Yao Chen

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Yao Chen (药尘)
Alias(es)	Yao Lao; Old Yao
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Yan; formerly the Yao Clan
Occupation/Role	Alchemist; Xiao Yan’s teacher and spiritual mentor
Status	Active; recovering remnant soul residing in the Ancient Ring
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Newly awakened remnant soul	1	Had survived only because Xiao Yan unknowingly nourished him with Dou Qi for three years; he remained dependent on Xiao Yan and feared dispersing if his disciple died. 1
Substantially recovered remnant soul	21	Announces a major recovery and believes he could contend with a Soul Hall Dou Zong; his confidence is immediately shaken by Xiao Yan’s even greater transformation. 21
Corporeal soul and enhanced fusion partner	49	His soul can physically perceive Xiao Yan’s transformed body and share purified spiritual origin. By merging with Xiao Yan through the upgraded Ghost Possession, he can fight a Dou Zong and Dou Wang inside the flame domain. 49

Background / History

Yao Chen was born a collateral member of the Yao Clan without even a first-grade bloodline. Clan favoritism and internal competition led to his medicinal resources being switched, false testimony being arranged against him, and his expulsion. The clan’s refusal to provide ordinary medicinal aid also contributed to his mother’s death; Yao Chen’s remaining wish concerning the clan is to have his parents’ names engraved on its monument. 34

Before becoming a remnant soul, Yao Chen was recognized as the continent’s foremost alchemist. In his youth, he created the third-grade Purple Flame Pill and used a combination of five such pills and a secret technique to rise from a three-star Dou Master to a nine-star Da Dou Shi. 8

By the beginning of the story, Yao Chen exists within the Ancient Ring. Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi nourished him for three years and enabled his awakening; without that nourishment, Yao Chen believes his soul fragments would have scattered into dust. 1

He accepts Xiao Yan as his disciple, teaches him the Flame Mantra and alchemy, and repeatedly intervenes when Xiao Yan’s reckless cultivation threatens to kill him. Their bond deepens from mutual dependence into a partnership built on trust, shared research, and a common vendetta against the Soul Hall and Yao Clan. 1 10 26 49

Appearance

Yao Chen generally manifests as an aged male soul with a beard and a composed, dignified bearing. His spectral form can emerge from or retreat into the Ancient Ring, though he later possesses a corporeal soul body capable of physically perceiving Xiao Yan’s transformed form. 21 22 49

• Often appears with golden light in his eyes when releasing soul pressure or reacting to Xiao Yan’s actions. 21 49
• Can merge into Xiao Yan’s body rather than remaining externally manifested. 8 49
• Wields pale-white Bone Chilling Flame while fused with Xiao Yan. 49

Personality

Yao Chen is proud of his status as an alchemist and enjoys making grand, poetic entrances, but Xiao Yan routinely overturns his attempts at dignity with stronger displays, absurd jokes, or dangerous experiments. He is easily exasperated by Xiao Yan’s shamelessness, yet often takes the youth’s improvised remarks far more seriously than intended. 1 21

Despite his teasing and occasional impropriety, Yao Chen is deeply protective of Xiao Yan. When Xiao Yan consumes Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid intended for external use, Yao Chen prepares to expend his remaining strength to save him. He also consistently restrains Xiao Yan from prematurely challenging enemies such as Han Feng. 1 27

His experiences with the Yao Clan and Soul Hall left him guarded and bitter, particularly where Mu Gu and Yao Yun are concerned. Xiao Yan’s unwavering decision to share those grudges restores Yao Chen’s resolve and changes him from a wary teacher into an active partner in revenge. 26 34 49

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Yao Chen is an exceptionally accomplished alchemist with broad knowledge of pill formulas, cultivation medicines, fire control, and industrialized refinement methods.

• Created the third-grade Purple Flame Pill, which temporarily improves fire-attribute Dou Qi, fire control, and breakthrough potential. 8
• Refined Xiao Yan’s crude automated furnace idea into a proposed alchemy production line using separate extraction, standardization, and final-combination furnaces. 10
• Guides Xiao Yan’s Fire-as-Pill Technique and intensive alchemy training; after half a month of joint research, Xiao Yan reaches the threshold of fifth-tier alchemy. 49 50
• Evaluates Xiao Yan’s unconventional pill-affix theories seriously, including the possibility of refining special flames into pills. 9

Soul Perception and Protection

As a remnant soul, Yao Chen can inspect souls, project soul pressure, and use soul power to protect others.

• Confirmed that Xiao Yan’s soul remained pure and unpossessed after examining his abnormal transformation. 21
• At his peak, his soul had reached the Heaven Realm; he considers even ordinary Dou Sheng unlikely to surpass it in soul cultivation. 21
• Used his soul power to envelop Xiao Yan when the latter nearly exploded from swallowing Enhanced Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. 1
• Recognizes the Soul Hall’s danger and identifies its agents as soul manipulators and collectors. 26

Ghost Possession

Yao Chen can merge with Xiao Yan’s body to provide direct combat instruction and temporarily share control.

• Uses possession as hands-on alchemy instruction, allowing Xiao Yan to directly experience pill refinement techniques. 8
• Develops an enhanced version, Ghost Possession: Super, after Xiao Yan gains the Ten Thousand Flames Undying Body. 49
• While fused, Yao Chen and Xiao Yan can switch control seamlessly: Yao Chen handles the Heavy Xuan Ruler and close combat, while Xiao Yan maintains the flame domain and supplies spiritual energy. 49
• The technique greatly raises their combined combat ability, though Yao Chen treats its further development as an ongoing experiment. 49

Combat Knowledge

Yao Chen combines alchemical knowledge, soul power, and extensive experience to assess threats and direct battles.

• Identifies an enemy Da Dou Shi alchemist at the Jia Lie compound and warns Xiao Yan before the raid. 22
• Explains the Ancient Eight Clans, Heavenly Flames, the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, and the origins of the Beast Mound. 33 34
• Uses the Heavy Xuan Ruler and Bone Chilling Flame during the battle against Yao Yun. 49

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Ancient Ring — Yao Chen’s refuge and the vessel from which he communicates with and assists Xiao Yan. 1 21
• Heavy Xuan Ruler — Wielded by Yao Chen while controlling Xiao Yan’s body during Ghost Possession. 49
• Bone Chilling Flame — Pale-white flame used during his fusion with Xiao Yan. 49
• Purple Flame Pill formula — His signature early-life creation and a foundational fire-attribute cultivation pill. 8

Relationships

• Xiao Yan — Disciple, host, research partner, and closest ally. Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi awakened and sustained Yao Chen, while Yao Chen provides the Flame Mantra, alchemy instruction, protection, and combat guidance. They jointly accept revenge against the Soul Hall and Yao Clan. 1 10 26 49
• Yao Clan — Former clan and the source of Yao Chen’s deepest grievance. Internal favoritism, false testimony, and the clan’s refusal to aid his family led to his expulsion and lasting resentment. 34
• Yao Yun — A Yao Clan member who gave false testimony against Yao Chen in the past. Yao Chen later confronts him directly and participates in his execution. 49
• Mu Gu / Soul Hall — Old enemies tied to Yao Chen’s trauma and the Soul Hall’s pursuit of him. Mention of Mu Gu provokes immediate disgust from Yao Chen. 26
• Xiao Xun’er — Xiao Yan’s close companion; Yao Chen observes and teases Xiao Yan over his romantic awkwardness around her. 3 7
• Nalan Yanran — Xiao Yan’s former fiancée and rival; Yao Chen repeatedly mocks Xiao Yan over their developing intimacy. 7

Story Role / Major Arcs

Awakening and the Flame Mantra

Yao Chen awakens in the Ancient Ring after three years of nourishment from Xiao Yan’s leaking Dou Qi. He supplies the Flame Mantra and watches in alarm as Xiao Yan survives a near-fatal attempt to refine Enhanced Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, breaking from the Third Stage of Dou Qi to the Seventh Stage. 1

Alchemy Mentor and Research Partner

Yao Chen begins teaching Xiao Yan alchemy and initially introduces the Purple Flame Pill. He then becomes an active collaborator in Xiao Yan’s increasingly unconventional work: pill affixes, explosive pills, semi-automated furnaces, and a potential alchemy assembly line. 8 9 10

Soul Hall Revelation

The Soul Hall’s attack leaves Yao Chen unusually silent and disturbed. He eventually reveals that the organization’s movements are connected to him and warns that its true power includes Dou Zongs and Dou Venerables. Xiao Yan responds by claiming Yao Chen’s enemies as his own. 25 26

Beast Mountain Range and Yao Clan Conflict

While investigating the Beast Mound and the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, Yao Chen reveals his connection to the Yao Clan and the injustice behind his expulsion. He warns Xiao Yan about the danger of Heavenly Flames, only for Xiao Yan to refine the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame with absurd ease. 33 34

Revenge and Alchemy Training

After Xiao Yan returns from Douluo with the embryonic Ten Thousand Flames Undying Body, Yao Chen upgrades Ghost Possession and joins him in killing Yao Yun. Rather than immediately allowing further revenge campaigns, he orders Xiao Yan into harsh alchemy training so they can challenge the Yao Clan through both combat and pill refinement. 49 50

Notable Quotes

“All the Heavenly Flames in the world have suffered eight lifetimes of bad luck by running into you.” 49

“No one named Yao is any good!” 49