Yao Lao

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Yao Lao formerly belonged to the Yao Clan. Recalling his departure, he says that survival was initially his main concern and associates his desperate cultivation with carving his parents’ names onto a stone tablet 15.

Before his downfall, he was publicly recognized as the continent’s foremost alchemist. He personally taught Han Feng, who enjoyed abundant resources and was treated as a future pavilion master of Starfall Pavilion 5.

Han Feng betrayed him by stabbing him with a poisoned dagger, allowing Mu Gu to defeat him. Yao Lao maintains that Mu Gu alone could not have overcome him. Although his physical body was lost, his soul survived within the Storage Ring inherited by Xiao Yan from his mother 13 15.

While unconscious inside the ring, he absorbed Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi for three years. This caused Xiao Yan’s cultivation to regress and prevented him from retaining newly cultivated energy 13.

Appearance

• Elderly appearance: Has a beard that he strokes during conversations 14 15.
• Illusory body: Manifests as a soul body upon emerging from Xiao Yan’s ring 13.
• Intangibility: Xiao Yan’s attempted punch passes directly through him 13.

Personality

Yao Lao is cautious and experienced in judging people. His first reaction to Qin Yun and Feng Qing’er is suspicion: Starfall Pavilion had rivalrous relations with the Wind and Lightning Pavilion, and his earlier dealings with the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan had been unpleasant. Nevertheless, he recognizes that Qing’er’s threatening attitude lacks genuine murderous intent 14.

He values honesty and character over flattering answers. Xiao Yan openly admits that he still resents the loss of his Dou Qi, and Yao Lao accepts him rather than demanding false forgiveness. His promise to teach everything he knows is conditional on Xiao Yan preserving his character 14.

His anger toward Han Feng is intense, but he remains pragmatic. After seeing his former disciple’s mutilated circumstances, he accepts Qin Yun’s revenge on his behalf and leaves the captured soul with him. He also avoids probing Qin Yun’s unexplained knowledge once satisfied that the young man means no harm 15.

His teasing side appears in both training and leisure: he smiles wickedly before whipping Xiao Yan during cultivation exercises and joins Fei Tian in wagering on Qin Yun’s duel 18 20.

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

An Eighth-Tier Alchemist whose expertise made him renowned across the continent 5 14.

• Personally trained Han Feng before his betrayal 5.
• Supplies Qin Yun with a copied set of alchemical experience notes in exchange for soul-nourishing herbs 15.
• His shared knowledge includes a method for sealing the Woeful Poison Body, which Qin Yun later consults for Xiao Yi Xian 45.
• His present weakness prevents him from immediately refining a seventh-tier pill for his wager with Fei Tian 20.

Soul Survival and Recovery

His soul persists without a physical body, allowing him to remain conscious, communicate, and use reduced combat strength 13 15.

• Resides within Xiao Yan’s inherited Storage Ring 13.
• Unconsciously absorbs Dou Qi while dormant 13.
• Recovers strength through soul-nourishing medicinal ingredients 15 18.
• Places spiritual power in a letter so Feng Xian can authenticate news of his awakening 16.
• Requires outside help to reshape his physical body; he asks Xiao Yan to attempt this if an opportunity arises 14.

Cultivation Instruction

Directs Xiao Yan’s training and adjusts its demands to his current capacity 18 19.

• Begins special training once Xiao Yan reaches the fifth stage of Dou Qi 18.
• Combines a horse stance, continuous Dou Qi circulation, and external blows to improve physical fitness and purify Dou Qi 18.
• Condenses a Dou Qi whip for the exercises 18.
• Allows Feng Qing’er to assist, instructing her to control her strength and estimating that Xiao Yan can endure roughly another hundred strikes 19.

Relationships

• Xiao Yan — Disciple. Their bond begins with anger over Yao Lao’s absorption of his Dou Qi, then becomes a reciprocal commitment: Yao Lao promises comprehensive instruction, while Xiao Yan pledges loyalty and hopes to restore his body 13 14.
• Qin Yun — Benefactor and trading partner. Qin Yun reveals his presence, facilitates Xiao Yan’s apprenticeship, presents Han Feng’s captured soul, and supplies medicinal ingredients for his recovery 13 14 15.
• Han Feng — Former disciple and betrayer. His poisoned attack enabled Yao Lao’s downfall; Yao Lao accepts Qin Yun’s treatment of him as revenge 15.
• Feng Xian / Venerable Feng — Old friend at Starfall Pavilion. Yao Lao entrusts Qin Yun with a spiritually authenticated letter intended to reassure him 16.
• Mu Gu — Enemy who defeated him with Han Feng’s assistance 15.
• Feng Qing’er — Initially a hostile acquaintance because of his remarks about her clan; later assists with Xiao Yan’s training under his supervision 14 18 19.
• Fei Tian — Fellow spectator and gambling opponent during Qin Yun and Feng Qing’er’s rematch 20 21.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Awakening and Apprenticeship

• Qin Yun identifies Xiao Yan’s ring as the source of his cultivation problem and calls Yao Lao out directly 13.
• Yao Lao admits responsibility for the unconscious absorption and offers compensation 13.
• After testing Xiao Yan’s sincerity, he formally accepts him as his disciple 14.

Revenge and Recovery

• Seeing Han Feng’s captured soul resolves an immediate revenge opportunity without requiring Xiao Yan to confront the dangerous former disciple 15.
• Yao Lao exchanges alchemy notes for medicinal support and declines an immediate escort to Starfall Pavilion 15 16.
• He chooses to accompany Xiao Yan while recovering, sending word to Feng Xian rather than returning in his weakened condition 16.

Training at the Xiao Clan

• Leads Xiao Yan’s accelerated cultivation with resources and assistance from Qin Yun’s group 18.
• Temporarily pauses training so Xiao Yan can watch Qin Yun and Feng Qing’er’s rematch 19.
• Wagers a seventh-tier pill with Fei Tian on the duel’s length, then accuses him of deliberately understating Qin Yun’s strength after the swift result 20 21.

Notable Quotes

“As long as your character can maintain the way it is now, I will also pour out everything and teach you everything I know.” 14

“I only hope that you will have the opportunity in the future to help me reshape my physical body.” 14