Xiao Yan

Biodata

Power Progression

Previous Life

Present Life

Soul Force and Alchemy

Background / History

Originally from Earth, Xiao Yan’s first life on the Dou Qi Continent was marked by betrayal. His father killed children whose cultivation disappointed him and eventually attempted to sacrifice the Xiao Clan in a blood ritual. His elder brothers repeatedly tried to kill him, a childhood romantic companion abandoned him, and a trusted Soul Body attempted to possess him. Xiao Yan killed his father during the blood-sacrifice confrontation and learned to treat ruthlessness as a condition of survival 2 4 10 35.

Later recollections identify Hun Dai’er as the childhood companion central to this history. After his Dou Qi was crippled, former friends and defeated rivals humiliated him, and his own father’s agents pursued him after he fled Wutan City. Hun Dai’er brought him a rare measure of hope during this period, but disappeared again. He eventually killed the two brothers who had framed him, slew his father during the clan sacrifice, and burned the Xiao Clan’s remains, leaving with a small jade fragment recovered from his father 233.

Despite initially cultivating a Yellow Tier technique, he became an exceptional talent in the Jia Ma Empire. A later journey to the Central Plains began his rise to the world-renowned Demon Fury Sage. His self-created Demon Fury Fire Lotus became his signature technique, eventually developing into a Destruction Fire Lotus capable of frightening high-level Dou Sheng experts 2 26.

At Fallen Peak, he rejected Hun Dai’er’s renewed offer of cooperation and used the Heaven Refining Ancient Formation against her four Eight-Star Dou Sheng allies. A pillar of light transported both into an ancient palace, where a black flame penetrated his defenses. He then entered a spatial gate and emerged as a newborn without his former cultivation 1.

His new life remained on the Dou Qi Continent, but familiar people had different personalities. Xiao Zhan and his brothers gave him affection absent from his former family. His mother’s death shortly after childbirth nevertheless reinforced his determination to regain strength: as an infant, he could not use the methods that might once have saved her 2.

In the present life, he rebuilds his strength through Flame Mantra, alchemy, and the acquisition of Heavenly Flames. He establishes Xiao Gate, relocates the Xiao Clan’s core members to it, and enters the Central Plains through a passage to Starfall Pavilion. He later reawakens his ancestral bloodline and surpasses his former peak by reaching Dou Di 148 173 186 270.

On the Heavenly Profound Continent, the Path of Reincarnation makes him experience decades of another possible life within minutes. This sequence includes an engagement’s cancellation, study under Yao Lao, victories at the Imperial Capital and Pill Gathering, the founding of the Heavenly Mansion Alliance, and the burning of his own Dou Di body to seal Hun Tiandi. These are experiences within reincarnation, distinct from the events of his actual present life 265.

After returning to the Dou Qi Continent, he prepares to enter the Great Thousand World, leaving Xiao Xuan to guard the revived Xiao Clan. There he develops the Endless Fire Domain, rises to Saint Grade Heavenly Sovereign, and becomes a major opponent of the Extraterritorial Evil Clan 304 386 436 463.

Appearance

• Previous life: Appears as an impassive, black-robed young man despite a history spanning hundreds of years 1.
• Present life: Described as small, thin, and young-faced. He became a Dou Zhe at nine and a Second-Rank Alchemist before turning ten 2 4 7 8.
• Manifested features: His early Dou Qi cloak is inky black with flickering flames; his Purple Cloud Wings are purple-black 9 14.
• Adolescent appearance: Around twelve years old when Hai Bodong recognizes his Dou Wang cultivation and sixth-grade alchemy capability; later returns to Xiao Zhan as a black-haired youth with a familiar smile 81 146.
• Demon-body markings: Cultivating the Unending Void Demon Body produces dark-red Demon Marks on his body 165.
• Great Thousand World: Retains a youthful appearance and black robes, traits that help Qing Yanjing identify the newly prominent Demon Emperor as Xiao Yan 449.
• Dou Di Body: Can expand to a colossal form hundreds of thousands of feet tall, surrounded by fire dragons and empowered by magma 271.

Personality

Xiao Yan is withdrawn, distrustful, and reluctant to reveal his true feelings. Previous betrayals make him suspicious even of apparent kindness, especially from Soul Bodies. Although he values his present family’s warmth, he conceals his talent and plans carefully rather than relying on others’ protection 2 4 7.

His retaliation is deliberately extreme. He regards surviving enemies as future threats and favors eliminating them rather than judging their individual loyalties. His apparent agreement to spare the Snake Nest mercenaries does not reflect a change of conviction; he privately retains his intention to remove the threat 13 15.

He frequently combines friendly expressions, jokes, and false explanations with coercion. He lies about the source of his techniques, kidnaps Xiao Yi Xian to prevent their separation, and controls both hired troublemakers and protective guards through poison and antidotes 15 18 27. His claim that he “never lies” is explicitly contradicted by the narration 46.

His affection and protectiveness are genuine but mixed with possessiveness and strategic interest. He recognizes Xiao Yi Xian as a potentially valuable future ally, while also seeking a way to control her dangerous physique and providing protection for her clinic 10 21 22 27. During a temporary period of increased irritability, he practices a calming secret art to restrain his temper 42.

His later actions preserve this combination of caution and ruthlessness. He displays only Dou Wang strength to his father despite being a Dou Zong, reveals only Peak Dou Huang strength at Starfall Pavilion, and blurs acquaintances’ memories to keep his identity obscure. Even while preparing Yao Lao’s resurrection, he places safeguards in the materials as a precaution 142 148 176.

He treats political problems as opportunities for overwhelming force rather than negotiation. To establish Ye Xiaolian as heir, he kills competing imperial relatives and prevents the reigning imperial couple and consorts from producing further children. Later, he compels Gu Yuan’s consent to his marriage with Xun’er by beating the Gu Clan’s other senior leaders, while presenting the outcome to Xun’er as an amicable discussion 51 292.

His attachment to others nevertheless deepens. He recognizes Zi Yan’s longing for family and gently reassures her, becomes comfortable sharing domestic life with Xiao Yi Xian, and develops a stronger emotional attachment to Xun’er after the Path of Reincarnation. He also risks his life to send Qing Yanjing out of Extraterritorial Evil Clan territory 155 188 290 450.

He values keeping promises, but this principle also sustains his grudges. Despite having vastly outgrown the original dispute, he insists on fulfilling the Three-Year Agreement with Nalan Yanran and deliberately prepares to break her confidence. His hatred extends to the Nalan Family and Misty Cloud Sect 292 296.

Abilities & Skills

Flame Mantra

An evolving cultivation technique taught by Yao Lao, allowing Xiao Yan to refine and control multiple flames rather than relying on the immense strength required in his previous life 5 6.

• Begins at Yellow Tier Low Grade, evolves to Profound Tier Low Grade after absorbing the black flame, and advances another minor grade after the eagle’s essence strengthens that flame 5 7 25.
• Reaches Earth Tier through the accumulated energy of the ancient Netherworld Poison Flame; an ordinary specimen would likely have raised it only to peak Black Tier 39.
• At Earth Tier, its Dou Qi reserves increase more than tenfold, supporting demanding movement techniques 49.
• Must be started at the Dou Zhe stage; an established cultivator would need to disperse their Dou Qi to adopt it. Devouring flames remains dangerous 5.
• After four flame refinements, stands at the pinnacle of high-grade Earth Tier before he devours the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame and Bone Spirit Cold Flame 166.
• Reaches high Heaven Tier by his Early One-Star Dou Sheng period and later surpasses Heaven Tier 196 240.
• Repeated flame refinement can produce an Evil Flame disturbance that strengthens with his own cultivation. Earlier suppression pills become ineffective after he reaches Dou Sheng, leading him to seek stronger remedies 193 194.

Nine Nether Flame and Its Evolution

The mysterious black flame survives his rebirth and is eventually identified as the Nine Nether Flame, originating from the Nine Nether Sparrow 1 6 25.

• Converts his Dou Qi into black-flame Dou Qi and tempers incoming Heaven and Earth Energy 6.
• Destroys the Black Flame Purple Cloud Eagle’s Soul Body during its attempted possession 23.
• Can evolve through avian magical-beast blood essence. Its documented transformation depended on the eagle’s trace of Ancient Phoenix bloodline, not merely its seventh rank 25.
• After refining the Netherworld Poison Flame, Xiao Yan possesses the Nine Nether Illusion Demon Flame. Its neurotoxin enables an extremely weakened version of Nightmare Sky Mist, capable of silently killing an entire city’s inhabitants 39.
• The Netherworld Poison Flame allows him to absorb Ye Xiaolian’s suicide poison and collect lethally poisoned tomb treasures safely 45 48.
• The Nine Nether Illusion Demon Flame reacts to traces of another Heavenly Flame in the underground Magma Sea 71.
• He later saturates a false tomb mansion with Netherworld Poison Flame toxins to incapacitate ancient-clan visitors and seize their flames and bloodline power 185.

Additional Heavenly Flames and Emperor Flame

Xiao Yan’s later power relies on refining and fusing an expanding collection of Heavenly Flames. Stored or captured flames are not always refined immediately; some remain under his soul imprint or are entrusted to Little Yao until suitable conditions are available 104 171 186.

In the Great Thousand World, Emperor Flame also serves as a tool for energy purification and artifact forging. It melts artifact-forging divine stone and, over an immense period, purifies accumulated impure spiritual power obtained through devouring 349 432.

Demon Fury Nine Arts

Nine self-created techniques regarded as Xiao Yan’s most terrifying arts. At his former peak, each possessed power at least equivalent to high Heaven Tier, with some exceeding Heaven Tier 49.

• Demon Fury Fire Lotus: Fuses incompatible flames and releases their destructive power. Its present-life use combines Nine Nether Flame with Life Transformation Fire to destroy the swamp skeleton 26 33 34.
• Annihilation Flame Eyes: Combines soul force and flame power to ignite an enemy’s soul. It bypasses the Four-Winged Sky Demon Scorpion’s energy barrier and inflicts soul-wrenching pain 49.
• Former application: Annihilation Flame Eyes wounded a Hun Clan leader with an Emperor Realm soul during a rare joint battle with Hun Dai’er 49.
• Early limits: At his One-Star Dou Wang stage, only these two arts are usable because both originated while he was relatively weak and scale with their flames. The other seven remain beyond him at that time 49.
• Cost and danger: The Fire Lotus severely drains him, and its explosion can threaten its creator. His enhanced Purple Cloud Wings are crucial to escaping its blast 34.
• Later Annihilation Flame Eyes applications: Instantly kills a Dou Wang threatening Zi Yan and Qing Lin, then kills the Nine Netherworld Python Clan’s grand elder during the magical-beast clan conflict 109 217.
• Great Thousand World enhancement: Incorporates more than a thousand Supreme techniques of the corresponding type into each art. The resulting Nine Arts qualify as Divine Abilities and exceed the Golden Crow Nether-Flaming Art in his estimation 334.
• Continued development: Studies pill formulas, Spiritual Arrays, and divine abilities to improve the Nine Arts further, and later obtains Great Thousand Palace resources partly for this purpose 386 437.

Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations

A flame-powered amplification art remembered from his previous life. His complete version derives from the Xiao Clan’s Clan Mark cultivation method and surpasses the Burning Flame Valley’s reduced version 15.

• The First Transformation raises his Dou Shi strength to approximately Five- or Six-Star Da Dou Shi and solidifies his cloak into Dou Qi Armor 13.
• After Nine Nether Flame evolves, the transformation raises his apparent strength above Five-Star Dou Ling during the swamp battle 33.
• Using it at Dou Shi places severe strain on his body; combined with a Power Accumulation Pill, its expiration leaves him badly weakened 15.
• He conceals its true origin from Yao Lao with a story about rescuing an old man 15.
• At Two-Star Dou Wang, the First Transformation powered by Nine Nether Illusion Demon Flame raises his apparent level to Peak Dou Wang. His physique and cultivation method then allow him to contend with ordinary Dou Huang, but not comfortably with Peak Dou Huang Queen Medusa 65.
• During Hun Moli’s attack, activates all three transformations, temporarily raising his aura from Dou Zong to nearly Two-Star Dou Zun and breaking the spatial restraint around him 131.
• Later uses his Clan Mark for amplification; with it active, his outward strength reaches at least late Seven-Star Dou Sheng during his confrontation with Nihility Devouring Flame 240.

Movement and Flight

Offensive Dou Techniques

Soul Cultivation and Interrogation

His retained memories provide an incomplete, nameless incantation capable of drawing in spiritual energy. A more advanced method from his previous life requires at least Seventh-Tier Alchemist qualifications and is initially unsafe for him 2.

• Strong soul force stabilizes disturbed Dou Qi, resists possession, and detects tomb traps 6 23 48.
• Recognizes and breaks the neurotoxin illusion in the Heavenly Poison Swamp 31.
• Exploits a later illusion deliberately, luring the Netherworld Poison Flame’s essence into his Naling rather than surrendering to hatred 36.
• Uses Interrogation Secret Art to hypnotize Ye Xiaolian and verify information. The art is at most high-grade Yellow Tier; emotionally sensitive questions can provoke resistance, so he begins with less threatening questions 43 44 45.
• Later cultivates the Nine Revolutions Soul Refining Art, which steadily tempers his soul through the Spirit Realm 96 139 177.
• Directly searches captured Misty Cloud Sect agents’ souls to learn their affiliation 157.
• Conceals soul fluctuations so effectively that almost no one can detect anomalies during his Hun Clan infiltration 234.
• Manipulates acquaintances’ recollections to obscure his identity at Starfall Pavilion 176.
• His later Soul Force supports Grandmaster-level battle formations and detects Liu Feng’s second attacking form without his needing to turn around 436 470.

Alchemy and Flame-Tending Mantra

Yao Lao’s instruction, strong soul force, and rapidly growing Dou Qi allow Xiao Yan to progress unusually quickly in alchemy 8 20.

• Personally refines Qi Recovery Pills and Power Accumulation Pills for battle 14.
• Uses the Flame-Tending Mantra, a Demon Flame Valley technique, to turn collected Beast Flames into Life Transformation Fire, a pseudo-Heavenly Flame stronger than ordinary Beast Flames 10 25.
• Develops Life Transformation Fire secretly as both a Fire Lotus ingredient and a safeguard against Yao Lao 25 26.
• His enhanced soul force is essential to beginning the demanding Flame-Tending Mantra at his current cultivation 26.
• Black-flame Dou Qi prevents him from cultivating the poison-attributed Dou Qi described in the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture 20.
• Refines the Pill of Breaking Affliction that allows Hai Bodong to remove his seal and recover Dou Huang strength 81.
• Reaches eighth-tier pill refinement capable of attracting five-colored pill lightning, and later develops substantial confidence in ninth-grade pill refinement 139 234.
• Uses pills, medicinal liquids, corpses, blood essence, and at least three Heavenly Flames to refine bodies for deceased experts 141 142.
• Continues studying alchemy after reaching Saint Grade Heavenly Sovereign because his professional skills have fallen behind his cultivation 436.

Physical Cultivation and Amplification

Devouring, Bloodlines, and Memory Acquisition

The Black Dragon Spirit-Devouring Hand is a major later ability for absorbing vitality, bloodline energy, blood fiend power, and memories. Its gains support both personal advancement and infiltration 186 217 405.

• Uses extracted high-quality ancient-clan bloodline power to awaken the Xiao Clan’s own Dou Di bloodline rather than replacing it with another clan’s lineage 186.
• Subdues and devours the weakened North Dragon King, absorbing the blood fiend power he accumulated, then devours surviving enemies trapped in the Dragon Transformation Demonic Formation 217.
• Refines Yao Tianxiao and obtains his memories 217.
• Learns Hun Clan secrets from Hun Xuzi’s memories and uses them to impersonate him 230.
• Devours a Flame Demon Clan member’s vitality and memories after defeating him with the Golden Crow Nether-Flaming Art 405.
• Later absorbs the corpses of several Heavenly Demon Emperors; Emperor Flame’s prolonged tempering purifies the resulting accumulated energy 432.

Great Thousand World Divine Abilities and Formations

• Golden Crow Nether-Flaming Art: Defeats a Flame Demon Clan member. Serves as a comparison point when Xiao Yan evaluates the enhanced Demon Fury Nine Arts 334 405.
• Self-Sacrificing Demon Fist: Inherits Blood Battle King’s fist technique and fist intent after surviving his test. Later possesses the complete technique as one of his top-tier divine abilities 340 393.
• Dragon Roar Demon-Subduing Art: Another top-tier divine ability in his possession 393.
• Peerless Heart Demon Scripture: Initially incomplete; the Ancestral Stone Spirit begins repairing it 393.
• Great Flame Divine Orb: Counters a powerful beam from Mu Chen’s trial manifestation in the Nine Nether Secret Realm 324.
• Primordial Heaven-Transforming Light and Universe Ancient Formation: Uses them together to break down the God-Slaying Array during the same trial 324.
• Spiritual Array traps: Plants concealed arrays across the terrain after learning that the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor’s mark is drawing pursuers to him 405.
• Soul Clone and Origin Spirit Clone: Hidden clones interrupt Slaying Heaven’s finishing attack from opposite directions 425.
• Nine Springs Saint Demon Seal: His Origin Spirit Clone releases this attack through the Heavenly Profound Divine Seal, creating an opening against Slaying Heaven 425.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Xuan Heavy Ruler — His enormous black ruler weapon, used for direct combat and Flame Splitting Wave Ruler 9 14.
• Mother’s black ring — An inheritance from his mother that houses Yao Lao’s Soul Body 2 4.
• Storage Ring — Purchased with proceeds from auctioning a cultivation method obtained from Yao Lao; holds supplies, ingredients, pills, and collected treasures 7 40 48.
• Naling — Brought into his body before devouring the Netherworld Poison Flame; becomes the destination of its trapped essence 34 36.
• Hundred Solutions Pill — Supplied by Yao Lao as poison protection during flame absorption 34.
• Bone Spirit Cold Flame reserve — Flame left by Yao Lao, not Xiao Yan’s own refined Heavenly Flame at that stage. He avoids using it in the swamp Fire Lotus because the stronger blast could prevent his escape; he later receives and refines the flame itself 15 34 166 186.
• Medicine Cauldron — Ruined while refining pills with Netherworld Poison Flame; he plans to find a better replacement in the Black-Corner Region 40.
• Great Beast Den treasure map — Obtained from Ye Xiaolian through threats and interrogation; depicts a route in the Magical Beast Mountain Range 45.
• Green Lotus Seat — Supports cultivation and body tempering in the Magma Sea; also houses the Green Lotus Core Flame before its eventual refinement 78 93 171.
• Nether Sea Storage Ring — Takes Han Feng’s superior storage ring after the Ruins of Return conflict. It is later missing when he awakens on the Heavenly Profound Continent, but retains his soul imprint 111 250.
• Imitation Dragon Slaying Sword — Seizes it after devouring the North Dragon King 217.
• Heaven and Earth Bag — Storage item from the Heavenly Profound Continent; gives Zi Yan one filled with pills 285.
• Heavenly Tomb and Time Ancestral Symbol — Uses them to support medicinal-herb production and later to redirect the Heavenly Demon Emperors’ combined attacks 388 463.
• Life and Death Ancestral Symbol — Conceals his vitality from the Dragon Bone Guard and supplies life energy that strengthens the Life Spirit Flame’s medicinal-herb applications 351 388.
• Flame Ancestral Symbol — Sends it to absorb volcanic energy on the Volcano Continent before refining the Burning Heaven Spirit Flame 441.
• Ancestral Stone and other divine treasures — Strengthens them with artifact-forging divine stone; the Ancestral Stone Spirit also assists him with knowledge and scripture restoration 349 367 393.
• Nine Nether Divine Armor — One of the few pieces of equipment he considers suitable for display in the Great Thousand World before further weapon upgrades 337.
• Demon Sword — Its power supplies weapon-strengthening blood fiendish aura; after learning Blood Battle King’s history, Xiao Yan suspects it may threaten even Heavenly Sovereigns 340 349.
• Long Nixian’s longsword — A captured Peerless Sacred Artifact, though Xiao Yan remains accustomed to using his ruler 393.
• Heavenly Profound Divine Seal — Used by his Origin Spirit Clone to unleash the Nine Springs Saint Demon Seal 425.

Xuan Heavy Ruler Development

The Xuan Heavy Ruler remains Xiao Yan’s preferred weapon despite repeated changes in realm and setting. Its original substance is flame-fallen mysterious iron, with exceptional hardness and an effect that slows his Dou Qi circulation 164 165.

Relationships

• Xiao Zhan — Present-life father. Gives him affection, permission to travel, and Lion Mountain Split despite possible criticism from clan elders. Xiao Yan later supplies him with looted techniques, wealth, and two Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills 2 4 7 27. Returns to defend him during the Nalan Yanran dispute and arranges his secret relocation to Xiao Gate, while initially concealing his true cultivation 146 148 173.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li — Present-life elder brothers who care for him, unlike their murderous counterparts from his previous life 2 4.
• Yao Lao / Yao Chen — Teacher, alchemy instructor, and powerful backup. Xiao Yan accepts his help but remains wary because a former Soul Body mentor attempted possession; he keeps an independent anti-betrayal trump card 4 8 15 25. Later awakens Yao Lao, prepares superior resurrection materials with hidden safeguards, and supplies a Heaven Tier cultivation technique to aid his progress toward Half-Saint 141 142 175. Becomes Starfall Pavilion’s young pavilion master as his disciple 176.
• Xun’er — Gu Clan girl staying with the Xiao Clan and introduced as his little sister. Becomes attached after he nourishes her meridians during heatstroke; he avoids farewell to prevent her from obstructing his departure 2 3 7. Initially reminds him of Hun Dai’er, contributing to his coldness, but his attachment later deepens. After the Path of Reincarnation, she occupies an indelible place in his heart. He secures Gu Yuan’s consent to their marriage through intimidation of the Gu Clan leadership 149 290 292.
• Xiao Yi Xian / Heavenly Poison Woman — Former-life rival whom he rescues in the present life and intends to recruit before her feared future develops. Their companionship combines her growing affection with his coercion, protection, and search for a way to control her Woeful Poison Body 9 10 18 21 27 37. Later shares a comfortable domestic life with her. Recognizes her dream of the Heavenly Poison Woman and Demon Wrath Venerable as a past-life memory but conceals the truth; tells her he believes the Venerable loved the Poison Woman 155.
• Hun Dai’er — Centuries-long enemy with whom he occasionally cooperated, including against a former Hun Clan leader. She also arrives in the new life and seeks to capture him before he regains his strength 1 38 49. Later recollections reveal her as his former-life childhood companion and an important source of hope during his downfall 233. They eventually reconcile through intimacy, though he leaves a Heavenly Flames Imprint in her mind as a precaution 292.
• Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning — Hostile clan relatives. Xiao Yu’s bathing accusation leads to repeated confrontations; Xiao Yan’s severe beatings eventually make Xiao Ning terrified of him 7.
• Ye Xiaolian — Coerced source of the treasure map. Xiao Yan proposes helping the Chu Yun Imperial Family rise in exchange for unconditional obedience to his requests, while claiming no interest in its imperial authority 43 45 46. Removes her rival claimants through slaughter and leaves her name at the murder scenes 51.
• Unnamed former disciple — A woman dead for many years. Xiao Yan kills her illusion during flame refinement and states that he will not regret his past actions 36.
• Qing Lin — Companion whom he brings into the Magma Sea and later protects during the Han Feng conflict. Entrusts her with the Xiao Clan’s secret relocation and administration of his arrangements at Xiao Gate 71 109 173. Her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils are among the rare constitutions Yao Lao and Venerable Feng recognize in his companions 174.
• Zi Yan — Close companion of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan. Temporarily holds the Sea Heart Flame for him and accompanies his travels 104 111. Their intimate involvement begins after she takes a pill made from Dragon Saliva Fire Spirit Grass; Zi Yan later clarifies to the dragon elders that she forced herself on him 118 189. Xiao Yan comforts her longing for family, supports her position as future Dragon Emperor, and protects her clan, though he conceals his devouring of defeated dragons from her 188 189 217. She later bears his child 479.
• Queen Medusa / Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python — Initially a vastly stronger desert opponent 65. Their later bond involves the fused python soul and Xiao Yan’s fire-attribute energy, leaving Medusa instinctively drawn to him even after she regains her memories and resumes control of her body 194.
• Hai Bodong — Recovers Dou Huang strength with Xiao Yan’s Pill of Breaking Affliction. Considers seizing a map fragment but refrains because of Xiao Yan’s ability, potential, and possible backers. Later receives the pills Xiao Yan stockpiles for Xiao Gate 81 89.
• Han Feng — Yao Lao’s former disciple and killer. Recognizes Xiao Yan’s Flame Mantra and seeks to capture him to determine his connection to Yao Lao. Xiao Yan eventually takes his Nether Sea Storage Ring 109 111.
• Heavenly Fire Venerable / Yao Tianhuo — Soul Body whom Xiao Yan encounters underground. Xiao Yan refines a new body for him, restoring him as a Three-Star Dou Zun; he honors his agreement to serve Xiao Yan 140 142.
• Su Qian — Jia Nan Academy’s Great Elder. Xiao Yan proposes fair exchanges for ingredients partly in recognition of Su Qian’s care for Zi Yan. Su Qian later returns the exchanged pills in gratitude for Xiao Yan’s aid 120 137.
• Nalan Yanran — Adversary tied to the Three-Year Agreement. Xiao Yan maintains an intense grudge and prepares the eventual confrontation to destroy her confidence, with his hostility extending to her family and sect 292 296.
• Little Yao — Fire Spirit who calls him master and grows stronger as he devours more Heavenly Flames. Conceals captured flames, removes inheritance imprints, helps with Evil Flame disturbances, and fuses with the Xuan Heavy Ruler to strengthen it at crucial moments 172 186 193 194 270 424.
• Xiao Xuan — Xiao Clan ancestor. Xiao Yan investigates restoring him but initially cannot resolve the key step of returning him to a Soul Body. Later entrusts him with guarding the revived Xiao Clan while he enters the Great Thousand World 287 304.
• Ye Lingyu — Disciple to whom he gives the specially made jade ruler Cold Pity, containing a Heavenly Bone Python core and heavenly cold beast flame 207.
• Qingtan — Lin Jing’s aunt, first encountered on the Heavenly Profound Continent. Retrieves his lost ruler and later assists with the Endless Fire Domain’s medicinal-herb procurement 254 268 386.
• Lin Jing — Acquaintance on the Heavenly Profound Continent. Xiao Yan notices polluted energy entering her body and suspects it could turn her into an alien demon, but chooses not to intervene at that point 254.
• Qin Wan’er — Companion during preparations for the Dragon God Ruins. Xiao Yan advises her group to avoid competing for the expensive ruins key and instead conserve strength and observe 340.
• Qing Yanjing — Initially hates Xiao Yan after he takes her chastity. Repeated escapes from Extraterritorial Evil Clan territory, culminating in his remaining behind to send her to safety, change her feelings. Later comes to the Endless Fire Domain with intelligence and to discuss marriage 449 450.
• Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor — Major enemy whose mark brings Extraterritorial Evil Clan pursuers after Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan eventually confronts him in the Myriad Demon Hall and declares his intention to destroy the clan 405 463.
• Xiao Xiao and later children — Xiao Yan’s growing family includes Xiao Xiao and several younger siblings born within a year, among them Zi Yan’s baby 479.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Leaving Wutan City

• Conceals his exceptional cultivation, reaches Dou Zhe at nine, and argues that leaving will prevent his exposed talent from endangering him 2 3 4.
• Begins Flame Mantra, refines the black flame, and masters several combat techniques within days before departing without alerting his family 6 7.

Magical Beast Mountain Range and Xiao Yi Xian

• Trains in combat and alchemy under Yao Lao, retrieves Purple Cloud Wings and a Purifying Lotus Demon Flame map fragment, and rescues Xiao Yi Xian from a Red Flame Demon Bear 8 9 10 14.
• Defeats She Mo, a Three-Star Dou Ling, using amplification, pills, flight, and Flame Splitting Wave Ruler. Yao Lao handles the three remaining Da Dou Shi leaders after Xiao Yan is exhausted 13 14 15.
• Releases captive boys, but surviving mercenaries bring retaliation to Xiao Yi Xian’s village. Xiao Yan ultimately wipes out the attackers; roughly half the villagers survive 16 18.
• Abducts Xiao Yi Xian rather than allowing her to leave, then takes her to the Small Valley and falsely blames villagers for knocking her unconscious 18 19.

Preparing for the Poison Pill Method

• Learns that controlling Xiao Yi Xian’s Woeful Poison Body requires three Heavenly Flames, a seventh-rank Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast magic core, and bodhi body-transforming saliva 21.
• Processes the Black Flame Purple Cloud Eagle core, strengthening his flame, soul, cultivation method, and wings 23 24 25.
• Establishes Xiao Yi Xian’s clinic in Wutan City before traveling to the poison-heavy Chu Yun Empire. Secretly arranges repeated harassment and staged protection; Xun’er later interprets the scheme as an effort to develop Xiao Yi Xian’s independence 22 26 27 37.

Heavenly Poison Swamp

• Discovers that the Corpse Demons, Yun Dai, and underground palace he encountered were neurotoxin-induced illusions, then awakens bound in the swamp 29 31.
• Destroys a powerful skeleton with Demon Fury Fire Lotus and discovers the ancient Netherworld Poison Flame within it 33 34.
• Endures apparitions of his past while trapping the flame’s essence, gaining Earth Tier Flame Mantra and One-Star Dou Wang cultivation 35 36 39 48.

Heavenly Scorpion Tomb Mansion

• Delays leaving the Chu Yun Empire to pursue a magic core needed for the Poison Pill Method 40.
• Kills Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect pursuers, extracts Ye Xiaolian’s genuine map, and proposes a bargain with her imperial family 41 42 43 45 46.
• Draws the sect’s emblem on his clothes to divert blame, gathers poisoned tomb treasures, and confronts the Tier 6 Four-Winged Sky Demon Scorpion without using Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations 48.
• Overwhelms the scorpion with Flame-Treading Sky-Soaring Step, Flame Splitting Wave Ruler, flame armor, and Annihilation Flame Eyes 49.
• Before heading to the desert, removes Ye Xiaolian’s competing imperial heirs and their supporting relatives, sterilizes the reigning emperor and his consorts, and leaves accusations naming Ye Xiaolian at the scenes 51.

Desert and Magma Sea

• Fights Queen Medusa at Two-Star Dou Wang, using the First Transformation to reach Peak Dou Wang-level aura, but remains disadvantaged against her Peak Dou Huang strength 65.
• Recovers from the amplification’s backlash and considers physical cultivation because neither immediate realm advancement nor changing Flame Mantra is practical 69 70.
• Advances to Three-Star Dou Wang, brings Qing Lin into an underground Magma Sea, and confirms traces of a Heavenly Flame 71.
• Uses magma energy, the Green Lotus Seat, and Burning Blood to reach minor mastery of the Lesser Glazed Golden Body and Peak Five-Star Dou Wang over three months 75 78.
• Provides Hai Bodong with the Pill of Breaking Affliction, enabling him to remove his seal and recover Dou Huang cultivation 81.

Xiao Gate, Dou Huang, and Han Feng

• Establishes Xiao Gate and stockpiles refined pills for Hai Bodong. Intensive refinement raises him to Nine-Star Dou Wang, followed by a prolonged bottleneck at Peak Dou Wang 89.
• Refines an earth fire lotus seed to break through to Dou Huang, then balances cultivation with alchemy and outings with Qing Lin and Zi Yan 93.
• Obtains the Sea Heart Flame in the Ruins of Return and entrusts it temporarily to Zi Yan 104.
• Confronts Han Feng and the Gold and Silver Elders, using physical cultivation and Dou Techniques while defending Qing Lin and Zi Yan from their allies 107 109.
• Takes Han Feng’s Nether Sea Storage Ring and returns to Xiao Gate to refine the captured flame 111.
• Reaches Three-Star Dou Huang through cultivation and Five-Star Dou Huang with the Emperor’s Extreme Pill 113.

Jia Nan Academy and Resurrection Preparations

• Chooses to exchange pills and techniques for Jia Nan Academy’s ingredients rather than immediately plundering them, while retaining interest in the academy’s Heavenly Flames 120.
• Refines the Fallen Heart Flame and reaches Peak Four-Star Dou Zong 129.
• Faces Hun Moli, a Five-Star Dou Zun, and activates all three Heavenly Fire transformations to raise his aura to nearly Two-Star Dou Zun 131.
• Recovers and resumes alchemy; Su Qian returns his exchanged pills in recognition of his assistance 137.
• Produces eighth-tier pills and reaches mid Spirit Realm soul strength, then encounters Heavenly Fire Venerable’s Soul Body 139 140.
• Awakens Yao Lao and gathers resurrection materials for both Soul Bodies 141.
• Restores Heavenly Fire Venerable as a Three-Star Dou Zun and begins Yao Lao’s more demanding resurrection using superior materials and hidden safeguards 142.

Return to Wutan City and Xiao Yi Xian

• Returns during the Nalan Yanran dispute, intervening before Xiao Zhan can erupt against the Misty Cloud Sect visitors 146.
• Proposes the Xiao Clan’s secret relocation to his established faction, displaying only Dou Wang strength and planning to leave non-core members behind as bait 148.
• Regrets leaving Xiao Yi Xian in Wutan City and reunites with Xun’er after five years 149.
• Lives with Xiao Yi Xian and quietly breaks through to Dou Zun. Recognizes her dream as a past-life memory but reassures her that it is only a dream 155.
• Eliminates the Jia Lie and Ao Ba families after their young members provoke him, then captures and soul-searches Misty Cloud Sect agents 157.
• Cultivates the Unending Void Demon Body, strengthens the Xuan Heavy Ruler with blood fiendish aura, and reaches Four-Star Dou Zun after refining two more flames 164 165 166.
• Refines the Green Lotus Core Flame to reach Five-Star Dou Zun; Qing Lin completes the core Xiao Clan members’ relocation to Xiao Gate 171 173.

Starfall Pavilion and Ancient-Clan Flames

• Travels to the Central Plains through Yao Lao’s spatial passage and introduces his companions to Yao Lao and Venerable Feng 173 174.
• Gives Yao Lao a Heaven Tier cultivation technique and is announced as Starfall Pavilion’s young pavilion master, while concealing his true strength and identity 175 176.
• Uses a poisoned false tomb mansion to incapacitate ancient-clan cultivators, extracts their Heavenly Flames and bloodline power, and stores the flames with Little Yao 185 186.
• Reawakens the Xiao Clan’s Dou Di bloodline using the stolen high-grade bloodline energy 186.
• Accompanies Zi Yan to Ancient Dragon Island, resolves the elders’ accusations about their relationship, and learns that the clan has split into four factions 188 189.
• Refines the Three Thousand Burning Flame to reach Peak Nine-Star Dou Zun, then attains Dou Sheng and consolidates at Early One-Star Dou Saint 192 193 196.
• Investigates Queen Medusa’s restored memories and the continuing influence of her python soul and his fire energy 194.

Beast Realm and Hun Clan Infiltration

• Gives his disciple Ye Lingyu the specially made Cold Pity ruler 207.
• Battles the North Dragon King, relying on his demon body and restorative flames to withstand injury 215.
• Devours the North Dragon King and trapped survivors, conceals their fate from Zi Yan, kills the Nine Netherworld Python Clan’s leaders, and captures the Three Heavenly Demon Phoenixes 217.
• Declares his intention to make the Ancient Void Dragon Clan the Beast Realm’s sole ruler 217.
• Completely refines the Life Spirit Flame and advances to Four-Star Dou Sheng 219.
• Uses Hun Xuzi’s memories and mannerisms to infiltrate the Hun Clan’s Soul Realm, loot his treasury, and prepare wider plundering 230 234.
• Confronts Nihility Devouring Flame with Clan Mark amplification, a cultivation method beyond Heaven Tier, and Emperor Realm soul strength 240.

Heavenly Profound Continent and the Path of Reincarnation

• Awakens in a new world without his Nether Sea Storage Ring or ruler, though the ring remains protected by his soul imprint 250.
• Meets Qingtan and Lin Jing; notices polluted energy entering Lin Jing but chooses not to intervene 254.
• Experiences decades of an alternative life within the Path of Reincarnation, gaining memories of major events and techniques from that sequence 265.
• Recovers the Xuan Heavy Ruler through Qingtan and confronts the Alien Demon forces in the Chaotic Demon Sea 268.
• Reveals Dou Di cultivation and battles the Alien Demon Emperor, who has possessed Lin Dong’s body and combines the Eight Ancestral Symbols and Nine Divine Objects into a demonic spear 270.
• With Little Yao’s help, transforms his ruler into the Heavenly Flames Eternal Ancient Ruler. His attacks damage the emperor’s armor but do not immediately end the battle 270.
• Manifests his Dou Di Body to oppose the Alien Demon Emperor’s enormous true form 271.

Return, Marriage Agreement, and the Three-Year Agreement

• Experiments with artificial Heavenly Flames using Dou Di strength and exceptional materials 278.
• Returns with Heavenly Profound Continent items, including a Heaven and Earth Bag filled with pills for Zi Yan 285.
• Investigates resurrecting Xiao Xuan but initially lacks a solution for restoring him to a Soul Body 287.
• Reunites with Xun’er and reconciles with Hun Dai’er, placing a precautionary Heavenly Flames Imprint in the latter’s mind 290 292.
• Forces the Gu Clan’s acceptance of his marriage with Xun’er, then returns toward the Black-Corner Region to fulfill his agreement with Nalan Yanran 292.
• Plans to combine his enhanced ruler with the Heavenly Flame Plaza and considers restoring its depleted flame specimens through the Time Ancestral Symbol 293.
• Appears at the Three-Year Agreement after deliberately preparing circumstances intended to make Nalan Yanran collapse emotionally 296.
• Compels Jia Xingtian to adopt a false official history attributing the Nalan Family’s destruction to Nalan Jie’s discovery of treason and subsequent suicide 302.
• Leaves Xiao Xuan to guard the Xiao Clan and promises to bring his family to the Great Thousand World after establishing a place there 304.

Nine Nether Secret Realm and Dragon God Ruins

• Enters the Great Thousand World, where Patriarch Tianhuang accepts his apparent connection to a lower-plane branch of the Nine Nether Sparrow Clan 307.
• Faces manifestations of a future Flame Emperor resembling himself, Lin Dong, and Mu Chen in the Nine Nether Secret Realm’s third trial 324.
• Counters Mu Chen’s God-Slaying Array with the Great Flame Divine Orb, Primordial Heaven-Transforming Light, and Universe Ancient Formation; the trial remains unresolved in that account 324.
• Spends a year improving the Demon Fury Nine Arts into Divine Abilities while advancing from Seventh-Rank Supreme to its peak 334.
• Seeks better equipment before entering the Dragon God Ruins 337.
• Inherits Blood Battle King’s Self-Sacrificing Demon Fist and advises his companions to observe the competition for the ruins key rather than exhaust their resources 340.
• Enhances the Xuan Heavy Ruler and other divine treasures with artifact-forging divine stone 349.
• Conceals his vitality to bypass a Dragon Bone Guard’s tracking and attacks its core with Eight Extremes Collapse. The guard rises again, thanks him for helping it find release, and the Plane Spirit offers power that could enable an Earth Supreme breakthrough 351.
• Later explores a volcano’s depths, finds a Heavenly Sovereign Ancient Flame Dragon’s remains and divine veins, and encounters a mysterious little girl on a stone platform 367.

Endless Fire Domain and Extraterritorial Pursuit

• Refines the Saint Flood Dragon Flame and resolves to reach Heavenly Sovereign as soon as possible 386.
• Responds to hostile factions disrupting the Endless Fire Domain’s herb supply by ordering Qingtan to outbid them, while possessing independent herb-growing methods through the Life Spirit Flame, Life and Death Ancestral Symbol, Heavenly Tomb, and Time Ancestral Symbol 386 388.
• After receiving a fallen Dou Di’s memories, vows to protect the Dou Qi Continent and avenge him 405.
• Kills and devours a Flame Demon Clan pursuer, learns about the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor’s mark, and plants concealed Spiritual Arrays to trap the approaching enemies 405.
• Breaks through to Heavenly Sovereign and upgrades his weapons and divine treasures while preparing to escape encirclement with Qing Yanjing 413.
• Charges the enemy lines with Flame Splitting Wave Ruler and the newly upgraded Peerless Sacred Artifact ruler 421.
• Faces Heavenly Demon Emperor Slaying Heaven, combines two forms of the Heavenly Flames Eternal Ancient Ruler, and uses Firmament Transformation and the Great Perfection Heart Demon State 424 425.
• His Soul Clone and Origin Spirit Clone interrupt Slaying Heaven’s finishing move and create a counterattack opportunity 425.
• Remains behind to hold off Heavenly Demon Emperors so Qing Yanjing can return safely, profoundly changing her feelings toward him 450.

Saint Grade Rise and the Decisive War

• Returns to the Dou Qi Continent with Saint Grade physical strength after devouring powerful Heavenly Demon Emperors and undergoing prolonged Emperor Flame purification 432.
• Consolidates Saint Grade Heavenly Sovereign cultivation while studying alchemy, artifact refining, and Spiritual Arrays, which remain behind his cultivation level 436.
• Redeems Great Thousand Palace resources for the Endless Fire Domain, his companions’ future arrival, and further development of his techniques and professions 437.
• Refines the Burning Heaven Spirit Flame and sets out to challenge the Fire Spirit Clan and establish his reputation 441.
• Qing Yanjing identifies him as the newly risen Demon Emperor and later visits to provide intelligence and discuss marriage 449 450.
• Confronts the Extraterritorial Evil Clan in the Myriad Demon Hall, burns a threatening Heavenly Demon Emperor to ashes, and challenges the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor 463.
• Uses the Time Ancestral Symbol and Heavenly Tomb to turn the Heavenly Demon Emperors’ combined attacks against their own forces 463.
• Opens a spatial rift for Qin Tian, the Azure-Robed Sword Saint, the Undying Lord, and the Great Thousand World’s armies to begin the decisive battle 463.
• Later faces Liu Feng in an ultimate confrontation, using the Heavenly Flames Eternal Ancient Ruler and Six Harmonies Wandering Ruler but encountering an overwhelming force increase and a second attacking Liu Feng 470.

Later Family Life

• Several children are born into the Xiao Clan within a year, giving Xiao Xiao additional brothers and sisters 479.
• Zi Yan gives birth after previously insisting that Xiao Yan help her have a child, then immediately alarms the family by tossing the newborn into the air to play 479.

Notable Quotes

“No need. One taste of betrayal was enough.” 1

“If others leave me alone, I leave them alone. If they cross me, I wipe out their entire household.” 13

“I said I wouldn’t regret what I’ve done.” 36

“My greatest virtue is that I never lie.” 46

“Father, I’m late. This is my affair. Leave the rest to me.” 146

“It’s all right. You still have us.” 188

“Xiao Yan of the Xiao Clan, here to fulfill the Three-Year Agreement.” 296

“Once I’ve carved out a place for myself in the Great Thousand World, I’ll certainly return to bring you all there.” 304

“You don’t need to worry about anything else. Just follow me. I’ll bring you back.” 421

---