Yao Lao

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Origin and Acceptance of Xiao Yan

Yao Lao originally came from the Dou Qi Continent, where he was known as Venerable Yao. He claims that his alchemy was unmatched and that his cultivation had approached Dou Sheng. He also links his trapped condition to a past pursuit of a Heaven Tier cultivation technique, without explaining the full circumstances 9 39.

While residing in Xiao Yan’s ring, he absorbed the boy’s cultivation energy in both the Dou Qi and Douluo worlds. He finally revealed himself after Tang San poisoned Xiao Yan and threw him into a river. Using Bone Spirit Cold Flame, he sealed the poison, then admitted responsibility for Xiao Yan’s lost power 3 4.

Yao Lao persuaded Xiao Yan to become his final disciple by claiming that he needed to reach level ten within a month to survive. Once the formal ceremony was complete, he revealed that the poison was easy for an alchemist to treat and admitted that the deadline had been a ploy 4.

Antidote and Early Training

To fund Xiao Yan’s treatment, Yao Lao condensed a Child Flame crystal from Bone Spirit Cold Flame. Its exchange with Yu Tianming secured medicinal ingredients, gold, and a Space Soul Tool. Yao Lao then refined an antidote without a pill furnace 5 6 7.

He and Xiao Yan recognized that Dou Techniques might function as Self-Created Soul Skills when powered by Soul Power. After Xiao Yan recovered to level ten, Yao Lao taught him Eight Extremes Collapse and demonstrated its true force by taking control of his body and pulverizing a boulder 9 19 20.

Ice and Fire Yin Yang Spring

Yao Lao directed Xiao Yan toward the Sunset Forest to seek a Heavenly Flame and medicinal treasures. Protecting him from the Jade Phosphor Seven Absolute Flower’s poisonous fog severely exhausted Yao Lao, but he continued identifying herbs and guiding his escape from the Man Faced Demon Spider 20 23 24.

When Xiao Huo threatened Xiao Yan’s Martial Soul, Yao Lao transferred part of his Mother Flame to protect it, sacrificing enough strength to fall asleep. Xiao Huo subsequently replenished his energy and helped him recover 27 28 29.

Recognizing Xiao Huo as a living being rather than merely a flame to consume, Yao Lao proposed a cooperative arrangement: the Flame Mantra and a Soul Ring could preserve her consciousness while allowing her to leave the spring with Xiao Yan. He transmitted the technique directly into his disciple’s mind 29.

Training and Qiankun Asking Love Valley

Yao Lao repeatedly warned Xiao Yan against advancing faster than his foundation could support. He encouraged combining Dou Techniques with Martial Soul power, began teaching him alchemy, and emphasized exhausting a realm’s potential before breaking through 34 39 50 51.

Following the destruction of the crown prince’s residence, he brought Xiao Yan and Qian Renxue to Qiankun Asking Love Valley because of its exceptionally dense divine power. There, he overrode the Goddess of Love’s control and used her authority to intervene in their trials 74 75 77.

His interference helped draw the pair together but also caused severe emotional consequences. When Xiao Yan challenged his manipulation, Yao Lao insisted that genuine love could not simply be imposed through memories. He later acknowledged that he had acted rashly 79 80.

Battle with the Asura God

Yao Lao returned from seclusion to rescue Xiao Yan, Qian Renxue, and the gravely wounded Xiao Huo from the Asura God. Initially disadvantaged by his unstable new realm, he prolonged the battle to adapt to his opponent’s attacks and consolidate his One-Star Dou Sheng cultivation 105 106.

After condemning the Asura God’s disregard for civilian casualties, he revealed a Rune Furnace prepared during their pursuit. He trapped the god, knocked away the Asura Blood Sword with the Heaven-Flipping Seal, and seized the weapon. The furnace bought time rather than securing a confirmed kill; the Asura God was gradually forcing its flames back 107 108.

Yao Lao ultimately used the god kings’ power, his smelting expertise, and Bone Spirit Cold Flame to open a Space Wormhole. He escaped with Xiao Yan and Qian Renxue, bearing the worst of the damage during their passage 110.

Journey Through Another Universe

Without coordinates, the group reached the wrong universe. Yao Lao discovered that he had become a Quasi-Emperor First Heaven cultivator, while Xiao Yan and Qian Renxue rose to Peak Great Sage. He questioned a Mighty Bull Demon Clan trial participant to learn about the Ancient Starry Road and the era following the Dark Turmoil 110.

He continued protecting the younger pair, killing a demon race expert who attacked Qian Renxue. Later, he unsuccessfully requested the Southern Demon’s essence blood for pill refinement and observed Ye Fan’s overwhelming combat strength 114 119 124.

After Xiao Yan chose an independent path rather than accompanying Ye Fan, Yao Lao traveled onward with him and Qian Renxue. On a barren asteroid, his excitement over a True Dragon Immortality Medicine led him to attack an ancient oasis restriction, disturbing Chuan Ying, the Heavenly Court’s foremost divine general 134 137.

Appearance

• Initial manifestation: A faint gray, illusory old man with a long beard, emerging from Xiao Yan’s dark ring 3.
• Spiritual form: Can take physical shape despite existing as a soul; his figure becomes increasingly solid as he recovers 19 29.
• Later appearance: White hair, a tall and slender figure, and an aged face 110.
• Clothing and bearing: Wears white and is described as having the bearing of an immortal sage 119.
• Flame-lit eyes: Pale white flames appear in his eyes when examining unusual bloodlines or seeing through restrictions 119 137.

Personality

Yao Lao combines theatrical confidence with a mischievous, sometimes manipulative approach to teaching. He exaggerates Xiao Yan’s danger to secure his discipleship and later alters the conditions of the love trials. Nevertheless, he can recognize his mistakes and openly admits that his interference in Xiao Yan and Qian Renxue’s relationship was rash 4 79 80.

His attachment to Xiao Yan is paternal rather than merely instructional. He gives up part of his own protective flame for his disciple and values the boy’s moral choices as much as his talent. Xiao Yan’s refusal to destroy Yan’s cultivation foundation particularly pleases him 27 62.

Alchemy is his strongest personal passion—even cultivation ranks below the satisfaction of refining an extraordinary pill. Rare medicinal ingredients can make him visibly impatient, whether they are the Southern Demon’s essence blood or a legendary immortality medicine 119 137.

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Yao Lao is an accomplished alchemist, though he does not disclose a precise alchemist tier when Xiao Yan asks 4.

• Refines Xiao Yan’s antidote without a pill furnace 5 7.
• Identifies medicinal herbs and explains their interactions, including the combined use of Infernal Delicate Apricot and Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass 23 24.
• Uses pills to heal his battle wounds almost instantly during the fight with the Asura God 106.
• Adapts smelting principles to concentrate divine energy into a Space Wormhole 110.

Bone Spirit Cold Flame

His signature Heavenly Flame is fused with his soul and serves both offensive and protective purposes 27.

• Seals poison inside Xiao Yan’s body 3.
• Produces transferable Child Flame crystals while retaining the Mother Flame 5 6.
• Combines with Xiao Yan’s Ultimate Fire 24.
• Supplies part of its Mother Flame to strengthen and protect Xiao Yan’s Martial Soul 27 87.
• Limit: Heavy expenditure can weaken his soul and force him into dormancy 23 27.

Soul Power and Divine Sense

Yao Lao can act through others’ bodies and challenge divine control through the strength of his soul 20 75.

• Controls Xiao Yan’s body to demonstrate Eight Extremes Collapse 20.
• Seizes control of Xiao Yan and Qian Renxue from the Goddess of Love 75.
• Takes over most of the goddess’s remaining authority within the valley and manipulates its trial spaces 77 81.
• Surveys unfamiliar environments and perceives the laws of a newly entered universe 75 110.

Dou Techniques and Cultivation Instruction

He teaches Xiao Yan to adapt the Dou Qi Continent’s methods rather than rely exclusively on Soul Rings 9 19.

• Eight Extremes Collapse: Teaches its close-combat principles, explosive force, and the importance of physical conditioning 19 20.
• Flame Mantra: Transmits the evolvable technique to Xiao Yan and later reminds him to use it to control his Heavenly Flames. Yao Lao explicitly states that he has not practiced it himself 10 29 66.
• Heaven-Flipping Seal: Uses this High-grade Earth-tier method to strike the Asura God and disarm him 107.
• Foundation building: Advocates maximizing strength within a realm before pursuing the next breakthrough 51.

Rune Furnace

Yao Lao constructs a massive furnace formation from Dou Qi Continent runes, enclosing the Asura God within barriers and chains 107.

• Amplifies Bone Spirit Cold Flame, Fire Yang Spring fire, and Xiao Yan’s Ultimate Fire.
• Concentrates heat inside the formation and obstructs escape.
• Buys time for the group’s departure, but does not permanently contain the Asura God 107 108.

Spatial and Law Manipulation

His spatial control initially causes the Asura God to mistake him for the Space Dragon King 105.

• Creates spatial passages and fights within a spatial tunnel 106.
• Opens an inter-universal escape route, though travel without coordinates sends the group to an unintended destination 110.
• Uses Quasi-Emperor laws to cross several light-years with each step 111.
• Strikes and penetrates an ancient oasis restriction with Quasi-Emperor-level power 137.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Dark ring — His initial dwelling and the medium through which he accompanies Xiao Yan 3.
• Alchemy cauldron — An ancient, massive furnace carrying a lingering medicinal fragrance; brought out when he begins Xiao Yan’s alchemy lessons 50.
• Eight Extremes Collapse manual — A yellowed manual given to Xiao Yan 19.
• Flame Mantra text — An ancient book whose contents he transmits directly into Xiao Yan’s mind 29.
• Asura Blood Sword — A Super Divine Artifact seized from the Asura God; Yao Lao suppresses its artifact spirit to prevent its return 107.

Relationships

• Xiao Yan — Final disciple and a son-like figure. Their relationship develops from anger over stolen cultivation into deep trust; Xiao Yan resolves to rebuild his master’s body 4 20 27.
• Xiao Huo — Ally, benefactor, and frequent verbal sparring partner. Her energy restores his soul, and he later rescues her from the Asura God 28 50 79 106.
• Qian Renxue — Xiao Yan’s partner and a younger-generation figure who addresses him as “Grandmaster.” He helps direct her trials and considers how she should cultivate after becoming a Fallen Angel 77 81 82.
• Goddess of Love — Initially an opponent whose control he overrides. He leaves her surviving divine consciousness intact after taking most of her authority 75 81.
• Asura God — Enemy who seeks Yao Lao’s body and knowledge of another world. Their battle culminates in the Rune Furnace trap and Yao Lao’s escape 106 107 110.
• Ye Fan — A powerful cultivator whose abilities he praises. Yao Lao anticipates Xiao Yan eventually challenging him after reaching Quasi-Emperor 124 130.
• Southern Demon — A potential source of rare alchemical material; Yao Lao’s request for essence blood is refused by Qi Meng 119.

Notable Quotes

“Xiao Yan, you're my disciple. You're more important than a Heavenly Flame!” 27

“Only by holding firm to your convictions time and again, guarding your true heart, and following the right path your heart recognizes can you see the journey through to the end.” 62

“I forgot to tell you: compared to fighting, I'm better at refining pills!” 107

Trivia

• His stated age is inconsistent: He tells the Asura God that he is a little over one hundred, but later claims to be a thousand years old and is subsequently described as over a thousand 105 124 134.
• His cross-system realm comparisons are estimates: He initially equates a low-level Dou Sheng with a God King; after stabilizing as a One-Star Dou Sheng, he demonstrates power not much inferior to the Asura God’s 50 106.