Yao Chen

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Yao Chen (药尘) 82
Alias(es)	Yao Lao; Medicine Venerable 88 89
Gender	Male 88
Occupation/Role	Alchemist; Xiao Yan’s teacher 88 89
Status	Disembodied soul residing in Xiao Yan’s Bone Flame Ring; formerly a Nine-Turn Dou Venerate and peak Eighth-Rank Alchemist 82 88
First Appearance	Chapter 82, concealed in Xiao Yan’s ring 82

Background and History

Yao Chen was once a renowned alchemist of the Central Plains. His former disciple Han Feng betrayed him, leaving him without a body. Yao Chen took refuge in the Bone Flame Ring, where he lay dormant and absorbed the Dou Qi Xiao Yan cultivated for three years. That drain caused Xiao Yan’s apparent regression from a gifted cultivator to the third stage of Dou Qi 82 86.

After awakening, Yao Chen continued taking Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi without revealing himself. Li Changqing identified the ring as the cause of Xiao Yan’s condition and forced Yao Chen to appear. Yao Chen admitted what he had done and offered to help Xiao Yan recover in exchange for becoming his teacher. Xiao Yan accepted after Li explained Yao Chen’s standing as the Medicine Venerable 87 88 89.

Yao Chen later explained the threat posed by the Hall of Souls, which had helped bring about his loss of a body. When Xiao Yan offered to avenge him, Yao Chen told his new disciple to focus first on his three-year agreement with Nalan Yanran 89. He subsequently feigned unconsciousness after recovering from a period of Soul Force exhaustion, using the time to see how Xiao Yan would fare without his guidance 126 129.

During the confrontation with Han Feng, Yao Chen gave his former disciple a chance to explain the betrayal. Han Feng insisted that Yao Chen had wronged him by withholding the Flame Mantra. Yao Chen said he had considered the technique dangerously untested and could not bring himself to kill Han Feng; at his request, Li Changqing destroyed Han Feng’s soul 115.

Appearance

In his usual manifested form, Yao Chen appears as a translucent elderly man with an illusory white beard 88 133.

• Soul form — His lower body initially trails away like smoke, though he can form legs when he chooses 88.
• Soul Power manifestation — He can form an illusory hand, which he repeatedly uses to smack Xiao Yan on the head 89 90 106.

Personality

Yao Chen is protective of Xiao Yan but often expresses it through teasing, scolding, and tests. He urges Xiao Yan to work for his progress rather than expect cultivation shortcuts, and he temporarily withholds guidance to assess his disciple’s independence 89 126 129. He is more guarded about his own survival: the possibility of the Hall of Souls discovering him makes him cautious around unfamiliar observers 89 104.

His response to Han Feng shows the limits of that sternness. Despite the betrayal, Yao Chen first asks Li Changqing to spare Han Feng and later cannot deliver the final blow himself 113 115.

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

A peak Eighth-Rank Alchemist before losing his body, Yao Chen possesses extensive knowledge of pill formulas, fire control, and refinement techniques 88 94.

• He prepares medicinal aid for Xiao Yan’s cultivation and advises him on materials needed to absorb a Heavenly Flame 89 116.
• He gives Li Changqing a book containing his alchemical knowledge, including formulas of his own creation 94.
• He guides Li through the refinement of a Venerable Origin Pill, Li’s first successful Eighth-Grade pill 133 134.
• In his current soul state, Yao Chen says he cannot personally refine an Eighth-Grade pill 134.

Soul Force

Yao Chen uses Soul Force to perceive his surroundings, conceal Xiao Yan’s aura, and interact with others while disembodied 89 106.

• His Soul Force was in the Heaven Realm before his misfortune 133.
• He can use Soul Force alone to wield strength comparable to a Dou Huang 114.
• He explains the Mortal, Spirit, Heaven, and Emperor Soul Force realms, but says he has no dedicated Soul Force cultivation technique to teach 133.

Heavenly Flames and Cultivation Guidance

Yao Chen possesses the Bone Spirit Cold Fire, a Heavenly Flame ranked eleventh, which he says he obtained after nine brushes with death 92.

• He teaches Xiao Yan about Heavenly Flames and prepares the Flame Mantra for him, a technique that can evolve by absorbing them 92 93.
• He can sense a Heavenly Flame’s location through the reaction of his own flame, though his search beneath the Tagor Desert requires repeated attempts 106.
• He directs Xiao Yan’s cultivation and advises him during negotiations for resources 91 103.

Equipment and Items

• Bone Flame Ring — Yao Chen’s refuge while he remains a disembodied soul; Xiao Yan wears it 82 88.
• Bone Spirit Cold Fire — His Heavenly Flame, ranked eleventh 92.
• Alchemy legacy book — His written fire-control methods, pill-refining knowledge, and formulas, which he gives to Li Changqing 94.

Relationships

• Xiao Yan — His current disciple. Yao Chen caused Xiao Yan’s three-year loss of Dou Qi, then became his teacher and guided his recovery; Xiao Yan later promises to care for him 88 89 115.
• Han Feng — His former disciple, whose betrayal left Yao Chen disembodied. Yao Chen cannot bring himself to kill him and asks Li Changqing to do so 82 115.
• Li Changqing — An ally and trading partner who exposes Yao Chen’s presence, exchanges Heavenly Flame information for techniques and alchemy knowledge, helps him confront Han Feng, and later receives his guidance in refining an Eighth-Grade pill 88 93 94 115 133 134.
• Hall of Souls — An organization implicated in the destruction of his body and a continuing threat to his survival 89 129.

Notable Quotes

“If you want to improve quickly, you'll have to work hard yourself. There are no shortcuts on the path of cultivation.” 89

“Li Changqing, please finish Han Feng for me.” 115