Xiao Yan

Biodata

Power Progression

The table records Xiao Yan’s own cultivation and documented skill milestones. Yao Lao’s possession and temporary strength increases are identified separately.

Background / History

Xiao Yan is a transmigrator who retains memories of a previous world. In his current life, he belongs to the Xiao Clan of Wutan City and is Clan Leader Xiao Zhan’s third son 86 87 169.

He was once regarded as an exceptional prodigy with the potential to reach Dou Emperor. His cultivation then declined for three years, leaving him at Third-Stage Dou Qi and earning him a reputation as a good-for-nothing. Nalan Yanran’s public cancellation of their engagement compounded that humiliation and became the driving force behind their Three-Year Agreement 76 80 159.

Yao Lao became his teacher after observing his character for years. His instruction gave Xiao Yan access to alchemy, advanced techniques, and the Flame Mantra. Xiao Yan later learned that his seemingly minor family descended from the ancient Xiao Clan, formerly one of the Eight Ancient Clans 76 86 181 195.

Appearance

• Youthful, handsome face: Revealed when he removed his Yan Xiao mask before the Three-Year Agreement; he appeared about eighteen at the time 188.
• Black clothing: Wore a black robe when arriving in Demon Cloud City and appeared black-clad upon breaking through to Dou Sheng 169 350.
• Black Heavy Ruler: Carried the unusually large weapon on his back during his travels 142.
• Purple wings: His Flying Dou Technique manifested purple wings before he reached Dou Wang 190.
• Xiao Clan Mark: Can reveal a clan rune between his brows 360.

Personality

Xiao Yan is intensely proud, particularly where his lost dignity is concerned. His determination to fulfill the Three-Year Agreement made him eager to advance even when Yao Lao advised against rushing. Nevertheless, he refused to take a Three-Pattern Green Spirit Pill from his brothers, recognizing that they lacked his teacher’s guidance and resources 159.

Loyalty and gratitude define his relationship with Yao Chen. He blamed himself when his teacher surrendered valuable pill formulas for his protection, vowed to punish Han Feng for betraying Yao Chen, and consistently credited his own achievements to his teacher’s guidance 86 109 181 350.

He is ambitious without being unable to acknowledge stronger opponents. Initially frightened by Queen Medusa, he gradually came to admire her power and governance, then aspired to surpass her. When confronted with her continued growth, he maintained that talent and bloodline did not determine a cultivator’s entire future 75 169 307.

His pride does not prevent mercy: after defeating Nalan Yanran, he sought Queen Medusa’s help to save her life. He also worried about the damage his absorption of the Fallen Heart Flame might cause Jia Nan Academy 192 193 215.

Abilities & Skills

Flame Mantra

The cultivation method Yao Lao entrusted to Xiao Yan can devour Heavenly Flames and advance its own rank 86 159 215.

• Evolved from Yellow Tier to Mystic Tier after absorbing the Netherworld Poison Flame 159.
• Reached Profound Tier Peak after absorbing the Fallen Heart Flame, with performance comparable to an ordinary Earth-Tier method 215.
• Allows multiple Heavenly Flames to coexist and merge within him; he controlled a five-flame fusion by the Yao Clan gathering 217 373.
• Makes him capable of body-refinement work requiring several Heavenly Flames, something Chen Xuan could not accomplish merely through superior cultivation 219 232.

Heavenly Flames

• His merged flames more than doubled in power after absorbing the Fallen Heart Flame 215.
• His three-flame fusion could not eliminate Old Ancestor Huoyun’s sinister cold injury; the attempt injured Xiao Yan 249.
• Spent seven days using Heavenly Flames to dissolve the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit energy crystallized inside Zi Yan 351.
• Was entrusted with helping control Xiao Yi Xian’s Woeful Poison Body because he possessed the necessary multiple flames 233.
• Controlled five Heavenly Flames together at the Yao Clan gathering, though that passage does not specify their complete composition 373.

Alchemy

Trained directly by Yao Chen, Xiao Yan became an advanced fourth-grade alchemist before twenty and later a seventh-grade alchemist in the Central Plains 181 187 246.

• Alchemist Tournament: Won under his Yan Xiao identity 187.
• Fire Bodhi Pill: Assisted Chen Xuan at Burning Flame Valley, maintaining soul expenditure for seven consecutive days with only limited strain 247.
• Spirit Ascension Method: Used Bone Spirit Cold Flame, spirit nurturing dust, and his blood to strengthen his Pill Gathering entry from three-colored to five-colored pill lightning 278.
• Pill Gathering result: Surpassed Old Man Mu Gu’s four-colored lightning but conceded when Chen Xuan produced six-colored thunderclouds 278.

Body Refinement

Xiao Yan can use multiple Heavenly Flames to forge bodies for disembodied souls 109 219.

• Agreed to prepare a new body for the Heavenly Fire Venerable 219 232.
• The documented procedure required three Heavenly Flames, a Dou Zong corpse, seventh-rank magical beast blood essence, and a Bone-Growing Blood-Melting Pill 232.
• Later refined Yao Chen’s body using a four-flame fusion and materials supplied with Chen Xuan’s help 309.
• Explained that Little Scale would require the body of an eighth-rank snake-type magical beast; those materials were unavailable at the time 232.

Combat Techniques

• Flame Splitting-Wave Ruler: An Earth-Rank technique that draws on surrounding heaven-and-earth energy. Its flame-powered strike overcame Nalan Yanran’s finishing move 189 190.
• Flying Dou Technique: Grants flight below Dou Wang; used during his journey to Demon Cloud City and in the duel with Nalan Yanran 169 173 190.
• Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations: Acquired from Burning Flame Valley; temporarily raised his strength to Five-Star Dou Zun during the Starfall Pavilion battle 250 312.
• Emperor Seal Art: A high-grade Earth-Tier technique given to him by Xun’er at Jia Nan Academy. He had learned its third seal by the Myriad Medicine Mountain Range encounter 275.
• Formless Finger: Shattered Star-Picking Old Ghost’s Zhai Xing Hand and badly injured him 312.
• Five-Wheel Separation Flame: Prepared as a response to the Fourth Heavenly Venerate’s blood seal before another figure intervened 312.

Soul Power and Clan Mark

• Emperor Realm soul: Blocked the Lei Clan’s combined assault and helped him defeat Lei Dong 387.
• Xiao Clan Mark: Its resemblance to Xiao Chen’s mark stopped the ancestor’s attack and restored his full clarity 360.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Black Heavy Ruler — Heavy weapon mastered during his Magical Beast Mountain Range training; used for both defensive rotations and flame-powered attacks 142 189.
• Storage Ring — Stores scrolls and other belongings; Yao Lao’s soul also emerged from its pitch-black form 83 172.
• Yan Xiao mask — Concealed his identity until he removed it before the Three-Year Agreement 179 188.
• Queen Medusa’s purple token — The Snake-People Tribe’s highest-ranking token; secured a free Honored Guest room and Elder Jiadou’s personal assistance in Demon Cloud City 169.
• Spirit nurturing dust — Received two grains in exchange for the False Transformation Technique; Yao Lao explained that they could aid a Spirit Realm soul breakthrough. Later used in the Spirit Ascension Method 193 278.
• Tou She Ancient God Jade — Inherited from Xiao Zhan; ultimately exchanged with the Hun Clan for his father’s release 194 195 397.
• Bodhi Great Return Pill — Bestowed by Chen Xuan to assist his advancement from High-Rank Half-Saint to Dou Sheng 350.

Relationships

• Yao Chen / Yao Lao — Teacher and father-like mentor. Entrusted Xiao Yan with Flame Mantra and his alchemical teachings; regarded him as his own child. Xiao Yan later refined his replacement body 86 181 308 309.
• Chen Xuan / Queen Medusa — Powerful ally and protector encountered through Medusa’s shared body. Their early dealings involved coercion and pill formulas, but developed into repeated protection, exchanges of resources, and cooperation in the Underworld Alliance 83 84 86 193 344.
• Xiao Zhan — Father. His capture became a central motive for Xiao Yan’s cultivation; Xiao Yan eventually recovered him by surrendering the Ancient Jade 194 200 397.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li — Elder brothers. Xiao Yan refused to divert their limited cultivation resources to himself and later reunited with them in Demon Cloud City 159 216.
• Xiao Xun’er / Gu Xun’er — Beloved companion whose powerful Gu Clan background encouraged him to seek greater strength. She calmed him after Hun Yu’s taunts and awaited his visit to the Ancient Realm 159 220 330 367.
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and Three-Year Agreement opponent. He defeated her, then sought a seventh-grade pill to save her life; they later reunited on friendly terms in the Black-Corner Region 80 190 193 221.
• Han Feng — Yao Chen’s former disciple and Xiao Yan’s enemy. Xiao Yan vowed to avenge his teacher, later extracted Han Feng’s soul, and took the Sea Heart Flame 86 206 232.
• Ya Fei — Auction-house acquaintance and friend. Recognized that his supposed incompetence concealed unusual abilities and later teased him about Nalan Yanran’s interest 80 221.
• Zi Yan — Close friend from Jia Nan Academy. Reunited with him during the Pill Gathering journey; Xiao Yan later dissolved the crystal trapping her 275 351.
• Little Purple — Affectionate magical beast companion. Accepted honey from Xiao Yan and resisted his departure before being permitted to accompany him for training 177 200.
• Su Qian — Jia Nan Academy’s Great Elder. Accepted the loss of the Fallen Heart Flame to Xiao Yan and accompanied him to Queen Medusa’s gathering 215 216.
• Old Ancestor Huoyun — Benefactor whose injury required Xiao Yan’s flames. Promised support in obtaining the Pill Tower’s flame after Xiao Yan’s initial treatment failed 249 250.
• Xiao Chen — Xiao Clan ancestor. Regained clarity through Xiao Yan’s clan mark, then joined him and offered to teach him high-level clan techniques 360 367.
• Hun Yu and the Hun Clan — Enemies tied to Xiao Zhan’s imprisonment. Xiao Yan resisted Hun Yu’s manipulation and later confronted the clan to recover his father 330 397.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Wutan City and Queen Medusa’s Bargain

• Tried to earn money by auctioning Yao Lao’s Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, only to encounter Queen Medusa’s formidable group 75.
• Delivered the liquid’s formula at Medusa’s demand; Chen Xuan then exposed Yao Lao’s concealed presence 83 84.
• Yao Lao surrendered eighth- and ninth-tier pill formulas in return for Medusa’s promise to act three times, securing protection for Xiao Yan 86.
• Little White’s meridian treatment accelerated Xiao Yan’s early recovery and permanently improved his capacity to absorb and store Dou Qi 110.

Heavenly Flame Search and the Three-Year Agreement

• Trained in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, then obtained the Netherworld Poison Flame in the Chu Yun Empire 142 159.
• Sought Queen Medusa’s protection against the Misty Cloud Sect’s Dou Zong leader, spending one of the three promised favors 172.
• Won the Alchemist Tournament as Yan Xiao, then revealed his identity and defeated Nalan Yanran 187 188 189 190.
• After Yun Leng’s attack left Nalan Yanran near death, asked Queen Medusa to save her with a Life-Restoring Pill 191 192 193.

Xiao Clan Crisis and Jia Nan Academy

• Returned to find Xiao Zhan captured and learned the significance of the clan’s Ancient Jade 194 195.
• Relocated the surviving clan to Demon Cloud City under Snake-People protection before leaving for Jia Nan Academy 200.
• Allowed Yao Lao to possess his body during the battle against Han Feng, then remained sealed with the Fallen Heart Flame 206 212.
• Absorbed the flame and emerged at Peak Dou Wang; the academy chose to accept the outcome rather than punish him 215.

Central Plains and Yao Chen’s Restoration

• Received Yao Lao’s Bone Spirit Cold Flame after his teacher’s capture and set out for the Central Plains 231 234.
• Acquired Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations and Huoyun’s support at Burning Flame Valley 249 250.
• Produced five-colored pill lightning at the Pill Gathering and obtained the Three Thousand Burning Flame 278 285.
• Sought Queen Medusa’s help concerning Yao Chen’s imprisonment. Yao Chen later thanked her for saving him in the Dead Soul Mountain Range 286 308.
• Secured materials to restore Yao Chen’s soul origin and forge his body, then defended Starfall Pavilion against Soul Hall attackers 308 309 312.

Underworld Alliance and Dou Sheng Advancement

• Proposed combining major factions against the Soul Hall and agreed to approach Zi Yan’s Ancient Void Dragon Clan 344.
• Advanced to Dou Sheng with Chen Xuan’s assistance, strengthening Starfall Pavilion’s position within the alliance 350.
• Freed Zi Yan from the Dragon Phoenix crystal and later brought Xiao Chen into the alliance’s orbit 351 367.
• Entered the Gu Clan’s Heavenly Tomb seeking further advancement; subsequently displayed an Emperor Realm soul against the Lei Clan 377 384 387.

Recovery of Xiao Zhan

• Exchanged his Tou She Ancient God Jade for Xiao Zhan at Chen Xuan’s direction 397.
• Entrusted his father’s safety to Yao Chen and returned toward the Hun Clan army as the confrontation escalated 397.

Notable Quotes

“My teacher truly is a great man! Without my teacher, I would never have become who I am today.” 181

“All of that proves that potential and talent don’t determine everything!” 307

“Without your years of guidance, Teacher, I would never have attained my current strength!” 350

Trivia

• His memories of another world shape his interpretation of Demon Cloud City’s human–snake-person coexistence: he explicitly calls it “racial equality” 169.
• Little White’s treatment left his meridians more than twice as wide, doubled his Dou Qi storage, and made him approximately twice as strong as an ordinary Seventh-Stage Dou Qi cultivator 110.
• Chen Xuan’s recollections of Xiao Yan becoming Dou Di refer to the original story, not a confirmed advancement in this version’s documented events 54 99.
• Zi Yan jokingly threatened to capture Queen Medusa and marry her to Xiao Yan once she became strong enough; the passage does not establish a marriage between them 275.