One Year

Time flies, spring goes and autumn comes. After a year of busy work, the end of the year is approaching again.

The most surprising thing that happened that year was that Xiao Yan, the third young master of the Xiao Family in Wutan City, improved his Dou Force from the third level to the seventh level in just one year.

As everyone knows, one cannot take elixirs or practice cultivation Cultivation Method during the Dou Qi stage. This makes the acquisition of Dou Force extremely slow.

Even the most talented individuals can only improve their Dou Force by one level at most in a year. For ordinary people, it takes a year or even two years to improve their Dou Force by one level.

However, despite his seemingly insurmountable Dou Force cultivation, the third young master of the Xiao Family, who was considered a waste, actually raised his Dou Force from the third level to the seventh level in less than a year, an increase of Dou Force.

When word spread that the third young master of the Xiao Family possessed such terrifying Cultivation Talent, many people naturally didn't believe it. However, after some people verified the facts, these people began to prepare to watch the joke unfold.

Apart from the people of Wutan City who would pay attention to the Xiao Family's affairs, no one else in the Jia Ma Empire would normally care about the Xiao Family.

However, because of Nalan Yanran's annulment of the engagement, the Xiao Family Xiao Family and Xiao Yan came into the attention of the families in the Jia Ma Empire.

Now that these families have learned that the once useless third young master of the Xiao Family has suddenly become a top genius, many of them have started discussing this matter in their spare time.

In a tavern in the Imperial City the Jia Ma Empire, two people were drinking and discussing something.

"Given Xiao Yan's current talent, he'll likely reach the Dou Master cultivation level in two years. His battle against Nalan Yanran Xiao Yan, the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, at that time will probably be extremely exciting."

"Nalan Yanran is, after all, the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect. The Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills she practices are far superior to those of the Xiao Family. Therefore, Xiao Yan has little chance of winning the battle two years from now!"

"That's true! However, if we extend the timeframe to several decades later, given the terrifying talent Xiao Yan has displayed, he might very well have a chance to become Dou Emperor. If Xiao Yan were to seek revenge then, the outcome would be extremely unpredictable!"

"Haha, by then, the Misty Cloud Sect and the Nalan Family will be the ones with headaches. Just thinking about that scene makes me wish time would pass quickly."

"Speaking of the Nalan Family, I've heard a rumor that after learning that Xiao Yan had increased his Dou Force in just one year, the Nalan Family patriarch Nalan Jie, became so worried that the Snake Venom in his body flared up. The Nalan Family is now searching everywhere for someone who can cure the poison."

"The poison that Old Master Nalan Jie of the Nalan Family was afflicted with is Lao Du of the Dou Wang level. I heard that Old Master Nalan Jie has been suffering from this poison for many years and has been unable to get rid of it. Now that the Lao Du has flared up, it will be even more difficult to get rid of it!"

"Who can argue with that? Once you're tainted by Lao Du at the Dou Wang level, it's incredibly difficult to remove. So, I'm afraid Old Master Nalan Jie might be in trouble this time!" He shook his head as he finished speaking.

Meanwhile, at the Xiao Family in Wutan City, the place was bustling with activity as guests arrived.

The Xiao Family invited all these guests to hold Coming of Age Ceremony for their members who had reached adulthood.

Coming of Age Ceremony are extremely important in these Great Family, as they are major events related to the family's succession. Therefore, the Xiao Family held an exceptionally grand ceremony for this occasion.

After a series of elaborate rituals, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the Second Elder of the Xiao Family arrived at the central area, stood before a black Stone Stele, and loudly announced, "Ritual retest!"

After the Second Elder of the Xiao Family made the announcement, almost everyone present looked at the young man in black standing in front of the black Stone Stele.

It can be said that almost all the guests who came this time wanted to see with their own eyes whether Xiao Yan, the third young Xiao Family had been a cripple for three years, had really recovered his talent, or even had a stronger talent.

Those who were able to participate in the coming -Coming of Age Ceremony held by the Xiao Family all had some connection with the Xiao Family. Therefore, the strength of the Xiao Family would determine how they would interact with the Xiao Family in the future. That's why these people all wanted to witness the final result with their own eyes.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the young man in black walked calmly to the black Stone Stele. He then extended a hand and touched the black Stone Stele.

In the center of the ceremony hall, the enormous Black Stone Stele suddenly emitted a burst of light after the black-clad youth touched it. Then, this light gradually formed several large golden characters on the surface of the black Stone Stele in a flowing, dynamic pattern.

"Dou Qi: Eighth Stage!"

Silence is the only word to describe this moment.

The vast square, filled with people, was completely silent except for the crisp sound of a teacup falling to the ground.

"The Xiao Family has struck it rich this time..." The people who came to witness the ceremony couldn't help but think as they looked at the large characters on the Magic Stone Stele.

These people originally came to verify the truth of Xiao Yan's increase of four levels of Dou Qi in a year. But what they're seeing now is clearly a five- Dou Qi increase, not four!

To advance Fifth Stage Dou Qi in a year—it's unheard of, not even in legends. Yet, right now, the third young master of the Xiao Family is truly demonstrating it before their very eyes.

Previously, after hearing that Xiao Yan had increased his Dou Qi by four levels in a year, if this event were true, then with Xiao Yan's talent, he could become Dou Emperor in a few decades.

If one were to increase their Dou Force by five levels in a year, what level would that reach? It would probably surpass even the Dou Emperor level.

In the Jia Ma Empire, the highest level of cultivation is the Dou Emperor. With the talent that Xiao Yan has shown so far, as long as he doesn't die prematurely, the Xiao Family will have at least one Dou Emperor in a few decades.

Therefore, at this moment, the guests who came did not hesitate to praise and bless Xiao Yan and the Xiao Family.

"Clan Leader Xiao, congratulations! With the talent that Young Master Xiao Yan has shown, your Xiao Family is likely to produce an extraordinary powerhouse in the future." Beside the main platform, a woman with an extremely alluring appearance, whose every smile and frown exuded captivating charm, spoke in a seductive voice.

Faced with the woman's praise, Xiao Zhan replied with a beaming smile, "Miss Ya Fei, you flatter me. If we're talking about truly remarkable experts, the geniuses passed down through your Mittel Family are far more astonishing! As for my son's Cultivation Talent, it's always been a bit of a surprise. Miss Ya Fei, you know how my son has spent the last three years. So now I only hope that such a thing won't happen again."

After Xiao Zhan spoke, he did not receive a reply from Ya Fei for a long time. So Xiao Zhan turned his head to look at Ya Fei.

At this moment, Ya Fei's expression stunned Xiao Zhan. If Ya Fei's smile just now was just an act, then this one was definitely from the heart.

Seeing Ya Fei's face beaming with a genuine smile yet frozen in a daze, Xiao Zhan called out, "Miss Ya Fei! Miss Ya Fei!"

"Uh! Clan Leader Xiao, I'm sorry! I was just lost in thought about something." Ya Fei said with a gentle smile after being startled by Xiao Zhan.

After speaking, Ya Fei couldn't help but smile again when she thought of the genius of the Mittel Family that Xiao Zhan had mentioned.