One-Star Dou Practitioner

Back in his room, Xiao Ni sat leisurely on the bed, personally supervising Xiao Ning and the others as they replaced the door before finally lying down in peace.

The night passed quickly. Since today was the day of the household assessment, Xiao Ni rose even earlier than yesterday and was already waiting outside Xiao Xun'er's room before dawn.

"Morning, Xun'er. It's so good to see you." After waiting for roughly three quarters of an hour, Xiao Xun'er had just opened her door when Xiao Ni walked up with a smile.

This task had only required him to greet Xiao Xun'er outside her room and had not specified a time. He did not need to come wait here every morning, but he felt it would be inappropriate to say good morning to her at any other time, so he could only come before she got up.

"Here, one thousand gold coins." Xiao Xun'er wore a faint, elegant smile as she casually handed Xiao Ni a new card.

"Let's go. Time for the household assessment." Xiao Ni accepted the card with a smile, then headed to the testing grounds early with Xiao Xun'er.

Half an hour later, the household assessment began. One young man and woman after another stepped onto the stone platform and pressed their palms against the testing Magic Stone Stele. Some returned delighted, while others returned disappointed. Some rejoiced while others grieved.

"Xiao Yan, Fourth Duan of Dou Qi. Rank: Intermediate." As the middle-aged man before the testing Magic Stone Stele spoke indifferently, everyone first froze, then began whispering among themselves.

"No way? That trash actually broke through another duan of Dou Qi."

"What are you getting excited about? So what if he reached the Fourth Duan of Dou Qi? He still won't pass the coming-of-age ceremony a year from now."

"See that? That trash has finally stopped spinning in place. At this rate, maybe he'll become a real Dou Zhe in a few decades."

"What a joke. I think he'll be lucky if he reaches the Ninth Duan of Dou Qi in this lifetime."

"That trash needed three years just to break through one duan of Dou Qi. What a disgrace to our household."

"Hmph, if he weren't the clan leader's son, he would have been kicked out of the household long ago!"

Faintly hearing those mocking remarks, Xiao Yan flicked his sleeve without taking a single cloud with him, stepped straight down from the stone platform, and walked toward Xiao Ni and Xiao Xun'er.

"Don't care what this garbage thinks. You and I are destined to stand at the peak of the Battle Qi Continent." Xiao Ni smiled and patted Xiao Yan's shoulder.

"And Xun'er." Xiao Xun'er giggled and directly hooked her arm around Xiao Ni's.

"Fine, you too." Xiao Ni lightly tapped Xiao Xun'er on the forehead, his eyes full of affection.

Seeing the intimate interaction between Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Ni, Xiao Yan felt somewhat uncomfortable and could only turn his gaze forward.

"Next, Xiao Mei." As the assessment proceeded, it was soon Xiao Mei's turn.

At the sound of that name, pairs of slightly heated eyes locked firmly onto Xiao Mei.

Though Xiao Mei could not be called stunningly beautiful, her pure little face carried a hint of seductive charm that instantly made her the focus of the entire venue.

With everyone's eyes on her, Xiao Mei revealed a trace of pride. She walked briskly to the Magic Stone Stele, pressed her palm against it, and slowly closed her eyes.

A moment later, light shone from the pitch-black Magic Stone Stele once more.

"Xiao Mei, Seventh Duan of Dou Qi. Rank: Advanced."

"Yay!" As the assessor finished speaking, a proud smile bloomed across Xiao Mei's face, and she even jumped up excitedly.

Luckily, there had been no wind at the time. Otherwise, she might have exposed herself.

"The Seventh Duan of Dou Qi? That's incredible. At this rate, she'll probably become a real Dou Zhe in three years at most, right?"

"As expected of one of the household's seed-level talents. I'm so jealous."

Hearing the many envious voices from the crowd, the smile on Xiao Mei's face grew even brighter. After all, vanity was irresistible to many girls.

After stepping down from the stone platform, Xiao Mei chatted and laughed with several sisters she was usually close to, her gaze unconsciously shifting toward Xiao Ni and Xiao Yan.

Back then, Xiao Yan had begun cultivating qi at four, reached the Ninth Duan of Dou Qi at ten, successfully condensed a Dou Qi Cyclone at eleven, and leapt to become the youngest Dou Zhe in the household's hundred-year history. Their relationship had been quite good then, but now they would probably never walk the same path again.

As for Xiao Ni, his talent had been poor since childhood. Though he had barely passed the coming-of-age ceremony, he would likely find it difficult to become a Dou Zhe in this lifetime. Naturally, he would not be walking the same path as her either.

"...Forget it." She had originally wanted to go over and greet them, but when she thought about how she, Xiao Yan, and Xiao Ni were no longer on the same level, Xiao Mei abandoned the idea.

She felt that she could no longer get along with Xiao Yan and Xiao Ni as she had when they were children. Besides, they were standing with Xiao Xun'er now. If she went over, she would only seem far dimmer by comparison.

"Next, Xiao Xun'er." Soon, the name of today's main attraction reached everyone's ears.

Upon hearing the name Xiao Xun'er, the previously noisy crowd instantly fell silent. Every gaze swiftly shifted to Xiao Xun'er, who wore a violet dress and resembled a green lotus just beginning to bloom.

At that moment, Xiao Xun'er moved with graceful steps toward the stone platform, calm and elegant.

"X-Xiao Xun'er, One-Star Dou Practitioner." A moment later, the assessor somewhat stutteringly announced Xiao Xun'er's rank, the shock in his heart refusing to settle for a long time.

"She's actually a One-Star Dou Practitioner. As expected of Miss Xun'er!"

"Heavens, a One-Star Dou Practitioner at fifteen. She is absolutely the second greatest genius the Xiao Household has seen in a hundred years."

"Tch, Xiao Yan is trash now. Don't compare him with Miss Xun'er!"

Listening to the crowd's discussions, Xiao Xun'er remained calm and elegant. Under everyone's envious gazes, she returned to Xiao Ni's side, linked her arm around his, and left the testing grounds.

Watching the two depart, Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment before deciding to continue cultivating.

"Xiao Ni, just you wait!" Amid the crowd, a pair of vicious eyes stared fixedly at Xiao Ni's retreating back. It was Xiao Ning, who had suffered badly yesterday.

Xiao Ni becoming a Two-Star Dou Practitioner had indeed caught him by surprise, but so what? Even if his father and grandfather would not stand up for him, he could still seek out his sister. He refused to believe that Xiao Ni, who had only just broken through to become a Two-Star Dou Practitioner, could possibly turn the world upside down.

"Brother Xiao Ni, Xun'er is a Dou Zhe now. How about we visit the Magic Beast Mountain Range when we get the chance?" Xiao Xun'er's eyes were full of anticipation. She loved adventure, especially adventures with Xiao Ni.

"You little girl, you just became a Dou Zhe and already want to go to the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Do you know how dangerous that place is?" Xiao Ni asked with a wry smile.

"I'm not afraid. Brother Xiao Ni will protect me anyway." Xiao Xun'er smiled brilliantly, very confident in both her and Xiao Ni's ability to protect themselves.

"You have that much faith in me? What if I can't protect you?" Xiao Ni asked affectionately.

"If Brother Xiao Ni can't protect me, then I'll take Brother Xiao Ni and run away together."

"You really came up with that."

The two walked away laughing and chatting, and Xiao Yan happened to witness the scene.

"What? You like that little girl too?" Yao Lao's voice entered his mind, immediately bringing Xiao Yan back to his senses.

"Xun'er is my sister. How could I possibly have those kinds of thoughts?" Xiao Yan denied it.

"Don't dwell on it. That little girl's background is far from simple. Neither you nor Xiao Ni can possibly be with her." Yao Lao spoke in a firm tone.

"You know where Xun'er came from?" Xiao Yan's expression shifted as he asked.

"I've vaguely guessed some things. It would be best if neither of you asked about her origins, because knowing too much will do you no good." Yao Lao kindly warned him.

"I understand." Xiao Yan replied blandly before heading toward the grove where he often cultivated.

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