Yao Lao

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Yao Chen 389
Alias(es)	Yao Lao (药老); Venerable Yao 375
Gender	Male 6
Affiliation	Starfall Pavilion — co-founder and pavilion master 545
Occupation/Role	Alchemist; cultivation and alchemy teacher to Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan 13 375
Cultivation	Dou Sheng 734 739
Alchemist Rank	Formerly a Peak Eighth-Tier Alchemist; renowned as the Dou Qi Continent’s foremost alchemist 14 375
Status	Alive; rescued from the Hall of Souls, soul origin restored, and physical body rebuilt 650 661 719
First Appearance	Chapter 6, “Taking Yao Lao as Master,” in the supplied context 6

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Weakened soul form	6	Appears from Xiao Yan’s ring after absorbing his Dou Qi for three years. Retains cultivation insight and considerable soul power, but lacks a physical body.
Fully restored soul origin	658 661	Enters seclusion with the Soul Infant Fruit supplied by Xiao Fan. His soul origin is confirmed fully restored when Xiao Fan completes the Bone-Melting Blood Fusion Pill.
Rebuilt physical body / Peak Dou Zun	719 739	Xiao Yan rebuilds his body before Xiao Fan’s return. His subsequent breakthrough is explicitly described as advancing directly from Peak Dou Zun to Dou Sheng.
Dou Sheng	734 737 739	Breaks through after refining Dou Sheng bones and receiving mysterious spirit medicine from Xiao Fan. Demonstrates the new realm by breaking the Hall of Souls’ confinement barrier and forcing its forces to retreat.

Background / History

Earlier Career and Betrayal

Before losing his body, Yao Lao reached the pinnacle of Eighth-Tier Alchemy and was described as a Half-Saint. His reputation as the continent’s foremost alchemist extended from the Central Plains to the Northwest 14 287 375.

He won a previous Pill Gathering and co-founded Starfall Pavilion with Venerable Feng. Although he held the position of pavilion master, he was largely absent from the pavilion 545 546.

More than fifty years before his public appearance in the Jia Ma Empire, he instructed Fa Ma for three days. Fa Ma credited that brief guidance with shaping his alchemy career and spent years trying to find him again 375.

Han Feng betrayed him by colluding with the Hall of Souls over the Flame Mantra. Venerable Feng later recalled questioning Han Feng about Yao Lao’s apparent death and receiving evasive answers 545 546.

Master of Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan

Yao Lao spent three years absorbing Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi from within his ring, causing Xiao Yan’s cultivation to regress. When confronted, he acknowledged his wrongdoing and offered to help Xiao Yan surpass Nalan Yanran, provided Xiao Yan accepted him as his master 6.

During the same encounter, he tested Xiao Fan by suggesting that he abandon Xiao Yan and escape. Xiao Fan’s refusal impressed him. Both young men became his disciples, with Xiao Fan taking the position of senior brother 6 13 313.

After a year of instruction, Xiao Fan chose to leave Wutan City alone. Yao Lao respected his undisclosed reasons and transferred alchemy experience, formulas, Dou Techniques, cultivation methods, and insights into his mind. He sealed the memories so that Xiao Fan could unlock them only when strong enough to withstand them; the transfer further weakened Yao Lao’s soul form 13 171.

Yao Lao remained with Xiao Yan, providing continuous instruction while Xiao Fan developed through inherited memories and independent practice. He later deliberately excluded Xiao Fan from an Earth Spirit Pill refinement because watching his teacher could disrupt the independent alchemy style Xiao Fan was developing 171 208.

Exposure and Capture

After Yun Leng attacked the Xiao Clan, Yao Lao identified his residual Dou Qi and reasoned that a separate, powerful force had abducted Xiao Zhan during the fighting 98.

The Hall of Souls subsequently learned that Yao Chen was with Xiao Yan. Vulture Protector recruited Yun Shan to help capture him, turning the Misty Cloud Sect conflict into a direct threat against Yao Lao 359 366 367.

Yao Lao voluntarily revealed himself during Xiao Yan’s alliance negotiations. Fa Ma recognized his former benefactor and reversed his refusal to participate, committing the Alchemist Guild to their cause 374 375.

When Protector Wu became too powerful for their side to stop, Yao Lao passed the Bone Spirit Cold Flame to Xiao Yan and prepared him to continue without his teacher. He also used alchemy and soul power to repair Xiao Yan’s injuries and accelerate his cultivation, while limiting the intervention to avoid damaging his future prospects 390 391 393 535.

Imprisonment and Rescue

The Hall of Souls captured Yao Lao following the Misty Cloud Sect confrontation. In captivity, black chains restrained him, ghost soul incense suppressed his soul, and conduits continuously drained his soul power 417 442.

Mo Shang gained access to him under the pretext of seeking alchemy instruction. Yao Lao sensed familiarity during their meeting and afterward recognized that Xiao Fan had infiltrated the Hall of Souls 417 418.

Xiao Fan and Xiao Yan later used the Bone Spirit Cold Flame’s connection to reach him through temporary soul projections. Mu Gu dispersed them before a conversation could develop, but they confirmed that Yao Lao was no longer having his soul origin extracted 536.

Xiao Fan eventually infiltrated the branch hall in the Dead Soul Mountain Range. The rescue reunited Yao Lao with both disciples and Venerable Feng’s allies; the group escaped the Western Region before stopping near the Southern Region’s border 647 650.

Recovery and Return to Leadership

At Starfall Pavilion, Xiao Fan supplied a Soul Infant Fruit to restore Yao Lao’s depleted soul origin and refined a replacement Bone-Melting Blood Fusion Pill. Yao Lao approved of Xiao Yan having used the earlier pill to resurrect Heavenly Fire Venerable rather than reserving it for him 653 658 661.

After Xiao Yan rebuilt his body, Yao Lao attempted a Dou Sheng breakthrough using bones supplied by his disciples. Xiao Yan provided a Dou Sheng skeleton, while Xiao Fan added the Saint of Creation’s left leg to the left arm already being refined 716 719 730.

His successful breakthrough enabled him to repel the Hall of Souls’ attack on Starfall Pavilion. He then promised to safeguard the pavilion while Xiao Fan pursued the Spirit Clan’s Moon God Trials and planned to accompany Xiao Yan to the Gu Clan Celebration 734 737 739.

Appearance

• Elderly appearance: An aged face and beard; he frequently strokes his beard while speaking or evaluating his disciples 13 365.
• Soul form: An illusory figure capable of floating and emerging from a Storage Ring 6 13 375.
• Captive appearance: Visibly weary and haggard, with black, rune-marked chains binding and piercing his soul 417 536.
• Restored appearance: Possesses a rebuilt physical body by Xiao Fan’s return to Starfall Pavilion 719.

Personality

Yao Lao values loyalty and character alongside talent. He tests Xiao Fan’s willingness to protect Xiao Yan before trusting him, then later accepts Xiao Fan’s decision to travel independently without demanding an explanation. Even after becoming a Dou Sheng, he refuses to pry into his disciple’s secrets because he trusts that Xiao Fan would never harm him 6 13 739.

His affection for his disciples is openly familial. He regrets being unable to protect Xiao Fan while remaining near Xiao Yan, shares Xiao Yan’s anguish over Xiao Fan’s apparent death, and calls accepting the two as disciples the happiest decision of his life 194 256 650.

He combines pride in his expertise with humility toward others’ achievements. He rebukes Protector Wu for addressing him disrespectfully, yet credits Fa Ma’s success to Fa Ma’s own talent and perseverance rather than claiming it for himself 375 389.

His teasing manner often accompanies practical guidance. He jokes about his disciples’ romantic troubles but recognizes the political difficulty of their relationships with women connected to the Ancient Eight Clans 313 739.

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

• High-level refinement: Formerly a Peak Eighth-Tier Alchemist, with a reputation as the continent’s foremost practitioner 14 375.
• Ingredient processing: Uses soul power to isolate volatile medicinal essences and Heavenly Flame membranes to preserve their temperature and potency 208.
• Endurance and precision: Processes the Earth Spirit Pill’s ingredients through the following afternoon while explaining techniques to Xiao Yan 208.
• Individualized medicine: Adjusts medicinal baths to each disciple’s cultivation needs, using Earth Core Body Tempering Milk and, for Xiao Fan, Blood Spirit Fruit 194.
• Emergency treatment: Recognizes Xiao Fan’s dangerous power backlash and directs Xiao Yan to refine pills that prevent irreversible meridian damage 235.

Soul Power and Inheritance

• Soul pressure: Can compress the atmosphere of a room with his presence and intimidate opponents despite his weakened condition 374 389.
• Memory transmission: Implants extensive alchemy and cultivation knowledge directly into Xiao Fan’s mind 13.
• Sealed inheritance: Restricts access to those memories until Xiao Fan’s cultivation can support them; absorbing everything immediately would overwhelm Xiao Fan’s soul 13 14.
• Power lending: Channels power from his ring into Xiao Yan to temporarily increase his combat strength 383.
• Cultivation assistance: Breaks Xiao Yan’s cultivation barriers through inherited soul power, but stops short of forcing the Dou Zong breakthrough to preserve his future growth 393 535.
• Vulnerability: The Hall of Souls’ soul-detection and suppression methods are especially dangerous to his bodiless form 372 417.

Bone Spirit Cold Flame

• Heavenly Flame: Wields the eleventh-ranked Bone Spirit Cold Flame, manifested as cold white fire 14 391.
• Alchemy application: Uses it to extract and refine medicinal essences 208.
• Inheritance: Transfers the flame to Xiao Yan before his capture and supplies a healing pill to protect Xiao Yan’s damaged meridians during the process 391.
• Lasting connection: The inherited flame later allows Xiao Fan to locate Yao Lao through spatial resonance 536.

Cultivation Instruction and Judgment

• Foundation assessment: Confirms that Xiao Fan’s rapid advancement to Seven-Star Dou Ling has not destabilized his cultivation 194.
• Technique instruction: Explains that Earth Tier Dou Techniques require both understanding and sufficient strength, not merely possession of a scroll 184.
• Independent development: Protects Xiao Fan’s emerging alchemy style from premature imitation of his own methods 208.
• Guidance beyond his disciples: Helps the Spotted Emperor reach Sixth-Tier Alchemy, alongside a cultivation advance to Eight-Star Dou Huang 367.
• Strategic analysis: Calms Xiao Yan by reasoning that the Hall of Souls would not need to strengthen the Misty Cloud Sect if its agents could easily overpower their side 367.

Dou Sheng Combat Power

• Barrier destruction: Shatters the confinement barrier surrounding Starfall Pavilion 737.
• Battlefield dominance: Forces the attacking Hall of Souls forces to retreat 735 737.
• Warship seizure: Captures their Sky-Reaching Warships at Xiao Fan’s suggestion 737.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Black Demon Medicine Cauldron — A renowned cauldron on the Heavenly Cauldron Ranking. Its existing soul imprint prevents Xiao Yan from using it while Yao Lao remains bodiless 208.
• Storage Ring — Houses his soul while carried by Xiao Yan. Venerable Feng recognizes it at the Four Pavilions Assembly 6 545.
• Bone Spirit Cold Flame — His longtime Heavenly Flame companion, later entrusted to Xiao Yan 391.
• Bone-Melting Blood Fusion Pill — Supplied by Xiao Fan as part of the preparations for rebuilding his body 661.
• Saint of Creation’s bones — A left arm and left leg used during his attempt to reach Dou Sheng 719 730.
• Sky-Reaching Warships — Captured from the Hall of Souls; he gives Xiao Fan one in a Space Sphere 737 739.

Relationships

• Xiao Fan — Senior disciple. Receives Yao Lao’s sealed knowledge inheritance, infiltrates the Hall of Souls, helps rescue him, and supplies resources for his recovery and breakthrough 13 418 650 658 739.
• Xiao Yan — Junior disciple and longtime companion. Initially resents Yao Lao for draining his Dou Qi, then becomes deeply devoted to him, inherits his flame, and rebuilds his body 6 391 650 719.
• Venerable Feng — Close friend and Starfall Pavilion co-founder. Welcomes Yao Lao’s disciples as his own and organizes allies for the rescue 545 546 647.
• Han Feng — Former disciple who betrayed him over the Flame Mantra by collaborating with the Hall of Souls 546.
• Fa Ma — Former recipient of three days’ instruction. His gratitude leads him to commit the Alchemist Guild to Yao Lao’s defense 375.
• You Ruo — Protects him out of respect for Xiao Fan, repeatedly intercepting attacks during the confrontation with Protector Wu 389 391 393.
• Spotted Emperor — Receives Yao Lao’s guidance and reaches Sixth-Tier Alchemy, responding with reverence and gratitude 367.
• Heavenly Fire Venerable — Ally whose resurrection Yao Lao supports; later helps guard him during soul recovery 653 658.
• Iron Sword Venerable — Owes Yao Lao a past kindness and joins the rescue effort to repay it 647 650.
• Mu Gu — Hall of Souls adversary and captor who supervises visits to Yao Lao and drives away his disciples’ soul projections 417 536.
• Protector Wu — Enemy who seeks to capture him and exploits his weakened soul form 389 390 391.

Notable Quotes

“But you must remember: I will always be your teacher, and Xiao Yan will always be your junior brother. We will always be your strongest backing.” 13

“Even your hall master would have to address me as Venerable Yao. What gives the likes of you the right to call me by name?” 389

“You two little fellows... taking you as my disciples was the happiest thing I've done in my life. Hahaha...” 650