Thinking of his master, Xiao Feng asked, "Master, how is your recovery coming along?"
After considering a possible solution, he continued, "Master, this place seems to be a treasure trove for soul cultivation. Perhaps you could try cultivating here to recover your strength and return to your peak state."
Upon hearing this, his master became serious and nodded. This was indeed an excellent place for recovering his soul strength.
Before his death, he had been a Half-Saint expert. However, driven by his ambitions, he hadn't stopped his cultivation to consolidate his foundation. Instead, he had wanted to break through directly to the Genuine Dou Saint realm.
During this process, his Soul Realm had advanced to the Initial Heavenly Realm. Unfortunately, the commotion caused by this breakthrough attracted the attention of the Soul Hall and other greedy individuals, who eventually joined forces to attack him.
At present, his soul strength seemed to be at the High-Level Mortal Realm, though it hadn't yet reached the peak of that realm. If he cultivated here for a year or so, he could undoubtedly recover his soul strength to the Middle Spirit Realm. With his soul power alone, he would possess strength comparable to that of a mid-stage Dou Zun expert.
As his master nodded in agreement, Xiao Feng began considering another matter. Someone might eventually discover this place, and by now, there should already be a Soul Hall Protector stationed in the Jia Ma Empire.
He couldn't afford to be careless, especially since his master was still in a soul state. The Soul Hall's members were particularly skilled in soul-based attack techniques.
Thinking of this, Xiao Feng explained his concerns to his master and told him that he would set up some protective measures to ensure his master's cultivation wouldn't be disturbed.
His master nodded in agreement.
Master Xi Yun seemed to recall something, and his expression suddenly turned serious as he looked at Xiao Feng.
"Xiao Feng, your physique seems to be either a mutated version of an Beast physique or something entirely new."
"Try to conceal the characteristics of your physique as much as possible."
Xiao Feng nodded seriously, understanding the importance of his master's warning.
Just as his master was preparing to rest, Xiao Feng asked, "Master, do you have any special pill recipes that you've created? If so, could you pass them on to me?"
It wasn't surprising that Xiao Feng would ask such a question. Although his master had passed down an Eighth-Rank Alchemist inheritance to him, the pill recipes he had received were mostly common pills and generally well-known medicinal formulas.
All the other advanced and special pill recipes in his possession had come from the inheritances of the Seventh- and Sixth-Rank Alchemists he had discovered earlier, as well as from Jia Nan Academy.
Without those inheritances, he wouldn't have had many advanced pill recipes at his disposal.
Even though Xiao Feng was a genius, he couldn't simply create new pill recipes to aid cultivation whenever he wanted.
The new pill recipes Xiao Feng had developed himself were all focused on recovery and treating injuries, and they were only at the Third Grade.
Although Xiao Feng could develop new pill recipes through repeated experiments and trial and error, he simply didn't have the time to devote himself to such research.
Realizing this, Xi Yun's expression turned slightly awkward. His face flushed for a moment before returning to normal.
He then raised his finger and gently touched Xiao Feng's forehead, transmitting several special pill recipes, advanced techniques for controlling Heavenly Flames, and other valuable knowledge.
Xiao Feng was initially overjoyed when he received the special pill recipes from his master. After all, his master was an Eighth-Rank Alchemist, and the recipes he possessed were bound to be extraordinary.
However, his excitement didn't last long.
As he carefully went through the recipes transmitted to him, the smile on his face gradually disappeared. Out of all the pill recipes, only a handful were actually useful to him. The vast majority were specifically designed for Magical Beasts, while the remaining ones were mostly high-grade pills intended to improve their bloodlines, strengthen their bodies, or assist them in their cultivation.
Xiao Feng couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
He had originally hoped to obtain some rare pill recipes that could help him improve his cultivation or strengthen his own foundation. Instead, he had received an entire collection of recipes that were practically useless to him at the moment.
He raised his head and looked at his master with a helpless, almost pitiful expression, as if silently asking whether this was really all he had to offer.
Seeing that expression, Xi Yun's face immediately darkened.
"Hey! You little brat! What's with that look on your face? Do you think I'm deliberately giving you useless things?"
He glared at Xiao Feng before continuing in an irritated tone.
"These are all extremely valuable pill recipes! Most of them are rare formulas that even ordinary Eighth-Rank Alchemists might not possess. They're specially developed for Magical Beasts, whether it's improving their bloodlines, strengthening their physical bodies, or helping them advance through their cultivation bottlenecks."
He paused for a moment before proudly adding,
"Besides, my title is Beast Venerable! What exactly did you expect? Most of my life's research has revolved around Magical Beasts. Naturally, the pill recipes I've collected and developed are going to be useful for them!"
Xiao Feng could only smile awkwardly. He hadn't meant to insult his master's collection, but he couldn't help feeling that his expectations had been a little too high.
Seeing that Xiao Feng still hadn't moved, Xi Yun became even more impatient.
"Alright, enough of that! Don't just stand there staring at me. Didn't you say you were going to set up some protective formation arrays? Then hurry up and get to work! I need a peaceful environment to recover my soul strength."
With that, he waved his hand impatiently, making a shooing gesture as though he were chasing away a troublesome dog.
Xiao Feng couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at his master's reaction. Nevertheless, he didn't dare argue any further. He simply nodded and began preparing to set up the formation arrays.
Xiao Feng then began setting up several formation arrays around the valley. These included energy-gathering formations and concealment formations, which would not only hide the valley from outsiders but also help improve its environment and support its growth.
Knowing how important this task was, Xiao Feng devoted his entire energy to setting up the formations. He wanted to make sure that the valley remained hidden even from powerful experts.
The formations he established would be sufficient to keep the valley concealed from anyone below the Dou Zun level, as well as most peak-level Dou Zong experts.
However, if someone at the Dou Zun level or above discovered the valley, things would become much more difficult. Xiao Feng knew that he couldn't afford to take any chances.
Fortunately, experts of that level were extremely rare in the Northwest Continent. Most powerful cultivators who reached such heights would eventually head towards the Central Plains rather than remain in this remote region.
It took Xiao Feng an entire week to complete the arrangements and establish all the formations to his satisfaction.
After finishing everything, Xiao Feng made his way towards the place where Master Xi Yun was resting.
As soon as he arrived, Xi Yun casually threw a large bone towards him. The bone was wrapped in a layer of soul force, concealing the energy fluctuations it contained.
Xiao Feng quickly caught it and stored it inside his Dragon-Phoenix Storage Ring.
After noticing that his master was slightly out of breath, Xiao Feng looked at the bone with curiosity and asked, "Master, what kind of Magical Beast does this bone belong to?"
After taking a few moments to recover his breath, Xi Yun finally answered.
"This bone belongs to a Ninth-Tier Magical Beast known as the Green Wood Qilin Beast. They are famous for their extraordinarily long lifespans, as well as their immense Wood Energy and powerful life force."
"The Green Wood Qilin Beasts belong to one of the Exotic Beast Clans. Their overall strength and status can be compared to those of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan and the Nine Netherworld Python Clan."
"Although they aren't as powerful as the Ancient Phoenix Clan or the Sky-Swallowing Python Clan, both of which have become extinct, they are still an extraordinary race. Of course, the Ancient Void Dragon Clan is another matter entirely, as they still exist even today."
Xi Yun paused for a moment before continuing.
"Among Magical Beast races, the Green Wood Qilin Beasts possess exceptionally long lifespans. Their longevity is one of their most remarkable characteristics."
"Unfortunately, because of their unique abilities and immense life force, they were hunted extensively by other powerful beings. Eventually, their numbers dwindled until the original race became extinct."
"Although some Qilin Beast bloodlines still exist among Magical Beasts today, they have become heavily diluted. They can no longer compare to the ancient Green Wood Qilin Beasts, especially when it comes to their rich life essence."
He then looked at Xiao Feng and added,
"So, make sure you keep that bone safe. From what I can tell, it's only a leg bone, and not even a complete one. Yet, judging from the energy contained within it, its owner must have possessed strength comparable to a Three-Star Dou Sheng during its lifetime."
After hearing this, Xiao Feng was once again shocked by the information. He carefully considered his master's explanation and couldn't help but agree with his hypothesis.
As time passed, the rich Wood Energy and life essence contained within the bone seemed to have influenced the spirit of the Life Spirit Flame.
This might explain why the spirit of the Life Spirit Flame had taken on such an unusual appearance. Otherwise, based on Xi Yun's knowledge, its spirit form should have resembled a plant or some kind of medicinal herb rather than its current appearance.
Xiao Feng nodded, finding his master's explanation quite reasonable.
However, something else suddenly caught his attention. He looked at Xi Yun with a surprised expression and asked,
"Master, you've actually met members of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan?"
As far as Xiao Feng knew, the Ancient Void Dragon Clan had remained isolated from the outside world for a very long time, ever since their Dragon Emperor, Zhu Kun, had mysteriously disappeared.
He couldn't help but feel curious about how his master had come into contact with members of that clan.
Hearing Xiao Feng's question, Xi Yun also showed a puzzled expression. He seemed to recall something from the distant past before letting out a sigh.
"Well, when I was still in the Central Plains and had reached the peak of the Dou Zong realm, I once encountered an injured Ancient Void Dragon."
"At that time, I helped him treat his injuries. After recovering, he gave me this Dragon-Phoenix Storage Ring along with the cauldron as a reward."
Xi Yun paused briefly before continuing with a slightly suspicious expression.
"Even now, I still find that encounter rather strange. That dragon was at least a Seventh-Tier Magical Beast, possibly even an Eighth-Tier one. The Ancient Void Dragon Clan is famous for its incredibly powerful physical bodies, so ordinary injuries shouldn't have been a major problem for someone like him."
"Yet, all he needed from me was a Seventh-Rank medicinal pill to treat his injuries. And the reward he gave me in return was simply astronomical!"
Xi Yun shook his head slightly, as though he still couldn't quite understand that encounter even after all these years.
Xiao Feng also found the incident rather suspicious, but he didn't dwell on it too much. Since his master himself couldn't figure out what had happened, there wasn't much point in overthinking it.
He decided to leave the matter aside for now.
After a moment, Xiao Feng looked at his master and said, "Master, I'll be leaving now. I'll come back to visit you in about a year or so. Until then, take good care of yourself."
With that, he cupped his hands respectfully as a gesture of farewell.
Seeing this, Master Xi Yun didn't say much. He simply nodded and gave Xiao Feng a few words of encouragement before telling him to have a safe journey.
Without wasting any more time, Xiao Feng spread his wings and flew out of the secluded valley.
He immediately headed towards Wutan City, travelling at an incredible speed. It didn't take him more than two days long to arrive at the Xiao Clan's residence.
Upon reaching the courtyard, he quickly released his soul perception and scanned the surrounding area, searching for his uncle.
As he examined the condition of the clan members, he couldn't help but feel satisfied with what he discovered.
The Xiao Family now had more than five Dou Spirit experts, along with numerous Dou Masters and Dou Practitioners. There were also more than fifty Dou Grandmasters among the clan members.
Compared to the Xiao Family's condition five years ago, its overall strength had improved by more than ten times, largely thanks to Xiao Feng's support.
However, the clan could have become even stronger if Xiao Feng had visited more frequently during the past three years.
One of the main reasons for this slow progress was the lack of medicinal pills required to help cultivators break through to the Dou Spirit realm. Such pills generally required peak Fifth-Rank Alchemists to refine, and the Xiao Family didn't have anyone capable of producing them.
Therefore, Xiao Feng had to arrange regular supplies of medicinal pills through exchanges every eight to ten months or send them through his protectors han yun and liu shan.
As for the clan's alchemists, the two most capable members were none other than Xiao Chen and Xiao Mai, whom Xiao Feng had personally taught.
Both had reached the Fourth-Tier Alchemist level, with their skills approaching the peak of the Fourth Tier.
They could refine pills such as the Three-Lines Green Spirit Pill, although they could only produce its two-line version. They could also refine the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill and the well-known Qi Gathering Pills.
While these Pills were quite useful for Dou Grandmasters, they weren't particularly helpful to cultivators who had already reached the Dou Spirit realm.
Now that Xiao Feng had finally returned, things were about to change.
He planned to stay in the Jia Ma Empire for at least two to three years this time. Moreover, he had already prepared an ample supply of resources for the Xiao Family.
With his new arrangements and continued support, the clan was bound to experience another major improvement in both strength and overall development.
While scanning the clan's surroundings, Xiao Feng also noticed that the performance of the Qi Gathering Formation and the Flame Tempering Formation had deteriorated somewhat after three years of continuous usage.
Although the formations were still functioning, their efficiency had clearly decreased. He made a mental note to upgrade and reinforce them later.
Fortunately, now that he had the Life Spirit Flame with him, he no longer needed to worry too much about supplying medicinal herbs and plants.
All he needed to do was carefully collect rare seeds and valuable medicinal plants whenever he encountered them, then cultivate and preserve them for future use.
With the Life Spirit Flame's unique abilities, he could gradually develop a much more abundant supply of medicinal resources for himself and the Xiao Family.