Xiao Zhan

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

In his youth, Xiao Zhan traveled through the Jia Ma Empire. His proudest experience was witnessing Dou Huang experts fight in the imperial capital for several hours. Before meeting Xiao Xuan, his knowledge of cultivation extended only as high as Dou Emperor; he did not recognize the Dou Sheng realm 3.

When he inherited leadership, the Xiao Clan was already diminished. Its strongest member had previously been a Dou Ling, a level no one in Xiao Zhan’s generation had yet reached. Nevertheless, he sought to expand the clan’s influence beyond Wutan City. His eldest sons, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, founded the Desert Iron Mercenary Group elsewhere, also laying groundwork for that expansion 4.

More than a decade before Xiao Xuan’s return, Gu Yuan visited and supplied the clan with pills, magical-beast cores, and cultivation resources. He also entrusted his daughter, Xun’er, to its care. Xiao Zhan and the core elders kept her origins secret at Gu Yuan’s request 4 5 13.

Personality

Xiao Zhan is a devoted father without being permissive in matters of clan discipline. He sternly reprimands Xiao Yan for interrupting a financial meeting, yet never abandons or disdains him during his three years of lost cultivation. He repeatedly seeks physicians and grandmasters for his son, eventually kneeling before Xiao Xuan to request help 2 8 11.

His pragmatism is especially clear when Xiao Xuan declares himself the clan’s ancestor. Rather than share Xiao Yan’s hesitation over verifying the claim, Xiao Zhan reasons that a Nine-Star Dou Sheng has little to gain by deceiving their impoverished clan and immediately pays his respects 3.

He retains pride in the Xiao lineage and believes its decline can be reversed through effort. However, his exuberance over defeating local rivals prompts Xiao Xuan to remind him that a patriarch must maintain composure and think beyond Wutan City. Xiao Zhan accepts the criticism and resolves to adjust his conduct 4 7.

Abilities & Skills

Mad Lion Dou Qi

• Releases Five-Star Da Dou Shi pressure to intimidate perceived threats 2.
• His pressure makes Xiao Yan struggle to breathe but has no discernible effect on Xiao Xuan 2.

Cultivation Methods

• Flame Refining Incineration / Flame Refining Burn — His original cultivation method, described as high-level Yellow Tier and supplied to the clan by Gu Yuan 4 7.
• Emperor Vein Heart Sutra — The Xiao Clan’s high-level Heaven Tier inheritance, transmitted directly into his mind by Xiao Xuan. It resonates with the Xiao bloodline and is intended to accelerate cultivation 7.
• Progress with the inherited method depends on comprehension, ability, and the remaining strength of the practitioner’s Dou Di bloodline 8.
• Although Xiao Xuan promises future Heaven Tier Dou Techniques, no passage confirms Xiao Zhan learning one 7.

Clan Administration

• Discusses annual merchant-association earnings with the elders and handles reports concerning the Xiao Family Market 2 5.
• Provides Xiao Xuan with the clan’s demographic and military situation: 122 direct-line members, over 300 collateral members, twelve Dou Shi, and three Dou Shi guest elders, alongside its Da Dou Shi leadership 4.
• Organizes the youth assessment and seeks approval to disclose the clan’s ancient history to the younger generation 19 20 24.

Relationships

• Xiao Yan — Youngest son. Supports him throughout his cultivation decline and personally appeals to Xiao Xuan for a remedy. Even after Xiao Yan’s recovery, his concern persists: he worries that the sudden rise to Three-Star Dou Zhe might be cultivation deviation 4 8 11 21.
• Xiao Ding — Eldest son; co-founder of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, whose activities support the clan’s outward expansion 4.
• Xiao Li — Second son; establishes the mercenary group alongside Xiao Ding 4.
• Xiao Xuan — Ancestor, protector, and cultivation instructor. Xiao Zhan initially treats him as a provocateur, then becomes an enthusiastic supporter after witnessing his power and learning his identity 2 3 7.
• Gu Yuan — Initially regarded as a major benefactor. Xiao Zhan considers his gifts generous, in sharp contrast to Xiao Xuan’s judgment that they were inadequate repayment for his obligations to the clan 4 5.
• Gu Xun’er — Gu Yuan’s daughter, raised under the Xiao Clan’s care. Xiao Zhan values her loyalty to Xiao Yan; Xiao Xuan’s return eases his earlier worry that her powerful family makes a relationship between the two impractical 5 11 13.
• Jia Lie Bi and Oba Pa — Rival family heads whose repeated joint schemes force the Xiao Clan to endure losses before Xiao Xuan intervenes 5 7.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Recognition of the Ancestor

• Confronts Xiao Xuan during a clan financial meeting, interpreting his claim to former leadership as a challenge to the current patriarch 2.
• Is pinned to the ground by Xiao Xuan’s aura, then leads the elders in kneeling once Xiao Xuan identifies himself as their ancestor 3.
• Learns the clan’s ancient history and vows that its surviving bloodline will rise again 4.

Economic Crisis and Xiao Yan’s Recovery

• Reports the Jia Lie and Ao Ba families’ herb-supply monopoly, which threatens a market dependent on medicinal herbs for more than sixty percent of its business 5.
• Accompanies Xiao Xuan and Xiao Yan through space to confront the rival leaders 5.
• Receives the Emperor Vein Heart Sutra, then stays behind to plead for Xiao Yan. Xiao Xuan discovers Yao Chen’s hidden soul siphoning the boy’s Dou Qi and removes the cause of his stagnation 7 8 9.
• Celebrates his son’s restored talent and encourages him to reclaim his former standing 11.

Youth Assessment and Clan Renewal

• Hosts Xiao Xuan at the youth assessment and receives reassurance that Xiao Yan’s rapid recovery is legitimate, not cultivation deviation 19 20 21.
• Reacts first among the Da Dou Shi leaders when Xuan Tengying attacks. After initially fearing for Xiao Xuan, he recalls the ancestor’s strength and tells the elders to sit back down 22.
• Learns from a guard that Xiao Xuan has destroyed both rival families from afar, leaving the Xiao Clan dominant in Wutan City 23.
• Proposes informing the younger generation of Xiao Xuan’s return, helping initiate the public revelation of the clan’s heritage 24.

Notable Quotes

“Though our Xiao Clan has declined, it is human effort that shapes the outcome. As long as even a thread of our bloodline survives, we will surely rise again and contend for supremacy over the world!” 4

“Yan’er, this is wonderful! Your talent is back. From now on, let’s see who dares call my son Xiao Yan a good-for-nothing again.” 11