Coming-of-Age Ceremony Interlude, 5K Chapter

The spacious Martial Arts Arena was already packed with people.

The other two great families of Wutan City, the Jia Lie Family and the Ao Ba Family, had both sent their clan leaders in person. They sat in the guest seats with complicated expressions.

Xiao Family Clan Leader Xiao Zhan stood at the entrance, his face glowing with delight as he personally welcomed guests from every direction. The smile on his face had barely faded, yet a trace of nervousness remained hidden deep in his eyes.

Just then, a faint commotion arose from the end of the street.

A luxurious carriage slowly approached, surrounded by guards from the Miter Auction House.

The carriage came to a stop, and its door opened.

The first person to catch everyone's eye was Ya Fei, dressed in a blazing red gown. Her alluring figure drew the entire crowd's attention the moment she appeared.

Yet she was not today's main attraction.

Ya Fei respectfully stepped aside, raised her hand, and lifted the carriage curtain.

A young man in black robes slowly stepped out of the carriage.

It was Xuan Jin.

His expression was calm, as though none of the surrounding noise had anything to do with him.

Behind him followed a young girl dressed in a pale white gown. Her brilliant silver hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her fresh, ethereal beauty stood apart from the ordinary. Her grayish-purple eyes held a touch of curiosity as she looked around.

It was Xiao Yi Xian.

(Because she had begun cultivating, her hair had turned white.)

The appearance of the three instantly silenced the entire Martial Arts Arena.

Everyone's attention focused on the black-robed young man.

So this was the legendary Master Xuan?

He was far too young!

Xiao Zhan's heart jolted. He hurried forward, lowering his posture considerably, his face covered in a humble smile.

"Young Master Xuan, your arrival truly brings great honor to my Xiao Family!"

Xuan Jin nodded, taking it as a response.

If it had been anyone else, Xiao Zhan might have found such an attitude excessively arrogant.

But before a Sixth Grade Alchemist, he felt it was only natural.

"Young Master Xuan, Elder Ya Fei, and this young lady, please take your seats!"

Xiao Zhan warmly led the three toward the most honored guest seats in the Martial Arts Arena.

After taking his seat, Xuan Jin casually swept his gaze over the arena.

His eyes eventually paused at a corner of the guest seats.

There, a girl in a pale purple dress sat quietly.

She possessed an ethereal bearing and peerless beauty.

It was Xiao Xun'er.

Sensing Xuan Jin's gaze, Xiao Xun'er slowly lifted her head and met his eyes. Then, neither servile nor overbearing, she gave a slight nod in greeting.

Xuan Jin withdrew his gaze as well.

Interesting.

Meanwhile, in the waiting area on the other side of the Martial Arts Arena.

A young man in fitted black clothes clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning pale from the force.

He stared at the black-robed figure surrounded by people in the guest seats, his heart churning violently.

It was Xiao Yan.

He had come.

A powerful impulse made Xiao Yan want to rush over immediately.

But he ultimately held himself back.

He knew that he was not qualified to do so yet.

At that moment, the Great Elder overseeing the Coming of Age Ceremony stepped onto the raised platform in the center of the Martial Arts Arena. His booming voice resounded throughout the grounds.

"The auspicious hour has arrived!"

"The Xiao Family Coming-of-Age Ceremony testing now begins!"

At the Great Elder's command, the atmosphere in the Martial Arts Arena was instantly ignited.

"Xiao Family descendant Xiao Ke, step forward for testing!"

A young man nervously stepped onto the platform and pressed his palm against the black Testing Stele.

The stele lit up.

"Dou Qi, Seventh Stage! Excellent!"

Applause broke out below the platform, and the young man stepped down with a sigh of relief.

The tests proceeded in an orderly manner. Most of the Xiao Family descendants who took the stage were between the Fifth and Seventh Stages.

"Next, Xiao Mei!"

A small commotion arose among the crowd at the mention of this name.

Xiao Mei walked gracefully onto the platform. She had dressed up carefully today, her figure slender and graceful, a confident smile on her face.

She gently pressed her palm against the stele and urged her Dou Qi with all her strength.

The stele shone brilliantly!

"Dou Qi, Eighth Stage! Excellent!"

"Wow!"

The entire arena erupted into enthusiastic applause and cries of amazement.

Eighth Stage Dou Qi was absolutely outstanding among the younger generation.

Xiao Mei basked in everyone's attention. She instinctively glanced toward the guest seats, hoping to catch Young Master Xuan's eye.

Then, her gaze shifted toward Xiao Yan in the waiting area, and a proud curve appeared at the corner of her lips.

"Next, Xiao Ning!"

Xiao Ning strode onto the stage. He glanced at Xiao Mei, competition evident on his face.

He slapped his palm against the Testing Stele as well.

The light was even brighter than Xiao Mei's had been.

"Dou Qi, Eighth Stage! Excellent!"

Another Eighth Stage!

The atmosphere grew even more heated.

Xiao Ning smugly swept his gaze across the crowd before fixing his provocative stare on Xiao Yan.

In the guest seats, Ya Fei leaned close to Xuan Jin's ear, her breath fragrant.

"Young Master, the Xiao Family's younger generation is rather impressive."

Xuan Jin neither agreed nor disagreed. He merely lifted his teacup and gently blew across its surface.

He had not the slightest interest in juniors who had not even become Dou Zhe.

Just then, the Great Elder's voice rang out again. This time, his tone carried obvious excitement and pride.

"Next, Xiao Xun'er!"

The entire arena fell silent at once.

Everyone's eyes focused on the pale purple figure.

Xiao Xun'er moved with lotus-like steps as she slowly ascended the platform. The moment she appeared, it seemed as though she alone had stolen all the brilliance from the entire Martial Arts Arena.

She reached the Testing Stele, extended her jade-like hand, and gently pressed it against the surface.

Buzz!

The stele suddenly trembled. Dazzling golden light shot into the sky, more radiant and eye-catching than anyone before her!

The characters on the stele changed rapidly before finally settling.

"Dou Zhe, One Star!"

After a brief silence came cries of shock as overwhelming as crashing waves!

"Heavens! A Dou Zhe! She's a Dou Zhe!"

"A fifteen-year-old Dou Zhe! How many years has it been since Wutan City produced a genius like this?"

Xiao Zhan trembled with excitement and abruptly rose from his chair, his face filled with wild joy.

The clan leaders of the Jia Lie Family and Ao Ba Family, meanwhile, wore expressions of shock and envy.

Even Xuan Jin set down his teacup and looked at Xiao Xun'er twice more.

Xiao Xun'er had definitely concealed her true strength.

Under the stunned gazes of the entire arena, Xiao Xun'er calmly stepped down and returned to her seat.

With the final star genius making her appearance, the atmosphere reached its peak.

The Great Elder took a deep breath, calmed his excited emotions, and read out the final name.

"The last one, Xiao Yan!"

The moment that name was spoken, the commotion in the arena strangely subsided once more.

Countless complicated gazes turned in unison toward the black-clothed young man in the corner.

The former genius, now a useless cripple.

Today was his final chance to prove himself.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Xiao Yan slowly stepped forward. His pace was not fast, but it was exceptionally steady.

He climbed onto the platform, arrived before the Testing Stele, drew a deep breath, and heavily pressed his palm against it.

Everyone held their breath.

Buzz!

The stele lit up. Though its glow was not as dazzling as Xiao Xun'er's, it was steady and bright.

A line of large characters clearly emerged.

"Dou Qi, Eighth Stage!"

"What?"

"Eighth Stage? Am I seeing things?"

"In one year, he rose from the Fourth Stage to the Eighth Stage? How is that possible?!"

The people below the stage completely exploded, their voices filled with disbelief.

The Great Elder rubbed his eyes. After confirming that he had not seen wrongly, he too stood there blankly.

Xiao Ning and Xiao Mei looked as if they had seen a ghost, the smugness and pride on their faces instantly freezing.

"Impossible!"

Xiao Ning abruptly leaped up from his seat, pointed at Xiao Yan on the stage, and shouted.

"You must have cheated! You used pills to force your way up, didn't you?!"

He refused to believe that the useless cripple he had trampled beneath his feet for three years had caught up again.

Xiao Ning rushed onto the platform and blocked Xiao Yan's path.

"Great Elder, I request to challenge Xiao Yan!"

"If you've got the guts, fight me! Let me see just how much substance your Eighth Stage Dou Qi really has!"

This sudden development stunned everyone.

In the guest seats, Ya Fei looked toward Xuan Jin.

"Young Master, should we..."

Xuan Jin raised a hand, signaling her not to say more. Instead, a playful smile curled across his lips.

"No rush. Let's watch the show."

The Great Elder turned his gaze toward Xiao Yan. "Xiao Yan, do you accept the challenge?"

Faced with Xiao Ning's provocation, Xiao Yan showed no unnecessary expression.

He merely looked at him calmly and slowly uttered one word.

"Fight."

"Good! Take this!"

Xiao Ning's heavy, powerful punch, carrying a fierce gust of wind, shot straight toward Xiao Yan's chest.

After a brief silence in the Martial Arts Arena, everyone's breathing tightened.

Xiao Yan stood where he was. His body swayed slightly, evading Xiao Ning's fist, while he simultaneously turned and drove a straight punch toward Xiao Ning's waist.

The punch was fast and precise, without any unnecessary flair.

Xiao Ning had not expected Xiao Yan's speed to be so swift. In his haste, he could only raise an arm to block.

Thud!

Fist and arm collided with a dull impact.

Xiao Ning's arm went numb, and he staggered back half a step. He nearly lost his footing, surprise flashing across his face.

"What strength!"

He let out a low roar, ignored the soreness in his arm, and charged forward again.

Xiao Ning had also put considerable effort into his martial arts training. He was agile, his fists flew like the wind, and his moves were broad and forceful, carrying a fierce brutality.

Xiao Yan was different. His movements appeared ordinary, yet every punch and every kick was precise to the extreme.

His body had been tempered beneath a waterfall for half a year. His muscles and bones were far tougher than Xiao Ning's.

Xiao Yan evaded Xiao Ning's attacks, and whenever he counterattacked, he made Xiao Ning feel miserable.

The two exchanged blows, fists and kicks colliding as gusts of wind rose around them.

Though Xiao Ning's offensive was fierce, he could never break through Xiao Yan's defenses.

Instead, whenever Xiao Yan caught an opening, he could strike back, forcing Xiao Ning to defend passively.

Gradually, Xiao Ning's breathing grew heavy. His punches slowed, and a fine layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Xiao Yan, on the other hand, was also drenched in sweat, but his breathing remained steady, and every move retained the same force as before.

"Xiao Ning is going to lose!"

Below the stage, people whispered in low voices, their tones carrying unmasked surprise.

Xiao Xun'er watched the combat on the Martial Arts Arena and nodded gently. Brother Xiao Yan's bitter cultivation over the past half year had yielded obvious results.

In the VIP seats, Xuan Jin's teacup swayed gently; he did not comment, only watching quietly.

"Stone Shattering Palm!"

Unable to secure victory through prolonged attacks, Xiao Ning's patience gradually ran dry.

He suddenly roared ferociously, Dou Qi condensing in his palm. A layer of thin, pale-yellow light covered his hand as he slapped toward Xiao Yan's shoulder.

Xiao Yan neither dodged nor evaded, letting out a low shout of his own.

"Stone Shattering Palm!"

Stone Shattering Palm, a Yellow Tier Low-Grade Dou Technique.

It was a foundational Dou Technique from the Xiao Family Dou Technique Pavilion, open to clan members at the Third Stage of Dou Qi and above, and practiced by almost all young members of the Xiao Family.

Dou Qi light similarly lit up on Xiao Yan's palm, yet it carried a trace of heaviness.

The two palms collided, producing a crisp crashing sound.

"Crack!"

With a harsh screech of grinding bone, Xiao Ning staggered back several steps, the web of his right hand splitting open as blood slowly seeped out.

He stared at Xiao Yan in disbelief, his entire body trembling.

Xiao Yan's Stone Shattering Palm was actually this much stronger than his!

Xiao Ning's self-esteem suffered a massive blow.

He could not accept that he, an Eighth Stage Dou Qi genius of the family who bitterly practiced Dou Techniques, would be forced into such a state by a former "good-for-nothing."

A strong sense of humiliation rushed into his heart.

A vicious glint flashed in Xiao Ning's eyes, and he swiftly reached toward his waist.

With a stealthy grip of his hand, a deep red medicinal pill was silently swallowed into his mouth.

All of this happened in the flash of a flint; apart from a few powerful individuals who had consistently kept their eyes on him, almost no one noticed.

The pill melted upon contact with his mouth, and a warm current instantly surged through Xiao Ning's entire body.

His somewhat withered Dou Qi abruptly became full and abundant, growing even stronger than before.

Xiao Ning's complexion flushed red, and he felt filled with strength. His whole body trembled from this sudden influx of power.

He let out a loud roar and charged at Xiao Yan once more.

"Mountain Splitting Palm!"

This time, the momentum of the Mountain Splitting Palm far surpassed the previous one.

Mountain Splitting Palm, a Yellow Tier Mid-Grade Dou Technique, was the "primary practical combat Dou Technique" for the young members of the Xiao Family.

Palm winds howled, carrying a fierce sense of oppression. The entire palm was covered in a layer of rich yellow Dou Qi, faintly holding a hint of sharpness.

Feeling the oncoming pressure, Xiao Yan's heart sank.

He did not know what Xiao Ning had eaten, but he knew the opponent's strength was at least half as strong again as before!

Without time to think, Xiao Yan gathered all the Dou Qi within his body into his arms, crossing them in front of his chest to stubbornly block this palm strike.

"Bang!"

It was like a hammer striking a bronze bell.

Xiao Yan only felt a huge force assault him, his arms instantly losing all sensation. His body flew backward out of control, smashing heavily onto the edge of the Martial Arts Arena.

He struggled to stand up, only to find his arms numb and unable to muster the slightest bit of strength.

The Qi and blood inside his body surged turbulently. A sweetness rose in his throat, and a mouthful of fresh blood welled up.

Brother Xiao Yan!

Xiao Xun'er could not help crying out in alarm. She stood up, a trace of worry revealing itself on her delicate, pretty face.

On the Martial Arts Arena, Xiao Ning withdrew his palm and panted heavily.

Although he had won, the expression on his face was not good, carrying a trace of unnatural flushing.

"Hmph, a good-for-nothing is still a good-for-nothing!" His voice was hoarse as he forced out a display of disdain for Xiao Yan.

Below the stage, Xiao Zhan's complexion was ashen.

He had seen Xiao Ning's action of taking the pill.

The Second-Grade Pill Qi-Boosting Powder—although it temporarily boosted Dou Qi, such an action was an absolute violation and cheating behavior during the matches of the Coming of Age Ceremony!

"Xiao Ning! You!"

Unable to contain his fury, Xiao Zhan was about to erupt.

The Great Elder suddenly stepped forward, his aged face written full of rage.

He had clearly seen the pill Xiao Ning had swallowed just then; as an elder statesman of the Xiao Family, he was far too familiar with such tricks.

"Xiao Ning is cheating!"

The Great Elder's voice exploded on the Martial Arts Arena like a thunderclap.

The entire crowd instantly erupted into an uproar!

Cheating?

What did this mean?

Everyone's gazes converged uniformly on Xiao Ning.

Xiao Ning's expression changed drastically, his body swaying slightly. He wanted to deny it, but his mouth opened and closed without being able to squeeze out a single word.

Ya Fei sat poised in the VIP seats. She gently set down the teacup in her hand, producing a light clink.

Her rosy fingernails tapped against the rim of the cup, making a rhythmic sound as if she were doing it casually.

"Oh? Second-grade Qi-Boosting Powder. For practitioners at the Dou Qi stage, this kind of pill provides a momentary boost in combat power that is truly immediate."

Ya Fei's voice was not loud, yet it clearly entered the ears of everyone present.

Especially the several family elders present; in their hearts, they understood clearly that Ya Fei was providing "professional corroboration" for the Great Elder's words.

Xiao Ning's complexion instantly turned pale white.

"I... I didn't!" He was still struggling.

"Audacious!" Xiao Zhan shouted fiercely. "Today is the Xiao Family Coming-of-Age Ceremony, and the three major families of Wutan City are all present. How can you be allowed to spout nonsense?"

He turned to the Great Elder.

"Great Elder, deal with this according to the rules!"

The Great Elder's expression was heavy as he walked up in front of Xiao Ning and said in a deep voice:

"Xiao Ning, you openly cheated at the Coming-of-Age Ceremony. This action has severely violated the clan rules!"

He swept his gaze in a circle, his voice ringing loud and clear.

"I announce that for this match, Xiao Ning is judged to have lost!"

"Furthermore, you are sentenced to three months of confinement in the back mountain. During this period, you are forbidden from using any Dou Techniques and are not allowed to leave the Xiao Family grounds for even half a step!"

This punishment could hardly be considered light.

Three months of confinement was practically the greatest blow to a prideful youth.

Xiao Ning's body stiffened. He stared blankly at Xiao Zhan and the Great Elder, unable to utter a single word.

Below the stage, Xiao Yan struggled to stand up, blood still staining the corner of his mouth.

He looked at Xiao Ning's dejected appearance. Instead of the joy of victory, a complex emotion welled up in his heart.

If he were just a bit stronger, even if the other party took a Second-Grade Pill, he wouldn't have lost!

Xiao Yan's gaze looked toward the direction of the VIP seats, where Xuan Jin was looking at him with a half-smile.

There was no mockery in Xuan Jin's smile, only a detachment that saw through everything.

This made him somewhat annoyed, yet powerless to change it.

Perhaps it was time to visit Master Xuan.

"Eighth Stage Dou Qi, what a pity."

In the VIP seats, Ya Fei softly uttered a single sentence.

Xuan Jin did not respond; he merely looked at the youth below the stage, lost in thought.

Xiao Xun's heart, meanwhile, was twisted into a tight knot.

Although Xiao Ning was judged to have lost, Brother Xiao Yan was injured.

Watching Xiao Yan's swaying figure, a surge of anger rose in her heart.

The Xiao Family Coming-of-Age Ceremony ended with such a farce.

Yet everyone knew this was merely a beginning.

After today, the title of "good-for-nothing" attached to Xiao Yan might diminish by a fraction.

However, the conflict between the Xiao Family and the Jia Lie Family grew a layer deeper because of it.

As for that mysterious Master Xuan, he seemed to maintain a detached attitude toward all of this.