Xiao Yan

Biodata

Power Progression

Background and History

Ascension to the Great Thousand World

Xiao Yan rose from being mocked as a good-for-nothing in Wutan City to becoming a Dou Di on the Dou Qi Continent. His earlier journey began with seeking revenge for the Xiao Clan and eventually brought him the title of Flame Emperor 1 26.

After passing through a spatial rift, he discovers that the Great Thousand World’s Origin Qi suppresses his former power. Xun’er and Cai Lin have also ascended, but their presences are faint and separated from him by immense distances. Finding them becomes a central purpose of his travels 1.

Northern Region City and the Mist Forest

At Northern Region City’s gate, Xiao Yan defeats Zhao Hu and his followers after they attack him. Qian Tong helps him understand the local cultivation system, obtain lodging, and learn about the Black Wind Abyss expedition. Xiao Yan also accidentally breaks Liu Fei’s Spirit Concentrating Liquid; despite the confrontation that follows, he later delivers a high-quality replacement and refuses payment 2 5.

After establishing himself as an Initial Origin King, he joins Li Xuantong’s expedition into the Black Wind Abyss. He gathers Spiritual Origin Crystals, repels Blood Shadow Hall members, fights Black Qilin Leopards, and develops the Heavenly Flames Eternal Ruler by adapting an old Dou Technique to Origin Qi 3 4.

A mysterious transportation leaves him in the Mist Forest, where he meets A Man. She guides him on the condition that he avoid harming the forest’s creatures without cause. After helping Li Xuantong pursue a Blood Shadow Cult remnant, Xiao Yan leaves with him for Tianbei City. Li Xuantong’s account of the Gu Clan gives Xiao Yan a new lead in his search for Xun’er 6 8.

Tianbei City and the Strongest Expert List

In Tianbei City, Xiao Yan helps repel a Blood Shadow Cult attack and rescues Li Xuantong from danger. He receives treatment at the Ten Thousand Pills Pavilion, where exchanges with Master Liu improve his understanding of the Great Thousand World’s alchemy. His conflict with Li Minghao draws retaliation from the Li Clan, but Zhou Xiaotian intervenes when Li Chengfeng attacks him 9 10 11.

Xiao Yan then wins the Northern Region Young Strongest Expert List Competition. His decisive opponents include Li Hao, the cult disciple Blood Butcher, Su Muxue, and Wang Hao. The championship earns him ten thousand Middle-Grade Origin Qi Pills and a Sect Breaking Pill 13 14 15 16.

Crimson Sand Desert and the Gate of Darkness

During an investigation at Soul-Severing Cliff, Xiao Yan seizes the Space Fragment used in the Blood Shadow Cult’s ritual and is transported away. Badly injured in the Crimson Sand Desert, he is rescued by the Sand Keeper, who identifies his black jade fragment as a Void Origin Stone fragment 17 18.

The Living Spring and red flame grass restore and strengthen him. He subsequently kills the High-Grade Origin Emperor Sand Prison Emperor, targeting its eyes with the Heavy Xuan Ruler and Emperor Flame Lotus, and obtains the Origin Stabilizing Divine Stone 19 20.

In the snowy region, Xiao Yan rescues Ling Xue and helps remove the cult’s sinister energy from her body. Learning that her Ice Spirit Power and his Heavenly Flames may be able to seal the Darkness Node, they travel together to Soul-Severing Cliff. There, he uses his two spatial treasures to destroy the Darkness Core, erase the Dark Envoy, and close the rift. Ling Xue kills the cult master when he charges at the injured Xiao Yan 21 22 23 25.

Earth Fire Abyss and Ten Thousand Medicines Valley

After leaving Ling Xue, Xiao Yan accepts Qin Yan’s invitation to seek the Netherworld Core Flame. Qin Yan instead attempts to kill him and seize his treasures. Still a Peak Origin King, Xiao Yan defeats the Intermediate Origin Emperor with Heavenly Flames: Realm Breaking, subdues the flame, and escapes the Lava Hell Lion. He subsequently enters the Origin Emperor realm 26 27 28.

Traveling with Su Xiaoxiao, he enters Ten Thousand Medicines Valley and clashes with Hundred Herbs Hall disciples over medicinal herbs. He later helps fight corrupted guardian beasts and destroys the Half-Step Origin Venerate Shadow Vine King, saving the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul-Restoring Grass 30 31 34.

When a Shadow of Darkness emerges, Xiao Yan stays behind so the others can escape. He burns his life’s potential to injure it before collapsing. Elder Bai rescues him and enlists his help reinforcing the Fallen Immortal Abyss seal; during this work, Xiao Yan’s bloodline transforms his Heavenly Flame Origins 35 36.

Returning to the gathering, he wins by refining three supreme-grade Nine Revolutions Life-Prolonging Pills bearing Pill Patterns. He receives the Nine Revolutions Soul Return Pill, takes Su Xiaoxiao home, and then departs with Mo Chen for the Pill Region 37.

Pill God Inheritance and the Pill Realm

In the Ancient Pill Hall, Xiao Yan helps the Pill Venerates defeat a Darkness Guardian. The Pill God’s remnant will then destroys a Lord of Darkness avatar, identifies Xiao Yan as his descendant, and passes on Pill Dao knowledge and the Burning Heaven Cauldron 39.

Xiao Yan and Mo Chen obtain the Netherworld Ghost Flame at Burning Heaven Cliff. After subduing it, Xiao Yan gains finer control over cold-attributed flames. Their journey through the corrupted Pill Realm brings additional Heart of the Pill Realm fragments, a fifth Heavenly Flame, the aid of dozens of Pill Spirits, and the Myriad Transformations Burning Heaven Array diagram 41 42 43 44 45 47.

Great Thousand Alliance and Luo Shen Valley

By the Purple Haze Mountain arc, Xiao Yan produces thirty-three Primordial Purification Pills whose radiance can suppress their own Pill Tribulation. He distributes these pills to the Great Thousand Alliance before seeking the Luo God Clan’s assistance against the Lord of Darkness 49 50.

At Luo Shen Valley, he confronts an Initial Heavenly Sovereign dark king general besieging Luo Li. Initially fighting as an Origin Venerate, he breaks through during the battle and annihilates the general with the Primordial Realm Breaker. Luo Li then brings him and Mo Chen to meet Luo Tianshen 50.

Appearance

• Clothing: Usually wears plain cyan, azure, or green robes, contrasting with the elaborate clothing of many young clan elites 12 16 37.
• Weapon: Carries the Heavy Xuan Ruler on his back; by the Crimson Sand Desert expedition, it has been reforged using Great Thousand World materials 20.
• Bearing: Commonly appears calm and restrained despite his strength. During the tournament final, his presence is compared to a deep, still abyss and a towering mountain 16.
• Battle effects: Heavenly Flames can form armor over his body; at extreme output, their colors also tint his hair 6 14.

Personality

Xiao Yan remains composed under contempt, intimidation, and sudden danger. Rather than panic when pressured by stronger opponents, he studies their attacks and looks for openings. Against Blood Butcher, he analyzes the enemy’s strange energy while defending; against Qin Yan, he deliberately takes the initiative to avoid being trapped in the narrow abyss 14 27.

He distinguishes responsibility from reward. He replaces Liu Fei’s medicinal liquid as an apology without seeking compensation, declines to demand payment for helping Tianbei City, and stays behind against the Shadow of Darkness to cover his companions’ escape 5 10 35.

His compassion does not prevent ruthlessness toward dangerous enemies. He executes the Blood Shadow Cult protector and accompanying cultists after obtaining information about their ritual, yet checks Su Muxue’s condition immediately after their match and acknowledges that her concession leaves the true outcome uncertain 15 23.

He seeks difficult battles as opportunities to improve, but prepares rather than relying on confidence alone. Before entering the Earth Fire Abyss, he questions Qin Yan about its dangers and checks his healing pills, weapon, and spatial treasures. His search for Xun’er and Cai Lin remains a reason to survive even when the Shadow of Darkness overwhelms him 26 35.

Abilities and Skills

Heavenly Flames

Xiao Yan combines Heavenly Flames with Origin Qi to create weapons, defenses, movement techniques, and concentrated explosive attacks. His control includes switching between flexible whips, sharp blades, flame rain, and protective barriers 10 15.

• Bloodline evolution: His essence blood gives the flames a golden, sacred quality and greatly increases their effectiveness against dark energy. Elder Bai explains that the awakened Flame Origins can now evolve independently instead of relying solely on devouring other flames 36.
• Controlled gentleness: He can make the Green Lotus Core Flame gentle enough for A Man to touch 6.
• Limits: The Great Thousand World initially suppresses his flames, increasing the mental effort required to control them. Large fusion attacks can nearly exhaust both his Origin Qi and flame power 1 14.

Named Combat Techniques

Spatial Manipulation

His spatial techniques initially depend on the Origin Stabilizing Divine Stone and Void Origin Stone Fragment. Their combined power supports both defense and attacks that exceed what his cultivation alone would normally permit 20 27.

• Spatial barriers: Distort space to swallow Qin Yan’s Burning Heaven Lion’s Roar 27.
• Evasion and movement: Uses spatial power to evade the Sand Prison Emperor and move rapidly across the Mist Swamp 20 43.
• Space: Confinement: Restrains the Netherworld Unicorn Snake before his horn-breaking strike 41.
• Spatial domain: Combines spatial and stellar power to slow the Bone Demon and prevent its escape 49.
• Limits: The Lava Hell Lion shatters his combined spatial barrier, and heavy use can leave both treasures visibly depleted 27 33.

Alchemy and Pill Dao

Xiao Yan can identify a medicinal liquid’s ingredients and preparation method from the broken product. He later develops his understanding of Origin Qi pills through exchanges with Master Liu and guidance from Xuan Kongzi 2 10 38.

• Competition refinement: Produces three supreme-grade Nine Revolutions Life-Prolonging Pills with Pill Patterns to win the Ten Thousand Medicines Gathering 37.
• Pill God inheritance: Receives Pill Dao insights and the ultimate profundity of the purifying pill formula from the Pill God’s remnant will 39.
• Divine Grade refinement: Creates thirty-three Primordial Purification Pills, identified by Xuan Kongzi as reaching Divine Grade 49.
• Combat integration: Applies the laws described in the Primordial Pill Scripture during his battle with the dark king general 50.

Soul Power, Dharma Body, and Laws

• Soul perception: Extends soul power to investigate approaching threats in the Mist Forest 6.
• Origin Venerate Dharma Body: Forms upon his Star Sea breakthrough; later resonates with the Burning Heaven Cauldron in combat 47 50.
• Array use: Deploys a simplified Myriad Transformations Burning Heaven Array through flame runes released by the cauldron 50.
• Heavenly Sovereign laws: Manifests space, fire, and life laws. After breaking through, he converts purple-gold flames into a law chain that binds the dark king general’s sword 50.
• Forced breakthrough cost: Burns part of his soul power to draw out his potential during the Luo Shen Valley battle 50.

Equipment and Items

• Heavy Xuan Ruler — Principal weapon, reforged with Great Thousand World materials and imbued with Heavenly Flame power. Channels both flame and spatial techniques 20 27.
• Void Origin Stone Fragment — Black jade fragment identified by the Sand Keeper. Provides spatial protection and works in tandem with the Origin Stabilizing Divine Stone 18 27.
• Origin Stabilizing Divine Stone — Recovered after killing the Sand Prison Emperor. Stabilizes or distorts surrounding space and helps destroy the Darkness Core 20 25 27.
• Burning Heaven Cauldron — Inherited from the Pill God. Used to subdue the Netherworld Ghost Flame, refine high-level pills, and deploy flame runes; its Pill Patterns can reflect part of an incoming impact 39 41 42 49 50.
• Heart of the Pill Realm — Its fragments supply Pill Realm source power for his techniques. By the Luo Shen Valley battle, its resonance with spatial law helps trigger his Heavenly Sovereign breakthrough 43 50.
• Heart-Calming Pearl — Given by the Sand Keeper to resist the mind-corroding effects of the Heart-Burning Sand Sea 20.
• Sect Breaking Pill — Tournament prize intended to assist a realm breakthrough; still unused immediately before the Earth Fire Abyss expedition 16 26.
• Nine Revolutions Soul Return Pill — Prize for winning the Ten Thousand Medicines Gathering 37.
• Blood Shadow Cult Master’s token — Kept as a possible lead for tracking cult remnants; later begins trembling in his Storage Ring 25 28.
• Myriad Transformations Burning Heaven Array diagram — Recovered with Mo Chen at Ten Thousand Arrays Cliff 47.

Relationships

• Xun’er — One of the people he seeks after ascending. News of the Gu Clan gives him a direction for his search 1 8.
• Cai Lin — Ascended separately from Xiao Yan; finding her remains one of his enduring goals 1 36.
• Yao Lao — His master. Yao Lao’s surviving memories provided limited knowledge of the upper realm, and his parting words return to Xiao Yan during a near-fatal battle 1 35.
• Qian Tong — Early guide in Northern Region City who explains local powers, cultivation ranks, and the Black Wind Abyss expedition 2 3.
• Li Xuantong — Trusted friend and recurring ally against the Blood Shadow Cult. Brings Xiao Yan to Tianbei City and provides information about the Gu Clan 8 10 17.
• A Man — Young friend and guide in the Mist Forest. Xiao Yan agrees to her request not to harm its creatures without cause 6 8.
• Zhou Xiaotian — Tianbei City lord and supporter. Protects Xiao Yan from the Li Clan and later fights alongside him at Soul-Severing Cliff 11 24.
• Master Liu — Alchemy colleague who treats his injuries and exchanges medicine-refining knowledge with him 10 11.
• Sand Keeper — Rescuer and cultivation mentor in the Crimson Sand Desert; identifies his spatial treasure and guides his recovery 18 19 20.
• Ling Xue — Rescued Ice Spirit Clan survivor and partner against the Blood Shadow Cult. Saves him from the cult master’s final charge before leaving to search for her people 22 25.
• Su Xiaoxiao — Guide and traveling companion whom he helps with medicine and herb knowledge. He escorts her home before leaving for the Pill Region 29 31 37.
• Lin Qingxue — Fellow alchemist and ally in Ten Thousand Medicines Valley. Gives him a communication pendant when the gathering ends 31 34 37.
• Liu Chengfeng — Initially an antagonist over medicinal herbs; later fights alongside Xiao Yan, who forgives him after the gathering 30 31 34 37.
• Mo Chen — Close traveling and battle partner throughout the Pill Region and Pill Realm journeys; rescues the injured Xiao Yan after Burning Heaven Cliff 37 41 47 50.
• Elder Bai — Keeper of the Fallen Immortal Abyss who rescues Xiao Yan and explains his Heavenly Flame Origins’ bloodline-driven evolution 35 36.
• Ancient Pill God — Bloodline ancestor whose remnant will entrusts Xiao Yan with Pill Dao knowledge, the Burning Heaven Cauldron, and responsibility for the future 39.
• Xuan Kongzi — Senior alchemist and ally who guides Xiao Yan’s alchemy and helps coordinate preparations against the Lord of Darkness 38 49 50.
• Luo Li and Luo Tianshen — Luo God Clan allies encountered after Xiao Yan breaks the siege of Luo Shen Valley 50.
• Lord of Darkness — Major enemy behind the spreading dark corruption. His avatars and servants repeatedly intersect with Xiao Yan’s journey and the Pill God’s legacy 35 39 47 50.

Notable Quotes

“The grudges and conflicts of the Dou Qi Continent are behind us, Xun’er, Cai Lin... wait for me. Once I’ve gained a foothold in the Great Thousand World, I’ll come find you.” 1

“There’s no need. It’s only an apology.” — Refusing payment for Liu Fei’s replacement Spirit Concentrating Liquid 5

“Scatter and run! ... I’ll hold it off!” — Covering his companions’ escape from the Shadow of Darkness 35