The days following the engagement-breaking ceremony passed quietly.
At least on the surface.
Within the Xiao Clan, life slowly returned to normal.
Training resumed.
Merchants visited as usual.
The younger generation once again argued over cultivation instead of gossip.
Only one thing had truly changed.
Whenever Xiao Yan appeared, the conversations stopped.
Some looked at him with pity.
Others with ridicule.
A few with respect.
None dared say anything to his face anymore.
After all…
The young man who had stood before the Yunlan Sect without lowering his head had earned at least that much.
As for Xiao Feng…
He had fallen into a comfortable routine.
Morning cultivation.
Reading.
Occasionally wandering around the city.
Writing in the diary before bed.
His cultivation no longer required frantic effort.
The Ancient Spirit Gathering Art continuously absorbed spiritual energy, while the Late Foundation Establishment realm gave him an absurdly solid foundation.
The only thing he actively practiced every day was the Heavenly Step Art.
One afternoon, he appeared beside a tree.
The next—
He was already standing on its highest branch.
Not because he jumped.
He simply…
Arrived.
The movement produced almost no sound.
No unnecessary wind.
It was as if the distance itself had shortened.
“…Ridiculous.”
Xiao Feng looked down.
“If this keeps improving, people are going to think I’m a ghost.”
Not far away, several Xiao Clan disciples blinked.
“…Did you see Cousin Xiao Feng?”
“He was just over there.”
“Where?”
“I…”
The disciple scratched his head.
“…Never mind.”
They walked away, convinced they had imagined it.
Xiao Feng smiled to himself.
Being unnoticed had its advantages.
That evening, after finishing another round of cultivation, Xiao Feng leaned against the roof of his residence.
The sky was clear.
The moon unusually bright.
He opened the diary.
Diary Entry #3
I’ve been thinking about teachers today.
Not because I suddenly became philosophical.
Mostly because I watched one of our instructors spend half an hour explaining something incorrectly.
The poor juniors looked completely convinced.
Knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Incorrect knowledge is even worse.
Honestly…
A good teacher is worth more than a powerful cultivation technique.
A cultivation technique can make you stronger.
A teacher can stop you from becoming stupid.
Speaking of teachers…
Cousin Xiao Yan is unbelievably lucky.
He just doesn’t know it yet.
If everything goes according to history, he’ll soon receive the greatest cheat package imaginable.
An alchemy grandmaster.
A cultivation mentor.
A walking encyclopedia.
A bodyguard.
A therapist.
Probably a babysitter too.
All conveniently packaged inside one ring.
Sometimes I wonder…
If that old man had chosen literally anyone else…
Would history have changed completely?
Probably.
Fortunately for the continent…
He has surprisingly good taste in disciples.
Well.
Mostly.
Cousin Xiao Yan still has the decision-making ability of a man who sees danger and says,
“I should walk closer.”
The brush stopped.
Xiao Feng chuckled.
“Sorry, Cousin.”
“But it’s true.”
[Diary Entry Completed.]
Reward Granted.
Ancient Spirit Eyes.
A cool sensation spread through his eyes.
The world became astonishingly clear.
Every leaf carried delicate spiritual fluctuations.
Every living being possessed a faint aura.
Even the flow of energy beneath the earth became faintly visible.
This wasn’t a combat technique.
It was perception.
A cultivator who could see more…
Could understand more.
“…Not bad.”
The system seemed determined to strengthen every aspect of his foundation.
Hundreds of kilometers away…
Inside the black ring…
Yao Lao stared at the latest diary entry.
Silence.
“…”
Then silence again.
Finally—
“He knows.”
There was no point pretending anymore.
That passage could not possibly refer to anyone else.
An old man.
Inside a ring.
An alchemist.
There was only one person in the world who matched that description.
Yet…
Instead of fear…
Yao Lao felt something unexpected.
Relief.
The diary had known about him from the very beginning.
And yet…
Xiao Feng had never attempted to expose him.
Never tried to find him.
Never even hinted at his exact identity.
He simply…
Left the matter alone.
“Interesting…”
The old alchemist stroked his beard.
“So you know I’m here.”
“…But you’re pretending you don’t.”
A smile slowly appeared.
“I’ll play along.”
Not far away, Xiao Yan scratched his head.
“Teacher?”
“Hm?”
“You’ve been smiling a lot lately.”
“…Have I?”
“Yes.”
“You also keep looking at me strangely.”
Yao Lao coughed.
“…Probably your imagination.”
“…”
Xiao Yan wasn’t convinced.
High above the Xiao Clan…
Xiao Feng stretched lazily before returning to his room.
He had absolutely no idea…
That somewhere inside a black ring…
A certain old monster had just accepted the first round of a very one-sided game.