Yao Lao

Biodata

Power Progression

Yao Lao’s documented progression concerns the recovery of his soul rather than advancement through named cultivation realms.

Background / History

The Soul Ring

Yao Lao identifies himself as a distinguished genius of the Yao Clan and a powerful alchemist during his lifetime. He also possesses the Flame Mantra, which he obtained from an ancient place. The circumstances of his bodily death are not explained in the provided account 15 16 24.

His soul initially resides in the ancient ring worn around Xiao Yan’s neck, a gift from the boy’s mother. His absorption of Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi obstructs the boy’s progress. After Xiao Tian borrows the necklace, Xiao Yan’s cultivation speed triples, allowing him to break through to Dou Zhe within three days 3 5.

The brothers nearly throw the necklace into an abyss, terrifying Yao Lao, who cannot yet emerge to explain himself. Xiao Tian ultimately keeps and wears it, deliberately supplying him with Dou Qi. Its exceptional purity greatly accelerates his recovery 5 6.

Teaching the Xiao Brothers

While still inside the ring, Yao Lao witnesses Xiao Tian’s concealed Dou Shi strength and ruthless handling of an intruder. Impressed, he resolves to teach the boy all his supreme techniques. After finally manifesting, he offers to train Xiao Tian in alchemy and promises that he can become a Pill Emperor if he survives 13 15.

To overcome Xiao Tian’s apparent skepticism, Yao Lao wagers that his instruction can help the Xiao Clan dominate Wutan City’s pill market within three days. He begins with refining demonstrations and supervises Xiao Tian’s early attempts. The boy’s immediate success repeatedly astonishes him 16 18 20.

Yao Lao subsequently transmits the Flame Mantra to Xiao Tian and, at his request, agrees to teach Xiao Yan as well. Although he initially regards this as passing on skills rather than formally accepting disciples, he becomes delighted to have both brothers as students. Their medicines help the Xiao Clan draw customers away from its rivals 27 28 29.

Seizing the Beast Flame

When the brothers cannot afford the Frenzied Flame Fire Wolf’s Beast Flame at auction, Yao Lao agrees to help seize it outside Wutan City. He secretly marks its buyer with a Soul Imprint, allowing Xiao Tian to track the merchant after several factions attack him 30 32.

Controlling Xiao Tian’s body, Yao Lao overwhelms the competing cultivators with Bone Spirit Cold Flame. He kills a Two-Star Great Dou Master, destroys Cao Fei’s Azure Lion Spirit Flame, and kills Cao Fei before the alchemist can publicly identify his Heavenly Flame. He then takes the Beast Flame for Xiao Yan and supervises its absorption as preparation for handling a Heavenly Flame 32 33.

Mountain Expedition and Separation

Yao Lao accompanies Xiao Tian to Qingshan Town and the Magical Beast Mountain Range. He emphasizes preparation and experience over immediately obtaining the newly appeared Heavenly Flame, warning that powerful factions will contest it. He also teaches Xiao Tian Eight Extremes Collapse to reduce his dependence on the Adamantine Staff 34 35 38.

During the expedition, he recognizes Xian’er’s Woeful Poison Body and supplies a temporary method for delaying its eruption. At the meteorite site, he explains that its flame magnetic field imposes greater restrictions on stronger cultivators 41 42 43.

When a Dou Emperor pursues Xiao Tian, Yao Lao retreats into hiding because his weakened soul cannot protect him. Xiao Tian sends the ring away with Blue Eagle and jumps from her back. Despite his earlier brusque warning not to call on him, Yao Lao weeps at the apparent sacrifice and vows revenge 43 44.

After Xian’er returns the ring to Xiao Yan, Yao Lao silently endures the younger brother’s accusations. He identifies the enemy as a Dou Huang expert of the Misty Cloud Sect and swears to train Xiao Yan into a continent-renowned expert capable of avenging Xiao Tian 50.

Appearance

• Soul form: A dim, gray elderly man who floats outside his ring 15.
• Distinguishing features: A beard, which he strokes while watching Xiao Tian’s alchemy 20.
• Voice: Described as weathered while he controls Xiao Tian’s body 33.

Personality

Yao Lao is proud of his alchemy and easily irritated when Xiao Tian questions his expertise. He dismisses the Xiao Clan’s Second-Rank Alchemist as barely an apprentice, yet his confidence repeatedly gives way to astonishment at his students’ progress. He praises their talent while privately wondering whether Xiao Tian will soon exhaust everything he can teach 15 16 20 27 29.

His relationship with Xiao Tian is full of teasing. He laughs at the boy’s reaction to a gruesome killing, jokes about his interest in beautiful girls, and claims to have once been a celebrated matchmaker. As a teacher, however, he insists on firm foundations and warns against rushing into dangerous flame refinement 27 35 36 40 41.

He is ruthless against opponents but deeply attached to his disciples. His swift killing of Cao Fei contrasts with his grief and self-reproach when he cannot save Xiao Tian. He later accepts Xiao Yan’s anger without protest and commits himself to helping the boy seek revenge 33 44 50.

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Yao Lao demonstrates advanced refinement skills, using precise flame control and Soul Power to process and combine ingredients. His exact alchemist rank is not stated 15 18.

• Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid: Demonstrates a specially adjusted formula, producing two portions for Xiao Tian to sell and reinvest in ingredients 18.
• Qi Gathering Powder and Rejuvenation Powder: Teaches their refinement to the Xiao brothers, supporting the Xiao Clan’s pill business 27 28.
• Travel preparations: Guides Xiao Tian in making insect-repelling sachets, Bone-Dissolving Powder, and Heart-Clearing Detoxification Pills 35.
• Tiger Soul Pill: Identifies a blood essence stone as a future ingredient for a pill intended to improve constitution, purify meridians, and strengthen Dou Qi 36.
• Instructional limits: Explains that Magic Cores of different attributes require different temperatures; students must develop this judgment through experience 18.

Bone Spirit Cold Flame

Yao Lao possesses Bone Spirit Cold Flame, ranked eleventh on the Heavenly Flame Ranking 18.

• Appears as a ghastly white flame and makes the surrounding room feel eerily cold when summoned 17.
• Processes medicinal herbs and a rank-one wood-attribute Magic Core during refinement 18.
• Burns a Two-Star Great Dou Master to charcoal and completely swallows Cao Fei’s Azure Lion Spirit Flame 32 33.
• Clings to Cao Fei’s arm, forcing him to sever it before Yao Lao finishes him off 33.

Soul Power

• Recovery: Absorbs Dou Qi from the ring’s wearer to replenish his soul 5 6.
• Manifestation and communication: Emerges from the ring and communicates privately through voice transmission 15 36.
• Ingredient control: Suspends refined medicinal liquids in the air during alchemy 18.
• Tracking: Places a Soul Imprint on the Beast Flame’s buyer without the man detecting it 32.
• Body control: Takes control of Xiao Tian’s body after the boy relaxes his mind, enabling him to fight using Yao Lao’s power 32 33.
• Memory transmission: Directly imparts cultivation-method and combat-technique knowledge 27 35.

His combat support remains constrained by his depleted soul. He offers to handle opponents below Dou Ling, but requires soul-restoring heavenly treasures for greater exertions. During the meteorite expedition, he specifically requests a sixth-tier soul-nourishing treasure before he can provide the assistance Xiao Tian proposes 30 32 43.

Flame Mantra

Yao Lao possesses and teaches the Flame Mantra, an initially Yellow Tier Low Grade cultivation method obtained from an ancient location 24.

• Upgrades by devouring Beast Flames or, preferably, Heavenly Flames; Yao Lao describes its growth as theoretically unlimited 24.
• Transmits it to Xiao Tian and agrees to pass it to Xiao Yan 27 28.
• Warns that both brothers cultivating it will create competition for the world’s limited Heavenly Flames 28.
• Uses Xiao Yan’s Beast Flame absorption as preparation for future Heavenly Flame refinement 33.

Combat and Medical Knowledge

• Eight Extremes Collapse: Passes this High Xuan Class Dou Technique to Xiao Tian as an alternative to staff-based combat 35.
• Woeful Poison Body: Recognizes Xian’er’s condition and supplies a temporary Poison Pill method to delay its eruption, not a complete cure 41 42.
• Flame phenomena: Identifies the meteorite’s restrictive flame magnetic field and explains why stronger cultivators suffer greater restrictions within it 43.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Soul Ring necklace — His dwelling and the only possession he claims while teaching Xiao Tian. Originally worn by Xiao Yan, it passes to Xiao Tian, then returns to Xiao Yan through Blue Eagle and Xian’er 5 16 43 50.

Relationships

• Xiao Tian — Disciple and benefactor whose pure Dou Qi restores his ability to manifest. Their teasing companionship develops into a deep attachment, revealed most clearly by Yao Lao’s grief at his apparent death 6 15 40 44.
• Xiao Yan — Initially the unwitting source of his recovery energy; later his second disciple. Yao Lao secures a Beast Flame for him, guides his training, and pledges to help him avenge Xiao Tian 5 28 29 33 50.
• Xian’er — Indirect beneficiary of his knowledge through the temporary treatment he gives Xiao Tian for her Woeful Poison Body 41 42.
• Cao Fei — Rival alchemist killed during the struggle for the Frenzied Flame Fire Wolf’s Beast Flame 33.
• Yun Shan — Dou Emperor involved in Xiao Tian’s apparent death; becomes the target of Yao Lao’s revenge vow 44 50.

Notable Quotes

“The master leads you through the door, but cultivation depends on you.” 16

“I swear I will nurture you into a top expert renowned across the continent! That boy Xiao Tian must be avenged!” 50