Detection

"Not bad. Breaking through three levels in one go." Sect Leader Tongtian praised him at the sight.

The Nine Revolutions Profound Technique was no ordinary body-refining method.

This technique had obvious flaws. The portion that converted energy containing the Dao rhythm of strength was severely incomplete, resulting in an extremely slow conversion rate, enormous consumption, and immense difficulty in cultivation. It was hailed as a method impossible to master even in a lifetime.

In his memory, there were only a handful of people who had cultivated the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique to great mastery.

A ray of light shot from Sect Leader Tongtian's finger and entered Xiao Peng's body.

Xiao Peng only felt a warm, gentle energy flow into him, spreading through his limbs and bones like spring rain nourishing the fields. The Mana that had been depleted by his consecutive breakthroughs was instantly replenished.

The soreness in his skin, flesh, tendons, and bones also quietly faded away. It was as though his entire body had been cleansed and tempered, leaving him refreshed and clear-minded.

Xiao Peng rose and gave Sect Leader Tongtian a deep bow, his eyes full of gratitude. "Thank you, Teacher."

Sect Leader Tongtian nodded slightly, a hint of deeper meaning in his dark pupils. "Your ability to break through three levels in a single day was certainly aided by enlightenment, but it was also because your will is resilient enough to keep your mind steady amid intense pain. However, the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique only becomes more difficult the further you go. Three levels are merely the beginning. Do not grow complacent because of this."

Xiao Peng answered solemnly, "This disciple understands. From now on, I will proceed steadily, step by step, and never greedily rush for results."

Sect Leader Tongtian looked at Xiao Peng. "All right. Prepare to take the assessment."

With a wave of his hand, Xiao Peng left the space.

"Damn, if only there were a cleaning spell."

Xiao Peng looked at his filthy self and found it rather troublesome.

Getting out of bed, Xiao Peng left his room and went to the bathroom for a bath.

"Brother Xiao Peng."

Just after finishing his bath, Xiao Peng heard Xiao Xun'er's voice outside.

Xiao Peng walked out of the bathroom while wiping his damp hair. He had changed into a clean blue linen robe, and his skin and flesh looked excellent after Body Tempering. His vigor and bearing were much more upright than before.

"Xun'er." Xiao Peng smiled as he went to meet her. "What brings you here?"

Xiao Xun'er blanked out for a moment when she saw Xiao Peng. She discovered that his skin was even better than hers, and she inexplicably felt a little envious.

At the same time, she noticed that Xiao Peng's temperament had become even more outstanding than before.

Xiao Xun'er came back to herself, shifted her gaze away with slightly flushed cheeks, and said, "The assessment is today. We should hurry."

Xiao Peng froze for a moment. He had not expected it to be time for the assessment already.

He had thought only a few hours had passed.

"Mm, let's go."

Over a hundred young men and women stood within the enormous bluestone training ground.

A massive testing Black Stone Tablet stood in the middle of the training ground. Only families with sufficient power were qualified to possess such testing tablets.

On the elevated platform to the left of the training ground sat several members of the family's inner circle. At the center were the clan leader, Xiao Zhan, and the three elders.

Xiao Peng and Xiao Xun'er found a corner to stand in and waited for the assessment to begin.

"Cousin."

Xiao Mei walked over at this moment and greeted Xiao Peng with a smile.

Xiao Peng looked up and saw Xiao Mei dressed in a goose-yellow gown, her face carrying a somewhat mischievous smile.

"Cousin Xiao Mei." Xiao Peng nodded in response.

Xiao Mei became a little embarrassed under Xiao Peng's gaze and teasingly said, "Cousin, you look so energetic today. Did you secretly practice some beauty-preserving technique? Even your skin is making me jealous."

Xiao Peng chuckled at that and raised a hand to touch his cheek. "Perhaps I've been cultivating properly lately, so my complexion has improved somewhat."

Xiao Mei looked at Xiao Xun'er and greeted her. "Hello, Cousin."

For some reason, Xiao Mei felt a little afraid whenever she looked at Xiao Xun'er.

Xiao Xun'er nodded slightly in response.

Xiao Xun'er said to Xiao Peng, "The ceremony is about to begin. The clan leader and the others are already in position."

Xiao Peng followed her gaze toward the platform. Xiao Zhan was speaking quietly with several elders.

The young men and women in the field also gradually fell silent, and the air filled with both tension and anticipation.

Xiao Peng noticed someone watching him. Following the gaze, he saw Xiao Ning.

Xiao Peng did not care about someone like him in the slightest.

People like Xiao Ning bullied the weak and feared the strong. As long as you were stronger than him, he would not dare come looking for trouble.

Second by second, time passed. Just as the coming-of-age ceremony was about to begin, Xiao Yan arrived at the training ground under everyone's watchful eyes.

"Just as expected of the king of last-minute arrivals."

Looking at Xiao Yan, who had arrived right on time, Xiao Peng muttered to himself in a voice only he could hear.

He had thought Xiao Yan only developed this habit later on. He had not expected it to show up this early.

Xiao Yan looked around, came over to Xiao Peng's group, and greeted them.

"Then, the assessment begins!"

After Xiao Zhan finished explaining the rules of the coming-of-age ceremony, the young men and women on the training ground immediately grew tense.

Beside the Black Stone Tablet, the cold-faced examiner stepped forward and pulled a roster from his robes. His icy voice made everyone whose name was called shudder.

When it was Xiao Mei's turn, Xiao Peng watched her curiously.

He remembered that Xiao Mei had been at the Dou Disciple Eighth Stage in the novel. After taking his pill, he wondered how far she had improved.

"Xiao Mei, Dou Disciple Ninth Stage."

Hearing Xiao Mei's level, Xiao Peng was somewhat surprised. He had not expected her to rise only to the Dou Disciple Ninth Stage.

He had previously thought Xiao Mei should be able to reach the Dou Disciple Ninth Stage.

Quite a few people looked at Xiao Mei with envy.

"Not bad, not bad."

Xiao Zhan and several elders could not help praising Xiao Mei's level.

With Xiao Mei's talent, she would at least become a pillar of the Xiao Family in the future. If properly nurtured, she might even become an important force of the Xiao Family.

After finishing the assessment, Xiao Mei came before Xiao Peng and thanked him. "Cousin, thank you. Without your pill, there was no way I could have reached the Dou Disciple Ninth Stage so quickly."

Xiao Peng waved his hand and smiled. "Your foundation is good. The pill merely added icing to the cake."

Seeing the joy in Xiao Mei's eyes, he was happy for her as well.

The assessment continued. One name after another was called, and light flickered across the Black Stone Tablet. There were pleasant surprises and disappointments alike.

Very soon, it was Xiao Peng's turn. Xiao Peng felt somewhat conflicted over what level of strength he should reveal.

Before long, Xiao Peng made his decision.

Xiao Peng walked before the Black Stone Tablet and placed his hand upon it.

"Xiao Peng, Seven-star Dou Practitioner..."

As the examiner announced Xiao Peng's level, the entire grounds fell silent.

There had never been a genius like Xiao Peng in all of Wu Tan City.

That genius of the Xiao Family had returned.

Everyone present silently thought the same thing.

When Xiao Peng had defeated a Five-star Dou Practitioner of the Misty Cloud Sect by himself, the entire Xiao Family had known that Xiao Peng's strength and talent had likely recovered.

Yet some still refused to believe it, thinking Xiao Peng had succeeded only because the other party had been unprepared and he had launched a sneak attack.

Now, this assessment confirmed that Xiao Peng had long since become a Dou Practitioner.

"Good, good, good!"

Xiao Zhan stared at the Black Stone Tablet and spoke with incomparable excitement.