Knock, knock, knock!
A series of steady knocks sounded from the wooden gate of the small courtyard.
"Who is it?" Xiao Feng asked calmly from inside.
"Young Master Xiao Feng, the Clan Leader and the Elders request your presence in the deliberation hall."
"I understand. Give me a moment."
A few days had passed since the clan's aptitude test. During those days, Xiao Feng had returned to his usual routine—quiet cultivation and careful refinement of his Dou Qi.
Thanks to the cultivation technique Vermilion Flame Mantra that Gu Xun'er had given him, the fire-attribute Dou Qi within Xiao Feng's body had become far purer and more stable. Compared to the Flame Gathering Art he had originally chosen from the Xiao Clan's pavilion, this technique absorbed Dou Qi faster and refined the flame energy more efficiently.
After cultivating with it for only a few nights, Xiao Feng could already feel the difference. The Dou Qi circulating through his meridians moved more smoothly, allowing him to strengthen his foundation while steadily increasing his strength. It was largely because of this superior technique that he had quietly advanced to Two-Star Dou Practitioner in just a few days.
Although such progress would shock most people in the Xiao Clan, Xiao Feng himself remained calm. For someone who had trained relentlessly for years and carefully built a solid foundation, advancing another star at the early stage of the Dou Practitioner realm was not impossible.
Stepping out of the courtyard, Xiao Feng saw the old steward waiting patiently.
The elderly man had served the Xiao Clan for decades, and everyone simply called him Old Steward.
"Young Master Xiao Feng," the steward greeted respectfully.
"Steward," Xiao Feng replied politely. "Did the Clan Leader say what this meeting is about?"
The steward shook his head slightly.
"This old servant is not certain. However, since your performance during the test a few days ago caused quite a stir within the clan… it may have something to do with your cultivation."
Xiao Feng nodded thoughtfully.
After all, becoming a Dou Practitioner at ten years old had already shaken the entire Xiao Clan.
Following the steward, Xiao Feng soon arrived at the entrance of the deliberation hall.
"Hehe, Young Master Xiao Feng," the steward said with a chuckle, "the Clan Leader and the Elders are inside. This old servant will not enter."
"Thank you, Steward."
Xiao Feng nodded before stepping forward.
After knocking once, he pushed open the door and entered.
Inside the spacious hall sat four familiar figures at the front.
The clan leader Xiao Zhan and the three elders of the Xiao Clan.
When Xiao Feng entered, the elders' previously serious expressions immediately softened.
"Feng'er, you're here," Xiao Zhan said warmly.
Xiao Feng stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Clan Leader. Elders."
"Sigh, there's no need to be so formal," the Grand Elder said quickly while gesturing for him to sit. "Come, sit down."
After Xiao Feng took a seat, a brief moment of polite conversation passed before Xiao Zhan spoke again.
"Feng'er, we called you here mainly to discuss your cultivation."
Xiao Feng nodded slightly.
"Before anything else," Xiao Zhan continued, "tell us… what is your current cultivation level now?"
The other elders leaned forward slightly with curiosity.
Seeing their expectant expressions, Xiao Feng answered calmly.
"A few nights ago, I advanced again."
"I am now a Two-Star Dou Practitioner."
The moment those words left his mouth, the entire hall fell silent.
The elders stared at him in disbelief.
"What?!"
"Two-Star already?!"
Even Xiao Zhan could not hide his shock.
"It has only been a few days since the test…"
The Second Elder shook his head slowly, unable to hide his amazement.
"A ten-year-old Two-Star Dou Practitioner… This level of talent truly surpasses anything our Xiao Clan has ever seen."
The Grand Elder let out a long breath before smiling bitterly.
"Calling you a prodigy no longer seems enough."
Meanwhile, Xiao Feng simply sat calmly in his chair.
Xiao Zhan folded his hands together thoughtfully.
"However, we called you here because we believe your talent should not remain limited to the Xiao Clan alone."
Xiao Feng listened quietly.
"With your potential," Xiao Zhan continued, "you could eventually join a larger power or academy in the future."
The elders nodded in agreement.
"For now," Xiao Zhan said with a faint smile, "focus on strengthening your foundation. When the time comes, the Xiao Clan will support whatever path you choose."
Xiao Feng nodded respectfully.
"I understand."
The Grand Elder stroked his beard and spoke slowly.
"Feng'er, with talent like yours, remaining only within the Xiao Clan would be a waste. Our clan simply does not possess the resources to support your growth to its fullest potential."
He paused before continuing.
"As it happens, Canaan Academy will soon send recruiters to Wutan City. With your talent, entering the academy should not be difficult."
Another elder added with a faint smile,
"And if you do not wish to enter the academy, there is another option. In some time, the Cloud Mist Sect will open its disciple selection ceremony. With your talent, you would certainly stand out there as well. It would not be surprising if you were even accepted as a personal disciple by the sect master."
Hearing this, Xiao Feng finally understood why Xiao Zhan and the elders had called him here.
They were discussing his future path.
In truth, Xiao Feng had already considered leaving the Xiao Clan to train in a larger power someday. However, hearing the elders bring up both Canaan Academy and the Cloud Mist Sect made him think more seriously about the choice.
For a moment, the hall became quiet as he pondered the possibilities.
After a short silence, Xiao Feng slowly shook his head.
"I appreciate the elders' concern," he said calmly, "but if I must choose… I would prefer to study at Canaan Academy."
The elders looked slightly surprised.
"Why?" Xiao Zhan asked with a frown. "Joining the Cloud Mist Sect may provide you with even better resources. With your talent, gaining the attention of powerful experts there would not be difficult."
Xiao Feng answered calmly,
"Canaan Academy has many strong teachers and cultivators from different places. I believe studying there will allow me to grow while broadening my experience."
He paused slightly before adding with a faint smile.
"And perhaps… if I am fortunate, I might even gain the guidance of a powerful expert there."
The elders exchanged glances before sighing.
"In that case, we will respect your decision," Xiao Zhan finally said.
Then he reached into his sleeve and took out a black card.
"Since you may leave the clan in the future, you should have some resources with you. Take this—thirty thousand gold coins. Consider it support from the Xiao Clan."
Xiao Feng hesitated for a moment before accepting the card respectfully.
"Thank you, Clan Leader. Thank you, Elders."
The Grand Elder smiled.
"There is no need to rush your thanks. This is only the beginning. A genius like you carries the hopes of the Xiao Clan's future."
After leaving the hall, Xiao Feng returned to his courtyard with a thoughtful expression. According to the elders, the recruiters from Canaan Academy would arrive in Wutan City in about a month. Once the recruitment began, the quiet town would attract many young talents from the surrounding cities, all hoping to enter the famous academy.
For Xiao Feng, that single month would be extremely important. At present, he had only recently advanced to the Two-Star Dou Practitioner stage. While that was already impressive for someone his age, he knew it would not be enough to stand out once the recruitment began. Every day he focused on cultivating the Profound Rank High technique – Heavenly Phoenix Qi Art that Xun'er had secretly given him. The technique was far deeper than the cultivation methods kept by the Xiao Clan, circulating Dou Qi through complex meridian routes that refined the energy within his body and made it denser and purer with each cycle.
Even so, Xiao Feng was not satisfied with his current level. In his mind, he had already set a clear goal—before the recruitment of Canaan Academy arrived, he needed to break through to the Four-Star Dou Practitioner stage. Only by reaching that level could he confidently stand among the various young geniuses who would gather in Wutan City. At the same time, he quietly began considering who might accompany him when the day came to leave the clan. If things went smoothly, he hoped that a few familiar faces from the clan could step into the wider world together with him rather than facing it alone.