Fallen Xiao Yan

"Continue cultivating..."

As his mind gradually sank, Nalan Chenfeng entered a state of cultivation once more.

Time flew by.

Half a month later.

Wu Tan City, Xiao Clan.

Before the Testing Magic Stone Tablet at the center of the plaza, Xiao Yan shakily placed his palm against it.

The same three years had passed. The young genius once held in such pride by the Xiao Clan had grown considerably, but his circumstances were far from good.

"Third Stage of Dou Qi!"

The five large characters on the Testing Magic Stone Tablet were glaringly conspicuous. The examiner's cold voice struck Xiao Yan's face like a slap.

The plaza fell silent for an instant before erupting in mocking laughter.

"Third Stage? Am I seeing things?"

"What Xiao Clan genius? He's clearly a joke."

"Tsk, tsk. Didn't he say he would revive the Xiao Clan? Revive my ass."

For a moment, the Xiao Clan disciples who had once fawned over Xiao Yan laughed until they bent over, their eyes full of schadenfreude.

Xiao Yan clenched his fists, his nails unknowingly digging into his palms, but he said nothing.

He had grown accustomed to this result over the past year.

He did not know why, but ever since he had broken through to Dou Zhe over a year ago, the Dou Qi within his body had begun to drain away for no reason.

No matter how he cultivated, he could not retain the Dou Qi he had painstakingly refined.

His father and the clan had even spent a fortune to hire an alchemist to examine him, yet nothing had come of it.

He could cultivate Dou Qi, but he simply could not store it.

By now, he had fallen from Dou Zhe to the Third Stage of Dou Qi.

Third Stage of Dou Qi—this was the level he had possessed at six years old.

Years of hard cultivation had all turned to nothing.

"Ah..."

Xiao Yan hunched over as he stepped down from the testing platform, like a small tree battered by wind and rain.

Yet none of the Xiao Clan members sympathized with Xiao Yan's downfall. All they had for him was ridicule and disdain.

The higher one stood, the harder one fell. Xiao Yan had once shone too brilliantly within the Xiao Clan, arrogant and contemptuous of everyone else. Now, the backlash had come.

Besides, kicking someone when they were down was simply human nature. There was not so much kindness in this world.

"Third Stage of Dou Qi. This is our Xiao Clan's genius?"

Xiao Ning stepped out from the crowd, undisguised mockery written across his face.

A few years ago, he had not even dared raise his head before Xiao Yan. Every sparring match had ended with Xiao Yan beating him so badly that he could not fight back.

Now the wheel had turned. Heaven had treated him well.

Xiao Yan did not speak. Under those scornful gazes, his body hunched even further as he silently continued forward.

"Genius Xiao Yan, how about we spar? I'll even give you one hand."

Xiao Ning blocked Xiao Yan's path and spoke down to him, deliberately emphasizing the word "genius."

Xiao Yan's two brothers, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, had already left the Xiao Clan to seek their fortunes. Even if he beat Xiao Yan now, no one would dare say anything.

Xiao Yan's father was the clan chief, but his own grandfather was still the Xiao Clan's First Elder. Others might fear Xiao Yan because of his status, but Xiao Ning did not.

"Move aside."

Xiao Yan raised his head and glanced at Xiao Ning, forcibly suppressing his anger.

If this had been before, Xiao Ning would have ended up black and blue for treating him this way. But now, he was no match for Xiao Ning at all.

Accepting this match would just mean offering himself up for a beating.

"Ah... How did Brother Xiao Yan end up like this..."

Amid the crowd, a young girl with a ponytail quietly watched everything, pursing her lips.

Girls changed greatly as they grew. Compared to years ago, the baby fat had faded from Xiao Mei's round cheeks, revealing a pointed chin. Her almond-shaped eyes were moist, carrying a trace of allure.

Within the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yu already counted as an adult woman, and the standards used to judge her were different. Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Mei, however, were both acknowledged as little beauties.

Though Xiao Mei could not compare to Xiao Xun'er—the difference in their appearances was immense—she was still an exceptionally eye-catching presence within the Xiao Clan.

A few years ago, Xiao Yan had been the Xiao Clan's genius, the hope of everyone in the Xiao Clan. Xiao Mei had been full of admiration for him and had even openly declared her claim over him several times.

Now that Xiao Yan had fallen from his pedestal, Xiao Mei never mentioned the past again and even began deliberately avoiding him.

"Sister Xiao Mei, aren't you going to help Cousin Xiao Yan?"

A little girl of eight or nine beside her tugged at her sleeve and asked innocently.

"I can't help him. Xiao Ning won't show me any respect."

Xiao Mei's tone was cold, and her pretty face instantly darkened.

Within the Xiao Clan, she believed her talent was not bad, and her beauty was among the best. Yet whenever she was compared to Xiao Xun'er, she felt utterly inferior.

And Xiao Ning liked Xiao Xun'er, not her. Why would he show her any respect?

"What, too scared?"

Xiao Ning reached out and shoved Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan staggered back two steps. Fury surged in his eyes, but he still restrained himself and did not erupt.

He knew that if he fought back now, the humiliation he suffered would only become greater.

Laughter rang out across the plaza again.

"Xiao Yan, just practice with Brother Xiao Ning."

"Exactly. Weren't you amazing before?"

Several Xiao Clan youths egged them on, wearing expressions as though they were watching a show.

Xiao Yan slowly straightened his body. Looking at Xiao Ning, looking at those faces that had once looked up to him but now wished to trample him, his expression became completely indifferent.

"If you want to spar, find someone else. I won't accompany you."

With that, Xiao Yan moved to pass Xiao Ning from the side.

Seeing this, Xiao Ning stepped in front of him again. But just then, a cold shout rang out, causing Xiao Ning to restrain himself somewhat.

"Xiao Ning, stop."

A woman in red walked in from outside the plaza. She was Xiao Ning's elder sister, Xiao Yu.

Several years had passed, and Xiao Yu had grown even taller. Her two legs were straight and slender, making her especially striking among the Xiao Clan disciples.

Xiao Ning glanced back, curled his lips, and ultimately stepped aside.

He still had to show his sister some respect. Usually, Xiao Yan hid like a turtle with its head tucked in; if not for today's test, he would not have been easy to catch.

Xiao Yan neither raised his head nor spoke. He simply quickened his pace and soon disappeared at the end of the plaza.

Xiao Yu watched the direction in which Xiao Yan had left, frowned, and seemed to want to say something. In the end, she merely sighed.

She had never imagined that the Xiao Clan genius who once walked everywhere with his chin held high and people crowding around him would end up so destitute.

She had never been close to Xiao Yan. She had even disliked him intensely because that fellow had secretly followed her around years ago and often went near the back mountain.

But after all, nothing bad had happened. They were still members of the same clan.

Still, Brother Chenfeng had once told her to keep an eye on Xiao Yan, fearing that Xiao Yan might bully little Xun'er. With Xiao Yan in his current state, there was no need to worry about that anymore.

"Go get tested. What's there to watch?"

Xiao Yu waved her hand, and the few Xiao Clan disciples still gathered there laughing awkwardly dispersed.

"Eight-Duan Dou Qi. I've already met Jia Nan Academy's enrollment requirements. I can go to the academy this year. I wonder how Brother Chenfeng is doing there..."

The moon was like a silver disk, and the sky was filled with stars.

The Xiao Clan's back mountain.

"Damned heavens, why is this happening?!"

On a flat boulder, Xiao Yan roared at the sky, venting the resentment in his heart.

"I know..."