locate_template
search template only in themes then to use a file outside themes, you can use the filter template_include
like that
add_filter("template_include", function ($template) {
$post = get_queried_object();
if ( is_single()
&& ("features" === $post->post_type)
) {
// absolute path to the template file
$template = __DIR__ . "/../../template/my_features_template.php";
}
return $template;
});