Xiao Fei's days upon returning to the sect were spent in relative peace. Compared to the entire cultivation world, he possessed a unique value, and thus was well protected by the sect's elder ancestor. His fellow disciples also treated him with respect, at least outwardly.
In the two to three years after his return, he occasionally still had one or two patients travel from afar to seek his help.
However, for a full year now, no new parasitic demon seed hosts had appeared, as if they had all been eradicated.
During these past few years, Xiao Fei had not stepped outside the sect's boundaries once, dedicating most of his energy to cultivation.
Currently, his Golden Arhat Body technique had progressed from cultivating the kidneys to the liver.
The liver stores blood, governs the smooth flow of qi, its flourish is in the nails, its fullness in the sinews, it opens to the eyes. A deficiency in liver qi leads to fear, while an excess leads to irritability.
The cultivation effects of the Golden Arhat Body technique were indeed exceptional, but during the process, numerous physiological and emotional side effects always arose.
One had to overcome these negative states during cultivation to achieve success.
This time, it was similar to when he cultivated the kidneys. Various negative emotions arose in his heart.
However, due to the unique nature of the kidneys, the emotions tended towards mating and procreation.
Upon cultivating the liver, his emotions fluctuated wildly, at times melancholic and indecisive, at others irritable and prone to anger.
Sometimes he felt nothing was pleasing to his eye, wanting to kick roadside stones and flowers, or to grab small animals like cats and dogs passing by and slap them a few times.
Xiao Fei knew these were emotional changes induced by the technique, so he could only silently recite the cultivation mantra.
"In the void, there is no form, no feeling, thought, volition, or consciousness; no eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind; no sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touch, or phenomena; no realm of the eyes..."
All things are illusory, like flowers in a mirror or the moon on the water, merely projections left in the heart through organs such as the eyes, ears, nose, and tongue.
As long as he did not look, listen, smell, touch, or think, these were all illusory and non-existent.
Upon comprehending this point, all things appeared as fleeting as dreams and illusions in Xiao Fei's eyes, how could they stir even a trace of his anger?
After the Golden Arhat Body technique reached the liver, countless streams of spiritual power entered the liver, strengthening it and transforming into a continuous supply of vital blood.
Nourished by this vital blood, his eyes became even sharper and brighter, capable of perceiving the finest details.
The sinews and tendons throughout his body, nourished by the vital blood, became stronger and more robust. Simultaneously, his fingernails turned a pale gold, becoming tough and sharp, like spiritual artifacts.
With a gentle scrape of his fingernail, he could carve a hole in hard stone.
One day, as Xiao Fei emerged from his cultivation chamber after finishing his practice, he happened to encounter Huang Feifei arriving for a visit.
He invited Huang Feifei into his cave dwelling, brewed her a pot of Spirit Soothing Tea, and served a few spiritual fruits.
The two interacted frequently, and now, while sipping tea, they chatted about everyday matters.
"Young Master! I came to see you for another matter!"
"Oh? What is it?"
Huang Feifei took out a black jade slip from her embrace.
"Young Master, please take a look at this jade slip!"
Xiao Fei had some impression of this jade slip; it was a treasured heirloom of the Huang family, which he had seen before. It was protected by a restriction, and he could not open it.
Since Huang Feifei asked him to look at it, Xiao Fei no longer stood on ceremony. He sent his divine sense into it, and the restriction was already opened.
It turned out that this jade slip contained a map, with an address marked in the center.
The information left by the Huang family's ancestor in the jade slip was not extensive, seemingly left in haste. It only mentioned that this place held a great opportunity, but was also very dangerous. Descendants must possess at least Golden Core stage strength to explore it.
"I was never able to unlock this jade slip before. Only recently, using my vital blood as a guide, was I able to open it."
"Are you planning to go on an expedition?" Xiao Fei asked.
"I intend to go and investigate. Although my ancestor's message stated there were great risks, the path of cultivation is inherently a struggle against fate."
Huang Feifei did not possess the same golden finger as Xiao Fei. Before reaching the Golden Core stage, her journey had been extremely arduous, requiring her to fight desperately against various individuals and endure countless dangers to reach her current standing.
However, Xiao Fei had little interest in this. He had his spatial artifact and lacked nothing in terms of resources, so there was no need for him to risk his life fighting others.