After returning safely to the Inner Academy, Xiao Feng finally relaxed slightly.
Although the trip to the Demon Flame Valley had been successful, he knew very well that the Earth Demon Old Ghost was not someone who could be underestimated. Once the old fellow discovered that his treasury had been secretly raided, he would definitely investigate the matter.
Therefore, the first thing Xiao Feng did after returning was ensure that neither he nor Zi Yan had left behind any traces.
Using his Peak Mortal Realm soul power, he carefully erased the remaining aura around their bodies before finally heading toward the Inner Academy.
Zi Yan, meanwhile, was still happily holding the medicinal fruits and herbs she had collected along the way.
Seeing her cheerful appearance, Xiao Feng could only shake his head helplessly.
Soon, the two arrived at Su Qian's residence.
The moment they entered, they found Grand Elder Su Qian and the two Guardian Elders discussing academy matters.
Seeing Xiao Feng arrive with such a serious expression, Su Qian immediately understood that something important had happened.
"What is it?"
Xiao Feng did not waste any time.
He first took out the copied scroll regarding the Artificial Heavenly Flame creation method.
The moment the three elders heard the words "Artificial Heavenly Flame," their expressions changed.
"What?"
"An Artificial Heavenly Flame?"
Even Su Qian was unable to remain calm.
As cultivators and experts who had lived for hundreds of years, they naturally understood the significance of such a thing.
Xiao Feng nodded.
"I discovered it inside a hidden treasury."
"It is a secret art capable of creating a flame that possesses some characteristics of a Heavenly Flame."
"Although it cannot compare to a true Heavenly Flame, it is still extremely valuable."
The two Guardian Elders exchanged shocked looks.
A flame possessing Heavenly Flame properties?
Such a thing would be priceless in the Central Plains.
Especially for Alchemists who could never obtain a genuine Heavenly Flame.
Su Qian's eyes became serious.
"Are you certain it works?"
Xiao Feng nodded.
"The creator spent many years improving the technique."
"If successfully refined, it should be capable of producing a controllable artificial flame."
"It may not benefit true Heavenly Flame owners much, but for ordinary fire-attributed cultivators, Alchemists, and certain factions, its value is enormous."
Hearing this, even Su Qian could not help but inhale a cold breath.
The first thought that appeared in his mind was not profit.
It was the future of Canaan Academy.
If the Inner Academy possessed such a method, the strength of many fire-attributed students could rise significantly.
Meanwhile, Xiao Feng continued.
"However, the refining requirements are quite high."
"It will require a large amount of experimentation."
"And many rare materials."
Su Qian nodded.
"That is understandable."
A technique capable of creating an artificial Heavenly Flame would naturally not be simple.
Then Xiao Feng changed the topic.
"There is another matter."
Su Qian raised an eyebrow.
"What now?"
Xiao Feng calmly replied,
"I need several Dou Huang or Dou Zong corpses."
The room instantly fell silent.
Even Zi Yan blinked in confusion.
The two Guardian Elders stared at him.
Su Qian's mouth twitched slightly.
"Why exactly do you need those?"
Naturally, Xiao Feng could not reveal the existence of the Heavenly Demon Puppet technique so easily.
Such a thing was far too shocking.
Therefore, he calmly answered,
"I am researching a special puppet technique."
"It requires powerful bodies as materials."
"At the moment, I only need suitable corpses."
"As for the rest, I will handle it myself."
The three elders immediately thought about the Blood Puppet scroll that Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had previously brought back.
After all, that was the only puppet-related technique they knew Xiao Feng possessed.
The Guardian Elder nodded thoughtfully.
"So it is for puppet refinement."
"That makes sense."
Su Qian also accepted the explanation.
After all, many strange professions existed on the continent.
Puppet Masters were not unheard of.
"If suitable corpses appear through academy missions or Black Corner Region conflicts, we will inform you."
Xiao Feng nodded.
"Thank you, Grand Elder."
Although he appeared calm on the surface, his mind was already calculating future plans.
Once he obtained suitable Dou Huang and Dou Zong bodies...
Once he gathered the required materials...
And once he mastered the Heavenly Demon Puppet technique completely...
He would finally possess truly reliable guardians.
At that point, whether it was protecting Fire City, the Xiao Family, or the people around him, his confidence would increase significantly.
As for the Artificial Heavenly Flame...
That was a project for the future.
If successful, not only could it greatly strengthen the Xiao Family and Fire Faction, but it might even become one of the most valuable assets in the entire Central Plains.
Thinking of these possibilities, a faint smile appeared on Xiao Feng's face.
For others, the trip to the Demon Flame Valley had been a dangerous treasure hunt.
For him...
It had been a harvest beyond imagination.
As the matter regarding the Artificial Heavenly Flame and other future plans came to a temporary conclusion, Xiao Feng finally left Su Qian's residence and headed toward the resting area where Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were recovering.
The moment he arrived, a warm scene greeted him.
Qing Lin was sitting between Xiao Ding and Xiao Li while the two brothers chatted happily with her.
Laughter occasionally echoed from the courtyard.
Seeing this, Xiao Feng couldn't help but smile.
Among the Xiao Family's younger generation, there were originally only five boys—Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, Xiao Feng, Xiao Yan, and Xiao Zhang.
As for the only female elder of their generation, Xiao Yan's mother had unfortunately passed away when they were still young.
Because of this, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had always secretly wished that their family would one day have a little sister.
Unfortunately, every child born afterward was still a boy.
Their dream of having a younger sister had never been fulfilled.
Until Qing Lin appeared.
Although she was not related to them by blood, everyone in the Xiao Family already treated her as family.
To Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, she was practically the little sister they had always wanted.
As a result, the two brothers spoiled her without restraint.
Whether it was cultivation resources, gifts, snacks, jewelry, clothes, or simply attention and care, they gave her everything they could.
If Qing Lin wanted something, the two brothers would immediately find a way to get it for her.
Over time, she had practically become the little princess of the Xiao Family.
Of course, Xun Er had also grown up alongside them.
However, the relationship was somewhat different.
Although Xiao Ding and Xiao Li cared about Xun Er and treated her as family, there was always an invisible distance between them.
Xun Er possessed an extraordinary background, elegant temperament, and natural nobility that made her seem untouchable at times.
Even when she was young, she always carried herself with maturity beyond her years.
As a result, despite their efforts to get closer to her, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li never truly experienced the feeling of having a younger sister around her.
Only when facing Xiao Feng and Xiao Yan would Xun Er reveal her softer and more familial side.
To everyone else, she remained polite but somewhat distant.
Qing Lin, however, was completely different.
She was innocent, pure-hearted, obedient, and exceptionally affectionate toward those who treated her well.
Whenever Xiao Ding or Xiao Li gave her something, her eyes would light up with happiness.
Whenever they praised her, she would smile proudly.
The feeling of having a younger sister that they had imagined for so many years was finally fulfilled through Qing Lin.
And naturally, the two brothers cherished her dearly.
At that moment, Xiao Li was proudly showing Qing Lin some small treasures he had collected during his travels.
Meanwhile, Xiao Ding patiently explained various cultivation experiences to her.
Qing Lin listened attentively, occasionally asking questions while smiling brightly.
The joy on her face was completely genuine.
For most of her life, she had never experienced such warmth from a family.
After meeting Xiao Feng, she had gained a place to belong.
After joining the Xiao Family, she had gained brothers who truly cared for her.
Looking at Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's smiling faces, Qing Lin felt a warmth spread through her heart.
For a brief moment, she wished time could stop right there.
No dangers.
No enemies.
No worries.
Just family.
Standing at the courtyard entrance, Xiao Feng quietly watched the scene.
Seeing the genuine affection between them, even he felt his mood improve considerably.
And in that courtyard, surrounded by the care of her brothers, Qing Lin smiled brighter than ever, looking every bit like the cherished little princess of the Xiao Family.
======
Xiao Feng gently knocked on the door before entering the room.
The moment he stepped inside, Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, and Qing Lin all turned toward him.
A faint smile appeared on Xiao Feng's face as he greeted them.
"It seems both of you are recovering quite well."
He then calmly walked forward and sat down on a nearby chair.
The moment Qing Lin saw him sit down, her eyes brightened.
Without waiting for anyone to say anything, she hurriedly rushed over.
First, she brought a warm towel and respectfully handed it to Xiao Feng.
Then she quickly poured a cup of hot tea and placed it before him.
Only after doing all of that did she finally look satisfied.
Watching this scene, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged helpless looks.
The favoritism Qing Lin showed toward Xiao Feng was simply too obvious.
If outsiders saw this, they would think Qing Lin was Xiao Feng's personal maid.
However, neither brother found it strange.
After all, Xiao Feng had always treated Qing Lin with patience and care since the day he rescued her.
Furthermore, Xiao Feng possessed a calm and gentle temperament that was extremely rare on the Dou Qi Continent.
In a world where strength ruled everything and countless people resorted to violence and deceit, Xiao Feng's conduct could truly be considered that of a gentleman.
Even Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had to admit that if they were Qing Lin, they would probably trust Xiao Feng the most as well.
Meanwhile, Qing Lin had already moved behind Xiao Feng.
Her small hands gently rested on his shoulders as she began softly massaging them.
The room immediately became quiet.
Xiao Feng could only smile helplessly.
After a few moments, he reached back and lightly tapped her forehead.
"Enough."
"Stop treating me like an old man."
"Come sit beside me."
Qing Lin pouted slightly.
"Big Brother works very hard."
"You should rest more."
Despite her complaints, she obediently stopped and sat beside Xiao Feng.
Only then did Xiao Feng look toward his two brothers.
"How are your conditions?"
Xiao Ding replied first.
"The injuries are no longer a problem."
"The medicinal pills you gave us are very effective."
"At most by tonight and we'll recover completely."
Xiao Li nodded as well.
"My condition is slightly better than Elder Brother's."
"I'll probably be fully recovered within few hours."
Hearing this, Xiao Feng finally relaxed.
Then his expression became serious.
"What about the people who attacked you?"
"Have you thought about how to deal with them?"
The moment this topic was brought up, Xiao Li scratched his head awkwardly.
"I haven't really thought that far ahead."
"I was more focused on staying alive."
Xiao Feng was not surprised by that answer.
Xiao Li had always preferred direct action.
Planning and strategy were never his strengths.
Xiao Ding, however, was different.
A thoughtful expression appeared on his face.
"Actually, I have."
"While recovering, I've been considering several methods of retaliation."
As the leader and one of the managers of Fire City, Xiao Ding's greatest talent was never cultivation.
It was management, planning, and strategy.
Soon, Xiao Ding began explaining his ideas.
Some involved disrupting enemy resource routes.
Others focused on targeting their business interests.
A few were meant to damage their reputation throughout the Black Corner Region.
Throughout the discussion, Xiao Feng occasionally nodded.
Whenever he noticed flaws, he calmly pointed them out.
Whenever improvements could be made, he offered suggestions.
The four of them spent nearly an hour refining the plans.
By the end, the overall strategy had become much more complete.
Finally, Xiao Feng nodded.
"Not bad."
"These plans are sufficient."
"But remember one thing."
His eyes became slightly colder.
"We are retaliating."
"Not starting a life-and-death war."
"For now, do not push Han Feng into a corner."
The room immediately grew serious.
Xiao Ding understood what Xiao Feng meant.
Han Feng was currently connected to forces that even they could not easily provoke.
Especially the mysterious experts behind him.
For the time being, exposing their full strength would bring more disadvantages than benefits.
Xiao Feng continued,
"Our objective is simple."
"Make people understand that Fire City cannot be bullied."
"We only need to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys."
"Once everyone sees the consequences of provoking us, the rest will naturally think twice."
Both Xiao Ding and Xiao Li nodded.
They completely agreed.
After settling the matter, Xiao Feng took out a special token from his Storage Ring.
The moment it appeared, both brothers were surprised.
"This is..."
"The highest-level training token of the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower."
Xiao Feng placed it on the table.
"Starting tomorrow, both of you will enter the tower and cultivate."
"I currently possess more Fire Energy than I can spend."
"You can use this token freely."
Xiao Li's eyes widened.
Even Xiao Ding was somewhat shocked.
They naturally understood the value of such a token.
Within the Inner Academy, countless students dreamed of obtaining one.
Yet Xiao Feng casually handed it to them.
After all, as the only genuine Sixth-Rank Alchemist in Canaan Academy at the moment, Xiao Feng earned Fire Energy at an absurd rate.
Even Fire Elder Huo had only recently advanced to the Sixth Rank and could currently refine only lower-level sixth-rank pills.
Meanwhile, Xiao Feng was already refining high-level sixth-rank medicinal pills.
The amount of Fire Energy he possessed was simply enormous.
After handing over the token, Xiao Feng continued,
"And there's another thing."
Both brothers looked at him.
"The Snow Demon Sky Ape recently advanced to the Sixth Tier."
"Go train with it."
Xiao Li nearly choked on his tea.
"Train... with that monster?"
Xiao Feng nodded calmly.
"The Snow Demon Sky Ape has combat experience far beyond yours."
"It can withstand attacks from Dou Kings and teach practical combat techniques."
"You've advanced too quickly recently."
"You need opponents who can help you adapt to your new strength."
"Otherwise, your cultivation will be unstable."
Xiao Ding immediately understood.
The Snow Demon Sky Ape was the perfect sparring partner.
A Sixth-Tier Magical Beast.
Powerful enough to pressure them.
But intelligent enough not to accidentally kill them.
A rare training opportunity.
Xiao Li, however, felt a headache coming.
He could already imagine himself being beaten around by that giant ape.
Seeing his expression, Qing Lin couldn't help giggling.
The room, which had been serious moments earlier, suddenly became much lighter.
Watching his brothers, Qing Lin, and the peaceful atmosphere around him, Xiao Feng finally allowed himself to relax.
For now, the immediate crisis had been resolved.
The next step was simple.
Recover.
Cultivate.
Grow stronger.
And when the time was right...
The people who had dared attack Fire City would learn exactly why provoking the Xiao Family was a mistake.