The Ceremonial Test

A year slipped by in the blink of an eye, leaving only a month until Xiao Yan's coming-of-age ceremony.

On the mountain behind the Xiao Clan, Xiao Yan stood in white robes with his hands clasped behind his back. His figure was slender and his features handsome, yet an absurdly oversized ruler rested on his back.

The wind rose, stirring his flowing black hair.

"Tsk, tsk. Your bearing now bears some resemblance to Hun Tiandi's. Are you deliberately imitating him?" Yao Chen's voice suddenly rang out as his figure slowly appeared in midair.

"Yao Lao, please don't tease me. If I could learn even thirty percent of my master's ways, the rise and fall of this Jia Ma Empire would probably hinge on a single thought of mine." Xiao Yan turned toward Yao Chen with an awkward smile.

"Hehe, it's only a matter of time." Yao Chen was brimming with confidence.

Only a matter of time? Xiao Yan closed his eyes and sensed the power within him, sinking his consciousness into his lower abdomen. A palm-sized, peach-pink vortex slowly revolved there, with a peach blossom blooming alluringly at its center.

At a mere thought, the peach blossom instantly transformed into a pink flame in Xiao Yan's palm. It radiated considerable heat, yet remained remarkably gentle.

The peach blossom flame was one of the most important things in the storage ring Hun Tiandi had left behind when he departed. Born within a fifth-rank magical beast, the Kui Mu Beast, it was among the easiest spirit flames to tame, though its temperature and destructive power were correspondingly inferior to those of other spirit flames. Even so, it remained the spirit flame most beloved by low-grade alchemists. However, the peach blossom flame was extremely expensive, and many alchemists struggled to acquire it while their strength was still meager.

Two-Star Dou Zhe!

Yao Chen had thought it would already be remarkable if Xiao Yan advanced to Dou Zhe within a year, but this child always managed to surprise him. Not only had he advanced to Dou Zhe in the tenth month, he had also chosen the Flame Mantra as his cultivation method and devoured the peach blossom flame, raising the method to yellow tier middle grade.

Yao Chen had stumbled upon the Flame Mantra in an Ancient Cave Mansion during one of his journeys. Originally a yellow tier low grade cultivation method, it could advance by devouring spirit flames or heavenly flames. In theory, as long as it devoured enough heavenly flames, it could keep advancing indefinitely.

Xiao Yan was now more than a hundred times stronger than he had been a year ago. He could finally be considered qualified to gain a foothold on the Dou Qi Continent.

"Today, I will wash away all the humiliation of these past years. I'm not trying to take revenge on anyone..." Xiao Yan abruptly clenched his fist, crushing the peach blossom flame in his hand and scattering its fire. Through gritted teeth, he continued, "I just want everyone to know that you can humiliate me, but you must never trample on everything I cherish!"

Xiao Yan turned and headed down the mountain. Behind him, the scars left by Hun Tiandi and Xiao Xuan's clash a year ago still hung in midair, the rifts torn through space as dense as a spiderweb. The mountain behind the Xiao Clan had now become a famous forbidden zone in the Jia Ma Empire, but throughout the past year, he had come here many times to study those traces, simply to spur himself on. One day, he would become this powerful too.

"Look, it's that useless trash. He dragged his feet and only showed up now. Must be afraid of embarrassing himself, huh?"

"If he's afraid of embarrassing himself, why not just hide and stay away? He's been hiding for almost a year. What's another month?"

"Another month of hiding, and he can go straight to the marketplace to work as a helper!"

"Hahaha."

Mocking voices came from every direction, the words of some nearby Xiao Clan members sharp and grating. Dressed in white, Xiao Yan stood calmly among the crowd. He had already put the Heavy Xuan Ruler back into his storage ring beforehand, not wanting to draw too much attention.

"Brother Xiao Yan, you're finally out of seclusion!" Xiao Xun'er stood beside Xiao Yan, nervously clutching the hem of her clothes and occasionally turning to look at the composed young man next to her.

Even Xiao Xun'er had not seen Xiao Yan for a long time. For an adolescent girl, this was especially unbearable. A young girl's love was possessive-a possessiveness that could not bear even a moment apart.

Xiao Yan had changed greatly since emerging from seclusion. His former dejection had been swept away, replaced by greater confidence and composure. This change delighted Xun'er, but it also left her somewhat anxious.

He hasn't come to see me for a whole year. Has Brother Xiao Yan forgotten me...?

Suddenly, a warm hand settled on Xiao Xun'er's head and gave it a vigorous rub, mussing her black hair.

"I'm out. Want to stroll around the marketplace tonight? I'll buy you something tasty." Xiao Yan looked at Xiao Xun'er with affection in his eyes. This girl, one of the few who had not abandoned him, was now among the people he cherished most.

Xiao Xun'er froze completely, a rosy blush quickly spreading across her cheeks. But the shy girl did not move away. Instead, she nodded happily. "Yes!"

"Then it's a promise." Xiao Yan looked confidently toward the Black Stone Stele.

Yet this scene only intensified the criticism around them. Quite a few young male clan members glared furiously at Xiao Yan. Xiao Xun'er was the Xiao Clan's favored daughter of heaven, the girl of countless young men's dreams.

"A mere piece of trash dares touch Miss Xun'er's head?" Among the crowd, Xiao Ning was so angry he nearly ground his teeth to pieces. He stared furiously at the bashful Xiao Xun'er, almost going mad inside.

Xiao Ning was the Great Elder's grandson, Xiao Yan's older cousin, and Xiao Yu's younger brother. He was fairly talented and had liked Xiao Xun'er since childhood. Before Xiao Yan became a fallen genius, he could only bury those feelings in his heart. But as Xiao Yan's fortunes changed, he had grown increasingly open about his affection.

Xiao Xun'er, however, had no interest in him.

Anger kept welling up in his eyes. After a moment, Xiao Ning slowly exhaled, and a genial smile returned to his face. Under everyone's gaze, he slowly walked toward the raised platform.

"Next, Xiao Ning."

The handsome youth slowly ascended the platform, then pressed his hand against the Black Stone Stele under the eyes of the entire crowd.

"Dou Qi, ninth stage!"

The examiner's announcement instantly set the crowd ablaze. Ninth Stage of Dou Qi-this was the highest level recorded in the testing so far.

In the spectators' seats, the Great Elder nodded in satisfaction. He was extremely pleased with this grandson, who had already achieved such cultivation at such a young age. Had Xiao Yan not refused the Misty Cloud Sect's Qi Gathering Powder, his grandson would probably have already broken through to Dou Zhe, becoming the Xiao Clan's second prodigy in a hundred years to reach Dou Zhe before his coming-of-age ceremony.

As for the first person in a hundred years to advance to Dou Zhe before his coming-of-age ceremony, that was naturally Xiao Yan.

At this thought, the Great Elder could not help looking toward Xiao Yan, his gaze filled with disgust. He had once been very fond of the boy. After Xiao Yan's Dou Qi disappeared, he had also offered considerable help, but all those resources had vanished like clay oxen sinking into the sea, without stirring so much as a ripple.

Afterward, Xiao Yan had become dejected and lost all sense of proportion, making the Three-Year Agreement and angering the Misty Cloud Sect, leaving the clan in an awkward position.

Xiao Ning also looked smugly toward Xiao Yan, his gaze seeming to say, See that, trash? I'm the only one worthy of Xun'er!

But none of this concerned Xiao Yan. He was quietly chatting with Xiao Xun'er about amusing things that had happened over the past few days. With a perfectly serious expression, Xun'er described how her calico cat had given Big Black at the entrance a savage beating, making them both burst out laughing.

Their behavior utterly enraged Xiao Ning. He clenched his teeth so hard his gums nearly bled, and in his mind he was already on the verge of tearing Xiao Yan to pieces.

"Xiao Ning, get down from there!" the examiner barked.

"Yes!" Xiao Ning's voice was full of resentment.

"Next..."

People were tested one after another, but none stood out. Only when Xiao Xun'er's Dou Zhe strength was revealed did the crowd erupt once more.

"Just what I'd expect from the woman I've set my heart on." Xiao Ning's eyes burned with passion. In his eyes, he and Xiao Xun'er were a match made in heaven, while Xiao Yan was the tiger blocking the path between them.