The moment Xiao Feng settled his mind, the surrounding flame energy reacted as if summoned, surging toward him in dense waves.
It did not flow gently like spiritual energy—rather, it crashed into his body with a raw, overbearing force, carrying a scorching heat that instantly enveloped him.
His skin tightened as the temperature rose sharply. It felt as though countless strands of fire were pressing against him, forcing their way through every pore, seeping into his flesh without restraint.
A faint stiffness appeared on Xiao Feng's face.
The pain was real—sharp, burning, and intrusive.
But he did not resist it. Instead, he guided it.
Within his body, his own flame began to stir. What was once calm now rose steadily, responding to his will as it moved to meet the invading earth flame energy.
The moment the two came into contact, a silent clash erupted within his meridians.
The earth flame energy was wild and unrefined, like molten fire dragged straight from the depths of the earth, carrying immense heat.
Xiao Feng did not attempt to suppress it forcefully. Instead, he carefully guided its flow, pulling it into his meridians and circulating it along controlled paths.
Even so, the process was far from easy.
Each cycle felt as though his meridians were being scorched from the inside, the burning sensation spreading along every pathway like fire crawling through dry veins.
The pain was persistent, lingering with every movement of energy.
Yet beneath that pain, there was change.
His flame gradually grew denser, its form becoming more stable with each circulation.
What was once slightly loose and scattered began to condense, its movements turning smoother and more precise under his control.
At the same time, the heat did not remain confined to his meridians.
It seeped outward.
His entire body was being tempered under the constant burning, like raw metal placed within a furnace. His skin flushed red, beads of sweat forming rapidly, only to evaporate almost instantly under the intense heat.
At certain moments, the heat surged beyond his expectations.
His muscles tightened instinctively, veins faintly bulging beneath his skin as the temperature climbed further.
Even his breathing became heavier, carrying traces of heat with every exhale.
Yet his control did not falter.
The cycle continued without pause.
Refinement, burning, and strengthening.
With every passing moment, his control over flame deepened—not just in raw power, but in subtlety. He could feel every fluctuation more clearly, every movement of fire responding more naturally to his will.
Even his meridians, which had initially struggled under the violent heat, began to adapt. Slowly, they grew more resilient, more capable of enduring higher temperatures without collapsing.
Time passed without him noticing.
Xiao Feng remained seated, unmoving, like a figure carved from stone within a blazing furnace.
The flame energy around him surged again and again, yet his aura no longer showed signs of instability. What was once chaotic gradually settled into a steady rhythm.
From resistance, to endurance, then to control, and finally to harmony.
A faint flame aura lingered around his body, no longer violent, but calm and obedient.
His breathing slowed.
His mind sank deeper.
And without realizing it, Xiao Feng had completely entered a state of deep cultivation.
Xiao Feng's cultivation lasted for half a day. Under this type of cultivation, where he could clearly feel his mastery over his flame increasing, no one would willingly stop midway.
Because the pleasure of this increase brought a thrilling comfort that emanated from the depths of one's soul.
Of course, although he did not want to break away from this almost perfect cultivation state, various external factors completely shattered his desire for peaceful cultivation.
Before he could fully stabilize his internal flow—
Bang!
A heavy impact suddenly echoed through the room, causing the door to vibrate faintly as even the surrounding formation rippled slightly.
Xiao Feng's eyes snapped open.
A trace of coldness surfaced in his gaze, followed by unmistakable irritation.
Being interrupted during cultivation was something no cultivator could tolerate easily, especially when he had just begun to grasp a stable flow.
The earlier sound had clearly been caused by someone forcefully striking the door. Although the material absorbed most of the impact, the disturbance still reached inside.
His expression turned gloomy.
Without hesitation, he stood up and walked toward the entrance. With a swift motion, he pulled the door open.
Outside, four figures stood before him.
Three wore inner disciple robes, while the one in front was dressed in a core disciple uniform. His posture was relaxed, yet carried a natural sense of superiority.
Xiao Feng's gaze swept across them once, lingering briefly on the core disciple before returning to calm indifference.
A faint trace of surprise appeared—but vanished just as quickly.
"What is the meaning of this?" Xiao Feng asked coldly, his tone carrying a slight edge of displeasure.
The core disciple smiled faintly, as if he had expected this reaction.
"You must be new," he said slowly, his voice laced with casual arrogance. "Otherwise, you wouldn't be standing here asking this question."
Xiao Feng remained expressionless.
The core disciple continued, "Don't you know that this cultivation room is not for others to use?"
Hearing this, Xiao Feng's brows furrowed slightly. The irritation in his heart deepened, but he still restrained himself.
"When I came, I checked the sect rules of the Earth Flame Cave," he said, shaking his head calmly. "There was no mention that these rooms are restricted."
The core disciple's smile stiffened slightly, his eyes narrowing.
Before he could respond, one of the inner disciples behind him stepped forward with a cold expression.
"You've got quite the nerve, daring to argue with Senior Zhao like this. Are you tired of living?"
Xiao Feng didn't even spare him a glance.
His attention remained on the core disciple, as if the words of the inner disciple were not even worth acknowledging.
He flicked his sleeve lightly and said indifferently, "If there's nothing else, move aside. Don't disturb my cultivation."
As his words fell, he turned slightly, preparing to close the door.
"Hold it."
At that moment, another voice rang out.
It was calm, yet carried a natural authority that made people instinctively pause.
Xiao Feng stopped, his gaze shifting slightly.
Among the four, another young man stepped forward. Compared to the others, his bearing was different—more composed, yet filled with an unhidden arrogance, as if everything here naturally belonged to him.
Even the core disciple unconsciously stepped half a pace aside, giving him space.
Seeing this, Xiao Feng's eyes narrowed slightly.
He immediately understood.
This person… was the real source of trouble.
"What's the hurry?" the young man said with a faint smile, his eyes sweeping over Xiao Feng with a trace of disdain. "Do you even know where you're standing?"
Xiao Feng looked at him calmly but did not answer.
"Listen carefully," the young man continued, his tone turning colder. "This cultivation room has always been my private cultivation place."
As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding disciples who had been quietly watching reacted immediately.
Several exchanged glances, their expressions turning strange.
A few even took subtle steps back, as if unwilling to be caught in what was about to unfold.
The atmosphere instantly grew heavy.
Hearing this, Xiao Feng's brows furrowed slightly. He raised his hand and pointed toward the cultivation room behind him.
"Is this some kind of special treatment the sect has given you?" he asked calmly. "Or do you have proof that you are qualified to claim this place?"
The moment these words fell, the surrounding crowd fell into brief silence.
Then, faint sighs sounded.
Some looked at Xiao Feng with clear pity.
The pressure in the air thickened, like a storm about to break.
Xiao Feng remained calm.
"If this is truly your private place," he said slowly, his voice steady, "then show me the proof."
The young man's expression, which had previously carried a faint smile, gradually turned ugly.
Beside him, the core disciple finally reacted.
His face darkened instantly, his eyes locking onto Xiao Feng with a terrifying intensity. A suppressed anger surged within him, making his voice slightly hoarse.
"Brat… you've got guts."
Xiao Feng met his gaze without fear. His eyes lifted slightly, a faint cold light flashing within his pupils.
Although he knew these people were stronger than him and his situation was delicate, he still did not use his teacher's name to intimidate them.
Because he was certain, they would not dare to attack him here.
The Earth Flame Cave, much like the Sutra Library, was a restricted area within the sect. Fighting here was strictly prohibited.
Anyone who broke this rule would face severe punishment—sometimes even expulsion.
So why would he fear them?
Even if one of them was a core disciple.
"You were the one smashing the door," Xiao Feng said coldly. "Do you understand what that means during cultivation?"
His tone remained steady, but the edge within it was unmistakable.
The earlier impacts had clearly been deliberate. Even though the door was reinforced, the sound alone was enough to disrupt someone's internal state.
At a critical moment—
That could be dangerous.
That was why, from the moment he opened the door, Xiao Feng's expression had already turned grim.