The Continent's Number One Fair-Skinned Rich Beauty

"Xiao Yan, Dou Power, Third Stage!"

"Level: Low Grade!"

Beside the Testing Demonic Stone Tablet, the middle-aged man in charge of recording the results announced the information expressionlessly, though a trace of regret lingered in his eyes.

The genius who had once astonished the family was still standing still.

"Heh~"

Listening to the familiar mockery and sighs around him, the delicate-faced young boy gave a self-deprecating smile. Clenching his fists, he turned and walked unsteadily toward the edge of the square.

"Xiao Mei, Seventh Stage Dou Qi!"

"Level: High Grade!"

"Xiao Chen..."

"Xiao Fan..."

"Xiao Hao..."

The testing continued. Some rejoiced, while others worried.

Just as Xiao Yan was about to leave the square, the excited voice of the middle-aged man rang out behind him.

"Xiao Xun'er, D-Dou Practitioner, One Star!"

"Young Miss Xun'er, congratulations! You have entered the Dou Practitioner level before even reaching fourteen. You are the second person in the Xiao Family in a hundred years to do so!"

Naturally, the first person in the past hundred years was Xiao Yan, who had already become waste.

"Not yet fourteen, and already a One-star Dou Practitioner."

Xiao Yan turned his head stiffly and looked toward the young girl standing before the Testing Demonic Stone Tablet at the side of the square, receiving everyone's praise and admiration.

The girl wore a purple dress, her bearing cool and serene like a green lotus in the mortal world. Her slender waist was as delicate as a willow leaf, barely enough to fill one's grasp. Her long black hair was casually tied with a light purple ribbon, making her seem like a beauty who had stepped out of a painting.

Faced with the flattery and admiration around her, she merely smiled faintly.

Sensing Xiao Yan's gaze, she raised her head and looked over, her eyes calm.

Yet Xiao Yan felt as though he had been burned. Instinctively avoiding her gaze, he quickly left.

"Cousin Xiao Yan."

Just as he was about to enter the gates of the Inner Academy, the girl's lively voice reached him, stopping him in his tracks.

"Cousin Xun'er." Xiao Yan forced out a smile.

"Why didn't you wait for Xun'er this time, Cousin?" Xun'er walked to Xiao Yan's side, a faint smile on her face.

"Cousin Xun'er, you are a One-star Dou Practitioner, the Proud Daughter of Heaven of the family. I am only waste with Third Stage Dou Qi." Bitterness filled Xiao Yan's mouth. "We won't belong to the same world in the future."

Not from the same world?

Xun'er thought of her true identity.

If she had grown up within the clan, perhaps she would have looked down on everyone, not even placing the entire Xiao Family in her eyes.

However, when she was three, her father had sealed the Infant Flame born from the Golden Emperor Blazing Heaven Flame Child Fire within her body, allowing it to merge with her and grow alongside her. It tempered the impurities in her bloodline and built her bloodline foundation to perfection.

During that period, compared to those prodigies within the clan, she too had been a "waste" whose cultivation progressed extremely slowly.

So that she could grow up with a healthy state of mind, her father had found an excuse to place her in the Xiao Family.

Xiao Yan's ten years of going from genius to waste made her understand her unnamed father's painstaking intentions.

Do not think too highly of yourself, but do not belittle yourself either. Temporary leads and setbacks proved nothing.

"Cousin, didn't you once tell me that only by letting go can one take hold, and only by picking up and setting down freely can one be truly at ease?"

Xun'er spoke to comfort Xiao Yan.

When she was young, the Golden Emperor Blazing Heaven Flame tempered her bloodline, causing her to fall into painful states that appeared as though she had been invaded by cold energy.

After Xiao Yan discovered this, he had secretly entered her room one time, intending to use the Dou Qi he had just cultivated to nourish her bones and meridians.

However, Ling Xiao, one of the guards secretly protecting her, stopped him. How could the daughter of the Ancient Clan Chief be touched by the Young Master Xiao, even if they had both only been children at the time?

Still, Xun'er remembered this Cousin Xiao who had wanted to help her. As they grew up together afterward, Xiao Yan was the only one she associated with.

Before long, she would likely return to her family. She and Xiao Yan might never meet again in their lives.

If I still cannot find the reason when I leave, I'll have the clan strong help you. It will count as fulfilling the friendship we shared growing up together. Xun'er thought silently.

Xiao Yan did not know what she was thinking. He gave a self-mocking smile. "Back then, I was a genius, so I could say such things freely. Do you think I can still do it now?"

Xun'er frowned slightly, her voice full of encouragement. "Cousin Xiao Yan, Xun'er believes in you. As long as you keep working hard, you can definitely do it."

"Hopefully." Yet Xiao Yan was somewhat disheartened.

He had persisted for more than three years and had never once slackened in his cultivation, but the strength he accumulated always vanished.

At the same time, inside the Xiao Family Council Hall.

Several Xiao Family Elders were pressuring Clan Chief Xiao Zhan.

"Clan Chief, Third Young Master's cultivation is still not progressing. When do you intend to resolve his engagement?" the Xiao Family First Elder asked.

"That is Yan'er's engagement. What does it have to do with you?" Xiao Zhan clearly did not wish to discuss the matter.

"Clan Chief, don't deceive yourself." The Second Elder echoed the Great Elder. "This is a marriage alliance between two families. The Xiao Family was naturally qualified back then, but now we are reaching above our station."

"Originally, it would have been fine even if we were reaching above our station. It was a decision made by the two old men, and no one could say anything. Having such a marriage connection was an opportunity for both Third Young Master and the Xiao Family. But now Third Young Master has become waste, while the young miss of the Nalan Family has been accepted as a disciple by the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect."

"If we do not cancel the engagement soon, we will only disgust the Nalan Family and the Misty Cloud Sect. A good thing may turn into a bad one."

Hearing this, Xiao Zhan did not become angry. He merely asked calmly, "Fine, cancel the engagement. I, the Clan Chief, will personally go discuss it. Will you be satisfied once our reputation is completely ruined?"

"Yan'er has become waste, yet the Xiao Family still dares to take the initiative in canceling the engagement. Can you guarantee that the Nalan Family and the Misty Cloud Sect will not be angered?"

Those words silenced the elders. The Nalan Family had not released even the slightest indication that they wished to cancel the engagement, making it difficult for them to judge the situation.

If only the Nalan Family had sent someone to offer a subtle hint, Xiao Zhan could have written a letter and tactfully opened discussions.

"I won't hide my thoughts from you." Xiao Zhan snorted. "I am not so naive as to believe that the marriage arranged by my father and Elder Nalan would allow Yan'er to marry above his station into the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect."

"In one year, it will be the Coming-of-Age Ceremony. If Yan'er still cannot attain Seven-Stage Dou Disciple by then, I will naturally assign him to one of the family's businesses according to the rules."

"At that time, I will personally write a letter to Nalan Su, tactfully expressing my intention to cancel the engagement."

"With Nalan Su's personality, he will certainly agree. In the name of an elder, he will also send Yan'er some items as compensation, which will give Elder Nalan an explanation as well."

"This is the last thing I can fight for on Yan'er's behalf as his father. Do you still have any objections!?"

When parents loved their children, they planned deeply for their future.

When Xiao Yan was born, Xiao Zhan knew that his youngest son was different. His later cultivation talent had proven that judgment correct, but for some unknown reason, he had subsequently become waste.

Throughout more than three wasted years, Xiao Zhan had always encouraged and trusted Xiao Yan in both words and actions, but he also knew in his heart that the chances of his son recovering were slim.

Since that was the case, he had to make plans for Xiao Yan so that, even if he became an ordinary family member in the future, he could still live comfortably.

"We have no objections."

The elders exchanged glances and no longer pressed the matter.

After all, this marriage had been a good thing the Old Clan Head had secured for his own grandson.

The Great Elder coughed lightly and tried to smooth things over. "We are also considering the family's interests, and we fear that delays may bring unforeseen changes. If we provoke the displeasure of the Nalan Family and the Misty Cloud Sect, we may end up losing everything."

"You can rest assured about that." Xiao Zhan wore an expression of complete confidence. "Given Elder Nalan's character of keeping his word and honoring promises, there is no need to worry about anything going wrong before Yan'er's Coming-of-Age Ceremony."

"After some time, I will have business in the Imperial Capital. I will visit the Nalan Family as well and subtly reveal some of my intentions in advance."

With the matter put so plainly, the elders had nothing more to say.

Just then, a voice came from the doorway. "Report! Someone from the Nalan Family has arrived, bringing a handwritten letter from the current head of the Nalan Family."

The Xiao Family's upper ranks:!!!

The visitor was likely here with ill intent.