Zi Yan

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Zi Yan lived in Jia Nan Academy’s Inner Academy, where her Ancient Void Dragon heritage gave her an instinctive ability to locate treasures and rare medicinal ingredients. Despite her youthful appearance, she was already known as the Brute Force King and held the top position on the Strong Ranking. 35 36 41

She first met Xiao Qing after the fragrance of his fifth-grade Fire Spirit Pill drew her into his pavilion through a spatial ripple. Zi Yan offered rare herbs and protection in exchange for pills, while Xiao Qing negotiated for her to guide him during future treasure hunts. 35

Their first major expedition led them to the Earth Core Body-Tempering Milk in the academy’s back mountains. Zi Yan carried Xiao Qing with her purple Dou Qi wings, accepted a share of the treasure, and later provided a drop of Dragon Emperor Essence Blood in exchange for more milk. The extraction weakened her, prompting Xiao Qing to refine an Essence-Nourishing Pill and personally nurse her back to health. 40

After Xiao Qing used her essence blood to cultivate the Azure Sky Transforming Dragon Technique, a bloodline connection formed between them. Zi Yan became attached to his pavilion and its constant supply of medicinal soups, while Xiao Qing refused to seek further essence blood before she had fully recovered. 41

Over the following two years, Zi Yan supplied Xiao Qing with more than a thousand units of Fire Energy and enabled him to use the best cultivation room in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. In return, he refined pills for her and accompanied her into the mountains to gather herbs. 41

When Xiao Qing chose to leave Jia Nan Academy, Zi Yan insisted on accompanying him to see the outside world. Su Qian granted permission after she promised to obey Xiao Qing and not cause trouble. 42 During their travels, she helped rescue Qing Lin and remained behind in Stone Desert City to care for her while Xiao Qing entered the Tagor Desert alone. 45 46

Zi Yan later travelled with Xiao Qing, Qing Lin, and Xiao Yi Xian through the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Her treasure perception led the group to an energy-rich valley, while her direct assault on the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King created the opening Xiao Qing needed to kill the Sixth-Rank beast. 70 73

After consuming vast quantities of pills, Zi Yan entered a pre-advancement lethargy at the Peak Fifth Rank. Xiao Qing brought her into the Life-and-Death Gate’s protected secret realm, where she absorbed a Dou Ling Pill and a Dou Emperor Energy Core within a purple Light Cocoon for half a year before successfully reaching the Dou Emperor realm. 88 90 93 94

Although she briefly emerged from her cocoon in an adult form, Zi Yan reverted to her usual childlike form because the Transformation Grass effects still constrained her. Xiao Qing determined that her Dragon Emperor bloodline keeps her in the Juvenile Period and that she may not enter the Maturity Period until reaching Dou Zun or an even higher realm. 93 94

Zi Yan continued travelling with Xiao Qing’s group through the Northwest Continent, participating in the looting of the Gold Geese Sect and accompanying the group back to Jia Nan Academy. She later refined numerous Energy Cores to reach the Mid-Rank Dou Emperor realm, but accepted only her allotted share when Xiao Qing distributed further cores among the group. 110 137 157

Appearance

Zi Yan appears as a small, adorable girl around eleven or twelve years old, with long light-purple hair and large dark, watery eyes. She commonly wears white and can manifest purple Dou Qi wings for flight. 35 40

• Long light-purple hair reaching her waist. 35
• Fair, tender cheeks and a childlike build. 35
• Large black eyes often described as sparkling or watery. 35 40
• Uses purple Dou Qi wings when flying. 40
• Her harmless appearance contrasts sharply with her overwhelming physical strength. 36
• Upon completing her Dou Emperor advancement, she temporarily emerged from her Light Cocoon in a mature adult form before reverting to her childlike appearance. 93 94
• Her continued youthful form results from the lingering Transformation Grass effects and her exceptional Dragon Emperor bloodline, which has kept her in the Juvenile Period. 94

Personality

Zi Yan is energetic, curious, and openly driven by food, pills, and rare treasures. She readily follows valuable scents, drools over spiritual materials, and treats medicinal pellets and broth as major incentives. 35 40 41

Her confidence is direct and childlike. She proudly offers to protect Xiao Qing, questions whether he might slow her down during treasure hunts, and reacts strongly when someone threatens him immediately after she has promised to protect him. 35 36

Though frequently mischievous and impatient, Zi Yan is dependable in serious circumstances. She restrained herself from killing the Lion Gang despite easily defeating them, helped Xiao Qing punish Qing Lin’s captors, and faithfully cared for Qing Lin when Xiao Qing left on a dangerous expedition. 36 46

Zi Yan’s greed does not outweigh her loyalty to her companions. Although she desperately wants to reach her Maturity Period, she refused to take Qing Lin’s and Xiao Yi Xian’s future shares of Energy Cores, accepting only her own portion. 157

She is also increasingly accustomed to the brutality of the cultivation world. After the destruction of the Gold Geese Sect, Zi Yan encouraged Qing Lin and Xiao Yi Xian to face the bloody aftermath rather than permanently avoid the realities of conflict. 110 111

Abilities & Skills

Ancient Void Dragon Bloodline

Zi Yan possesses the highest Dragon Emperor bloodline among the Ancient Void Dragons as the Dragon Emperor’s daughter. Her essence blood carries immense pressure and was potent enough to serve as the foundation for Xiao Qing’s dragon body-tempering technique. 34 40

• Her Dragon Emperor Essence Blood enabled Xiao Qing to begin cultivating the Azure Sky Transforming Dragon Technique. 40 41
• Xiao Qing’s absorption of her blood created a detectable bloodline connection between them. 41
• Extracting essence blood weakens her temporarily, though Xiao Qing’s pills and medicinal broth helped restore her condition. 40
• Her bloodline causes her to remain in the Juvenile Period even after reaching the sixth rank/Dou Emperor level. 94
• She may not enter the Maturity Period until reaching Dou Zun or a higher realm, but her potential can extend as far as the Dou Saint level. 94

Treasure Perception

Zi Yan can sense the presence of treasures and medicinal materials with extraordinary accuracy. 35

• Detected the Fire Spirit Pill while it was being refined inside Xiao Qing’s pavilion. 35
• Possesses and gathers rare ingredients including Dragon Blood Ganoderma, Heavenly Jade Fruit, Vajra Bodhi, and Earth Spirit Root. 35
• Guided Xiao Qing through the mountains in exchange for pill refinement and treasure shares. 35 40
• Located an energy-rich, herb-filled valley in the Magic Beast Mountain Range that became the group’s temporary cultivation residence. 70
• Sensed the abundance of treasures within Falling Geese City and eagerly assisted in collecting the Gold Geese Sect’s spoils. 109 110

Spatial Movement

Zi Yan can enter locations through ripples in space, allowing her to appear suddenly in Xiao Qing’s room or beside him without warning. 35 39 41

• Entered Xiao Qing’s pavilion through a spatial ripple when she sensed the Fire Spirit Pill. 35
• Reappeared through spatial ripples when returning to request more pills. 39 41
• Used instantaneous movement to evade the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King’s flames during their battle. 73

Physical Strength

Despite her small stature, Zi Yan possesses overwhelming close-range strength and is feared throughout the Inner Academy as the Brute Force King. 36

• Defeated the Lion Gang and its leader before Xiao Qing could intervene. 36
• Her protection of Xiao Qing deterred other Inner Academy factions from provoking him. 36
• Her status as the top Strong Ranking expert granted Xiao Qing access to the sixth floor’s best cultivation room in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower. 41
• Snapped the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King’s fiery spiral horn with a single fist strike during her coordinated battle with Xiao Qing. 73

Flight

Zi Yan can form purple Dou Qi wings and carry Xiao Qing through the air. 40

• Flew Xiao Qing to the top of the stalactite containing Earth Core Body-Tempering Milk. 40
• Travelled with Xiao Qing across the Jia Ma Empire after leaving Jia Nan Academy. 42 43
• Carried Xiao Yi Xian while traversing the Magic Beast Mountain Range. 69

Energy Absorption and Advancement

Zi Yan can absorb enormous quantities of medicinal energy and Energy Cores to support her growth, though her Dragon Emperor bloodline requires far more resources than an ordinary cultivator. 90 129 137

• Used a Dou Ling Pill and the Energy Core of a deceased Dou Emperor to complete her breakthrough to the Dou Emperor realm. 90 93 94
• Refined more than a dozen Dou Emperor-level Energy Cores, reaching the Mid-Rank Dou Emperor realm after two months of secluded cultivation. 129 137
• Continued refining Energy Cores after returning to Jia Nan Academy, while preserving Qing Lin’s and Xiao Yi Xian’s allotted resources. 157 164

Relationships

• Xiao Qing — Began as a pill-for-protection arrangement, then became a close partnership built on treasure hunting, alchemy, mutual support, and a bloodline connection. Zi Yan provides protection, Fire Energy, and treasure-finding; Xiao Qing supplies pills, medicinal broth, and care. Their relationship deepened through years of travel, cultivation, and mutual reliance, with Zi Yan openly distressed at the prospect of life without him. 35 40 41 121
• Su Qian — A protective elder who treats Zi Yan with exasperated affection. He initially refuses her request to leave the academy, then permits her to travel under Xiao Qing’s supervision. Zi Yan regards him as more precious than family because he brought her out of the dangerous Magic Beast Forest, and she looked forward to reuniting with him upon returning to Jia Nan Academy. 42 137
• Qing Lin — A younger companion rescued from a mercenary caravan. Zi Yan helps protect and supervise Qing Lin, earning Qing Lin’s trust and affection. The two later cultivate and share resources as close companions. 46 49 157
• Xiao Yi Xian — A travelling companion initially reassured by Zi Yan after Xiao Qing forcibly brought her from Qingshan Town. Zi Yan later fought beside her, shared in the group’s cultivation, and became one of her close companions. 69 70 157
• Medusa — A fellow member of Xiao Qing’s travelling group. Zi Yan remains wary of Medusa’s motives and openly suspects her of having designs on Xiao Qing. 104 109
• Lion Gang — Zi Yan crushed its leader and members after they came to threaten Xiao Qing at his pavilion. 36
• Purple Crystal Winged Lion King — Zi Yan shattered the Sixth-Rank beast’s horn during the battle that allowed Xiao Qing to kill it. 73

Story Role / Major Arcs

Alliance with Xiao Qing

Zi Yan’s arrival gives Xiao Qing access to a reliable treasure-finding partner and, eventually, the Dragon Emperor Essence Blood needed for his body-tempering cultivation. Her reputation also protects him from Inner Academy factions. 35 36 40

Earth Core Body-Tempering Milk Expedition

She assists Xiao Qing in recovering Earth Core Body-Tempering Milk, accepts a share of the resource, and provides the essence blood that allows him to cultivate the Azure Sky Transforming Dragon Technique. 40

Inner Academy Partnership

Zi Yan’s Fire Energy and Strong Ranking status allow Xiao Qing to cultivate in the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower’s premier room. Their relationship grows beyond their original exchange as she remains in his pavilion and depends on his medicinal care. 41

Journey Beyond Jia Nan Academy

Zi Yan leaves the Inner Academy with Xiao Qing to explore the Jia Ma Empire. She accompanies him to Mo City and the Tagor Desert, helps rescue Qing Lin, and becomes part of their small found family. 42 45 46

Magic Beast Mountain Range Expeditions

Zi Yan joins Xiao Qing, Qing Lin, and Xiao Yi Xian in exploring the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Her treasure perception finds their energy-rich valley refuge, and her attack on the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King directly contributes to the group’s victory and acquisition of its treasures. 70 73 74

Dou Emperor Advancement

Zi Yan’s need for immense energy drives the group into the Life-and-Death Gate’s secret realm. There, with Xiao Qing’s assistance, she spends half a year within a purple Light Cocoon and successfully reaches the Dou Emperor realm. 89 90 93 94

Return to Jia Nan Academy

After travelling and refining Energy Cores, Zi Yan returns to Jia Nan Academy as a Dou Emperor. She remains a core member of Xiao Qing’s group, supports Qing Lin and Xiao Yi Xian’s future cultivation, and continues pursuing resources that may bring her closer to the Maturity Period. 137 141 157

Notable Quotes

“With my strength, I can let you swagger through the Inner Academy.” 35

“If anyone in the Inner Academy bullies you in the future, just give them my name. I’ll take care of them for you.” 36

“Finally, we’re out!” 95

Trivia

• Zi Yan uses the word “loyal” to describe Xiao Qing’s willingness to refine pills for her, much to his confusion. 36
• She initially stayed in Xiao Qing’s pavilion to recover from donating essence blood, but became reluctant to leave because of his medicinal soups. 40 41
• Zi Yan wanted to learn Xiao Qing’s soul-based concealment method primarily so she could steal medicinal ingredients without being caught. 49
• She consumed every pill Xiao Qing had left for her during his three-month absence, even while approaching a major advancement. 88 89
• Zi Yan briefly gained an adult form after emerging from her Light Cocoon, only to revert to her childlike body almost immediately. 93 94
• Even a legendary eighth-grade Transformation Pill cannot force her into the Maturity Period before her bloodline and cultivation naturally allow it. 94
• Although she dislikes the tedium of seclusion, Zi Yan endured months of refining Energy Cores because she wants to mature as soon as possible. 137