The Astonished Xiao Clan

Xiao Yang smiled and shook his head, then entered with Xiao Yan.

Xun'er had already followed behind Xiao Yan and gone inside.

The three of them found a shady spot and sat down together.

When the people around them saw the trio arrive, they took the initiative to greet Xiao Yang and Xun'er.

As for Xiao Yan, it was as though they had not seen him at all, and there was even something strange in their eyes.

If Xiao Yang and Xun'er had not been there, they might have secretly gossiped about him nearby.

Xiao Yan had long since grown used to the looks around him.

After all, he had gone through quite a lot over the past two years.

Feeling the gazes around him, Xiao Yan did not feel any negative emotions at all. Instead, he was somewhat excited.

Before long, several hundred Xiao Clan juniors had gathered in the Training Ground.

On a high platform in the distance, two Xiao Clan members carried up a black stone stele.

There was another high platform not far away, where Xiao Zhan and several Xiao Clan elders were seated.

Soon, a middle-aged examiner stepped onto the platform.

Without wasting words, he said directly.

"Now, the Testing Ceremony officially begins. First up, Xiao Yi!"

A youth who looked around fifteen or sixteen stepped onto the high platform and placed his hand on the black stone stele.

With his powerful senses, Xiao Yang could see that the other boy's hand was trembling slightly. A bead of sweat faintly showed on his forehead, and his face was somewhat pale as well.

The youth injected his Dou Qi into the black stone stele.

The next moment, several words appeared on the black stone stele.

"Dou Qi, Seventh Stage!"

The middle-aged man beside it shouted.

"Xiao Yi, Dou Qi: Seventh Stage! Grade: High!"

Looking at the five large characters before him and hearing the announcement beside him, excitement visibly spread across the youth's face.

His previously pale face had turned bright red.

Although it was clear that he was trying his best to suppress it, the corners of his mouth still curled upward.

Because in the Xiao Clan, reaching Dou Qi Seventh Stage by the coming-of-age ceremony meant that one would not need to be sent away to serve as a steward.

"Next..."

Very soon, the Xiao Clan juniors aged fifteen or sixteen were called up first.

After all, they were closer to their coming-of-age ceremony.

Excited cries and suppressed sobs could be heard from the square from time to time.

Soon, after the fifteen- and sixteen-year-old Xiao Clan juniors had finished testing, it was Xiao Yang and Xiao Yan's generation's turn.

Xiao Yang was now fourteen and a half, while Xiao Yan was fourteen.

In two more years, they would also take part in the coming-of-age ceremony.

"Next, Xiao Mei!"

Hearing the examiner call her name, a girl around thirteen or fourteen, her childishness not yet faded, walked toward the platform.

Though she could not be considered breathtakingly beautiful, her delicate face carried a faint charm.

This made her the center of attention throughout the entire venue.

The girl quickly stepped forward and placed her hand on the black stone stele. The pitch-black stele immediately lit up.

"Dou Qi: Sixth Stage!"

"Xiao Mei: Dou Qi Sixth Stage! Grade: High!"

"Yay!"

Hearing the examiner's announcement, the girl jumped up smugly.

"Tsk, tsk, reaching Dou Qi Sixth Stage at such a young age. She'll probably reach Dou Qi Eighth Stage by the coming-of-age ceremony."

"As expected of one of the Xiao Clan's seed-level talents!"

Hearing the envious voices below the platform, the smile on the girl's face grew wider.

Just then, the examiner shouted again.

"Next, Xiao Yan!"

At those words, the Training Ground suddenly fell quiet.

Xiao Yan slowly walked toward the platform.

As Xiao Mei stepped down, she looked at Xiao Yan as they passed each other, her expression somewhat complicated.

She said nothing. Instead, she deliberately widened the distance between them, as if she did not know him.

Xiao Yan did not even spare her a glance.

As he stepped onto the platform, ninety percent of the gazes in the Training Ground immediately focused on him.

Xiao Yan slowly placed his hand on the black stone stele.

By now, quite a few people were looking at Xiao Yan as though he were a clown.

Besides that, quite a few people also had faint jealousy and resentment in their eyes.

As Xiao Yan infused Dou Qi into the stele, the black stone stele began to emit a faint glow.

"Dou Qi: Seventh Stage!"

The next moment, the entire venue erupted.

"How is that possible?!"

"Could the Magic Stone Stele be broken?"

"How could he possibly have reached Dou Qi Seventh Stage? Shouldn't he be at Dou Qi Third Stage?"

Not far away, Xiao Zhan even rose to his feet excitedly.

Although he knew that Xiao Yan's talent had recovered, seeing his cultivation with his own eyes still came as a pleasant surprise.

The three elders beside him were also somewhat unable to believe it.

The First Elder looked at Xiao Zhan and asked.

"Xiao Yan's talent has recovered?"

Xiao Zhan hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Yes. He was accepted as a disciple by an expert, and his previous problem was resolved."

As soon as those words were spoken, a trace of joy flashed across the faces of the three elders beside him.

Though they often opposed Xiao Zhan, they were also extremely excited to see Xiao Yan's talent recover.

Because based on Xiao Yan's talent, he was at least destined to become a Dou Ling!

He even had a good chance of reaching Dou Wang or Dou Emperor!

He could lead the Xiao Clan to soar to greater heights!

The three of them also hoped that the Xiao Clan could become better.

Previously, the decision to devote the Xiao Clan's resources to Xiao Yan had also been made with their approval.

On the testing platform, the examiner was stunned for a moment. After checking and confirming that there was nothing wrong with the Magic Stone Stele, he shouted.

"Xiao Yan, Dou Qi: Seventh Stage! Grade: High!"

Once the examiner fully confirmed it, the area below the platform fell silent again for an instant.

Then, wave after wave of discussion broke out.

"How is that possible? Could it be... Xiao Yan's talent has recovered?!"

"Xiao Yan is no longer that good-for-nothing?"

"My heavens, how could this be possible?"

Xiao Mei, whose face had been full of smiles just moments ago, suddenly turned pale, her eyes filled with disbelief.

There was also a faint trace of regret.

Beside Xiao Yang, Xun'er's face was full of delight.

"Silence! The testing will continue!"

The First Elder's voice rang throughout the entire venue.

The examiner hurriedly called out.

"Next, Xiao Yang!"

Xiao Yan walked down from the platform, muttering something under his breath.

If one got close enough, one could hear him.

"What's so special about this? The next one is the real monster."

Xiao Yang's soul perception was so powerful, and his five senses had been enhanced as well. Naturally, he heard it.

"Get lost!"

He directly transmitted his voice to Xiao Yan's soul.

Then, without looking back, he walked toward the platform.

Seeing Xiao Yang, the examiner was no longer as indifferent as before. His face was full of a gentle smile, even carrying a hint of respect.

"Xiao Yang, please!"

Xiao Yang smiled and nodded at him as well.

"Thank you for the trouble."

If others treated him well, he would not treat them poorly either.

Xiao Yang slowly placed his hand on the black stone stele.

The Dou Qi within his body poured directly into it.

The next moment, the black stone stele erupted with a glow several times stronger than before, and four large characters appeared upon it.

"Dou Zhe: Five Stars!"

At that moment, the previously noisy Training Ground fell utterly silent.