Xiao Feng didn't hesitate. Holding Xiao Yi Xian's hand, he stepped forward into the dim passage, the others following closely behind. Their footsteps echoed softly in the silence as they moved ahead, and within three minutes, a burst of bright light appeared at the end.
As they stepped out, all of them instinctively narrowed their eyes. Before them stood a massive hall—vast and grand—its walls lined with nearly a dozen softly glowing energy barriers. Streams of light pulsed within them, illuminating the entire space like daylight.
Han Yue looked around in amazement. "So this is the Library Pavilion…"
Bai Cheng clenched his fists slightly, his eyes burning with desire. "So many treasures…"
Lin Xiuya's gaze sharpened, his hand unconsciously resting on the hilt of his sword, while Xiao Yi Xian stayed close to Xiao Feng, quietly observing everything around her.
Suddenly, a faint whooshing sound echoed through the hall.
Everyone froze.
"Something's coming!" Han Yue said sharply.
A streak of red light shot out from one of the energy barriers. Bai Cheng reacted instantly, lunging forward and grabbing it. The light dissipated, revealing a scroll wrapped in an energy layer.
"Profound Rank High… Flame Spear Technique…" Bai Cheng muttered, his expression filled with satisfaction as his hand passed through the energy layer without any resistance.
"So that's how it works…" Lin Xiuya said calmly.
At that moment, more streams of light burst out from the energy barriers. The hall instantly descended into chaos as lights of different colors shot across the room like shooting stars.
The hall instantly descended into chaos as lights of different colors shot across the room like shooting stars, and everyone began moving at once.
Han Yue swiftly intercepted a silver-white light, while Lin Xiuya moved like a shadow—his speed elegant yet precise—as he caught another.
But Xiao Feng did not move.
He slowly closed his eyes, and a faint ripple spread from his body. His soul power expanded outward, silently sensing every fluctuation within the hall.
"Not this… not this either…"
He ignored multiple powerful auras, remaining completely still—
Even the presence of Earth Rank techniques failed to draw his attention.
Realizing that finding what he truly wanted on his own would be difficult, Xiao Feng slowly opened his eyes and called out to the others.
"Everyone," he said calmly, drawing their attention, "let's make a deal."
They all paused and looked toward him.
"If any of you find something unusual—especially something related to fire—inform me immediately."
He paused briefly before continuing,
"In return, I will help each of you obtain at least an Earth Rank Low-grade technique…"
"And you can also request me to refine pills for you."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"After all… I am a 5th-grade alchemist."
Hearing this—
Han Yue, Lin Xiuya, and even Bai Cheng were visibly moved.
They all nodded almost in unison.
"Deal."
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Instead of competing blindly, they began searching more efficiently—carefully observing every stream of light that passed by.
Time passed.
Suddenly—
"Xiao Feng."
Lin Xiuya's calm voice sounded from the side.
Xiao Feng turned and walked over.
"What did you find?"
Lin Xiuya pointed toward a floating scroll.
Xiao Feng reached out and caught it.
The light faded—
Revealing a forging manual.
"A weapon forging technique…" Xiao Feng murmured.
His eyes flickered slightly.
Although it wasn't what he was looking for, it was still a valuable item.
"If I don't find anything better… this will do," he said calmly, storing it for the moment.
Not long after—
Han Yue's voice rang out with a hint of urgency.
"Xiao Feng, come here!"
He immediately moved toward her.
In her hands was a strange scroll wrapped in a pale energy layer.
The aura it emitted was… different.
Xiao Feng reached out and took it.
The moment he saw its contents—
His pupils shrank slightly.
"This is…"
A creation method scroll.
A technique for forging Flying Dou Skills—
Artificial wings that allowed cultivators below the Dou King stage to fly.
Xiao Feng's expression finally changed.
"This is extremely valuable…" he said slowly.
The scroll didn't just describe how to create wings—
It explained how to use magical beast wings as materials to forge multiple sets.
"One set of wings…" Xiao Feng muttered, scanning the details,
"…can be refined into at least three usable pairs."
Han Yue looked at him curiously.
"Is it that good?"
Xiao Feng nodded without hesitation.
"Not just good… this is a strategic treasure."
His thoughts moved quickly.
With this—
The Xiao Family could gain a massive advantage.
Even those below Dou King could take to the skies.
Mobility… survival… combat advantage…
All would increase drastically.
Xiao Feng carefully stored the scroll, his expression turning serious.
"This one… I'm definitely taking."
For the first time since entering the Library—
He had found something truly worth it.
Xiao Feng looked at the group calmly and said, "Alright… I've already found what I need. Now, I'll help each of you find yours."
The others were slightly stunned. Bai Cheng frowned and asked, "You're… helping us?" Xiao Feng simply nodded and moved without wasting time. Closing his eyes briefly, his soul power spread across the entire hall, silently scanning every fluctuation. Within moments, his figure flickered, and when he reappeared, two scrolls were already in his hand. He casually tossed them toward Bai Cheng.
"Earth attribute cultivation technique… and a matching fighting skill. Both are Earth Rank Low-grade."
Bai Cheng caught them instinctively, and the moment he checked their contents, his expression froze completely. Shock and disbelief filled his eyes as he looked at Xiao Feng. The resentment he had been holding all this time… completely vanished. After a moment of silence, he lowered his voice and said, "…Thank you." Xiao Feng didn't respond and had already turned away.
Next, he moved toward Lin Xiuya. After a brief search, he returned and handed him a scroll. "A mid-level Earth Rank sword technique. It suits you." Lin Xiuya's calm eyes showed a rare hint of surprise. He accepted it respectfully and bowed slightly. "Thank you. I won't forget this favor." Xiao Feng gave a faint nod.
Finally, he turned toward Han Yue. After searching for a short while, he handed her another scroll. "This is a mid-level Earth Rank ice-type fighting skill. It matches your attribute perfectly." Han Yue examined it briefly, her eyes lighting up as she smiled gently. "Thank you, Xiao Feng. You've helped me a lot."
At this point, everyone had obtained far more than they had expected. There was still about forty minutes left. Bai Cheng let out a deep breath and said, "We've already gained enough… we should leave." The others nodded in agreement.
But just as they were about to move, Xiao Feng suddenly spoke, "Wait."
They all turned back toward him.
"You still have time," Xiao Feng said calmly. "Pick up other techniques… read them… try to understand them."
Everyone froze. Bai Cheng frowned slightly. "You mean… learn more now?" Xiao Feng nodded. "Even if you can't take them out, understanding them now will help you later."
Silence followed for a moment, then realization dawned on their faces. Han Yue smiled faintly. "You're right…" Lin Xiuya also nodded. "A rare opportunity like this shouldn't be wasted."
Soon, all of them began reading and comprehending more techniques within the remaining time, making full use of every second.
Meanwhile, Xiao Feng continued searching quietly. During this process, he suddenly noticed a simple-looking storage ring floating within a faint energy layer. At first glance, it seemed ordinary, but his eyes narrowed slightly. He reached out and easily retrieved it.
"Nothing special…" he muttered.
But the moment his soul power entered the ring, his expression changed instantly.
Inside the ring… was a puppet.
And not just any puppet—it possessed the strength of a 2-Star Dou King.
Xiao Feng was completely stunned. "A Dou King puppet…?"
A thought flashed through his mind. He had been planning to visit Demon Flame Valley in the future to obtain the puppet creation method from the Demon Old Ghost. But now, he had directly obtained a finished puppet. Even without the creation method, this was already an incredible gain.
He slowly exhaled, a faint smile appearing on his face. "This trip… was truly worth it."
Time passed quickly.
"Time's up!"
The voice echoed throughout the hall.
Without hesitation, Xiao Feng and the others exited together.
Outside, Hu Gan was already waiting. He looked at them and raised an eyebrow slightly. "You're late."
Bai Cheng hesitated for a moment before speaking, "That's because… Xiao Feng asked us to stay and study more techniques."
Hu Gan's eyes shifted toward Xiao Feng. "You did that?"
Xiao Feng nodded calmly. "It would be a waste to leave early."
For a moment, Hu Gan remained silent. Then, a faint smile appeared on his face. "Good."
Nearby, the Two Elders Qian Bai slowly opened their eyes, their ancient gazes lingering on Xiao Feng for a brief moment longer than before.
This young man…
Not only possessed terrifying talent—
But also vision far beyond his peers.
========
After exiting the Library Pavilion, Xiao Feng's expression turned serious. He glanced at everyone present—Bai Cheng, Han Yue, Lin Xiuya, and Xiao Yi Xian—his sharp gaze sweeping across them one by one.
"Listen carefully," he said in a calm but firm tone. "What happened inside… especially anything unusual… you are not to tell anyone."
The group was slightly startled by his sudden seriousness.
Bai Cheng frowned. "You mean… the things we found?"
Xiao Feng shook his head lightly. "No. I mean everything beyond normal… including things you may not fully understand."
Han Yue's eyes flickered slightly, but she nodded. "Understood. Some things are better left unspoken."
Lin Xiuya placed a hand on his sword and said calmly, "You have my word."
Even Bai Cheng, after a brief hesitation, nodded. "Fine… I won't say anything."
Xiao Feng gave a small nod. "Good."
At that moment, Elder Hu Gan stepped forward and said, "You all may leave. As for you, Xiao Feng… you will depart for the Inner Academy in three days."
Xiao Feng cupped his fists slightly. "Understood, Elder."
—
Soon after, Xiao Feng returned to his courtyard along with Xiao Yi Xian. The two of them finally relaxed after the intense events of the day.
That night—
Xiao Feng didn't waste time.
"To help the Xiao family… I should leave something behind," he muttered.
Using his knowledge of formations, he began constructing a small Dou Qi gathering array within the courtyard. The formation was simple compared to the large ones he built earlier, but it was stable and efficient.
"This should be enough for now…" he said, looking at the glowing formation.
Xiao Ding, who was watching from the side, asked, "How many people can it support?"
"Around twenty," Xiao Feng replied. "You'll be in charge of managing it after I leave. Make sure it's used properly."
Xiao Ding nodded seriously. "Don't worry. I'll handle it."
—
The next day—
Xiao Feng stood alone, holding the scroll for the Flying Fighting Skill.
"Let's see… if I can create it myself."
His eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"To make wings… I'll need suitable materials… preferably from flying magical beasts."
Without delay, he headed toward the nearby Magical Beast Forest.
Deep within the forest—
Roars and violent energy fluctuations echoed through the air.
Xiao Feng halted his steps and narrowed his eyes.
"A battle?"
He silently approached, concealing his aura.
What he saw next made his eyes sharpen.
Two massive magical beasts were locked in a fierce, bloody battle.
One was a Lightning Sky Eagle—its wings crackling with lightning, its speed terrifying. The other was a Wind Winged Snake, its body coiling through the air, slicing the wind itself.
Both were 3rd-tier magical beasts.
The battle was brutal.
Wind clashed with lightning, tearing through trees and shattering the ground.
After a long and gruesome fight—
The Lightning Sky Eagle finally pierced through the snake's defense with a lightning strike, killing it.
But it was heavily injured.
Its wings trembled, and blood dripped onto the ground.
Xiao Feng watched quietly, his eyes thoughtful.
"A Lightning Sky Eagle… it has the potential to evolve to the 7th tier… and it's known for its speed…"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"This might be the perfect choice."
He stepped forward slowly.
At the same time—
He released a faint aura from his body.
Even without fully activating his physique, a subtle presence spread out—gentle, yet commanding… something that resonated with the instincts of magical beasts.
The injured Lightning Sky Eagle immediately sensed him.
Its sharp eyes locked onto Xiao Feng.
It forced itself into a defensive stance, ready to attack at any moment.
But—
When Xiao Feng's aura spread further—
The eagle hesitated.
It didn't attack.
But it didn't approach either.
Xiao Feng frowned slightly.
"That's strange… it should be affected more strongly…"
He had expected it to submit or at least lower its guard significantly.
"Did I do something wrong…?"
He carefully observed the surroundings.
Then—
His gaze shifted behind the eagle.
There, hidden among the rocks…
Were two eggs.
Xiao Feng's eyes widened slightly.
"…I see."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"So that's why…"
"It's protecting its children."
Just as he realized this—
A sudden gust of wind surged from above.
Another Lightning Sky Eagle descended rapidly.
This one was larger… stronger… and filled with killing intent.
Clearly—
The male.
The moment it saw Xiao Feng, it let out a sharp cry and prepared to attack.
But before it could strike—
The injured female eagle cried out.
"Caw—!"
Its voice was urgent, almost pleading.
The male eagle froze mid-motion.
It glanced at the female… then back at Xiao Feng.
Its killing intent didn't disappear—
But it stopped attacking.
Xiao Feng raised both hands slightly, showing no hostility.
"I mean no harm," he said calmly.
Of course, they couldn't understand his words—
But his aura carried his intent.
The forest fell into a tense silence.
One man.
Two powerful magical beasts.
And between them—
A fragile trust was beginning to form.