Some time later, Xiao Feng slowly rose to his feet. His expression had already returned to calm, even his breathing was steady.
His movement carried a quiet composure that made it impossible to connect him with the chaos that had taken place moments before.
He adjusted his robes leisurely, straightening every fold until they sat perfectly against his body.
His appearance once again returned to that of a refined personal disciple—clean, composed, and elegant.
Not a single trace of the previous "battle" remained.
Only the faint sharpness hidden within his eyes hinted that something had changed.
Before him, Huo Xiu leaned weakly against the table. Her chest rising and falling unevenly as she struggled to steady her breathing.
Her clothes were in disarray, revealing patches of pale, smooth skin, her usual composure completely shattered.
The earlier arrogance had long vanished, replaced by a fragile, almost submissive stillness.
Xiao Feng observed her quietly for a moment.
Then, a faint, mischievous smile curved at the corner of his lips.
His hand rose casually.
Smack!
A crisp, sharp sound echoed through the hall.
"Ah—!"
Huo Xiu's body trembled instantly, a soft cry escaping her lips as her fingers tightened subconsciously.
"Get dressed," Xiao Feng said calmly, his tone neither loud nor harsh, yet carrying an unquestionable authority.
"And remember your place. Act like a proper maid."
His words were simple, but they left no room for refusal.
Huo Xiu's face flushing faintly as she lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze. Her hands moved quickly, adjusting her clothes, restoring what little composure she could gather.
Xiao Feng no longer paid her any attention. He turned and walked out of his mansion.
The courtyard outside the residence was quiet.
The remaining disciples, who had been assigned to manage the mountain, immediately straightened when they saw him appear.
Xiao Feng did not waste words.
With a simple wave of his hand, the spirit herbs he had received earlier appeared before them, releasing faint spiritual fluctuations.
"Plant these around the residence," he said calmly. "Arrange them properly."
"Yes, Senior Brother!" they responded in unison, their tone respectful.
Without lingering, Xiao Feng stepped away from the mansion and began descending the mountain path.
As he walked, his thoughts moved steadily.
His master had told him to study. At first, it seemed unnecessary. After all, the system had already provided him with knowledge.
But as he reflected further, Xiao Feng quickly realized the limitation.
The system only gave him information within his current level.
Everything related to first-rank alchemy—herbs, properties, refining methods—was clear in his mind as if engraved there.
But beyond that…
There was nothing.
Not even the most basic understanding.
If he wanted to advance, he could not rely on the system alone.
"I still need to learn…" he muttered softly.
The library was not difficult to find. After some time of wandering, a massive structure appeared before him.
Unlike the cultivation technique pavilion, this place carried a completely different atmosphere.
It was quiet, heavy and ancient.
The moment Xiao Feng stepped inside, he felt as if he had entered a different world entirely.
Rows upon rows of bookshelves stretched endlessly, filled with scrolls and records accumulated over countless years.
A faint, calming aura lingered in the air, suppressing unnecessary noise and creating an environment suited for deep study.
Near the entrance, an old man sat behind a wooden counter. His eyes were half-closed, his posture relaxed.
There was no visible aura around him.
Yet Xiao Feng didn't dare to look him down.
After all, this Book library is one of the important places in the whole sect. Those who guarded this place, couldn't be ordinary people.
He stepped forward and presented his disciple token.
Without even opening his eyes, the old man spoke casually.
"Inner disciples may access up to the fourth floor."
But then, his eyes slowly opened. His gaze fell upon the token.
A faint flicker passed through them.
The token itself was similar to that of other inner disciples, but engraved upon it was a small, nearly unnoticeable mark.
A golden cauldron.
Even Xiao Feng didn't know that his token was different from other inner disciple's toke. It carried the symbol of a personal disciple.
Although personal disciples status couldn't interfere with official rank, but it gives a different status.
The old man's expression did not change much, but his tone carried a trace of respect as he spoke again.
"You may go up to the sixth floor."
He paused briefly before adding, "Beyond that is restricted. Even true disciples are not permitted to enter the upper levels. Only elders have access."
Xiao Feng nodded calmly.
He did not rush upward immediately.
Instead, he chose to begin from the first floor. And the moment he stepped further inside, his eyes flickered slightly.
The space was enormous.
Far larger than it had appeared from the outside.
Shelves extended endlessly in every direction, filled with tens of thousands of books—perhaps even more.
Different sections were carefully organized.
Outer disciples sat quietly at various tables, immersed in reading, their expressions focused and undisturbed.
The atmosphere was peaceful, yet filled with weight.
Xiao Feng walked slowly through the aisles, his gaze sweeping across the shelves.
These books covered nearly every aspect of the cultivation world. Detailed explanations of realms and systems, records of powerful sects and their territories, descriptions of rare herbs and medicinal properties.
Even broader knowledge about the continent's structure and power distribution. It was a place that contained the foundation of understanding.
After a brief observation, Xiao Feng no longer lingered here.
He moved directly toward the highest floor he could access.
The sixth floor was vastly different. The number of people on this floor were negligible.
The books here were many times fewer compared to the first floor, yet each one carried far greater value.
Xiao Feng moved through the shelves calmly, occasionally stopping to examine certain titles.
After some time, he selected three books.
"Major Powers Divided in Tianxu Continent."
A comprehensive record of the major forces across the continent, including sects, dynasties, and hidden powers.
"Medicine Wonders of Heaven."
A detailed collection of rare herbs, their properties, classifications, and usage.
"Core Power Structure of Heavenly Dao Sect."
An internal overview of the sect itself, including its structure, authority distribution, and hidden strength.
"These will do," Xiao Feng murmured.
Just as he was about to leave, he paused.
A strange feeling rose from within his body. For a moment, he even felt some reaction from his Pill Bone.
It was faint, yet unmistakable.
A subtle pull, as if something nearby was resonating with it.
Xiao Feng's expression sharpened instantly and he looked around.
The entire floor was empty, no one else was present. Those two or three people presents there, were also gone at this moment.
The silence felt deeper than before.
He followed the sensation slowly, his steps measured and cautious.
It led him toward a corner of the floor, where a less noticeable shelf stood.
There, his gaze fell upon an old, withered book. Its cover was dark and worn, its presence almost negligible compared to the others.
The title read: "General Information About Heavenly Flames."
Xiao Feng's eyes narrowed slightly the moment his gaze settled upon those words, a faint glimmer of interest flashing deep within his pupils.
Without any hesitation, he reached out and picked up the book.
The cover felt old—far older than the others around it.
The surface was rough and slightly cold, as if it had been left untouched for many years, quietly gathering dust in this forgotten corner of the library.
Carrying it with him, Xiao Feng walked toward a nearby reading area and sat down calmly.
The environment here was silent and undisturbed, with only the faint rustling of pages echoing occasionally from distant corners.
He placed the other three books neatly aside, his movements unhurried, yet deliberate.
For some reason, whether it was curiosity or something deeper, he chose to open this book first.
The pages turned slowly beneath his fingers.
The contents were simple at first glance, almost appearing like an introductory text rather than something hidden or profound.
It described a phenomenon known as Heavenly Flames.
Existences born naturally between heaven and earth, not forged by human hands, nor controlled by ordinary means.
Each flame possessed its own unique characteristics and its own abilities. In rare cases—even a faint degree of sentience, as if it were a living entity rather than a mere tool.
Some flames were said to possess the power to incinerate entire oceans, evaporating vast bodies of water into nothingness within moments.
Some were capable of refining all impurities, whether it be medicinal ingredients, or even the human body itself, bringing everything to a state of perfect purity.
The further Xiao Feng read, the more focused his expression became.
The book went on to record several known Heavenly Flames, describing their attributes, their origins, and the legends that surrounded them.
Some were tied to ancient battlefields and others to forgotten ruins. A few were rumored to still exist, hidden somewhere within the vast world, waiting to be discovered.
Each record carried a faint sense of mystery.
A sense that these were not things meant for ordinary cultivators.
Xiao Feng's gaze sharpened unconsciously.
His mind absorbed every detail. His breathing slowed. And before he realized it, he had already reached the final page.
His fingers paused as his brows furrowed slightly.