Xiao Yan

Biodata

Power Progression

Background and History

Fallen Genius and Transmigrator

Xiao Yan remembers reading fantasy novels in his previous life. He interprets his circumstances—a fallen genius, a devoted childhood sweetheart, and an eventual hidden mentor—as evidence that he is destined to become a protagonist. He casts Xu Ran as the villain who will ultimately become a stepping stone to his success 984 1119.

Once Wutan City’s greatest young genius, Xiao Yan loses cultivation for three years because the dormant Yao Lao absorbs his Dou Qi. After Yao Lao awakens, Xiao Yan learns the cause of his decline and becomes his disciple 1000 1006 1016.

His family descends from the once-powerful Xiao Clan. Xu Ran explains that it formerly led the Ancient Eight Clans, before Xiao Xuan exhausted its Dou Di Bloodlines in an unsuccessful attempt to become a Dou Di. This history renews Xiao Yan’s pride and his belief that the clan’s legacy can help him defeat Xu Ran 1121.

Estrangement from Xun’er

Xun’er initially remains devoted to Xiao Yan despite his declining cultivation. Exploiting her concern, Xu Ran claims that only he can restore Xiao Yan’s talent and obtains her agreement to an embrace. Xiao Yan sees them together, assumes she has abandoned him, and collapses while coughing blood 979 980.

Believing himself betrayed, Xiao Yan praises his unseen fiancée, Nalan Yanran, as superior to Xun’er. When Xun’er offers him the Green King Pill she persuaded Xu Ran to refine, he treats its name and appearance as deliberate mockery and accuses her of conspiring against him 990 991.

Xu Ran also recruits Ling Ying to damage Xiao Yan’s reputation. Ling Ying invents claims that Xiao Yan has long preferred his fiancée and treated Xun’er well only for personal gain. These lies deepen Xun’er’s doubts, alongside the hurt caused by Xiao Yan’s own behavior 1005.

Recovery and Broken Engagement

Yao Lao’s awakening restores Xiao Yan’s ability to cultivate. Xiao Zhan and the elders instead credit Xu Ran’s pills, creating a dispute Xiao Yan cannot resolve without exposing his hidden teacher 1006 1018 1020 1021.

When Nalan Yanran arrives, Xiao Yan expects her to affirm their engagement. She instead announces that she wishes to dissolve it and choose her own partner. He reveals his recovered Stage Nine cultivation, believing it will change her mind, but discovers that she is already a Dou Shi and loves Xu Ran 1017 1018 1019 1020.

Xiao Yan attacks Xu Ran in anger, only for Xiao Zhan to slap him away. His father sees his hostility as ingratitude toward the man he believes restored Xiao Yan’s future 1020.

Expulsion from the Xiao Clan

After defeating Xiao Ning and other clan disciples, Xiao Yan faces Xiao Yu’s accusations that he bullied her brother. Xiao Ning deliberately distorts the confrontation, while Xiao Yan refuses to explain himself and threatens revenge after Xiao Yu slaps him 1025 1028.

Xiao Yan subsequently drugs Xiao Yu and attempts to sexually assault her. Xu Ran, who has been monitoring the situation, intervenes before he succeeds. Once the attempt is exposed, Xiao Zhan severs their father-son relationship and sentences Xiao Yan to two hundred strokes of the rod and expulsion from the clan 1032 1033 1036.

Despite this public disowning, Xiao Zhan later asks Xu Ran to guide and discipline Xiao Yan, entrusting him with his disciplinary ruler and personal token 1061.

Qingshan Town and the Alchemy Wager

Outside Wutan City, Xiao Yan enjoys the recognition his Five-Star Dou Zhe cultivation earns him. He tries to impress the Little Medical Fairy by offering protection, but grows jealous when he learns that Xu Ran is her friend 1067.

In the Magic Beast Mountain Range, Ape-Hybrids target and drag him away. His attempt to redirect them toward the Little Medical Fairy destroys her remaining goodwill. He eventually escapes with Yao Lao’s help, and Xu Ran presents a scroll as a gift that could lead him toward Heavenly Flames 1073 1087 1097.

At Black Rock City’s Alchemist Guild, Xiao Yan challenges the Little Medical Fairy to a wager. When her performance exceeds his expectations, he persuades Yao Lao to secretly help him attempt a Fourth-Rank Pill. He nevertheless loses and kneels before Xu Ran 1097 1105 1106 1109.

Xu Ran then pressures Yao Lao into surrendering the Flame Mantra. Xiao Yan later mourns his brothers, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, after Xu Ran kills them, adding their deaths to his reasons for revenge 1109 1119 1121.

Jia Nan Academy and Yao Lao’s Sacrifice

Xiao Yan reaches Jia Nan Academy as a Two-Star Great Dou Master with a Heavenly Flame obtained during his travels. His attempt to reconcile with Xun’er fails: she rejects him and refuses to accept his accusations against Xu Ran 1164 1167.

Seeking a stronger enemy to use against Xu Ran, Xiao Yan and Yao Lao plan to spread the suspicion that Xu Ran killed Soul Clan experts. Xiao Yan later confidently predicts that the Hall of Souls will kill Xu Ran, only to despair when he returns unharmed 1172 1217.

Facing Xu Ran, Yao Chen burns his own soul to transfer his remaining power and Bone Chilling Flame into Xiao Yan. His final instructions are to avoid reckless confrontation, cultivate quietly, and borrow the Hall of Souls’ strength. Xiao Yan subsequently leaves the academy for the Central Plains 1222 1223 1227.

Hall of Souls and Tuoshe Ancient Emperor

Xiao Yan later travels with a large Hall of Souls force toward the Jia Ma Empire and Snake-People Tribe. Now taught by Void Swallowing Flame, he trusts his new master to defeat Xu Ran and seeks revenge against both Xu Ran and the women close to him 1296.

During his attack on the Mist Cloud Sect, Xiao Yan burns hundreds of elders and disciples to ash. When Yun Shan offers Yun Yun in marriage to save himself, Xiao Yan welcomes the prospect as retaliation for losing Nalan Yanran to Xu Ran 1308.

After his renewed efforts fail, Tuoshe Ancient Emperor appears within his mind. Xu Ran then moves Xiao Zhan into the path of Xiao Yan’s punch, causing him to kill his father, and personally slaughters the other Xiao Clan members before him. Tuoshe Ancient Emperor takes control of Xiao Yan and escapes, intending to develop him through Heavenly Flame consumption and eventually use his body 1317 1322.

Public accounts subsequently blame Xiao Yan for destroying his clan and killing his brothers. These accounts differ from the depicted events, in which Xu Ran kills the brothers and clan members and engineers Xiao Zhan’s death. Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei also accept Xu Ran’s explanation blaming Xiao Yan 1121 1322 1330 1348.

Appearance

• Youthful age, increasingly worn appearance: After repeated defeats, his pale face and lifeless expression make him appear middle-aged despite still being a youth 1219.
• Disheveled hair: During the Mist Cloud Sect confrontation, his unkempt appearance accompanies a sinister presence associated with Soul Clan experts 1307.
• Black flames: Void Swallowing Flame’s sub-flame contributes to his increasingly demonic appearance 1307.

Personality

Xiao Yan strongly associates talent and strength with recognition, romantic success, and the right to command respect. Once his cultivation returns, he repeatedly expects others to admire him or reverse their judgments. His conviction that transmigrators are destined for greatness reinforces this confidence even after major defeats 984 1018 1019 1106.

Jealousy and wounded pride frequently drive his actions. He treats Xun’er’s perceived betrayal as grounds to demean her, regards Nalan Yanran’s engagement as assurance that she belongs with him, and approaches the Little Medical Fairy as another chance to prove himself superior to Xu Ran 990 1017 1067. His attempted assault on Xiao Yu marks an escalation from resentment into deliberate abuse 1032.

He also possesses exceptional persistence. Humiliation pushes him into relentless cultivation, and revenge sustains him through captivity and bereavement. After Yao Lao’s death, he becomes less immediately reckless and begins seeking powerful allies rather than relying solely on direct challenges 1067 1087 1223.

His attachment to Yao Lao is genuine. He protects his teacher’s identity even when disclosure could explain his recovery, and later regards him as the person who gave him a second life. Eventually, however, his pursuit of revenge overwhelms his other attachments, leaving the desire to grow stronger and kill Xu Ran as his dominant motivation 1021 1217 1322.

Abilities and Skills

Cultivation and Combat

Xiao Yan recovers rapidly under Yao Lao’s guidance and continues advancing through intensive training and encounters with ruins 1019 1067 1164.

• Defeats Xiao Ning and several other clan disciples at Dou Qi Stage Nine 1025.
• Claims combat strength comparable to a Dou Shi while still a Five-Star Dou Zhe 1069.
• Becomes powerful enough with fused Heavenly Flames that ordinary Dou Zun hesitate to oppose him; this does not establish that he himself has reached Dou Zun 1306.

Flame Mantra

The Flame Mantra is an evolving cultivation technique given to Xiao Yan by Yao Lao 1109.

• Begins as a low-level Yellow-tier technique.
• Advances by consuming and fusing Heavenly Flames, with the potential to become Heaven-tier.
• Can initially benefit from beast flames, but these cease to be useful at higher grades.
• Remains central to Xiao Yan’s potential even after Yao Lao surrenders the technique to Xu Ran; Xiao Yan is still capable of cultivating it when Tuoshe Ancient Emperor takes him away 1109 1119 1322.

Heavenly Flames

Xiao Yan acquires multiple sources of flame power over his journey 1164 1222 1306.

• The sub-flame is described as comparable to a top-five Heavenly Flame.
• Even a Dou Sheng would struggle to remove it once it attaches.
• Xiao Yan’s ability to endure the pain of merging Heavenly Flames helps attract Tuoshe Ancient Emperor’s interest 1306 1322.

Alchemy

Xiao Yan studies alchemy under Yao Lao, but his independent ability is distinct from what he attempts with his teacher’s intervention 1097 1105.

• Has only recently reached the threshold of Second-Grade Alchemist when he challenges the Little Medical Fairy 1097.
• Enters the guild seeking a second-grade assessment and demonstrates First-Rank Pill refinement 1099.
• Relies on Yao Lao’s secret assistance for his proposed Fourth-Rank Pill attempt; the attempt is not evidence of independent fourth-rank mastery 1105 1106.

Equipment and Items

• Ring containing Yao Lao’s soul — Conceals the powerful alchemist who becomes Xiao Yan’s teacher and greatest early support 1016.
• Ancient Jade — A possession connected to the Xiao Clan’s legacy and the prospect of reaching Dou Di 1027.
• Heavenly Flame-related scroll — Found in a cave containing Mu Li’s remains; Xu Ran claims to have left it as a gift and suggests it can help Xiao Yan locate Heavenly Flames 1087.
• Pill offered after the alchemy wager — Xu Ran gives him a pill said to assist a Dou Shi breakthrough. Xiao Yan accepts it despite his humiliation; its consumption and a resulting breakthrough are not documented in that scene 1109.

Relationships

• Xu Ran — Principal enemy. Xu Ran deliberately humiliates him and pressures his growth, regarding him as an entertaining opponent whose potential he wants to test 1036 1041 1219.
• Yao Lao / Yao Chen — Teacher and most trusted supporter. His dormant absorption causes Xiao Yan’s initial decline, but he later restores his prospects and sacrifices himself for him 1006 1021 1222.
• Xun’er — Childhood sweetheart. Her initial devotion gives way to estrangement and explicit rejection; Xiao Yan repeatedly tries to win her back 979 991 1167 1217.
• Nalan Yanran — Arranged fiancée who seeks to dissolve their engagement. Xiao Yan initially assumes his restored talent will secure her affection 1017 1018.
• Xiao Zhan — Father and Xiao Clan leader. Disowns him after the attempted assault on Xiao Yu, later seeks guidance for him, and ultimately dies when Xu Ran places him before Xiao Yan’s punch 1036 1061 1322.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li — Elder brothers killed by Xu Ran. Xiao Yan mourns them and vows revenge 1121.
• Xiao Yu — Older female cousin and victim of his attempted sexual assault. She later becomes one of his bitter enemies 1032 1036 1348.
• Little Medical Fairy — Unsuccessful romantic pursuit and later alchemy rival. His behavior during the Ape-Hybrid incident turns her against him 1067 1097.
• Void Swallowing Flame — Later master who supplies a sub-flame and helps him fuse Heavenly Flames 1296 1306.
• Tuoshe Ancient Emperor — Possessing benefactor with ulterior motives. Rescues him from Xu Ran while intending to cultivate and eventually use his body 1322.

Notable Quotes

“Teacher, I understand now. I want to cultivate and become stronger. I’m willing to endure any hardship. I just want to become stronger!” 1026

“I know. Xu Ran can’t break me!” 1119

Trivia

• “Flame Emperor” is not a confirmed attained title in this storyline. References to his founding the Endless Fire Territory in the Great Thousand World describe the original trajectory discussed by Xu Ran, rather than achievements Xiao Yan has completed here 987 1109.
• Xu Ran explicitly wonders whether harsher suppression might make Xiao Yan stronger than his original counterpart 1036.
• After the Xiao Clan’s destruction, Xiao Yan’s reputation becomes so notorious that people use stories about him to frighten children 1330.