Yao Ling

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Yao Ling (药灵)
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Yao Clan 9 22
Occupation/Role	Alchemist; Xiao Yan’s cultivation and alchemy teacher 2 3
Status	Surviving in soul form after the destruction of her body; seeking resurrection 2
Residence	Xiao Yan’s Storage Ring 1 3
Former Cultivation	Initial Half-Saint 1 10
Soul Realm	Late Heavenly State, described as half-step Emperor Realm 2
First Appearance	Selected as the ring’s resident soul in Chapter 1; first manifests directly in Chapter 2 1 2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Initial Half-Saint — original strength	1	Her cultivation before losing her body; not the power she can fully wield as a soul.
Late Heavenly State / half-step Emperor Realm soul — surviving condition	2	Her advanced soul allows her to survive the Soul Hall’s ambush despite the destruction of her body.
Increased soul power	9	Consumes Xiao Yan’s third-tier Heavenly Spirit Pill, which feeds energy into her soul origin. No new soul realm is specified.
Approximately One-Star Dou Zun — estimated usable strength	10	Xiao Yan estimates her current combat strength at this level. Her later pressure against the Lion King is described as exceeding One-Star Dou Zun, though still below her former Half-Saint strength 16.
Further soul-power recovery	22	Takes another pill refined by Xiao Yan, considerably replenishing the soul power she has recently consumed. No explicit return to Initial Half-Saint is confirmed.

Background / History

Yao Ling was a gifted young member of the Yao Clan and had encountered many notable geniuses in the Central Plains. Before becoming a disembodied soul, she possessed Initial Half-Saint strength and could refine eighth-tier and even ninth-grade pills 1 4 8 22.

The Soul Hall ambushed her and destroyed her body. Her unusually advanced soul prevented her from dissipating, but surviving without a body restricted what she could do. She sought a disciple capable of becoming a powerful enough alchemist to refine a replacement body and resurrect her 2.

The Daily Choice System offered Xiao Yan a choice between Yao Chen, Yao Ling, and Pill King Gu He as the soul within his Storage Ring. He selected Yao Ling for her exceptional soul power, alchemy, and former Half-Saint cultivation 1.

Appearance

• Youthful form: Appears as a slender, exceptionally beautiful young girl; her apparent youth does not establish her actual age 2.
• Hair and eyes: Long hair falls loosely over her shoulders, and her eyes are clear 2.
• Spectral presence: Her figure is faint and illusory, hovering in midair with an ethereal appearance 2 3.
• Bearing: Initially wears a serious expression and speaks with calm, cool aloofness 2.

Personality

Yao Ling’s solemn, authoritative manner initially conceals her urgent need for help. She approaches Xiao Yan as a prospective teacher while privately recognizing that her resurrection depends on his growth. She is also cautious about exposure, requiring him to keep her existence secret even from those closest to him 2 3.

As a teacher, she values diligence alongside talent. She praises Xiao Yan’s achievements but insists that he consolidate his knowledge through repeated practice, and she dismisses flattery to keep lessons focused 4 8 9.

Her relationship with Xiao Yan becomes warmer after he voluntarily makes a pill for her recovery. She is protective rather than blindly encouraging: she first rejects his proposed Lion King hunt as too dangerous, then agrees to accompany him and provide protection once he remains determined 9 10.

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Yao Ling can refine eighth-tier and even ninth-grade pills, although her early instruction begins with basic recipes suited to Xiao Yan’s experience 1 4.

• Demonstrates first-grade Qi Gathering Pill refinement, carefully controlling ingredient placement and flame strength 3 4.
• Teaches second-grade Qi Condensation Powder and emphasizes obtaining the correct ingredients rather than using a less effective substitute 5 8.
• Possesses a sixth-tier formula for removing seals imposed by magical beasts and refines the medicine used to treat Yun Yun 15 16.
• Uses practical demonstrations followed by supervised attempts and independent repetition 3 8 9.

Soul Power and Perception

Her Late Heavenly State, half-step Emperor Realm soul survives an attack that destroys her physical body 2.

• Detects soul-energy fluctuations in Xiao Yan’s Heavenly Spirit Pill before he explains its effect 9.
• Senses the Forbidden Character Art while inside the ring and identifies a faint trace of law in its sealing effect, suggesting it approaches Heaven tier 8.
• Can replenish her soul power through suitable pills 9 22.
• Expends soul power through her activities and remains unable to wield her full former strength before the proposed recovery treatment 10 16 22.

Body Takeover and Combat

Yao Ling can temporarily take control of Xiao Yan’s body to wield her own power or perform alchemy 14 15 16.

• Releases overwhelming Dou Qi through him, terrifying the Amethyst Winged Lion King into kneeling without needing to strike it 15 16.
• Secures the beast’s obedience while allowing Xiao Yan to decide whether to kill or recruit it 16.
• Refines Yun Yun’s treatment through Xiao Yan’s body, then returns control to him 16 17.
• Her borrowed-body displays lead observers to mistake her strength and refining skill for Xiao Yan’s own 16 18 19.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Xiao Yan’s Storage Ring — Her refuge and means of remaining concealed; she emerges from it to instruct him 2 3.
• Ancient Medicine Cauldron — Retrieved from the ring for her first alchemy demonstration 3.
• Heavenly Spirit Pill — A third-tier soul-strengthening pill made and gifted by Xiao Yan; directly improves her soul power 9.
• Amethyst Spirit Recovery Pill recipe — Xiao Yan’s proposed means of restoring her former power for one year. It requires the Lion King’s blood and purple spirit crystal; the supplied account does not explicitly confirm activation of its full promised effect 10 16 22.

Relationships

• Xiao Yan — Disciple, protected companion, and hoped-for future resurrector. What begins as a practical arrangement develops into mutual gratitude as he actively works to restore her soul power 2 3 9 10.
• Yao Clan — Her clan of origin. She considers Xiao Yan’s alchemy potential exceptional even by its standards despite his lack of its special bloodline 9 22.
• Soul Hall — Enemy responsible for the ambush that destroyed her body 2.
• Amethyst Winged Lion King — Subdued through her power and recruited into Xiao Yan’s service. Its submission is based on the overwhelming strength she demonstrates through her disciple 15 16.
• Yun Yun — Indirect beneficiary of her alchemy. Yao Ling secretly prepares the medicine that enables Xiao Yan to remove the Lion King’s seal 15 16 17.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Establishing the Apprenticeship

• Offers Xiao Yan cultivation and alchemy instruction on the mountain behind the Xiao estate; he formally accepts her as his master 2 3.
• Revises her assessment of his potential after his first Qi Gathering Pill approaches third-tier quality, renewing her hope of obtaining a new body 4.
• Receives the Heavenly Spirit Pill from him, making their relationship more personal than her original resurrection-driven plan 9.

Magical Beast Mountain Range

• Accompanies Xiao Yan to obtain ingredients for the Amethyst Spirit Recovery Pill, promising to intervene against threats beyond his ability 10 14.
• Subdues the Lion King through body takeover, securing both the needed materials and a powerful servant for her disciple 15 16.
• Secretly refines Yun Yun’s seal-removing medicine. The resulting impression of Xiao Yan’s strength later makes Yun Yun oppose Nalan Yanran’s proposed engagement cancellation 16 18 19.

Recovery and Further Training

• Receives another soul-restoring pill after Xiao Yan returns to Wutan City 22.
• Recommends further training in the Magical Beast Mountain Range to develop his combat experience, unaware that he has just obtained One-Star Dou Emperor cultivation through the system 22.

Notable Quotes

“There's one more thing you must remember: don't reveal my existence to anyone, not even those closest to you.” 3

“Still, I must remind you that even with your talent, you cannot afford to slack off. You should consolidate what you've learned and practice refining more pills.” 9