Another Monster

Everyone's gaze turned to Xiao Yu, the Xiao Clan's acknowledged second genius after Xiao Yan!

Xiao Yu rose to his feet and walked toward the Magic Stone Tablet. A faint smile appeared on the examiner's usually indifferent face. "Young Master Xiao Yu, you should have entered the ranks of Dou Zhe this year, right? Such an achievement is second only to that of your third brother, Young Master Xiao Yan!"

Xiao Yu smiled faintly. "Perhaps I might even surpass my third brother."

The examiner looked at Xiao Yu in surprise. Then Xiao Yu directly placed his palm on the Magic Stone Tablet. Xiao Zhan and the Xiao Clan's three elders, seated on the raised platform, were all rather tense. Xiao Zhan feared that Xiao Yu might suffer the same situation as Xiao Yan, while the three elders feared that if Xiao Yu's strength broke through the Nine-stage Dou Qi, their branch would never again have a chance to rise within the Xiao Clan!

The young men and women below the platform stared intently at the Magic Stone Tablet. Only Xiao Xun Er, standing at the very back, wore a faint smile, seemingly not nervous at all.

Xiao Yan, who had already completed his test, stood beside Xiao Xun Er and asked, "Has Little Yu already broken through to Dou Zhe?"

Xiao Xun Er looked at Xiao Yan and said softly, "Brother Xiao Yu said he wanted to give me a surprise. Perhaps he has done more than merely break through to Dou Zhe!"

Xiao Yan was slightly dazed. Breaking through to Dou Zhe at fourteen was already the mark of a genius seen once in a century. Looking at Xiao Yu on the platform, he thought, If my cultivation had not regressed, perhaps I would have reached Three-star or Four-star Dou Zhe by now!

Under the watchful eyes of so many people, Xiao Yu showed no signs of nervousness. Not long after he placed his palm on the Magic Stone Tablet, a brilliant flash of light suddenly appeared. Then, a white pillar of light formed above the tablet and lingered there without fading!

Dou Zhe: Four-star!

The instant he saw that white pillar of light, Xiao Zhan crushed the teacup in his hand with a crack. The other three Xiao Clan elders stared blankly, unable to believe what stood before them!

The examiner beside Xiao Yu was even more shocked. He muttered blankly, "Xiao Yu, Four-star Dou Zhe. Dou Zhe rank: intermediate!"

When the young men and women below heard the examiner's words, a wave of gasps rang out. Then their faces flushed with embarrassment. What kind of words were those? Intermediate Dou Zhe rank? Were people like them, still at the fourth, fifth, and sixth stages of Dou Qi, supposed to smash their heads against a wall?

Xiao Ning stood below the platform, disbelief filling his eyes as he muttered, "Impossible, absolutely impossible! Breaking through to Dou Zhe is one thing, but how could he break through to Dou Zhe within a year and then leap three stages in a row to become a Four-star Dou Zhe?"

The word "monster" rose uncontrollably in everyone's mind. Even "freak" no longer suited Xiao Yu. They now seriously suspected that Xiao Yu had deliberately slowed his cultivation before this, just so he could show off on an occasion like this. But no matter what, Xiao Yu had succeeded magnificently!

Xiao Xun Er and Xiao Yan were also stunned by the four glittering golden words on the Magic Stone Tablet. This really was a surprise, and not merely a pleasant one. A Four-star Dou Zhe at fourteen—such strength made it hard not to suspect that Xiao Yu might break through to Dou Master by the time he came of age at sixteen!

Ignoring the shocked and jealous gazes around him, Xiao Yu walked straight down from the testing platform and came before Xun Er. Smugly, he asked, "So? Surprised?"

Xun Er rolled her eyes at Xiao Yu. "Surprised. I'm shocked to death."

Xiao Yan smiled faintly as well, then turned and left.

Xiao Yu and Xiao Xun Er exchanged a glance. Looking at Xiao Yan's retreating figure, Xiao Yu said, "Don't worry. He'll regain his fighting spirit."

Xiao Xun Er sighed. "I hope so."

Then, with her hands behind her back, Xiao Xun Er asked playfully, "Brother Xiao Yu, now that you've broken through to Dou Zhe, shouldn't you treat Xun Er to a proper outing around Wu Tan City?"

Xiao Yu laughed heartily. "Of course. We'll set out right now!" As he spoke, Xiao Yu grabbed Xun Er's right hand and pulled her out of the training ground. Amid the envious gazes of the crowd, they ran toward Wu Tan City. Xun Er was startled by Xiao Yu's action, but she merely blushed and followed behind him without pulling free!

When Xiao Zhan, on the raised platform, saw Xiao Yu leave while holding Xiao Xun Er's hand, his expression stiffened. Then he thought with mixed feelings, That brat dares to hold anyone's hand!

Xiao Yu took Xun Er around Wu Tan City for an entire day. The two did not return until dusk. After parting in the Xiao Clan's front courtyard, Xiao Yu headed straight for his room, sat cross-legged on his bed, and began cultivating.

With the system, Xiao Yu was even less willing to slack off. He still had to venture out into the world. With this little strength, he was not even worth mentioning on the Dou Qi Continent!

Xiao Yu naturally understood that only Dou Emperor-level experts truly had a say on the Dou Qi Continent. Although there were only ten great experts in the entire Jia Ma Empire, Xiao Yu also remembered that Yun Shan of the Misty Cloud Sect had become a Dou Zong expert with the help of the Soul Clan. Though his strength as a Dou Zong was somewhat unstable and he belonged to the lowest tier of Dou Zong experts, he was still a Dou Zong, standing above everyone in the Jia Ma Empire!

Xiao Yu formed seals with both hands, drawing the Dou Qi between heaven and earth toward himself. Very quickly, the Dou Qi of heaven and earth surged over, forming a vortex of Dou Qi centered on Xiao Yu. It poured into his body through the pores and acupoints across his body, then gathered in his dantian, rapidly strengthening the Dou Qi vortex there!

While Xiao Yu cultivated, Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan were chatting in the rear mountains. At the end of their conversation, Xiao Zhan said to Xiao Yan, "Go back and rest early. Important guests will come to the clan tomorrow!"

"Important guests? Who?" Xiao Yan asked in confusion.

"You'll find out tomorrow, won't you?" Xiao Zhan said with a chuckle.

The next day.

An elderly voice came from outside Xiao Yu's window. "Fourth Young Master, important guests have arrived at the clan today. The clan leader requests your presence in the main hall!"

Having finished cultivating, Xiao Yu casually replied, "Got it."

The footsteps gradually faded away. Only then did Xiao Yu remember that today should be the day Nalan Yanran came to break off the engagement. He did not think much of it. After stretching his body, he changed into a neat set of white clothes and headed out.

Just as he was nearing the main hall, Xiao Yu happened to run into Xun Er, who was also heading there. Xun Er walked over with a cheerful smile and looked at Xiao Yu. "Brother Xiao Yu looks so handsome today!"

Xiao Yu wore a long white robe, with an emerald-green jade pendant at his waist. If he had a folding fan in his hand as well, he would truly be: a jade-like gentleman on the road, unmatched in this world!

Xiao Yu smiled faintly and returned the compliment. "Xun Er looks beautiful today too."

The two walked inside together. Everyone in the Xiao Clan's main hall turned their eyes toward Xiao Yu and Xun Er, silently praising them in their hearts: What a perfect pair!

Xiao Yu paid no attention to the others' gazes. Holding Xun Er's hand, he went straight to a corner and sat down. His gaze swept over the hall, and he spotted the three extra people there. That delicate-looking young girl must have been Nalan Yanran!

With one glance, Xiao Yu saw through the strength of all three. The old man was a Seven-star Da Dou Shi, the proud-looking young man was a Four-star Dou Zhe, and Nalan Yanran was a Three-star Dou Zhe!

What Xiao Yu did not see was that the instant he entered, Nalan Yanran's gaze had immediately fallen upon him!