Xiao Yan

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Wutan City and Yao Chen’s Discipleship

Xiao Yan was the Xiao Clan’s third young master and the son of clan leader Xiao Zhan. After becoming a Dou Zhe at eleven, he was expected to become a future Dou Huang. His abrupt fall to Third-Stage Dou Qi instead made him the subject of Wutan City’s gossip and his clansmen’s ridicule. Xiao Zhan defended him against the elders’ taunts, while Gu Xun’er continued to encourage him 79 80.

Nalan Yanran subsequently came to end their engagement. Xiao Yan repudiated her and established the Three-Year Agreement, then retreated to the mountain behind the Xiao Clan. There, Yao Chen emerged from his black ring and accepted him as a disciple. Yao Chen instructed him to regain the Dou Zhe realm and cultivate a fire-attribute method before beginning alchemy 80.

Their new partnership immediately encountered Yun Yi and the Hall of Souls. After Yun Yi badly damaged Yao Chen’s soul, Gu Xun’er secured Gu Yuan’s help to save him. Before returning to the Gu Clan, she entrusted the recovering teacher to the unconscious Xiao Yan and promised to wait for him 82 83.

Alchemist Tournament and Three-Year Agreement

By his arrival in Jia Ma Holy City, Xiao Yan had recovered his talent, reached Nine-Star Dou Shi, and developed alchemy skills that Yao Chen considered strong even among fourth-grade alchemists. He entered the Alchemist Tournament but accepted his defeat when Xiao Yi Xian produced a fifth-grade Qi-Gathering Pill and won the championship 132 134.

At the Misty Cloud Sect, he challenged Nalan Yanran alone. Although her cultivation exceeded his by three stars, he revealed the Myriad Beast Spirit Flame and fused two flames into Buddha’s Fury Fire Lotus. The resulting collision defeated her; Xiao Yan remained standing by leaning on his Black Heavy Ruler. After she admitted defeat, he declared their entanglement finished 135 136.

The Hall of Souls’ arrival interrupted his departure. During the ensuing crisis, Yao Chen left Xiao Yan’s exhausted body and attempted to protect him. Xiao Yan refused to escape without his teacher. Gu Xun’er later reunited with him and supplied a Soul-Nourishing Branch for Yao Chen’s recovery 136 138 141.

Rise in the Central Plains

Gu Zhen explained that the Gu Clan opposed Xiao Yan’s relationship with Gu Xun’er because its rules prohibited marriage to outsiders and her exceptionally pure bloodline was crucial to the clan’s future. Xiao Yan treated this opposition as another obstacle to overcome rather than a reason to abandon her 142.

After the Three-Year Agreement, successive Heavenly Flame encounters accelerated his cultivation. He gained three additional flames, competed with Emperor Clan prodigies, and survived Hun Ya’s assault by releasing a four-flame lotus despite suffering serious injuries 172 189 190.

After returning from the Bodhi Ancient Tree, he obtained a Dou Saint ruins owner’s inheritance and Nine-Revolutions Soul-Returning Grass. The grass replenished Yao Chen’s Soul Origin; after returning to life, Yao Chen reached Half-Saint. Xiao Yan subsequently subdued the Red Lotus Karmic Fire while attacking the withdrawing Hall of Souls 194.

Heavenly Tomb and War with the Hun Clan

Xiao Yan defeated several Gu Clan challengers at the coming-of-age ceremony, earning the clan’s initial recognition. At Gu Xun’er’s request, Gu Yuan opened the Heavenly Tomb and sent them inside. Xiao Xuan supplied the resources for Xiao Yan’s rise to Half-Saint, then entrusted him with the Xiao Clan’s remaining bloodline power and complete Clan Mark 197 205.

Upon emerging as a Dou Sheng, Xiao Yan learned that Hun Tiandi had captured Xiao Zhan to demand the Xiao Clan’s Ancient Jade. He insisted on saving his father despite the other clan leaders’ concerns. He also proposed recruiting the Pill Tower and personally secured its support for the Three-Clan Alliance 206 211.

While searching the Pill Tower’s library for a soul cultivation method, Xiao Yan entered an ancient star and encountered Chaos Light. The Plane Spirit had chosen him over Jiang Yun, and its assistance raised him to Five-Star Dou Sheng. Unable to explain the experience, he allowed the others to believe he had received a Pill Tower Ancestor’s inheritance 211 212.

During the war, he confronted Yun Yi over the attack on himself and Yao Chen in Wutan City. He later fought Nihility Devouring Flame at Jia Nan Academy and entered the Ancient Emperor’s Cave Mansion with Gu Yuan’s group 215 222 224.

Invasion of the Dou Qi Continent

Xiao Yan fought the Fire Evil Clan invasion with the Allied Forces, using Heavenly Flames, a Supreme Dharma Body, and the Plane Embryo’s power. His connection to the plane made him a priority target for the invaders 230.

When Yun Yi attempted to seize the Plane Embryo, Xiao Yan resisted within the planar space. Yun Yi defeated him and forcibly expelled him from communion with the continent, ending his immediate chance to become Plane Master. Believing the battle lost, Xiao Yan returned toward the Gu Clan army to be with those most important to him 236 237.

Great Thousand World

In the Great Thousand World, Xiao Yan became known as the Flame Emperor. His fire cultivation, alchemy, and shared origin with Jiang Yun also earned him the nickname “Little Jiang Yun.” At Quasi-Heavenly Sovereign, he helped three Senior Demon Slayers kill a Nether Demon Emperor 325.

Over the following decades, he established the Endless Fire Domain on the Great Thousand World’s borders to resist the Outer Realm Evil Clan. He later healed Lin Dong and fought beside him against the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor. After more than ten thousand exchanges, reinforcements from the divine beasts joined them; Xiao Yan unleashed his new Flame God technique during the combined assault 341 342.

Appearance

• Face and eyes: Initially described with a somewhat delicate, youthful face and dark eyes; Gu Zhen later considers his looks ordinary compared with Gu Qingyang’s 80 141.
• Clothing: Frequently wears black robes 132 194.
• Distinctive silhouette: Carries an enormous pitch-black ruler as tall as himself and as broad as a door 132.
• Clan Mark: A blood-red rune forms between his brows when he activates the complete Xiao Clan Mark; he can conceal it beneath his skin 205.

Personality

Three years of humiliation temper Xiao Yan’s earlier arrogance into endurance and determination. Although ridicule wounds him deeply, he repeatedly rebuilds his confidence and pursues stronger opponents. He explicitly rejects the idea that bloodline alone determines who can reach the continent’s summit 80 142.

His loyalty to family and teacher overrides personal safety and political pressure. He refuses to abandon Yao Chen even when death appears likely, insists on saving Xiao Zhan despite the consequences of surrendering the Ancient Jade, and promises to find a way to free Xiao Xuan from the Heavenly Tomb 138 206.

Xiao Yan is competitive without being unable to acknowledge others’ achievements: he accepts Xiao Yi Xian’s tournament victory and speaks humbly to Jiang Yun while privately intending to catch up. He can also be pragmatic, using the Pill Tower’s rivalry with the Yao Clan to strengthen his argument for joining the alliance 134 172 174 211.

Abilities & Skills

Flame Mantra

A cultivation method that devours Heavenly Flame Origins and evolves through their absorption 15.

• Releases substantial energy during its evolution, driving Xiao Yan’s rapid cultivation gains 15 172.
• Enables multiple Heavenly Flames to coexist and be fused within him 135 190.
• Circulates instinctively during his encounter with Chaos Light, bringing forth his flames to protect his consciousness 211.

Heavenly Flames

• Releases eight flame clusters to create an Eight-Colored Fire Lotus during the Hun Clan battle; the passage does not identify every constituent flame 214.
• His fused flame approaches the Emperor Flame’s might during his planar-space duel with Yun Yi 236.
• Later rumors associate him with the Wan Huo Indestructible Body, supposedly capable of gathering the world’s flames into one body; this is presented as suspicion rather than confirmed possession 325.

Buddha’s Fury Fire Lotus

His signature technique compresses fused flames into a lotus that releases destructive explosive force 135 236.

• The two-flame version defeats Nalan Yanran; observers judge that few Dou Ling could withstand it 135.
• Uses a four-flame lotus against Hun Ya and an eight-colored version against Yun Yi 190 214.
• Eventually attains exceptionally refined mastery, though the technique still fails to overcome Yun Yi in planar space 230 236.

Ruler Techniques

• Flame Splitting Wave Ruler: A technique cultivated in his youth. When later powered by Emperor Flame, its destructive force exceeds that of many Peerless Divine Abilities 341.
• Flame-condensed ruler: Forms a heavy ruler directly from flames to fight Yun Yi at close range 215.

Xiao Clan Secret Arts

• Heavenly Fire Three Mysterious Transformations: An enhancement art associated publicly with Burning Flame Valley but recognized by the Emperor Clans as particularly suited to the Xiao Clan 190.
• Complete Xiao Clan Mark: Raises his aura from early to peak One-Star Dou Sheng without side effects when first demonstrated 205.
• Emperor Seal Art: Used against Hun Ya during the Emperor Clan prodigy battles 190.

Soul Power and Alchemy

• Develops substantial fourth-grade alchemy proficiency under Yao Chen before the Jia Ma Empire’s tournament 132.
• Helps restore Yao Chen by obtaining Nine-Revolutions Soul-Returning Grass to replenish his Soul Origin 194.
• Reaches Heaven Realm Great Perfection Soul Power through Chaos Light, having previously relied on a Black Tier soul manual 211 212.
• Uses a soul-pressure howl while fighting Yun Yi 215.
• Supplies a pill that instantly heals Lin Dong’s injuries before their joint battle 341.
• The Endless Fire Domain is described as one of the Great Thousand World’s three major pill-refining powers 16.

Plane Embryo and Chaos Light

Chosen by the Dou Qi Continent’s Plane Spirit as its prospective Plane Master 211 237.

• Draws on plane power to counter Yun Yi’s attacks and uses Chaos Light defensively 215.
• Wields the Plane Embryo’s power against invading Fire Evil Clan experts 230.
• Can enter communion with the continent, but Yun Yi forcibly breaks that state and expels him from planar space 236 237.

Supreme Dharma Body and Later Techniques

• Supreme Dharma Body: Draws magma from the earth and gathers it into an enormous fiery body. It is disadvantaged against a Fire Evil Clan expert’s Black Demon Statue in their initial clash 230.
• Nirvana Finger: Used to attack Nihility Devouring Flame near the Ancient Emperor’s Cave Mansion 222.
• Flame God: A new technique deployed alongside Lin Dong’s Great Universe against the Saint Heavenly Demon Emperor 342.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Black Heavy Ruler — His enormous signature weapon, carried on his back and retained into his Great Thousand World battles. Jiang Yun’s companions jokingly compare it to a coffin lid 132 134 341.
• Bone Flame Ring / black Storage Ring — The ancient ring from which Yao Chen first emerges; Jiang Yun later recognizes it as the Bone Flame Ring 80 132.
• Xiao Clan Ancient Jade — The Xiao Clan’s piece of the jade required to open the Ancient Emperor’s Cave Mansion. Hun Tiandi uses Xiao Zhan as leverage to demand it 206.
• Soul-Nourishing Branch — Given to him by Gu Xun’er for Yao Chen’s recovery 141.
• Nine-Revolutions Soul-Returning Grass — Obtained from the Dou Saint ruins and used to restore Yao Chen’s Soul Origin 194.

Relationships

• Xiao Zhan — Father. Defends Xiao Yan during his years of decline; Xiao Yan refuses to sacrifice him to prevent Hun Tiandi from gathering the Ancient Jade 79 206.
• Yao Chen — Teacher and alchemy mentor. Xiao Yan refuses to abandon him in battle and devotes himself to restoring his soul and body 80 138 172 194.
• Gu Xun’er — Romantic partner and steadfast supporter. Encourages him during his decline, helps protect Yao Chen, and supports his decisions against pressure from the Emperor Clans 80 83 141 206.
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée. Her broken engagement initiates the Three-Year Agreement; Xiao Yan defeats her and declares their conflict settled 80 135 136.
• Xiao Xuan — Ancestor and bloodline benefactor. Entrusts him with the Xiao Clan’s remaining bloodline power; Xiao Yan promises to seek his freedom from the Heavenly Tomb 205 206.
• Jiang Yun — Benchmark and fellow cultivator. Xiao Yan admires his achievements but resolves to catch up; their shared origin and similar specialties later invite public comparisons 142 172 174 325.
• Yun Yi — Recurring enemy. Attacks Xiao Yan and Yao Chen in Wutan City, later fights him during the Hun Clan war, and ultimately defeats him in planar space 82 215 236.
• Gu Zhen — Gu Clan commander who explains the bloodline restrictions opposing Xiao Yan’s relationship with Gu Xun’er and later acknowledges his rise to Nine-Star Dou Zun 142 196.
• Xuan Yi — Senior alchemist whose support helps him reach Peak Nine-Star Dou Emperor 185.
• Lin Dong — Fellow border defender and battlefield ally. Their respective Endless Fire Domain and Martial Realm resist the Outer Realm Evil Clan; they share mutual appreciation despite rarely meeting 341.

Notable Quotes

“I could never abandon my teacher and escape alone. At worst, I’ll just die!” 138

“I will not fail the trust you have placed in me, Ancestor.” 205

“Teacher, your disciple is confident that he is no weaker than anyone!” 207