Xiao Yan

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Xiao Yan (萧炎)
Alias(es)	Yan Xiao; Flame Emperor (in later accounts) 181 194
Species/Race	Human; Xiao Clan descendant 144 178
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Xiao Clan; disciple of Fang Yuan; later associated with the Flame Alliance 167 173 194
Occupation/Role	Alchemist; cultivator; Fang Yuan's disciple 155 183 191
Status	Unclear — killed by Yang Hao in one account, while later accounts describe his rebirth and continued activity; Huang Xuan subsequently states that Xiao Yan had turned to dust 41 144 230
First Appearance	Chapter 6 6

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Five-star Dou Ling	40	Reached after recuperating for three months following the Strong Ranking Competition; possessed Late Mortal Realm soul power and could refine simple fifth-grade pills.
Three Stages of Dou Qi	148	In the rebirth account, achieved at age five under Fang Yuan's strict instruction.
One-star Dou Ling	155	At age twelve, became a fifth-grade alchemist; his practical combat strength was comparable to an ordinary Dou Wang.
Three-star Dou Huang	167	Returned to Wutan City as a Peak Sixth Grade Alchemist.
Eight-star Dou Huang	183	Reached Great Perfection of the Mortal Realm in soul power and seventh-grade low-level alchemy.

Background

Xiao Yan is the third young master of the Xiao Family of Wutan City and the youngest son of Xiao Zhan. He was formerly regarded as an unprecedented Xiao Clan prodigy: he began cultivating at four, reached nine stages of Dou Qi at ten, and became a Dou Zhe at eleven. His cultivation later regressed to three stages after his Dou Qi vortex mysteriously vanished. 181 216

The regression was caused by the ancient black ring left by his late mother. Yao Chen, a soul residing within the ring, had drained Xiao Yan's Dou Qi for three years to awaken from his slumber. Yao Chen nevertheless recognized Xiao Yan's unusually strong innate soul power, maturity under hardship, and potential as an alchemist. 6 7

A later account presents Xiao Yan as a transmigrator who awakened in the body of the original Xiao Yan at roughly four or five years old. After recovering from a three-day coma, he resolved to treat Xiao Zhan, Xiao Ding, and Xiao Li well as recompense for possessing their family member's body. 144 145

Personality

Xiao Yan is respectful toward Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Family elders, even when confronted with the humiliating question of his engagement. He accepts Hai Bodong's face-saving proposal and directly asks the Ice Emperor to investigate his cultivation problem. 5 6

Hardship makes him more mature, but he remains proud and resistant to being controlled. Under Fang Yuan's training, he complains bitterly about being forced to hunt magical beasts and consume painful medicinal liquids, yet ultimately submits to the regimen and devotes himself to cultivation and alchemy. 7 149 151 169

After gaining strength, Xiao Yan becomes noticeably confident and enjoys displaying his accomplishments before the Xiao Clan. 167

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Xiao Yan possesses exceptional talent as an alchemist, supported by naturally strong soul power.

• Yao Chen considered him talented enough to become his disciple. 7
• At five-star Dou Ling, he could refine simple fifth-grade pills. 40
• At age twelve, he was a fifth-grade alchemist. 155
• Upon returning to Wutan City, he was a Peak Sixth Grade Alchemist. 167
• As an eight-star Dou Huang, he reached seventh-grade low-level alchemy and gained the respect of Jia Ma Empire alchemists. 183

Dou Qi Combat

Fang Yuan equipped Xiao Yan with high-grade cultivation methods, numerous Profound-tier Dou Skills, and several Earth-tier Dou Skills. While a one-star Dou Ling, Xiao Yan could contend with an ordinary Dou Wang, though his lack of a Heavenly Flame limited his reliability against stronger opponents. 155

• Profound Fire Art — Earth-tier high-grade fire-attribute cultivation method provided by Fang Yuan. 155
• Eight Extremes Collapse — high-grade Profound-tier close-combat technique; its eight stacked forces can rival an Earth-tier low-grade skill. 151 215
• Flame Splitting Wave Ruler — Earth-tier low-grade ruler technique. 151 215
• Roaring Lion Chant — sound-wave Dou Technique taught by Fang Yuan. 151
• Purple Cloud Wings — flying Dou Technique taught by Fang Yuan. 151
• Taiyi Soul Art — soul-tempering art cultivated under Fang Yuan's supervision. 169 173

Later-Reported Techniques

Later accounts attribute several powerful techniques to Xiao Yan.

• Buddha's Rage Fire Lotus — his self-created trump card, formed by fusing multiple flames; its power rises with the quantity and quality of flames used. 215
• Three Thousand Lightning Movement — Earth-tier low-grade movement technique with speed comparable to Earth-tier mid-grade techniques. 215
• Yellow Springs Heavenly Wrath — Heaven-tier high-grade sonic-wave soul attack obtained from the Yellow Springs Demon Saint's legacy. 224

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Ancient black ring — a keepsake from Xiao Yan's late mother; housed Yao Chen's soul and was responsible for draining Xiao Yan's Dou Qi. 6 7
• Mysterious Heavy Ruler — weapon passed on to him by Fang Yuan. 151
• Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid — repeatedly supplied during Fang Yuan's harsh mountain training. 149 197

Relationships

• Xiao Zhan — father and Xiao Family patriarch; consistently supports and takes pride in Xiao Yan. 5 144 167
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li — elder brothers who worry for him after his coma and share a close family bond with him. 145 164
• Fang Yuan — master; trains Xiao Yan intensely, confines him to focused cultivation, and later treats him as an instrument for larger plans. 149 174 184
• Yao Chen / Old Yao — soul within Xiao Yan's ring; drained his Dou Qi to awaken but identified his alchemical potential and intended to accept him as a disciple. 7
• Gu Xun'er — childhood sweetheart who continues to support him through his period of decline; later accounts identify her as one of his wives. 40 145 190
• Nalan Yanran — arranged fiancée whose attempt to end their engagement becomes a defining conflict in Xiao Yan's life. 6 145 170
• Qing Lin — former maid who becomes deeply loyal to Xiao Yan after he treats her kindly despite her mixed human and snake-person heritage. 192
• Queen Medusa / Cai Lin — later ally and wife; she repeatedly saves Xiao Yan during his conflicts with the Yun Lan Sect. 144 206
• Yun Yun — rescues and assists Xiao Yan's growth after he saves her in the Monster Mountain Range; their relationship later becomes emotionally complicated. 145 197

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Broken engagement — Hai Bodong mediates Nalan Yanran's request to dissolve her engagement with Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan accepts a public explanation that he had already fallen for someone else, preserving both families' face. 6
• The ring's secret — Hai Bodong discovers that Xiao Yan's ancient ring is abnormal; Yao Chen later reveals that he had been draining Xiao Yan's Dou Qi from within it. 6 7
• Inner Academy period and death — Xiao Yan reaches five-star Dou Ling and develops as an alchemist, but is severely beaten and then killed by Yang Hao, a Dou Zun commander of the Black Annihilation Army. 40 41
• Rebirth and apprenticeship — a reborn Xiao Yan is taken in by Fang Yuan, who subjects him to secluded cultivation, medicinal training, and monster-hunting trials. 144 149 191
• Rise under Fang Yuan — Xiao Yan advances from a child cultivator to a Dou Ling, Dou Huang, and high-grade alchemist while carrying out training and management duties for his master. 155 167 183
• Confinement and flight — Fang Yuan keeps Xiao Yan in a sealed chamber to force soul cultivation. As Fang Yuan's control intensifies, Xiao Yan eventually flees from the Yun Lan Sect to seek help from the Soul Hall. 174 184
• Huang Xuan's pursuit — Huang Xuan later regards Xiao Yan as a future threat, decides to eliminate him, and subsequently claims that he swallowed Xiao Yan whole. 224 233

Notable Quotes

“Damn it! This scummy master is truly trash!” 151