The Xiao Clan's coming-of-age ceremony was so absurdly elaborate that it gave people headaches.
Below the platform, Xiao Fan watched the disciples being manipulated like puppets by the clan elders and rubbed his forehead.
This drawn-out procedure rivaled the speeches leaders gave in his previous life-endless, yet full of empty words.
Xiao Fan sat with Xiao Yan, and Xiao Xun'er had joined them. After a year of getting acquainted, Xiao Fan had found her quite easy to get along with. Of course, there was one condition: you must not provoke Xiao Yan.
Not far from the three of them, Xiao Ning and Xiao Yu were staring their way. Perhaps because Xiao Fan often cultivated with Xiao Yan, he had now joined the list of people who had offended Xiao Yu.
"Idiots."
Xiao Yan glanced at Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning, slowly spitting out the word. Then, ignoring their livid faces, he turned back to chat with Xiao Xun'er and Xiao Fan.
Hearing Xiao Yan's remark, Xiao Xun'er could not help raising a hand to rub her forehead.
Whenever Xiao Yan encountered Xiao Yu, he shed his usual composure. That utterly unrestrained manner of his really did invite a beating.
Xiao Fan still could not understand why, when Xiao Yu had clearly come looking for trouble with Xiao Yan, it had ended with Xiao Yan clapping on the sidelines while he fought her instead. As a result, he had somehow become the target of Xiao Yu's greatest hatred.
Amid the trio's laughter and conversation, more than half the coming-of-age ceremony passed, and Xiao Yan's turn finally arrived.
"Xiao Yan!"
Beneath the Black Stone Stele, the testing steward called Xiao Yan's name with a complicated look in his eyes.
Although most members of the Xiao Clan knew that two youths had frequently cultivated on the mountain behind the clan grounds over the past year, returning bruised and battered every time, they did not believe the pair could have made much progress.
Even setting aside whether Xiao Yan had recovered his former talent, advancing four stages of Dou Qi in a year was something nobody believed he could accomplish, not even as Wutan City's former greatest genius.
Lifting his head slightly, Xiao Yan swept his gaze across the training ground. Those gloating looks made him give a quiet, cold laugh.
Nodding to Xiao Fan and Xiao Xun'er, Xiao Yan strode toward the platform. With my teacher and senior brother here, what can't I accomplish?
Under the entire crowd's intent scrutiny, Xiao Yan's chest slowly rose and fell. He extended his palm and pressed it lightly against the cold Black Stone Stele.
Everyone stared unblinkingly at the stele. They understood perfectly well that this test might send the Xiao Clan's former genius to some remote region to serve as a steward for the rest of his life. This might be his final day at the main clan estate.
The stele remained still for a moment. Then a brilliant light burst forth!
The enormous golden letters on the stele made every heart stop for an instant.
"Dou power... seventh stage!"
A long silence. A deathly silence!
Everyone present was stunned by the strength the youth had displayed.
Crack!
Seated in the place of honor, Xiao Zhan crushed his cup in excitement. Scalding tea streamed between his fingers, but he seemed utterly unaware.
"Seventh stage... Yan'er, you really did it!" Looking at the youth beneath the Black Stone Stele, Xiao Zhan's eyes grew moist.
"Gulp, haha... that Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid the clan leader bought... it... it really is powerful, haha." Beside him, the second elder gave a dry laugh as he spoke sheepishly, watching Xiao Yan on the platform.
Nobody paid any attention to his words. Although Xiao Zhan had bought most of the Foundation Establishment Spirit Liquid that had abruptly appeared in Wutan City over the past year and given it to Xiao Yan, the others could still judge its effects.
If it truly worked such miracles, Wutan City would have been turned upside down long ago.
Below the platform, everyone who had been waiting to laugh at Xiao Yan was deeply shaken by the result.
With complicated emotions in her eyes, Xiao Mei watched the youth on the platform as a trace of regret flashed through her mind. His once-astonishing cultivation talent seemed to have returned.
At the edge of the training ground, Xiao Ning, who had also been waiting to laugh at Xiao Yan, could not accept the result. Staring dumbfounded at the enormous letters on the stele, he murmured involuntarily, "How is that possible..."
Feeling everyone's gazes upon him, Xiao Yan gently exhaled. Three years ago, their admiration would have made him smug, but now he would no longer let them affect him.
Just as his teacher had said, three years of tempering had made his disposition steadier. Besides, compared with his own talent, his senior brother was the true monster! He took a long look at the stele that had determined his fate several times, then gave Xiao Fan a knowing smile and returned to his seat.
"Brother Xiao Yan, congratulations! You've really dealt a blow to all those people who used to look down on you!" Xiao Xun'er said with smiling, narrowed eyes.
Hearing Xiao Xun'er's words, Xiao Yan smiled calmly. "Compared with my senior brother, my achievements hardly amount to anything!"
Over the past year, Xiao Yan had already accidentally let slip that they were fellow disciples while alone with Xun'er.
Xiao Xun'er only knew that a mysterious person was teaching them to cultivate on the mountain behind the clan grounds. She had sent Ling Ying to investigate several times, but he had found nothing. In the end, that person had also shown goodwill toward her. As long as he would not hurt Brother Xiao Yan, that was enough. Xiao Xun'er could not be bothered to worry about anything else.
"Next, Xiao Xun'er!"
Xiao Xun'er had been about to say something, but upon hearing that she was next, she turned to Xiao Yan with a smile. "Brother Xiao Yan, don't be too shocked!"
Hearing her words, Xiao Yan smiled slightly. Judging by Xun'er's manner, she had probably already broken through to Dou Zhe. Unfortunately... At that thought, Xiao Yan looked toward Xiao Fan again.
Sure enough, Xiao Xun'er's strength as a One-Star Dou Zhe once again made everyone present draw a sharp breath.
Xiao Xun'er's talent was plain for all to see, but reaching the strength of a One-Star Dou Zhe so early still made everyone marvel at how the Xiao Clan had an enviable abundance of geniuses.
However, after Xiao Yan's advancement of four stages of Dou Qi in a year, the crowd did not find Xiao Xun'er's breakthrough quite so difficult to accept.
"Next, Xiao Fan!"
Below the platform, Xiao Fan finally heard his name. He grinned at Xiao Yan and strode toward the platform.
Having returned to her spot, Xiao Xun'er saw the admiration in Xiao Yan's eyes. She blinked and asked him, "Do you really admire Big Brother Xiao Fan that much, Brother Xiao Yan?"
"Of course. You'll understand in a moment. Everyone thinks my talent is the best, but compared with my senior brother, mine really isn't worth mentioning." Xiao Yan smiled and told Xiao Xun'er to watch Xiao Fan's test closely.
After stepping onto the platform, Xiao Fan pressed his hand against the testing stone. Before long, the letters on the stele plunged the martial training ground, which had just grown lively again, back into deathly silence.
"Xiao Fan, One-Star Dou Zhe!"
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