After that day, an entire week passed quietly, yet within that short span of time, the Xiao family underwent visible changes that could not be ignored.
The courtyard that was once calm had now turned into a place filled with constant activity—flames rising and falling, the scent of medicinal herbs lingering in the air, and the focused expressions of those striving to improve themselves day and night.
Under Xiao Feng's strict guidance, the alchemy division of the Xiao family was growing rapidly.
The newly recruited members who had shown aptitude for alchemy were now training alongside the others, carefully learning the basics—recognizing medicinal plants, controlling flame temperature, and performing their first crude extractions.
Mistakes were frequent.
Failures were common.
But no one dared to slack off.
Because the standard Xiao Feng had set…
Was far too high to ignore.
Among the group stood Xiao Chen and Xiao Mai, now fully stabilized as 2nd Grade Alchemists, guiding the newer members under Xiao Feng's instructions while continuing to refine their own skills.
Ge He, too, had integrated himself into this system, occasionally stepping in to correct mistakes, his attitude far more humble than before, fully aware of the opportunity he had been given.
And among all of them—
Standing quietly, yet drawing attention effortlessly—
Was a beautiful figure.
Dark black hair that flowed smoothly down her back.
A pure white dress that fluttered lightly with every movement.
A calm yet gentle expression that carried both innocence and a hidden depth.
She stood there, slightly apart yet completely involved in the process—observing, learning, and occasionally stepping forward when needed.
She was none other than—
Xiao Yi Xian.
After her recent transformation, her presence had changed subtly.
There was now a faint, almost imperceptible aura around her—something dangerous yet controlled, like a silent poison hidden beneath a calm surface.
Her eyes followed Xiao Feng's movements closely, absorbing every detail of his teachings with intense focus.
Unlike before, she was no longer passive.
She asked questions.
She took initiative.
After observing their progress for a few days, Xiao Feng finally decided it was time for the next step in their training.
He looked at all of them calmly and said, "You have all practiced extraction long enough. Now… you will begin refining pills."
Now that he has given them enough training he want to find any genius can come out of them if he can find .
The moment those words were spoken—
A subtle tension filled the courtyard.
Refining pills was completely different from simple extraction.
It required not only control over flame and understanding of medicinal properties, but also precision, timing, and stability of soul force.
Even the slightest mistake—
Would result in failure.
Xiao Feng did not give them high expectations.
"You will start with the lowest level—1st Grade medicinal pills," he said plainly.
"Low quality. Basic formulas. No shortcuts."
He then distributed simple medicinal sets to each of them and stepped back, silently observing.
Soon—
Flames began to rise one after another.
The juniors carefully began their attempts.
Some struggled to even maintain a steady flame.
Some lost control during extraction.
Others failed at the condensation stage entirely, their efforts ending in burnt residue inside the cauldron.
The courtyard slowly filled with the smell of failure—
Scorched herbs, wasted essence, unstable energy dispersing into the air.
One attempt after another—
Failure.
Again—
Failure.
Not a single one of them succeeded.
Even those who had reached the peak of 1st Grade alchemist level could not stabilize the final stage.
Xiao Chen and Xiao Mai watched silently, knowing this was expected.
But then—
A different fluctuation appeared.
A faint yet steady flame.
Not powerful.
Not refined.
But… stable.
Xiao Feng's gaze shifted slightly.
It was Xiao Yi Xian.
Her movements were not fast.
In fact—
They were slightly clumsy.
Her control over flame was still rough, and her soul force lacked refinement compared to the others.
But—
She did not rush.
She did not panic.
She followed each step carefully, almost instinctively maintaining balance where others had lost it.
Slowly—
The ingredients melted.
The essence formed.
The condensation stage began.
Her hands trembled slightly.
The flame flickered.
For a moment—
It seemed like it would fail.
But then—
She stabilized it.
Barely.
Just enough.
After a long and difficult process—
A crude pill formed.
It rose weakly from the cauldron.
Its surface was uneven.
Its color dull.
Its energy unstable.
It was the lowest quality pill Xiao Feng had ever seen.
Crude.
Rough.
Incomplete in many ways.
But—
It was a successful refinement.
"This… is a Wound Healing Pill," Xiao Feng said slowly, his gaze fixed on the pill in her hand.
"A basic 1st Grade medicinal pill—used to treat minor injuries, accelerate wound recovery, and prevent blood clotting complications."
"Simple in function… yet difficult for beginners to stabilize."
The courtyard fell silent.
Everyone stared at her in shock.
Because this—
Was something none of them had achieved.
Xiao Yi Xian looked at the pill in her hand, her breathing slightly uneven, her face showing a mix of disbelief and quiet joy.
She turned instinctively toward Xiao Feng, as if seeking confirmation.
Xiao Feng looked at the pill for a moment.
Then at her.
His expression remained calm—
But there was a faint, almost imperceptible approval in his eyes.
"To refine a pill within two weeks of learning…" he said slowly.
"…even if it is crude—"
"It is still impressive."
The others felt a slight shock hearing this.
Because praise from Xiao Feng—
Was rare.
Very rare.
Xiao Yi Xian lowered her head slightly, unable to hide the small smile forming on her lips.
Because to her—
That single sentence meant more than anything else.
Hearing Xiao Feng's words of acknowledgment—rare, calm, yet carrying undeniable weight—Xiao Yi Xian felt something inside her chest loosen completely.
All the tension she had held…
All the nervousness during refinement…
All the fear of failure…
It all melted away in that single moment.
Before she could even think—
She moved.
With a sudden burst of emotion, Xiao Yi Xian stepped forward and jumped straight into Xiao Feng's arms, wrapping her arms tightly around him without the slightest hesitation.
Her face was flushed a deep shade of red, her heartbeat racing uncontrollably as she buried her face against his chest.
"I… I did it…" she said softly, her voice trembling slightly, yet filled with pure joy.
"I really did it…"
For that brief moment—
She forgot everything.
She forgot where she was.
She forgot that others were watching.
She forgot even herself.
All that remained was the happiness of being acknowledged by him.
The courtyard fell into complete silence.
Every single person present stared at the scene in stunned disbelief.
Even Xiao Chen and Xiao Mai were momentarily frozen.
Because everyone in the Xiao family already knew—
Xiao Feng had two girlfriends by his side.
Xiao Yu.
And Xiao Yi Xian.
And now—
There was no need for confirmation anymore.
It was as clear as day.
just then both xiao yu and Xun'er who have just arrived watched this scene .
Xiao Yu stood there with her arms crossed, her face slightly red as she looked away with a soft "hmp," trying to hide her embarrassment more than anything else.
Yet…
There was no anger in her expression.
Only a faint helplessness.
Because she understood.
And she had already accepted it.
Xun'er, standing beside her, simply smiled gently, her eyes calm and knowing, as if this scene was something she had expected all along.
As for Xiao Feng—
He stood there, slightly caught off guard for a brief moment.
But soon, his expression softened just a little.
He did not push her away.
Instead, he lightly placed his hand on her back, steadying her.
"Control yourself," he said calmly, though his tone lacked any real reprimand.
"You are still in training."
Hearing this—
Xiao Yi Xian finally realized what she had done.
Her body stiffened instantly.
Her face turned even redder than before.
And in the next second—
She hurriedly stepped back, lowering her head, completely unable to meet anyone's gaze.
"I—I'm sorry…" she muttered, her voice barely audible.
A few quiet chuckles could be heard from the side.
The tense atmosphere from earlier had completely disappeared, replaced by something much lighter.
Warmer.
And for Xiao Feng—
Though he said nothing more—
A faint trace of satisfaction remained in his eyes.
Seeing both Xun'er and Xiao Yu walking toward him with those meaningful, almost expectant expressions in their eyes, Xiao Feng suddenly paused for a brief moment, as if something important had just surfaced in his mind.
It only took a second—
And then he remembered.
The promise he had made earlier…
To take them out to the market.
To spend time with them outside the constant pressure of training, cultivation, and responsibilities.
A faint, almost helpless smile appeared on his face as he let out a soft breath, shaking his head slightly at himself for nearly forgetting something so simple, yet so important.
Without saying anything unnecessary, he stepped forward and gently took Xiao Yi Xian's hand, pulling her slightly closer to him.
His voice, when he spoke, was calm yet carried undeniable authority.
"Training ends here for today."
The moment those words fell—
The entire courtyard relaxed.
The tension that had been built up from days of intense training seemed to dissolve instantly.
Everyone looked at each other, some surprised, some relieved, but none dared to question his decision.
A break, especially from Xiao Feng himself, was something rare enough to be cherished.
"Take the rest of the day off," he added casually, already turning away as if the matter was completely settled.
And just like that—
He walked off.
Xiao Yi Xian followed immediately, her fingers still held in his, her heart quietly warming at the simple gesture.
Xiao Yu crossed her arms and let out a small "hmp," but there was no real annoyance in it as she followed right behind them.
Xun'er smiled gently, her eyes soft as she walked beside them, clearly pleased that he had remembered.
Just as they were about to leave the courtyard—
A familiar voice called out from behind, slightly hurried and filled with urgency.
"Brother! Wait for me!"
They all turned slightly to see Xiao Yan running toward them, clearly unwilling to miss whatever was about to happen.
He slowed down as he reached them, catching his breath, but his eyes were already shining with anticipation.
Xiao Feng glanced at him once, then simply nodded.
"Come along."
And with that—
The five of them left together.
As they stepped into the streets of Udan City, the difference was immediately noticeable.
The city was lively, filled with people moving about, merchants shouting, and the constant hum of daily life—
Yet beneath it all, there was a sense of order.
A quiet respect.
No one dared to cause trouble.
No one dared to cause trouble.
No one dared to create chaos.
Because now—
The Xiao family stood at the top.
Walking through the streets, they attracted attention naturally.
Not because of arrogance—
But because of presence.
Three exceptionally beautiful girls, each with their own charm, walking alongside Xiao Feng and Xiao Yan—
It was impossible not to notice them.
But no one dared to approach.
And then—
They reached the shopping district.
The moment they stepped inside—
Everything changed.
"Xiao Feng! Come here and look at this!" Xiao Yu called out immediately, grabbing his arm and dragging him toward a nearby stall without giving him any chance to react.
"Brother Xiao Feng, what do you think about this one?" Xun'er asked softly, holding up a delicate piece of clothing, her voice gentle but filled with expectation.
"Does this… suit me?" Xiao Yi Xian asked, her tone shy yet hopeful, her eyes fixed entirely on him.
In an instant—
Xiao Feng was surrounded.
One shop turned into another.
One outfit became ten.
Ten became countless.
Clothes of different colors, designs, and fabrics were brought out endlessly.
Each one had to be tried.
Each one had to be judged.
Each one required his opinion.
And without realizing it—
He had become the center of it all.
He gave suggestions.
He paid for everything.
He carried every bag.
Time passed slowly—
Yet relentlessly.
His expression, which had remained calm even in the face of life-and-death situations, began to show cracks.
Not from danger.
Not from enemies.
But from something far more terrifying—
Endless shopping.
Beside him, Xiao Yan could only watch in silence, his earlier excitement completely gone.
At one point, he leaned slightly closer and muttered under his breath—
"This… is worse than cultivation…"
Hours went by like this.
But despite the exhaustion—
There was laughter.
Real laughter.
Carefree.
Unrestrained.
Xiao Yi Xian gradually became more lively, her earlier shyness fading as she began to tease Xiao Feng occasionally, her eyes shining with a rare happiness.
Xiao Yu argued with him playfully, sometimes rejecting his choices just to prove a point, her energetic personality fully on display.
Xun'er stayed calm as always, but her gentle smile never left her face, quietly enjoying every moment spent together.
And Xiao Feng—
Though exhausted—
Did not stop them.
Because deep down—
He was happy.
As the sun slowly began to set, the golden light spread across the entire city, painting everything in a warm, soft glow.
The busy streets began to calm slightly, and the air carried a peaceful evening atmosphere.
Finally—
They stopped at a restaurant.
Sitting together around a table, surrounded by the aroma of freshly prepared food, the chaotic energy from before slowly settled into something warm and comfortable.
They ate together.
Talked freely.
Laughed without restraint.
Xiao Feng leaned back slightly in his seat, letting out a slow breath as he looked at the four people in front of him.
For someone who constantly carried responsibilities—
Who trained others, planned ahead, and walked a dangerous path—
Moments like this…
Were rare.
And because of that—
They were precious.