Xiao Ning, the Tool

The three of them soon arrived at the Xiao Family's enormous bluestone Training Ground. Many of the Xiao Family's young men and women had already gathered there before them. Waves of chatter filled the air, and the entire Training Ground brimmed with youthful energy!

The moment Xiao Yu and the other two stepped into the Training Ground, the place suddenly fell silent. Everyone looked toward the three of them, though most of their attention was focused on Xiao Yan, whom they now saw as a cripple!

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

"How does he still have the nerve to take part in the test?"

"He's just a cripple. Coming here is nothing but an embarrassment to our Xiao Family!"

"Exactly! What's the point of coming? He's still only at Third Stage Dou Qi. Once next year's coming-of-age ceremony is over, even if he's the Clan Leader's son, he'll have to go to a branch family. With only Third Stage Dou Qi, he'd be lucky to manage a Market District!"

As soon as those words were spoken, a burst of laughter rang out. Xiao Yu glanced at Xiao Yan behind him and saw his body trembling slightly. 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 laughing together. He was fairly familiar with the one leading them. After all, he was merely the first tool character to step out and serve as a stepping stone—Xiao Ke, a member of the Grand Elder's faction!

When those people saw Xiao Yu's gaze, they froze, then quickly lowered their heads. Xiao Ke's expression changed as well when he saw Xiao Yu, but he forced himself not to lower his head. Xiao Yu smiled mockingly. "You lot are pretty good at gossiping behind people's backs, like a bunch of long-tongued old women. It's annoying. Do you dare come onto the Training Ground and have a spar with me?"

"Y-you, don't think I'm afraid of you! Big Brother Xiao Ning will be here soon. He's already at Seventh Stage Dou Qi, so don't you dare act recklessly!" The threat seemed to have lost all its force. Even he himself felt his lack of confidence, and his face flushed red.

They all knew that the Clan Leader had given birth to two outstanding sons in a row. When Xiao Yan became a Dou Zhe at eleven, he had already been a once-in-a-century genius of the Xiao Family. That same year, Xiao Yu had reached Seventh Stage Dou Qi at the age of ten, becoming the family's second greatest genius in one leap. Many people had said that the Xiao Family's status in Wutan City would soar because of Xiao Yan and Xiao Yu!

Although Xiao Yan later lost his original strength, Xiao Yu's strength had continued to rise steadily. He had already reached Nine Stages of Dou Qi the previous year. This time, he had probably advanced to Dou Zhe already. Becoming a Dou Zhe at fourteen might have been slightly inferior to Xiao Yan's achievement of advancing at eleven, but it still made him the Xiao Family's second!

"Don't let me hear 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. The few of them hurriedly nodded and said they would not dare do it again, then ran off. 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 more, a voice sounded beside him. "What, they aren't even allowed to tell the truth now?"

Xiao Yu turned and saw that Xiao Ning, the backer of those lackeys, had arrived. Xiao Ning walked in from outside, gazed at Xiao Xun'er with obvious admiration, then noticed Xun'er holding Xiao Yu's arm. His eyes reddened as he gritted his teeth and said, "Xiao Yu, don't get too smug. Maybe your branch 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!"

At Xiao Ning's words, Xiao Xun'er, who had been standing silently to one 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 flared even more. But he was not stupid. Whether it was Xiao Yu or Xiao Xun'er, both were far stronger than him. He did not dare provoke them. He would wait until his sister returned!

After glaring resentfully at Xiao Yu, Xiao Ning left with Xiao Ke. The family test was about to begin as well.

The important figures of the family had already taken their seats on the high platform. Xiao Yu immediately spotted his cheap father, Xiao Zhan, standing above. After looking around, Xiao Zhan called out to the Training Ground in a deep voice, "Today is the day of our family's annual test to assess the results of your cultivation over the past year. It is also meant to encourage you to cultivate even more diligently in the coming year! Enough nonsense. I now declare that the test officially begins!"

As Xiao Zhan's voice fell, the young men and women in the area grew nervous. The stronger one was, the higher one's status in the family would be. Who did not want to make a name for themselves within the family?

It was still that black stone tablet. The tester stepped forward with a dark expression, took out a roster from his robes, and began calling people up one by one for testing!

Since there was still plenty of time, Xiao Yu pulled Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Yan over to sit beneath a willow tree, where there was a patch of shade.

Watching the youths around them go up for their tests one after another, some proud and some dejected, their varied expressions amused Xiao Yu. Soon, the tester called out a name Xiao Yu recognized. Even Xiao Yan, who had been indifferent to everything else, slightly raised his head to look.

"Xiao Mei!"

A red figure swiftly ran up onto the stage. Her childish face carried both innocence and charm, truly living up to her name. Xiao Yu stared at Xiao Mei for a moment as he recalled scenes from the novel, only to feel a sharp pain at his waist. Looking down, he saw Xiao Xun'er's small hand pinching the soft flesh at his side. Then a somewhat icy voice sounded by his ear. "Is she pretty?"

Xiao Yu immediately understood. Xun'er was jealous. He hurriedly smiled ingratiatingly. "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 stand Xiao Yu's blunt, cheesy sweet talk any longer. Blushing, she said coyly, "Stop talking. I forgive you!"

Xiao Yu chuckled, then finally sat back down.

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

"Dou Qi, Seventh Stage!"

"Xiao Mei: Dou Qi, Seventh Stage! Rank: High!"

Looking at Xiao Mei's somewhat smug smile, Xiao Yu quietly laughed. "Seventh Stage Dou Qi at fourteen? That talent is only average."

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yan shook his head and smiled bitterly. "Seventh Stage Dou Qi is already enough to establish oneself in the Xiao Family, but I'm only at Third Stage Dou Qi!"

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

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

A wave of commotion instantly erupted below the stage. The tester could not help shouting, "Silence!"

Xiao Yan stood and walked toward the Demon Stone Tablet. He placed his palm against its icy surface, and a flash of light passed over it. A line of small words appeared.

"Dou Qi: Third Stage!"

"Xiao Yan: Third Stage Dou Qi! Rank: Low!"

Xiao Zhan, standing on the high platform, sighed softly. The Grand Elder beside him sneered, "Your genius son has been standing still for three years!"

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

The high platform was like that, and the commotion below was even harder to suppress.

"Heh, it really is Third Stage Dou Qi!"

"Looks like he truly has become the family's cripple!"

Seeing the scene, the tester quickly called out, "Next: Xiao Yu!"

In an instant, the Training Ground fell silent!