Xiao Yan

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Wutan City and the loss of his talent

Xiao Yan grows up as the youngest of Xiao Zhan’s three sons, with Xiao Ding and Xiao Li as his protective older brothers. His early achievements earn him widespread admiration, but his cultivation collapses when Yao Lao, concealed in the ring left by his mother, absorbs his Dou Qi. His brothers leave Wutan City to build a future refuge for him through the Desert Iron Mercenary Group 1 8 44.

He first encounters Sun Buxiao at a roadside stall selling poisonous plants. Sun’s strange account of a “Central Plains Girl Band” confuses him, and the vendor’s sudden departure reveals unexpected Dou Shi strength. When Sun returns three years later, Xiao Yan is anxious about the clan assessment and desperate for an explanation of his condition. The two privately confirm that they are fellow transmigrators and agree to keep that secret between them 3 39 41.

The Three-Year Agreement

Nalan Yanran’s attempt to end their arranged engagement turns Xiao Yan’s personal cultivation crisis into a public dispute over his family’s dignity. He refuses compensation, issues a blood-signed letter of repudiation, and promises his father that he will face her at the Misty Cloud Sect in three years. Shortly afterward, Yao Lao reveals the cause of his lost cultivation, and Xiao Yan recklessly drinks Sun Buxiao’s entire vial of Soul Solution 44 45.

With his talent restored, Xiao Yan trains under Yao Lao and follows Sun’s advice to leave Wutan City rather than remain in a comfortable environment. His travels lead him through the Magical Beast Mountain Range and into the Tagor Desert, where Hai Bodong provides a lead to a possible Heavenly Flame. Sun later helps him recover the lotus platform and seeds from the Green Lotus Core Flame’s former location 51 67 72 106.

In Jia Ma Holy City, Xiao Yan adopts the identity Yan Xiao and wins the Alchemist Grand Meeting. At the Three-Year Agreement, he reveals that identity, defeats Nalan Yanran, and unleashes a two-flame Fire Lotus whose destruction exceeds his expectations. Victory brings relief rather than arrogance; he turns his attention to reviving Yao Lao and avenging his murder 125 127 128 130 134.

Jia Nan Academy and Yao Lao’s revenge

Xiao Yan agrees to attend Jia Nan Academy as Sun Buxiao’s inside contact. He initially joins Instructor Ruo Lin’s class and reunites with Xun’er, though their closeness provokes jealous challenges from other students. His academy life also includes Pan Gate and increasingly prominent tournament performances 117 142 148 188.

To obtain the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame, he offers Sun a seventh-tier Yin-Yang Profound Dragon Pill and the Three Thousand Lightning Movement technique, both taken as spoils from a Black-Corner Region conflict. Sun accepts the exchange and subsequently provides access to Han Feng’s Sea Heart Flame. Xiao Yan executes Han Feng with that flame after asking whether he has any final words for Yao Lao 158 166 169 188.

When Ling Quan insults his background and threatens him, Xiao Yan challenges him to withstand one attack. His Three-Colored Buddha’s Fury Fire Lotus leaves Ling Quan unconscious and transforms part of the academy’s rear mountain into a crater 190 191 193.

The Magma World and fatherhood

Xiao Yan becomes trapped in the Magma World while refining the Fallen Heart Flame. Yao Lao is unavailable because he is battling an Inner Demon inside the ring, and Medusa is trapped nearby. After completing the fusion, Xiao Yan offers to take responsibility for what occurred between them; Medusa threatens to kill him, and Su Qian blocks her attack as they prepare to leave 202 205 223.

Medusa later discovers that she is pregnant. Xiao Yan pledges support for her, their unborn child, and the Snake-People Tribe, including pills for the tribe’s elders. She agrees to spare the child but refuses to acknowledge him as her husband. He begins trying to build a relationship with her and successfully refines the Heavenly Soul Blood Fusion Pill for her pregnancy 237 241 242.

During this period, Sun reveals the Xiao Clan’s connection to Xiao Xuan, a former Nine-Star Dou Sheng, and explains the roles of Hun Tiandi and Gu Yuan in its decline. Xiao Yan also receives the Heavenly Poison Gate’s Yellow Badge, teaches Bai Kun alchemy, and discusses a possible Hall of Souls infiltration with Sun. His proposed Central Plains journey becomes a source of concern for Medusa as her due date approaches 227 228 230 231 247.

Appearance

• Youthful features: Originally described as a child with delicate features; by the Three-Year Agreement, he is noticeably taller and more mature 2 127.
• Usual clothing: A fitted black outfit, with the enormous Heavy Black Ruler strapped to his back 125.
• Alchemist attire: Wears Fourth-Rank Alchemist robes while acting as Yan Xiao 125.
• Combat appearance: Forms deep-green, burning Dou Qi Armor when revealing his Da Dou Shi cultivation 127.

Personality

Xiao Yan’s childhood talent makes him arrogant, but three years of declining cultivation leave him anxious, ashamed, and painfully conscious of his father’s expectations. Recovery restores his confidence without fully restoring that earlier conceit. After defeating Nalan Yanran, he recognizes that winning one duel does not make him powerful enough to accomplish his larger goals 1 39 48 134.

Family loyalty and personal dignity strongly shape his decisions. He rejects Nalan Yanran’s compensation because his concern is the humiliation inflicted on his father and clan, not material gain. He is similarly protective of Yao Lao and Sun Buxiao, and becomes angry when the Misty Cloud Sect places Sun in danger 44 120 134.

His determination can become recklessness: he drinks Soul Solution against medical advice and uses a Fire Lotus without anticipating its full destructive reach. He is nevertheless capable of deliberate sacrifice, trading valuable spoils for a Heavenly Flame rather than demanding more resources from his teacher. His loyalty is not entirely naïve; he tells Xun’er that even if Sun is using him to some extent, he can still recognize genuine kindness 45 134 158 179.

Abilities & Skills

Flame Mantra

Yao Lao’s cultivation method develops through the absorption of Heavenly Flames. Xiao Yan chooses it over an Earth-Tier Middle-Grade fire method despite being warned of its dangers 58.

• Evolution: Reaches Earth Tier after he devours the Sea Heart Flame 188.
• Multiple flames: Allows him to assimilate successive Heavenly Flames within one body 175 230.
• Early weakness: Before absorbing a Heavenly Flame, its poor endurance forces him to rely heavily on Qi Recovery Pills 60 67.
• Risk: Devouring flames can burn his body internally or trigger dangerous clashes between their energies 112 175.

Heavenly Flames

Buddha’s Fury Fire Lotus

Xiao Yan compresses different Heavenly Flames into a lotus, using his Dou Qi to balance their conflicting energies. Its destruction comes primarily from the clash between the flames, making a conventional Dou Technique rank difficult to assign 128 134.

• Two-colored version: Produces Dou Zong-level destruction during the duel with Nalan Yanran 134.
• Three-colored version: Defeats Ling Quan and blasts a massive crater into Jia Nan Academy’s rear mountain 191 193.
• Five-colored potential: By the Sea Heart Flame acquisition, he has enough available flames to construct a Five-Colored Fire Lotus; its actual use is not documented in the supplied passages 188.
• Heavy expenditure: The attack against Ling Quan consumes nearly all his Dou Qi 191.
• Self-injury: His first major explosion injures him despite Yao Lao’s protection. At that stage, Yao Lao judges a four-flame version beyond his safe control 130 134.

Combat Techniques

• Eight Extremes Collapse: A Profound-Tier High-Grade technique taught by Yao Lao. Xiao Yan uses it to shatter Nalan Yanran’s sword and strike her hard enough to send her flying and coughing blood 50 58 128.
• Flame Splitting Wave Ruler: An Earth-Tier Low-Grade technique supplied by Yao Lao, though Xiao Yan has rarely used it seriously by the time he receives the Five-Wheel Leaving Fire Method 231.
• Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations: Used before forming the Three-Colored Fire Lotus against Ling Quan 191.
• Five-Wheel Leaving Fire Method: An Earth-Tier High-Grade fire technique originating with Yao Tianhuo. Xiao Yan accepts it from Sun Buxiao in exchange for helping him 231.

Movement Techniques

• Fleeting Shadow, Shattering Clouds: A Profound-Tier Middle-Grade movement technique used while charging Nalan Yanran with the Heavy Black Ruler 127.
• Three Thousand Lightning Movement: An Earth-Tier movement technique obtained as Black-Corner Region spoils. Xiao Yan memorizes its fundamentals before offering the manual to Sun Buxiao 158.

Alchemy and Soul Perception

Yao Lao teaches Xiao Yan pill refining and closely supervises his cultivation. His unusually powerful soul is evident even when his Dou Qi remains at Third Stage Dou Power 41 67.

• Competitive alchemy: Wins the Alchemist Grand Meeting as Yan Xiao and is a confirmed Fourth-Rank Alchemist 125 127.
• Advanced qualification: His Spirit Realm soul, Dou Emperor cultivation, and four assimilated flames make him theoretically capable of seventh-grade alchemy 230.
• Teaching: Identifies Bai Kun’s poor fundamentals and the ingredient energy wasted during his refining 231.
• Pregnancy support: Successfully refines the Heavenly Soul Blood Fusion Pill for Medusa and their unborn child 242.
• Soul monitoring: Checks Yao Lao’s condition while his teacher battles an Inner Demon, but cannot intervene in that struggle 177 185.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Heavy Black Ruler — His enormous primary weapon; carried on his back and used to knock Xue Beng unconscious during an academy match 125 148.
• Inherited Storage Ring — A keepsake from his mother that houses Yao Lao. It later stores borrowed Netherworld Poison Flame and Bone Spirit Cold Flame wisps 44 218.
• Everyday Storage Ring — A separate ring used for ordinary belongings; he still wears both rings during the Magma World episode 218.
• Soul Solution / Millet Porridge — Sun Buxiao’s soul-strengthening liquid. His first full-vial dose restores much of his lost cultivation but nearly kills him 45 48.
• Sun Buxiao’s Token — Identifies him to Hai Bodong, whom Sun has asked to look after him during training 72.
• Green lotus platform and eleven earth fire lotus seeds — Recovered beneath the flame’s former location and given to him by Sun 106.
• Spirit Fusion Pill recipe — A sixth-rank soul-restoration recipe received through the Alchemist Grand Meeting; he considers it less useful than his supply of Millet Porridge 125.

Relationships

• Xiao Zhan — Father and Xiao Clan patriarch. Xiao Yan’s promise to defeat Nalan Yanran centers on restoring his father’s dignity 8 44.
• Xiao Ding — Eldest brother. Helps establish a refuge for Xiao Yan after his cultivation collapses and later guides him to Hai Bodong 8 72.
• Xiao Li — Second elder brother. Fiercely defends him when Nalan Yanran draws her sword in the clan hall 8 44.
• His mother — Leaves him the ring that becomes Yao Lao’s refuge. Even after discovering its role in his cultivation loss, Xiao Yan regrets throwing away her keepsake 8 44.
• Yao Lao / Yao Chen — Teacher, protector, and the original cause of his lost cultivation. Xiao Yan comes to genuinely respect him and makes his resurrection and revenge a central goal 44 94 113 134.
• Sun Buxiao — Fellow transmigrator, benefactor, and trusted companion. Provides his initial recovery resource, assists his flame acquisitions, and recruits him as an academy insider 41 94 117 169.
• Xiao Xun’er — His affectionate childhood companion and romantic attachment. She remains concerned for him during his decline, reunites with him at Jia Nan Academy, and warns him about the Ancient Jade Fragment 39 142 148 179.
• Nalan Yanran — Former arranged fiancée and Three-Year Agreement opponent. Xiao Yan repudiates her and later defeats her at the Misty Cloud Sect 44 134.
• Medusa / Cai Lin — Mother of his unborn child. Their relationship remains hostile and unresolved despite his promises of support and efforts to become closer 237 241 247.
• Hai Bodong — Senior ally who provides a Heavenly Flame lead and accompanies the desert expedition 72 106.
• Han Feng — Yao Lao’s former disciple and murderer, according to Sun’s disclosure. Xiao Yan seeks the right to finish him and ultimately burns him to death with the Sea Heart Flame 134 188.
• Yao Tianhuo — The Heavenly Fire Venerable, whose Five-Wheel Leaving Fire Method is passed to Xiao Yan with his approval 231.
• Bai Kun — An experienced alchemist whose flawed fundamentals Xiao Yan attempts to correct 231.

Notable Quotes

“Miss Nalan, let me offer you a word of advice—thirty years east of the river, thirty years west. Never bully a poor young man. I, Xiao Yan, will remember what happened today!” 44

“To bring Master back to life and help him get revenge!” 134

“You're important to me, and Brother Sun is important to me too.” 179