Xiao Yan

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Transmigration and Childhood Rivalry

Xiao Yan retains memories of a previous life. As a child, he doubted whether supernatural powers such as Dou Qi were real. After reaching first-stage Dou Qi, he secretly entered Xiao Xun’er’s room to test his doubts, initially claiming that he was sleepwalking and then that he intended to nourish her meridians 7 9.

Xiao Qian caught him and pressed him into admitting his real motive. Their shared skepticism helped turn the confrontation into a friendship: Xiao Yan asked to visit again and proposed Xiao Qian as a cultivation rival, believing that only Xiao Qian could keep pace with him 7.

Their early friendship included practical jokes and trouble with Xiao Yu. Xiao Qian nourished Xiao Yan’s meridians overnight as an experiment, then left an incriminating robe on his bed to divert blame for entering Xiao Yu’s room. When Xiao Yu pursued him, Xiao Yan wagered that she could punish him only if she endured one punch from Xiao Qian. Xiao Qian won the wager 9 10 11.

The Xiao Clan’s Twin Stars

Over the next six years, Xiao Yan repeatedly sparred with Xiao Qian without overcoming him. At eleven, he publicly tested as a One-Star Dou Zhe and enjoyed the clan’s admiration. When Xiao Mei insulted Xiao Qian’s talent, however, Xiao Yan rebuked her and demanded that she apologize to his brother 12 13.

He challenged Xiao Qian after the test, hoping his breakthrough would finally secure a victory. His Crushing Stone Palm landed, but Xiao Qian countered, pinned him down, and beat him until he yielded. Rather than abandon their rivalry, Xiao Yan immediately demanded another round; the two then escaped together for a drinking outing 13 14.

The Jia Lie Family targeted the pair, described as the Xiao Clan’s “twin stars.” After being drugged, they fled to a mountain lake and attempted to suppress the drug with cold water and Dou Qi. Xiao Yan lost control upon seeing Xiao Yu bathing, and Xiao Qian stopped him by beating him unconscious 13 15.

During the ensuing ambush, Xiao Yu carried Xiao Yan away while Xiao Qian fought their attackers. Jia Lie Lin briefly recaptured them, but Xiao Qian secured their release and blocked a saber strike aimed at them. Xiao Yan later had to be restrained at home because the drug remained in his body 16 17 20.

Loss of Cultivation

A year after his Dou Zhe breakthrough, Xiao Yan’s test registered only third-stage Dou Qi. He explained that his cultivation had steadily fallen and that any Dou Qi he gained through practice mysteriously vanished. Neither Xiao Qian nor Xiao Xun’er could identify the cause 23 24.

Xiao Qian encouraged him and publicly revealed an extraordinary twenty-seventh-stage Dou Qi result, drawing Wutan City’s attention away from Xiao Yan’s collapse. Xiao Yan privately resolved to reclaim what he had lost and conceal his despair from everyone except his two friends 24.

Continued failure strained his friendship with Xiao Qian. After another year of stagnation, he angrily rejected Xiao Qian’s protection against gossipmongers, calling it pity and charity. Once Xiao Qian left, Xiao Yan admitted to himself that he felt unworthy of their brotherhood 27.

He remained at third-stage Dou Qi through three years of tests. The clan’s former praise became mockery, but repeated humiliation hardened rather than extinguished his determination to become stronger 27.

Broken Engagement and Renewed Hope

Nalan Yanran arrived with representatives of the Misty Cloud Sect to dissolve her childhood engagement to Xiao Yan. He condemned the public humiliation of both himself and his father. Refusing to let her dictate the separation, he wrote “Repudiated” on paper, marked it with his bloody handprint, and declared that he was rejecting her 28 29.

Xiao Yan vowed to visit the Misty Cloud Sect in three years and avenge the insult. Xiao Qian subsequently defended the Xiao Clan’s dignity by defeating a sect disciple and Nalan Yanran 29 30 31.

Soon afterward, Xiao Yan told Xiao Qian that his talent had returned and that he could cultivate again. He thanked him for three years of support, reaffirmed his intention to settle the three-year agreement personally, and immediately returned to cultivation. The cause of his recovery is not explained in the supplied account 32.

Appearance

• Youthful, delicate features: His face is described as delicate when his excitement returns after recovering his cultivation ability 32.
• Dark eyes: During his confrontation with Nalan Yanran, his dark eyes convey intense anger and killing intent 29.
• Plain clothing for outings: He and Xiao Qian change into ordinary clothes to blend into Wutan City’s nightlife 14.

Personality

As a young genius, Xiao Yan is confident, flamboyant, and fond of attention. He enjoys an entourage and openly celebrates his cultivation achievements. Xiao Zhan worries that this talent-fed swagger will eventually cause him suffering 12 23.

He combines mischievous behavior with genuine loyalty. He provokes Xiao Yu, sneaks out drinking, and readily seeks shelter behind Xiao Qian when in trouble, but he also refuses to tolerate others insulting his friend 10 12 14 21.

His pride becomes especially painful after his cultivation collapses. He interprets protection as pity and briefly pushes Xiao Qian away out of shame. Nevertheless, adversity strengthens his resolve, while Nalan Yanran’s treatment of his father provokes a fierce defense of family dignity 27 29.

Abilities & Skills

Dou Qi Cultivation

• Reached first-stage Dou Qi at five and One-Star Dou Zhe at eleven 5 13.
• Formed a spinning Dou Qi vortex upon entering the Dou Zhe realm 13.
• Used Dou Qi alongside icy lake water to suppress the effects of the Jia Lie Family’s drug 15.
• Retained his aptitude during his decline, but could not retain newly cultivated Dou Qi until his unexplained recovery 24 32.

Soul Perception

• Possesses formidable soul perception that detects subtleties missed by other clan members and elders 13.
• Recognized that Xiao Qian concealed substantial strength beneath his apparent third-stage Dou Qi, though he could not determine Xiao Qian’s actual level 13.

Crushing Stone Palm

• A Yellow Tier Mid-Grade Dou Technique learned by the time of his One-Star Dou Zhe breakthrough 13.
• Used a knee feint to clear Xiao Qian’s guard before directing the palm strike at his abdomen 13.
• Failed to overcome Xiao Qian’s durability and greater volume of Dou Qi, leaving Xiao Yan vulnerable to a counterattack 13.

Meridian Nourishment

• Claimed that he could nourish Xiao Xun’er’s meridians with Dou Qi after reaching the first stage 7.
• No successful use on her is shown; she declined, and his stated purpose concealed his desire to test whether Dou Qi was real 7.

Relationships

• Xiao Zhan — Father and Xiao Clan Chief. Distressed by Xiao Yan’s cultivation loss, he nevertheless affirms his belief in his son after the confrontation with Nalan Yanran 23 29.
• Xiao Qian — Closest friend, sworn-in-spirit brother, and cultivation rival. Their bond survives repeated sparring defeats, dangerous outings, and Xiao Yan’s temporary rejection of his support 7 13 24 27 32.
• Xiao Xun’er — Clan acquaintance and supportive friend. His childhood intrusion alarms her, but she later joins Xiao Qian in encouraging him after his fall. She also resents his role in Xiao Qian’s drinking escapades 7 13 24.
• Xiao Yu — Frequent adversary in quarrels and pursuits. She punishes his provocations, yet carries him to safety during the Jia Lie ambush 10 16 17 21.
• Xiao Mei — An admiring follower during his years as a genius. Her certainty in his invincibility is shaken by his defeat to Xiao Qian, and she hesitates to approach him after his cultivation collapses 12 13 24.
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and the focus of his three-year challenge. Her public attempt to end their engagement leads him to repudiate her and vow to reclaim his and his father’s dignity 28 29 32.

Notable Quotes

“He’s my brother! I haven’t even said anything. What right do you have to look down on him?” 12

“Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west! Don’t bully a young man because he’s poor!” 29

“When the three-year agreement comes due, I’ll make her pay.” 32