Ceremony Retest, Three Stars!

The Coming-of-Age Ceremony on the stage had progressed more than halfway before it was finally Xiao Yuan's turn.

At the call from the stage, pairs of curious and doubtful eyes shifted down from the VIP seats atop the platform. A major reason they had attended the Xiao Clan's Coming-of-Age Ceremony today was because of the Xiao Clan's two young masters.

Hearing the call, Xiao Yuan rose to his feet and calmly walked onto the stage beneath everyone's watchful gaze.

The host of the Coming-of-Age Ceremony was Second Elder Xiao Ying. Seeing Xiao Yuan take the stage, a smile appeared on his aged face.

"This is just how the procedure goes. Bear with it for a while."

After quietly giving Xiao Yuan a few instructions, Xiao Ying turned around, took several materials needed for the ceremony from behind him, then stopped before Xiao Yuan and began the tedious ritual.

Quite a few young women below the stage cast burning looks his way.

The Xiao Yuan of the past could only be considered a "pretty face."

But the Xiao Yuan of today was absolutely the ideal man of their dreams.

He had talent, looks, and status.

Of course, his status only counted for something in Wutan City. If he were placed in the Imperial Capital, Xiao Yuan's status would be far less impressive.

As for the entire continent, it was even less worth mentioning.

Among the many gazes, two were especially distinct. Without even turning around, Xiao Yuan knew who they belonged to.

One was Ya Fei, seated on the stage as a guest; the other was Xiao Yu below the stage, whose gaze burned with intensity.

As for Xiao Mei's gaze, Xiao Yuan had already ignored it.

After all, when it came to charm, Xiao Mei was utterly outclassed by Ya Fei.

Besides, ever since learning that Xiao Yuan could not cultivate, among the younger generation of the clan, aside from Xiao Yan, Xun Er, and the two older brothers who had gone out to make their way in the world, only Xiao Yu had continued treating Xiao Yuan as she always had.

As the saying went, a long road tested a horse's strength, and time revealed a person's heart.

No matter why Xiao Yu was willing to greet Xiao Yuan with a smile, he deeply appreciated the sentiment.

When Xiao Yu left for Jia Nan Academy last year, Xiao Yuan had specifically given her one thousand Gold Coins for travel expenses.

That had been no small sum for Xiao Yuan at the time, yet he had not hesitated in the slightest when giving it to her.

After all, young masters and ladies like Xiao Yuan and Xiao Yu only received twenty Gold Coins in monthly spending money from the Xiao Clan.

One thousand Gold Coins—even if they spent half and saved half—would take a full eight years to accumulate.

It was enough to buy more than two first-tier magic cores.

Xiao Yu was not exactly extravagant with money in her daily life, but she truly had not managed to save much either.

In Xiao Yu's eyes, those one thousand Gold Coins were an exceptionally weighty gesture.

If not for that, Xiao Yuan might have restored his talent another year or half a year earlier.

But Xiao Yuan did not regret it.

If he had truly regained his talent ahead of time, the news certainly could not have been kept under wraps.

What if Nalan Yanran had decided not to come and break off the engagement? Nalan Yanran was dissatisfied with Xiao Yuan, her unfamiliar "good-for-nothing" fiancé, while Xiao Yuan also disliked foolish women like Nalan Yanran, with their spoiled young lady temperament and habit of acting without considering the consequences.

But Xiao Yuan was calculating. He wanted Nalan Yanran to be the one to raise the matter, so that he could later go to the Nalan Residence with even greater strength and bearing to dissolve the engagement.

The relationship between the Xiao Clan and the Nalan Family had already vanished into thin air the moment Nalan Yanran set out from the Imperial Capital to break off the engagement.

A moment later, the cumbersome ceremony ended. Smelling the strange mixture of various spices on himself, Xiao Yuan frowned slightly.

Second Elder Xiao Ying, who had been busy for so long, was exhausted as well. After setting down the items in his hands, he turned and walked to the Testing Magic Stone Tablet, shouting, "Ceremony retest!"

At Second Elder's shout, the people below the stage, who had been somewhat bored, immediately perked up. Every gaze gathered upon the high platform.

In the VIP seats, people from various factions stared intently at the white-robed youth onstage. The purpose of their visit was to see whether this youth, who had been a good-for-nothing for fifteen years, had truly advanced to the Fighter rank within a single year.

Second Elder's gaze toward Xiao Yuan was equally fervent. He even wondered whether Xiao Yuan might have already broken through to a Three Star Fighter in these past few days! With a calm expression, Xiao Yuan stepped before the Magic Stone Tablet, raised his hand, pressed it against the stone tablet, and infused a wisp of Dou Qi into it.

"Brother Xiao Yan, do you think Brother Xiao Yuan might have already broken through to a Three Star Fighter?"

Below the stage, Xun Er asked with a smile.

"Third Brother's talent is remarkable, but breaking through one star in a month is probably still rather difficult. Still, I reckon that even if he cannot break through now, it should happen before long."

Xiao Yan pondered for a moment before replying thoughtfully.

"Three stars?"

Xiao Yu looked at Xiao Yuan in surprise.

She had cultivated Dou Qi so painstakingly for more than a decade, yet she was about to be caught up to by someone who had only cultivated for a year? He was truly amazing! Looking at Xiao Yuan's white-robed back, Xiao Yu could not help curling her lips into a smile.

In the VIP seats, Ya Fei, who already knew the result, wore a faint smile as she leaned against the back of her chair. Her full chest formed a breathtaking curve.

Buzz! The enormous Magic Stone Tablet on the wooden platform suddenly burst with light, and large golden characters appeared on its surface in a flourish.

Fighter, Three Stars!

At the sight, the entire venue fell completely silent. Quite a few people stared blankly.

In the VIP seats, teacups in many hands dropped to the floor with sharp, crisp clatters.

The representatives from Wutan City's various factions were all dumbfounded.

They had only come to confirm whether Xiao Yuan had truly, as the rumors claimed, gone from having no Dou Qi to becoming a Two Star Dou Zhe in a single year.

Yet what unfolded before them not only confirmed the rumor's authenticity, but even exceeded their expectations.

From no Dou Qi to a Three Star Fighter in one year? Such talent was truly terrifying.

Without question, the Xiao Clan's future was bright!

"At this rate of cultivation, perhaps the Xiao Clan may produce a Dou Wang-level expert within ten years."

The people in the VIP seats exchanged glances, and the same somewhat horrified thought flashed through all their minds.

What was even more terrifying was that, with the talent Xiao Yuan had displayed thus far, not only Dou Wang—even Dou Emperor and Dou Zong were entirely possible!

Across the entire Jia Ma Empire, Dou Emperors were exceedingly rare, while there were no Dou Zongs at all.

It seemed that in ten years, the Jia Ma Empire's three great clans might very well become four great clans! Feeling the envious gazes around him, Xiao Zhan could not help revealing a proud smile.

After all, he had more than one genius son! "Clan Leader Xiao, Young Master Xiao Yuan's talent is truly astounding. Your Xiao Clan will surely return to the Imperial Capital one day!"

Ya Fei congratulated him with a smile.

"Hehe, then I'll accept Miss Ya Fei's auspicious words. But after living in Wutan City all these years, we've grown used to it. Developing peacefully here would not be bad either."

Hearing Ya Fei's words, Xiao Zhan replied politely.

Ya Fei merely smiled without speaking.

Perhaps the Xiao Clan truly wished to continue developing in Wutan City, but the Xiao Clan's influence would certainly not remain confined to a tiny place like Wutan City in the future.

Come to think of it, the Xiao Clan's residence in the Imperial Capital seemed to be directly opposite the Nalan Residence. Should she find a way to help Xiao Yuan get it back?

One had to make things ceremonial. Even dissolving an engagement ought to pay attention to matching social standing. A ripple passed through Ya Fei's beautiful eyes as her thoughts drifted farther and farther away.