"Good… good… good!"
Su Qian said it three times in a row, his voice filled with excitement as he stepped forward and firmly patted Xiao Feng's shoulders.
"Excellent!"
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he continued,
"We will accept three of these items. As for the formation manual, we currently do not have anyone capable of mastering such a profession."
He paused briefly before adding,
"We will only take a copy of it. The original will remain with you."
Xiao Feng simply nodded.
He then turned toward Fire Elder and said respectfully,
"Teacher, please take this soul cultivation technique and pass it to a few elders—those who are capable and, more importantly, trustworthy."
Fire Elder looked at him, slightly startled.
Xiao Feng continued calmly,
"With this technique, your soul realm will improve rapidly. Within a few months, you should be able to refine 6th-grade pills."
He paused for a moment, then added,
"And in a few years… even becoming a 7th-grade alchemist will not be impossible."
Hearing this, Fire Elder's body trembled slightly.
His eyes turned red with emotion.
For a moment, he could not speak.
In his heart, a single thought echoed again and again—
Taking Xiao Feng as a disciple… was the greatest decision of my life.
Su Qian, standing to the side, also nodded solemnly.
"A Profound-grade soul cultivation technique…" he murmured.
"Even 7th-grade alchemists would fight to the death for such a treasure."
His expression turned serious.
"If news of this spreads, there are those who would not hesitate to attack Canaan Academy to obtain it."
He looked toward Fire Elder and said in a firm voice,
"This technique must only be given to those who are absolutely trustworthy."
"There can be no mistakes."
The atmosphere in the courtyard grew heavy.
Because all of them understood—
What Xiao Feng had just brought…
Was not just an opportunity.
It was something powerful enough to shake the entire region.
After a moment of silence, Su Qian looked at Xiao Feng thoughtfully and asked,
"Xiao Feng… are these formations only useful for those below the Dou King level?"
He paused slightly before continuing,
"Is there any formation you can create that would benefit Dou Emperors… or even Dou Zongs?"
Hearing this, Xiao Feng shook his head slowly.
"Dean, that may not be possible for now," he replied calmly.
"Perhaps it is because my current cultivation is only at the Dou Spirit level. The formations I create are naturally limited by my own strength and understanding."
He thought for a moment, then added,
"They might still be somewhat useful for those above the Dou Spirit level… but only for a small number of people."
"After all, higher-level cultivators absorb far more Dou Qi than those of lower ranks. The formations I create would not be able to sustain them for long."
Su Qian nodded slowly, not showing any disappointment. Instead, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"That is already more than enough."
He turned to Fire Elder and said,
"With such formations, the Outer Academy's overall strength will rise significantly."
Fire Elder stroked his beard and chuckled."And once his strength increases… who knows what he'll be able to create in the future?"
Su Qian looked back at Xiao Feng, his tone becoming more decisive.
"Very well. The Academy will provide you with the necessary resources."
"We will also allocate a suitable piece of land for you to construct these formations."
He paused, then added with a slight smile,
"And as for your entry into the Library Pavilion… we will extend your time by one month."
"Take your time. There's no need to rush."
Xiao Feng cupped his fists respectfully.
"Thank you, Dean."
Fire Elder looked at him with satisfaction and said,
"You've done well, Xiao Feng. Focus on your cultivation and your formations. Leave the rest to us."
Xiao Feng nodded.
"I understand, Teacher."
With everything settled, Xiao Feng took a step back and bowed slightly to both of them.
"Then I will take my leave."
Su Qian waved his hand lightly."Go on."
Fire Elder smiled and nodded.
Xiao Feng turned and left the courtyard, his mind already planning the next steps.
Behind him, the two elders exchanged a glance.
"This boy…" Su Qian said softly,"He will change the future of the Academy."
Fire Elder smiled faintly."He already has."
By the time Xiao Feng returned to his courtyard, night had already fallen.
A soft glow from the moonlight spread across the ground, and the faint crackling of fire could be heard from inside.
As he stepped closer, a warm scene greeted him—
Xiao Li, Xiao Yu, Xiao Ding, and Xiao Yi Xian were gathered outside, busy cooking around a small campfire.
The aroma of roasted meat and herbs filled the air.
"Brother Feng, you're back!" Xiao Li called out with a grin.
Xiao Yu glanced at him and said,"Perfect timing. Go sit down—we're almost done."
Xiao Ding added calmly,"Just a minute more."
Xiao Yi Xian smiled gently at him."Don't worry, we saved the best portion for you."
Xiao Feng smiled faintly.
"Alright," he said, walking over and sitting at the table.
Soon, the food was ready.
The five of them sat together, eating heartily under the night sky.
Laughter and casual conversation filled the courtyard.
For a moment, there were no competitions, no pressure—
Just warmth.
After they had eaten their fill, they remained seated around the campfire.
The flames flickered softly, lighting up their faces.
Seeing that everyone was relaxed, Xiao Feng spoke, drawing their attention.
"I have something to tell you all."
The others immediately turned toward him.
"What is it?" Xiao Yu asked.
Xiao Feng looked at them and said calmly,
"My entry into the Inner Academy… has been postponed by one month."
"Really?" Xiao Li raised an eyebrow."That's good—we get more time together."
Xiao Yu smiled slightly, though she tried to hide it.
Xiao Ding nodded."That means you have something important to do here."
Xiao Feng nodded.
"I've made an agreement with the Academy. During this month, I'll be constructing cultivation formations for the Outer Academy."
"Formations?" Xiao Li leaned forward with interest."What kind?"
"Different types," Xiao Feng replied.
"Fire, thunder, water… specialized environments that can help cultivators train faster. Each formation can support up to a hundred people."
Hearing this, Xiao Ding's expression became serious."That will greatly increase the strength of the Outer Academy."
Xiao Feng continued,
"And… this will also benefit our Xiao family members when they join in the future."
At these words, Xiao Yu looked at him, her eyes softening slightly.
"You're always thinking ahead," she said quietly.
Xiao Feng smiled faintly but didn't respond to that.
Instead, he turned to Xiao Yi Xian.
"There's something else."
Everyone's gaze followed his.
"I will be taking Xiao Yi Xian with me to the Inner Academy," Xiao Feng said.
There was a brief silence.
Xiao Li raised an eyebrow but didn't object.
Xiao Ding nodded slightly."That's a good decision."
Xiao Yu glanced at Xiao Yi Xian, then back at Xiao Feng, but said nothing.
Xiao Yi Xian herself looked a little surprised."Me?" she asked softly.
Xiao Feng nodded.
"You'll benefit more there. And… I'll also be able to help you improve faster."
Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian smiled gently and nodded.
"Alright."
The fire crackled softly as the group fell into a comfortable silence.
Above them, the night sky stretched endlessly.
After that, Xiao Feng began the construction of the formations in the locations assigned to him by Fire Elder.
He moved with precision, carefully selecting each site based on its natural energy.
For the fire-type formation, Xiao Feng chose a dry, rocky region rich in fire attribute energy.
With a flick of his finger, his strange flame surged out.
The ground slowly melted, turning into a pool of blazing lava.
The surrounding temperature rose sharply as he inscribed complex array patterns into the molten earth.
Soon, a complete fire cultivation formation was established—
A place where fire attribute cultivators could train at an accelerated rate.
For the water-type formation, Xiao Feng selected a flowing lake surrounded by dense vegetation.
The place was naturally rich in both water and wood energy.
Using the flow of the lake as the core, he constructed a layered formation that enhanced the surrounding energy, making it ideal for sustained cultivation.
Next was the lightning formation.
He chose an open elevated ground where thunder energy naturally gathered.
With precise control, he guided the energy into the array, forming a violent yet controlled lightning field—perfect for those cultivating lightning-type techniques.
Finally, Xiao Feng created a general Dou Qi gathering formation for cultivators of all other attributes.
This formation focused on pure energy concentration, allowing steady and balanced growth.
Thanks to the Academy's abundant resources and the naturally rich environments,
the formations Xiao Feng created were far more advanced than the ones he had previously built for the Xiao family.
Each formation was capable of supporting over a hundred people simultaneously.
Altogether, the four formations could accommodate up to five hundred cultivators.
After completing the formations, Xiao Feng reported back to the elders.
The management of these formations, however, was left to the Academy.
Su Qian and Fire Elder soon discussed and established a system.
"These formations will not be free to use," Su Qian stated firmly.
"Students must earn access through missions or contribution points."
Fire Elder nodded in agreement.
"If something is given freely, it is rarely valued," he added."Only through effort will they truly appreciate it."
Thus, a structured system was created—
One that not only allowed students to cultivate in these powerful formations,
but also motivated them to work harder, complete missions, and contribute to the Academy.
In just a few days, the news spread throughout the Outer Academy.
Excitement surged by everyone who heard this news .
Then the moment the Academy announced the rules, the entire Outer Academy erupted.
Access to the formations required contribution points—earned through missions, tasks, and performance.
And the higher your rank…
The better your position inside the formation.
Very quickly, competition began to rise.
At the fire formation, the lava churned violently as waves of heat spread outward.
Students sat cross-legged within the formation, absorbing the intense fire energy.
But not all positions were equal.
The closer one sat to the core—
The stronger the effect.
"Move aside!"
A tall student stepped forward, his aura flaring.
"This spot is mine!"
The student sitting there opened his eyes coldly.
"First come, first served."
The next moment—
Boom!
A clash erupted.
Flames surged as the two exchanged blows, their attacks colliding within the formation.
Scenes like this appeared across all four formations.
At the lightning formation, bolts of controlled thunder struck rhythmically from above.
Students endured the strikes while cultivating—
But some used the chaos as an opportunity to challenge others.
"Let's see if you can hold your position!"
A student rushed forward, lightning crackling around his fists.
At the water formation, battles were more subtle but no less intense.
The flowing energy enhanced recovery, allowing prolonged fights.
Students competed not only for strength—but endurance.
Even the general Dou Qi gathering formation wasn't peaceful.
Though less violent, it became a battlefield of rankings and silent pressure.
Stronger students occupied the best spots, forcing weaker ones outward.
Within just a few days—
A clear hierarchy began to form.
At the top were those who could hold their ground no matter how many challengers came.
Below them were those constantly fighting to climb higher.
And at the bottom…
Those who could only watch.
From a distance, Xiao Feng stood with his arms crossed, observing everything calmly.
Beside him, Xiao Li smirked.
"This is getting interesting."
Xiao Ding nodded.
"Competition brings growth. This is better than peaceful cultivation."
Xiao Yu watched the battles with a thoughtful expression.
"They're improving much faster than before…"
Xiao Feng said nothing.
But a faint smile appeared on his lips.
This was exactly what he wanted.
Not just stronger individuals—
But a stronger Academy.
At first, the formations were filled with constant clashes.
Students fought openly for positions—shouting, challenging, and forcing others out without restraint.
The formations, meant for cultivation…
Had turned into chaotic battlegrounds.
From the high platform, the elders watched everything unfold.
Fire Elder frowned deeply."This is getting out of hand."
Su Qian's expression turned serious as he observed another fight breaking out inside the fire formation.
"If this continues," he said calmly,"the purpose of these formations will be completely lost."
The next day—
A new set of rules was announced across the entire Outer Academy.
"All formations are strictly for cultivation."
"Unnecessary fights, disturbances, or intentional interference with others' cultivation are prohibited."
"If conflict arises, it must be settled in designated arenas—not inside the formations."
Su Qian's voice turned cold as he delivered the final rule:
"Anyone who violates these rules…"
"Will be banned from entering any formation for one month."
Silence.
The moment those words spread, the entire Academy grew quiet.
For the students—
Being banned from the formations for a month…
Was far worse than losing a fight.
The chaotic shouting disappeared overnight.
The reckless challenges stopped.
But—
The competition did not disappear.
It simply… changed.
Inside the formations, a new kind of pressure began to spread.
No one spoke.
No one wasted energy.
Instead—
They competed silently.
At the fire formation, students pushed their limits, enduring higher temperatures just to move a step closer to the core.
At the lightning formation, they withstood stronger strikes, gritting their teeth to remain standing longer than others.
At the water formation, they cultivated with intense focus, refusing to yield their positions no matter how long it took.
No shouting.
No unnecessary movement.
Only… determination.
Those who couldn't endure were naturally pushed out—
Not by force, but by the sheer pressure of those stronger than them.
A true hierarchy began to form.
Not through chaos—
But through strength, endurance, and willpower.
From a distance, Xiao Feng observed quietly.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"This is better," Xiao Ding said, nodding in approval.
Xiao Li smirked."Now it actually feels like cultivation… not a street fight."
Xiao Yu watched the silent competition, her eyes filled with focus.
"They're improving faster now… much faster."
Xiao Feng finally spoke, his voice calm.
"When there are rules… true competition begins."