Yao Chen

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Departure from the Yao Clan

Yao Chen was born into the Yao Clan, one of the Eight Ancient Clans of the Central Plains. Because his inherited Dou Di bloodline was weak, he left to make his own way. Without the clan’s formal inheritance, he developed his alchemy through his own efforts and became an eighth-tier alchemist and Dou Zun 8 9.

His disciple Han Feng betrayed him with the Hun Clan’s assistance, destroying his physical body. Only a remnant of his soul escaped and survived inside a black ring 8 9. The Flame Mantra was the cause of the conflict between master and disciple 16.

Survival in Xiao Yan’s Ring

For three years, Yao Chen secretly absorbed Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi to sustain his weakened soul. This caused Xiao Yan’s cultivation to regress and prevented him from retaining the energy he absorbed. Yao Chen intended to repay him by becoming his teacher once he had recovered sufficiently 8.

Xiao Xuan discovered the hidden soul and forcibly extracted him from the ring. After hearing his explanation, Xiao Xuan spared him, recognizing that Yao Chen had exercised restraint rather than draining Xiao Yan completely. As restitution, Yao Chen agreed to remain permanently with the Xiao Clan as a guest elder and refine pills after receiving a new body 8 9.

Resurrection and Service

Xiao Xuan forged Yao Chen a flawless body using three Heavenly Flames in under half an hour. Its appearance matched his original body, but its strength was at the Two-Star Dou Saint level. Yao Chen merged with it in less than half a day, returned to life, and advanced to One-Star Dou Sheng 15 16.

After his resurrection, Yao Chen contributed the Flame Mantra to Xiao Xuan and received rare Yao Clan alchemy texts in return. He also supplied a seed of his Bone Spirit Cold Flame, accepted Xiao Yan as his disciple, and refined pills to compensate for the three years of lost cultivation 16 17 18 19.

Appearance

• Soul form: A white remnant soul while living in the black ring 8 15.
• Restored body: Looks exactly as he did before death. Yao Chen specifically requested a familiar appearance so that old friends would recognize him 15 16.
• Physical constitution: His new body is described as flawless and superior to his original body 15.

Personality

Yao Chen acknowledges responsibility for Xiao Yan’s suffering despite explaining that he absorbed Dou Qi for survival rather than malice. He apologizes to Xiao Xuan, Xiao Yan, and Xiao Zhan, willingly accepts restitution through service, and later compensates Xiao Yan with pills and mentorship 8 9 19.

His gratitude toward Xiao Xuan becomes emphatic loyalty: he regards his rescuer as someone who has given him a second life and willingly offers both the Flame Mantra and his entire Heavenly Flame. He is also deeply devoted to alchemy; access to the Medicine Canon Pavilion’s teachings fulfills a childhood ambition that he could not realize within the Yao Clan 16 17 18.

Abilities & Skills

Eighth-Tier Alchemy

Yao Chen reached the eighth tier without access to the Yao Clan’s formal inheritance, leading Xiao Xuan to recognize him as an exceptional alchemical talent 9.

• Refines pills suited to Xiao Yan’s awakened Xiao Clan bloodline, improving his Dou Qi absorption and cultivation speed 19 20.
• His pills contribute to Xiao Yan’s recovery from third-stage Dou Qi to Three-Star Dou Zhe in three days, alongside bloodline awakening, the inherited cultivation method, and recultivation of previously attained realms 21.
• Receives advanced Yao Clan manuals that Xiao Xuan believes could help him reach the ninth tier; no ninth-tier advancement is documented 17.
• Recognizes Xiao Yan’s strong soul and suitable temperament as the foundations for an alchemy disciple 19.

Bone Spirit Cold Flame

Yao Chen possesses the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, ranked eleventh on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. Acquiring it subjected him to considerable suffering 16.

• Enhances his effectiveness as an alchemist 18.
• Provides Xiao Xuan with a flame seed, allowing him to nurture a separate Bone Spirit Cold Flame 18 19.
• Retains the original flame because Xiao Xuan declines his offer to surrender it, preserving the Xiao Clan’s pill-refining capability 18.

Soul Survival and Dou Qi Absorption

After losing his body, Yao Chen survives as a remnant soul housed in a black ring 8.

• Nourishes his weakened soul by absorbing Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi over three years 8.
• Conceals his presence well enough that the physicians consulted by Xiao Zhan and Xun’er’s Dou Emperor protector, Ling Ying, cannot identify the cause of Xiao Yan’s condition 8 11.
• Cannot conceal himself from Xiao Xuan, who detects and extracts him 8.
• Xiao Xuan judges that Yao Chen could have drained Xiao Yan completely or possessed his body, but chose not to do so 9.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Black ring — Shelter for his remnant soul. Originally worn by Xiao Yan, it is transferred to Xiao Xuan after Yao Chen’s recruitment 8 9.
• Flame Mantra — An unremarkable-looking cultivation manual obtained while exploring a secret realm with an old friend. It claims to tame Heavenly Flames but requires cultivation from the beginning and involves dangerous flame absorption. Yao Chen gives it to Xiao Xuan as a possible reference; Xiao Xuan’s system subsequently supplies an improved version 16.
• Medicine Canon Pavilion scrolls — Rare alchemical teachings reconstructed from Xiao Xuan’s memories of the Yao Clan’s collection. Awarded to Yao Chen for contributing the Flame Mantra 17.

Relationships

• Xiao Xuan — Rescuer, patron, and leader. Spares Yao Chen, restores his body, and rewards his contributions with alchemical knowledge. Their arrangement combines personal gratitude with an explicit obligation to help rebuild the Xiao Clan 9 15 16 17.
• Xiao Yan — Disciple and recipient of restitution. Yao Chen causes his three-year cultivation decline, then provides recovery pills and accepts him as an alchemy student. Xiao Yan bears no lasting resentment and later credits the hardship with helping him judge others more clearly 8 9 19 22.
• Han Feng — Former disciple and betrayer. His collusion with the Hun Clan destroys Yao Chen’s body. After reaching Dou Sheng, Yao Chen briefly wonders whether to hate him or “thank” him for indirectly setting his unexpected recovery in motion 9 16.
• Hun Clan — Accomplices in his downfall. Their involvement in both Yao Chen’s suffering and the Xiao Clan’s decline helps Xiao Xuan sympathize with him 8 9.

Notable Quotes

“I absorbed Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi not because I wished to harm him, but because my soul was so weak that it needed Dou Qi to nourish it.” 8

“Senior Xiao Xuan, this immense kindness makes you a parent who has given me life anew. I, Yao Chen, will spill my blood and brains for Lord Xiao Xuan and the Xiao Clan!” 16