eventually accepts him as a disciple 55 68.

Yao Chen first takes interest in Xiao Qing after sensing his Late Mortal Realm soul power at nine years old 53. Though Xiao Qing refuses to accept a second master out of loyalty to Fire Elder, he agrees to help Yao Chen obtain the three Heavenly Flames needed to forge a new body. In exchange, Yao Chen provides alchemy instruction and guidance 56 58.

While investigating Soul Hall activity with Xiao Qing, Yao Chen contributes his knowledge, combat strength, and soul techniques. He protects Xiao Qing against Yun Potian in the Misty Cloud Sect’s secret realm, identifies and dismantles spatial concealment, and helps uncover Yun Potian’s hidden inheritance 77 81 83. The two later separate so Yao Chen can return to Xiao Yan, though they remain on familiar terms 87.

Appearance

Yao Chen usually manifests as an illusory elderly man emerging from the Bone Flame Ring.

• Long-bearded, aged appearance 77
• Phantom-like body and hands rather than a physical form 55 56
• Can appear and retreat into the Bone Flame Ring at will 76 86
• Often carries himself with the composed bearing of a senior expert, even while weakened 83

Personality

Yao Chen is proud of his former accomplishments and readily invokes his reputation as Venerable Yao or the continent’s foremost alchemist. His confidence can become shamelessness, particularly when he tries to justify absorbing Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi as “tempering” or repeatedly attempts to recruit Xiao Qing 55 56.

Beneath his vanity, he is pragmatic and perceptive. He recognizes Xiao Qing’s unusual fortune, approves of Xiao Qing’s loyalty toward allies and decisiveness against enemies, and carefully warns him against the Soul Hall 79 80 87. He is also protective of Xiao Yan, refusing to let him recklessly refine a Heavenly Flame beyond his ability 123.

Abilities & Skills

Soul Body and Soul Techniques

As a surviving soul, Yao Chen can manifest independently, enter the Bone Flame Ring, perceive distant presences, and fight without a physical body.

• His soul strength is described as Spirit Realm Pinnacle when concealing Xiao Qing from potential Dou Zong detection 78.
• After consuming soul-restoring pills, he can temporarily display High-Rank Dou Zong combat strength 77.
• He senses Xiao Qing’s soul cultivation and recognizes the danger the Life-and-Death secret realm poses to spiritual bodies 53 80.
• Excessive soul-power expenditure risks the secret realm assimilating him into an energy body 80.

Alchemy

Yao Chen was formerly a peak Eighth-Grade Alchemist and claims to have been one step from the legendary Ninth Grade 56 83.

• Taught Xiao Qing for two months, helping him progress from difficulty refining Dou Ling Pills to successfully refining a peak Sixth-Grade Sect-Breaking Pill 58.
• Possesses rare pill formulas, medicinal knowledge, and cultivation methods of obscure attributes 76.
• Created the Yin-Yang Profound Dragon Pill and the Flame Mantra 164.
• Can identify high-value ingredients, barriers, and treasures through accumulated alchemical and soul-cultivation knowledge 83.

Bone Chilling Flame and Spatial Sealing

Yao Chen wields a pale, chilling Heavenly Flame known as the Bone Chilling Flame.

• Its manifestation lowers the surrounding temperature and resonates with other Heavenly Flames 56.
• He uses it to suppress the Netherworld Poison Flame’s poisonous counterattack 123.
• Can form a Space Cage to contain a captured Heavenly Flame 123.
• Requires three Heavenly Flames as part of the method for forging a compatible physical body 56.

Combat and Spatial Expertise

Despite lacking his former body, Yao Chen remains a dangerous combatant and a skilled analyst of spatial techniques.

• Blocks Yun Potian’s attack on Xiao Qing with a High-Rank Dou Zong-level soul aura 81.
• Pursues and destroys Yun Potian after the latter attempts to betray Xiao Qing 82.
• Detects weak points in Yun Potian’s hidden spatial barrier and breaks it open 83.
• Uses soul concealment potent enough that ordinary Misty Cloud Sect disciples fail to perceive Xiao Qing’s presence 78.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Bone Flame Ring — His residence after death; worn at different times by Xiao Yan and Xiao Qing 53 76 87.
• Bone Chilling Flame — Pale Heavenly Flame used for combat, suppression, and sealing 56 123.
• Alchemy collection — Includes pill formulas, rare cultivation methods, and knowledge needed for body reconstruction 76.

Relationships

• Xiao Yan — Disciple and host of the Bone Flame Ring. Yao Chen initially absorbs his Dou Qi to temper him, then becomes his teacher and guides his cultivation and alchemy 55 68 123.
• Xiao Qing — Ally, student in alchemy, and prospective helper in Yao Chen’s body-restoration plan. Their relationship is marked by teasing, negotiation, mutual trust, and occasional suspicion 56 58 77 87.
• Fire Elder — Xiao Qing’s acknowledged master; Yao Chen cannot recruit Xiao Qing because Xiao Qing refuses to betray this existing teacher 55 56.
• Han Feng — Former disciple and traitor. Han Feng’s betrayal, tied to Mu Gu, left Yao Chen presumed dead; Xiao Qing preserves Han Feng’s soul for a future reckoning 153.
• Soul Hall — Enemy faction responsible for Yao Chen’s downfall through one of its Venerable Elders 76.
• Yun Potian — Hostile energy-body founder of the Misty Cloud Sect. Yao Chen defends Xiao Qing from him and ultimately obtains his Dou Zun-level Energy Core 81 82.

Notable Quotes

“Back then, I was the continent's number one alchemist, only a single step away from the legendary Ninth-Grade Realm.” 56

“Do you really think you're the protagonist of some storybook? How many lives do you have to throw away?” 123