Dou Qi Test

As Clan Leader Xiao Zhan's words fell, enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted from below, and the atmosphere became lively.

After all, they were all young people, full of hot blood and vigor. Stirred up by the Clan Leader's passionate speech, they were practically boiling with excitement.

Some of them even wished they could rush onto the stage right then and display their strength and talent before everyone.

To prove to others that they were the true successors who would shoulder the family's future and heavy responsibilities.

After the Clan Leader finished speaking, the middle-aged examiner stepped forward and pulled a scroll from his robes.

"I will now begin calling names. Those whose names are called, come up for the Dou Qi test. Everyone else, wait below."

As he spoke, he swept his gaze over the young men and women below and continued in an indifferent tone:

"Alright, first up, Xiao Luoyan."

Following the examiner's words, a very pretty little girl of around twelve or thirteen stepped out from the crowd.

Though she could not be called breathtakingly beautiful, she was clearly a beauty in the making. In the future, she would undoubtedly become a delicate and graceful young lady.

Her large, lively eyes moved now and then. Her lips were lightly pursed, while the upturned corners of her pretty face formed a lovely curve, making her seem brimming with confidence.

Not long after Xiao Luoyan placed her hand on the pitch-black testing monument, the stone tablet lit up with a dazzling radiance.

The examiner promptly announced, "Xiao Luoyan, Stage Five of Dou Qi. Alright, next is..."

As the testing continued, one Xiao Family member after another stepped onto the stage, then quickly stepped back down. The crowd below never stopped making noise.

When someone with considerable strength appeared, there would be cries of amazement. When someone weak took the stage, there would be waves of jeers and mockery.

As though doing so made them seem impressive.

Xiao Bai felt somewhat disdainful of their behavior, but he did not step forward to criticize them. It was not because he lacked courage, but because it was simply meaningless.

Such things were all too common. It was not something Xiao Bai could change merely by pointing it out.

After who knew how many tests, just as Xiao Bai was so bored that his eyes were about to close, he heard an even more uproarious wave of shocked voices from below. This piqued his interest somewhat, and he reluctantly opened his eyes to see who it was.

"Xiao Ning, Stage Seven of Dou Qi."

At this moment, even the examiner, who had remained stern and unsmiling throughout, revealed a faint smile—a smile reserved for geniuses.

The other elders in the stands hurriedly offered their congratulations to the Great Elder.

"Great Elder, for Xiao Ning to possess such strength at his age, he truly is a genius!"

"Exactly, Great Elder. You have really stolen the spotlight this time, having such an outstanding grandson."

"Yes, yes!"

The Great Elder was also all smiles, grinning so broadly that he could barely close his mouth.

Of course, at a time like this, he still had to put on a hypocritical show of modesty.

"Not at all, not at all. You are all overpraising him. Compared to the Clan Leader's son, who became a Dou Zhe at the age of twelve, my grandson is still far inferior."

Though he said that, the smile on his face only grew wider.

"Great Elder, what do you mean by that?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhan's rage nearly burst forth uncontrollably. The teacup in his hand was almost crushed to pieces.

"Uh, nothing, nothing. Hehehe..."

Seeing Xiao Zhan looking like a lion on the verge of flying into a rage, the Great Elder became somewhat uneasy and could only laugh awkwardly.

"Hmph!"

Xiao Zhan snorted coldly, expressing his displeasure, and ignored them no further.

The testing continued and did not stop because of the behavior of these powerful figures. The examiner called the next name.

"Next, Xiao Mei."

Hearing her name, Xiao Mei greeted Xiao Bai beside her before slowly walking forward.

"Xiao Mei, Stage Six of Dou Qi."

Under the admiring gazes of the clan members below, Xiao Mei hesitated for a moment. However, she did not return to Xiao Bai's side. Instead, she began chatting with several girls, her eyes carrying traces of pride and self-satisfaction.

Seeing this, the people around Xiao Bai looked at him with amused smiles. A few even openly began mocking him.

Yet Xiao Bai's expression did not change at all. His face remained as calm as ever, giving no hint of what he was thinking.

Once again, the examiner's voice drew everyone's attention over. The next person seemed even more interesting, and the entire venue fell silent, anticipating something entertaining.

"Next, Xiao Yan."

Sure enough, upon hearing that name, the people below widened their eyes, unwilling to miss even the slightest detail.

Xiao Yan was a prominent figure in the family. He had stepped into the Dou Zhe realm at the age of twelve, but afterward his strength had rapidly fallen back to Stage Three of Dou Qi. No one knew whether he had recovered his cultivation yet, and everyone was deeply curious.

The people below began speculating. If his strength still had not improved, then... hehehe!

Xiao Yan felt bitter inside. With his talent, things should never have turned out this way, but now...

"Ah..."

With a soft sigh, Xiao Yan stepped forward beneath the expectant gazes of the crowd. He ignored their strange looks; over the past year, he had grown used to them.

Reaching the platform, the youth did not hesitate. He placed his hand on the pitch-black, slightly chilly stone tablet and continuously channeled Dou Qi into it.

As Xiao Yan's Dou Qi entered it, the tablet gradually lit up. Unfortunately, its glow was noticeably dim.

Under Xiao Yan's agonized gaze, the examiner announced, "Xiao Yan, Stage Three of Dou Qi!"

The moment the examiner finished, Xiao Yan staggered and nearly fell to the ground.

Still like this? Why are you treating me this way? You damned heavens, how have I offended you for you to treat me like this?!

Xiao Yan roared madly within his heart, venting the injustice he felt inside.

"Ahahaha... Is this still the youngest genius of our Xiao Family? Stage Three of Dou Qi!"

"Don't provoke me. I'm a Stage Three of Dou Qi expert—you can't afford to offend me."

"Haha, brother, you're really funny. But Xiao Yan's impressive too. It's been a year, and he's still at Stage Three of Dou Qi. Admirable, truly admirable."

All kinds of mockery were no longer concealed. Some deliberately spoke loudly, as though afraid Xiao Yan would not hear them.

Such ridicule was, in truth, also meant to conceal their own inadequacy.

They had envied Xiao Yan's immense talent in the past, when they could only look up at him. But now he had fallen beneath them. It was truly satisfying.

For a moment, Xiao Yan seemed far more dejected. He left in a daze, his thin retreating figure looking especially lonely.

"What, you can't even accept this little setback? Then how do you expect to return to the high-spirited person you once were? Or have you forgotten what I told you?"

Just as he reached the very edge of the crowd and lifted his foot to leave, a voice abruptly stopped him in his tracks.