Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Yan Xiao — identity used to enter the Pill Gathering 115 136
Gender	Male
Age	Eighteen when he reaches Eight-Star Great Dou Master 115
Affiliation	Xiao Clan; supported by Gu Xun’er and her Gu Clan resources 13 109
Occupation/Role	Xiao Clan’s Third Young Master; alchemist; Alchemist Grand Competition champion 13 69 124
Origin	Transmigrator living in the Xiao Clan of Wutan City, Jia Ma Empire 13 73
Cultivation	Eight-Star Great Dou Master, his latest documented personal rank 115 142
Status	Alive; injured, unconscious, and held by Yao Ling in the latest passage describing him 148 150
First Appearance	Mentioned in Fan Tian’s assessment of his advantages; appears directly during the broken-engagement confrontation 1 13

Power Progression

Great Dou Master is also rendered as Great Dou Shi or Da Dou Shi in the supplied text.

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Dou Zhe at age eleven	144	Nalan Yanran retrospectively states that he formed a Dou Qi Vortex and became the Xiao Clan’s youngest Dou Zhe in a century.
Third-stage Dou Qi — regression	109 144	His cultivation mysteriously declined. Xun’er later identifies Yao Chen’s absorption of his Dou Qi over three years as the cause.
Eighth-stage Dou Qi	28	Publicly demonstrates his recovered strength at the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, astonishing guests with an apparent five-stage rise in one year.
Dou Shi	69 74	Reaches this realm before pursuing the Green Lotus Core Flame in the Tagor Desert. His Flame Mantra remains Low Yellow Tier.
Two-Star Dou Shi	109	Xiao Zhan confirms this rank after his injured return to Wutan City; credits his recovery with taking him from Dou Qi to Dou Shi in a little over two years.
Two-Star Great Dou Master	111	Reached after three months of training with Xun’er’s high Earth-tier cultivation method, combat techniques, and pills. Can form Dou Qi Armor and has attained minor mastery of Ancient Lion Flame Burst.
Eight-Star Great Dou Master	115	At eighteen, becomes the Xiao Clan’s strongest fighter through continued instruction and resources from Xun’er. Retains this rank during the Three-Year Agreement 142.

Background / History

Xiao Yan is a transmigrator whose mature soul gives him an unusual degree of confidence and calculation from childhood. He repeatedly enters Gu Xun’er’s room at night under the explanation that he is nourishing her meridians with Dou Qi. Xun’er gradually accepts these visits, and their secret closeness becomes the foundation of her attachment to him 29 73.

His early cultivation success strengthens his father Xiao Zhan’s position within the Xiao Clan. When his Dou Qi subsequently disappears and he falls to third-stage Dou Qi, Xiao Zhan spends heavily trying to cure him and faces mounting criticism. Nalan Yanran later invokes this history during their dispute over responsibility for the family’s humiliation 144.

Nalan Yanran’s attempt to annul their engagement brings the Xiao Clan and the Misty Cloud Sect into confrontation. Xiao Yan regards the public rupture as an insult to himself and his father; the resulting Three-Year Agreement becomes the focus of his training and desire for revenge 13 142.

By his Coming-of-Age Ceremony, Xiao Yan has become Yao Chen’s disciple, obtained the Flame Mantra, and recovered to eighth-stage Dou Qi. Yao Chen encourages him to leave the clan and train beyond Wutan City 28 29.

Appearance

Xiao Yan is depicted as a blond youth, later described with sword-like brows, bright eyes, and a vigorous complexion 13 75 111 142.

• Black robes: His usual clothing during the desert journey and arrival at Misty Cloud Mountain 74 142.
• Oversized black ruler: Carried on his back; distinctive enough for Fan Tian to recognize him immediately 74 75.
• Fiery-red Dou Qi Armor: Manifests after his advancement to Great Dou Master 111.

Personality

Xiao Yan’s recovered strength brings considerable confidence, but also contempt for those who once looked down on him. At his Coming-of-Age Ceremony, he mocks the astonished guests and says that only his father and Xun’er are worth respecting within the Xiao Clan. His ambitions combine restoring his family’s prestige, securing Xun’er’s affection, and making Nalan Yanran pay for the broken engagement 28 124.

His loyalty to Yao Chen is initially strong. He entrusts his body to his teacher during Ling Ying’s attack and repeatedly begs Xun’er to spare him. After Yao Chen admits that the Flame Mantra is untested, Xiao Yan begins questioning its risks. He still rejects Xun’er’s accusations on returning home, but his faster advancement under her guidance later makes him increasingly receptive to her account 90 96 106 109 115.

He can show concern for others while remaining calculating about its costs. He leaves Desert City to draw danger away from his brothers, yet avoids deeper involvement in Ya Fei’s difficulties because confronting the Mittel Family could endanger his own interests 89 116.

His fixation on public humiliation intensifies after defeating Nalan Yanran. Rather than accept the duel’s resolution, he demands that she—and then Yun Yun—kneel before him. After the sect retaliates, he calls on Xun’er to kill Yun Shan and destroy the Misty Cloud Sect 144 146 147.

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

• Passes the second-rank alchemist examination in Black Rock City 69.
• Continues developing his alchemy after Yao Chen’s death 115.
• Wins the Alchemist Grand Competition under the alias Yan Xiao, attracting attention from powerful families and imperial princesses 124 136.

Flame Mantra

• Chooses the Flame Mantra over an offered Earth-tier cultivation method 106.
• The method refines and fuses Heavenly Flames, unlike Fan Tian’s Spirit Devouring, which consumes their energy 2.
• Remains Low Yellow Tier during the desert confrontation because Xiao Yan has not secured the flame resources needed to improve it 90 106.
• Its authenticity and safe fusion of Heavenly Flames have not been verified by Yao Chen; these admissions shake Xiao Yan’s confidence 106.

High Earth-Tier Cultivation

• Receives a high-grade Earth-tier cultivation method and three matching fire-attribute Earth-tier Dou Techniques from Xun’er 109.
• The method rapidly restores much of his depleted Dou Qi after a demanding attack 111.
• Ancient Lion Flame Burst: Condenses a fiery lion, draws surrounding energy into it, and detonates it against a target. Xiao Yan reaches minor mastery, but the demonstrated sequence nearly exhausts his reserves 111.

Heavy Ruler Combat

• Uses the Heavy Xuan Ruler to block sword strikes, force an opponent’s blade aside, and deliver sweeping fire attacks 143.
• Combines ruler attacks with close-range punches and fire-attribute Dou Qi 143.
• Overwhelms the Two-Star Great Dou Master Nalan Yanran during their duel 142 143 144.

Purple Cloud Wings

• Enables flight before Xiao Yan reaches the realms that naturally support it 74 89.
• At Dou Shi, his Yellow-tier cultivation method cannot sustain prolonged use; approximately half an hour of flight leaves him exhausted 89.
• Still uses the wings at Great Dou Master, though they cannot let him evade Yun Shan’s Dou Zong attack 146.

Yao Chen’s Borrowed Power

• By surrendering control of his body, Xiao Yan lets Yao Chen channel soul power through his meridians and fight Ling Ying at Dou Emperor level 90 95.
• The bone-white Heavenly Flame used during these exchanges belongs to Yao Chen, not Xiao Yan 90 96.
• This power depends on Yao Chen’s limited soul reserves; exhaustion eventually forces them to seek outside help 95.
• Becomes unavailable after Xun’er kills Yao Chen 106.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Heavy Xuan Ruler — Oversized, pitch-black weapon carried on his back and used throughout the Three-Year Agreement 74 142 143.
• Mother’s keepsake ring — Xiao Yan identifies his childhood ring as a keepsake from his mother; it later houses Yao Chen’s soul 90 106.
• Cultivation scrolls and pills from Xun’er — Includes a high-grade Earth-tier method, three matching fire-attribute techniques, and medicinal pills of fifth tier or higher 109.
• Blood Lotus Pill materials and Ice Spirit Cold Spring — Obtained before his desert journey in preparation for pursuing a Heavenly Flame 69.
• Former ring possessions — Fan Tian later examines rings taken from Xiao Yan and Yao Chen, including the Flame Mantra among their contents 113.

Relationships

• Xiao Zhan — Father and Xiao Clan leader; supports his recovery and urges him not to sacrifice his future over the Three-Year Agreement 13 109.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li — Elder brothers; Xiao Yan reunites with them at the Desert Iron Mercenary Group and spends three days celebrating before searching for the flame 71 74.
• Gu Xun’er — Childhood companion and girlfriend; his principal patron after Yao Chen’s death. Her support accelerates his cultivation, but her killing of his teacher creates a serious breach of trust 73 106 109 115.
• Yao Chen / Yao Lao — Teacher, alchemy mentor, and protector. Gives him the Flame Mantra and fights through his body; Xiao Yan is unable to prevent Xun’er from killing him 29 90 106.
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and Three-Year Agreement opponent. Their dispute moves from a broken engagement to defeat, public humiliation, and violence 13 142 144 146.
• Ling Ying — Secret protector assigned by Xun’er; personally hostile toward Xiao Yan, but bound to safeguard him. Xiao Yan resents his attitude and increasingly attempts to command him 75 116 144.
• Ya Fei — Auction-house acquaintance who rewards his intervention against Lei Le with discounted ingredients. Xiao Yan avoids committing himself to her wider family troubles 116.
• Fan Tian — Rival who deliberately pursues opportunities associated with Xiao Yan. Their first direct meeting occurs at Desert City 41 74 129.
• Zi Yan — Temporarily protects Yao Chen from Ling Ying and Xun’er, while claiming Yao Chen’s ring for herself 96.
• Yao Ling — Captures him during Fan Tian’s battle with Xun’er and uses him as leverage against her 148 150.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Training and the Lost Heavenly Flame

• Leaves the Xiao Clan to train in the Magical Beast Mountain Range after his Coming-of-Age Ceremony 28 41.
• Senses that opportunities and luck have slipped away; Yao Chen dismisses the feeling as fatigue 43.
• Travels to the Tagor Desert seeking the Green Lotus Core Flame, but finds its underground site stripped of the flame, lotus platform, and seeds 69 74.
• A message naming Mu Gu frightens Yao Chen into withdrawing. Fan Tian had left the message after removing the remaining treasures and traces of Medusa’s visit 71 74.
• Encounters Fan Tian at Desert City’s gates; Yao Chen warns that neither Fan Tian nor his powerful entourage can safely be provoked 74.

Ling Ying’s Pursuit and Yao Chen’s Death

• Draws a pursuing Dou Emperor away from Desert City to protect his brothers, then relies on Yao Chen when Ling Ying confronts them 89 90.
• Finds the Green Lotus Core Flame in Gu He’s possession while fleeing, briefly reviving his hopes of obtaining it 95 96.
• Xun’er forcibly separates Yao Chen from his body and attempts to kill him; Xiao Yan’s pleas fail to stop her 96 97.
• Watches Xun’er interrogate and burn Yao Chen, accusing him of spying and planning possession. Yao Chen’s admission about the Flame Mantra’s uncertainty leaves Xiao Yan shocked 106.
• Is escorted back to the Xiao Clan by Ling Ying, injured and devastated 107 109.

Xun’er’s Patronage and Alchemist Fame

• Initially rejects Xun’er’s claim that Yao Chen intended to seize his body, but accepts the techniques and pills she offers 109.
• Rapidly advances through Great Dou Master while training under her guidance 111 115.
• Enters the Pill Gathering as Yan Xiao and wins the Alchemist Grand Competition 115 124.
• Envisions reaching Dou Wang and restoring the Xiao Clan to the prominence it enjoyed under his grandfather Xiao Lin 124.

The Three-Year Agreement

• Arrives at Misty Cloud Mountain as an Eight-Star Great Dou Master and defeats Nalan Yanran, who is only Two-Star 142 143 144.
• Their argument over resources, family disgrace, and the engagement escalates until Xiao Yan attempts to strike her. Yun Yun intervenes and orders him to leave 144.
• Calls for Ling Ying’s intervention, turning the completed duel into a destructive sect confrontation 144 145.
• Rejects Yun Shan’s offer of compensation and demands Nalan Yanran kneel. After she complies, he demands the same of Yun Yun 146.
• Is trapped and beaten when Yun Shan orders his capture. Xun’er rescues him and kills Yun Shan after Xiao Yan demands revenge 147.

Capture on Misty Cloud Mountain

• Becomes a hostage during Fan Tian and Xun’er’s subsequent battle. Yao Ling strikes Ling Ying aside, seizes Xiao Yan by the neck, and renders him unconscious 148.
• His captivity prevents Xun’er from fighting freely 148.
• Remains unconscious in Yao Ling’s custody when she temporarily joins forces with Xun’er against the Hall of Souls 150.

Notable Quotes

“Teacher, if we can't beat him, we'll run!” 90

“No, that's impossible! Teacher treated me well. His help was the only reason I reached the Dou Shi realm so quickly.” 109

Trivia

• Purple-flame inconsistency: The Chapter 69 summary says Xiao Yan absorbed a purple flame. The detailed Chapter 90 passage explicitly states that he never obtained the Companion Amethyst Essence or acquired that flame, leaving his Flame Mantra at Low Yellow Tier 69 90.
• Borrowed rank is not personal advancement: His Dou Emperor-level desert battle occurs through Yao Chen’s control of his body; Xiao Yan himself remains a Dou Shi at that point 89 90 95.