Rite Prediction, the Return of a Genius

A month before the Xiao Clan held its coming-of-age ceremony, there would be a preliminary assessment.

The purpose of the assessment was to weed out in advance those whose Dou Qi was below standard.

Any Xiao Clan disciple who had not reached Seventh Duan Dou Qi would immediately lose the qualification to participate in the coming-of-age ceremony.

They would be directly assigned to one of the clan's various businesses. It was extremely cruel.

Today was the day of the assessment.

Over a hundred Xiao Clan disciples had gathered at the bluestone plaza for today's assessment.

The young men and women awaiting judgment stood there anxiously.

Those who usually performed well were not particularly nervous, while those with ordinary talent wore expressions of confusion and worry.

On the high platform, Xiao Zhan looked at the varied expressions of the younger generation of the Xiao Clan, his heart filled with concern. Yan'er, can you pass this trial?

"Clan Head, the time is almost here. Why hasn't Xiao Yan arrived yet?"

The Second Elder frowned as he asked.

Xiao Zhan was already irritated, so he replied coldly, "The time has not arrived yet. What are you so anxious about?"

The Second Elder was choked up by that response, but he did not get angry. Instead, a cold smile curled across his lips.

"I think Xiao Yan need not even take the assessment. Could he possibly rise four levels in a single year and reach Seventh Duan?"

Xiao Zhan fell silent. To advance four levels in a year, breaking through from Third Duan to Seventh Duan, would require a miracle.

It seemed he could only steel his heart and send Yan'er to work in the clan's businesses.

Seeing Xiao Zhan remain silent, the Second Elder looked pleased. Just as he was about to announce the start of the test, a commotion broke out in the plaza.

Turning toward the disturbance, they saw two young figures chatting and laughing as they slowly approached along the small road at the far end of the plaza.

They appeared completely unhurried, unaffected by the importance of the day, as though they were merely strolling down a bustling street.

The two were Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er.

The Second Elder narrowed his eyes. It seemed Xiao Yan knew he would not pass the assessment and had chosen to simply give up.

Seeing the faint smile on his son's face, Xiao Zhan let out a quiet breath. With that mindset, even if he failed the assessment, he would at least not be too devastated and sink into despair.

At the edge of the plaza, Xiao Ning stood surrounded by a large group of peers. As he watched Xiao Yan walking side by side with Xiao Xun'er, fury blazed in his eyes.

"You little bastard, once you fail the assessment today, let's see what face you have left to stay with Xun'er."

Seeing how relaxed and at ease Xiao Yan appeared, the anxious young men and women immediately began whispering among themselves.

"What is he pretending for? Does he not know that today's test will change the course of his future?"

"Why are we comparing ourselves to a piece of trash?"

"Just seeing how calm and relaxed he looks makes me furious. The clan should have revoked his testing qualification outright."

"Who told him to be the Clan Head's son? Even if he fails the test, he'll still be assigned to one of the clan's best businesses."

Listening to those mocking words, Xiao Yan felt as though a lifetime had passed.

So he had already transmigrated here for a year.

By now, his mindset had long since changed.

He casually sat down with Xiao Xun'er in a clean corner of the plaza and closed his eyes to rest.

The young woman's slender fingers played with a lock of her soft black hair, and her eyes held no one but Xiao Yan.

With everyone present, Xiao Zhan rose to his feet. He swept his gaze across the plaza and declared in a deep voice:

"Today is the preliminary assessment for the coming-of-age ceremony. Seventh Duan Dou Qi and above qualifies; anything below does not."

"However, after the test, anyone below Seventh Duan Dou Qi has the right to challenge one qualified person. If they win, they will also be deemed qualified."

"No more nonsense. The test begins!"

Before the Magic Stone Tablet, the middle-aged man in charge of testing held a roster, his expression indifferent.

As Xiao Zhan's words fell, the middle-aged man stepped forward, opened the roster, glanced over it, and calmly called out a name.

The young men and women whose names were called immediately grew tense, some of their bodies even trembling slightly.

The roster was like a book of life and death, while the middle-aged man was the King of Hell.

When these young men and women were found unqualified, some even burst into tears on the spot.

"Xiao Mei!"

The girl whose name had been called walked out of the crowd with a composed air, a faint hint of pride on her pure yet charming face.

She lightly placed her small hand against the Magic Stone Tablet and closed her eyes.

A brilliant light erupted from the black stone tablet, after which five large words emerged.

"Xiao Mei, Dou Qi, Eighth Duan. Result: Qualified."

The middle-aged man nodded slightly and announced in a deep voice.

Although she had been certain she would pass, Xiao Mei still let out a breath of relief when the middle-aged man declared her qualified.

Then a trace of pride appeared on her face.

In one year, she had advanced from Seventh Duan Dou Qi to Eighth Duan. Such talent ranked among the best in the clan.

"Raising your Dou Qi by one level in a year... barely acceptable."

Xiao Yan, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them and commented blandly.

Some of the young men and women nearby who heard Xiao Yan's words immediately rolled their eyes.

Barely acceptable?

Xiao Mei had advanced an entire level from Seventh Duan Dou Qi.

Did he think he was still that peerless genius from back then?

Some Xiao Clan disciples who had been deemed unqualified heard Xiao Yan's words and immediately began spitting venom.

"This trash actually looks down on Cousin Xiao Mei? With his current cultivation, he is not even worthy of carrying Cousin Xiao Mei's shoes."

These people had been crying bitterly just moments ago, yet now they delighted in mocking those beneath them. They were not worthy of sympathy.

As the saying went, those who humiliate others will themselves be humiliated.

Xiao Yan curled his lips, too lazy to even spare them a glance.

The test continued.

After Xiao Mei, more than ten others were tested. Only two reached Seventh Duan Dou Qi and were deemed qualified.

Every year, fewer than one-third of the young clan members reached Seventh Duan Dou Qi in the preliminary assessment.

Then, it was finally Xiao Xun'er's turn.

A year ago, the young woman had already reached Ninth Duan Dou Qi.

Everyone had already guessed that, with her talent, she had likely broken through to that realm.

Sure enough, when the young woman extended her snow-white, delicate hand and lightly touched the black Magic Stone Tablet—

Four large characters, glittering with golden light, appeared—One-Star Dou Zhe.

"Miss Xun'er, One-Star Dou Zhe!"

The middle-aged man stared at the four dazzling golden characters. Although he had anticipated it, his face was still full of shock as he loudly announced the result.

"Tsk tsk, a Dou Zhe at sixteen..."

Everyone cried out in amazement!

Xiao Mei looked jealously at the elegant young woman before the stone tablet. Bathed in golden light, Xiao Xun'er seemed almost sacred.

Whether in beauty or talent, Xiao Xun'er completely overshadowed her.

Seeing how indifferent Xiao Xun'er remained in the face of everyone's praise, Xiao Mei felt somewhat defeated.

But when she saw Xiao Xun'er return to Xiao Yan, her pretty expressionless face blossoming into a sweet smile, she curled her lips disdainfully.

She did not know what Xiao Xun'er saw in Xiao Yan. Did Xiao Xun'er not understand that, given Xiao Yan's current circumstances, the gap between them would only grow wider and wider?

With that thought, Xiao Mei gained a faint sense of superiority over Xiao Xun'er.

As the testing continued, more and more Xiao Clan disciples were found unqualified.

The last person was Xiao Yan.

"Xiao Yan!"

When Xiao Yan's name was called, the entire plaza fell silent.

Some of the unqualified disciples also pulled themselves from their grief, wanting to see the young man declared unqualified so they could ease their own sadness.

The three elders seated on the high platform all watched the black-haired young man. Once he finished his test, they could take the chance to strike at Xiao Zhan, the Clan Head.

Such was the struggle for power within a clan.

Under the gazes of the entire crowd, Xiao Yan slowly walked before the Magic Stone Tablet.

The middle-aged man looked at the black-haired young man before him and sighed softly.

He had witnessed the young man's high-spirited days as a genius, and he had also seen the days after his fall, when everyone mocked him.

If no miracle occurred today, this would likely be the young man's last test in the clan.

Xiao Yan extended his palm and casually placed it against the Magic Stone Tablet. Then, five large characters emerged—

"Dou Qi: Seventh Duan!"