Coming-of-Age Ceremony

"That's right. The power behind her is enormous—so enormous that most people on the continent can only look up to it in awe."

Xiao Wujiu said with feeling. The Emperor Clan was indeed an existence he needed to look up to for now, but he believed that sooner or later, he would reach that level!

What was more, as long as he did not wish it, no one would become an emperor in the next thousand years of the Douqi Continent!

"It's okay, little man. If you get tired, come back into your big sister's arms. My embrace will always be open for you~"

"Could you leave out the 'little'? It sounds weird to me."

"No. You're my little man."

"Don't you know perfectly well how old I am?"

"What are you talking about..."

Their voices grew softer and softer, and Ya Fei's cheeks seemed to be dusted with a layer of pink. Xiao Zhan and the three elders beside them were left staring in stunned silence.

They had originally planned to go over and express their gratitude when they saw Xiao Wujiu. After all, their strength had improved tremendously thanks to his pills. That was no small favor.

But seeing how intimately he and Ya Fei behaved, they felt too embarrassed to interrupt. They could only awkwardly return to their seats, as the coming-of-age ceremony had begun!

Second Elder Xiao Ying left first, as he had to organize the coming-of-age ceremony.

Xiao Wujiu also stopped chatting with Ya Fei and turned his gaze toward the high platform in the center of the square, pondering what level of cultivation he should display later.

Watching the coming-of-age ceremony below, Ya Fei suddenly realized that Xiao Wujiu was only sixteen years old.

She had also learned of Xiao Wujiu's current strength earlier: a Nine-Star Dou Ling and a Fifth-Grade Alchemist!

A sixteen-year-old Nine-Star Dou Ling or a sixteen-year-old Fifth-Grade Alchemist would become an incomparably dazzling genius no matter who possessed either achievement. But to possess both...

Terrifying indeed!

After more than half of the coming-of-age ceremony had passed, a name that drew everyone's attention was finally called: Xiao Yan!

As the person concerned, Xiao Yan sighed. Feeling the gazes around him, he shook his head helplessly.

He let out a soft breath, his face maintaining an ancient-well-like calm. Then, beneath the watchful eyes of the entire audience, he stepped onto the high platform one step at a time.

Looking at the youth who had risen against the odds before him, Second Elder Xiao Ying no longer held the disdain and contempt of the past in his eyes.

After the tedious ceremony concluded, Xiao Yan finally approached the Black Stone Test Stele as Xiao Ying announced, "Ceremonial retest!"

Looking at Xiao Yan on the high platform, Xiao Yu asked Xiao Ning beside her, "His talent has returned? Did he really reach the seventh stage?"

Xiao Yu did not have much of a grudge against Xiao Yan. It was mainly her younger brother, Xiao Ning, who was rather hostile toward him. She could hardly refuse to side with her own family.

When his sister asked him, Xiao Ning nodded bitterly and muttered, "Yeah. I don't know what that guy ate, but he really jumped four stages of Dou Qi within a year."

"What about Xiao Wujiu?"

Having only just returned from Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Yu did not know the prediction results from last month.

Xiao Ning was not surprised to hear his sister ask about Xiao Wujiu. Back then, Xiao Yu had often run over to see him. Even after being turned away countless times, she had never given up. Only after she went to Jia Nan Academy did it finally come to an end.

"Sis, you still like Xiao Wujiu? That guy..."

Hearing her younger brother's question, her cheeks reddened slightly. She pursed her lips and said, "Adult matters are none of a child's business. Hurry up and tell me."

"What child? After today's coming-of-age ceremony, I'll be an adult too..."

But before he could finish, Xiao Yu's gaze made his scalp tingle. He immediately answered, "A year ago, Cousin Wujiu had already reached the Three-Star Dou Zhe level. But Cousin Wujiu didn't participate in last month's prediction, so no one knows his current strength yet!"

Xiao Ning answered Xiao Yu as quickly as he could, afraid that if he spoke too slowly, her fist would land on his head.

"A Three-Star Dou Zhe..."

Xiao Yu stared blankly at Xiao Wujiu on the high platform, where he was behaving intimately with Ya Fei. A stubborn look flashed across her pretty face.

I'll work hard to catch up to you. Once I'm qualified to stand by your side, I'll tie you to my side even if I have to bind you myself!

Her thoughts could not help drifting back into memories of the past.

When she was young, she had been bathing in the back mountains when she suddenly heard Xiao Wujiu's voice. At the time, she thought that little pervert was peeping at her bath, so she ran out shouting, "Lecher!"

Only after seeing Xiao Yan's fleeing back, Xiao Wujiu's gentle smile, and his carefree composure as he brushed off his sleeves and departed did she realize that she had misunderstood him.

Later, she wanted to find an opportunity to speak with him alone and apologize.

But she never found a good opportunity. Still, as she paid more and more attention to Xiao Wujiu...

She gradually discovered that she had developed feelings for him.

It made her feel ashamed, yet she was unwilling to give up. So, she wanted to give her cultivation resources to Xiao Wujiu, who was an orphan.

But all she received were countless polite refusals. The words she remembered most clearly from the final time were what Xiao Wujiu had said: "Rather than waste time on me, become more outstanding. Remember this: if you bloom, the gentle breeze will come naturally."

After that, she no longer blocked Xiao Wujiu's path or pestered him.

Instead, she calmed herself and cultivated, chasing after Xiao Wujiu's footsteps.

Those words had continued to inspire and encourage her. Yet every time her strength came close to his, she was always just a little short. The gap had always remained.

Xiao Wujiu clearly did not have many cultivation resources, yet his cultivation was only slightly below Xiao Yan's, who was hailed as the Xiao Clan's number one genius. Only then did she clearly realize the gap in their talent.

Therefore, she left the Xiao Clan and went to Jia Nan Academy, hoping to overtake him around the bend.

But now, even after cultivating desperately at the academy, she had only reached the Four-Star Dou Zhe realm. Yet Xiao Wujiu had already become a Three-Star Dou Zhe a year ago!

What she found even harder to accept was that Xiao Wujiu was together with Ya Fei!

Damn it, that slutty fox must have tricked Wujiu. I'll definitely take Wujiu back!

Xiao Yu's little face was full of defiance. Even if Xiao Wujiu was with someone else, she would not give up.

Because he was worth it!

At this moment, Xiao Yan's test result was also revealed. Brilliant light burst from the massive Black Stone Test Stele atop the high platform, and amid everyone's astonished gazes, large golden characters appeared across its surface in sweeping strokes.

"Dou Qi: Eight-Duan Dou Qi!"

In an instant, the entire venue fell silent.

Xiao Wujiu quietly watched this scene as the light on the Crossing Gate in his mind gradually filled, the energy for crossing worlds continuously rising.

The Xiao Yan of old had returned!