Tool Man Xiao Ning

The three of them soon arrived at the Xiao Clan's enormous Blue Stone Training Ground. Before they had arrived, many of the Xiao Clan's young men and women had already gathered there. Waves of chatter filled the air, and the entire training ground brimmed with youthful energy!

The moment Xiao Yu and the other two stepped onto the training ground, the whole place suddenly fell silent. Everyone turned to look at the three of them, though most of their gazes were fixed on Xiao Yan, who had already become worthless in their eyes!

The silence was only temporary. Moments later, the training ground became noisy again, and Xiao Yan became the subject of their discussions.

"How does he still have the nerve to attend the trial?"

"He's just a piece of trash. Coming here only disgraces our Xiao Clan!"

"Exactly! What's the point of coming? He's still only at the third stage of Dou Qi. Once next year's Coming of Age Ceremony is over, even as the clan leader's son, he'll have to go to a branch clan. With his third-stage Dou Qi strength, he'd be lucky to manage a marketplace!"

The moment those words were spoken, laughter erupted. Xiao Yu glanced at Xiao Yan behind him and saw his body trembling faintly. His fingernails had dug into his palms until they bled, yet he seemed not to feel it at all!

Xiao Yu narrowed his eyes and looked toward the group that had burst into laughter. He was fairly familiar with the ringleader. After all, he was merely the first tool meant to serve as a stepping stone—Xiao Ke, one of the Great Elder's men!

Seeing Xiao Yu's gaze, those people froze before quickly lowering their heads. Xiao Ke's expression also changed when he saw Xiao Yu, but he forced himself not to lower his head. Xiao Yu gave a mocking smile. "You lot sure know how to gossip behind people's backs. You're like a bunch of old gossips, utterly disgusting. Do you dare come onto the training ground and have a spar with me?"

"Y-you! Don't think I'm afraid of you! Brother Xiao Ning will be here soon. He's already at the seventh stage of Dou Qi, so don't you dare do anything rash!" The threat seemed to carry no intimidation at all now. Even he himself felt that he lacked confidence, and his face could not help flushing red!

They all knew that the clan leader had given birth to two excellent sons in a row. When Xiao Yan became a Dou Zhe at the age of eleven, he had already been a genius rarely seen in the Xiao Clan for a century. That same year, Xiao Yu had reached the seventh stage of Dou Qi at just ten years old, becoming the clan's second greatest genius in one leap. Many had said that the Xiao Clan's position in Wu Tan City would rise dramatically because of Xiao Yan and Xiao Yu!

Although Xiao Yan had later lost his former strength, Xiao Yu's strength had continued to rise steadily. He had already reached Nine-stage Dou Qi the year before. This time, he had likely advanced to Dou Zhe. Becoming a Dou Zhe at fourteen was slightly inferior to Xiao Yan's achievement of becoming one at eleven, but it still made him the Xiao Clan's second such person!

"Don't let me hear any of you talking nonsense about my brother behind his back again, or don't blame me for being rude!" Xiao Yu said with a sinister smile.

Perhaps Xiao Yu's expression was too frightening, because the few of them hurriedly nodded and said they would not dare do it again. They then ran off, leaving the area. Although Xiao Ke was also afraid, he stubbornly kept staring at Xiao Yu. Just as Xiao Yu was about to scare this big, stubborn fellow a little, a voice sounded beside him. "What, they aren't even allowed to speak the truth now?"

Xiao Yu turned and saw that Xiao Ning, the backer of those lackeys, had arrived. Xiao Ning walked in from outside and cast a lovestruck glance at Xiao Xun Er. Then, seeing Xun Er holding Xiao Yu's arm, Xiao Ning's eyes reddened. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Xiao Yu, don't get too smug. Maybe your branch of the family has done too many bad things, which is why your brother suffered the backlash of his Dou Qi draining away. Perhaps before long, your strength will end up just like his!"

Upon hearing Xiao Ning's words, Xiao Xun Er, who had been standing silently to the side, flashed with golden light in her eyes. She looked at Xiao Ning coldly. "You'd better keep your mouth clean."

When Xiao Ning saw Xiao Xun Er standing up for Xiao Yu, his eyelid twitched and his jealousy burned even hotter. However, he was not a fool. Whether it was Xiao Yu or Xiao Xun Er, both were far stronger than him, and he did not dare provoke them. He would wait until his sister returned!

After shooting Xiao Yu a resentful glare, Xiao Ning left with Xiao Ke. The Family Trial was also about to begin.

On the high platform, the important figures of the clan had already taken their seats. Xiao Yu immediately spotted his nominal father, Xiao Zhan, standing above. After sweeping his gaze around, Xiao Zhan shouted in a solemn voice toward the training ground, "Today is the annual day for the clan to assess the results of your efforts over the past year. It is also meant to encourage you to cultivate even more diligently in the year ahead! I won't waste any more words. I now declare the trial officially begun!"

As Xiao Zhan's voice fell, the young men and women below grew somewhat nervous. The greater one's strength, the higher one's status in the clan. Who did not want to stand out within the clan?

It was still that black stone tablet. The examiner stepped forward with a dark expression, pulled out a roster from his robes, and began calling names one by one for the test!

Since there was still plenty of time, Xiao Yu pulled Xiao Xun Er and Xiao Yan beneath a willow tree at the side and sat down cross-legged. There was some shade there as well!

Watching the young men and women beside them step up one after another for their tests, some proud and some dejected, with all sorts of different expressions, Xiao Yu found it somewhat amusing. Soon, the examiner called a name Xiao Yu recognized. Even Xiao Yan, who had been indifferent to everything around him, slightly raised his head to look.

"Xiao Mei!"

A red figure quickly ran toward the platform. Her childish little face carried both innocence and charm, truly living up to her name. Xiao Yu stared at Xiao Mei, somewhat lost in memories of scenes from the novel. Then a sharp pain suddenly came from his waist. Looking down, Xiao Yu saw Xiao Xun Er's little hand pinching the soft flesh at his side. A slightly icy voice then sounded by his ear. "Is she pretty?"

Xiao Yu immediately came to his senses. Xun Er, this little girl, was jealous. He hurriedly smiled apologetically. "Is there any girl in this world more beautiful than Xun Er? In my heart, Xun Er is the most beautiful!"

Xiao Xun Er rolled her eyes at Xiao Yu and ignored him. Xiao Yu quickly used every trick he had to coax her. Xun Er truly could not endure Xiao Yu's blunt, cheesy words any longer. Blushing, she said coyly, "Stop talking. I forgive you!"

Xiao Yu chuckled and finally sat back down.

Xiao Mei had already placed her hand on the Magic Stone Tablet, and a ray of light lit up.

"Dou Qi, seventh stage!"

"Xiao Mei, Dou Qi: seventh stage! Grade: high!"

Seeing Xiao Mei's slightly smug smile, Xiao Yu softly chuckled. "Seventh-stage Dou Qi at fourteen? That talent is only so-so."

To his surprise, Xiao Yan shook his head and gave a bitter smile. "Seventh-stage Dou Qi is enough to gain a foothold in the Xiao Clan, yet I'm only at the third stage of Dou Qi!"

"What are you afraid of? You'll reclaim the glory that belongs to you!" Xiao Yu said unconcernedly.

Just as he spoke, the examiner called out with a complicated expression, "Next: Xiao Yan!"

A wave of commotion immediately rose from below, and the examiner could not help shouting, "Silence!"

Xiao Yan stood and walked toward the Magic Stone Tablet. He placed his palm on the cold tablet. A flash of light passed over it, and a line of small words appeared.

"Dou Qi: third stage!"

"Xiao Yan: third-stage Dou Qi! Grade: low!"

Xiao Zhan, standing on the high platform, let out a quiet sigh. The Great Elder beside him sneered, "Your genius son has remained in the same place for three years!"

The Second Elder mocked, "No, he's regressing!"

The high platform was like this, but the uproar below was even harder to suppress.

"Heh, it really is still third-stage Dou Qi!"

"Looks like he really has become the clan's trash!"

Seeing the scene before him, the examiner hurriedly called out, "Next: Xiao Yu!"

In an instant, the training ground fell silent!