Testing (Request Collection, Request Recommendation)

In the blink of an eye, another three months had passed. The Xiao Clan's annual family test had arrived once more. A month after this test, Xiao Xie would turn sixteen.

Within the vast bluestone Training Ground stood several hundred youths, their chatter rising into the sky.

On the high platform to the left of the Training Ground sat some of the clan's inner members. At the center sat clan leader Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders.

In the arena, the youths awaiting judgment stood uneasily. Those who usually performed well did not appear particularly nervous, while those of average or poor talent wore expressions of panic and apprehension.

Xiao Zhan gazed solemnly at the clan members, each wearing a different expression. Then he looked at the confident Xiao Yan and thought, Yan'er, today is the day you clear your name.

Xiao Yan, who had been chatting and laughing with Xiao Xun'er, noticed Xiao Zhan's gaze and gave him a reassuring smile.

"This brat!" Xiao Zhan shook his head with a smile, then turned his gaze toward another figure—Xiao Xie, the foremost of the Xiao Clan's younger generation. During the last test, he had only been at Dou Qi Level 6, yet a few months ago, he had already defeated Xiao Ning, who possessed Eight Stage Dou Qi, in a single move. Even Xiao Zhan and the clan elders could not guess Xiao Xie's true strength now. Xiao Zhan sighed. "For such a genius to appear in the Xiao Clan, I wonder whether it is a blessing or a curse."

A clear space had been left around Xiao Xie. None of the surrounding boys dared stand beside him. He was simply too dazzling; standing next to him was no different from asking for humiliation. As for the girls, none dared stand at his side either, because any girl who did became a public enemy among the others. To stand beside Xiao Xie, one would have to be a peerless daughter of heaven, someone who could leave the girls who admired and worshipped him speechless. Otherwise, forget about getting near him.

Watching Xiao Yan laugh and chat with Xiao Xun'er, every boy in the arena revealed a hint of jealousy. In the Xiao Clan, the only person who could get so close to Xun'er was probably that famous good-for-nothing! If Xiao Xun'er had been standing with Xiao Xie, they could have accepted it. But why could Xiao Yan, that useless trash, win Xiao Xun'er's affection? That was what the boys all thought.

Once Xiao Zhan saw that all the Xiao Clan disciples had arrived, he rose to his feet. Looking around the now-silent Training Ground, he shouted in a deep voice, "You are the fresh blood of this clan, so you should understand how important today's test is to you. The rules are simple: those at the seventh stage of Dou Qi or above pass; those below it fail. However, according to the additional rules of previous years, after the test is complete, anyone below the seventh stage of Dou Qi has the right to challenge a companion at the seventh stage or above. If the challenger wins, they may also enter the qualified group!"

"Since everyone understands, the test shall begin!"

As Xiao Zhan's deep shout fell, the youths on the Training Ground immediately grew tense.

Beside the Black Stone Tablet, the cold-faced examiner stepped forward and took out a register from his robes. His icy voice made those whose names were called shudder all over.

Seated beside Xiao Yan, Xun'er wore a serene expression, as calm as drifting clouds, like a pristine green lotus untouched by dust. Her delicate hand played with a lock of silken hair, while her gaze occasionally swept over Xiao Yan and Xiao Xie, whom she had never been able to see through. This time, I'll have to see your true strength. Originally, Xiao Xun'er's guardian, the Dou Emperor Ling Ying, could have seen through Xiao Xie's cultivation, but Xiao Xie had stopped him. Things like this had to be uncovered slowly to be interesting. Spoiling everything at once would be no fun at all.

"Xiao Mei!"

The examiner's cold voice made Xiao Yan's brows twitch slightly, and his lowered eyelids lazily lifted as well.

Hearing the examiner call her name, a young girl quickly ran out from the crowd. The moment she appeared, the nearby discussions quieted considerably, and pairs of slightly heated eyes fixed firmly upon her face.

The girl was only around fourteen. Though she could not be considered devastatingly beautiful, her still-youthful face carried a faint charm. The contradictory blend of purity and allure successfully made her the center of attention throughout the arena.

The girl quickly stepped forward and, with practiced ease, placed her small hand on the pitch-black Magic Stone Tablet before slowly closing her eyes...

A moment after she closed her eyes, light once again shone from the black Magic Stone Tablet...

"Dou Qi: Eight Stages!"

"Xiao Mei, Dou Qi: Eight Stages! Grade: High!"

"Yay!" Hearing the result announced by the examiner, the girl's face broke into a proud smile...

"Tsk tsk, Eight Stage Dou Qi. That's incredible. At this rate, she'll probably only need two years at most to become a true Dou Zhe..."

"As expected of one of the clan's seed-level talents..."

Hearing the waves of envious voices from the crowd, the smile on the girl's face grew even wider. Vanity was a temptation many girls found impossible to resist...

As she chatted and laughed with several of her usual sisters, Xiao Mei's gaze fell upon the white-clad figure standing alone with his hands behind his back. Xiao Mei thought, Xiao Xie Older Cousin, did you see that? Mei'er has worked very hard.

Originally, Xiao Mei had only possessed the seventh stage of Dou Qi. But in order to shorten the distance between herself and Xiao Xie, even by the slightest bit, and to gain his attention, Xiao Mei had worked even harder than before. She wanted to prove that she was worthy of him.

Request Collection for the new book, request recommendations. This is the third update—readers, don't be stingy with the votes in your hands!