Now, only four days remained before the admissions team of Canaan Academy would arrive at Udan City, and the time that once felt distant was now right before Xiao Feng, leaving him with no room to delay or act slowly anymore.
Without wasting even a single moment, he quickly sent word to gather everyone important—calling the elders, the clan head Xiao Zhan, and all those closest to him to assemble in his courtyard, knowing that what he was about to discuss would determine the direction of the Xiao Family in the coming months after his departure.
Within a short time, figures began arriving one after another, and as they gathered, it was clear that none of them were the same as before; their auras had grown stronger, steadier, and more confident, reflecting the rapid progress made during this past month under Xiao Feng's guidance and support.
At the center stood Xiao Zhan, calm and composed, his presence carrying a natural authority that no longer came from responsibility alone but from strength as well, while beside him stood the elders, whose changes were even more noticeable than before.
With the help of Xiao Feng's pills, resources, and strict planning, the overall strength of the Xiao Family had risen significantly, and among them, the Grand Elder had already successfully broken through to the Dou Spirit realm who is also the xiao yu's grand father, a leap that alone was enough to elevate the entire family's standing within Udan City.
As for the other two elders, both had reached the peak of Dou Grand Master, their auras dense and stable, standing right at the edge of breakthrough, and even without relying on pills, it was evident that within a few more months, they would naturally step into the Dou Spirit level on their own.
This kind of growth was something none of them could have imagined before, and as Xiao Feng stood there observing everyone calmly, he could clearly see the results of everything he had done—their strength, their confidence, and their changed mindset—all of which confirmed one thing in his mind: the Xiao Family was no longer weak, but even so, he knew better than anyone that this was only the beginning of what they needed to become.
Then, without saying much more, Xiao Feng raised his hand slightly and signaled for everyone to follow him, turning and walking toward the back side of his courtyard—the quiet area that lay between his residence and Xiao Yan's place, a location he had kept restricted for the past few days.
As they followed him, the elders and Xiao Zhan could already sense something unusual in the air—subtle fluctuations of Dou Qi, faint yet structured, as if the space itself had been carefully arranged and controlled.
When they finally arrived, all of them stopped in place almost at the same time, their eyes focusing forward.
Before them…
Three distinct formations were carved into the ground, each emitting a different aura, faint lines glowing and intersecting in complex patterns that none of them had seen before.
Xiao Zhan's brows furrowed slightly as he stepped forward, his gaze filled with curiosity.
"Feng'er… what are these?"
Xiao Feng turned around calmly, his expression steady.
"These are Spirit Array formations I have created over the past few days," he said, his voice even, yet carrying a quiet confidence.
"They will be one of the foundations for our Xiao Family's future cultivation."
Hearing this, the elders exchanged glances, their expressions turning serious.
They could already feel that these were not ordinary setups.
Xiao Feng stepped forward and pointed toward the first formation.
"This one is a Qi Gathering Array," he explained slowly, allowing them to understand every detail.
"It draws the surrounding Dou Qi toward itself and condenses it, making the area within significantly richer in energy. Cultivating here will be much faster compared to normal conditions."
The Grand Elder's eyes lit up immediately.
"A formation that gathers Dou Qi… this alone is priceless," he murmured, clearly understanding its value.
Xiao Feng gave a slight nod, then moved his hand toward the second formation.
"This one is a Lightning Array Formation. It is designed specifically for lightning attribute users. It can stimulate their Dou Qi, enhance their cultivation speed, and temper their bodies slightly during the process."
One of the elders stepped closer, sensing the faint crackling energy within it.
"This… this could greatly benefit specialized cultivators," he said with surprise.
Finally, Xiao Feng turned toward the third formation, where a faint heat could be felt even without stepping too close.
"This is the Fire Cultivation Array," he said.
"I used a small wisp of my Strange Flame along with a 5th tier beast fire to create it. It is highly suitable for fire attribute users and can significantly accelerate their cultivation while also refining their control."
Hearing this, Xiao Zhan's expression changed slightly.
"You used your Strange Flame… for this?"
Xiao Feng nodded lightly.
"A very small portion. It is stable and will not cause harm if used correctly."
The elders were clearly impressed now, their earlier curiosity turning into visible amazement.
But Xiao Feng did not stop there.
"All three formations will last around two to three years, as long as they are not damaged or disrupted," he continued calmly.
"However, they require 4th tier magic cores to function properly. Each core can sustain the formations for about six months."
The Grand Elder frowned slightly.
"That would require continuous resources… can the family sustain it?"
Xiao Feng replied without hesitation.
"I have already purchased four magic cores. They will be enough to maintain the formations for at least one to two years. After that, the family should be able to manage on its own."
Hearing this, Xiao Zhan slowly nodded, his expression turning thoughtful.
"That eases my concerns," he said.
However, Xiao Feng's tone shifted slightly as he continued.
"There is one major limitation."
Everyone's attention sharpened immediately.
"For the Qi Gathering Array… only about twenty people can use it effectively at a time. Beyond that, the effect will weaken significantly."
The elders exchanged glances again, but did not interrupt.
"As for the Lightning Array and Fire Array," Xiao Feng continued, "each of them can only support ten people at a time for optimal results."
A brief silence followed.
One of the elders finally spoke.
"That means… we must carefully select who uses them."
Xiao Feng nodded.
"Exactly. These formations are not for everyone at once. They must be used strategically—prioritizing those with the most potential or those closest to breakthroughs."
Xiao Zhan looked at the formations once more, his gaze deep and thoughtful.
After a moment, he let out a slow breath.
"Feng'er… with these in place, the Xiao Family's growth will accelerate far beyond before."
Xiao Feng remained calm, but his eyes showed a quiet certainty.
"This is only the beginning," he said.
"As long as we use them correctly… the Xiao Family will not remain limited to Udan City for long."
Then, as everyone stood there absorbing the significance of the three formations, Xiao Feng's gaze shifted slightly toward Xiao Yan, who had been silently observing everything with a focused expression, his eyes lingering particularly on the Fire Cultivation Array that radiated a faint but powerful heat.
Xiao Feng noticed this and gave a faint smile before speaking, "Xiao Yan… this Fire Array will be especially useful for you. With your fire attribute and your growing control, cultivating within it will not only increase your speed but also help you stabilize your foundation much faster than usual."
Xiao Yan's eyes brightened slightly upon hearing this, and he stepped a little closer to the formation, feeling the subtle heat fluctuations within it.
"I can feel it… the energy inside is much more refined than normal fire Dou Qi," he said, his voice carrying a hint of excitement that he did not try to hide.
Xiao Feng nodded calmly.
"That is because it contains a trace of my Strange Flame along with a fifth-tier beast fire. It will push your limits, but it will also help you grow faster—if you can endure it."
Xiao Yan let out a light breath and smiled.
"If it helps me grow stronger, then enduring it is nothing."
Hearing this, Xiao Feng gave a slight nod of approval before his gaze shifted toward Xiao Li, who was standing near the Lightning Array, his expression clearly intrigued by the faint crackling energy within it.
"You can use the Lightning Array as well," Xiao Feng said, his tone steady.
"It will suit your attribute perfectly and help you refine your Dou Qi more efficiently."
Xiao Li looked at the formation, then back at Xiao Feng, a slight hesitation appearing on his face.
"It really is impressive…," he admitted honestly. "With this, my cultivation speed would definitely increase."
He paused for a moment before letting out a small breath.
"But… I won't be here for long."
The atmosphere grew slightly quiet at his words.
Xiao Feng understood immediately what he meant and did not show any surprise. Instead, he simply spoke in a calm and reassuring tone,
"You're coming to Canaan Academy with me, aren't you?"
Xiao Li nodded.
"Yes. If I stay here, I might grow… but not as fast as I could out there."
For a moment, Xiao Feng remained silent, then a faint smile appeared on his face.
"You're right."
Everyone looked at him, slightly surprised by how easily he agreed.
"These formations are useful… very useful for the Xiao Family," Xiao Feng continued.
"But compared to what you will find in Canaan Academy…"
He paused slightly.
"They are still limited."
Xiao Li's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Canaan Academy has far better resources," Xiao Feng said calmly, his voice steady and confident as he looked at Xiao Li. "Stronger formations, richer cultivation environments, and countless experts. What you gain there will far exceed what you can gain here."
He paused for a brief moment, a faint, almost knowing smile appearing on his face before he continued, his tone carrying a quiet certainty.
"And with my current understanding of formations… along with the resources available in Canaan Academy—"
He glanced briefly at the three arrays behind him.
"I will be able to create formations far better than these."
The words were not spoken with arrogance.
But with absolute confidence.
Hearing this, Xiao Li's eyes widened slightly, while Xiao Yan looked at the formations once more, then back at Xiao Feng with renewed determination.
Xiao Feng turned his gaze from Xiao Yan and Xiao Li back toward Xiao Zhan and the elders, his expression becoming more serious as he looked at each of them one by one, making sure they understood the importance of what he was about to say.
"Uncle… Elders…" he began calmly, yet his tone carried a firm weight, "from now on, one of you must always stay behind to guard these formations. They are not just tools for cultivation—they are the foundation of our family's growth in the coming years."
The elders immediately straightened, their expressions turning solemn.
Xiao Zhan stepped slightly forward.
"You're worried someone might discover them?" he asked.
Xiao Feng nodded lightly.
"These formations are far beyond what should exist in a place like Udan City," he said plainly. "If word spreads… it will attract attention we are not ready to face."
The Grand Elder frowned slightly.
"Then we must keep this place completely restricted," he said. "No one outside the core family should even be aware of its existence."
"Exactly," Xiao Feng replied. "As long as possible, this must remain a secret known only to us."
Xiao Zhan looked at the formations again, then back at Xiao Feng.
"And what about maintaining them?"
Xiao Feng stepped forward slightly.
"I will teach all of you the basic methods to stabilize and maintain the formations—how to monitor their energy flow, how to replace the magic cores, and how to prevent any damage or disruption."
One of the elders spoke with a serious tone,
"If something goes wrong… will we be able to handle it?"
"For minor issues—yes," Xiao Feng answered calmly. "For major damage… you will need to stop using the formation immediately and wait until I return."
A brief silence followed as everyone processed his words.
Xiao Zhan then nodded firmly.
"Understood. From today onward, we will assign guards in rotation. No one will approach this place without permission."
The other elders nodded in unison, their expressions serious and resolute.
"We understand the importance," the Grand Elder said. "We will protect it with everything we have."
Xiao Feng looked at them for a moment, then gave a slight nod.
"Good," he said quietly.
Xiao Feng turned toward Xiao Zhan, his expression calm but firm, as he continued laying out the plan in greater detail, making sure nothing was left unclear.
"Uncle," he said steadily, "the admissions team from Canaan Academy will arrive in Udan City within the next few days. Once they arrive, I will leave with them."
The courtyard grew quiet, but no one interrupted.
"I will take Xiao Ding, Xiao Yu, Xiao Li, and Xiao Yi Xian with me," Xiao Feng continued, his voice even. "Along with them, the top ten members who have already met the requirements we discussed earlier will also come."
Xiao Zhan nodded slowly, absorbing the plan.
"That will be our first group," he said.
"Yes," Xiao Feng replied. "They will enter the Outer Academy first and begin building their foundation there."
He paused slightly, then added something that made the elders look up more sharply.
"In the future… I will arrange for some strong members from Canaan Academy to come here in rotations."
The Grand Elder's expression changed.
"They will come here?"
Xiao Feng nodded.
"They will not stay permanently, but they can guide and observe the family from time to time. It will also help strengthen our connection with the academy."
Xiao Zhan's eyes narrowed slightly, clearly understanding the deeper meaning behind this.
"That will greatly stabilize our position," he said.
Xiao Feng continued, his tone steady and precise.
"As for our own people… Xiao Chen and Xiao Mai will rotate every six months."
The two names immediately drew attention.
"They will go between the Xiao Family and Canaan Academy," Xiao Feng explained. "When they return, they will bring back resources, knowledge, and updates. When they leave again, they will carry what we have prepared here."
One of the elders spoke with slight surprise,
"That means… we will always have a connection to the academy."
"Exactly," Xiao Feng replied. "We won't be isolated. The family and the academy will remain linked."
He then added calmly,
"I will also send resources regularly through them—pills, materials, and anything else the family needs to continue growing."
A brief silence followed.
Xiao Zhan looked at Xiao Feng with a deeper expression now, one that carried both pride and relief.
"You've thought this through completely," he said.
Xiao Feng did not respond to the praise.
Instead, he simply said,
"This is only the beginning. If we maintain this system properly, the Xiao Family will not just survive…"
He paused slightly.
"It will rise."