Wang Feng stirred from his rest, the unfamiliar scent of sandalwood and faint medicinal herbs pricking his senses as he sat up slowly on the broad, firm bed beneath him.
For a brief moment, confusion clouded his eyes as he scanned his surroundings—lacquered wooden beams, sliding paper doors, intricate calligraphy scrolls hanging on the walls, and faint beams of golden sunlight filtering in through a narrow window.
Then, as memory returned, a murmur escaped his lips. "Ah, right. Su Mu invited me to his manor... to rest and meet Elder Su."
He rubbed his temples before throwing off the thin blanket and swinging his legs over the side of the bed. He examined his body, the muscle memory of battle still fresh in his nerves—but not a single bruise or scratch remained.
His skin was as unmarred as polished jade. He straightened his robe, smoothed down the creases, and stepped outside.
The scene before him evoked a quiet awe. The manor was built in the classical Siheyuan style—an elegant square courtyard residence surrounded by single-story buildings, forming a serene enclosure. Yet, unlike traditional Siheyuan that held tranquil gardens or koi ponds within, this central space was transformed into a sprawling cultivation arena—a wide, open ground of leveled stone designed for practice and sparring.
The air here was thick with spiritual energy, like the very wind hummed with Qi.
Wang Feng's eyes narrowed, glowing faintly with an intense clarity. As an Array Master, his gaze was like a blade, slicing through veils unseen by the untrained. He studied the layout—the angles of the buildings, the symmetry of the structure, the subtle elevation of certain platforms.
"This isn't just architecture..." he whispered, his voice laced with reverence. "This entire manor is an Array—no, a Feng Shui formation merged with a Qi Gathering Array..."
Every element—from the stone pillars to the wooden beams—was meticulously placed. The materials chosen, the orientation of the structures, even the empty spaces, all resonated with deliberate purpose. It was as though the entire manor was constructed as a living formation, silently gathering energy, aligning flow, and enhancing cultivation.
"An architectural marvel... a perfect Array disguised as a home," he breathed.
"Correct," came a deep voice from behind, startling Wang Feng slightly.
He turned and found Elder Su Xuan Wu standing a few paces behind him, arms folded behind his back, a calm smile on his face. "I'm surprised you noticed that so easily."
Su Xuan Wu had sensed Wang Feng awaken and had come to greet him. But seeing the youth analyzing the manor so thoroughly, he had halted and silently observed. Hearing his muttering, the Elder's heart had been shaken.
To glimpse the structure of such a complex array in mere seconds—an array that even Peak Heaven Grade experts struggled to decipher—was nothing short of monstrous.
'No wonder Senior Meng took him in…' Su Xuan Wu thought.
Wang Feng cupped his hands respectfully. "This junior greets Second Elder."
Su Xuan Wu waved off the formality. "You may call me Elder Su." As he spoke, his gaze fell on Wang Feng's physique. A frown flickered across his face, followed by a flash of astonishment.
'What overwhelming vitality… his blood energy is surging like a furnace! Even his Qi reserves are absurdly high for someone at his cultivation realm. No wonder he could fight those at the peak of Qi Transformation.'
Outwardly, he remained composed and gestured down the hallway. "Come. I was about to have lunch. Su Mu should already be waiting. You may join us."
Wang Feng nodded and followed. The pair walked in silence along the polished corridors, the scent of pine and incense drifting in the air. The occasional sound of birds chirping in the distance added a tranquil charm to the atmosphere.
They entered a modest dining room with wooden lattice windows partially open to let in the breeze. At the center sat a square wooden table set with delicately plated dishes—braised duck, steamed buns, stir-fried vegetables, and a small pitcher of warm wine. Su Mu and Su Yan were already seated, facing one another. Two seats remained opposite each other.
Su Mu rose with a grin. "Brother Wang, you're finally awake. I thought you'd sleep the entire day!"
Wang Feng chuckled and joined him. "Tempting, but I wasn't that exhausted."
He returned the greeting and sat beside Su Yan, nodding toward her with a calm, respectful voice. "Greetings, Senior Sister."
Su Yan's eyes flicked to him for a brief second. Her expression remained cool, but she gave a faint nod. It was cold courtesy, but it was a response nonetheless. Wang Feng offered a wry smile. 'Still mad, huh…'
His stomach growled faintly as he looked at the food before them, the rich aromas making his hunger surge. He recalled how he had planned to eat at a restaurant before the chaotic events of the previous day had derailed those plans.
As the elder took his seat, everyone followed suit and began eating. Elder Su looked up as he poured himself a cup of wine.
"I heard from Su Yan that your body was covered in minor injuries. I had some healing pills sent over, though I hear you refused them."
Wang Feng glanced at Su Yan, who ate serenely, unaffected by the comment or his look.
"I appreciate your concern, Elder Su," Wang Feng replied calmly. "But I've fully recovered."
"Nonsense," the elder snorted. "You saved my foolish grandson twice. At the very least, let me offer some gesture of thanks. If you need anything, say the word."
"Yeah!" Su Mu jumped in. "Ask him for something, Brother Wang. That old coot's got treasures stashed away. Especially that wine gourd right there—"
A vein throbbed on Elder Su's temple. 'Insolent brat!' He restrained himself with visible effort.
Wang Feng grinned while Su Yan's lips twitched with the faintest trace of amusement. She quickly resumed her stoic expression, but not before the sparkle in her eye betrayed her.
"I'll keep your offer in mind, Elder Su," Wang Feng replied respectfully.
As the group continued their meal, the atmosphere gradually lightened—until Elder Su suddenly leaned back and stroked his beard, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"So… when are you two getting married?"
PFFT! COUGH! COUGH!
Wang Feng and Su Mu both sprayed the water they were drinking, eyes wide with horror and disbelief. Su Yan froze mid-bite, coughing as she swallowed the wrong way. Her face turned crimson.
"W-what!?" she stammered. "What are you saying, Grandfather?!"
"Elder Su, that's completely—!" Wang Feng sputtered beside her.
Their outbursts overlapped in pitch-perfect synchronization, as if choreographed.
"Why are you copying me?!" they yelled at each other, voices mirroring again.
"Shut up!" they snapped simultaneously.
Su Yan looked one step away from physical violence.
Elder Su snorted. "What? Is it wrong for a grandfather to ask? Especially when rumors are spreading through the sect that the two of you are… involved?"
Su Mu's eyes lit up like fireworks. "Wait—is it true!? Finally! I thought Sister Yan would stay single forever!"
Su Yan turned toward him slowly, her expression calm—but the chill in her gaze could freeze lakes. Su Mu immediately panicked and raised both hands.
"Only because of her cultivation technique!!" he squealed in panic.
Wang Feng sighed. 'This… is going to take a while.'
.....
Eventually, the chaos settled. Su Yan and Wang Feng offered an awkward but honest account of what had occurred. Though Su Yan remained composed, her flushed cheeks betrayed her emotions. Afterward, she stormed out, dragging a pale Su Mu by the collar, his protests trailing behind them.
Elder Su and Wang Feng shared a helpless look and shook their heads.
The elder poured tea, and the two continued their conversation. Wang Feng spoke candidly about the sect's structure from a disciple's perspective, offering insights that intrigued the elder.
Then something clicked in Wang Feng's mind.
"Elder Su… may I ask, who created this manor? This array?"
The elder's eyes lit up. "Ah, now that is a story! This manor—and the other four Elder Manors, even the Sect Master's residence—were all designed by our Sect Ancestor when he was still alive."
"Ancestor Chu Ling Xiao was a legendary Array Master. A genius. It's said he could craft Heaven-Tier arrays in moments. These manors aren't just homes—they are Qi Gathering and Good Fortune arrays, interconnected like veins in a living system."
Wang Feng's eyes gleamed as his mind rapidly pieced together everything he recalled about the Sect Founder, Chu Ling Xiao.
He remembered that Chu Ling Xiao had been a Peak Saint Realm master of the Human Race within the Tong Xuan Realm—an unparalleled cultivator who had inadvertently fallen into this minor world during a fateful battle against a powerful demon general.
It was later revealed that Chu Ling Xiao had not perished, as many believed, but had merely returned to the Tong Xuan Realm and rejoined his sect, the illustrious Soaring Heaven Sect.
Wang Feng also recalled how the original account described the Soaring Heaven Sect's famed One Hundred Mountains—not natural formations, but an elaborate array meticulously arranged by Chu Ling Xiao himself. These mountains acted as conduits, amplifying the Qi density and channeling providence to elevate the sect's fortune.
Chu Ling Xiao... So, he was a genius of array mastery, Wang Feng mused, his thoughts swirling as Elder Su Xuan Wu continued recounting the founder's legendary feats. Strange how someone of his caliber was relegated to a footnote in the original timeline—mentioned only once or twice after Yang Kai relocated his people to Shadowed Star.
.....
Later, Elder Su extended an open invitation for Wang Feng to stay as long as he liked. Wang Feng expressed gratitude and headed back toward his room.
As he walked, deep in thought, his mind drifted. 'Seven days until the dew forms. Sister Xia said we need to leave five days before that. I should—'
So deeply immersed was he in his thoughts that Wang Feng scarcely registered which room he was entering. "This should be it..." he murmured inwardly, nodding to himself as he concluded his mental planning. Without hesitation, he pushed open the door and stepped inside.
As he closed the door behind him and lifted his gaze, an abrupt and deafening silence swallowed the room. Wang Feng's eyes widened to the brink of disbelief, as though they might leap from their sockets.
The room fell deathly silent as Wang Feng found himself face-to-face with a sight that struck him like a bolt of lightning.
Standing before him—completely bare—was Su Yan.
Her flawless skin shimmered like carved jade under the ambient light, her porcelain face tinged with a rising blush. Silken strands of midnight-black hair tumbled down her back, framing eyes the color of deep ocean blue, now wide with shock and seething fury. Her figure, sculpted to near-perfection, bore graceful curves at every turn—ample, delicate breasts, soft pink tips barely touched by the air, a slender waist that flowed into shapely hips, balanced thighs, and long, elegant legs.
Frozen for a heartbeat, Su Yan trembled—not from fear, but from outrage and burning humiliation.
Wang Feng's throat went dry. A sudden rush of heat surged to one place, even as cold sweat drenched the rest of his body. His limbs tensed instinctively, and he took a cautious step back, hands slowly rising in surrender.
"I... I..." he stammered, tongue leaden and useless under the weight of panic.
Wang Feng felt the air grow colder around him and realized, with mounting dread, that he might not escape this room unscathed.