Xiao Yan

Biodata

Power Progression

Cultivation

Flame Mastery and Other Upgrades

Background and History

Return to the Dou Qi Continent

Before his return, Xiao Yan was the Flame Emperor of the Great Thousand World. A space-time storm struck while he was attempting a higher breakthrough, sending him back to the period surrounding his Three-Year Agreement with Nalan Yanran. Finding himself reduced to Third Stage Dou Qi, he resolved to correct the regrets of his previous life 1.

His retained sovereign-level experience immediately distinguished him from the weak youth the Misty Cloud Sect expected. With the system’s assistance, he defeated successive disciples, fought enforcer Zhang Hao to a standstill, and defeated Nalan Yanran on the Misty Cloud Platform 1 2 4 5.

Ge Ye attacked after Nalan Yanran’s defeat, prompting Xiao Yan’s first use of Heavenly Flames Simulation. After Yun Yun stopped the confrontation, a hidden mission led him to a cave where he inherited the Burning Heaven Art fragment. He repelled the disciples pursuing him and left for the Xiao Clan, intending to awaken Yao Lao sooner 6 7.

Restoration of the Xiao Clan

On the road home, Xiao Yan attacked Black Wind Stronghold to rescue captives and protect caravans, including those belonging to his clan. Returning to Wutan City, he defeated Liu Chengfeng at the western mine and demanded a public apology from the Liu Clan 8 9.

He then established Yan Pharmacy under the disguised identity Yan Xiao, using alchemy to build wealth and influence without unnecessarily exposing himself. His medicine attracted customers, Mittel Tengshan’s patronage, and Master Fa Ma’s interest 10 11.

The Jia Lie Family’s attempts to seize the mine and overwhelm the Xiao Clan ended in defeat. Xiao Yan broke into the Great Dou Master realm, killed Jia Lie Ao during the subsequent siege, and eliminated the family as a major Wutan City power 12 13.

Journey to Jia Nan Academy

A renewed Misty Cloud Sect assault demonstrated the limits of Xiao Yan’s strength against higher-ranked opponents. During the ancestral hall battle, his ancestors’ remnant souls briefly empowered him to Peak Dou Ling. Afterward, Gu Yuan urged him to seek Jia Nan Academy’s protection and the Fallen Heart Flame 15 16.

Traveling toward the academy, Xiao Yan rescued Ya Fei from blood wolves and accompanied her to Iron Ridge City. He won the Hunters’ Tournament, entered Black Stone Mine, and obtained associated source crystals that strengthened Green Lotus Core Flame 16 17 18 19.

Jia Nan Academy and the Flame-Locking Array

Xiao Yan won first place in the Fire Energy Hunting Competition and received direct Inner Academy admission. He subsequently climbed the Strong Ranking, defeated Lin Xiuya, and won Zi Yan’s challenge by using the arena’s earth fire to make her step outside the ring—not by overpowering her directly 20 21 22.

His search for the Fallen Heart Flame uncovered Burning Heaven Valley’s interest in the Burning Heaven Ancient Map and the Flame-Locking Array. Joining Zi Yan, Lin Xiuya, Wu Hao, and other disciples, he pursued the scattered fragments. The group ultimately gathered all nine and chose to reinforce the Ice-Sealed Heart Flame’s seal rather than release it 23 25.

Central Plains and the Evil Clan

In the Central Plains Volcano Cluster, Xiao Yan’s team learned that the Fallen Heart Flame was connected to the Mother of Heavenly Flames. They reconstructed the Gu Clan Heart Seal, with Xiao Yan supplying essence blood to complete it and suppress her awakening 27.

The conflict expanded into a defense of the Gu Clan altar against the Evil Clan. Xiao Yan and his companions endured twelve hours of attacks, defeated a Peak Dou Emperor general through a combined effort, and forced the rift closed 30.

He later helped destroy Evil Clan altars, expose Bai Ling’s betrayal, and eliminate the Mother Empress’s remnant soul. Although the Central Plains faction leaders nominated him as alliance leader, he declined in favor of shared governance and continued searching for the Gu Clan’s secret ground and the Heaven and Earth Cauldron 32.

Cross-Plane Expeditions

After completing the Mist Forest trials, Xiao Yan’s group obtained the Four Symbols Keys and a Heart of the Earth Fragment. In the Sea of Annihilation, they rescued Gu Clan descendants and restored the Myriad Phenomena Mirror, ending the region’s reversed causality 33 35.

Their later expeditions restored the Elemental Prison’s balance and Mechanical City’s energy system. In the Void Beast Nest, Xiao Yan discovered that the beasts’ aggression stemmed from energy deprivation, leading the team to establish symbiosis with their mother core rather than simply destroy them 38 39 42.

At Starfall Pavilion, the group recovered the Heart of Starfall and survived a colonizer remnant soul’s ambush. Xiao Yan subsequently awakened the Heavenly Flame Origin in the Heaven Burning Ancient Domain and entered the Realm of Nothingness to confront the World-Destroying Fire 44 46 47.

Core of Chaos and the Forgotten Plane

The Time Eroder revealed himself as an altered version of Xiao Yan from three hundred years earlier. To stop the Core of Chaos from detonating, Xiao Yan fused his blood and the Flame of Creation into it, nearly sacrificing himself. The purified core restored him, and the team returned to Wutan City to establish cross-plane travel through the Guardian Stele 48.

In the Forgotten Plane, Xiao Yan purified the infected Heart of the Star Core at the expense of his life force. Lu Mu’s advice to match the Origin Flame’s frequency to the core reduced the strain, allowing him to finish the purification and restore its blue light across the plane 49.

Appearance

• Build: Somewhat slender, with the physical appearance of a fifteen-year-old at his return 1.
• Clothing: Commonly wears azure or blue robes 1 5 13.
• Eyes and bearing: His gaze carries the depth and sharpness of his long previous life rather than youthful innocence 1.
• Yan Xiao disguise: Makes his features more ordinary and can conceal his apparent cultivation; he initially presents himself as a Fifth Stage Dou Qi practitioner 10.

Personality

Xiao Yan is composed, proud, and unwilling to submit to intimidation. His former sovereign experience lets him remain calm against stronger opponents, but he also prepares carefully: he studies weaknesses, rehearses battles, buys recovery pills, and uses terrain when direct strength is insufficient 5 13 21.

Protecting his family drives his renewed cultivation. He hides his rebirth and system from the Xiao Clan, builds resources through Yan Pharmacy, and leaves home because he believes greater strength is necessary to secure the clan’s future. His protectiveness can be ruthless: he spares the surrendering Liu Chengfeng but kills Jia Lie Ao after the attack on his family 9 10 13 16.

His understanding of protection broadens beyond individual strength. During the altar defense, he recognizes that survival depends on companions standing together. Later trials show him rejecting the idea that revenge remains his purpose, while his treatment of the Void Beasts demonstrates a willingness to understand apparent enemies before condemning them 30 37 42.

Abilities & Skills

Sovereign-Level Combat Experience

Xiao Yan retains the judgment and technique of his previous life despite losing its cultivation 1 5.

• Identifies brief openings, including the transition between Ge Ye’s attacks 6.
• Targets known weaknesses, notably Hu Tian’s old shoulder injury 21.
• Uses environmental energy to offset exhaustion, fusing the arena’s earth fire into his flames 21.
• Cannot ignore cultivation gaps entirely: Wang Gang’s attacks break his defenses, while the Dou Wang assault at the Xiao residence severely injures him 15 17.

System

The system provides quests, points, cultivation rewards, techniques, disguises, and exchangeable supplies 2 4 9 13.

• Can temporarily unlock or strengthen techniques by spending points 4 5.
• Permits a points overdraft in the Nalan Yanran duel, deducting the debt from the subsequent reward 5.
• Reports injuries, remaining Dou Qi, hostile energy signatures, and potential resources 14 17 18.
• Supplies an identity disguise that alters appearance and conceals his true presence 9 10.

Flame Splitting Wave Ruler

His principal ruler-based Dou Technique combines sweeping weapon strikes with flame power 4 5.

• Flame Splitting intercepts and tears apart incoming sword Qi 5.
• Wave Devouring produces layered attacking ruler shadows; Unification concludes his duel with Nalan Yanran 5.
• Burning Heaven Art and simulated Heavenly Flames strengthen the technique and add Dou Qi-burning effects 7 9 13.
• Afterimage creates flaming images to confuse an enemy and cover an escape 18.
• Its advanced version substantially deepens his understanding and increases its power 13.

Heavenly Flames and Flame Fusion

Xiao Yan progresses from briefly simulating a Heavenly Flame to controlling and combining multiple flames 6 29 46.

• Heavenly Flames Simulation: Initially lasts three breaths and gives his weapon a special burning effect against Dou Qi 6.
• Burning Heaven Art fragment: A Profound Tier Mid Grade fire-control technique inherited from a remnant soul 7.
• Ten Thousand Flames Return to Origin: Releases purifying power against hostile black flames 29.
• Combined flame weaponry: Fuses Green Lotus Core Flame, Gu Clan Sacred Flame, and Earth Vein Flame Seed into a great sword supported by his companions’ powers 29.
• Origin protection: Helps his consciousness resist alteration in the Realm of Nothingness 47.
• Purification limits: Cleansing the Core of Chaos nearly kills him; purifying the Star Core initially consumes his life force 48 49.

Flame Prison and Defensive Techniques

Flame Prison develops into one of his main area-control techniques 19 21.

• Prairie Blaze: Its first layer, unlocked at 30% Green Lotus Core Flame purity 19.
• Burning City / City Burning: Its second layer; powerful enough to break the Ice Princess’s enclosure 21.
• Vermilion Bird: Forms a giant firebird and can be strengthened with external earth fire 21.
• Flame Cage: A separate unlocked ability that traps magical beasts of his level or lower for five seconds 18.
• Flame Wall: A Profound Tier Low Grade defensive technique; its shield is shattered by Wang Gang’s stronger attack 17.

Movement and Other Dou Techniques

Alchemy

Pill refining is a skill from Xiao Yan’s previous life that he begins recovering through the system 9.

• Refines Blood Coagulation Powder to treat a child poisoned by a Black-Tailed Poison Python; sells the treatment for fifty gold coins 10.
• Produces high-grade Rejuvenation Powder, fulfilling Mittel Tengshan’s ten-batch commission 11.
• Impresses Fa Ma by refining high-grade Qi Gathering Powder and receives its formula 11.
• Uses Yan Pharmacy to accumulate money and influence for the Xiao Clan while limiting exposure of his abilities 10 11.

Equipment and Items

• Black iron ruler — An ordinary ruler brought from the Xiao Clan, used as the focus for Flame Splitting Wave Ruler and his flame techniques 4.
• Beginner pill furnace — A system reward used when launching Yan Pharmacy 10.
• Dou Qi Recovery Pill — Purchased for 500 points; restores 30% of his Dou Qi during the Jia Lie Ao battle 13.
• Dou Qi Source Crystal — Used to consolidate his One-Star Great Dou Master cultivation before the siege 13.
• Associated Source Crystals — Absorbed to increase Green Lotus Core Flame’s purity 17 19.
• Storage Ring Fragment — Recorded as 40% restored after the Misty Cloud Sect attack 16.
• Three Dou Emperor-level scrolls — Life-saving resources left by Gu Yuan 16.
• Gu Clan jade pendant — Given by Xun’er so he can find her at Jia Nan Academy 16.
• Myriad Phenomena Mirror — Reunites its two halves to destroy the Causality Cycle Formation in the Sea of Annihilation 35.
• Elemental Core — Reassembled with his companions; later used to navigate Mechanical City and strengthen his Heavenly Flames 38 39 46.
• Heart of Starfall — Recovered beneath the Pill Flame Pool; cracks during a colonizer soul’s ambush before its power destroys the attacker 44.
• Purifying Flame Seed — Obtained in the Flame Seed Temple 46.

Relationships

• Xiao Zhan — Father. Helps organize the clan’s defense and openly expresses pride in Xiao Yan after the Jia Lie Family’s defeat 10 13.
• Xiao Ding — Eldest brother. Defends the western mine and is entrusted with affairs at home when Xiao Yan leaves for Jia Nan Academy 9 16.
• Xiao Li — Second brother. Fights alongside Xiao Ding during the siege of the Xiao residence 13.
• Xiao Xun’er — A cherished person he is determined to protect. Sends letters during his absence and later gives him a Gu Clan pendant to help him find her 8 10 16.
• Yao Lao — Teacher from his previous life. Xiao Yan intends to awaken him earlier and correct his former regrets; Yao Lao’s notes also inspire his use of external flame energy 7 21.
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and Three-Year Agreement opponent. Her broken engagement motivates their confrontation, but Xiao Yan later states that surpassing her is no longer his goal 5 37.
• Ya Fei — Traveling companion rescued from blood wolves. Uses the Mittel Family’s influence to stop Wang Gang’s attack and helps Xiao Yan prepare for the Hunters’ Tournament 16 17.
• Mittel Tengshan — Alchemical patron. Apologizes for his subordinate’s attack, commissions Rejuvenation Powder, and introduces Xiao Yan to the alchemists’ exchange 11.
• Fa Ma — Senior alchemist who appreciates his refining skill and invites him to consult ancient texts at his medicinal cottage 11.
• Zi Yan — Initially a Strong Ranking challenger, later a central companion. Supports him through dangerous expeditions and helps break his despair during the Time Eroder’s heart-demon trial 21 23 48.
• Wu Hao — Academy rival and ally. Warns him about hostile competitors, fights him in the tournament, and joins the later cross-plane expeditions 21 23 48.
• Lin Xiuya — Competition teammate, Strong Ranking opponent, and expedition companion 20 21 23.
• Lu Mu — Formation expert and investigative partner. Helps decipher the route toward the Gu Clan ruins and identifies how to reduce the strain of Star Core purification 25 49.
• Ye Xinlan — Alchemist teammate whose pills sustain the group during major battles, including the altar defense 27 30.
• Gu Yuan — Provides emergency scrolls and urges Xiao Yan to seek protection and opportunities at Jia Nan Academy 16.
• Time Eroder — An altered version of Xiao Yan from three hundred years earlier who threatens to detonate the Core of Chaos 48.

Notable Quotes

“In this life, I'll make up for the regrets of my previous life with my own hands.” 1

“To become stronger. To protect the people I want to protect, and to uncover some... truths from a hundred years ago.” 22

“Heavenly Flames aren't meant for destruction. They're meant for protection!” 29

“The alliance should deliberate and govern together.” 32