Riddles, But They Shock the Audience

As time passed bit by bit, the preliminary testing was already more than halfway complete.

Xiao Yan's side was peaceful and tranquil, but things were far from so relaxed for everyone else.

Fewer and fewer people on the field had yet to be called, and the atmosphere gradually shifted from its initial tension into dull monotony.

The reason was simple: among those aged fifteen to sixteen, there were only a handful in the entire Xiao Family who could reach the Seventh stage of Dou Qi.

People like Xiao Mei and Xiao Ning, whose cultivation had reached Eighth Stage Dou Qi, had long since become the family's chosen seeds and had no need to worry overly about the test results.

Thus, aside from the few who were close to the Seventh stage of Dou Qi and still had some suspense surrounding them, giving everyone something to watch, there was nothing noteworthy about the rest.

Most of them were like extras dragged in to fill the numbers, merely going through the motions. They had already privately arranged which family businesses they would be heading to and had begun familiarizing themselves with the work in advance.

After all, they knew the strength of their own Dou Qi better than anyone. What need was there for a testing stele?

In the stands, Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders sat at the very top, their expressions solemn as they stared unblinkingly at the stage.

They appeared extremely attentive, but a closer look revealed that their gazes did not move in the slightest with the people onstage.

Though Third Elder had a fiery temper, he was quite observant of the family rules. Even though he knew the approximate cultivation levels of those on this final list, he showed no impatience whatsoever.

His gaze was stern as his lips moved slightly. "Clan Leader, among those remaining on this list, only Young Master Xiao Yan should be able to pass, right? Why not place him on the second list and have him tested earlier? Why insist on putting him last?"

Xiao Zhan replied in the same posture, "Hehe, Third Elder, perhaps you have forgotten. Yan'er's result in the last test was not ideal, so it was only natural that he would be assigned to the final list."

Third Elder froze before recalling that although everyone already knew Xiao Yan had decisively defeated Xiao Ning, it had merely been a private spar and could not be counted toward the rankings.

In other words, Xiao Yan's place on the list was still that of the bottom-ranked student.

Last place.

Yet who would still dare to regard him as the worthless trash he used to be? Anyone who did would surely suffer the most ruthless crushing defeat.

Recalling how he had once mocked Xiao Yan, Third Elder's eyes showed a trace of guilt. He gave an awkward laugh. "Hehe. This time, Young Master Xiao Yan will surely reclaim the title of genius completely. Congratulations."

"Congratulations."

"Speaking of which, what is Young Master Xiao Yan's current cultivation?"

"This..." Xiao Zhan's gaze instinctively swept toward the black-haired youth at the very back of the crowd. With a complicated sigh, he said, "I don't know either. But with the talent Yan'er has displayed, it is indeed time for him to reclaim what he once lost."

The Seventh stage of Dou Qi should not be difficult for him, right?

The only thing worth wondering about was just how far his cultivation had progressed.

With that thought, Xiao Zhan lifted his teacup, gently blew on it, and savored its rich fragrance and bitterness.

As Xiao Zhan and Third Elder chatted, the long, tedious test finally neared its end.

"Xiao Sheng, Dou Qi, Fifth Stage. Failed!"

The tester's cold voice rang out, carrying a faint trace of boredom upon closer listening.

The weariness in everyone's hearts had also reached its peak. They all knew that only one person remained who could meet the family's standards.

Fortunately, after Xiao Sheng, it would be that person's turn.

"Xiao Yan!"

The tester called out the final name with visible relief. He was about to get off work.

The people on the field also sighed in relief. They could finally leave.

"Brother Xiao Yan, good luck!" Xun'er clenched her tiny pink fists, little stars sparkling in her eyes.

Hun Ruoruo remained calm, merely nodding lightly in encouragement.

Xiao Yan gave a faint chuckle and rose to his feet. His steps were slow and his bearing steady as he made his way toward the front of the stage, leaving behind only a resolute back.

One step, then two.

That figure made the crowd's listless gazes turn toward him—

He was walking far too slowly.

It was fine at first, but he became slower and slower. By the end, he was hardly any faster than a crawling turtle.

What did this mean? Was he feeling guilty?

A possibility surfaced in everyone's minds. Their previous impatience and boredom vanished completely as they stared fixedly at Xiao Yan.

He couldn't have failed to break through to the Seventh stage of Dou Qi, could he?

Seeing this, Xiao Zhan on the stage could not help breaking into a cold sweat for Xiao Yan. The doubt already in his heart rose straight to his throat.

"Yan'er... Don't let anything go wrong."

Fortunately, though the youth walked slowly, the testing stele was not far away, and he finally reached the front of the stage.

Amid the long, doubtful, and anxious stares, Xiao Yan slowly nodded to the tester, seeking his permission.

"Young Master Xiao Yan, you may begin." The tester's expression was cold, but his voice carried a hint of urgency.

At that, Xiao Yan spread open his palm and gently pressed it against the icy black stone stele.

The crowd could not help swallowing hard, their eyes burning with anticipation.

After the stele remained silent for a brief moment, it suddenly erupted with an incomparably intense, dazzling radiance.

Unlike the others' five characters, his had only four, yet their dazzling brilliance was enough to make everyone's hearts shudder violently.

"Dou Zhe, One Star!"

The entire venue fell deathly silent. People could not even breathe, their bodies stiff as though they were personally witnessing some fantastical, absurd spectacle.

At that moment, the tester beside him had long since lost his indifferent expression, replacing it with utter shock. His hands holding the test roster trembled nonstop as he stared fixedly at the golden-glowing stone stele, unable to force out the announcement hovering on his lips.

A Dou Zhe?!

Could the testing stone stele be broken?

Impossible. As the tester who had handled the Xiao Family's cultivation tests for years, he dealt with this testing stone stele every day and knew its construction inside and out.

Which meant Xiao Yan had truly taken just over half a year to rise directly from Fifth Stage Dou Qi to a Dou Zhe.

Two stages a month could barely be explained as a rebound from rock bottom, but what the hell was this?

The tester wore a pained expression, nearly ready to kneel before this Third Young Master who loved keeping people in suspense. You have this kind of strength, yet instead of coming straight up for the test, you had to dawdle your way here and put on an act like you were hesitating? Is there any need to mess with people's heads like this?

Everyone present could stay silent, but as the tester, he had to announce the result.

"Young Master Xiao Xiao Xiao Xiao Yan, Dou... Dou!" Bolstered by his excellent professional ethics, the tester finally tried to speak, utterly ruining those very ethics in the process.

"Dou Zhe, One Star. You're welcome."

A curve lifted at Xiao Yan's lips. With a flicker, he stepped off the platform, leaving the crowd to erupt into thunderous roars after their brief silence, leaving Xiao Zhan to crush the teacup in his hand and splash tea all over himself, leaving the Third Elder so shocked that his jaw dislocated as Dou Qi surged wildly through his body.

When it came to speaking in riddles, he would not keep people hanging forever.

Those two girls still had much to learn.