After that, another week passed, and life gradually settled into a steady routine.
Both Xiao Chen and Xiao Mai had successfully broken through to 5th-star Dou Grand Master and had completely stabilized their cultivation levels through continuous effort and proper guidance.
At this stage apart from Xiao Feng, a few elders, and Xiao Zhan.
They had become among the strongest individuals in the entire Wu Tan City.
With such strength their safety was finally guaranteed.
Xiao Feng then called both of them over to his courtyard.
They arrived quickly and took their seats respectfully before him.
Xiao Feng was calmly sipping his tea, his posture relaxed yet dignified.
After a brief moment , He slowly opened his eyes.
A sharp yet composed gaze swept over the two of them.
Seeing them seated properly, Xiao Feng gently placed his teacup down on the table.
With a slight movement of his hand . A faint spatial ripple appeared.
From his storage ring,Several items flew out one by one and landed neatly on the table before them.
There were multiple pill bottles—
Each sealed carefully—
And beside them—
Two objects that radiated intense heat.
The moment they appeared the surrounding temperature rose noticeably.
The air itself seemed to distort slightly from the heat waves.
Xiao Chen and Xiao Mai instinctively focused their attention on them, their expressions turning serious.
Xiao Feng glanced at them briefly before speaking in a calm tone,
"These are two beast fires."
"One is a 5th-tier beast fire and the other is a peak 4th-tier beast fire."
As he spoke—
The faint flames within the sealed containers flickered more intensely, as if responding to his words.
He then raised his hand slightly—
And with a controlled motion—
The container holding the 5th-tier beast fire slowly floated toward Xiao Chen.
"Xiao Chen," he said.
"You need this fire more than Xiao Mai."
"You will be focusing primarily on alchemy…"
"…but you must also take responsibility outside the city when needed."
Hearing this—
Xiao Chen immediately stood up slightly and accepted it with both hands, his expression turning solemn.
"Yes, Master Xiao Feng. I understand."
Xiao Feng nodded slightly.
He had said this deliberately—
So that Xiao Mai would not misunderstand his decision as favoritism.
Then he continued calmly,
"For now, I only have one 5th-tier beast fire."
"But I have already placed an order and paid for another one."
"So do not feel disappointed."
Hearing this—
Xiao Mai's face flushed slightly with embarrassment.
She lowered her head for a moment.
In her heart—
Thoughts flashed rapidly.
Who is Xiao Feng…?
Because of him… I was able to reach this level…
If not for him… I would still be stuck at a low level…
Perhaps even married off by now…
A wave of gratitude filled her heart.
Her earlier trace of disappointment disappeared completely.
She lifted her head and nodded firmly.
"I understand, Master Xiao Feng.
Seeing this—
Xiao Feng gave a slight nod.
Then he pointed toward two platforms nearby.
"These are formation platforms I created recently."
"Sit there."
"Adjust your state and maintain your minds in perfect condition."
Both Xiao Chen and Xiao Mai immediately moved and sat cross-legged on the platforms, closing their eyes and stabilizing their breathing.
The atmosphere grew quiet.
A moment later—
Xiao Feng slowly raised his hand.
From his palm , A bright red flame emerged.
It flickered with a mysterious brilliance—
Carrying both intense heat—
And an ancient, domineering aura.
This was Xiao Feng's own Strange Fire.
The moment it appeared—
The entire courtyard seemed to come alive.
The air trembled slightly.
The flame danced gently in his hand—
As if awaiting his command.
The platforms they were currently sitting on were not ordinary stone constructs, nor were they simple training aids used for meditation or cultivation.
They were specially created by Xiao Feng—carefully designed formation platforms meant for one single purpose: to protect and stabilize the body during the dangerous process of body forging using Strange Flames.
Every line carved into the surface of the platforms carried intricate formation patterns, faintly glowing as they connected with the surrounding Dou Qi, forming an invisible protective layer that would suppress excessive heat, guide energy flow, and most importantly—prevent their bodies from collapsing under the overwhelming pressure.
Xiao Feng stood before them calmly, his expression steady but serious.
"This method is what found outside which uses strange fire to temper our body ," he said slowly, his voice carrying weight.
"It is not something ordinary cultivators can get their hands on ."
His gaze lingered on both of them, making sure they understood the risk.
"During the forging process, your cultivation may drop by one or even two minor star levels."
"But in exchange…"
"Your foundation will become unshakable, your meridians will be strengthened, and even your aptitude will improve."
Both Xiao Chen and Xiao Mai remained silent, but their expressions hardened with determination.
They did not hesitate.
Xiao Feng then flicked his wrist, and two small jade bottles appeared in his hand.
"These are Ice Membrane Pills," he said as he handed one to each of them.
"They will protect your mind and body from the extreme heat and prevent you from passing out during the process."
"Without them… you would not last even half the time."
Hearing this, both of them immediately understood the importance of the pills and swallowed them without hesitation.
The moment the pill dissolved, a cool, soothing energy spread throughout their bodies, forming a thin protective layer beneath their skin, like a membrane of ice shielding them from the inside.
Their tense expressions eased slightly.
Seeing this, Xiao Feng nodded.
"Now… sit properly and clear your minds."
"Do not resist the flame. Accept it."
Both of them adjusted their posture and closed their eyes, stabilizing their breathing and focusing their minds completely.
The courtyard fell silent.
Then—
Xiao Feng raised his hand.
A bright red Strange Flame bloomed in his palm, flickering with a powerful and ancient aura, causing the surrounding air to ripple and distort.
With a controlled motion—
The flame split into two streams.
They moved slowly, like living entities, and approached Xiao Chen and Xiao Mai.
The moment the flames reached them—
The formation platforms beneath them lit up.
A soft glow spread, forming a protective barrier.
Then—
The flames made contact.
"Ugh—!"
Both of them trembled as the intense heat invaded their bodies, but this time—
They did not lose control.
The Ice Membrane Pill activated fully, shielding their consciousness and stabilizing their senses, allowing them to remain awake and endure the process.
The Strange Flame slowly enveloped their bodies, seeping into their meridians and circulating along with their Dou Qi.
It burned, refined, and compressed their energy repeatedly, like a hammer striking metal over and over again.
Impurities hidden deep within their bodies were forced out bit by bit.
Dark residues began to appear on their skin, carried out by the intense heat.
Their muscles tightened, their bones vibrated, and their meridians expanded slightly under the pressure.
The pain was overwhelming—
But their minds remained clear.
The Ice Membrane Pill continued to protect them, preventing their consciousness from collapsing under the strain.
One hour passed.
Then two.
Then three.
Their auras fluctuated as their cultivation levels began to drop slightly—
From 5th-star Dou Grand Master…
To 4th-star…
But instead of weakening—
Their energy became denser, purer, and far more stable.
By the fourth hour, the process reached its peak.
The flames penetrated deeper, refining even the smallest impurities within their bodies.
Their fists clenched tightly, veins bulging slightly, but they endured.
They did not move.
They did not speak.
They simply endured.
As the fifth hour approached its end—
The flames gradually weakened.
The intense heat began to fade.
The formation platforms dimmed.
Xiao Feng slowly withdrew the Strange Flames back into his palm.
Silence filled the courtyard.
Both Xiao Chen and Xiao Mai sat there, breathing heavily, their bodies covered in impurities that are burned out by the flames.
But their auras—
Stable.
Solid.
Completely transformed.
Though their cultivation had slightly decreased—
Their foundation had risen to an entirely new level.
Xiao Feng looked at them calmly.
"It's done."
His voice was quiet—
But carried unmistakable satisfaction.
He now had a thought to quickly give them an Earth Grade cultivation technique, but he quickly suppressed his thoughts, knowing that taking out an Earth Grade technique now was not a good idea.
"You both have been cultivating the Profound High Level cultivation skill, and now that you have tempered your bodies, your cultivation speed will also increase.
So, I expect you both to reach at least the mid-level Dou Spirit rank within three years, and to reach the 3rd Grade in Alchemy during my stay.
I will have you both rotate every six months between the Xiao Family and Canaan College, back and forth. So be prepared for that, and you both have to get into the Inner Academy as soon as possible,
so that you can see the wider world out there and meet more people."
"Now go, and come back tomorrow. I will start the hellish training from tomorrow onwards."
The morning sun had barely crept over the horizon when Xiao Feng's voice cut through the courtyard like a blade.
"Everyone, form up."
No pleasantries. No gentle greetings. Just two words that carried the weight of absolute authority.
Seven figures scrambled into position before him. The five Xiao family alchemists — each holding a 1st Grade badge with quiet pride — lined up alongside Xiao Chen and Xiao Mai, whose eyes carried the sharp hunger of those standing at the threshold of something greater.
Xiao Feng swept his gaze across all of them slowly, his expression unreadable.
"Today we begin with flame refinement," he announced, crossing his arms behind his back. "And when I say refinement — I do not mean subduing. I do not mean caging a wild beast behind iron bars and calling it tamed. I mean consuming it. Merging with it. Making it so deeply yours that your blood itself carries its heat."
The words landed heavily in the quiet morning air.
"A flame that is merely subdued will betray you at your weakest moment. A flame that is truly refined — that has become your natal flame — will answer you even in death."
He turned first to the five junior alchemists.
"You five. Today you begin merging your 3rd Grade Beast Fires into your natal flames. This is not a technique. This is not an exercise." His gaze moved across each face deliberately. "This is a transformation. Your body, your soul force, your very core will resist it. That resistance is natural. Push through it anyway."
Then his gaze shifted to Xiao Chen and Xiao Mai.
"Chen. Your 5th Grade Beast Fire is powerful but still rough at its edges — there are layers within it you have not yet fully absorbed into yourself. Today you will go deeper into that merger." His eyes then moved to Xiao Mai. "Mai. Your Peak 4th Grade flame is nearly one with you — nearly. That gap between nearly and completely is where alchemists get killed. Close it today."
Both of them nodded, their expressions carrying that particular mixture of confidence and solemnity that only came from truly understanding what they were being asked to do.
Xiao Feng raised his hand, and seven sealed jade containers drifted silently from his spatial ring, each one breathing heat like a living coal pressed against the chest.
"Sit. Cross-legged. Center your soul force at your flame core and open the pathway slowly — do not rush the merge or the flame will fracture your meridians from the inside."
The courtyard fell into a heavy, focused silence broken only by the occasional sharp hiss of breath or the low crackling pulse of Beast Fire energy pressing against its new host.
Xiao Feng moved between them like a ghost — unhurried, watchful, impossibly precise. When one of the junior alchemists began to pale dangerously, soul force stuttering under the Beast Fire's wild pressure, Xiao Feng crouched beside him without a word and pressed two fingers against the back of his neck.
A thin, steady current of guiding energy flowed through — not forceful, just enough to show the path.
"Your flame is not your enemy," Xiao Feng said quietly, only for him. "Stop treating the merge like a battle. Invite it. The fire responds to intent."
The young alchemist's breathing evened. The merge stabilized.
Two hours passed like two decades.
When Xiao Feng finally called a halt, every single one of them was drenched in sweat, faces pale, hands trembling faintly in their laps. Even Xiao Chen and Xiao Mai — more experienced, more grounded — looked as though they had personally wrestled something ancient and hungry.
Xiao Feng looked over them all with quiet, measuring eyes.
"You didn't break," he said simply. "Good."
He then rolled his sleeves up with slow, deliberate calm — and that single motion sent a visible chill through the group.
"Flame refinement is complete for today. Consider it your morning stretching."
Silence.
"Hellish training begins now." The corner of his mouth curved just slightly. "Keep up — or get left behind. I will not slow down for either outcome."
Every single one of them straightened despite their exhaustion — because something in his voice made it absolutely clear that he meant every word, and that what came next would forge them into something unrecognizable or break them trying.