Yao Chen

Biodata

Background / History

Soul Survival and Awakening

Yao Chen was once renowned as the Dou Qi Continent’s foremost Alchemist. After losing his physical body, he survived as a soul while being hunted by the Soul Hall. He previously lived within Xiao Yan and absorbed his Dou Qi, but later sheltered in Xiao Baichuan’s Twin Fish Jade Pendant. Unlike his earlier arrangement with Xiao Yan, the pendant nourished his soul without him absorbing Xiao Baichuan’s Dou Qi 8 9.

He emerged from the pendant as a white-haired spirit, announcing that he had slept for three years. Xiao Baichuan immediately recognized him and questioned whether he was responsible for his poor cultivation. Yao Chen denied this, bluntly attributing the problem to Xiao Baichuan’s ordinary aptitude 8.

Becoming Xiao Baichuan’s Master

Xiao Baichuan demanded payment for lodging and soul nourishment, including four and a half million gold coins in rent and ninety stalks of seven illusory azure spirit saliva. Unable to pay, Yao Chen faced a proposed twenty-year indenture before Xiao Baichuan instead asked him to become his teacher and Protector 8 9.

Yao Chen initially tried to demand a more respectful approach, but accepted after Xiao Baichuan hinted that his presence could be exposed to interested enemies. The two formally became master and disciple through the disciple’s salute. When Xiao Baichuan requested Heaven-Tier techniques and eighth-tier pills as welcoming gifts, Yao Chen gave him a beating that also loosened his meridians 9.

Cultivation Guidance and the Auction

Yao Chen began clearing Xiao Baichuan’s obstructed meridians and lent him enough Soul Force to temporarily reach one-star Dou Zhe strength against Liu Ling. He was astonished by the combat expertise displayed during the duel—actually supplied by Ling Xi—and suspected that an unseen expert was helping his disciple 10 11 12.

After Xiao Baichuan attributed his techniques to a manual found in ancient ruins, Yao Chen chose not to pry further. He instead warned him against exposing treasures and placing blind trust in others 13.

To address Xiao Baichuan’s lack of cultivation resources, Yao Chen supplied medicines for sale. He accompanied Ling Xi, unknowingly occupying Xiao Baichuan’s body, to the Mittel Auction House. Gu Ni judged the medicines to be beyond his own ability and estimated their maker to be a fourth-tier Alchemist. Yao Chen also gave “Xiao Baichuan” the evolving Flame Mantra, which Ling Xi cultivated during the body swap 15 18 19 21.

Magical Beast Mountain Range

After Xiao Baichuan left Wutan City, Yao Chen detected Ling Ying following him and later trained his disciple through battles with magical beasts. He taught several Dou Techniques and praised Xiao Baichuan’s combination attacks, while warning that using multiple techniques together consumed substantial Dou Qi 24.

In Poison Pool Swamp, Yao Chen helped identify Xiao Yi Xian’s awakening Woeful Poison Body. Although he initially urged Xiao Baichuan to leave the dangerous area, he followed when his disciple attempted a rescue. His instructions enabled Xiao Baichuan to suppress the awakening and remove her from the swamp 25 26.

While waiting for Xiao Yi Xian’s later awakening, Yao Chen directed Xiao Baichuan to capture a Thousand Illusion Dream Snake for its venom sac. He subsequently located the Illusionary Love Pill recipe, only to discover that Xiao Baichuan’s soul had vanished into the pendant. Fearing Soul Hall interference and the loss of his only hope of resurrection, he panicked until Xiao Baichuan returned 27 28.

Appearance

• Soul form: A translucent, white-haired old man who manifests from white smoke and floats in midair 8.
• Distinguishing features: A beard he frequently strokes; his beard bristles and his eyes bulge when angered 8 9.
• Bearing: Initially presents himself with the dignified air of an immortal, contrasting with his leering expressions and lively temper 8 15.
• Former appearance: Was hailed as the most handsome man in the Central Plains and had numerous admirers 20.

Personality

Yao Chen is proud of his reputation and expects respect from juniors. Xiao Baichuan’s irreverence repeatedly provokes him into insults or physical reprimands, though his punishments can double as useful treatment. His vanity also extends to his former looks: he insists that Xiao Baichuan is only half as handsome as he was in his youth 8 9 22.

Despite his sharp tongue, he is an attentive teacher. He diagnoses cultivation problems, appreciates inventive technique use, and respects Xiao Baichuan’s decision to fight without weapons. His concern becomes especially visible when he follows his disciple into poisonous fog and later panics over his missing soul 10 24 25 28.

He is wary of betrayal and considers secrecy essential to survival. Although he realizes Xiao Baichuan is withholding information, he regards that caution as sensible rather than demanding complete disclosure. He also openly enjoys admiring beautiful women and discusses aphrodisiacs with his disciple, while resisting the reputational embarrassment of selling male potency pills 13 15 20 27.

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Yao Chen is an eighth-tier Alchemist whose medicines exceed the standards familiar to Wutan City’s appraisers 9 19.

• Cultivation medicines: Refines Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid and prepares medicinal liquids that help Xiao Baichuan reach Three-Star Dou Zhe 22 26.
• Medical stock: Possesses numerous medicines for healing injuries and consolidating cultivation 15.
• Resource planning: Recognizes that cleared meridians alone cannot compensate for inadequate pills and cultivation resources 15.
• Illusionary Love Pill knowledge: Identifies Thousand Illusion Dream Snake venom as a principal ingredient and later finds its recipe. He describes the pill as effective even against Dou Zong experts and resistant to Dou Qi expulsion and Detoxification Pills; its refinement is not shown in the supplied chapters 27 28.

Soul Force

His surviving soul retains enough power to assist cultivation, affect physical bodies, and detect concealed threats 9 10 11 24.

• Temporary empowerment: Transfers Soul Force into Xiao Baichuan, raising his effective strength from Eighth Stage Dou Qi to one-star Dou Zhe for the duel with Liu Ling 11.
• Meridian treatment: Uses precise Soul Force applications to clear congenital blockages and improve Dou Qi circulation 10.
• Detection: Senses Ling Ying despite the latter’s concealment and identifies his presence as at least Dou Emperor level 24.
• Protection: Offers Soul Force protection while Xiao Baichuan seals Xiao Yi Xian’s meridians 25.
• Limitations: Dense poisonous fog blocks his attempt to detect Xiao Yi Xian’s signs of life. He also cannot sense Xiao Baichuan’s soul after it enters the pendant’s space 25 28.

Cultivation and Combat Instruction

Yao Chen teaches Xiao Baichuan techniques and advises him on their practical use 24.

Poison-Body Diagnosis

Yao Chen recognizes the Woeful Poison Body and understands how to temporarily interrupt its initial awakening 25.

• Directs Xiao Baichuan to disperse the poison gathering in Xiao Yi Xian’s Dantian with Transforming Qi Palm, then seal the conception, penetrating, and governing meridians 25.
• Warns that an uncontrolled initial awakening could devastate half the Magical Beast Mountain Range 25.
• Advises keeping Xiao Yi Xian away from poisonous substances after the temporary seal is established 26.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Twin Fish Jade Pendant: His soul-nurturing refuge. Its ability to absorb Dou Qi and nourish souls allows him to recover without draining Xiao Baichuan directly 8.
• Flame Mantra scroll: A closely guarded treasure he hesitates to entrust to another disciple because he does not want to “raise another Han Feng” 9.
• Medicine collection: Bottles and jars containing healing, cultivation-supporting, and aphrodisiac preparations 15.
• Weapon collection: Includes swords, sabers, daggers, black spears, and a broad black ruler weighing one hundred jin. Xiao Baichuan declines the collection in favor of fighting with his fists 25.
• Illusionary Love Pill recipe: A yellowed formula he retrieves after obtaining the relevant snake venom sac 27 28.

Relationships

• Xiao Baichuan — Disciple, protected companion, and his only stated hope of resurrection. Their relationship begins with threats and an inflated rent bill, then develops into constant banter, practical mentorship, and visible concern 8 9 24 28.
• Xiao Yan — Former host whose Dou Qi Yao Chen acknowledges absorbing before moving to the jade pendant 8.
• Ling Xi — Hidden collaborator in Xiao Baichuan’s development, but not someone Yao Chen knowingly identifies. He notices her extraordinary combat skill and unusual behavior while she controls Xiao Baichuan’s body without discovering the body swap 11 12 18.
• Han Feng — A cautionary example influencing his reluctance to pass on the Flame Mantra before judging Xiao Baichuan’s character 9.
• Xiao Yi Xian — Helps rescue her and temporarily suppress her Woeful Poison Body through Xiao Baichuan 25 26.
• Soul Hall — Pursuers whose threat shapes his concealment and fear of exposure 9 28.

Notable Quotes

“At least you have some brains, brat. Blind trust is a cultivator’s greatest taboo.” 13

“All right. You’ve got your own ideas, kid. I won’t force you.” 25