The Absent Young Man

"Why hasn't Young Master Xiao Yan come today?" Seeing that the testing had begun, some of the youths in the square, afraid their results would be poor, felt terribly uneasy. They tried to ease their fear by chatting.

"Who knows? Young Master Xiao Yan defeated Jia Lie Ao, who had Ninth Duan Dou Qi, half a year ago. He's at least at Ninth Duan Dou Qi now, maybe even a Dou Zhe, so he probably couldn't be bothered to attend this clan test."

"Going from Third Duan Dou Qi to Dou Zhe in one year? That's terrifying! He's not even human—he's a monster!"

"I really hope Young Master Xiao Yan comes to take the test, so we can see just how frighteningly strong he's become!"

The young men and women in Blue Stone Square all turned to look behind them, hoping to catch sight of that youth. Unfortunately, he was nowhere to be seen. They could only continue their discussion and wait for the examiner to call their names.

"Xiao Mei!"

Hearing the examiner's call, a young girl quickly stepped out from the crowd. The moment she appeared, everyone's gaze turned toward her. Yet after only two glances, they lowered their heads again and resumed their discussion.

"Was his radiance really that dazzling?" Xiao Mei lightly bit her lip. Hearing the entire square discussing Xiao Yan left her somewhat despondent. This was supposed to have been her moment of glory! She should have been the center of everyone's attention! Yet it had been utterly ruined by a single name.

But at the thought of Xiao Yan, Xiao Mei immediately felt powerless. No matter how hard she worked, it would be useless; she could never catch up to him. She slowly walked before the Black Stone Stele and placed her fair jade hand upon it, circulating the Dou Qi within her body and gradually pouring it inside. After a brief silence, the Black Stone Stele began to shine.

"Dou Qi: Seventh Duan!"

"Xiao Mei, Dou Qi: Seventh Duan! Grade: High!"

At the examiner's announcement, the commotion in the square paused once more. Countless gazes turned toward the Black Stone Stele, but after looking up twice and showing a little surprise, everyone lowered their heads and continued talking.

Seeing that the results of her year of hard work had been ignored, Xiao Mei's pretty face became exceptionally unpleasant, turning slightly green with anger. Her fists clenched tightly, then helplessly loosened. She walked toward the back of the line in disappointment.

"Next, Xiao Xun'er!"

At the sound of that name, the somewhat noisy crowd abruptly fell silent. Every gaze turned in unison toward Xiao Xun'er.

Xiao Xun'er had a graceful, curvaceous figure, like a flower in full bloom. Her face was delicate and beautiful, her forehead broad and smooth, her brows slender and arched as though painted to perfection. Her eyes were bright and lively, revealing both intelligence and gentleness.

Compared with last year, the youthful innocence on Xiao Xun'er's face had gradually faded, replaced by a more mature charm. Perhaps because of a certain beast, one part of her body had developed even more splendidly. Xiao Xun'er was simply too alluring now; even Ya Fei of the Mitel Auction House paled somewhat in comparison.

Xiao Xun'er walked with lotus-like steps toward the testing Black Stone Stele. When she reached it, she extended her jade hand and lightly touched the stele. After only a brief silence, the Black Stone Stele blazed with light, nearly blinding everyone present.

As they stared at the four shining words on the Black Stone Stele, the entire square fell silent.

"Dou Zhe: One Star!"

"Xiao Xun'er, Dou Zhe... One Star!" Even the examiner's voice trembled slightly.

"Wow! Miss Xun'er has actually become a Dou Zhe! I thought she would only be at Ninth Duan Dou Qi!"

"Miss Xun'er's cultivation talent is incredible too. She's almost caught up to Xiao Yan, hasn't she?"

"I think Miss Xun'er and Young Master Xiao Yan make a perfect match! Young Master Xiao Yan's cultivation talent is so heaven-defying, and Miss Xun'er is so beautiful. They're truly a match made in heaven!"

Xun'er showed no expression at the praise from below the platform. But when she heard that she and Xiao Yan were a match made in heaven, her pretty face immediately flushed red. It made her look even more radiant, and the young men below stared until their eyes went straight.

"I never expected her to break through to Dou Zhe. She's become even prettier too!" Looking at Xiao Xun'er on the platform, Xiao Mei felt a trace of inferiority rise in her heart.

Gazing at the four words on the Black Stone Stele, the middle-aged examiner showed a rare smile and spoke to the girl with slight respect. "Congratulations, Miss Xun'er. You actually broke through to Dou Zhe at only fifteen."

"What's so remarkable about that? Brother Xiao Yan became a Dou Zhe when he was ten, and now..." Xiao Xun'er said calmly.

"That's true. Miss Xun'er, do you know where Xiao Yan went? Why hasn't he come for the test even now?" At the mention of Xiao Yan, the examiner sighed inwardly. He also wanted to know Xiao Yan's current strength.

"This... I don't know either. I haven't been with Brother Xiao Yan for half a year." Xun'er looked toward the back mountain of the Xiao Clan and murmured softly.

So what was Xiao Yan doing at that moment?

Xiao Yan stood atop a huge boulder at the summit of the back mountain, his hands constantly tracing Taiji patterns. Whenever he completed one, Medicine Elder would launch an attack at it. Yet the attack was not blocked by the pattern; it passed straight through and struck Xiao Yan's body. Xiao Yan staggered and was sent flying backward.

After getting up and brushing the dirt from his body, Xiao Yan returned to the boulder as though nothing had happened. He muttered, "That makes no sense. Was my idea wrong?"

Ever since Xiao Yan learned that his body contained a Heavenly Flame, he had constantly experimented with different ways to use it during his descent from the mountain. The Heavenly Flame was like a red buff; as long as a layer of it coated his fist, its power increased geometrically. Any long-range attack mixed with the Heavenly Flame was equally formidable.

But when Xiao Yan tested Heavenly Shift, he encountered a problem. He had originally believed that mixing the Heavenly Flame into it would greatly increase its rebounding force, perhaps making its power comparable to an Earth Tier technique. Moreover, as the Heavenly Flame grew stronger, its power should continue to rise. Unfortunately, all of Xiao Yan's attempts that morning ended in failure.

"Forget it! One last time. Whether I succeed or fail, I have to go down the mountain afterward. If I don't, the test will be over." Xiao Yan said it was the last time on every attempt, but unless he realized the idea in his heart, he felt restless all over.

Standing atop the boulder, Xiao Yan slowly closed his eyes and reflected on the reasons for his repeated failures. Because of the Heavenly Flame, the pattern he drew was half black and half white, looking very much like a Taiji pattern from a later age. Yet every time, it only flashed briefly before him before vanishing.

"Is my strength insufficient, so I can't use it? Or is there something wrong with the method?" This time, Xiao Yan did not begin rashly. He waited until his Dou Qi had fully recovered before trying again.

Xiao Yan circulated the Dou Qi within his body along the route of Heavenly Shift. This time, he held nothing back, frantically mobilizing every bit of Dou Qi he possessed.

Xiao Yan extended his left hand, and a mass of black flame emerged from his palm. The black flame radiated dense deathly energy, slowly devouring the life energy in the surrounding air. Xiao Yan then extended his right hand, and a mass of white flame emerged from his right palm. This white flame radiated the vitality of nature, completely opposite to the previous flame.