Time slipped away like a white colt flashing past a gap in the wall. Three months passed in the blink of an eye.
The day of the Xiao Clan's family test had finally arrived.
The sun shone brightly over the Xiao Clan's plaza that day, but its brilliance could not dispel the tense atmosphere hanging in the air.
The plaza was already packed with members of the Xiao Clan.
Some were excited, others nervous. They chattered among themselves, their voices mingling into a noisy din.
"I've been working hard at cultivation lately. I'm sure I'll break through to the Seventh Stage of Dou Qi!"
"No way! I never see you cultivating. You're putting on an act!"
"Oh, don't say that. I just can't sleep at night..."
"What am I going to do? I feel like I'm going to be sent away."
One young man put on a false, worried look, as though he were destined to be sent away to manage one of the clan's shops.
But the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, showing how pleased he was with his cultivation results. He was just waiting to amaze everyone.
Xiao Yan arrived at the plaza with his head held high, his eyes full of confidence and resolve.
He seemed to have everything under control. His back was straight as a pine, and he carried himself with calm assurance.
His arrival sparked another round of murmurs.
"Isn't that Xiao Yan?"
"The clan leader's son..."
"I wonder what stage of Dou Qi he's reached this year."
"Hahahahaha! If he's still at the Third Stage of Dou Qi, they'll definitely send him away from the clan!"
"Who knows? He is the clan leader's son, after all."
"Even the clan leader's son isn't exempt. He should set an example for the clan!"
"Shh! Keep your voice down. Brother Fan's here!"
"Oh, right..."
People were like that. Even with Xiao Fan's warning, they still had tongues in their heads.
They continued talking about Xiao Yan in private, though they were less harsh with their words.
Xiao Fan stood quietly to one side, watching everyone with an unconcerned expression. From where he stood, he could see right through their thoughts.
Xiao Mei came running over like an excited little rabbit and found a random topic to bring up with Xiao Fan.
"Brother Xiao Fan, do you think Xiao Yan will get a good result this time?"
Xiao Fan smiled faintly.
"Of course. With Xiao Yan's hard work and talent, he'll surely reap the rewards today."
He had complete faith in Xiao Yan, as if he could already see him shining brightly during the test.
Just then, a clan elder stood on the raised platform in the plaza, cleared his throat, and loudly announced the start of the test.
The Xiao Clan's young members rolled up their sleeves, eager to try their strength. One after another, they stepped onto the testing platform to demonstrate their abilities.
"Sixth Stage of Dou Qi!"
"Hey, weren't you at the Fourth Stage before? Not bad... Looks like you've been cultivating properly."
"Seventh Stage of Dou Qi... Next."
"Eighth Stage of Dou Qi... Not bad..."
"Eighth Stage of Dou Qi..."
The clan members had made excellent progress in their cultivation this year. The elder beamed, clearly delighted.
People began murmuring among themselves.
"Damn it, didn't you say you were sure they'd send you away? How are you at the Eighth Stage of Dou Qi?"
"Seriously, why is everyone so strong this year?"
"I was thinking the same thing."
"Next, Xiao Yan!"
At the elder's words, everyone fell silent.
They all wanted to know how Xiao Yan, protected by that clan genius, would fare.
Xiao Yan took a deep breath and strode onto the testing platform. He placed his hand on the Test Magic Stele, and Dou Qi began to surge slowly within him.
"Dou Qi, uh... Dou... Dou Zhe?"
The elder's narrowed eyes flew open. He had never expected this young man, once reduced to a good-for-nothing, to reveal his brilliance again!
The announcement immediately set off a wave of gasps below the platform.
"What? A Dou Zhe? How is that possible!"
Someone cried out in disbelief.
"Hadn't Xiao Yan already become a good-for-nothing? How could he suddenly become a Dou Zhe!"
Another person stared with eyes wide and mouth agape, utterly astonished.
"How did he do it? Was he hiding his strength all this time?"
Someone furrowed his brows, bewildered.
"This is unbelievable. We thought he'd be sent away, but he actually became a Dou Zhe!"
The people nearby were just as stunned.
"Could there be something wrong with the Test Magic Stele?"
In the crowd, Xiao Ning muttered under his breath, but the others quickly contradicted him.
"Impossible. How could the Magic Stone Tablet be wrong? It's real!"
"Clan leader, your son has truly opened our eyes!"
One elder couldn't help saying to Xiao Zhan. Xiao Zhan's face was filled with pride and relief.
He had already had some idea of his son's strength, after all. He had watched the effort and sweat Xiao Yan had put in lately.
But he hadn't expected such a tremendous surprise.
"Hahahahahahahahaha! That's my son!"
Xiao Zhan roared with laughter, two tears slipping from the corners of his eyes.
"Xiao Yan really is the sort who stays silent until he makes a stunning debut!"
Exclamations and discussion rippled through the crowd. Everyone had been shaken by Xiao Yan's breakthrough, and the atmosphere was electric.
And then, under the gaze of the entire crowd, Xiao Xun'er glided into the open.
In an instant, she drew every eye like a lodestone drawing needles. No one could look away.
She wore a pale green dress that fluttered as she moved. Her raven hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing a delicate, oval face and skin like polished jade.
An air of nobility and elegance flowed naturally from her wherever she went. She was captivating, yet no one dared stare too boldly, as if her beauty held them spellbound.
Xiao Xun'er stepped forward gracefully and began her test.
"Dou Zhe..."
The elder nodded in satisfaction, and a chorus of admiration burst from the crowd.
The cheers were even more heartfelt than those Xiao Yan had just received.
"Miss Xun'er truly is a peerless talent. She's become a Dou Zhe too—a blessing for the Xiao Clan!"
Someone sighed in admiration, eyes filled with reverence.
"The younger generation of the Xiao Clan is full of talent. Our future looks bright!"
A young clan member chimed in.
In one corner of the crowd, Xiao Mei stared at the radiant Xiao Xun'er, and a trace of disappointment quietly welled up inside her.
She bit her lip, unable to hide how upset she felt.
"I'm still stuck at the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi. How did she cultivate so quickly?"
Xiao Xun'er walked lightly over to Xiao Fan's side and gave him a sweet smile, as bright as spring flowers in bloom. She spoke softly.
"Thank you for your advice that day, Brother Xiao Fan. If it weren't for you, I don't know how long it would have taken me to break through."
Xiao Fan nodded, a smile playing on his lips. "Sister Xun'er, you're exceptionally talented. Even without my guidance, you would have crossed that threshold with ease."
The people around them looked at the two with envy and respect.
"Look at Young Master Xiao Fan and Miss Xun'er. They really are a match made in heaven!"
Someone whispered.
"Exactly. They're both pride of the Xiao Clan. They'll surely bring glory to the clan in the future!"
Another person nodded in agreement.
In the crowd, Xiao Yi Xian, who had been allowed to watch, pursed her lips. So what if they were Dou Zhe?
She grumbled to herself, Hmph, that little bit of strength is worth making such a fuss over? I'm already a nine-star Dou Shi.
Just then, Xiao Yan walked over too.
Xiao Yan's face was lit up with excitement. "Brother Fan, I didn't disappoint you, did I?"
Xiao Fan patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder. "Not bad. Keep working hard."
At that moment, Nalan Yanran had already set out from the Misty Cloud Sect, intending to break off the engagement.
She wore the sect's white robes, their sleeves fluttering as she walked, her figure graceful.
Her delicate face bore a hint of determination, and her gaze was firm and cold.
Her thoughts churned as she traveled.
She thought back to her years of growth in the Misty Cloud Sect and the future she hoped for. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that her engagement to Xiao Yan was a shackle.
"I, Nalan Yanran, will never be held back by this engagement. I'll pursue my own path and become a true source of pride for the Misty Cloud Sect."
She thought to herself. The wind brushed her face and tousled her hair, but it could not blow away her resolve to break off the engagement...