Talent?

Jia Ma Empire, Wutan City.

Xiao Family.

"Eighth stage Dou Qi, high rank!"

Before the ancient black testing stele, a young boy stood proudly with his head held high, his face full of pride.

This was Xiao Yan, the most dazzling genius the Xiao Family had seen in recent years.

At only four years old, he had already sensed Dou Qi and successfully cultivated the first stage of Dou Qi.

Now, at nine, he had reached the eighth stage of Dou Qi. With such talent, reaching the ninth stage at ten and becoming a Dou Zhe at eleven was practically guaranteed.

"Cousin Xiao Yan is amazing! He reached the eighth stage of Dou Qi at just nine years old. He truly deserves to be called the most outstanding genius in the history of our Xiao Family."

Xiao Mei, watching from below, gazed at the dazzling Xiao Yan atop the platform with adoration in her eyes.

Xiao Mei was far from the only one who liked Xiao Yan. In the Xiao Family, idolizing him was simply the norm.

A spirited young man naturally won the hearts of young girls.

With talent like Xiao Yan's, he would be considered among the best not only in Wutan City, but even throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire.

The corners of Xiao Yan's lips rose as delight filled his heart. Being surrounded by admiration like this truly intoxicated him.

In a corner, an exceptionally beautiful yet cold-faced young girl revealed a sweet smile as well.

Below the stage, Xiao Zhan, the Xiao Family Patriarch, burst into hearty laughter.

"My son Xiao Yan has the bearing of a Dou Emperor!"

Before long, news that Xiao Yan of the Xiao Family had reached the eighth stage of Dou Qi at the age of nine spread throughout Wutan City. The news once again threw the city into an uproar.

The Jia Lie Family and Aoba Clan, two of Wutan City's three great families, along with the Mittel Auction House, all reacted differently.

In the rear courtyard of the Miteer Auction House, the sun was slanting westward, stretching the shadows in the yard long and thin.

The courtyard was not large, but it was kept in impeccable order.

Several medicinal herbs rarely seen in daily life grew in one corner, and a faint, bitter herbal fragrance drifted through the air.

Beside a stone table, a woman languidly reclined in a cushioned chair.

Her bright red dress blazed like fire, tightly wrapping her voluptuous figure. Her waist was slender, yet her curves suddenly flared at her hips, outlining a soul-stealing silhouette.

The slit of her dress rose high, revealing her crossed legs, fair as snow beneath the sunlight.

She held a celadon teacup in her hand. Her slender nails were painted crimson as she idly swirled the tea inside the cup.

She was Ya Fei, the chief auctioneer of the Miteer Auction House.

"Little Brother Lu Heng, it has been over a year since we came to Wutan City, hasn't it?"

Ya Fei took a sip of tea. Moisture glistened on her red lips, making her appear even more alluring.

She turned her head toward the young man sorting medicinal herbs at the other end of the courtyard.

The young man wore a simple set of azure cloth robes. He was taller than others his age, with refined features, and he deftly sorted several withered Blue Spirit Grass plants aside.

Hearing Ya Fei's words, Lu Heng straightened up, dusted the dirt from his hands, and smiled.

"As long as I'm with Sister Ya Fei, I can get used to anywhere. Naturally, I'm comfortable here too."

"Comfortable?"

Ya Fei gave a soft laugh, the sound like a feather brushing past the ear, tingling and sweet.

She set down her teacup, rested her cheek on her jade-like hand, and let her gaze wander.

"The outside world is in an uproar. You heard about what happened at the Xiao Family today, didn't you?"

Lu Heng walked over to the stone table and sat down, casually pouring himself a cup of water.

"The Xiao Family's third young master. Nine years old, eighth stage Dou Qi. The whole city is calling him a genius."

Ya Fei narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly as she studied Lu Heng before her.

Ever since three years ago, Lu Heng had remained by Ya Fei's side.

Even after Ya Fei had been sent down to Wutan City, she had still brought Lu Heng with her.

Others merely assumed he was some little brat Ya Fei had picked up on a whim. Even the old fogies in the family had gossiped behind her back, saying Ya Fei could not bear loneliness and had raised herself a pretty-boy toy.

But only Ya Fei herself knew just how much potential lay hidden within this seemingly mild-tempered young man.

"Nine years old, eighth stage..."

Ya Fei snorted softly, her fingertips lightly tapping the stone table.

"Those ignorant fools simply don't know what our Lu Heng is capable of.

Last year, when you were only eight, you had already touched the threshold of the ninth stage of Dou Qi. After another year, I'm afraid you're about to break through that final barrier, aren't you?"

Lu Heng's movements paused slightly before he nodded.

"I can't hide it from Sister Ya Fei. My whirlpool has already shown signs of condensing. It should happen within the next few days."

At nine years old, he was about to challenge the Dou Zhe realm.

If word of this spread, the entire Jia Ma Empire would likely be shaken.

The genius halo the Xiao Family took such pride in would probably pale before Lu Heng.

The smile on Ya Fei's face deepened. Suddenly, she sat upright, and some of the laziness in her expression faded away.

"Give me your hand."

Lu Heng was startled and instinctively extended his right hand.

A warm, soft, silky palm clasped his.

Ya Fei's hand was slightly cool, but its touch was exquisite.

Without saying anything further, she brushed her other hand over the red gemstone Storage Ring. A lustrous white jade bottle appeared in her palm, which she gently placed in Lu Heng's hand.

The bottle was warm, still carrying Sister Ya Fei's temperature.

"This is..."

Lu Heng lowered his head and pulled out the stopper. Inside lay a round pill, faintly visible, exuding a rich medicinal fragrance.

"Qi Gathering Powder."

Ya Fei's voice was soft, yet it struck Lu Heng's heart like a heavy hammer.

Lu Heng abruptly looked up, his fingers instinctively tightening around the jade bottle. "Sister Ya Fei, this is too precious."

Qi Gathering Powder, a fourth-grade pill!

It could guarantee that someone at the ninth stage of Dou Qi would successfully condense a Dou Qi Whirlpool and advance to become a Dou Zhe.

In a place like Wutan City, it was a priceless treasure that could not be bought even with money. Even at the Miteer Auction House, obtaining one would be no easy matter.

Especially for Sister Ya Fei in her current circumstances.

"Take it."

Rather than withdrawing her hand, Ya Fei turned it over and grasped the back of Lu Heng's hand. Her strength was slight, but refusal was not an option.

She looked at Lu Heng. Her eyes, usually three parts seductive and seven parts shrewd, now held something more.

"You know about my situation in the family."

Ya Fei withdrew her hand and tidied the stray hair beside her ear, her tone deliberately casual.

"Your sister's talent is average, and I'm a woman. If I can't produce results, those old fogies will sooner or later send me into a political marriage to trade for benefits for the family. Wutan City is nothing more than my refuge."

Ya Fei laughed at herself, then rose to her feet. Her red dress swayed, carrying a fragrant breeze with it.

"I used my own savings and some connections to obtain this Qi Gathering Powder. Lu Heng, I don't ask you to repay me now. It's just..."

She paused, turned around, and faced away from Lu Heng. Her voice became somewhat distant.

"It's just that, rather than hand my fate over to those old fools who treat me like merchandise, I would rather make a big gamble. I've always had a good eye for people."

After saying that, Ya Fei recalled the heavy snowstorm in the Imperial Capital three years ago.

She had lifted the carriage curtain and, among a group of shivering beggars, spotted at first glance the child whose face had frozen blue and purple, yet who still fiercely protected half a stale bun in his arms.

That ruthlessness, that wild determination to survive, had made Ya Fei stop the carriage almost as if possessed.

Ya Fei had known then that if she did not take him away, she would certainly regret it. Perhaps her eye truly was that good, for she had taken Lu Heng away at a single glance.

Over the past three years, Ya Fei had endured much criticism because of Lu Heng. Yet now, at only nine years old, Lu Heng had reached the ninth stage of Dou Qi, proving that her judgment back then had not been wrong!

As for why Ya Fei had not recommended Lu Heng to the family, on one hand, she had her own selfish reasons. On the other, Lu Heng himself had refused her proposal.