"All right everyone, I believe all of you have gained at least some enlightenment and insights after witnessing my alchemy process today," Xiao Feng said calmly while looking toward the massive crowd gathered in the arena.
"That will be all for today. Everyone may return now and properly absorb today's gains."
Upon hearing his words, the crowd immediately became respectful as countless students and alchemists cupped their fists toward Xiao Feng one after another before slowly leaving the venue.
"Thank you, Senior Xiao Feng!"
"Today truly opened our eyes!"
"To witness Sixth-Rank alchemy personally… this trip was worth it!"
Voices filled with excitement continuously sounded as the people gradually dispersed from the arena. Many alchemists especially looked deeply thoughtful, clearly having gained tremendous inspiration after watching Xiao Feng refine pills publicly.
Soon, the noisy arena slowly became quiet once again.
Only the representatives from the three great families remained behind along with the core members of the Fire Faction.
Meanwhile, Han Yun was still attempting his breakthrough toward the Dou Zong realm inside the cultivation chamber nearby.
At the open courtyard of the Fire Faction, Xiao Feng slowly sat down at the main seat calmly while Xiao Yi Xian and the Qilin Queen quietly stood behind him.
The atmosphere instantly became much more serious.
Xiao Feng lightly tapped the armrest of the chair before smiling faintly.
"Now then…"
"Seeing is believing, right?"
"You all personally witnessed that I can refine genuine Sixth-Rank medicinal pills."
His calm voice slowly echoed across the courtyard while the expressions of the three great families stiffened slightly.
"So next time…"
"I hope you bring the full amount of materials instead of only half."
Although Xiao Feng was smiling—
Everyone could clearly feel the coldness hidden beneath that smile.
The representatives from the three families instantly became embarrassed.
Some even broke into cold sweat.
Because Xiao Feng was absolutely correct.
This time, although they came to cooperate, they still retained some doubts deep inside their hearts and intentionally brought only part of the promised materials first as a form of testing.
Now—
After witnessing everything personally—
They finally understood how foolish that caution had been.
Soon, the representatives from the Han Clan, Lin Clan, and Liu Clan hurriedly stood up before directly kneling respectfully.
"Young Master Xiao Feng, please forgive us!"
"We truly had no intention to offend you!"
"We were simply too shocked by the reports before…"
The three factions quickly apologized one after another while also taking out additional treasures and rare materials from their storage rings as compensation.
Soon, precious treasures continuously appeared on the table before Xiao Feng.
Rare medicinal herbs.
High-grade ores.
Sixth-Rank beast cores.
Ancient medicinal seeds.
And even several soul-nourishing spiritual plants.
Originally, Xiao Feng still maintained a calm expression.
But after seeing the treasures clearly—
His eyes instantly brightened slightly.
Especially after noticing a Transformation Grass, a Sixth-Rank Beast Flame, several rare Sixth-Rank medicinal seeds, and two precious soul plants.
For a moment—
He almost failed to suppress his smile.
Seeing Xiao Feng's suddenly improved mood, Xiao Yi Xian quietly nudged his elbow from behind while trying hard not to laugh.
Only then did Xiao Feng quickly regain his composure and lightly coughed.
"This will be the last time," he said calmly while looking at everyone.
"I am giving face to Han Yue, Liu Qing, Liu Fei, and Lin Xiuya today."
"Otherwise, if it were anyone else…"
"They would not receive this opportunity from me."
The moment those words were spoken, Han Yue, Liu Qing, Liu Fei, and Lin Xiuya were all slightly stunned before quickly understanding Xiao Feng's intention.
He was deliberately elevating their importance within their respective families.
Sure enough—
The elders from the three factions immediately looked toward the younger generation beside them differently.
Especially Liu Qing and Han Yue.
Their status within their clans would definitely rise greatly after today.
After all—
It was precisely because of their relationship with Xiao Feng that the clans had obtained such a monstrous ally.
Realizing this, the four of them felt extremely grateful toward Xiao Feng.
Meanwhile, the representatives from the three great families hurriedly nodded respectfully.
"Young Master Xiao Feng may rest assured!"
"We absolutely will not repeat this mistake again!"
"Next time, the full amount of resources will definitely be delivered!"
Xiao Feng finally nodded lightly before waving his hand casually.
"Good."
"As long as everyone cooperates sincerely…"
"Then all of us will benefit together in the future."
Hearing this, the atmosphere finally relaxed completely.
Even the three Peak Dou Huang experts secretly sighed in relief.
Because they knew—
From this moment onward—
Their families had truly formed a connection with a terrifying monster whose future potential was almost impossible to measure.
After the atmosphere calmed down, Xiao Feng once again spoke about the rules regarding pill refinement and cooperation. His voice was calm, but everyone listened seriously because they already understood his value clearly now.
"Other than the three sets of medicinal ingredients," Xiao Feng said slowly, "you will also need to provide the pill recipe yourselves. Normally, alchemists also require an additional refining fee on top of that."
Hearing this, the representatives from the three great families immediately nodded because this was already the standard rule throughout the continent. In fact, many alchemists demanded even harsher conditions for refining Sixth-Rank pills.
However, Xiao Feng lightly shook his head afterward.
"As for the additional payment, I do not need gold or ordinary treasures."
The eyes of the three families immediately brightened slightly.
Xiao Feng then took out a jade slip and casually placed it on the table.
"From now on, if you truly wish to cooperate with me long term, then help me collect the things written here."
The representatives quickly accepted the jade slip respectfully and scanned through its contents.
Soon—
Their expressions changed slightly.
The items listed were mostly rare beast flames above the Fifth Rank, soul-related medicinal ingredients, soul-nourishing treasures, and strange pill formulas below the Sixth Rank.
There were also several unusual medicinal herbs that ordinary alchemists would rarely pay attention to.
Seeing their confusion, Xiao Feng calmly explained,
"I already know from Han Yue, Liu Qing, and Lin Xiuya that your families only possess Fifth-Rank Alchemists at most."
"So many low and mid-grade pill formulas are probably useless to your clans after years of accumulation."
"But to me, they still have research value."
Xiao Feng lightly tapped the table as he continued,
"Especially strange or ancient pill formulas. Even incomplete ones are acceptable."
The representatives from the three families immediately understood his meaning.
Xiao Feng was clearly trying to build his own alchemy foundation and inheritance step by step.
At the same time—
They secretly admired his foresight even more.
After all, most young alchemists only focused on refining stronger pills.
But Xiao Feng was already collecting ancient formulas, soul resources, and beast flames for future growth.
Such vision was extremely rare.
Soon, the discussion finally ended.
Because the representatives from the three great families were not students or elders of Canaan Academy, they could not remain inside the Inner Academy for long periods.
Their temporary stay had only been permitted because of Xiao Feng and Dean Su Qian personally approving it beforehand.
Therefore, after bidding farewell respectfully, the representatives all left for Peace Town to rest temporarily before preparing the next batch of resources.
Before leaving, several elders even repeatedly reminded Han Yue, Lin Xiuya, Liu Qing, and Liu Fei to maintain a good relationship with Xiao Feng no matter what happened in the future.
Clearly—
After today—
Xiao Feng's status within their hearts had risen to an entirely new level.
After everyone finally departed, Xiao Feng quietly returned to the Fire Faction courtyard before calling the core members into the secret meeting room.
Soon—
Han Yue, Lin Xiuya, Bai Cheng, Jia Yun, Xiao Yi Xian, and the Qilin Queen all gathered inside.
The atmosphere inside the room became serious immediately.
Xiao Feng slowly looked at everyone before speaking calmly,
"What I am about to say next must remain secret for now."
Everyone nodded seriously without hesitation.
They all knew Xiao Feng would never casually gather everyone together unless something important was about to happen.
Xiao Feng slowly leaned back in his chair before suddenly asking,
"Do all of you…"
"…want to truly rise in the future?"
The room instantly became quiet.
Then Xiao Feng's next sentence completely shocked everyone.
"Do you want to stand at the top of the Central Plains one day and leave your own names behind?"
The moment those words fell—
Everyone inside the room froze.
Even Han Yue and Lin Xiuya, who came from the Central Plains themselves, became stunned.
Because they knew better than anyone else just how terrifying the Central Plains truly were.
That place was filled with geniuses.
Dou Zong experts were common.
Even Dou Zun powerhouses occasionally appeared.
Countless factions, sects, clans, and old monsters existed there.
Compared to the Northwest Region—
It was practically another world entirely.
Thus, hearing Xiao Feng suddenly speak about reaching the top of the Central Plains shocked all of them deeply.
Lin Xiuya was the first to react.
He inhaled deeply before asking seriously,
"Xiao Feng… what exactly are you planning?"
Han Yue also frowned slightly while looking at him.
"You would never say something like this casually."
"Are you planning to establish your own faction in the Central Plains?"
Meanwhile, Bai Cheng and Jia Yun were equally shocked.
Even the Qilin Queen narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly while quietly observing Xiao Feng.
Facing everyone's gazes—
Xiao Feng slowly smiled.
But this time—
There was no joking hidden within that smile at all.
==============
"
"Yes," Xiao Feng said seriously while looking at everyone inside the room.
"I want to establish my own faction in the Central Plains and create my own name there… not only in the Black Corner Region or the Northwest Continent."
The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere inside the secret room became completely silent.
Everyone could hear the seriousness in Xiao Feng's tone.
This was not some temporary ambition or youthful arrogance.
He truly intended to step into the Central Plains and compete with the true monsters of the continent.
Xiao Feng slowly continued speaking while glancing toward Xiao Yi Xian beside him.
"You all already know Xiao Yi Xian's poison constitution somewhat, but what you don't know is her true potential."
He then calmly explained the terrifying nature of the Woeful Poison Body and how terrifying her cultivation speed would become after completely resolving the poison hidden inside her body.
"She can practically grow without bottlenecks as long as she has enough poison energy."
"If her constitution fully awakens safely… her cultivation speed will terrify even the Central Plains."
Hearing this, Han Yue and the others sucked in cold air.
They had already noticed Xiao Yi Xian's cultivation rising rapidly recently, but they never imagined her talent would be this horrifying.
After that, Xiao Feng looked toward Qing Lin's direction even though she was not present there.
"And Qing Lin…"
"Her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils are even rarer."
"If fully developed, she can naturally suppress snake-type magical beasts and control them."
"She possesses the potential to become a true powerhouse capable of standing at the peak of the continent."
Finally, Xiao Feng glanced toward the quietly standing Qilin Queen.
"As for the Qilin Queen…"
"She has already completed a bloodline evolution."
"Her future potential is no longer limited to the Dou Zong realm."
"If everything proceeds properly…"
"She also has the qualifications to step into the Dou Zun realm in the future."
The room instantly became dead silent.
Dou Zun…
That was a realm so high that even thinking about it felt distant to them.
Yet now—
Three people beside Xiao Feng already possessed such terrifying potential.
Han Yue and Lin Xiuya were stunned.
Bai Cheng and Jia Yun looked even more shaken.
However, Xiao Feng himself remained calm.
He was not worried about them leaking these secrets because he understood their personalities very clearly after spending years together inside the academy.
Whether from his knowledge of the original story or from personal interactions—
He trusted them enough to reveal these matters.
Otherwise, he would never have spoken about such secrets openly.
At this moment, Bai Cheng finally laughed bitterly and rubbed his head helplessly.
"Then how are Jia Yun and I supposed to help you?"
"Our talents are only average."
Jia Yun also sighed softly.
"Compared to Han Yue and Lin Xiuya, we don't even have powerful clans supporting us."
"The strongest experts in our families are only Dou Emperors."
Hearing this, Han Yue and Lin Xiuya also became quiet.
Although their talents were indeed higher than Bai Cheng and Jia Yun's, even they did not dare confidently claim they could one day step into the Dou Zun realm.
However, Xiao Feng only smiled calmly.
"You are underestimating yourselves too much."
He slowly continued,
"The Earth Core Body Tempering Pill all four of you consumed before was not an ordinary medicinal pill."
"It was a peak Fifth-Rank pill capable of cleansing impurities, strengthening the body, and increasing cultivation talent."
"At that time, all of you consumed perfect-quality versions."
Hearing this, everyone inside the room became stunned.
Xiao Feng calmly added,
"Your talents can already be considered quite good now."
"With enough resources alone, all of you possess the potential to at least reach the peak of the Dou Zong realm before your lifetimes end."
The breathing of the four people instantly became heavier.
Peak Dou Zong…
That was already considered an overlord-level powerhouse in the Northwest Region.
Yet Xiao Feng spoke about it as though it were only a beginning.
Then Xiao Feng's eyes slowly brightened slightly.
"And if in the future we obtain Mid or High Earth Rank cultivation techniques…"
"Or discover ancient inheritances and treasures…"
"Then stepping into the Dou Zun realm may not be impossible for all of you either."
The room instantly fell silent once more.
Because nobody could remain calm hearing such words.
Especially Bai Cheng and Jia Yun.
Originally, they thought their futures would at best stop at the Dou Huang or low Dou Zong realm.
But now—
Xiao Feng had directly shown them a completely different future.
Then Xiao Feng slowly stood up from his seat.
"I'll only say one thing."
"From today onward…"
"All of us are one team."
His gaze swept across everyone seriously.
"We help each other grow stronger."
"We advance together."
"And from now on…"
"This faction will take priority over even our families."
The expressions of Han Yue and the others changed slightly.
Xiao Feng calmly explained,
"If we become strong through our own faction instead of relying on our families, then our actions will not implicate them."
"And if we truly succeed in the future…"
"Then naturally we can also protect and elevate our families afterward."
Hearing this, everyone slowly nodded in understanding.
Especially Han Yue and Lin Xiuya.
Coming from the Central Plains themselves, they understood better than anyone how dangerous faction struggles could become.
Having an independent force of their own was extremely important.
Soon, the atmosphere inside the room gradually became heated as everyone started discussing future plans seriously.
What resources they needed.
What kind of experts they should recruit.
How to establish connections in the Central Plains later.
How to secretly nurture strength before fully stepping into the Central Plains.
For the first time—
A true foundation for Xiao Feng's future faction had officially begun to take shape.