Prediction

During the days that followed, Xiao Chen no longer went to the Mountain Cave in the Xiao Family Back Mountain to cultivate. Instead, he cultivated in his own courtyard room. At night, he practiced techniques such as the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength, the Azure Sky Dragon Transformation Art, and the Dragon Phoenix True Scripture. During the day, he spent time with Xun'er and visited Ya Fei at the Mittel Auction House.

As for Xian Er, she was still refining that bottle of Divine Fox Essence Blood. Meng Er, meanwhile, cultivated under Xiao Chen's guidance, and time slowly passed amid their training.

One month before the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, everyone had to take a preliminary test. Its purpose was naturally to eliminate those whose Dou Qi had failed to meet the standard. Clan members who had reached Seven Stages of Dou Qi or above would, after the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, gain the qualifications to enter the Dou Qi Pavilion and search for cultivation techniques.

Those below the seventh stage, however, would lose that right. Once the Coming-of-Age Ceremony was over, they would be assigned to the various industries of the clan. Unless they displayed exceptional performance in the future or caught up to the other outstanding clan members in cultivation speed, it would be difficult for them to become members of the inner clan again...

Early in the morning, the sun slowly rose. As the first ray of dawn pierced through the thin mist, another warm morning arrived, and gentle sunlight streamed through the window into the room.

By then, Xiao Chen had already brought Meng Er and Xun'er to the Xiao Family Training Ground. Today was also the day of the preliminary test.

More than a hundred young men and women stood within the enormous Xiao Family Training Ground, their noisy chatter soaring into the sky.

The expressions on the faces of the youths varied greatly, because today's test would determine the course of their future lives.

A massive Testing Black Stone Tablet stood in the training ground. Only powerful clans were qualified to equip themselves with such testing tablets, as they were extremely valuable. Beside the black stone tablet stood the same examiner from a year ago.

On the high platform to the left of the training ground sat several members of the clan's inner circle. At the center were Clan Leader Xiao Zhan and the three elders.

At the edge of the square, Xiao Chen, Meng Er, and Xun'er stood in a corner watching the scene. Naturally, Xiao Chen had no worries about failing the test.

"Eh? Why hasn't Cousin Xiao Yan arrived yet?"

Suddenly, Xiao Xun'er, standing beside Xiao Chen, looked around with her beautiful eyes and softly exclaimed.

"Hasn't it started yet? Besides, Little Yan definitely won't miss something this important."

After hearing Xiao Xun'er's words, Xiao Chen swept his gaze around as well but did not spot Xiao Yan. Still, he did not believe Xiao Yan would fail to show up.

Moreover, with Yao Lao's help, reaching Seven Stages of Dou Qi should not be difficult for Xiao Yan.

On the high platform, the Second Elder, seated beside Xiao Zhan, said mockingly, "Clan Leader, the test is about to begin. Is Xiao Yan planning not to come?"

Hearing this, Xiao Zhan glanced at the Second Elder, then turned his gaze toward Xiao Chen's location and said calmly, "Isn't he here now?"

At that moment, another figure appeared beside Xiao Chen.

"Brother Chen."

The owner of that figure was Xiao Yan. Walking to Xiao Chen's side, Xiao Yan smiled as he spoke.

Xiao Chen merely smiled and nodded, then began chatting with Xiao Yan.

After a while, Xiao Zhan, standing on the high platform, swept his gaze over the people in the square. Seeing that everyone had arrived, he rose to his feet and shouted in a solemn voice, "You are all the fresh blood of the clan, so you should understand how important today's test is to you. The rules are simple: Seven Stages of Dou Qi and above count as qualified; anything below that is unqualified. However, according to the additional rule from past years, after the test is complete, those below Seven Stages of Dou Qi have the right to issue one challenge to a companion above the seventh stage. If the challenger wins, they may also enter the qualified group!"

"Since everyone understands, let the test begin!"

As Xiao Zhan's deep shout fell, the atmosphere among the young men and women in the training ground immediately grew tense.

Beside the black stone tablet, the indifferent examiner stepped forward, pulled a roster from his robes, and began calling names for the test.

Those in the square who had not reached Seven Stages of Dou Qi looked extremely grim, while those who had reached the seventh stage wore broad smiles. So long as they passed the test, they could go to the Dou Qi Pavilion and choose cultivation techniques.

Watching those who stepped up for testing, Xiao Chen sighed inwardly. The Dou Qi Continent had always been a world where the strong preyed upon the weak. Even in this tiny Wutan City, the Xiao Family possessed pitifully few resources. The clan could not waste resources raising mediocrities.

At Xiao Chen's side, Xun'er wore a calm, elegant expression, like an immaculate green lotus untouched by dust. She idly played with a strand of black hair while talking with Xiao Chen. Meng Er stood behind him, while Xiao Yan sat off to one side.

"Xiao Mei!"

At the examiner's icy call, Xiao Yan, who was seated nearby, frowned and turned his gaze toward the testing platform.

"Heh, back then, she used to cling tightly to me, her Brother Xiao Yan..." Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes as he watched the red-clad girl calmly step forward, chuckling faintly.

Indeed, three years ago, when Xiao Yan had still been a genius, Xiao Mei had taken an interest in him. But three years later, the situation had completely reversed.

"Little Yan, I'm curious what attitude she'll take toward you after today."

Seeing the unusual expression on Xiao Yan's young face, Xiao Chen chuckled.

"Heh. Some things, once lost, can never be recovered."

Hearing Xiao Chen's words, Xiao Yan remained expressionless. His eyes did not ripple in the slightest as he spoke in an indifferent voice.

Xiao Chen nodded at that.

Beside Xiao Chen, Xiao Xun'er's jade-like hand, which he had been holding, involuntarily tightened a little more. Sensing the change in her grip, Xiao Chen turned his dark eyes toward her. A gentle smile rested on his handsome face as he stretched out his fair, slender arm and affectionately rubbed her little head.

The moment Xiao Xun'er saw the smile on Xiao Chen's face, she understood.

Behind Xiao Chen, Meng Er stood slender and graceful. As her beautiful eyes took in Xiao Chen and Xiao Xun'er's intimate gesture, a flash of purple light surfaced deep within them, only to vanish in an instant.

In the distance, Xiao Ning watched Xiao Chen's affectionate behavior toward Xun'er, and his face twitched. The flames of jealousy in his heart made him want nothing more than to rush over and stomp hard on Xiao Chen's handsome face. But he could not defeat Xiao Chen, so the thought merely lingered in his mind.

Dou Zhi Li: Eight Stages!

A powerful light burst forth from the black stone tablet, and large, neat characters floated on its surface.

"Xiao Mei: Dou Zhi Li, Eight Stages. High grade!"

The indifferent examiner glanced at the black stone tablet, gave a slight nod, and announced the result in a deep voice.

Hearing the examiner's words, Xiao Mei let out a breath of relief. Then pride rose onto her pretty face. In one year's time, she had advanced from the seventh stage to the eighth. Such progress was enough to rank her among the top five in the clan. At once, she descended from the testing platform with light, graceful steps.

After Xiao Mei's little peak, only one out of the next dozen or so participants reached Seven Stages of Dou Qi. The rest were all eliminated.

"Next, Xiao Xun'er."