Xiao Yan

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Childhood and Loss of Talent

Xiao Yan carries the soul of an adult from another world. At four years old, he entered Gu Xun'er's courtyard to experiment with Dou Qi and attempt to treat her symptoms. Her diary exposed his otherworldly soul and intentions; finding the treatment useless, she had her shadow guards knock him unconscious and remove him. He did not visit her again afterward 2.

He became a Dou Zhe at twelve, but his Dou Qi mysteriously dissipated over the next three years. His reputation changed from celebrated genius to clan failure, and other youths openly mocked his third-stage test result. Xun'er neither joined their earlier flattery nor their later ridicule 2 3.

Broken Engagement and the Three-Year Agreement

Nalan Yanran and Ge Ye publicly demanded an end to his engagement, humiliating both Xiao Yan and his father, Xiao Zhan. Xiao Yan answered with a divorce certificate declaring that he was expelling her from the Xiao Clan, then vowed to visit the Misty Cloud Sect in three years to recover his family's dignity 7 8.

His training subsequently centered on winning the Three-Year Agreement. He qualified for Jia Nan Academy by enduring ten exchanges with Instructor Ruo Lin, but obtained a year's leave rather than immediately attending 2.

Recovery and Journey to Qingshan Town

With Yao Lao's guidance, Xiao Yan borrowed money from Xun'er for medicinal ingredients and cultivated using Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid. He also found a black iron fragment containing Suction Palm and took medicine to the Mittel Auction House to raise funds 13.

At sixteen and a half, he left Wutan City for Qingshan Town, with approximately a year and a half remaining before the Three-Year Agreement. There, he acquired Blood Lotus Essence as an overlooked bargain at the Myriad Medicine Pavilion 28 41 43.

Treasure Cave Expedition

Xiao Yi Xian approached him during a mountain herb-gathering expedition, pretending that he had already discovered a treasure cave beneath a cliff. After consulting Yao Lao, Xiao Yan agreed to defeat its guardian Rock Snake in exchange for a share of the treasure. He narrowly defeated the beast that evening, but could not force open the mechanism-operated door inside 42 43 44.

Xiao Yi Xian later opened the door, convincing him that she had previously explored the cave. She offered him half the gold and a share of its herbs, and agreed to let him take Ice Spirit Flame Grass. Meanwhile, she secured the three boxed scrolls herself; her intended transfer of Eagle Wings to Xiao Yan had not occurred by the end of the chapter 44.

Appearance

• Heavy ruler: Carries a conspicuous heavy ruler on his back, drawing attention throughout his travels 41 42.
• Black-robed disguise: Wears a black robe during his visit to the Mittel Auction House, where Ya Fei addresses him as an elderly man 13.
• Recurring gesture: Frequently rubs his nose while speaking with Yao Lao or responding to awkward situations 29 41 44.

Personality

Xiao Yan is proud and strongly motivated by the humiliation inflicted on his family. His response to Nalan Yanran rejects her judgment of his future, while his later conduct shows sustained dedication: in Qingshan Town, he dismisses romantic distractions and focuses on becoming strong enough to win the Three-Year Agreement 7 41.

He combines opportunism with caution. Before accepting Xiao Yi Xian's proposal, he asks Yao Lao whether she can be trusted and considers how the two partners can restrain one another. He also investigates the cave ahead of their joint visit, but withdraws when Yao Lao warns that forcing the door is unsafe 43 44.

Ye Qingzhou particularly values his loyalty. In both his private plans and diary commentary, Ye describes Xiao Yan as someone who remembers kindness, repays benefactors, and does not abandon old friends or teachers after becoming powerful 1 13.

Abilities & Skills

Dou Qi Cultivation and Combat

Xiao Yan's restored talent allows him to recover rapidly from his prolonged decline 3 17.

• Lasts ten exchanges against Instructor Ruo Lin, earning admission and a year's leave from Jia Nan Academy 2.
• Fights magical beasts alongside the mountain expedition's mercenaries 42.
• Defeats the tier-one Rock Snake guarding the treasure cave after a close fight 43.
• Cannot force open the cave's stone door with his current strength; Yao Lao estimates that doing so requires at least Dou Ling cultivation 44.

Dou Techniques

• Suction Palm: Obtained through a black iron fragment found at the market; later diary entries describe him strengthening the technique 13 16.
• Eight Extremes Collapse: Its hidden force appears among the events Ye Qingzhou successfully records before the diary catches up with Xiao Yan's current journey 28.

Alchemy and Medicinal Knowledge

Xiao Yan studies under Yao Lao, whose instruction Ye Qingzhou credits with at least half of his future alchemical achievements 16.

• Recognizes the value of Blood Lotus Essence and acquires it as a bargain 43.
• Identifies Ice Spirit Flame Grass as a main ingredient for the fifth-grade Snow Lotus Pill, which he expects to need when refining a Heavenly Flame 44.
• Ye Qingzhou recalls him refining a fifth-grade pill as a Da Dou Shi upon entering the Inner Academy; this is foreknowledge, not his demonstrated current level 28.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Black ring: Houses Yao Lao's soul; its significance becomes an early mystery for the diary readers 2 8 13.
• Heavy ruler: Carried on his back during the journey to Qingshan Town and the mountain expedition 41 42.
• Jia Nan Academy token: Given by Instructor Ruo Lin as proof of admission and permission to report after one year's leave 2.
• Blood Lotus Essence: Acquired at the Myriad Medicine Pavilion 43.
• White Orchid Fruit: Picked near the cliff during the herb-gathering expedition 42.
• Treasure-cave gold: Receives half of the cave's several million gold coins under Xiao Yi Xian's proposed division 44.
• Ice Spirit Flame Grass: Obtained with Xiao Yi Xian's permission for future Snow Lotus Pill preparation 44.

Relationships

• Yao Lao / Yao Chen — Teacher and adviser residing in his ring. Supplies cultivation medicine, guides his alchemical development, and advises him during negotiations and exploration 13 16 43 44.
• Xiao Zhan — Father and Xiao Clan head. His public humiliation during the broken engagement is a central reason Xiao Yan vows to confront the Misty Cloud Sect 7 8.
• Gu Xun'er — Fellow childhood resident of the Xiao Clan. Encourages him, lends him money, and supports the clan during the engagement dispute. After reading his predicted future, she considers helping him in exchange for eventual assistance securing her own independence 2 7 13 14.
• Nalan Yanran — Former fiancée and opponent in the Three-Year Agreement. Her public rejection creates their feud; she later refuses to apologize or accept the engagement 7 28 29.
• Yun Yun — Nalan Yanran's teacher and Misty Cloud Sect master. Initially considers either suppressing Xiao Yan or repairing relations, then resolves to prevent the agreement from becoming a fight to the death 3 8 9.
• Xiao Yi Xian — Treasure-cave partner who secretly uses diary foreknowledge to guide their cooperation. Her generosity improves his opinion of her, while she intends her assistance as an investment in his future 31 43 44.
• Ye Qingzhou — Fellow Earth-born transmigrator and author of the diary recounting his life. Plans to befriend him and writes about his future partly to attract protection and support for him 1 14.
• Queen Medusa — Secret observer interested in his predicted potential, though she initially considers Yao Lao more valuable for immediate cooperation. Watches his dealings with Xiao Yi Xian alongside Ya Fei 17 41 43.

Story Role

Subject of the Diary

• Ye Qingzhou uses Xiao Yan's remembered experiences to test whether the diary accepts truthful events he did not personally witness 1 2.
• The diary's rejection of unwritten future events lets Ye pinpoint Xiao Yan's location in the timeline: newly departed from Wutan City and traveling toward Qingshan Town 28.
• Ye later bypasses that restriction by recording his thoughts about Xiao Yan's future rather than presenting those events as completed history 29.
• Readers can alter the encounters described. Xiao Yi Xian uses advance knowledge to secure the cave's three boxes, changing a fate node and receiving a reward from her diary copy 41 43 44.

Predicted Future

• Ye Qingzhou identifies Xiao Yan as a future Dou Di capable of opening a passage to the Great Thousand World. His private plans also anticipate Xiao Yan establishing the Endless Fire Domain 1 13.
• These revelations prompt Xun'er, Yun Yun, Ye Xinlan, Feng Qing'er, and others to consider befriending or assisting him before his rise 14 17 26.
• These are predictions and recollections of the expected storyline, not advancements Xiao Yan has completed in the present narrative 17 28 44.

Notable Quotes

“Thirty years on the east bank of the river, thirty years on the west. Do not bully a young man for being poor!” 7

“This contract isn't for breaking off our engagement. It's a certificate of divorce, by which I, this young master, expel you from the Xiao Clan...” 7

“I call that following my heart.” — After immediately reconsidering Jia Nan Academy upon learning it contains Heavenly Flames 25