Xiao

Biodata

Background / History

Enslavement and Liberation

During the Archon War three thousand years earlier, Xiao was known as Golden Roc. A god exploited his weakness and enslaved him, making him its foremost general. He was forced to slaughter humans, demons, spirits, and gods, then devour his defeated opponents’ dreams. Although those dreams tasted irresistible, depriving his victims of their final spiritual refuge caused him unbearable anguish 37.

This service stripped away his innocence and drove him to suppress his emotions. His liberation came when Morax defeated his master. Morax named him Xiao, invoking a spirit from foreign tales that had endured suffering and been tempered by hardship 37.

Guardian of Liyue

To repay Morax, Xiao signed a contract to protect Liyue for a thousand years. After the Archon War, the resentment of fallen gods continued to produce evil spirits and monsters. The Guardian Yakshas assumed responsibility for purging them, and Xiao bore the combat-focused title Conqueror of Demons, rather than the “True Lord” titles held by other adepti 37.

Years of exposure to malevolent energy devastated the five Guardian Yakshas: three died and one vanished. Xiao remained alone at Rex Lapis’s side, continuing his duties despite accumulated karmic debt and the loss of his companions 37.

Appearance

• Face: Handsome, with delicate features 38 42.
• Stature: Noticeably shorter than Xiu Yuan; their height difference attracts the Treasure Hoarders’ attention 41 43.
• Expression: Usually cold and guarded around other people, but more animated when alone with Xiu Yuan 40 41.
• Distinguishing equipment: Carries a spear and wears a ferocious yaksha mask during combat 38 42.

Personality

Xiao’s aloofness is a protective barrier rather than an absence of kindness. He avoids mortals because of the misfortune associated with him and repeatedly warns Xiu Yuan against sharing the karmic burden of demon hunting. Even when those seeking his help are Treasure Hoarders, he answers their call and saves them 39 40 41 43.

He carries deep shame about his past, calling it “a sinner’s past.” Mortals’ fear reinforces his belief that he is a walking calamity: someone whose appearance signals mortal danger rather than good fortune. He is accustomed to enduring these feelings without confiding in others 43 44.

With Xiu Yuan, Xiao becomes talkative, competitive, and easily provoked into banter or another contest. Their friendship recalls his bonds with the other yakshas and reawakens tenderness he had suppressed for a thousand years. His pride nevertheless prevents him from openly asking Xiu Yuan to accept immortality and remain beside him 39 41 42 44 45.

Abilities & Skills

Spear Combat and Adeptal Strength

• Combat experience: Has fought since youth, first as an enslaved general and later as Liyue’s demon hunter. Ordinary mortals with Visions are described as far below his strength 38.
• Endurance: Fights Xiu Yuan at full strength for a day and two nights without either securing victory 38 39 40.
• Speed and force: Uses lightning-fast spear strikes, gale-accompanied movement, and attacks powerful enough to leave large craters 41 48.
• Power limit: Is presented as practically the strongest adeptus apart from the gods, but not ordinarily powerful enough to confront a demon god. He can match Ami because the god has not recovered from prolonged imprisonment 45 47 48.

Bane of All Evil

• Xiao invokes “Bane of All Evil” and dons his yaksha mask before confronting Amy, committing himself to an all-out fight 47.
• He also wears the mask while hunting evil spirits and rescuing the Treasure Hoarders 42 43.
• The supplied chapters do not specify numerical bonuses or a separate power rank for this state 47.

Supernatural Perception

• Senses Xiu Yuan’s arrival before their first conversation and locates nearby evil spirits 38 42.
• Detects people calling his name and follows those calls to their location 43 49.
• Remains aware of his surroundings while meditating to repair a seal 46.

Seal Repair

• Can temporarily repair a damaged god-suppressing barrier by placing his mask over the breach and meditating, emitting a pale green glow 46.
• Requires complete concentration: concern for Xiu Yuan briefly disrupts his focus, allowing the cracks to spread 46.
• Abandons the repair to save Xiu Yuan when the monster assault becomes overwhelming; completion would still have required at least another hour 47.

Dream Devouring

• Possessed the ability to consume dreams while serving his former master 37.
• Was compelled to devour defeated opponents’ sweet dreams, an act that contributed to his emotional trauma 37.

Resistance to Karmic Corrosion

• Suppresses outbreaks of karmic debt through exceptional willpower and constant vigilance 39 41.
• Resistance does not prevent suffering: he experiences severe pain, recurring nightmares, and the danger of plunging into the abyss if his control fails 39 41.
• Xiu Yuan’s assistance reduces his workload and makes his karmic debt less painful 45.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Spear — His principal weapon for duels, demon hunting, and the battle against Ami; no weapon name is given in the supplied chapters 38 48.
• Yaksha mask — A ferocious mask used in combat and as part of his attempt to repair the breached seal 42 46 47.

Relationships

• Xiu Yuan — Fellow spearman, hunting partner, rival, and dearest friend. Their companionship restores Xiao’s sense of friendship and tenderness. Xiu Yuan ultimately sacrifices himself to intercept Ami’s attack, leaving Xiao to kill him before the possession becomes complete 39 44 48 49.
• Morax / Rex Lapis / Zhongli — Liberator, benefactor, and the god Xiao serves under contract. Xiao holds him in absolute reverence; the narration compares their bond to that of father and son, contrasting it with Xiao’s freer friendship with Xiu Yuan 37 45.
• Other Guardian Yakshas — Former companions who fought beside him. Memories of their camaraderie resurface during his duels and hunting contests with Xiu Yuan 39 42.
• Bosacius — A fellow yaksha whose disappearance Xiao attributes to the unbearable mental torment of karmic debt 40.
• Amy / Ami — Escaped demon god and enemy. Xiao and Xiu Yuan cooperate to defeat him, then destroy his possessing remnant through Xiu Yuan’s death 47 48 49.
• Hu Tao — Arranges Xiu Yuan’s joyful funeral after Xiao brings his body to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor 49.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Fourth-Life Mission and Friendship

• Xiu Yuan’s fourth reincarnation assigns him the mission of making Xiao smile sincerely again; Xiao has not smiled in over a thousand years 37.
• Their first encounter becomes an extended duel, followed by a race to Wangshu Inn for Almond Tofu. Xiao recognizes in Xiu Yuan the companionship he once shared with the yakshas 38 39 40.
• Hunting contests establish their playful rivalry. Xiu Yuan wins one contest with sixty-eight kills; Xiao wins the next with eighty against Xiu Yuan’s seventy-five 42 44.
• After rescued Treasure Hoarders recoil from Xiao, Xiu Yuan demands that they thank him and rejects Xiao’s belief that he brings calamity. This defense reawakens Xiao’s suppressed tenderness 43 44.

The Offer of Immortality

• Zhongli offers to make Xiu Yuan a Guardian Yaksha after confirming his strength. Xiao eagerly hopes the offer will give him a companion who can remain for thousands of years 45.
• Xiu Yuan refuses, leaving Xiao visibly stunned. Zhongli then sends Xiao to inspect a weakening barrier northwest of Liyue, with Xiu Yuan accompanying him 45.

Barrier Breach and Ami’s Escape

• A purple divine barrier traps the pair and prevents Zhongli from sensing the breach. Xiao attempts repairs while Xiu Yuan holds back the monsters 46.
• Amy emerges and seals the opening behind himself. Xiao engages the weakened god through the night, deliberately positioning him for Xiu Yuan’s concealed-spear ambush 47 48.
• Their coordinated attack engulfs Ami in Blackflame. When the god’s black mist shoots toward Xiao, Xiu Yuan intercepts it and becomes possessed instead 48.

Farewell and Public Recognition

• Xiao initially refuses Xiu Yuan’s demand to kill him, hoping Zhongli can help. He finally drives his spear through Xiu Yuan’s chest after being reminded of his duty to protect the world, destroying the demon god’s remnant 49.
• At Xiu Yuan’s request, Xiao gives him an openhearted smile through his tears. He arranges a joyful funeral and buries him in a forest where evil spirits are most numerous 49.
• Several days later, Xiao answers a girl’s call and retrieves her cat from a tree. She directs him to a Liyue noticeboard inviting people to call upon him; he responds to her gratitude with a gentle smile 49.

Trivia

• Almond Tofu is his favorite food and one of the few human dishes he can stomach 37.
• He claims that “Adepti never lie” when establishing the rules of a hunting contest 42.
• To preserve Zhongli’s concealed identity, Xiao follows instructions to address him as Zhongli, never Rex Lapis, anywhere in Liyue 46.