Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Yao Yan; “Little Yanzi,” a nickname used by Su Tian 53 126 287
Species/Race	Human 39 40
Gender	Male
Origin	Earth; has lived on the Dou Qi Continent for more than ten years 40 78
Affiliation	Xiao Clan of Wutan City, Jia Ma Empire 40
Occupation/Role	Cultivator; Second-Rank Alchemist; Yao Lao’s disciple 43 165
Status	Alive; his Three-Year Agreement duel with Nalan Yanran remains unresolved in the supplied passages 322
First Appearance	Mentioned in Chapter 3; appears in person while observing Queen Medusa in Chapter 36 3 36

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Flame Mantra — Yellow Tier Mid Grade	40	Already upgraded through absorbing the Purple Flame obtained from the Amethyst Winged Lion King. This is his documented technique grade at his first clash with Su Tian.
Two-Star Dou Shi	40 41	His personal cultivation during the Temple City expedition. Despite the rank gap, he initially exchanges blows evenly with the One-Star Great Dou Master Su Tian.
Dou Huang — borrowed power, assessed at least Six-Star	43 48	Yao Lao intervenes after Xiao Yan is swallowed by Su Tian’s Scarlet Flame Giant Dragon. Qing Mu assesses his empowered strength as at least Six-Star Dou Huang; this is not a permanent cultivation breakthrough.
Buddha’s Fury Fire Lotus — first successful creation	154 155 156 157	Conceived under Su Tian’s pressure and completed by fusing Purple Flame with Yao Lao’s Bone Spirit Cold Flame. Flame Mantra-generated Dou Qi stabilizes the fusion into a purple-white lotus.
Second-Rank Alchemist	162 165	Confirmed during the alchemy contest with Su Tian. Independently produces superior-quality Qi Gathering Powder.

Background / History

Xiao Yan comes from Earth, the same world as Su Tian, and has spent more than ten years on the Dou Qi Continent. He belongs to the Xiao Clan of Wutan City and has two older brothers, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, in Stone Desert City 40 78 125.

During his youth, his Dou Qi disappeared and he endured years of being called “trash.” Nalan Yanran’s visit to the Xiao Clan to break off their engagement deepened that humiliation. Xiao Yan issued a repudiation letter, and their Three-Year Agreement became a driving force behind his training: he wanted to defeat her and prove his worth to his father and clan 49 129 135 166 171.

Yao Lao guides his cultivation, combat training, and alchemy. Su Tian knows the path associated with Xiao Yan’s eventual rise as the Flame Emperor, but repeatedly competes for the resources that would support it. That anticipated title is not an attained realm or status in the supplied events 3 29 40.

Appearance

• Face: Delicate, refined features; also described as clean and handsome 41 51.
• Eyes: Dark or pitch-black, frequently reflecting his determination or anger 44 155 157.
• Hands: Slender and fair despite his close-range fighting style 155.
• Clothing: Often wears black clothing or a hooded black robe to conceal his identity 125 135 175.
• Recognizable weapon: Carries the enormous Heavy Xuan Ruler on his back 83 124.

Personality

Xiao Yan is proud, persistent, and intensely competitive. His repeated losses to Su Tian can provoke despair or reckless defiance, particularly when Heavenly Flames are at stake. Yao Lao’s encouragement repeatedly helps him recover his confidence; by the alchemy contest, he can acknowledge defeat calmly and focus on improving himself 48 49 78 84 168.

His loyalty to Yao Lao is familial rather than merely respectful. He reacts fiercely when Su Tian reveals knowledge of his teacher, warns against threatening him, and later promises to repay those responsible for Yao Lao’s past suffering. His protectiveness toward Qing Lin similarly leads him to challenge stronger opponents even after being assured that she may benefit from joining the Heavenly Snake Mansion 141 154 167.

He is capable of restraint and fairness. He offers to fight Nalan Yanran at her own level, apologizes after misunderstanding Yun Yun’s treatment, and refuses to attack Misty Cloud Sect disciples solely because of his grievances with their sect. His warning about storing Heavenly Flames also shows goodwill toward Su Tian despite their rivalry 49 53 135 169.

Abilities & Skills

Flame Mantra

An evolving cultivation method whose grade increases through absorbing flames. Xiao Yan’s absorption of Purple Flame raises his version to Yellow Tier Mid Grade before the Temple City confrontation 40.

• Produces the Dou Qi used to stabilize his first Buddha’s Fury Fire Lotus 157.
• Makes obtaining a Heavenly Flame central to his plans for rapid improvement 194.
• Does not gain an upgrade from the Green Lotus Core Flame during this expedition, because Su Tian takes it 48 78.

Flame Control

Xiao Yan possesses Purple Flame from the Amethyst Winged Lion King and can use Bone Spirit Cold Flame while borrowing Yao Lao’s power 40 155.

• Purple Flame: Stronger than ordinary Dou Qi-generated fire; used for combat, alchemy, and burning Yun Le’s corpse 155 162 172.
• Bone Spirit Cold Flame: Yao Lao’s personal Heavenly Flame, not Xiao Yan’s independently acquired flame 155.
• Protective use: Under Yao Lao’s control, the cold flame shields Xiao Yan and Su Tian while crossing the poisonous lake around Bamboo Forest Snake Island 44.
• Limitation: Purple Flame instinctively avoids Su Tian’s Green Lotus Core Flame during their alchemy contest 162.

Buddha’s Fury Fire Lotus

Xiao Yan’s self-created flame-fusion attack. His first completed version combines Purple Flame and Bone Spirit Cold Flame into a palm-sized purple-white lotus 155 157.

• Conceived when Su Tian’s Dou Zong pressure and apparent threat to Yao Lao push him into an extreme state 154.
• Requires intense concentration, precise control, and Flame Mantra-generated Dou Qi to settle the conflicting energy 156 157.
• Its first detonation sends fire hundreds of meters outward and destroys a nearby mountain peak 157.
• Su Tian withstands it with Dou Zong strength, but the blast injures his palms 158.
• Creating it tears Xiao Yan’s hands, causes him to cough blood, and severely drains his energy and soul power 156 158.
• This version falls short of the potential of a lotus made from two Heavenly Flames 155.

Flame Splitting Wave Ruler

An Earth-tier Low-grade Dou Technique performed with the Heavy Xuan Ruler. Xiao Yan channels scorching energy into the weapon and releases a crescent-shaped attack 41 42.

• Draws surrounding natural energy into the ruler during preparation 42.
• At Two-Star Dou Shi, a full-power use nearly empties his Dou Qi reserves, requiring a Qi Recovery Pill 42.
• Produces a crescent more than a hundred feet across when used against the Snake-People Great Elder 54.
• Su Tian counters it during both their initial duel and the struggle for the Green Lotus Core Flame 42 48.

Eight Extremes Collapse

A close-range Dou Technique carrying fierce force and a concealed secondary force 41.

• Used after Su Tian knocks the Heavy Xuan Ruler from his hands, removing the weapon’s restraint 41.
• Quickly defeats Ling Lin when she ambushes him in Salt City 125.
• Combined with a ruler feint to land a strike on Nalan Yanran’s back 138.
• Su Tian’s knowledge of the technique allows him to anticipate its hidden force and counter it 41 84.

Movement and Palm Techniques

• Burst Step: Provides sudden acceleration for attacks and retreats 40 42.
• Purple Cloud Wings: Enable flight, including catching himself after Su Tian drops him from the Eight-Winged Black Snake Emperor 54 168.
• Suction Palm: Pulls Su Tian toward him before a ruler strike during the Heavenly Flame contest 48.
• Fire-Blowing Palm: Uses thrust to alter his movement during the preliminary duel with Nalan Yanran 137.

Alchemy

A Second-Rank Alchemist trained by Yao Lao, capable of independently refining Qi Gathering Powder 162 165.

• Refines medicinal ingredients and a rank-two water-attribute magic core using Purple Flame 162 164.
• Produces superior-quality Qi Gathering Powder during his contest with Su Tian 165.
• Loses to Su Tian’s pill-pattern result, whose effects exceed those of his own preparation 167 168.
• His Purple Flame processes the magic core more slowly than Su Tian’s Heavenly Flame 164.

Borrowed Power from Yao Lao

Yao Lao can lend Xiao Yan soul power, protect him, conceal his aura, or take control of his body 43 44 48.

• Temporarily enables Dou Huang-level combat against Su Tian and the Heavenly Snake Mansion’s experts 48 83 140.
• Provides access to Bone Spirit Cold Flame 155.
• Does not eliminate the danger of facing several powerful experts simultaneously; Xiao Yan is unwilling to make Yao Lao exhaust his life force for the flame 43.
• Xiao Yan creates the Fire Lotus partly because he wants a powerful technique of his own rather than continual rescue by his teacher 156.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Heavy Xuan Ruler — Enormous weapon with a suppressive effect on Dou Qi; used for direct combat and Flame Splitting Wave Ruler 40 41.
• Storage Ring — Holds his belongings. The Green Lotus Base disappears from it when Su Tian’s system transfers the item to Su Tian 39.
• Green Lotus Base — former possession — Required for safely collecting the Green Lotus Core Flame; remains with Su Tian after the expedition 39 43 54.
• Purifying Lotus Demon Flame map fragment — Valuable clue sought by Su Tian; Xiao Yan refuses to surrender it even while badly injured 74 84.
• Qi Recovery Pills — Restore Dou Qi during demanding ruler attacks 42 54.
• Medicine cauldron — Used in the Qi Gathering Powder contest 162 165.

Relationships

• Yao Lao — Teacher, protector, strategist, and chosen family. Xiao Yan fiercely defends him and promises to avenge his past suffering 43 154 167.
• Su Tian — Rival and uneasy partner. Their competition spans Heavenly Flames, map fragments, combat, and alchemy; shared concern for Qing Lin and a travel agreement create grounds for cooperation. Xiao Yan refuses Su Tian’s demand to acknowledge him as a big brother 48 84 126 158 168.
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and opponent in the Three-Year Agreement. Her rejection drives his training and desire to restore his family’s pride 129 135 171.
• Yun Yun / Yun Zhi — Woman he met under an assumed identity in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Their mutual concern is strained when her position as Misty Cloud Sect leader and Nalan Yanran’s teacher becomes an unavoidable barrier 51 53 287.
• Qing Lin — Girl he treats protectively, with an almost brotherly concern. Her abduction brings him to Salt City, and he resists entrusting her to Lu Man 125 127 141.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li — Older brothers in Stone Desert City. They inform him of the Mo Clan’s role in Qing Lin’s abduction 125.
• Hai Bodong — Potential ally whom Xiao Yan hopes to assist by breaking his seal; later joins him in pursuing Lu Man 78 140 146.
• Ya Fei — Familiar acquaintance from Wutan City. Their reunion is warm and marked by recognition of how much both have changed 175 221.
• Lu Man — Opponent over Qing Lin’s future. Xiao Yan distrusts her despite Yao Lao’s assurance that the Heavenly Snake Mansion offers Qing Lin safety and growth 139 141 146.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Temple City and the Green Lotus Core Flame

Xiao Yan infiltrates Temple City with Yao Lao’s guidance while Gu He’s party clashes with the Snake-People. Discovering the Green Lotus Base missing from his Storage Ring, he confronts Su Tian in the bamboo forest. Su Tian’s unexplained knowledge of his identity, weapon, and techniques makes him deeply suspicious 39 40 41.

Their duel forces Yao Lao to intervene. They briefly cooperate to cross the poisonous lake and observe Medusa’s evolution, but resume fighting once the flame is collected. Su Tian’s hidden protector and Nine-Star Dou Emperor Trial Card defeat Xiao Yan’s borrowed Dou Huang strength, leaving Su Tian with the flame 43 44 47 48.

Before escaping, Xiao Yan warns Su Tian that a Heavenly Flame will destroy the contents of a Storage Ring. Su Tian’s coded remarks also lead him to suspect that his rival comes from Earth 49 78.

Mo City and the Map Fragment

Xiao Yan returns to Mo City hoping that fulfilling his promise to Hai Bodong will secure an ally and another map fragment. Instead, his rivalry with Su Tian escalates into another fight. Even with Yao Lao’s support, he is quickly injured and refuses Su Tian’s demand to surrender his fragment 78 82 84.

Qing Lin’s Rescue and the Mo Clan

After returning to Stone Desert City, Xiao Yan learns that the Mo Clan abducted Qing Lin and tried to silence those who knew her. He reaches Salt City, defeats Ling Lin after her mistaken attack, and discovers that Su Tian has already rescued Qing Lin. The two agree to retaliate at Mo Cheng’s birthday banquet 125 126.

Nalan Yanran’s arrival nearly makes him lose control. Later, he uses a restricted-power duel to assess her abilities before their formal agreement, landing an Eight Extremes Collapse strike through a feint. Lu Man’s intervention then redirects his attention to Qing Lin 129 135 138.

Heavenly Snake Mansion and the Fire Lotus

Xiao Yan pursues Lu Man despite Yao Lao’s assurances about the Heavenly Snake Mansion. Hai Bodong assists him, while Su Tian secretly favors Qing Lin’s departure. White Fang’s appearance adds another Dou Huang-level opponent to the confrontation 141 142 146.

When Su Tian exposes his knowledge of Yao Lao and applies Dou Zong pressure, Xiao Yan conceives a flame-fusion attack. He completes his first Buddha’s Fury Fire Lotus despite serious injuries and launches it at Su Tian. Exhausted afterward, he accepts an arrangement exchanging Yao Lao’s alchemy instruction for Su Tian’s escort to the Imperial Capital 154 157 158.

Journey to the Imperial Capital

During the journey, Xiao Yan loses the Qi Gathering Powder contest but accepts the result without excuses. He resists Su Tian’s subsequent attempts to force brotherly deference. After initially refusing to attack Misty Cloud Sect disciples without justification, he exposes Yun Le’s lies, kills him, and burns his corpse 168 169 171 172.

At the Mittel auction-house headquarters, he warmly reunites with Ya Fei. He later departs without speaking to Su Tian; the stated purpose is to seek another Heavenly Flame and strengthen himself before facing Nalan Yanran, not to flee the impending duel 175 192 194.

The Three-Year Agreement

Xiao Yan’s strength surprises Nalan Yanran during their formal confrontation. Yun Yun learns that the man she knew as Yao Yan is Xiao Yan, bringing their personal attachment into conflict with her sect obligations. He sets aside those feelings and insists that the agreement reach a conclusion 285 287.

The supplied passages repeatedly return to Xiao Yan charging with his Heavy Xuan Ruler against Nalan Yanran’s Extreme Wind, Sword Rain Break, but do not establish the duel’s final outcome 304 310 322.

Notable Quotes

“I'll prove to everyone that your disciple will never be mediocre!” 43

“You want me to hand over the Map Fragment? Dream on! Even if I die, I'll never give it to you!” 84

“Sect Master Yun Yun, I am Xiao Yan. I came here today to fulfill the three-year agreement I made with Nalan Yanran.” 287