Xiao Yan

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Origins and Family Losses

Xiao Yan retains the soul and memories of an adult man from Earth. Although he grew up on the Dou Qi Continent, his modern background continues to influence his values 11 13.

His mother was injured during an attack on the Xiao Clan’s convoy while the family was relocating from the Imperial Capital to Wutan City. Those injuries left her chronically frail, and she died when Xiao Yan was four. During the same attack, his uncle Xiao Ping sacrificed his life to defeat the attacker and save Xiao Zhan 15.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yu were close as small children. Their friendship became an embarrassing family story after the two watched a woman bathing at a Back Mountain hot spring. Xiao Yu confessed and implicated Xiao Yan, who was whipped by his father 13.

Loss of Talent and Recovery

After his Dou Qi was drained, Xiao Yan lost his standing as a genius and became the target of widespread ridicule. His reputation reached beyond Wutan City to the Imperial Capital. Clan politics also restricted the resources Xiao Zhan could secure for him 1 2.

At the Mittel Auction House, Xiao Yan attended in a black hooded robe while his Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid was sold. Xiao Zhan purchased the liquid for forty thousand gold coins 11 13.

After reuniting with Xiao Yu at their father’s residence, Xiao Yan began visiting his cousin regularly. Their conversations and shared meals restored their childhood closeness, while Xiao Yu’s courtyard became a place where Xiao Yan could relax between cultivation sessions 13 14.

Coming-of-Age Assessments

Believing Xiao Yu unable to cultivate, Xiao Yan privately asked Yao Lao whether a pill could help him. Yao Lao identified the seventh-tier Great Nirvana Pill as a possibility, but one far beyond Xiao Yan’s current reach. Xiao Yan wanted both to help his cousin and to ease his father’s longstanding guilt toward Xiao Ping 15.

His own seventh-stage assessment result overturned the clan’s expectations and delighted Xiao Zhan. Learning the history of the attacks on his family also prompted Xiao Yan to resolve to avenge the unidentified masked men once he became strong enough 16.

Xiao Yu’s apparent three-star Dou Zhe strength then surprised him. With Yao Lao’s guidance, Xiao Yan learned that his cousin was concealing considerably greater power. At the ceremonial retest, Yao Lao detected strength of at least peak Dou Master, though he could not establish Xiao Yu’s exact realm 17 18 20.

Following the ceremony, Xiao Yan remained focused on the Three-Year Agreement and curious about his cousin’s rapid cultivation. The two nevertheless respected each other’s secrets without demanding explanations. Xiao Yan later accompanied the family to see Xiao Yu off from Wutan City 21 22.

Appearance

• Face: Described as a delicate-featured youth when Xiao Yu meets him at Xiao Zhan’s residence 13.
• Clothing: Wears black during their reunion and the clan assessments 13 15 16.
• Auction disguise: A black hooded robe conceals his face at the Mittel Auction House 11.

Personality

Years of ridicule have made Xiao Yan resilient. At the preliminary assessment, he ignores the crowd’s insults rather than allowing them to disturb his composure. He remains selective about his attachments, acknowledging that only a handful of clan members still deserve his concern 15.

He is deeply grateful to his father and wants his recovery to relieve Xiao Zhan’s burdens. His effort to find a cure for Xiao Yu likewise reflects affection and awareness of his family’s debts 2 15.

Around those he trusts, Xiao Yan is playful and expressive: he trades jokes with Xiao Yu, becomes embarrassed by teasing about Xun'er, and buys her gifts during their marketplace outing 15 18 19.

Xiao Yu regards him as loyal, decisive, generous toward family and friends, and ruthless toward enemies without involving innocent people. This assessment draws partly on Xiao Yu’s knowledge of the original story 11.

Abilities & Skills

Dou Qi Cultivation and Combat

• Recovers from third-stage to seventh-stage Dou Qi within a year, then reaches the eighth stage by the ceremonial retest 15 20.
• Defeats Xiao Ning so thoroughly that his opponent remains bedridden for more than ten days 20.
• Cultivates with the Three-Year Agreement and the gap between himself and Xun'er as important motivations 16 21.

Soul Communication

• Uses soul power to speak privately with Yao Lao inside his ring 15.
• Receives Yao Lao’s analysis of Xiao Yu’s concealed cultivation through their private communication 17 18 20.

Flame Techniques

• Is cited as an example of someone able to manifest special flames outside the body without relying on ordinary Dou Qi flame manifestation 45.
• His Buddha’s Fury Fire Lotus, known through Xiao Yu’s foreknowledge, inspires Xiao Yu to attempt fusing divine lightning with an origin flame during a desperate battle 34.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Ring housing Yao Lao — Contains his teacher, with whom he communicates through soul power 15 20.
• Black hooded robe — Worn while attending the auction of his Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid 11.
• Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid — Sold through Mittel; another bottle of faintly glowing green liquid is in his possession during his reunion with Xiao Yu 11 13.

Relationships

• Xiao Zhan — Father. Xiao Yan appreciates his efforts and hopes his renewed cultivation will make him proud and lessen his worries 2 15 16.
• Yao Lao — Teacher and hidden adviser residing in his ring. Guides him on medicinal possibilities, cultivation tools, and Xiao Yu’s concealed strength 15 17 18 20.
• Xiao Yu — Older cousin and close friend. Their renewed bond provides companionship and respite from training; they develop a tacit respect for each other’s secrets 14 21 22.
• Xiao Xun'er — Younger cousin and romantic interest. Stands beside him despite the clan’s mockery; their affection is evident during their marketplace outing 15 16 18.
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée associated with the broken engagement and Three-Year Agreement, which remains a major concern in his training 19 21 22.
• Xiao Ping — Deceased uncle whose sacrifice saved Xiao Zhan. Learning this history strengthens Xiao Yan’s desire to help Xiao Ping’s son, Xiao Yu 15.
• Xiao Ning — Clan peer defeated by Xiao Yan during the ceremonial challenge 20.

Story Role

• Public symbol of a fallen genius’s return: His response to the broken engagement circulates in storybooks and becomes a motto among admiring young clansmen 19.
• Reason Xiao Yu avoids taking established opportunities: Xiao Yu deliberately refuses to seize encounters or relationships tied to Xiao Yan, fearing that interference could prevent his eventual rise to Dou Di and leave no one able to stop Hun Tiandi. This is Xiao Yu’s expectation, not an advancement shown in the supplied chapters 22.

Notable Quotes

“I've burdened Father with far too much. Today, I'll make him proud and give him something to be happy about.” 15

“Today, I'll throw that label of trash right back at them!” 16

“Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—never look down on a young man because he is poor.” 19