Yao Chen

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Raising Sun Qi

Two years before the opening chapter, Yao Chen encountered a meteorite falling onto an island in the Aolai Divine Kingdom. A Stone Monkey emerged from it; sensing a connection, Yao Chen awakened its intelligence, named it Sun Qi, and accepted it as his disciple 1.

Yao Chen raised Sun Qi with plentiful medicinal pills and taught him the Myriad Medicinal Canon. Before Sun Qi entered seclusion, he promised to teach him pill refinement after his transformation and breakthrough. Concerned that his unruly disciple would provoke stronger opponents, he also crafted protective inner armor containing three life-saving strands of Dou Qi 1.

Betrayal and Survival

Han Feng, whom Yao Chen had raised as his successor, betrayed and attempted to murder him. Yao Chen lost his body but survived as a soul, while news of his death spread throughout the Central Plains. Venerable Feng investigated the incident and suspected that someone within Starfall Pavilion had assisted Han Feng 1 4 22.

Yao Chen subsequently resided in Xiao Yan’s Storage Ring and became his teacher. While helping Xiao Yan cultivate, he continued worrying about the young Stone Monkey he had left behind 20 22.

Reunion and Resurrection Plans

Yao Chen reunited with Sun Qi in Wutan City after sensing his battle with Ling Ying. Their reunion exposed a gentleness Xiao Yan had never previously seen in his teacher. When Sun Qi presented Han Feng’s captured soul, Yao Chen fell silent and initially asked him to keep it rather than immediately confront his former disciple 22.

Yao Chen postponed returning to Starfall Pavilion until he could restore his body and improve Xiao Yan’s cultivation. Sun Qi supplied soul-restoring herbs and offered Han Feng’s Sea Heart Flame for the resurrection process. By the following chapter, Yao Chen possessed two Heavenly Flames, though the required materials remained incomplete 23 24.

Misty Cloud Sect Confrontation

Yao Chen accompanied his disciples to the Misty Cloud Sect to address Xiao Yan’s broken engagement. His soul search found neither a Soul Hall Protector nor the former sect leader, Yun Shan. When Yun Ling challenged Sun Qi, Yao Chen possessed his disciple and used Dou Zong-level pressure to force the sect’s members three inches into the ground 24 27 28.

Afterward, he proposed eliminating the sect to prevent retaliation against Xiao Yan’s family, but his disciples chose to spare it and relocate the Xiao Clan. Yao Chen then departed with Xiao Yan toward Jia Nan Academy, intending to help him subdue the Fallen Heart Flame while Sun Qi continued training separately 29.

Appearance

• Soul body: Half-illusory and unable to shed physical tears, though Sun Qi perceives a tear-like glimmer in his eyes during their reunion 22.
• Manifestation: Appears as a white figure when emerging from Xiao Yan’s Storage Ring 22.

Personality

Yao Chen’s affection for Sun Qi is openly paternal. He indulges the monkey with pills, prepares safeguards for his travels, and takes pride in his independence. His guidance also helps instill Sun Qi’s strong attachment to loyalty and personal bonds 1 22 28.

He often conceals his seriousness beneath teasing and irreverence. He jokes that Zi Yan must be Sun Qi’s daughter, suggests that Sun Qi marry Yun Yun, and imagines looking after a future grand-disciple. With Xiao Yan, he combines instruction with sharp reminders to address him respectfully as “teacher” 20 23 26.

His protectiveness can become ruthless: he advocates destroying the Misty Cloud Sect rather than leaving a threat to Xiao Yan’s family. Conversely, Han Feng’s betrayal remains emotionally difficult for him, leaving him conflicted and questioning his former choice of successor 22 29.

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

A Peak Eighth-Tier alchemist, Yao Chen is renowned as the greatest alchemist in the Central Plains. Su Qian still remembers his pill-refining technique from an encounter in his youth 1 10.

• Refines Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid, supplying Xiao Yan with bottles to sell for funds 20.
• Demonstrates cauldronless pill refinement, using a white flame in his hand while instructing Xiao Yan 25.
• Processes ordinary medicinal ingredients into palatable pills for Zi Yan; this simple preparation does not require a pill formula 25.
• Supplies the medicinal pills Sun Qi carries and shares during his travels 1 14.

Soul Perception

Yao Chen uses soul power to detect fighters, assess their cultivation, and search broad areas 22 26 27.

• Detects the battle that leads to his reunion with Sun Qi 22.
• Extends his perception across the Jia Ma Imperial Capital and the Misty Cloud Sect 26 27.
• Recognizes Zi Yan as a fifth-tier magical beast with an extraordinary, dragon-related bloodline, but does not identify her exact species 23.

Possession and Combat Pressure

Yao Chen can assume control of Sun Qi’s body with his consent, allowing him to fight despite lacking a physical body 28.

• Raises Sun Qi’s displayed power from Dou Wang to Dou Zong level 28.
• Produces spatial rifts and stands unsupported in the void 28.
• Immobilizes Misty Cloud Sect members beneath overwhelming pressure 28.
• Requires a suitable host: Xiao Yan’s cultivation is too low to withstand his soul power during the confrontation, so Sun Qi carries his ring instead 26.

Teaching

• Awakens Sun Qi’s intelligence and teaches him medicinal knowledge and a movement Dou Technique 1 14.
• Gives Xiao Yan the Flame Mantra, which enables growth through absorbing Heavenly Flames 24.
• Encourages Xiao Yan to attend Jia Nan Academy, explaining that studying there does not require abandoning his existing teacher 24.

Body Refinement and Resurrection

• Identifies obtaining three different Heavenly Flames as the hardest part of refining a replacement body 23.
• Possesses two Heavenly Flames after Sun Qi’s intervention, including the Sea Heart Flame, ranked fifteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking 23 24.
• Still needs additional resurrection materials; no completed resurrection is shown 24 29.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Storage Ring residence — Shelters his soul and serves as a place to recover. Initially carried by Xiao Yan, it is transferred to Sun Qi before the Misty Cloud Sect confrontation 22 24 26.
• Soul-restoring herbs — Treasures brought from Starfall Pavilion by Sun Qi that substantially accelerate his recovery 24.
• Protective inner armor, crafted for Sun Qi — Contains three strands of Dou Qi intended to save its wearer’s life; later helps Sun Qi survive a spatial storm 1 9.

Relationships

• Sun Qi — Disciple and a son-like figure. Yao Chen named and raised him; Sun Qi avenges his betrayal and gathers resources for his recovery and resurrection 1 22 23 24.
• Xiao Yan — Disciple and host of his soul residence. Yao Chen teaches him alchemy and the Flame Mantra, protects him, and plans to help him obtain the Fallen Heart Flame 20 24 25 29.
• Han Feng — Former intended successor and betrayer. Even after Sun Qi captures his soul, Yao Chen struggles with the emotional consequences of his betrayal 22.
• Venerable Feng / Feng Xian — Fellow Starfall Pavilion leader who investigates his fall, protects the pavilion, and purges suspected internal threats 1 23.
• Zi Yan — Sun Qi’s companion. Yao Chen recognizes her exceptional magical-beast bloodline and refines pills for her to eat 23 25.
• Su Qian — An earlier acquaintance who deeply admires his alchemy and extends a warm welcome to Sun Qi upon learning whose disciple he is 10.

Notable Quotes

“You've grown up. That mischievous monkey you were as a child was still cuter...” 22

“It's fine. It's not as though you're being asked to change allegiances. What's wrong with going to Jia Nan Academy to cultivate?” 24

“I didn't expect your physical strength to be so formidable. It seems you're already capable of standing on your own from now on.” 28