Genius

Countless gazes converged on her, but Yan Lingji remained calm and composed. Chen Cheng, however, felt a slight pressure.

Chen Cheng's steps paused briefly. After a moment, he returned to normal. A confident smile appeared on his face as he avoided the gathered crowd and headed toward Chen Yuan's seat.

Because of Yan Lingji's appearance, everyone present, male or female, had their attention drawn to her. Even the testing had come to a halt.

After quite a while, Chen Guang was the first to snap out of it and hurriedly urged, "What are you all staring at? Continue the test."

Chen Guang's voice was exceptionally loud. Those who heard it were jolted awake, and once they came to their senses, all wore ashamed expressions.

A woman had actually made them lose their composure like this. Wouldn't people laugh their teeth off if word got out?

But Yan Lingji truly was beautiful. With a face capable of toppling nations, was it not perfectly normal for ordinary mortals to fall at the feet of such peerless beauty?

"Family Head, this..." Chen Ming rose to his feet, equally stunned as he looked at Chen Cheng and Yan Lingji approaching from afar.

Given his status, he had seen many beauties, but compared to Yan Lingji, all of them paled into insignificance.

Red Serpent from some time ago, and now this woman in red walking beside Chen Cheng—both were breathtaking beauties, and both shared an extraordinary relationship with Chen Cheng.

Chen Yuan watched Chen Cheng in the distance, his brows furrowed as he remained silent.

Chen Cheng stepped onto Chen Yuan's platform and bowed. "Greetings, Father. Greetings, Elders."

Only when Chen Cheng spoke did Chen Yuan come back to himself. He waved his hand and said, "Cheng'er, there is no need for such formality. Sit quickly."

There was an empty seat on the platform. Chen Cheng sat down and looked below, taking in every figure on the square at a glance.

For a brief moment, this lofty position at the pinnacle of power left Chen Cheng in a daze.

Everyone had taken their seats, and the testing on the square resumed.

"Chen Linna, two-star Dou Zhe."

Chen Guang loudly announced the realm displayed on the testing Magic Stone Tablet, ensuring everyone could hear it.

A two-star Dou Zhe. Those who had displayed exceptional talent during the earlier tests felt a tremendous sense of defeat upon seeing Chen Linna's cultivation.

All those participating in the test were under sixteen, yet others had already become Dou Zhe while they were still at the Dou Qi stage. Such a massive gap made them feel as though all their years of cultivation had gone to the dogs.

Was this the difference between the direct line and the branch lines? It truly was enormous.

"Chen Linna, you may step down." Chen Guang looked at Chen Linna without showing much satisfaction, nor did he rebuke her. He spoke in an even tone, as though such a result were entirely ordinary.

Chen Linna lowered her head and walked down from the Testing Platform with a dejected expression, returning to her seat.

"Nana, did you see those two who came over just now?" Her close friend, Chen Yunrou, did not mention Chen Linna's cultivation and instead changed the subject.

"Huh?" Chen Linna was indeed successfully distracted by Chen Yunrou. A blank look appeared on her face before she said, "I saw them. That girl is so pretty. I'm so jealous of her. And the Young Master beside her is really lucky. I wonder which family he belongs to."

"That should be the new Young Master. I saw him sit with the Family Head," Chen Yunrou explained, pointing toward Chen Yuan's seat.

"Young Master?" Chen Linna looked puzzled, then followed the direction of Chen Yunrou's finger. Sure enough, she saw Chen Cheng speaking with Chen Yuan, while Yan Lingji, whom she had praised so highly earlier, stood behind Chen Cheng as his attendant.

At the Family Head's seat, Chen Yuan turned his head and fussed over Chen Cheng with concern. They had only been apart for a few days, yet it felt as though years had passed.

"Father, I am well in every regard. It is only that I overslept today and missed the time for the clan gathering. Please punish me, Father," Chen Cheng admitted his mistake.

He knew full well that, given his current standing in Chen Yuan's heart, Chen Yuan could not possibly punish him. He was merely going through the motions to leave a good impression on others.

"It is no matter. You have already passed the age to participate in the clan gathering, so there is no need to force yourself. It is enough that you were willing to come," Chen Yuan said calmly.

Chen Yuan had always detested those who broke the rules, but Chen Cheng held an extraordinary place in his heart, so naturally he could not bear to reprimand him.

Chen Yang and Chen Ming, who shared the platform with them, saw Chen Cheng take the initiative to admit his mistake. Their assessment of him rose another level. Daring to acknowledge one's mistakes was truly a fine quality.

Chen Yuan glanced at Yan Lingji, who stood behind Chen Cheng.

Chen Yuan could see through Yan Lingji's cultivation as a Nine-Star Great Dou Shi at a glance. She did not appear much older than Chen Cheng, yet she possessed such strength.

She was beautiful and highly talented. Chen Yuan was quite satisfied that such a person was by Chen Cheng's side.

"And this is?" Chen Yuan asked.

"Father, her name is Yan Lingji. She is my concubine," Chen Cheng replied, lowering his head to sip his tea with a faint smile at the corner of his lips.

"My concubine?" Chen Yuan's heart filled with confusion.

This relationship was truly unexpected.

"Very good. You must not let her down," Chen Yuan said with a satisfied nod, giving Chen Cheng his instructions.

"Someone, bring a seat," Chen Yuan ordered the servants.

Upon receiving Chen Yuan's command, a servant immediately brought over a chair and placed it beside Chen Cheng.

"Thank you, Father," Chen Cheng said. Yan Lingji also dipped into a respectful bow. Then, at Chen Cheng's urging, she sat beside him.

"By the way, Cheng'er, you only began cultivating a few days ago. Yet I can now sense faint energy fluctuations from you. It seems you have already entered the path of cultivation and reached the first stage of Dou Qi, have you not?" Chen Yuan observed Chen Cheng as he spoke.

"Haha, the Young Master's talent is truly remarkable. Starting cultivation at this age means he has long missed the best period for cultivation, yet he was still able to sense Dou Qi in such a short time. Such talent truly puts me to shame," Chen Yang said with a hearty laugh after hearing Chen Yuan's words.

"Elder Chen Yang overpraises me. This boy's insignificant abilities are hardly worth mentioning," Chen Cheng replied to Chen Yang with feigned humility.

"However, since the clan gathering is being held today, the timing could not be better. If Father wishes to verify your son's cultivation, we may as well test it now." Chen Cheng spoke calmly, his words brimming with confidence.

With his status, there was no need for him to hide anything. The greater the talent he displayed, the more highly Chen Yuan and the rest of the Chen Family would regard him.

"Good. Since Cheng'er is so confident, then let us give it a try." Seeing the confidence on Chen Cheng's face, Chen Yuan became even more certain that Chen Cheng had truly cultivated Dou Qi in such a short time.

Chen Yuan had long intended to introduce Chen Cheng to the entire clan, but he had never found the right opportunity. And now, wasn't Chen Cheng's talent the perfect chance for him to make a name for himself throughout the Chen Family?

The testing on the square continued.

But it was the test results of the Chen Family's direct descendants that truly shocked everyone.

With the support of the Murong Family, the Chen Family never had to worry about money. Moreover, the Chen Family held absolute authority in Yanling County. Using the resources of an entire county to support a single family allowed every Chen Family descendant's potential to be developed to the fullest.

Basically, everyone over the age of fourteen could reach the Dou Zhe realm. A select few with exceptionally high talent could even reach the Dou Shi realm.

"Next, Chen Yunrou." Chen Guang continued reading from the list.

At that moment, where Chen Linna and Chen Yunrou stood below the platform, Chen Linna softly comforted Chen Yunrou.

"Xiao Rou, don't be afraid. I'm only a two-star Dou Zhe myself. No matter what happens, I'll be right here with you." Chen Linna enthusiastically encouraged her close friend.

"Mm, Nana, I know. But my star rating is still one star lower than yours," Chen Yunrou said softly. Yet there was not the slightest trace of worry on her face.

"You're only one-star?" Chen Linna looked utterly unconvinced. Then she returned to normal, patted Chen Yunrou on the shoulder, and consoled her, "It's fine. You have to take the test sooner or later, and aren't I here with you?"

Chen Yunrou nodded, then walked onto the Testing Platform. The moment she stepped up, the playful look she had worn below the platform vanished from her eyes. She focused, gathering her dou qi in her right palm before pressing it against the Magic Stone Tablet.

Slowly, four large golden words appeared on the Magic Stone Tablet.

"One-Star Dou Shi!"