Yan

Biodata

Background / History

Imprisonment

Yan was an orphan adopted by Spirit Hall and became an outstanding student representative of Spirit Hall Academy. He, Hu Liena, and Xie Yue received an audience with Bibi Dong in that capacity 4 29.

After leaving the Pope’s Palace, Yan intended to confess to Hu Liena. Before he could do so, Qian Renxing struck him with a tricycle, then offered Hu Liena a rose. Angry at the collision and jealous of her friendly response, Yan cursed at the boy without realizing that he was Spirit Hall’s Holy Son and the Pope’s son 4 5.

Qian Renxing returned with Bibi Dong. Yan’s panicked explanation included another insult, and Bibi Dong ordered him imprisoned for a year. In the cold, gloomy prison, he begged for release and hoped Hu Liena and Xie Yue would intercede; both were too occupied with their new duties attending Qian Renxing to help him 6 9.

Pardon and Conversion

After Yan had spent only half a day in prison, Qian Daoliu argued that his talent and loyalty should not be wasted over a minor offense. Qian Renxing agreed to forgive him, and Bibi Dong ordered his release 29.

Outside, Yan discovered that Xie Yue’s artwork, The Holy Son Stands, was being celebrated and prepared for worldwide distribution. His jealousy turned into inspiration when he associated the painting’s supposed sacred essence with his own tricycle collision. Convinced that Qian Renxing had deliberately struck him to awaken him, Yan entered a creative trance and began punching a rock into a statue 29.

While Yan completed the sculpture, Qian Renxing accidentally hit him again. Yan celebrated the second collision as another holy lesson despite Qian Renxing’s apology and Qian Daoliu’s insistence that it was an accident. Impressed by his sculpture, Qian Renxing appointed him captain of the guards and his “left hand,” placing him alongside Xie Yue 31.

Promoting the Holy Son

Yan subsequently forged a golden flush toilet at Qian Renxing’s request and sculpted the Holy Son using it. He interpreted the scene as divine contemplation and refused Qian Daoliu’s order to stop recording it. Qian Renxing praised the finished statue and asked for replicas in every city; Yan eagerly accepted the ambition 32 33 35.

Qian Daoliu briefly attracted Yan toward supporting Qian Renxing as the Tricycle God, appealing to his belief in enlightening collisions. Qian Renxing won him back by invoking their worldwide statue project and promising that Yan would become the God of Statues, seated at his left hand in the Divine Realm. This was a promised future reward, not an attained divine position 36.

Personality

Yan initially displays pride, jealousy, and a quick temper. His anger at being knocked down intensifies when Hu Liena accepts Qian Renxing’s rose, and he resents Xie Yue’s rapid rise in influence and artistic fame. Hu Liena regards him as conceited and has no romantic interest in him 4 5 29.

His resentment later becomes fervent devotion. He treats accidental collisions and ordinary bodily functions as profound divine acts, becoming tearful with excitement while preserving them in sculpture. His convictions override deference to Qian Daoliu, even though the Great Enshrined secured his release 31 33 36.

Recognition remains important to him after his conversion. Su Yuntao’s apparent favor with the Holy Son makes Yan anxious to present his own work, while the prospect of worldwide artistic fame and a place beside Qian Renxing reinforces his commitment 35 36.

Abilities & Skills

Flame Lord Martial Soul

The Flame Lord possesses Yan’s body, producing flames and making his fists as hard as granite 29 31 32.

• Stoneworking: Repeated punches shape solid rock into detailed statues 31.
• Goldworking: He uses his flames and fists to fashion gold ingots into a functioning toilet 32.

Sculpture

Yan creates sculptures rapidly without conventional carving tools. Qian Renxing praises his work as comparable to Xie Yue’s sacred paintings, while Spirit City’s spectators recognize his statues as religious masterpieces 31 35 36.

• Produces two distinct versions of Holy Son’s Collision in quick succession; the second is described as containing richer sacredness 31.
• Preserves a witnessed scene in Holy Son’s Contemplation, sculpting while Qian Renxing sits on the golden toilet 33 35.
• Draws inspiration from experiences he interprets as holy miracles, especially Qian Renxing’s collisions 29 31.

Notable Creations

Relationships

• Qian Renxing — Initially the target of Yan’s anger; later his patron and object of unwavering devotion. Appoints Yan captain of the guards and calls him his left hand 4 31.
• Hu Liena — Classmate and romantic interest. Yan intends to confess to her, but she dislikes his conceit and shows no reciprocal interest 4 5.
• Xie Yue — Classmate, artistic rival, and fellow servant of the Holy Son. His success provokes Yan’s jealousy and helps spur Yan’s own sculptural work 29 31 33.
• Bibi Dong — Pope whom Yan deeply respects. She orders his imprisonment for insulting her son and later pardons him 6 29.
• Qian Daoliu — Secures Yan’s release, then repeatedly clashes with him over the supposed holiness of Qian Renxing’s actions and the appropriate divine identity to promote 29 31 33 36.

Notable Quotes

“Great Enshrined, I'm very grateful that you spoke up for me, but I have convictions of my own!” 31

“Your Highness, I will! I will carve your divine sacred statues and fill the whole world with them!” 35