Just like that… an entire month passed.
Not slowly… not idly… but in a steady, relentless flow of effort, change, and quiet transformation that touched every corner of the Xiao Family and even spread across Udan City itself.
Time had moved forward without waiting for anyone, and now, as Xiao Feng stood within the manor, looking over everything he had built, only one thought remained clear in his mind—he had just ten days left before he would begin his journey back to Canaan Academy.
Ten days… a short span for others perhaps, but for Xiao Feng, it was enough to refine plans, strengthen foundations, and ensure that what he left behind would not crumble in his absence.
This past month had not been ordinary in any sense; it was a period where effort replaced hesitation, where discipline replaced comfort, and where growth became the only acceptable outcome for everyone within the Xiao Family.
Udan City itself had begun to change subtly yet unmistakably—fewer conflicts, fewer reckless actions, and a visible restraint among other factions who had once acted without fear.
The reason was simple, and everyone understood it without needing to say it aloud—the Xiao Family had risen to a level where provoking them was no longer a wise choice.
At the heart of this shift stood the Xiao Family Manor, no longer just a residence of a growing clan, but something far more structured and formidable, a place where strength was cultivated daily and where every individual carried purpose in their actions.
Inside the manor, the transformation was even more evident; there were no idle figures lingering in courtyards, no wasted hours drifting away without meaning, and no careless attitudes that once existed among the younger members.
Instead, the entire environment pulsed with activity—flames burned steadily in alchemy rooms, training grounds echoed with controlled movements and focused breathing, and discussions about techniques, control, and improvement could be heard from every direction.
Even the air itself felt different, heavier with Dou Qi and filled with a quiet intensity that pushed everyone forward whether they realized it or not.
This was no longer the Xiao Family that struggled to maintain its position—it was becoming a force that others would eventually have to acknowledge and respect.
Among all the changes, the most significant progress could be seen in the alchemy division, where Xiao Feng's strict guidance had begun to bear clear results.
Out of the seven core members, excluding Xiao Yi Xian, five had successfully raised their alchemy level, something that would normally take far longer under ordinary circumstances.
This was not luck, nor was it coincidence—it was the result of countless failed attempts, burnt medicinal herbs, exhausted minds, and the unyielding standards Xiao Feng imposed upon them every single day.
They had been pushed beyond comfort, beyond frustration, and sometimes even beyond what they thought they could endure—but now, the results spoke for themselves.
Their flame control had grown more precise, their timing more instinctive, and their understanding of medicinal interactions far deeper than before; they were no longer blindly following instructions, but slowly learning to think and act like true alchemists.
Standing at the forefront of this progress were two individuals who had clearly distinguished themselves from the rest—Xiao Chen and Xiao Mai.
Both had successfully stepped into the level of 3rd Grade Alchemists, and not merely at the threshold, but firmly capable of refining mid-level 3rd Grade pills, a feat that placed them far above the average standard of Udan City.
They were now only a few steps away from reaching the ability to refine peak 3rd Grade pills, and once they crossed that boundary, their value and influence would increase significantly.
For a city like this, even a single 3rd Grade Alchemist was considered valuable—having two, and both still improving rapidly, was something that would inevitably draw attention.
The rest of the alchemy group had also formed a clear and stable structure, something that had not existed before.
Three members had stabilized at the level of 2nd Grade Alchemists, steadily improving with each passing day, while four others remained at 1st Grade, still learning but showing consistent progress.
This was no longer a scattered group of individuals learning at their own pace—it had become a functioning system, one that could continue to grow even if Xiao Feng was not personally guiding them at every moment.
Even the new apprentices, who had only recently begun their journey, were not left behind in this wave of progress.
Out of the four beginners, two had successfully refined low-level 1st Grade pills, marking their first true step into the path of alchemy.
Though their results were crude and far from perfect, it did not diminish their achievement; the first successful refinement was always the hardest, and once that barrier was crossed, improvement became a matter of persistence rather than possibility.
Despite all this growth, Xiao Feng remained unwaveringly strict about one particular matter—the Soul Cultivation Technique.
He did not distribute it freely, nor did he allow curiosity or eagerness to influence his decision; among all the alchemists, only Xiao Chen and Xiao Mai had been granted access to it, and even then, it was sealed within their minds under heavy restrictions to ensure that it could never be revealed to others.
This was not an act of selfishness, but one of caution, because Xiao Feng understood clearly that such a technique, if exposed prematurely, would not bring advantage but rather attract danger from forces far beyond what the Xiao Family could currently handle.
Still, there were exceptions—people he trusted without hesitation, people he considered his own.
Xiao Zhan, Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, Xiao Yan, Xun'er, Xiao Yu, and Xiao Yi Xian were among the few who had received this knowledge directly, not because of their strength alone, but because of the bond they shared with him.
These were individuals he was willing to raise alongside himself, people whose growth he considered just as important as his own.
Even so, Xiao Feng had already made a decision deep within his heart—this power would not remain restricted forever, but neither would it be given lightly.
Only when he reached the level of Dou Emperor, only when he stood high enough to protect everything he had built, would he consider spreading the Soul Cultivation Technique to others.
Until that day came, restraint would remain his guiding principle, because true strength was not just about gaining power, but knowing when and how to use it.
Standing quietly within the manor, Xiao Feng allowed his gaze to sweep across the training grounds one final time—the rising flames, the focused expressions, the steady rhythm of growth that now defined the Xiao Family.
A faint sense of satisfaction appeared in his eyes, not as pride, but as quiet acknowledgment that everything was moving in the right direction.
Nothing was perfect yet, and much remained to be done, but the foundation had been laid, and it was strong enough to support everything that would come next.
Now, only ten days remained.
Ten days before he would leave this place once again, stepping away from the Xiao Family and into a far larger and more dangerous world where his current achievements would mean very little.
A world where only true strength mattered, where geniuses gathered, and where every step forward came with risk.
And soon…
He would return to it.
The Inner Court of Canaan Academy was waiting.
With Xiao Feng's guidance over the past month, even someone as experienced as Ge He had undergone a transformation that he himself had not expected in such a short period of time.
What once seemed like an unbreakable barrier…
The threshold of a 3rd Grade Alchemist…
Had finally been crossed.
Under Xiao Feng's strict and precise teaching, Ge He was no longer refining blindly or relying only on past experience.
Every mistake was pointed out.
Every flaw was corrected.
Every detail—no matter how small—was refined to perfection.
Xiao Feng did not allow even the slightest carelessness, and at times, the pressure was so intense that Ge He felt as if he had returned to his earliest days of learning alchemy, struggling step by step under a master's watchful eye.
But that pressure…
That intensity…
Was exactly what allowed him to break through.
On the day he successfully refined his first true 3rd Grade Pill, the moment the pill took form within the cauldron and the medicinal fragrance spread through the room, Ge He stood there in silence for a long time.
His hands trembled slightly.
Not from exhaustion…
But from disbelief.
He had been stuck at the 2nd Grade for years.
Years of effort without progress.
Years of trying, failing, and convincing himself that perhaps this was his limit.
And yet—
In just one month…
Xiao Feng had shattered that limit completely.
When he finally turned toward Xiao Feng, there was no hesitation left in his heart.
No pride.
No resistance.
Only respect.
Deep, unwavering respect.
Ge He stepped forward slowly…
Then, without the slightest hesitation—
He bowed deeply.
Lower than he had ever bowed to anyone before.
"From this day onward…"
His voice was steady, yet filled with sincerity.
"I, Ge He, swear loyalty to you, Master Xiao Feng."
There was no exaggeration in his words.
No empty promise.
Because in his eyes—
Xiao Feng was no longer just a talented young alchemist.
He was someone who could lead him further…
Far beyond anything he had ever imagined.
And from that moment on—
Ge He not only followed Xiao Feng…
He respected him from the depths of his heart.
Although Xiao Feng had only been studying formations for a short period—barely forty days in total—the progress he made during that time was nothing short of astonishing, even by his own standards.
What others would take months… or even years… to begin understanding, he had already grasped with clarity and precision, as if the knowledge itself naturally aligned with his thoughts.
With the support of his strong soul power and sharp perception, he was able to break down complex patterns, analyze energy flows, and reconstruct formation structures far faster than an ordinary practitioner ever could.
And in just a little over a month—
He had already mastered nearly half of the knowledge he possessed.
More importantly—
He had officially stepped into the realm of a 3rd Level Spirit Array Master.
Yet, instead of excitement…
This realization brought him into a brief silence.
Because as he continued studying and refining his understanding, Xiao Feng gradually came to a conclusion that even he did not expect at first—
His talent in Spirit Array Mastery…
Was actually slightly higher than his talent in alchemy.
It was not a vast difference.
Not something that would completely change his path.
But it was noticeable.
Clear enough that he could not ignore it.
Patterns that should have taken repeated attempts to understand—
He could grasp after seeing them only once or twice.
Energy circulations that required trial and error—
He could visualize almost instinctively in his mind.
Even the connection between multiple array nodes—
Something considered difficult for beginners—
Felt strangely natural to him.
For a moment…
A thought crossed his mind.
If I had chosen this path from the beginning…
Would I have progressed even faster?
But that thought quickly faded.
Because Xiao Feng understood something very clearly—
This world was not one where talent alone decided everything.
This was the Fighting Qi Continent.
A world where alchemy stood at the center of all professions.
Alchemists controlled resources.
Alchemists controlled influence.
Alchemists controlled connections and power.
A high-level alchemist could move entire factions with a single word.
Could gather experts from all directions.
Could change the balance of power within regions.
But a Spirit Array Master—
No matter how talented—
Did not hold that same position here.
More importantly…
The path he possessed was incomplete.
What Xiao Feng currently had in his hands were only basic spirit array patterns, knowledge that extended only up to around the 5th level at best.
Beyond that—
There was nothing.
No advanced techniques.
No higher-level blueprints.
No clear direction for progression.
Even if 8th or 9th Level Spirit Arrays truly existed somewhere in this vast world—
He had no way to access them.
No inheritance to guide him further.
No records to follow.
Which meant one simple thing—
Even with talent…
His growth in this path would eventually come to a halt.
That reality did not frustrate him.
But it did make things clear.
Xiao Feng stood there quietly, his eyes slightly narrowed as he thought about everything he had learned.
So what if the path is incomplete?
Does that mean I should abandon it?
A faint smile slowly appeared on his face.
No.
If the path was incomplete—
Then he would complete it.
If higher-level Spirit Arrays existed somewhere—
Then he would find them.
Ancient ruins hidden deep within dangerous lands…
Forgotten inheritances left behind by unknown masters…
Secret realms that few had ever stepped into…
This continent might not value Spirit Array Masters highly—
But that did not mean the path itself was weak.
It only meant—
It had not yet been fully uncovered.
Xiao Feng's gaze grew steadier.
More certain.
Alchemy will remain my foundation…
The pillar that supports everything I build…
But Spirit Arrays…
Will become my hidden strength.
A strength that others would not easily see.
A strength that could turn the tide when needed.
A strength that, given time and opportunity—
Might even surpass expectations.
And if fortune truly stood by his side…
If fate allowed him to encounter greater inheritances in the future…
Then one day—
He would uncover the true peak of Spirit Array Mastery.
And when that day came—
He would no longer be bound by the limits of this continent.