Xiao Yan Humiliated!

"Ah, my third brother... I saw it coming long ago!"

"But he's proud. Although we've met often over the past year, he never told me about it."

Xiao Ze looked at Xiao Yan's gradually receding figure and spoke helplessly.

"Indeed. Cousin Xiao Yan is more mature than most, but he's also much more proud."

Xiao Xun'er nodded in agreement.

"After suffering something like this, he must be feeling terrible inside. Falling from a One Star Dou Practitioner to the fourth stage of Dou Qi."

"Xiao Ze, aren't you going to comfort him?"

Xiao Ze replied casually, "If he wants to talk, he'll talk."

"Besides, this little setback is nothing more than a minor obstacle before he soars."

Hearing Xiao Ze's words, Xiao Xun'er fell into thought as she watched the figure nearly vanish from sight.

She and Xiao Ze had grown up together, and she had noticed long ago that Xiao Ze had an extraordinary degree of confidence in Cousin Xiao Yan.

It was as though he had always believed that Cousin Xiao Yan would rise from the shallows like a fish turning into a True Dragon, break free of this tiny Wu Tan City, and soar across the vast world.

Xiao Xun'er had originally thought that Xiao Yan's displayed talent was what made Xiao Ze trust him so blindly.

Yet now that Xiao Yan's strength had declined for unknown reasons, Xiao Ze's confidence in him had instead grown even stronger.

Xiao Xun'er truly could not understand it.

"Why does Xiao Ze have so much confidence in Cousin Xiao Yan?"

Xiao Xun'er asked curiously, her bright, clear eyes blinking like those of an inquisitive child.

Xiao Ze turned to look at Xiao Xun'er and spoke seriously.

"Of course it's because he's my third brother. I'm already such a genius—how bad could he possibly be?"

"You're so full of yourself!"

Xiao Xun'er rolled her eyes at Xiao Ze. What necessary connection was there between his being a genius and Cousin Xiao Yan being a genius?

Still, Xiao Xun'er did not deny Xiao Ze's claim that he was a genius.

Though Xiao Ze had never undergone testing, Xiao Xun'er knew that his strength had already surpassed hers by a great deal.

There had always been countless rumors outside about why Xiao Ze never underwent testing, but the most widely accepted explanation was this:

Xiao Yan's halo as a genius was too dazzling, making the Fourth Young Master feel inferior. He feared that his talent was lacking and that others would compare him to Xiao Yan.

Only Xiao Xun'er, who had always cultivated alongside Xiao Ze, knew just how powerful Xiao Ze truly was.

His talent and insight were simply astonishing!

They had clearly begun cultivating at the same time, yet Xiao Ze's understanding and realizations were always many times greater than hers!

Xiao Xun'er had even relayed these realizations to her guardian, and Ling Ying, a high-ranking Dou Emperor, had been full of praise!

Ling Ying had even stated outright that he could never possess such understanding and insight!

If even a Dou Emperor praised him so highly, one could imagine just how astounding Xiao Ze's talent and insight were.

Even in that land filled with geniuses, Xiao Ze's talent would undoubtedly rank among the very best!

What Xiao Xun'er did not know was that Xiao Ze owed all of this talent and insight to her.

Xiao Xun'er herself was one of the Ancient Clan's greatest geniuses in a thousand years. She possessed a Divine Grade Bloodline and was among the most outstanding heavenly prodigies even compared with the other ancient families!

Xiao Ze was able to receive Tenfold Return on Xiao Xun'er's progress. One could only imagine how terrifying that was!

It also made Xiao Ze sigh countless times that his choice had not been wrong!

"If Xiao Ze refuses to tell me, then forget it. Why use such words to tease me?"

Xiao Xun'er pretended to be angry, crossing her arms and turning her head away.

"No, no, no, I really mean it!" Xiao Ze hurriedly said. He could hardly say that he knew the future plot, could he?

He could only brush it off as a feeling!

Hearing Xiao Ze's anxious explanation, Xiao Xun'er, who had turned away, raised the corners of her lips slightly.

Yet she still did not turn back. After hesitating for a moment, she asked, "...Really?"

"Absolutely. Ever since I was little, I've felt that my third brother was a dragon among men. Sooner or later, he'll become a True Dragon and soar through the heavens."

Hearing Xiao Ze speak with such certainty, Xiao Xun'er grew somewhat curious as well.

What was so special about Xiao Yan that she had failed to see, something worthy of Xiao Ze's trust?

But Xiao Ze clearly could not explain why. After all, it was merely his own feeling.

The two chatted back and forth without feeling awkward, both enjoying their time together.

Suddenly, two Xiao Family disciples hurried past in the distance, speaking rapidly.

"Quick, quick! Young Master Xiao Yan and Cousin Xiao Ning are fighting!"

"Really? Let's go take a look and see whether that genius has truly fallen!"

On the hillside, Xiao Ze abruptly sat upright. Seeing this, Xiao Xun'er asked from beside him.

"Xiao Ze, should we go take a look?"

"Of course!"

Xiao Ze answered, quickly rising to his feet and following the two toward the scene.

Xiao Xun'er smiled faintly and followed close behind.

After completing his test, Xiao Ning also left the plaza soon afterward.

But Xiao Yan's test result kept replaying in his mind: the fourth stage of Dou Qi!

Xiao Ning was several years older than Xiao Yan, but after Xiao Yan's powerful rise, his grandfather had often used Xiao Yan as an example to urge him to cultivate diligently.

Xiao Ning found that extremely hard to accept.

The resentment he had accumulated over a long time erupted completely when he happened to block Xiao Yan's path.

In the past, when facing Xiao Yan, a One Star Dou Practitioner, Xiao Ning had been meek and submissive.

Now, facing a mere fourth stage of Dou Qi Xiao Yan, Xiao Ning chose to strike hard!

Their fight quickly drew a crowd, even alarming the elders of the family.

By the time Xiao Zhan, the Patriarch, hurried over, the situation had already changed.

Xiao Yan lay sprawled on the ground, dusty and disheveled, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

Xiao Ning stood smugly nearby, looking pleased with himself.

Had Xiao Zhan not arrived, Xiao Ning would likely have mocked him a few more times.

Xiao Zhan frowned and was about to help Xiao Yan up when a voice rang out.

"Father, let me."

Only after seeing Xiao Ze help Xiao Yan to his feet did Xiao Zhan's expression ease slightly.

Xiao Ze examined Xiao Yan. His injuries were not serious. Though the two had clashed, they had still considered their shared clan ties.

Xiao Ning had not struck to kill either. He had stopped after knocking Xiao Yan to the ground.

"Xiao Ning, why did you strike Xiao Yan, a fellow member of the Xiao Clan, so heavily?"

Xiao Zhan demanded, suppressing his anger.

"Oh, Xiao Zhan, it was merely a spar between juniors. Why get angry?"

An aged voice suddenly spoke, and everyone present turned to look at the newcomer.

It was none other than the Great Elder, whose authority in the Xiao Family rivaled that of the Patriarch.

"A spar? Striking a fellow clansman so heavily during a spar? Great Elder, your skin is quite thick!"

Anger flashed across Xiao Zhan's face, but he remained composed.

Just now, he had seen the signal Xiao Ze gave him. Xiao Yan was not seriously hurt.

"Hehe, Xiao Ning simply didn't know any better. After all, he thought he was still facing the family's genius, Xiao Yan, a One Star Dou Practitioner, so naturally he had to go all out."

"Who would have thought that Xiao Ning's full-force attack would send Xiao Yan straight to the ground? It was an unintentional mistake. Besides, matters between the family's juniors are not something you and I should interfere with, right?"

The Great Elder mocked Xiao Yan both openly and subtly. Now that his strength had declined, his status was far inferior to what it had once been. He could not even compare to the Great Elder's grandson, Xiao Ning.

Just as Xiao Zhan was about to say something else, Xiao Yan's voice suddenly rang out.

"Father, I was simply inferior in this spar. I accept it."

Xiao Yan knew that if this matter dragged on, it would only become a dispute between the Patriarch and the Great Elder.

If it continued, the scene would only become more embarrassing!

It was better to let this farce end here, defining it as a spar between juniors rather than deliberate retaliation against a fallen genius.

"Yan'er..." Xiao Zhan understood Xiao Yan's intentions as well.

He was Xiao Yan's father, but he was also the Patriarch of the Xiao Clan!

"Since Xiao Yan, the person involved, has said so, then let this matter end here."

The Great Elder spoke first, settling the matter in one stroke.

"This is merely a matter between the family's juniors. There is no need for us to interfere. Isn't that right, Patriarch Xiao Zhan?"

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