Xiao Yan

Biodata

Power Progression

Appearance

Xiao Yan is a handsome young man with sharply defined features, sword-like brows, and bright eyes 31.

• Wears black robes and tall leather boots 31.
• Carries a pitch-black heavy ruler taller than himself across his back 31.
• Bone-white flames flare in his eyes when he draws on Yao Chen’s assistance during the academy battle 39.

Personality

Xiao Yan is ambitious about cultivation and eager to obtain another Heavenly Flame. Having personally confirmed that the Flame Mantra can advance in rank, he trusts its potential and hopes the Fallen Heart Flame will strengthen both his cultivation and his cultivation method 37.

He is courteous toward academy elders and actively seeks stronger allies for Pan Gate. When Zi Yan refuses his invitation, he accepts her decision and leaves rather than pressing her 31.

His attachment to his family and teacher outweighs his concern for inherited treasures. After discovering that the Soul Hall captured his father, he offers the Xiao Clan Ancient Jade in exchange for his father’s and Yao Chen’s release. Yao Chen’s subsequent capture leaves him devastated and openly hostile toward the Soul Hall 41 42.

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Xiao Yan is an alchemist who has made medicinal pellets for Zi Yan 31.

• Offers her two jade bottles of prepared pellets when they meet again 31.
• Recognizes the Sixth-Grade Pill she receives from Shen Luo and understands how unusual it is to consume such pills as snacks 31.
• Relies on Yao Chen’s instruction; no exact alchemist tier is established in the supplied material 31 35.

Flame Mantra

A cultivation method Xiao Yan practices with Yao Chen’s guidance. It can rise in rank through the refinement of Heavenly Flames and allows their fusion 35 37.

• Refining the Green Lotus Core Flame raises it from the Yellow Tier to the middle Profound Tier 37.
• Xiao Yan hopes refining the Fallen Heart Flame could raise it to the Earth Tier, but this remains a plan rather than an achieved advancement 37.

Heavenly Flames

Buddha’s Fury Fire Lotus

An attack formed by combining Heavenly Flames into a compact lotus 41.

• Condenses two flames into a palm-sized Fire Lotus that gravely wounds Han Feng and reverses their battle 41.
• Cannot overcome the six Soul Hall Dou Zongs: their chains shatter his next Fire Lotus before it fully forms 41.

Yao Chen’s Assistance

Yao Chen can lend Xiao Yan strength far above his own cultivation 39.

• Temporarily raises his aura to Peak Nine-Star Dou Emperor 39.
• Enables him to fight Han Feng with bone-white flame 39 40.
• Does not protect him from coordinated high-level opponents; both master and disciple are subdued by the Soul Hall 41.

Emperor Seal Art

Gu Xun’er gives Xiao Yan the Gu Clan’s Emperor Seal Art before leaving. No use of the technique is shown in the supplied passages 35.

Equipment & Items

• Heavy Black Ruler — His distinctive oversized weapon. Its appearance helps Han Feng identify him as Yao Chen’s disciple 31 36.
• Bone Spirit Ring — Houses Yao Chen’s concealed soul, allowing the teacher to remain close to Xiao Yan 31 37.
• Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame Fragment Map — A map fragment in his possession that Shen Luo covets 21 29.
• Xiao Clan Ancient Jade / Tou She Ancient God Jade — An inherited jade fragment carried among his possessions. The Soul Hall discovers and confiscates it, and Old Man Mu Gu subsequently takes custody of it 31 41 42.

Relationships

• Yao Chen / Yao Lao — Teacher and principal source of guidance and combat support. Yao Chen attempts to rescue him from the Soul Hall, only to be captured himself 35 37 39 41.
• Xiao Zhan — Father, held captive by the Soul Hall. Xiao Yan offers the Ancient Jade to secure his release 41.
• Xiao Li — Second brother. Despite severe injuries, he reaches the Outer Academy and informs Xiao Yan about the Xiao Clan’s plight 42.
• Gu Xun’er — An established close connection and source of backing. She gives him the Emperor Seal Art before returning to the Gu Clan 18 29 35.
• Zi Yan — An acquaintance he supplies with medicinal pellets. Their connection remains limited, and she refuses his invitation to join Pan Gate after becoming Shen Luo’s follower 31.
• Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python — Recognizes Xiao Yan as its master and becomes deeply attached to him after seeing him immediately after its birth. Its attachment is distinct from Medusa’s attitude toward him 33.
• Han Feng — Fellow disciple under Yao Chen and a hostile senior brother. Their confrontation ends with Han Feng gravely wounded and calling the Soul Hall to capture Yao Chen 37 41.
• Shen Luo — Publicly an academy elder and battlefield ally, but secretly a rival for Xiao Yan’s opportunities. He gives Han Feng information about Xiao Yan and Yao Chen to draw in the Soul Hall 29 39 42.
• Qianbai Elders — Rescue Xiao Yan from captivity but refuse his plea to save Yao Chen, telling him that responsibility must fall to him 42.

History

Inner Academy and Pan Gate

By the time Shen Luo arrives at Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Yan is studying in the Inner Academy with Yao Chen concealed nearby. He already possesses the Green Lotus Core Flame, the Flame Mantra, and a fragment of the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame map 18 21 35.

Xiao Yan establishes Pan Gate with the year’s new students, but the faction lacks experts compared with those led by Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing. He attempts to recruit Zi Yan, the Strong Ranking’s number one, by offering her a position second only to his own. She declines, saying she is concentrating on improving her strength 31.

Plans for the Fallen Heart Flame

After learning the truth about Han Feng’s betrayal, Xiao Yan worries about the impending attack on Jia Nan Academy. Yao Chen reassures him about Shen Luo’s strength and proposes exploiting the battle to seize the Fallen Heart Flame. They also reason that helping defend the academy would make its elders less likely to object afterward 37.

Initially, the scale of the attacking alliance makes master and disciple consider fleeing. Shen Luo’s success changes their assessment, and Xiao Yan joins the defenders with Yao Chen’s assistance. Shen Luo assigns him to confront Han Feng 39.

Han Feng and the Soul Hall

Han Feng initially holds the advantage, but Xiao Yan’s two-flame Fire Lotus gravely wounds him. Han Feng then reveals Yao Chen’s presence to the Soul Hall. Six Dou Zongs pursue Xiao Yan into the Inner Academy, destroy his attempted counterattack, and capture him with chains. Yao Chen emerges to help and is subdued as well 41.

The captors discover the Xiao Clan Ancient Jade and identify Xiao Yan as Xiao Zhan’s son. His offer to exchange the jade for his father and teacher is ignored. The Qianbai Elders intervene and free him, but refuse to rescue Yao Chen. Old Man Mu Gu takes the jade and seals Yao Chen in a bottle, leaving Xiao Yan without his teacher or his inherited jade 41 42.

Notable Quotes

“If you want that Ancient Jade, take it! Just let my father and teacher go!” 41

“The Soul Hall, the Soul Hall again! I, Xiao Yan, will never coexist with you!” 42