Coming-of-Age Ceremony

"Brother Xiao Yan!"

Wutan City, Xiao Clan.

Xiao Xun'er whispered in front of Xiao Yan's small courtyard. Seeing that the time was nearly upon them, she found it strange that Xiao Yan was still inside, seemingly occupied with something unknown.

"Coming, coming!"

Xiao Yan's voice drifted from the courtyard. He pulled open the gate, dressed in a black tight-fitting outfit. His fair, clean-cut face—not particularly handsome—carried a faint, elusive smile. His eyes were bright and piercing, lending him an air of confident, charming charisma.

"If we're any later, those few elders will surely start their cold sarcasm and mockery in front of Uncle Xiao again."

Seeing that Xiao Yan was in no hurry at all, Xiao Xun'er rolled her eyes in exasperation before grabbing him and rushing toward the ceremony grounds.

By the time the two arrived, the area was already packed tight. As the head of the three great clans in Wutan City, the Xiao Clan's ceremony naturally invited the City Lord and representatives from every other clan to observe.

"Make way, please make way, thank you, thank you..."

Xiao Yan pulled Xun'er along, carefully squeezing through the crowd. After verifying their identities, the two hurried toward the center, finally arriving just as the opening began.

"Xiao Yan!"

For reasons unknown, Xiao Yan, who was always relegated to the very end in the past, had been placed first for this strength test. He had barely sat down and warmed his seat before he had to stand up again.

"Present!"

Xiao Yan looked at the strange gazes cast his way—some gloating, some disdainful, others filled with pity...

He chuckled inwardly. His expression remained as calm as an ancient well; he no longer felt anything toward these gazes.

"Dou... Dou Practitioner, one-star!"

The examiner had instinctively prepared to call out a stage of Dou Disciple, but suddenly realized the Test Magic Stele was erupting with intense light, and four large characters instantly appeared at the very top of the stone.

Dou Practitioner, one-star!

In just one short year, Xiao Yan had crossed seven minor realms and even successfully condensed a Dou Qi Whirlwind to become a Dou Practitioner once more!

The scene from four years ago played out again, but compared to the overwhelming, thunderous enthusiasm of that time, today was eerily quiet. Everyone stared fixedly at those four characters, their mouths agape, not knowing what to say.

Watching the silent surroundings, the bitterness and resentment Xiao Yan had harbored for three years dissipated in an instant. The things he had cared about suddenly didn't seem so important anymore.

Feeling a bit bored, Xiao Yan kept his gaze calm. He gave a polite bow to the examiner, then slowly returned to Xiao Xun'er's side under the weight of gazes filled with awe, jealousy, and even disbelief.

"Brother Xiao Yan..."

Xiao Xun'er also covered her mouth in disbelief. Seeing Xiao Yan smiling openly, his eyes once again filled with confidence, she smiled from the bottom of her heart.

"The Brother Xiao Yan of the past... has truly returned."

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Yun Yun sat beside Xiao Zhan, looking languid, but at this moment, he couldn't help but clap and nod. This kid had a mature temperament and didn't change his expression even in such a grand setting; it was no wonder he had caught Yun Zimo's eye.

"Clan Head Xiao, your youngest son will be extraordinary in the future. Perhaps his achievements will even surpass mine."

Yun Yun commented softly. He had heard of Xiao Yan's "legendary story," and compared to the protagonist of those rumors, he preferred this young Xiao Yan.

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. Mr. Yun, you flatter him. How could this brat compare to you, sir?"

Xiao Zhan replied hurriedly, though his expression clearly betrayed a sense of pride and satisfaction.

Yun Yun chuckled. The three Xiao Clan elders beside him had their jaws dropped to the floor. They had previously been puzzled as to why such a distinguished guest from the Misty Cloud Sect would come for a minor ceremony, and even specifically requested that Xiao Yan, who was supposed to be last, be moved to the front. It turned out they had been the ones with poor judgment!

The subsequent Xiao Clan disciples, while some were impressive, seemed rather mediocre compared to the gem that was Xiao Yan. In the end, it was Xiao Xun'er's turn that finally piqued the interest of the bored Yun Yun.

"This little girl is quite mysterious..."

Yun Yun narrowed his eyes slightly. Looking at the "One-star Dou Practitioner" displayed on the Test Magic Stele, he looked at Xiao Xun'er with some confusion. Unexpectedly, Xiao Xun'er turned her head and looked back, having caught Yun Yun's gaze.

"Interesting..."

Yun Yun tapped his fingers lightly, his interest slightly piqued. He had possessed extraordinary talent since childhood and was most sensitive to the perception of aura. Just now, when Xiao Xun'er released her Dou Qi, he had clearly sensed a much stronger aura. Although it was retracted in an instant, he was certain this girl was definitely more than a one-star Dou Practitioner!

"I wonder how Yanran is doing? With Yun Shan teaching her personally, I suppose she won't disappoint."

Looking back at Xiao Yan, Yun Yun couldn't help but think of his sister's disciple—Nalan Yanran...

"Dou Practitioner, nine-star!"

Nalan Yanran looked at the four characters before her and sighed with slight disappointment. It had taken her a full year to reach a nine-star Dou Practitioner. Although it was because she had refused her father's suggestion to use medicinal pills, she was still somewhat dissatisfied.

In contrast to her, the members of the Nalan Clan were flushed with excitement. A sixteen-year-old nine-star Dou Practitioner—if nothing went wrong, she was destined to become a Dou King or Dou Emperor in the future!

Yun Zimo, however, noticed the disappointment on Nalan Yanran's face and nodded to himself, deciding to go talk to her later.

"Yanran?"

"Uncle-Master Zimo?"

Nalan Yanran, who was kneeling before a tombstone, turned back and looked at the gentle Yun Zimo with some surprise.

Yun Zimo glanced at the words "Grave of Uncle Rabbit" on the tombstone, then sat down beside Nalan Yanran.

"You don't seem very happy today?"

Yun Zimo smiled.

"No."

Nalan Yanran gazed down at the Nalan Clan, which was brightly lit and filled with the occasional sound of boisterous laughter, and said with a heavy heart.

"I just feel a bit stifled."

"Is it because of that brat, Xiao Yan?"

Yun Zimo said with a smile once more.

"..."

Nalan Yanran remained silent, offering no reply, merely tracing her fingers lightly over the tombstone.

"If I truly lose two years from now, the reputation of the sect, the face of my clan, I..."

Nalan Yanran stopped, unable to continue; she felt as though something was lodged in her chest.

Yun Zimo watched this little sister, who had shed the temper of a young mistress and begun to think with a mature mindset, and could not help but feel a sense of gratification.

"Can you tell me the story of this Uncle Rabbit?"

Yun Zimo stared at his target inexplicably as he spoke, and although Nalan Yanran was surprised, she still began to recount the tale.

"...Even if it means breaking my promise to Uncle Rabbit, I remain steadfast; important things can only be protected by one's own hands!"

Nalan Yanran's expression was dejected, and droplets of tears scattered before the tombstone; the wind blew, scattering specks of fluorescent light like a gentle palm brushing past the two people before the grave.

Only now did Yun Zimo finally understand the reason behind Nalan Yanran's obsession with annulling the engagement; she carried far too much upon her shoulders.

Compared to the tragic and fierce Flame Emperor Xiao Yan of the future, this young girl of the Misty Cloud Sect before him seemed to evoke even more of Yun Zimo's sympathy.

"Therefore, I absolutely cannot lose the Three-Year Agreement! Even if I have to pay a price a hundred or a thousand times greater, I, Nalan Yanran, will never surrender my own destiny!"

Yun Zimo fell silent; he did not know how to counsel this girl so deeply entrenched in her obsession. Perhaps only after the battle of the Three-Year Agreement would she truly be able to let go...