Xiao Yan

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Loss of Talent and Broken Engagement

Xiao Yan was once regarded as a genius, but his cultivation stagnated for three years because Yao Lao was absorbing his Dou Qi from within a ring. His mother had died in the same upheaval that killed Xiao Mo’s parents, after which Xiao Zhan adopted Xiao Mo. At fifteen, Xiao Yan’s third-stage assessment drew open contempt from his fellow clansmen 1 5.

Xiao Mo’s assistance helped him recover to the sixth stage just as the Misty Cloud Sect arrived to dissolve his engagement to Nalan Yanran. Xiao Yan refused to exchange his marriage for the sect’s Qi Gathering Powder, countered Nalan Yanran’s attack with fire, and demanded a fresh strength assessment. After confirming his recovery, he wrote a Divorce Letter declaring that he was the one rejecting her 2 3 4.

Although he recovered some dignity for the clan, Xiao Yan recognized that the dispute would burden his father. Nalan Yanran subsequently attacked him with a sword, which Xiao Mo deflected. Xiao Zhan prevented further retaliation because Ge Ye and his companions were beyond their ability to confront 4 5.

Apprenticeship and Return to Prominence

Upon discovering the cause of his lost Dou Qi, Xiao Yan angrily threw Yao Lao’s ring over a cliff. Xiao Mo pressed Yao Lao to compensate him, leading both boys to become his disciples. Yao Lao designated Xiao Mo the senior disciple and Xiao Yan the junior, promising to help Xiao Yan surpass Nalan Yanran within three years 5 6.

During the following year, Xiao Yan trained intensely and treated Xiao Mo as the rival he wanted to catch. Xiao Mo secured the Flame Mantra for him, and Xiao Yan’s eighth-stage result at the coming-of-age ceremony silenced the crowd’s mockery and restored Xiao Zhan’s pride 8 9 10 11.

Xiao Yan then defeated Xiao Ning despite his opponent’s unusual gray-smoke version of Eight Extremes Collapse. After Xiao Mo reported that a mysterious gray figure had assisted Xiao Ning, Xiao Yan informed Xiao Zhan, who began investigating 15 16 17.

Saving the Xiao Clan’s Market

After reaching Dou Zhe, Xiao Yan became involved in the clan’s commercial crisis. The Jia Lie Family’s cheaper Rejuvenation Powder had drawn away customers and forced more than half the Xiao Clan’s shops to close. Xiao Yan and Xiao Mo sought Yao Lao’s instruction so they could produce a more effective, less expensive medicine 20 23 27.

Their first two batches failed, but their combined fire-and-ice refining produced medicine that Yao Lao considered a grade better than his own. They demonstrated the process to Xiao Zhan, using fewer herbs while producing more, purer pills. Their involvement was concealed for their protection, and Xiao Zhan offered each of them ten percent of the profits 29 34.

The pair promoted their medicine through a free stall outside the Jia Lie Family Market. After the rival shopkeeper tried to discredit it, Xiao Yan demonstrated its healing effect before the crowd. The clan later sold both their superior medicine and a weaker version refined by other disciples; both sold out, restoring the market’s reputation 35 38 42 43.

Academy Leave and Journey to Qingshan Town

Xiao Zhan submitted Xiao Yan’s name for Jia Nan Academy’s recruitment. Rather than enter immediately, Xiao Yan and Xiao Mo requested three years of leave and earned approval by enduring three attacks from Instructor Ruo Lin. Xiao Yan intended to use that time to prepare for the Three-Year Agreement with Nalan Yanran 45 46 47.

Xiao Yan left Wutan City with Xiao Mo, promising his father that he would defeat Nalan Yanran without disgracing the clan. Yao Lao made him carry the Heavy Xuan Ruler throughout their two-month journey to strengthen his body and improve his movement speed 48.

In Qingshan Town, Yao Lao began gathering ingredients for a Yellow Lotus Pill to protect Xiao Yan during a future heavenly-flame refinement. Xiao Yan purchased one hundred portions of century-old yellow lotus essence with Xiao Mo’s money. Although he initially preferred to search the mountains alone, he joined a mercenary group at Xiao Mo’s urging, defeated a challenger with Fire-Blowing Palm, and entered the Magical Beast Mountain Range with the group 48 49.

Personality

Xiao Yan is proud, competitive, and particularly sensitive to being treated as worthless. He refuses to let the elders dictate his marriage and reacts fiercely to insults against his family. His frustration at repeatedly falling behind Xiao Mo briefly turns into resentment when Xiao Mo supplies the pill that enables his Dou Zhe breakthrough; he later accepts the help and apologizes 3 21 24 32.

He is also cautious and capable of restraint. Before accepting Yao Lao, he wants to understand the old man’s conditions and intentions. He abandons retaliation against Nalan Yanran’s entourage when he realizes it would worsen the clan’s situation, and he respects Xiao Mo’s privacy rather than demanding explanations for his unexplained treasures 5 6 17.

His closest companions matter more to him than the crowd’s judgment. After his successful assessment, he looks chiefly for Xiao Zhan’s approval and the support of Xiao Mo and Xiao Xun’er. Although he still enjoys recognition for his achievements, he comes to admire Xiao Mo’s willingness to conceal his abilities for safety 11 12 13 34.

Abilities & Skills

Fire-Attribute Dou Qi

Xiao Yan’s fire affinity is confirmed by the Dou Qi Pavilion’s attribute test 17.

• Creates fireballs to intercept Nalan Yanran’s icy attack and spar with Xiao Mo 3 17.
• Uses scorching energy to help stabilize Xiao Mo’s Ice Soul Body transformation 2.
• Forms a protective Dou Qi layer to stop customers from crowding him and snatching medicine 39.

Flame Mantra

An evolving cultivation method that Xiao Mo secures for Xiao Yan. It is initially a Yellow Tier technique, but Yao Lao confirms that it can improve 10 17 20.

• Xiao Yan prioritizes it over other methods, initially refusing Xiao Xun’er’s high-grade Profound Tier offering 19.
• Its cultivation eventually requires devouring a heavenly flame 48.
• Yao Lao warns that the technique alone cannot protect him during flame refinement; a Yellow Lotus Pill is also necessary 48.

Ice and Snow Dual Cultivation Technique

A high-grade Earth Tier ice-and-fire method intended for Xiao Yan and Xiao Mo to practice together. Yao Lao endorses it and offers to guard them during its dangerous stage 18 19 20.

• Requires Xiao Yan to reach Dou Zhe before they can properly cultivate together 20 21.
• Xiao Mo states that mastering it can raise their combined strength to low-grade Heaven Rank; Yao Lao independently observes that parts of it already rival Heaven Tier methods 19 20.

Fire-Blowing Palm

A Dou Technique that gathers fire Dou Qi into a forceful flaming palm 46.

• Combines with Xiao Mo’s ice attack to shatter Ruo Lin’s first wave 46.
• Is used again against her later attacks during the leave assessment 46 47.
• Defeats an eighth-stage mercenary with a single strike to the chest 49.

Eight Extremes Collapse

A powerful striking technique used against Xiao Ning and Ruo Lin. It is also rendered as Eight-Level Collapse during Xiao Yan’s post-breakthrough spar 15 20 46.

• Meets Xiao Ning’s uncanny gray-smoke imitation head-on, throwing both fighters backward 15.
• Splits the ground during a spar with Xiao Mo, destabilizing him and dislodging his sword 20.

Alchemy and Soul Power

Yao Lao identifies Xiao Yan as an excellent alchemy prospect. His status as a reborn transmigrator gives him soul power far beyond that of ordinary humans 6 48.

• Handles the main refining process while Xiao Mo regulates furnace heat with ice Dou Qi 29.
• Produces exceptionally pure Rejuvenation Powder with Xiao Mo; other disciples cannot reproduce its quality from the same formula 29 34 42.
• Benefits from Xiao Mo’s ability to calm his anxiety during refinement 29.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Yao Lao’s ring — Worn by Xiao Yan and inhabited by his master. Yao Lao can emerge when called, though his existence must remain secret 5 7.
• Flame Sword / Fire Sword — A high-grade treasured sword obtained from Yao Lao’s possessions and given to Xiao Yan by Xiao Mo 39.
• Heavy Xuan Ruler — An enormous black ruler weighing several hundred jin. Yao Lao assigns it as physical training equipment; Xiao Yan learns to carry it effortlessly during the journey to Qingshan Town 48.
• Storage Ring — Used to stow the Heavy Xuan Ruler after it attracts unwanted attention in town 48.

Relationships

• Xiao Zhan — Father and Xiao Clan leader. Supports Xiao Yan during the engagement dispute, protects his secret alchemy work, and takes pride in his recovery 4 11 34.
• Xiao Mo — Sworn and adoptive brother, senior fellow disciple, training rival, and alchemy partner. His support prompts Xiao Yan to privately vow lifelong loyalty 1 6 9 29.
• Yao Lao — Master and alchemy teacher. Initially responsible for draining Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi for three years, then guides his recovery and preparation to surpass Nalan Yanran 5 6 48.
• Xiao Xun’er — Close companion and romantic interest. Resents being neglected when Xiao Yan spends too much time with Xiao Mo; Xiao Yan promises to find her at Jia Nan Academy after settling the Three-Year Agreement 9 16 47.
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and rival. Her attempt to break their engagement drives Xiao Yan’s determination to defeat her and restore the clan’s dignity 3 4 47 48.
• Ge Ye — Misty Cloud Sect representative who negotiates the engagement’s dissolution and later presents the Nalan Family’s conditional medicine formula. His contempt repeatedly provokes Xiao Yan 3 5 31 32.
• Xiao Ning — Clan challenger defeated after displaying suspicious power and an imitation of Eight Extremes Collapse 15 16.
• Ruo Lin — Jia Nan Academy instructor who tests Xiao Yan and Xiao Mo before approving their three-year leave 45 46 47.

Notable Quotes

“This is my marriage. How I decide to handle it is none of your business, is it?” 3

“Xiao Mo, you're my brother for life too. Whatever happens in the future, I'll walk through boiling water and fire for you, no matter the cost.” 6

“An eagle must take flight sooner or later, just as children must eventually leave the nest!” 48

Trivia

• Xiao Mo recognizes him as the future Flame Emperor, but this is an expectation based on Xiao Mo’s knowledge of the original story, not a title Xiao Yan has earned in these chapters 1.
• Xiao Yan briefly sets Xiao Mo’s Wristband to display Dou Emperor. It does not increase his power: the device only falsifies the level registered by a testing stone, and he returns it afterward 13.