Xiao Yan Is Humiliated!

"Ah, I saw through my third brother long ago!"

"But he's stubborn. Even though we've seen each other often this past year, he never told me about it."

Xiao Ze watched Xiao Yan's retreating figure and said helplessly.

"That's true. Cousin Xiao Yan is more mature than ordinary people, but he's also more stubborn."

Xiao Xun'er nodded in agreement.

"To go from a One-Star Dou Zhe to the fourth level of Dou Qi... What he's going through must be hard on him."

"Brother Xiao Ze, aren't you going to comfort him?"

Xiao Ze said calmly, "If he wants to talk, he'll tell me himself."

"Besides, this little storm is nothing more than a minor setback before he takes flight."

Hearing Xiao Ze's words, Xiao Xun'er fell into thought as she watched the figure nearly disappear from sight.

She and Xiao Ze had been childhood friends, and she had realized long ago that Xiao Ze had an extraordinary amount of faith in Cousin Xiao Yan.

He seemed to believe all along that Cousin Xiao Yan could leap from a shallow pool, become a true dragon, break free of little Wutan City, and soar through the vast world beyond.

Xiao Xun'er had originally thought that Xiao Yan's displayed talent was what made Xiao Ze trust him so blindly.

But now, even though Xiao Yan's strength had declined for reasons unknown, Xiao Ze's confidence in him had only grown stronger.

Xiao Xun'er found that hard to understand.

"Brother Xiao Ze, why do you have so much faith in Cousin Xiao Yan?"

Xiao Xun'er asked in confusion, blinking her bright, clear eyes like a curious little child.

Xiao Ze turned to her and answered earnestly.

"Because he's my third brother, of course. I'm already this talented, so how could he be anything less?"

"Don't flatter yourself!"

Xiao Xun'er rolled her eyes at Xiao Ze. What did his being talented have to do with Cousin Xiao Yan being talented?

Still, Xiao Xun'er didn't deny Xiao Ze's claim that he was a genius.

Although Xiao Ze had never taken a test, Xiao Xun'er knew that his strength had already surpassed hers by a wide margin.

People outside the clan had come up with all sorts of explanations for why Xiao Ze never took a test, but the most common one was this:

Xiao Yan's brilliance was so dazzling that the Fourth Young Master felt inferior and feared his talent would prove lacking, leaving others to compare him with Xiao Yan.

Only Xiao Xun'er, who had always cultivated alongside Xiao Ze, knew just how powerful he was.

His talent and insight were astonishing, too!

They had started cultivating at the same time, yet Xiao Ze's understanding and insights were many times greater than hers!

Xiao Xun'er had even shared those insights with her bodyguard, Ling Ying, a high-ranking Dou Emperor, and left him impressed!

Ling Ying had gone so far as to say he could never have come up with insights like those himself!

If even a Dou Emperor was so impressed, it was easy to imagine how extraordinary Xiao Ze's talent and insight were.

Even in that land where geniuses were born in droves, Xiao Ze's talent would rank among the very best!

What Xiao Xun'er didn't know was that Xiao Ze owed all his talent and insight to her.

Xiao Xun'er herself was the Ancient Clan's greatest genius in a thousand years, with a God-Grade Bloodline. Even compared with the other ancient clans, she was among the most exceptional talents of her generation!

Xiao Ze had gained ten times the progress from Xiao Xun'er's feedback. It was easy to imagine how astonishing that was!

It had made Xiao Ze reflect countless times that he had made the right choice!

"Since you won't tell me, Brother Xiao Ze, then forget it. Why tease me with an answer like that?"

Xiao Xun'er pretended to be angry. She folded her arms and turned away.

"Wait, wait! I really mean it!" Xiao Ze hurriedly said. There was no way he could tell her he knew the story's future, was there?

All he could do was blame it on a feeling!

Hearing Xiao Ze's hurried explanation, Xiao Xun'er's lips curled slightly, though she kept her back turned.

After a moment's hesitation, she asked, "Really?"

"Absolutely. Ever since we were little, I've felt that my third brother was born to stand above the crowd. Sooner or later, he'd become a true dragon and soar into the sky."

Hearing how certain Xiao Ze sounded, Xiao Xun'er grew curious, too.

What was so special about Xiao Yan that she hadn't noticed, something that made Xiao Ze trust him so much?

But Xiao Ze clearly couldn't explain it. It was only a feeling he had.

They chatted back and forth without feeling awkward, both enjoying each other's company.

Suddenly, two Xiao Clan disciples hurried past them, speaking quickly as they went.

"Hurry, hurry! Young Master Xiao Yan and Cousin Xiao Ning are fighting!"

"Really? Let's go see if the genius has truly fallen!"

On the hillside, Xiao Ze abruptly sat up. Xiao Xun'er, beside him, couldn't help asking, "Brother Xiao Ze, shall we go take a look?"

"Of course!"

Xiao Ze replied, quickly getting to his feet and following the two men toward the scene.

Xiao Xun'er smiled faintly and followed close behind.

After completing his test, Xiao Ning had also left the plaza.

But he couldn't stop thinking about Xiao Yan's test result: the fourth level of Dou Qi!

Xiao Ning was a few years older than Xiao Yan, but after Xiao Yan's meteoric rise, his grandfather had often used Xiao Yan as an example to spur him to cultivate harder.

Xiao Ning found that extremely hard to accept.

His long-suppressed resentment finally erupted when he happened to run into Xiao Yan.

In the past, facing Xiao Yan, a One-Star Dou Zhe, Xiao Ning had cowered.

Now, facing Xiao Yan, who had fallen to the mere fourth level of Dou Qi, Xiao Ning chose to strike with all his might!

Their fight quickly drew a crowd, and even the clan elders were alerted.

By the time Xiao Zhan, the clan leader, hurried to the scene, the situation had already changed.

Xiao Yan lay on the ground, covered in dust, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Xiao Ning stood nearby, looking smug and pleased with himself.

If Xiao Zhan hadn't arrived, Xiao Ning would probably have taunted him some more.

Xiao Zhan frowned and was just about to help Xiao Yan up when a voice rang out.

"Father, let me."

When he saw Xiao Ze helping Xiao Yan to his feet, Xiao Zhan's expression eased slightly.

Xiao Ze looked Xiao Yan over. His injuries weren't serious. The two had fought, but they had still shown some restraint out of regard for their shared clan.

Xiao Ning hadn't tried to kill him, either. He had stopped once he'd knocked Xiao Yan down.

"Xiao Ning, why did you use such force against Xiao Yan, a fellow member of the Xiao Tribe?"

Xiao Zhan demanded, holding back his anger.

"Oh, come on, Xiao Zhan. It was just a spar between the younger generation. There's no need to get angry."

An elderly voice suddenly spoke. Everyone present turned to look at the newcomer.

It was none other than the Xiao Clan's Great Elder, whose authority was equal to the clan leader's.

"A spar? You used that much force against a fellow clansman during a spar! Great Elder, you've got quite a thick skin!"

A flash of anger crossed Xiao Zhan's face, but he kept his composure.

He had just seen Xiao Ze signal that Xiao Yan was all right.

"Heh. Xiao Ning didn't know, after all. He still thought he was facing the clan's genius, Xiao Yan, a One-Star Dou Zhe, so naturally he gave it everything he had."

"Who knew that Xiao Ning's full-force attack would knock Xiao Yan flat? It was an honest mistake, wasn't it? Besides, this is a matter between the younger members of the clan. You and I shouldn't interfere, right?"

The Great Elder mocked Xiao Yan, both openly and in veiled terms. Now that his strength had declined, his standing was far below what it had once been. He couldn't even measure up to the Great Elder's grandson, Xiao Ning.

Just as Xiao Zhan was about to say more, Xiao Yan suddenly spoke.

"Father, I was simply weaker in this spar. I accept that."

Xiao Yan knew that if this dragged on, it would only turn into an argument between the clan leader and the Great Elder.

If they kept this up, things would only get more awkward!

Better to end this farce here, and call it a spar between the younger generation rather than deliberate revenge against a fallen genius.

"Yan'er..." Xiao Zhan understood what Xiao Yan was thinking.

He was Xiao Yan's father, but he was also the clan leader of the Xiao Tribe!

"Since Xiao Yan himself has said so, then we'll let the matter end here."

The Great Elder spoke first, settling the matter once and for all.

"It's just an affair between the younger members of the clan. There's no need for us to interfere. Isn't that right, Clan Leader Xiao Zhan?"