The Clan Test Shocks the Crowd

Early the next morning, at the Xiao Clan Martial Arts Arena in Wutan City.

The Xiao Clan was especially lively that day, decked out with lanterns and streamers as drums and music rang out. The annual Dou Qi test for the clan's younger generation was about to begin. It was one of the clan's most important events, determining not only the allocation of resources but also the clan's future rise or fall.

The arena teemed with people as the Xiao Clan's disciples gathered. The youths rubbed their fists and flexed their palms, eager to give it a try. The most eye-catching among them was the black-haired boy standing at the edge of the crowd in plain cloth robes—Xiao Yan.

His features were handsome, but an unyielding stubbornness shone in his eyes. Today was the crucial battle in his quest to reclaim his dignity.

"Hmph, what level do you think Xiao Yan will get this time? Surely it won't be third-stage Dou Qi again?"

"Haha, it's been three years, and he can barely advance a single stage. He's nothing but trash, wasting the clan's resources!"

"Enough. He was a genius once, after all. Now... sigh, what a pity."

Mockery rose from every direction. Xiao Yan clenched his fists, his nails almost digging into his palms, but still forced himself to hold back.

Just then, a clear, ringing voice came from the raised platform:

"Silence! The clan test begins now!"

As the words fell, a figure slowly stepped forward. It was the First Elder, Xiao Li. His expression was unusually solemn that day, and several venerable clan elders followed behind him, each looking grave, as though awaiting the arrival of some great personage.

"Huh? Why is the First Elder so nervous today?" a clan member murmured.

"You haven't heard? There was a disturbance in the Back Mountain Forbidden Area last night. They say... a secluded expert has emerged!"

"A secluded expert? Could it be... the legendary ancestor?"

As everyone murmured among themselves, a dark-robed figure strode through the air as though walking on level ground, then landed lightly at the center of the platform.

His black robes snapped in the wind, his black hair tied behind his head. His features looked carved by a blade, and his bearing was otherworldly, as though untouched by mortal smoke and fire. It was Xiao Ze.

The entire arena instantly fell silent.

"Who... who is that?"

"He's so young! But that aura... why does it make it so hard to breathe?"

"Look where he's standing! Right beside the First Elder! Even the clan leader hasn't arrived, yet he dares take the foremost position!"

As shock swept through the crowd, Xiao Li cleared his throat and announced loudly, "In today's clan test, besides the younger generation, our Xiao Clan's secluded young lord—Lord Xiao Ze—will also participate, to inspire our juniors!"

"What?! Lord Xiao Ze? A secluded young lord?!"

"Xiao Ze? Isn't he Clan Leader Xiao Zhan's younger brother? But didn't he leave years ago to gain experience, with no word of him since?"

"Impossible! He only looks to be in his early twenties. How could he be some 'secluded young lord'?"

The arena erupted in an uproar, with doubts rising from every direction.

Only Xiao Yan, standing among the crowd, looked up at the platform with a slightly narrowed gaze. He sensed an indescribable pressure from that figure, as though he faced not a peer, but a towering mountain.

"The test begins! First—Xiao Yan!"

At the officiating elder's command, Xiao Yan took a deep breath, slowly stepped forward, and placed his hand on the Testing Stele.

Buzzz—

The stele trembled slightly, giving off a faint halo of light.

"Dou Qi... seventh stage!"

The officiating elder read out the result, his voice trembling slightly.

The arena first fell silent, then erupted in an earth-shaking clamor!

"Seventh stage?! After three years without any progress, he's jumped four stages in one go?!"

"How... how is that possible?!"

"Could it be... his talent has returned?!"

Before the doubts had subsided, someone sharp-eyed cried out, "Look at the stele! It's still rising! It's still rising!"

The halo suddenly blazed brighter, surging upward from the seventh stage—the eighth, the ninth... before finally settling at!

"One-Star Dou Practitioner?! No! It's... it's two-star Dou Practitioner!"

Boom—!

The entire arena exploded into an uproar!

"Xiao Yan has broken through to Dou Zhe?! And he went straight to two stars?!"

"This... this is nothing short of a miracle!"

"Is he... is he going to become a genius again?"

Those who had mocked him turned deathly pale, unable to believe their eyes.

Xiao Yan slowly withdrew his hand, a long-absent fire kindling in his eyes. He knew all of this came from the Jade Slip the mysterious man had left in his room last night—a fragment of the Flame Mantra—and a single message: "Nephew, do not squander your gifts."

He looked up at the platform and met Xiao Ze's smiling gaze.

Xiao Ze nodded slightly, his eyes filled with approval.

"Next, Xiao Ze!"

The officiating elder called out in a trembling voice.

The entire arena instantly fell silent.

Every gaze converged on the platform, fixed firmly on that dark-robed figure.

Xiao Ze slowly walked down and stood before the stele with his hands behind his back. His expression was calm, as though this were not a test of his Dou Qi talent, but a game.

He slowly raised a hand and pressed it lightly against the stele.

Buzzz—!!!

The stele shook violently, as though unable to withstand this power. Cracks actually appeared across its surface!

Crack—!

The first crack spread!

Crack—crack—!

In the blink of an eye, the entire Testing Stele was covered in spiderweb cracks. Its light flickered wildly, its color racing upward from pale blue through red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and violet... until, finally, a faint layer of golden light appeared!

"This... this is impossible! The stele only measures up to the Dou Wang level. How could it... glow gold?!"

"Golden light?! That's... that's the legendary sign of 'Dou Sheng potential'!"

"A Dou Sheng?! Our Xiao Clan... has actually produced a genius with Dou Sheng potential?!"

The arena fell deathly silent. Everyone's mouth hung open, even their breathing halted.

Xiao Li dropped straight to his knees and bowed to the ground, his voice trembling. "Young Lord, your might is divine! This... this is no longer talent, but... destiny itself!"

Just then, the stele finally could bear no more. It shattered with a thunderous explosion, sending fragments flying.

Yet Xiao Ze remained where he stood, his robes unmoving, as though everything that had just happened had nothing to do with him.

He withdrew his hand and said offhandedly, "Hmm, barely usable. The quality is a little poor, though."

The arena fell silent once more.

Barely? Usable? The quality was a little poor?

That was an ancient stele capable of measuring Dou Wang talent! Even the clan leader had only made it glow violet during his test back then!

Yet he... had actually shattered the stele and still complained about its quality?

"Did... did I hear that right?"

"What realm is he actually in? Could he be... a Dou Emperor? A Dou Zong? Or... a Dou Zun?!"

"No! Impossible! How old is he?!"

The crowd boiled over completely, shock sweeping through the arena like a tide.

Just then, a clear female voice descended from the sky:

"To think the Xiao Clan has produced such a genius. You've truly opened this princess's eyes~"

Everyone looked up to see a girl in a green dress walking through the air, her skirts fluttering like an immortal maiden descending into the mortal world. Her features were picturesque, her bearing ethereal. She was the Gu Clan's young lady—Xiao Xun'er.

Her gaze fell on Xiao Ze. A flicker of surprise passed through her eyes, then turned into intense interest.

"You're Xiao Ze?" she asked with a light laugh. "I can sense something inside you... an aura similar to mine."

Xiao Ze raised his eyes toward the breathtaking girl, something stirring in his heart.

[Ding! Highly compatible female lead detected: Xiao Xun'er. Affection +10. Current affection: 25 (budding affection)]

The system notification sounded.

Xiao Ze smiled slightly and cupped his hands. "Xiao Ze of the Xiao Clan greets Lady Xun'er."

Xiao Xun'er's eyes shimmered as she said softly, "You're strong. So strong... it doesn't seem right for someone your age. I'm very curious. What secrets are you hiding?"

"Secrets?" The corners of Xiao Ze's mouth lifted slightly. "You'll find out someday. But for now..."

He turned toward the stunned members of the Xiao Clan, his ringing voice resounding through the clouds:

"I want everyone to know—the skies above the Xiao Clan have changed. From this day forward, anyone who dares bully our disciples or disgrace our clan's name will pay the price. I, Xiao Ze, will see to it!"

Boom—!

As his words fell, an invisible pressure swept through the arena. Every young disciple felt their knees give way and dropped to the ground. Only Xiao Yan and Xiao Xun'er barely remained standing.

"This... this is... a domain?!"

"Could he... could he be... a Dou Sheng?!"

"No! Impossible! How could a Dou Sheng appear in the Jia Ma Empire?!"

"But... but if he isn't a Dou Sheng, how could he exert such pressure?!"

Everyone was shaken, unable to recover for a long time.

As Xiao Yan gazed at the figure on the platform, an unprecedented fighting spirit and reverence blazed within his heart.

Uncle... who are you, really?

Xiao Ze stood with his hands behind his back in the morning light, like a deity descended into the mortal world.

The skies above Wutan City truly were about to change.

And Xiao Ze's legend had only just begun to unfold.

[Ding! Main quest "Shock the Clan" completion: 100%]

[Distributing quest rewards...]

[Obtained: Heavenly Flame—"Nine Nether Wind Flame" (ranked nineteenth, dual wind and fire attributes, can devour cold-attribute energy to strengthen itself)]

[The Heavenly Flame has been stored in system space and can be refined at any time.]

A flash of burning eagerness passed through Xiao Ze's eyes.

"Nine Nether Wind Flame? Dual wind and fire attributes... it does suit me."

He lifted his head toward the sky and whispered inwardly:

The path to Dou Di—here I come.

In this life, I will make the Xiao Clan's name resound throughout the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!

Winds rose and clouds surged. The gears of fate had begun to turn.