The Xiao Clan's testing square.
Today was the day of the Xiao Clan's ceremony. After it was over, the status of every Xiao Clan member taking part would change.
Those whose strength met the requirements could continue enjoying the Xiao Clan's resources.
Those who fell short would have to leave the clan and enter its businesses, working hard to build them up from then on.
"This ceremony is just asking for trouble." Watching the figures onstage move about like puppets, Xiao Yan sighed.
Xiao Yu said, "Brother, why don't you bring it up with Father?"
He was sick of this, too.
"Why don't you go? Father dotes on you the most." Xiao Yan looked at him.
Quite a few people had come to the VIP seating in the distance, most of them prominent figures in Wutan City.
Bringing up his objections now would only earn him a scolding. Xiao Yan wasn't stupid.
He turned his head toward the girl on Xiao Yu's other side and said, "Little Sister Xun'er, I've been back for half a month, and I'm only seeing you now."
Xun'er's expression was calm. She gave a slight nod and said, "My cultivation was just about to break through."
"Little Sister Xun'er, what level are you at now?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.
Xun'er pointed at the Test Monument, indicating that he would find out soon enough.
From beginning to end, Xun'er didn't turn her head. It was hard to tell whether she didn't want to look at Xiao Yan or simply because Xiao Yu was sitting between them.
As the ceremony continued, it was soon Xiao Xun'er's turn.
She touched the Test Monument, and words appeared on its surface.
"Three-Star Dou Zhe!"
The crowd erupted in an uproar.
A Three-Star Dou Zhe at sixteen—she was practically another Xiao Yan!
A wave of sharp breaths came from the VIP seats.
Then Xiao Yan's name was called. He walked onto the stage with a helpless look, muttering, "How many people in Wutan City are going to be dealt another blow this time?"
"Nine-Star Dou Zhe!"
The crowd erupted again!
Many had already prepared themselves for the demonic talent of Xiao Yan, but when they saw his strength for real, they still couldn't control their expressions, their faces revealing their shock.
Quite a few people went straight to congratulate Xiao Zhan and sing his praises.
It was a golden opportunity to build connections.
A Dou Zhe at eleven!
He had broken through eight stars in four years, and might even become a Dou Master at sixteen.
Such a rate of improvement was rare even across the entire Jia Ma Empire.
With a figure like him in the Xiao Clan, the clan's rise was plain for all to see.
That was why it was especially important to build a good relationship with them.
Xiao Zhan was all smiles. His cheeks were practically stiff from grinning so hard.
But he couldn't stop.
His son's excellence brought honor to him, too.
In the crowd,
a girl with long, slender legs couldn't help reminding them, "Once we return, Cousin Xiao Yan is going to become an Inner Academy elder's disciple at Jia Nan Academy!"
At her words, the guests let out another round of gasps.
Even Xiao Zhan, the Great Elder, and the Third Elder couldn't hide their surprise.
Jia Nan Academy had always been divided into the Inner Academy and Outer Academy.
The truly gifted geniuses all came from the Inner Academy.
They said that every student who graduated from the Inner Academy was at least a Dou Wang.
As for its elders, even the weaker ones were Dou Emperors, and there were even elders at the Dou Zong level.
Though Xiao Yu hadn't said so outright, everyone present understood that with Xiao Yan's talent and performance, an elder had taken notice of him.
That elder's status was surely extraordinary.
"Congratulations, Clan Chief Xiao. It won't be long before the Xiao Clan soars back to the Imperial Capital," Aoba Pa offered insincerely.
Xiao Zhan had meant to reply modestly, but he couldn't stop himself from grinning. "Not at all, not at all. Yan'er has simply worked hard since he was a child."
"Clan Chief Xiao, I'm afraid it won't be long before the Xiao Clan returns to the Imperial Capital," Ya Fei said, offering her congratulations in a red dress.
Xiao Zhan hurried to his feet and replied politely, "I'm grateful for your kind words, Miss Ya Fei. My late father had a good relationship with the Miteer Clan Chief, too. It's a pity I didn't work hard enough, and my father passed away without seeing his wish fulfilled."
Ya Fei pressed her red lips together and smiled. "Clan Chief Xiao has a fine son. The Xiao Clan will surely return to the Imperial Capital."
Everyone around them sighed inwardly.
That was true.
Xiao Zhan might not be strong, but he had raised a fine son.
With talent like that, even the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect would take him as a personal disciple.
After all, Nalan Yanran, the sect's own personal disciple, seemed to be only a Six-Star Dou Zhe at the moment.
Onstage, Xiao Yan finished the ceremony, basked in the gazes fixed on him from every direction, and slowly walked down.
"Xiao Yu!"
Onstage, Second Elder Xiao Ying called out a name, and the crowd immediately fell silent.
The guests sat upright again, their gazes turning toward a distant youth who looked similar to Xiao Yan but was even more handsome, with an outstanding air about him.
He was the real reason they had come to the Xiao Clan today!
At the arena half a month ago, everyone had seen Xiao Yu make his move.
But from beginning to end, Xiao Yu hadn't shown any Dou Qi.
Just three punches!
That wasn't enough to reveal his true level.
And Xiao Yu hadn't taken part in the earlier Xiao Clan assessment at all.
That had only made everyone even more curious about his strength!
He'd knocked Jia Lie Ao, a Three-Star Dou Zhe, down with a single punch. So just how strong was Xiao Yu?
What made everyone so curious was that they all knew Xiao Yu had been at the Third Stage of Dou Qi just one year ago!
How far had Xiao Yu progressed in that year?
"Young Master, just place your palm here." Beside the Test Monument, Second Elder Xiao Ying wore a broad smile and spoke with great courtesy.
Xiao Yu glanced at him. A year ago, when that old coot had watched him from the stands, he hadn't looked at him like this!
He reached out and touched the Test Monument, circulating the Dou Qi within his body.
Bzzz—
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, words slowly appeared on the Test Monument.
"Three-Star Dou Zhe!"
The crowd erupted!
Even though Second Elder Xiao Ying was standing right beside the Test Monument, he couldn't help rubbing his eyes again and again, wondering if he was seeing things.
Countless people in the crowd rose to their feet.
On the VIP seats, one figure after another stood up. Some moved so abruptly that even the teacups beside them toppled to the ground.
But nobody paid any attention to any of that. All eyes were fixed on the Test Monument and the youth beside it.
"Xiao... Yu, Three-Star... Dou Zhe!" Second Elder Xiao Ying's hoarse voice rang across the square.
"From the Third Stage of Dou Qi to Three-Star Dou Zhe in one year?"
"How is that possible? Is his talent even more terrifying than Xiao Yan's?"
"Incredible! Incredible! The Xiao Clan is really about to rise!"
Voices rang out from every direction, surging toward the Test Monument and pouring into Xiao Yu's ears. His expression remained calm.
He was only a Dou Zhe. What was there to be happy about?
The others had lost control of their emotions only because their knowledge and perspective were too limited...
Xiao Yu knew the Battle Through the Heavens World. The truly terrifying ones were the Eight Clans with bloodlines.
If they knew that some people could break through to Dou Zong at just a few years old, I wonder what their faces would look like, Xiao Yu thought.
On the high platform, Xiao Yu was stunned. He hadn't expected that brat, whom everyone had always mocked, would catch up to him in strength—and even surpass him by one star.
Below the stage, Xiao Mei, Xiao Ning, and the other Xiao Clan disciples were similarly stunned.
That useless older brother they'd always looked down on had actually become a Dou Zhe!
Onstage, Xiao Yu paused for a moment, then looked toward Xiao Zhan and said, "Father, my teacher may come visit us at home in a little while."
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