Xiao Yan

Biodata

Power Progression

• Foretold cultivation: The Answering Space identifies him as a future Dou Di and Flame Emperor. He has not personally reached that realm in the documented events 13 34.

Background / History

Loss of Talent and Broken Engagement

Xiao Yan was once a prodigy who reached Dou Zhe at eleven. By the time Nalan Jie and Nalan Yanran visited the Xiao Clan, he had endured three years of lost talent and ridicule. His father initially mistook their arrival for a discussion of wedding arrangements, only for Nalan Jie to announce that they had come to dissolve the engagement 8 9.

When the clan elders pressured Xiao Zhan to accept compensation, Xiao Yan asserted his own right to decide the engagement’s fate. Nevertheless, he recognized that the Xiao Clan could not withstand Nalan Jie’s Dou Wang strength. He accepted two Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills and immediately gave them to his father, bitterly observing that a stronger Xiao Zhan could protect him from their own clansmen 9.

At Nalan Yanran’s request, Nalan Jie investigated his missing Dou Qi. During the examination, Xiao Yan discovered that he could retain Dou Qi again. Nalan Jie mistakenly suspected that a hidden expert had caused the loss and proposed placing him under the protection of the Misty Cloud Sect’s leader 10.

Two Cultivation Guides

Xiao Yan agreed to seek a master rather than risk returning to his former helplessness. Before leaving, he promised Xiao Xun’er that he would “return as a king.” Yun Yun subsequently accepted him as her personal disciple 11.

That night, the black ring on his finger absorbed his Dou Qi again. Yao Chen revealed himself but falsely claimed to be an ancestor of Xiao Yan’s mother, using that identity to establish a place beside a boy who already had a formal master. He persuaded Xiao Yan to cultivate the Flame Mantra 11.

Protection and Departure

After witnessing the Answering Space’s revelations about his future, Xiao Yan urgently tried to return home to warn his family. Nalan Yanran helped him obtain an audience with Yun Yun. During his subsequent departure under escort, Gu Yuan intercepted the group, knocked him unconscious, and entrusted Yao Chen with a ninth-rank Marrow-Cleansing Pill intended for him 19 20 21.

Gu Yuan later learned that Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun’er had been watching the broadcasts. After beating Xiao Yan over his childhood conduct toward Xun’er, he decided to keep the future Flame Emperor away from the Central Plains and raise him to Dou Zun on the Northwest Continent instead. The Xiao Clan relocated from Wutan City to a town below Misty Cloud Mountain, and Xiao Xun’er also became Yun Yun’s disciple 21 22.

Upon reaching One-Star Dou Zhe, Xiao Yan offered the sect the Spirit-Nourishing Liquid formula and requested permission to leave for harsh training. Yun Yun initially refused and urged him to replace the Flame Mantra with the Flowing Flame Art. She eventually agreed to his departure with Xiao Zhan as his guardian 24 25.

Qingshan Town and the Reality Crisis

Father and son traveled toward Qingshan Town carrying heavy greatswords that suppressed their Dou Qi. Xiao Yan’s weapon came from Yao Chen; Gu Yuan supplied Xiao Zhan with a similar weapon that was thirty percent heavier. The training raised Xiao Yan to Two-Star Dou Zhe within days 29.

At the Myriad Medicine Pavilion, Xiao Yan saw animated scenes presented by the Answering Space and began questioning whether he had been reborn into an animation or novel. His soul shook violently enough to alarm Yao Chen, while Xiao Zhan cleared the building to prevent interference. Xiao Yan recovered by affirming his own reality and identity, breaking directly into late Mortal Realm soul power 34.

Personality

Three years of ridicule leave Xiao Yan sensitive to humiliation and intensely invested in recovering his talent. His anger does not erase his judgment: during the broken engagement, he restrains himself after recognizing that provoking Nalan Jie could endanger the entire clan 9 11.

He remains cautious even toward his guides. Although he addresses Yao Chen as an ancestor, he does not trust him completely and initially conceals his ability to watch the Answering Space 13.

His persistence becomes most apparent during training. He continues carrying the exhausting black greatsword despite its weight and suppression of his Dou Qi, earning Gu Yuan’s admiration. His later soul breakthrough likewise comes from confronting his doubts rather than receiving medicinal assistance 29 30 34.

He can also reconsider grievances. By the time he leaves Misty Cloud Mountain, he regards his debt with Nalan Yanran as settled: the engagement’s dissolution humiliated his father, but the resulting intervention also helped restore his cultivation and brought him to Yun Yun 25.

Abilities & Skills

Flame Mantra

• A low Yellow Tier Qi Method taught to him by Yao Chen, capable of advancing its tier by absorbing Heavenly Flames 11 21 22.
• Xiao Yan considers brutal physical preparation necessary before attempting to devour Heavenly Flames at Dou Shi 24.
• Yun Yun doubts its claimed potential and offers the middle Mystic Tier Flowing Flame Art as an alternative; Xiao Yan remains committed to the Flame Mantra 24.
• No successful Heavenly Flame absorption by Xiao Yan is documented in the supplied events 34.

Soul Power

• Possesses late Mortal Realm soul power after breaking through the barrier of knowledge and perception 34.
• Makes the breakthrough independently, without medicinal ingredients, prompting Yao Chen to praise his willpower 34.

Answering Space Observation

• Can watch the Answering Space despite remaining physically outside it; his voice cannot reach the participants during the initial observed session 13.
• Initially sees broadcasts that Yao Chen, despite being beside him, cannot detect 13.
• Learns information about his future cultivation, relationships, and enemies through the broadcasts 13 15 34.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Ancient black ring — Houses Yao Chen and absorbs Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi before Yao Chen reveals himself 11.
• Heavy black greatsword — Supplied by Yao Chen for training. Its weight and Dou Qi-suppressing effect make even walking difficult, but produce rapid cultivation gains 29.
• Spirit-Nourishing Liquid and formula — Presents a sample to Yun Yun and offers the formula to the Misty Cloud Sect while seeking permission to train outside the mountain 24.
• Two Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pills — Receives them as compensation for the dissolved engagement and gives both to Xiao Zhan 9.
• Ninth-rank Marrow-Cleansing Pill — Purchased by Gu Yuan for Xiao Yan and delivered to Yao Chen with instructions to feed it to him 19 21.

Relationships

• Xiao Zhan — Father and traveling guardian. Defends him against clan mockery, accompanies his training, and protects him during his soul crisis 8 25 29 34.
• Xiao Xun’er / Gu Xun’er — Childhood companion and romantic attachment; the Answering Space names her his future empress. Xiao Yan remembers her as the one who did not disdain him after his talent vanished 11 13.
• Yun Yun — Formal master. Initially accepts him reluctantly, but becomes protective after witnessing his talent and offers him the Flowing Flame Art 11 24 25.
• Yao Chen — Ring-dwelling cultivation guide who teaches him the Flame Mantra and directs his training. His claim to be Xiao Yan’s maternal ancestor is fabricated 11 24 29.
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée. After dissolving their engagement, she helps investigate his missing Dou Qi, assists him in meeting Yun Yun, and offers a lead on companion amethyst source 10 21 25.
• Nalan Jie — Former prospective grandfather-in-law. Compensates the broken engagement, examines his cultivation, and arranges his introduction to the Misty Cloud Sect 9 10 11.
• Gu Yuan — Xiao Xun’er’s father and a powerful protector. Resents Xiao Yan’s conduct toward his daughter but invests in his survival, resources, and training as a future son-in-law 21 22 29 30.
• Xiao Xuan — Xiao Clan ancestor. Celebrates Xiao Yan’s foretold rise and warns against allowing Hun Tiandi to discover him before he matures 14 15.
• Hun Tiandi — Future enemy identified by the quiz. Seeks Xiao Yan’s whereabouts so he can kill him before his predicted rise 3 15 31.
• Xiao Ding and Xiao Li — Eldest and second elder brothers, respectively 32.
• Medusa and Xiao Xiao — Linked to Xiao Yan through a revealed future. The Answering Space states that Xiao Xiao carries his bloodline power but is formed from Medusa and the Fallen Heart Flame’s residual soul power, with Xiao Yan serving as a vessel rather than her biological father 34.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Subject of the Answering Space

Notable Quotes

“Don’t worry, Xun’er. I’ll return as a king!” 11

“I am who I am. I am a real person.” 34

“I am Xiao Yan.” 34