"Now that the ritual retest is complete, according to the rules, does anyone wish to challenge Xiao Yan?"
The Second Elder, Xiao Ying, spoke loudly. Under the rules of the Xiao Family's coming-of-age ceremony, clan members with seven stages of Dou Qi generally had to accept a challenge from a clan member below the Dou Zhe level.
But Xiao Yan had already broken through to Dou Zhe, so naturally, that restriction no longer applied.
In truth, this question was merely a formality. Who would challenge Xiao Yan? Who would dare challenge Xiao Yan? Leaving everything else aside, Xiao Yan was the only Dou Zhe at this year's Xiao Family coming-of-age ceremony. Xiao Xun'er had not yet come of age, so she did not count.
Even taking a thousand steps back, the man's own maternal uncle, a mighty Dou Wang, was sitting above watching. Even if someone truly possessed greater combat strength than Xiao Yan, would they dare humiliate his nephew in front of a Dou Wang? Were they not afraid he would slap them to death?
"Since there is no one—"
Just as Xiao Ying was about to continue, Yang Chen, who had been seated near the edge of the middle section beside Ya Fei, stood up. Xiao Ying hurriedly swallowed the rest of his words and asked with a smile.
"May I ask what orders you have, my lord?"
"If I do it, that shouldn't break your rules, should it?"
Seeing the confusion in Xiao Yan's eyes, a faint smile flickered through Yang Chen's deep gaze beneath his calm expression. He then turned to Xiao Ying and asked in return.
"Gulp!"
Xiao Ying swallowed under Yang Chen's gaze. If he refused, what if Yang Chen flung him away with a sweep of his sleeve again, like last time? Yet