A week had quietly passed since Xiao Yi Xian's refinement, and within that short span of time, many subtle yet profound changes had taken place, both in her and within the Xiao family itself.
During these seven days, Xiao Feng did not allow even a single moment to be wasted, as he personally took on the responsibility of guiding Xiao Yi Xian into the vast and intricate world of alchemy, carefully introducing her to its fundamentals in a structured and patient manner, ensuring that her foundation would be solid rather than rushed.
He began with the basics—teaching her how to identify medicinal plants not just by appearance but by their aura, texture, and the faint fluctuations of energy they emitted, explaining in detail how even a slight difference in maturity or environment could alter their effectiveness when used in pill refinement.
From there, he gradually introduced her to magical beast cores, elaborating on their attributes, the importance of compatibility, and how improper usage could lead to failure or even backlash during alchemy, making sure she understood not only the theory but also the reasoning behind every step.
Finally, he focused on what he considered the most critical aspect—fire control—where he demonstrated the precise manipulation required to refine, merge, and stabilize ingredients, emphasizing that without control, even the best materials would turn into nothing more than wasted ashes.
Throughout the entire process, Xiao Yi Xian remained fully focused, her natural affinity combined with her newly acquired wood attribute and Poison Fire Beast Flame allowing her to grasp concepts at a speed that even Xiao Feng found slightly surprising, as her progress was not only steady but carried a certain natural elegance unique to her constitution.
At the end of the week, Xiao Feng took out a storage ring and handed it to her without much ceremony, yet the significance of the item was anything but ordinary.
"This is for you. Keep your materials and anything important in it," he said in a calm tone, as if giving away such a treasure was nothing unusual.
However, Xiao Yi Xian immediately recognized its value, as this was a medium-sized storage ring capable of holding over a thousand cubic meters of space, something extremely rare within Wu Tan City, ranking among the top three storage rings in the entire city, surpassed only by the ones possessed by Xun'er and Xiao Feng himself.
"I found it in the Magical Beast Forest," he added casually, but to Xiao Yi Xian, the meaning behind it was far deeper, as she understood that such items were not easily obtained and were usually considered priceless by most cultivators.
Holding the ring gently, her fingers tightening slightly around it, she looked at Xiao Feng with eyes filled with quiet emotion, her voice soft yet sincere as she said, "Thank you… I will treasure it."
Meanwhile, Xiao Feng himself had been equally occupied during this week, dividing his time between guiding Xiao Yi Xian and pursuing another path that had recently captured his interest—formation mastery.
Although formation techniques were not considered a dominant profession within the Dou Qi Continent, often overshadowed by cultivation and alchemy, Xiao Feng knew very well that in the broader world, especially in the so-called Great Thousand World, formation masters held immense value and influence, capable of altering battlefields, protecting entire regions, and even suppressing opponents far stronger than themselves.
It was precisely because of this understanding that he decided to invest his time into studying the formation scrolls he had obtained, and with the advantage of his powerful soul realm, his progress far exceeded that of an ordinary practitioner attempting to learn the same art.
After a full week of focused study, repeated trials, and careful experimentation, Xiao Feng successfully constructed a functional formation—his very first true achievement in this field—a Spirit Gathering Array.
Once activated, the formation subtly drew in the surrounding Dou Qi and condensed it within a specific area, increasing the density of energy in the environment to nearly twice its original concentration, creating a significantly richer cultivation space.
For cultivators below the Dou Grand Master level, this was more than enough to noticeably accelerate their progress, allowing them to refine their Dou Qi more efficiently, strengthen their foundations, and reduce the time required to advance through early stages.
Even for Xiao Feng himself, the formation proved useful, as it provided a stable and controlled environment for cultivation, something that could be utilized repeatedly without risk.
However, he was not satisfied with this level.
With a calm yet determined expression, he observed the formation carefully, analyzing its structure and flow, already thinking about how it could be improved further.
"If I refine the array structure and enhance the core nodes… I should be able to push its effectiveness further," he thought.
He estimated that before departing for Canaan Academy, he would be able to upgrade the Spirit Gathering Array to a level effective even for high-level Dou Spirit practitioners, making it a far more valuable asset for both himself and the Xiao family.
The speed at which he had achieved this progress was not by chance, but rather a direct result of his powerful soul strength, which granted him exceptional perception, control, and understanding, allowing him to grasp complex formation structures far more easily than others.
Without such a soul realm, even comprehending the basics of formation techniques would take months or even years, let alone constructing a working array in such a short time.
Of course, Xiao Feng was fully aware of the limitations of his current achievement.
When compared to something like the Fallen Heart Flame within Canaan Academy, his Spirit Gathering Array was still far inferior, as the Fallen Heart Flame not only accelerated cultivation but also tempered the body and soul simultaneously, refining impurities and providing benefits that went far beyond simple energy gathering.
Yet despite this gap, Xiao Feng did not feel discouraged.
Because what he had created was stable, safe, and entirely under his control, a tool that could be used freely without relying on external forces or rare opportunities.
Most importantly—
It was something he had built with his own understanding.
As he stood there, looking at the faintly glowing formation, a subtle smile appeared on his face, his eyes reflecting a quiet confidence.
"This is only the beginning…"
His thoughts were calm, yet filled with ambition, as he understood clearly that in a world where strength determined everything, every advantage, every skill, and every path he cultivated would bring him one step closer to the peak.
And he had no intention of stopping.
However, what Xiao Feng did not openly acknowledge—
Was the change in Xiao Yi Xian during this same week.
Ever since the life-and-death refinement, the moment where he stayed by her side for an entire day and night, guiding her through unbearable pain without leaving even once—
Something within her had quietly changed.
She was no longer the same reserved girl who kept her distance.
Instead—
She had begun to actively seek his presence.
Whenever Xiao Feng was studying formations or refining pills, she would find a reason to come near him—sometimes carrying herbs, sometimes asking questions, and sometimes with no reason at all.
"Xiao Feng… can you check if I identified this plant correctly?" she would ask, even when she was already confident in her answer.
And when he explained something—
She would stand slightly closer than necessary.
Close enough that he could faintly sense her breathing.
Close enough that her presence could not be ignored.
At times, she would even pretend to struggle with fire control, only to look at him with a slightly troubled expression.
"I think I lost control again… can you show me one more time?" she would say softly.
Xiao Feng knew.
He knew she was improving fast.
He knew she did not truly need that much guidance anymore.
But—
He did not expose her.
He simply sighed inwardly and corrected her patiently each time.
And Xiao Yi Xian—
Would smile.
A soft, satisfied smile.
There were even moments when she would quietly sit beside him while he worked, not saying anything at all, simply watching him with calm eyes, as if just being there was enough.
Sometimes, when their eyes met—
She wouldn't look away immediately.
Instead—
She would hold his gaze for a brief moment—
Then smile gently.
A smile that carried warmth…
And something deeper.
Even her actions had become more natural and bold.
At times, she would lightly tug on his sleeve to get his attention.
At times, she would lean slightly closer while observing his alchemy process.
And at times—
She would simply call his name in a softer tone than before.
"Xiao Feng…"
Each time—
It made it just a little harder for him to remain completely unaffected.
And yet—
He still maintained his calm exterior.
But deep inside—
Even he could feel it.
The subtle change.
The growing closeness.
And the warmth that neither of them spoke about—
But both clearly understood.