After that day onwards, Xiao Feng and his group began their preparations in full swing.
Resources were distributed, roles were assigned, and their newly formed faction quietly started taking shape beneath the surface of the Inner Academy.
While the others focused on stabilizing their strength and preparing for breakthroughs—
Xiao Feng headed straight toward the most important place in the academy.
The Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower.
Xiao Feng stopped his dash at a clearing.
At this moment, a large group of noisy students stood before him.
"Isn't this a bit too many people?"
Looking at the dense crowd that resembled a swarm of ants, Xiao Feng couldn't help but feel a little helpless.
"This Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower is far too popular… I can't even see the entrance."
His gaze swept across the crowd.
"Do I squeeze in… or just wait?"
Before he could decide—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A series of sharp wind-breaking sounds suddenly came from behind.
Xiao Feng turned his head slightly.
Dozens of figures were rushing forward at incredible speed.
In less than ten seconds, they landed on the branches of nearby trees like shadows.
After a brief pause—
They jumped down together and forcefully cut straight to the front of the line.
Their movements were arrogant and practiced.
Clearly, they were from established factions.
The crowd stirred, but no one dared to stop them.
Seeing this, Xiao Feng's lips curled slightly.
"So that's how it works…"
He stepped forward without hesitation.
"I'll just go in myself."
"Hey! Who is that?!"
"Damn—how is he pushing through like that?!"
"What kind of strength is this?!"
Voices rose from the crowd.
But Xiao Feng didn't slow down at all.
Relying purely on his physical strength and stable footing, he moved forward like a blade cutting through water.
No matter how packed the crowd was—
it simply parted before him.
In just a few moments—
he reached the very front.
Now, with no one blocking his view—
the scene before him finally revealed itself.
A massive sunken terrain lay ahead.
At the center—
an enormous black tower was buried deep underground.
Only the tip of the spire and a dark, silent entrance remained visible above the surface.
Xiao Feng narrowed his eyes slightly.
"So… this is the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower."
His gaze lingered on the tower.
Then—
his expression changed subtly.
The space around the tower…
wasn't stable.
Faint distortions and ripples spread through the air like invisible waves.
"A Space Lock…"
Xiao Feng murmured softly.
"Jia Nan Academy really went all out."
He folded his arms, analyzing quietly.
"This formation seals the aura inside… prevents outsiders from sensing it…"
"And at the same time… suppresses what's within."
His eyes deepened.
"…the Fallen Heart Flame."
Even without entering—
he could already feel it.
A faint, hidden heat.
Dangerous. Alive.
"Interesting…"
Xiao Feng's lips curved slightly.
"This kind of suppression… it won't last forever."
His gaze sharpened.
"The fire spirit inside… is definitely growing."
A normal Heavenly Flame was already terrifying.
But one that had begun to develop intelligence—
was far more dangerous.
For a brief moment—
Xiao Feng stood there silently.
Thinking.
If he absorbed it now—
With his current strength, his fire control, and his physique…
There was a real possibility.
He might directly break through to next level
And more importantly—
The spiritual transformation it would bring…
would be enormous.
But then—
he shook his head lightly.
"Not now."
Even with all his confidence—
this wasn't something he could act on recklessly.
This was the core of the Inner Academy.
Countless elders were watching.
And the one guarding this place…
was not someone to take lightly.
"Greed without strength… is just suicide."
Xiao Feng let out a quiet breath.
Then—
a faint smile appeared again.
"It's fine."
"There will be time."
Behind him, more students continued to gather.
Noise. Excitement. Competition.
But Xiao Feng no longer paid attention.
His eyes were fixed on the entrance of the tower.
Calm.
Focused.
And slightly… burning.
"First—"
"I'll take what this place offers."
"Then…"
His gaze deepened.
"I'll come back for what lies beneath."
After practicing in the Sky Burning Qi Refining Tower for half a day, Xiao Feng clearly noticed its benefits.
The energy within the tower was far purer and more aggressive than the outside world, constantly tempering his Dou Qi and accelerating his cultivation speed.
"This place… truly lives up to its name," he muttered.
But soon, his thoughts went deeper.
He began analyzing its limitations.
"This tower mainly benefits those at the level of Dou King and below…"
"For Dou Emperors, the effect is minimal unless they go to the very bottom levels."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"If the structure or formation could be improved… the energy distribution could be enhanced."
"Not just for me… but for the Xiao Family… and even the academy elders."
A faint idea began forming in his mind.
"If I can optimize this tower…"
"It could become something far greater."
With that thought lingering, Xiao Feng slowly exited the tower.
On his way back to the courtyard, he was still immersed in his thoughts.
Suddenly—
thud
He bumped into someone.
"Sorry—"
He instinctively spoke, but stopped mid-sentence.
Standing before him…
was none other than Xiao Yi Xian.
For a moment, he froze.
Then, as he looked at her face—
his expression suddenly changed.
A thought struck him like lightning.
"There's someone else…"
"Someone I forgot…"
A trace of urgency appeared in his eyes.
Qinglin.
The girl who possessed the incomparably rare
Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.
A talent even more terrifying than Xiao Yi Xian's.
With those eyes—
she could control almost any snake-type magical beast…
and even raise her own realm through them.
Only the highest-level beings like the Seven-Colored Sky Devouring Python or the Ancient Sky Serpent could resist her control.
Xiao Feng's expression turned serious.
"I need to find her… as soon as possible."
"Or bring her back to the Xiao Family."
Without wasting another second—
he grabbed Xiao Yi Xian's hand.
"Come with me."
Before she could react, he pulled her along and headed straight to the courtyard.
Inside, the others were already present.
Han Yue, Lin Xiuya, Bai Cheng, and Jia Yun all turned toward him in surprise.
"Xiao Feng? What happened?" Han Yue asked.
Xiao Feng didn't waste time.
"I'll be leaving for a while."
Everyone was stunned.
"Leaving?" Lin Xiuya frowned.
"Now? We just started everything…"
"I have something important to handle," Xiao Feng said calmly, but firmly.
Then, he took out several jade bottles.
"These pills—"
He handed them over.
"They can shield you from the fire poison of the tower."
"Use them when cultivating inside."
Han Yue accepted them, her expression serious.
"You're planning ahead even now…"
Bai Cheng nodded.
"With these, our cultivation speed will increase even more."
Jia Yun looked at him.
"How long will you be gone?"
Xiao Feng paused for a moment.
"About a month… maybe two."
Silence filled the courtyard.
Lin Xiuya crossed his arms and smirked.
"Don't take too long. We might surpass you."
Xiao Feng smiled faintly.
"I doubt that."
Han Yue spoke softly,
"Be careful."
Xiao Yi Xian, standing beside him, didn't say anything—but her grip tightened slightly.
Xiao Feng looked at all of them once more.
"Continue the plan."
"Grow stronger."
"When I return…"
His eyes flashed with determination.
"We take the next step."
Just like that, he went to Su Qian, asked for permission, took the fastest flying mount he could find, and started his journey back.
Before leaving, he said, "Elder Su, I have something important to take care of. I will return soon."
Su Qian looked at him for a moment and replied, "Be careful on your journey. Don't cause too much trouble outside."
Xiao Feng smiled lightly. "Trouble usually comes to me, Elder."
After one week of travel, he reached the border of the Gamma Empire, just a few hours away from Stone Desert City.
As soon as he arrived at Stone Desert City, he placed his mount at a flying station and went out to search for Qinglin. He searched for an entire day but couldn't find her.
"Strange… with her condition, she shouldn't be hard to find," he muttered.
Just as he was about to give up and head to an inn to rest, he suddenly heard people shouting.
"Bad blood!"
"Scum!"
"Just die already!"
Xiao Feng frowned and walked toward the noise.
He saw a girl curled up on the ground, her hands tightly covering her ears. Beside her was a wooden board: "Willing to work as a servant."
Xiao Feng clenched his fists slightly. "These people…"
Hearing all the insults, he was already 70% sure that she was the one he was searching for.
His expression turned cold.
A moment later—
Boom!
A powerful 5th Star Dou Spirit aura burst out from his body.
"Get lost." His voice was calm, yet carried an overwhelming pressure.
The crowd froze for a second—then scattered like frightened birds.
"No—no way, a Dou Spirit!"
"Run!"
In just a few breaths, the noisy street became silent.
Xiao Feng slowly walked toward the girl and crouched down to her level.
When he saw her clearly, his heart tightened slightly—her body was weak, dirty, and covered with faint marks of hardship.
But his expression remained gentle.
He took out some bread and a pastry and held them out.
"Hey… it's okay now," he said softly. "You can eat."
The girl slowly lifted her head, her eyes filled with fear and hesitation.
"Little girl, what is your name?"
She looked into Xiao Feng's eyes. Seeing they were clear and without malice, her trembling hands slowly reached out.
"I… I'm Qinglin…" she said weakly.
Xiao Feng nodded with a faint smile. "Qinglin… that's a nice name."
As she ate, he noticed the snake-like patterns on her hands. His eyes flickered slightly.
It's really her.
Noticing his gaze, Qinglin quickly pulled down her sleeves and shrank back.
"P-please… don't hit me… I'll work hard…" she begged in panic.
Xiao Feng's expression softened. He gently patted her head.
"I won't hit you," he said calmly. "And I won't hate you either."
Qinglin froze for a moment, as if she couldn't believe those words.
"Really…?"
"Really."
After a brief silence, Xiao Feng asked, "Where do you live? Can you take me there?"
Qinglin hesitated, then nodded. "M-my mother is there…"
"Alright. Take me."
Soon, they arrived at a small, worn-down house.
Inside, a weak woman lay on a bed. Seeing Qinglin return, she struggled to sit up.
"Qinglin… you're back…?"
"Mother, don't move!" Qinglin rushed over.
Xiao Feng stepped forward and gently said, "Please lie down. You shouldn't force yourself."
The woman looked at him cautiously. "You are…?"
"My name is Xiao Feng," he replied.
Qinglin softly said, "He… he helped me…"
The woman nodded weakly. "Thank you… for helping my daughter…"
"My name is Qinglu," she added.
Xiao Feng sat beside them and spoke calmly, "I came here for Qinglin."
Qinglu's expression changed slightly. "For… Qinglin?"
"Yes," Xiao Feng continued, "she has a very rare talent… and special eyes. If nurtured properly, her future will be extraordinary."
Qinglu fell silent, her gaze turning wary. "Why are you telling me this?"
Xiao Feng looked at both of them and said sincerely, "I want to take her with me… and treat her as my adopted sister."
He paused, then added softly, "And I will treat you like my own mother."
The room became quiet.
Qinglu stared at him, trying to read his intentions.
"Why… would you do that?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Xiao Feng smiled faintly. "Because she deserves better. And… I don't like seeing people suffer like this."
Qinglin looked at him with wide eyes. "B-brother…?"
Xiao Feng nodded. "If you're willing."
Tears slowly formed in Qinglu's eyes.
"I… I can see you're not lying…" she said softly. "Your eyes… are too clear…"
After a moment, she nodded.
"If you truly treat her well… then I agree."
Qinglin immediately hugged her mother. "Mother…"
Xiao Feng smiled and said gently, "From now on, call me brother."
Qinglin looked at him and said timidly, "B-Brother…"
Xiao Feng chuckled. "Good."
He then looked at Qinglu. "Mom, don't worry. I'll take care of both of you."
Hearing this, Qinglu couldn't hold back her tears anymore.
After that, Xiao Feng explained his background and where he planned to take them.
Then, he took out a 5th-grade healing pill.
"This will help you recover," he said.
Qinglu hesitated. "This… is too valuable…"
"Just take it," Xiao Feng said firmly. "You're family now."
He gently placed the pill in her mouth.
About an hour later—
Qinglu slowly sat up, her complexion completely restored.
"This… my body… it's healed?" she said in disbelief.
Xiao Feng smiled. "Of course."
Qinglin looked at him with shining eyes. "Brother… you're amazing…"
Xiao Feng lightly flicked her forehead. "You'll be even more amazing in the future."
Soon after, the three of them mounted the flying beast.
As the three of them rode the flying beast toward Utan City, the night wind howled softly around them. Qinglin leaned against Xiao Feng, already half-asleep after finally eating a proper meal, while Qinglu sat quietly behind them.
After a long silence, Xiao Feng spoke gently,
"Mom… you said Qinglin was born different. What exactly happened?"
Qinglu lowered her gaze, her fingers tightening slightly over her clothes.
After a moment, she sighed.
"…It's not a story I like to tell."
Xiao Feng didn't interrupt. "Take your time."
The moonlight fell across her face as she slowly began.
"I wasn't originally from Stone Desert City," Qinglu said softly. "I came from a small caravan group that traveled between cities in the desert."
She paused, as if recalling distant memories.
"I met Qinglin's father during one of those journeys…"
Xiao Feng's eyes narrowed slightly but he remained silent.
"He wasn't an ordinary human," Qinglu continued. "He had… the blood of a snake-type magical beast within him."
"A bloodline?" Xiao Feng asked.
"Yes," she nodded. "A very rare one. At that time, I didn't understand how dangerous that was…"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"At first, everything was normal. He was kind… gentle… and very protective of me."
"But after I became pregnant… things began to change."
The wind seemed to grow colder.
"His aura became unstable. Sometimes his eyes would turn into vertical pupils… and his temperament would become violent."
Xiao Feng frowned. "A bloodline backlash…"
Qinglu nodded slowly.
"One night… he lost control completely."
Her voice dropped.
"He left… without saying a word. I never saw him again."
A long silence followed.
"I was left alone… pregnant… in the middle of the desert trade routes."
Xiao Feng's expression darkened slightly, but he didn't speak.
"I somehow survived and gave birth to Qinglin…"
At this point, Qinglu's eyes turned gentle as she looked at the sleeping girl.
"When she was born… her eyes were not normal."
"She had those jade-green pupils… like a beast."
"And her body… carried faint snake patterns."
Xiao Feng nodded slightly. "Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils…"
Qinglu looked at him in shock. "You know about it?"
"A little," Xiao Feng replied calmly.
Qinglu smiled bitterly.
"Others didn't see it that way. To them… she was a monster."
"From the moment she was born, people avoided us… insulted us…"
"They said she was cursed… bad blood…"
Xiao Feng clenched his fist slightly but stayed silent.
"I tried to protect her," Qinglu continued. "But we had no strength… no background…"
"We were driven out… cheated… and beaten more times than I can count."
Her voice began to tremble.
"Every time she cried and asked me… 'Mother, what did I do wrong?'… I had no answer…"
Xiao Feng's gaze softened as he looked at Qinglin.
Qinglu wiped her tears and continued.
"Her condition also attracted trouble. Some people wanted to capture her… to study her… or sell her…"
"I had to run constantly… hiding from place to place…"
"That's how I ended up in Stone Desert City."
She let out a weak laugh.
"But by then… my body was already broken."
"All those years of running, injuries, and starvation… I couldn't even protect her anymore."
"She had no choice but to go out and try to work… even beg…"
Qinglu's voice choked.
"And today… if you hadn't appeared…"
She couldn't continue.
Xiao Feng spoke calmly, but his tone carried certainty.
"From now on, no one will dare treat her like that again."
Qinglu looked at him, stunned.
Xiao Feng turned his head slightly, his eyes firm.
"She is not cursed."
"She is a treasure."
Qinglin stirred slightly in her sleep, softly murmuring, "Brother…"
Xiao Feng gently adjusted her position so she wouldn't fall.
Qinglu watched this scene, her eyes filling with tears again—but this time, they were no longer filled with despair.
"…I was right to trust you," she whispered.
Xiao Feng smiled faintly.
"You didn't have to trust me," he said lightly. "You trust her future."
The flying beast cut through the night sky—
And for the first time in years, Qinglin's future no longer felt dark.