Miracle Born, Xiao Ke's Challenge

"Dou Qi: Seventh Stage!"

The entire venue fell silent, deathly silent!

You could hear a pin drop across the whole square!

Everyone stared in shock at the five dazzling characters on the Magic Stone Tablet. Their expressions were a sight to behold, before a chaotic wave of voices rose and fell throughout the square.

With a crack, the teacup in Xiao Zhan's hand was crushed to pieces by his excitement. Tea spilled all over him, but he did not notice at all.

"Seventh Stage, it's Dou Qi at the Seventh Stage... Yan'er, you really did it."

Xiao Zhan abruptly rose to his feet, his voice trembling with excitement and his eyes moist as he looked at the youth standing before the black stone tablet. He was both proud and heartsick.

It was easy to imagine how much hardship the youth had endured to achieve what he had today.

The three elders seated beside Xiao Zhan had originally intended to watch a joke unfold, but they had never expected Xiao Yan to possess Seventh-Stage Dou Qi.

Their faces were filled with disbelief. Four stages in a single year—such cultivation speed was simply terrifying.

They fell silent.

Beside the Magic Stone Tablet, the middle-aged man in charge of the test had lost his usual cold expression, replaced by sheer shock.

"Young Master Xiao Yan, Dou Qi: Seventh Stage. Rank: High!"

"Result: Passed!"

When the middle-aged man announced Xiao Yan's result, some of those standing farther back, unable to see the Magic Stone Tablet, were stunned.

They suspected they had misheard. Only when they craned their necks and looked toward the tablet did they realize their ears had not deceived them.

The already silent square instantly became utterly hushed.

Then, even louder discussions erupted.

"A miracle! This is a miracle!"

"Four stages in one year... it actually happened."

"Could Cousin Xiao Yan's talent have returned?!"

Among the crowd, Xiao Mei covered her rosy lips, staring at the black-haired youth in utter shock.

The once ordinary-looking youth now seemed to shine brilliantly.

Just like four years ago.

At the edge of the square, Xiao Ning, who had been preparing to watch a joke, stared blankly at the five dazzling characters on the Magic Stone Tablet.

They really were rather blinding.

"How... how is this possible?"

Xiao Yan looked at the five characters on the Magic Stone Tablet and smiled faintly. Calm and unhurried, he then walked leisurely to a corner of the square and sat cross-legged beside Xun'er beneath her smiling gaze.

Everyone's expressions turned complicated. So the youth's earlier calm demeanor had not been self-abandonment, but the confidence of a returned genius.

"Brother Xiao Yan, if these people found out you were still hiding your strength, they'd probably drop their jaws."

Xiao Xun'er blinked her beautiful eyes. They shimmered like autumn waters and curved into shallow crescents, while the smile at the corner of her lips was utterly captivating.

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose. Even his cultivation had not escaped the girl's notice. As expected of the Gu Clan's young lady, the only person in a thousand years to possess a perfect divine-grade Dou Di bloodline.

He smiled and said casually, "Passing is enough."

"Ahem..."

On the high platform, Xiao Zhan was in high spirits. He coughed lightly and continued presiding over the final part of the test.

"All testing has concluded. Next comes the following item."

"Anyone judged to have failed has the right to challenge one person who passed. If they win, they will take that person's passing result."

"Remember, you only have one chance!"

At those words, the square immediately erupted into commotion.

Those whose Dou Qi had reached the full Sixth Stage instantly turned their eyes toward those who had passed.

Although it was difficult for someone at the Sixth Stage to defeat someone at the Seventh Stage head-on.

This was their final chance, and they had to try no matter what.

What if they won through their physical strength and mastery of Dou techniques?

There were nearly twenty people whose Dou Qi had reached the full Sixth Stage.

They stepped forward, their eyes sweeping over those who had passed as they silently selected opponents they had the best chance of defeating.

Suddenly, Xiao Yan frowned. To his astonishment, he discovered that more than half of the challenging gazes had landed on him.

"Looks like I've still been too low-key."

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and muttered with an amused smile.

"Brother Xiao Yan advanced four stages in one year. They may be shocked, but on second thought, they'll assume that since you improved so quickly, your foundation must be unstable. You also wouldn't have had time to practice Dou techniques, so naturally they think you're the easiest opponent to defeat."

Xiao Xun'er covered her mouth and laughed softly, though her lovely eyes were full of mischievous delight.

If some unlucky fellow thought Brother Xiao Yan was a soft persimmon he could squeeze, only to discover he had kicked an iron plate, that would certainly be entertaining.

At that moment, someone finally stepped out from the crowd.

A burly youth walked straight toward Xiao Yan under everyone's watchful eyes and said with a smile:

"Cousin Xiao Yan, I wish to challenge you."

Just as Xun'er had analyzed, although he was shocked by Xiao Yan's miracle of advancing four stages in a year, Xiao Yan's three-year reputation as trash made him look down on him.

Seeing the burly youth take the lead in challenging Xiao Yan, the clan members who had still been hesitating sighed regretfully.

Someone had beaten them to it.

Many people knew this burly youth. He was one of the First Elder's grandsons, named Xiao Ke.

Xiao Ke was the strongest among all those at the Sixth Stage. Whether in physical strength or mastery of Dou techniques, he was the best.

If anyone was most likely to obtain a passing spot, it was Xiao Ke.

Now that he had picked the weakest-looking Xiao Yan, Xiao Ke's chances of succeeding in the challenge increased by another ten percent.

On the high platform, the First Elder had some impression of this grandson. Seeing that he had chosen Xiao Yan, he nodded as well.

He believed Xiao Yan was the most suitable challenge target.

Xiao Zhan frowned slightly. As clan leader, he had some understanding of the outstanding young members of the clan.

As a member of the First Elder's branch, Xiao Ke normally had a Dou technique instructor to guide him, and he had attained considerable skill in practicing Dou techniques.

Yet Yan'er did not seem to have asked him for a place with a Dou technique instructor.

Moreover, he had been busy raising his Dou Qi stage, so he must have neglected his Dou technique training.

Xiao Zhan looked at his son, worry faintly visible in his eyes.

And the challenged party had to accept!

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Xiao Yan slowly stood. He dusted off his clothes and said calmly:

"Fine, I accept."

Very soon, an open space was cleared in the square. Xiao Ke and Xiao Yan stood facing each other.

Everyone's attention focused on them.

At this moment, many people had yet to recover from Xiao Yan's terrifying achievement of advancing four stages in one year.

Now, whether it was real or fake would be decided by their fight.

"It has to be fake!"

Outside the square, Xiao Ning glared fixedly at Xiao Yan and said viciously.

"Please!"

"Please!"

In the middle of the square, the two exchanged a pre-battle salute.

Xiao Ke raised both palms, faint Dou Qi coiling around them. He stamped heavily on the ground and charged toward Xiao Yan with his burly frame.

"Shattered Mountain Palm!"

The instant he closed in on Xiao Yan, his right palm shot toward the latter's chest.

Shattered Mountain Palm, a yellow-rank mid-level Dou technique!

Just as the opponent's right palm was about to strike his chest, Xiao Yan suddenly leaned back slightly. With his right foot as the pivot, he spun in a circle and moved behind Xiao Ke.

Xiao Ke's attack missed. Sensing an attack from behind, he was immediately alarmed and hurriedly turned around.

"Shattered Stone Palm!"

Shattered Stone Palm, a yellow-rank low-level Dou technique that could be practiced at the Third Stage of Dou Qi.

The moment Xiao Ke turned around, Xiao Yan's palm struck his shoulder.

"Bang!"

Xiao Ke staggered after being hit. In the end, he lost his footing and fell.

The victor had been decided, and the difference in strength was clear!

Such an easy victory seemed to prove that Xiao Yan truly possessed the strength of Seventh-Stage Dou Qi.

Some people closed their eyes in disbelief.

On the high platform, the three elders wore grim expressions, while Xiao Zhan could no longer suppress the smile at the corner of his lips.

He stood up, clapped twice, then pursed his lips and said, "Nephew Xiao Ke's challenge has failed. I hope you will cultivate diligently in the future."

Then Xiao Zhan turned his back to them, his shoulders trembling.

The three elders looked at Xiao Zhan, who was holding back laughter in front of them, then looked at one another. Their expressions were extremely ugly.

In the square, Xiao Ke clutched his aching shoulder. Hearing Xiao Zhan's words, his face immediately turned pale.

He had thought he had picked a soft persimmon, only to find that he had kicked an iron plate.

He regretted it terribly.

And when the challenges continued and another Sixth-Stage youth succeeded in his challenge.

Xiao Ke regretted it even more.

"Damn it! This little bastard really is at the Seventh Stage!"

"Hmph, at next month's coming-of-age ceremony, I'll challenge you personally. I'll knock you off your pedestal again."

Outside the square, Xiao Ning watched Xiao Yan chatting and laughing with Xiao Xun'er, jealousy filling his eyes as he spoke viciously.