In the world of Teyvat, things aren't always what they seem, especially when it comes to how old characters are. Xiao, one of Genshin Impact's most popular and mysterious characters, might look like a young man in his late teens or early twenties, but his true age is far, far greater.

Xiao is actually over 2,000 years old. Despite his youthful appearance, he is an ancient being known as an Adeptus, a powerful, magical deity from Liyue who has lived for millennia.

Understanding Xiao's age means diving into the rich history of Genshin Impact. He is one of the last remaining Yaksha, a group of powerful Adepti summoned by the Geo Archon, Morax (who you might know as Zhongli), to fight against evil spirits and residual grudges left over from defeated gods after the Archon War. This war ended about 2,000 years before the current events in the game, and Xiao was a key participant in its aftermath.

It's pretty mind-boggling when you first find out how old some of these characters really are. I remember when I first started playing Genshin Impact, I was convinced Xiao was just another young, edgy character. Finding out he'd been around for thousands of years, carrying all that history and pain, totally changed how I saw him. It added so much depth to his quiet and serious personality. Speaking of other characters with surprising ages, have you ever wondered how old the Traveler's companion is? You might be surprised to learn about how old Aether is in Genshin Impact.

Why Do Adepti Look So Young?

Adepti, like Xiao, don't age in the same way humans do. They are essentially immortal, or at least have incredibly long lifespans. This allows them to maintain a youthful form for centuries, even thousands of years. It's a common theme in Teyvat that many ancient beings, including some Archons, appear far younger than their actual age suggests.

Xiao's long existence has been filled with constant battle and suffering due to the "karmic debt" he accumulates from defeating demons. This burden explains his often reserved and solitary nature, as he distances himself from mortals to protect them from his own suffering.

His birthday is on April 17th, which is a nice human touch to a character who has lived for so long. It’s funny how a character can be thousands of years old but still have a birthday you can celebrate in-game. It reminds me of how much thought goes into even the smallest details of characters, making them feel real even with fantastical backstories. I always try to log in on my favorite characters' birthdays for those extra in-game goodies!

Compared to other ancient characters in Genshin Impact, Xiao is still incredibly old, but not the absolute oldest. Zhongli, for instance, is over 6,000 years old, and Ganyu, another Adeptus, is over 3,000 years old. But Xiao's journey as the "Conqueror of Demons" makes his age particularly significant to the lore of Liyue.

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