At the Xiao Clan's training grounds, a middle-aged man flipped through the register. After confirming that no one had been missed, he announced loudly, "The test is over. I hope everyone keeps working hard. Let's encourage one another!"
"Wait!"
At the entrance to the training grounds, Xiao Zhan, Xiao Li, and Xiao Yi Xian strode in. "Xiao Li hasn't taken the test yet."
"Second Young Master?!"
"Xiao Li?!"
The crowd gasped, looking at the youth who had grown more mature with each passing day. He was a few centimeters taller, nearly six feet tall now, and his shoulders had broadened considerably. More importantly, his aura had become weightier and more expansive.
Xiao Mei's eyes sparkled with countless little stars. If both Second Young Master and Third Young Master pursue me, which one should I choose?
One was a monstrous genius whose domineering aura shone through; the other, a handsome fallen star, sunk in gloom. What a difficult choice! Xiao Mei, who had secretly read countless popular romance stories, hesitated.
Admiration blazed in Xiao Ning's eyes. To the younger generation of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan, who was their own age, was a rival. They respected him, but not to the point of idolizing him.
But Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, and Xiao Yu, who were a few years older than them, were different. They were the objects of their complete and utter admiration.
A beautiful woman in blue leaned against a great tree. A long sword hung at her waist, and her figure was tall and willowy. What drew the eye most of all was her pair of long, shapely legs. Though their owner was only about sixteen, she was already breathtakingly beautiful.
Xiao Yu stood at a distance. "Xiao Li... I wonder if you'll be entering Jia Nan Academy this year, too."
Looking at the young members of the clan gathered there, Xiao Yi Xian's gaze quivered. But then she clenched her fists again, as if steeling herself and telling herself she had no need to feel inferior.
Meeting Xiao Yu's gaze, Xiao Li smiled casually and nodded in greeting. That girl had refused to accept that he was older than her for years, arguing with him about it for more than a decade. Yet from childhood on, she had never beaten him in a spar.
Seeing Xiao Li return, the middle-aged man hurriedly straightened up again. "Now, let's have Xiao Li come up for his test."
With everyone watching, Xiao Li stepped onto the testing platform with ease. His effortless composure made Xiao Yi Xian feel proud by association. The person I like really is different.
Wait. Like?
Xiao Yi Xian realized the change in her feelings and lowered her head awkwardly. No matter how she tried, she couldn't hide the shy look in her eyes.
Setting aside the Xiao Clan members' and Xiao Yi Xian's rose-colored lenses, Xiao Li felt as if he'd merely walked up a flight of stairs. He had no idea what they were shouting about.
He glanced at Xiao Yanzi's clean-cut face. Not handsome, just neat—like a boy. Then there was himself. Being too handsome really was a source of trouble!
After a brief sigh, Xiao Li placed his hand on the testing stele. The deadly trials he had endured over the past year were not something he could explain to outsiders. Only Xiao Yi Xian knew how hard he had pushed himself.
As Xiao Li moved, the crowd, which had been in an uproar, suddenly fell silent. Every gaze snapped toward him.
"Da Dou Shi, one star!"
Golden letters shone brilliantly. The vast Xiao Clan testing grounds fell deathly silent.
"Is the testing stele... broken?"
"But it was accurate just now..."
"So that means..."
The silent crowd suddenly erupted into a clamor. Their deafening shouts nearly lifted the roof off the testing grounds.
"Da Dou Shi!!!"
"My heavens and ancestors above, what is this?!"
On the grandstand, the Great Elder stumbled and fell to his knees, yet seemed not to notice. "Our old clan leader above, the heavens bless the Xiao Clan!"
The Second Elder and Third Elder were equally overjoyed. "Ten years! Within ten years, we'll return to the imperial capital!"
The young people below the grandstand were nearly going mad. They crowded around the testing platform, some so thrilled their faces flushed red.
"Second Young Master, you're so handsome! I—I!" The girl glanced back at her parents, but she couldn't force out the rest of her sentence.
"Second Young Master could be clan leader already, couldn't he?" Suddenly, an out-of-place voice rang out. It was so loud and so bizarrely catchy that the entire testing ground fell silent.
In the distance, Xiao Zhan, who had been just as delighted, lost his smile. His face stiffened, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
But then Xiao Zhan reconsidered. Perhaps this was the perfect time to name Xiao Li the young clan leader. He had originally planned to make his steady eldest son, Xiao Ding, the young clan leader. But after Xiao Yan lost his talent, that boy had insisted on taking men with him to build Xiao Yan a foundation, so he wouldn't be left with nothing but a share of the clan's businesses and forced to become a mercenary. It had nearly driven Xiao Zhan mad.
Xiao Li looked back at Xiao Zhan and gave him a slight shake of the head.
Xiao Zhan understood and put aside the thought. He, too, had let joy cloud his judgment. With talent like Xiao Li's, he obviously shouldn't be bound by the clan. The vast world beyond was where he belonged.
In a corner, Xiao Yan felt a bitter pang. Looks like surpassing Second Brother will be difficult.
Then he rallied his spirits again. But I won't give up. I'll definitely become the Xiao Clan's number-one genius!
Xun'er, who had been about to comfort him, covered her mouth with a soft laugh. It seemed Brother Xiao Yan didn't need her comfort after all.
In the ring, Yao Lao nodded to himself and marveled at Xiao Yan's mature mindset. Looks like a year will be enough. Pressing this little fellow too hard until he loses all confidence wouldn't be good. Now the gap between him and his second brother isn't too great, giving him something to strive toward.
Having made up his mind, Yao Lao turned to Xiao Li, still somewhat astonished. As far as he knew, even among the Yao Clan, one of the Eight Ancient Clans, Xiao Li's talent would hardly be considered mediocre.
After the uproarious celebrations, Xiao Li finally managed to squeeze out of the crowd and find Xiao Zhan, the Great Elder, and the others chatting nearby.
"Father, Great Elder, Second Elder, Third Elder." Xiao Li bowed respectfully.
The more the Great Elder and the others looked at him, the more pleased they were. "Xiao Li, since you've come back, why not have us announce you as young clan leader right away?"
Xiao Li shook his head. "I'm grateful, Great Elder, but my ambitions lie far and wide. I'd like to travel and see the world. As for the position of young clan leader..."
Xiao Li had made himself perfectly clear. The Great Elder could only regretfully drop the matter.
Xiao Zhan changed the subject. "Jia Nan Academy will come to recruit students in a week. Ding'er isn't interested, and in the Xiao Clan, you and Xiao Yu have the best talent. Xiao Yu has already decided to join Jia Nan Academy. What do you think, Li'er?"
Xiao Li considered it briefly. He did intend to go to Jia Nan Academy, but he had a few matters to take care of first.
"Father, your son does intend to join Jia Nan Academy. But before that, I'd like to take care of some business in Wutan City."
"Hmm? What business?" Xiao Zhan asked, puzzled. What in Wutan City could possibly hold Xiao Li back?
"Destroy the Jia Lie and Aoba Clans and make our Xiao Clan the sole power in the city!"
Xiao Li's calm words stirred a storm in the hearts of Xiao Zhan and the others. Their clan's experts had died when the Xiao Clan fled the imperial capital, leaving them not only forced to huddle in Wutan City but also to share power with the Jia Lie and Aoba Clans. It was a disgrace to the Xiao Clan, once a powerful clan of the Jia Ma Empire.
Xiao Li's talent had made the long-suppressed sharpness in the Xiao Clan rise again. Xiao Zhan's gaze sharpened, and he made the decision then and there.
"Good. In that case, invite the Jia Lie and Aoba Clans to the Xiao Clan tomorrow as witnesses to our alliance. If they refuse, kill their leaders on the spot, then take the rest of their clans and bring Wutan City under our rule in one fell swoop!"