Time flew by, and before long, half a year had passed. The simulator had introduced no new characters during that time. Aside from training hard every day, Xiao Chen spent his time playing with Xun'er.
To Xiao Chen's surprise, that guy Xiao Yan hadn't secretly gone off to do anything bad. It made him wonder whether what happened in the simulator could affect reality.
However, the system firmly denied Xiao Chen's theory, explicitly stating that the simulator was only a simulation and would not affect reality.
The Xiao Family was especially lively today. All the Xiao Family's children had gathered in the clearing for the annual Battle Qi test.
"Xiao Ning! Second Stage of Dou Qi!"
As the middle-aged man beside the Magic Testing Stone announced the result, everyone present began praising him. "As expected of the First Elder's grandson! He's already reached the Second Stage of Dou Qi at seven. He's much better than that brat of mine!"
"Ah! That's talent for you. Comparing people is enough to drive you mad. I hope my daughter can do us proud!"
The First Elder modestly waved his hand at their words. "Not at all, not at all. He's only at the Second Stage of Dou Qi. He's still a long way behind Third Young Master, haha!" But the smile on his face made it clear he was very pleased with Xiao Ning's performance.
"Xiao Yu! Third Stage of Dou Qi!"
Beside the Magic Testing Stone, Xiao Yu raised her chin proudly and swept her gaze across the crowd below, finally letting it rest on Xiao Xun'er. But she quickly looked away.
The smile on the First Elder's face grew even wider as he basked in the crowd's praise. Then Xiao Yan stepped onto the stone platform, and it was as if someone had pressed the mute button. The surroundings fell instantly silent.
"Xiao Yan! Dou Power... Fifth Stage!"
Staring at the gleaming golden characters on the Magic Testing Stone, the middle-aged man widened his eyes in disbelief. Even his voice trembled as he announced the result.
After a brief silence, everyone present burst into discussion. Xiao Zhan was so excited that he sprang up from his seat and laughed out loud. "Hahaha! Did you see that? This is my son, Xiao Zhan's! Five stages of Dou Power at six years old! My son, Xiao Yan, has the makings of a Dou Sheng!"
"Third Young Master really is a genius! At this rate, he'll probably gather a Battle Qi vortex and reach the Dou Zhe realm within three years!"
The Second Elder gazed at Xiao Yan on the platform with a broad smile. Naturally, he was delighted to see such a genius emerge from the family.
The First Elder beside him was also beaming as he flattered Xiao Zhan. "That's right, that's right. Perhaps Third Young Master's future achievements will even surpass the clan leader's. The Xiao Family's future will rest on his shoulders!"
Xiao Yan hadn't yet fallen into ruin as a cripple. With such dazzling talent for cultivation, he naturally wasn't subjected to scorn.
Yet Xiao Yan wasn't affected in the slightest by all the praise. Under the envious, jealous gazes of the Xiao Family's children, he calmly walked down from the testing platform.
"Fifth Stage of Dou Power? What the heck? Has Xiao Yan really been cultivating that quickly?"
Xiao Chen frowned. Something just didn't feel right. Although the original story hadn't described Xiao Yan's cultivation process in detail, it had mentioned that he condensed Qi at four and became a One-Star Dou Zhe at eleven.
But Xiao Yan was only six now, and he had already reached the Fifth Stage of Dou Power. There was no way he would advance only one stage each year for the next five years, right?
"Xiao Chen! Xiao Chen!"
The middle-aged man called out several times, but Xiao Chen didn't react. Seeing this, Xun'er tugged at his sleeve and quietly reminded him, "Brother Xiao Chen, it's your turn!"
"Sorry, I was thinking about something and got a little distracted!"
Xiao Chen patted Xun'er on the head, then walked onto the stone platform and placed his hand on the Magic Testing Stone. Golden characters slowly appeared on its surface—One-Star Dou Zhe!
The middle-aged man stared at the four characters "One-Star Dou Zhe" on the Magic Testing Stone and stood there frozen, unable to come to his senses.
"What happened? Why isn't Xiao Zhong saying anything?"
The Second Elder was seated beside the Magic Testing Stone and couldn't see what had happened, so he turned toward the First Elder in confusion.
At that moment, the First Elder, like Lin Zhong, stood with his mouth hanging open and his eyes wide, as if he'd witnessed something impossible.
In the main seat, Xiao Zhan rubbed his eyes and stared at the Magic Testing Stone for a long moment. Then he suddenly raised a hand and slapped himself. "Hiss! That hurts! So it isn't a dream! A true dragon has emerged from my Xiao Family!"
Xiao Zhan came to his senses, shot up from his seat, and darted onto the platform. A terrifying pressure from his Battle Qi instantly blanketed the entire clearing. His gaze swept over everyone present. "No one is to speak of what happened today. Anyone who disobeys will be treated as a traitor to the clan!"
"Chen'er, come with me. I have something to discuss with you!"
Ignoring the crowd, who were still stunned, Xiao Zhan pulled Xiao Chen away from the platform. In the blink of an eye, they vanished without a trace.
The Second Elder finally saw the test result on the stone tablet. Overcome with excitement, he even plucked out a tuft of his prized beard.
"Brother Xiao Chen!"
Xun'er watched the direction the two had disappeared in. After thinking for a moment, she turned and walked out of the crowd.
Xiao Ning stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly at the Magic Testing Stone as he muttered, "Impossible. How could this be? He hadn't even condensed Qi when he was tested last year. How did he suddenly become a Dou Zhe? This can't be!"
"Ah, little brother, I know you don't want to believe it, but there will always be someone more talented in this world!"
Xiao Yu patted Xiao Ning on the shoulder. She couldn't believe it either—someone had advanced from condensing Qi to becoming a Dou Zhe in a single year. But the facts were right in front of her; she couldn't deny them.
As for comforting her little brother, she would leave that aside. She had never known how to console people, so he would have to work it out for himself.
"Father was right. There's always someone greater, and there's always a higher heaven. Never become complacent because of your own talent!"
Xiao Yan clenched his fist, a burning light rising in his eyes. "It seems I'm still not strong enough. Xiao Chen, I'll catch up to you!"
At the same time, elsewhere, in a secret chamber of the Xiao Family...
"Clan Leader, you said you had something to discuss with me. What is it?"
Xiao Chen hadn't been afraid when Xiao Zhan suddenly brought him here. He knew perfectly well that Xiao Zhan would never harm him.
Xiao Zhan studied Xiao Chen for a moment. Seeing how composed he was, a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes. But when he heard how Xiao Chen addressed him, Xiao Zhan instinctively furrowed his brow. "Chen'er, according to our seniority, you should call me Uncle. Calling me Clan Leader is far too formal!"
Xiao Chen's father had once saved Xiao Zhan's life. So even though Xiao Chen hadn't liked cultivating before, Xiao Zhan had never cut off his resources.
This was no secret in the Xiao Family, and no one objected, because what Xiao Zhan had given Xiao Chen had come from his own cultivation resources. No one else had any right to criticize him.
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