The ceremonial retest

A month later, the coming-of-age ceremony was held as scheduled. It was a lively affair, with practically every force in Wutan City close to the Xiao Clan in attendance. Even the Ao Ba Family and the Jia Lie Family had sent an elder or two.

Most likely, they had come to gauge the overall strength of the Xiao Clan's younger generation.

Xiao Zhan had also invited Mittel Ya Fei and Gu Ni. These two were major figures in Wutan City, so inviting them was a must. Whether they actually attended, of course, was entirely up to them.

If they came, they were doing him an honor. If they did not, he had no grounds to complain.

Thanks to their previous contact, although originally only Ya Fei had planned to attend, Gu Ni had come along as well to build a closer relationship with Xiao Yu.

This left Xiao Zhan somewhat overwhelmed by the honor. In the past, when he invited the two of them, only Ya Fei would occasionally attend. Gu Ni had never come before.

That day, Xiao Yan also came to the courtyard and dragged Xiao Yu along to the training grounds.

"What's with you, kid? Why aren't you with Cousin Xun'er? Why come looking for me instead? Don't tell me you have some unusual tastes!"

Xiao Yu slapped away the hand Xiao Yan had grabbed him with, looking disgusted.

Xiao Yan gave him a disdainful glance. "Oh, give it a rest. You looked like a lonely old man, so I came to get you out of the kindness of my heart."

"I, Xiao Yan, am perfectly normal. Even if you are devastatingly handsome, that's not enough to shake my preference for women."

"Good, good."

"Hurry up. Don't be late."

By the time they reached the training grounds, the place was already packed, and every seat in the stands was occupied.

This was the first time Xiao Yu had seen so many people since coming to the Dou Qi Continent. With his preference for peace and quiet, he could not stand all this noise.

He grumbled, "There are way too many people here. All this racket is making my head swell."

Xiao Yan did not like occasions like this either. "Bear with it. You'll have an even worse time when the coming-of-age ceremony starts."

The two then found a relatively quiet spot to sit down and waited for the coming-of-age ceremony to begin.

Xiao Yu was so bored that he wanted to doze off, and he really did fall asleep. Beside him, Xiao Yan could only smile helplessly. He had discovered that this cousin of his really could sleep-he could even nod off in such a noisy place.

Without disturbing him, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged where he was and closed his eyes to rest.

Naturally, the Xiao Clan's youths had noticed the two of them. They were now the clan's most talked-about figures, known to one and all.

One had shot up four stages of Dou Qi in a year, while the other was a sixteen-year-old Three-Star Dou Zhe. Talent like theirs had set all of Wutan City talking, let alone the boys and girls who had personally witnessed their preliminary test results.

Quite a few of those boys and girls had become their admirers. Comparatively speaking, Xiao Yu had more female fans. After all, who could resist a handsome young genius?

More of the boys, however, preferred Xiao Yan. The words he had spoken when his engagement was broken off a year ago had already been turned into storybooks by busybodies.

The young man's unyielding resolve, his trials and tribulations, and the genius's eventual return with peerless swagger were all the more stirring to these hot-blooded youths.

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west-never look down on a young man because he is poor" had practically become their motto.

Many people in the stands had naturally noticed the pair as well. After all, talk of them could now be heard in nearly every street and alley in Wutan City.

They, too, wanted to see today whether the rumors were true.

Seeing the commotion in the grounds, Ya Fei and Gu Ni also noticed Xiao Yu.

"Clan Leader Xiao, you truly are blessed. Young Master Xiao has not only regained his talent, but surpassed his former self."

"And the Xiao Clan has also produced a young genius who reached Three-Star Dou Zhe at just sixteen."

Ya Fei smiled as she congratulated Xiao Zhan.

At her words, Xiao Zhan laughed happily and replied modestly, "Hahaha, you flatter them, Miss Ya Fei. Those two little rascals just have a bit of talent. It's nothing worth mentioning."

Ya Fei covered her mouth and chuckled. "You're too modest, Clan Leader Xiao. With these two young masters, I imagine the Xiao Clan will have two more Dou Wangs, or even Dou Huang experts, in a few decades."

"Let's hope so. Those two little fellows do give me a fright, especially Yan'er. Who knows when his talent might disappear again?"

At this point, Gu Ni spoke. "Clan Leader Xiao, with young friend Xiao Yu in the Xiao Clan, you'll be able to claim a place even in the Imperial Capital in a little over a decade. And that's without even counting Young Master Xiao."

Something flickered in Xiao Zhan's eyes. Hearing Gu Ni address Xiao Yu as his young friend made him wonder.

Does Gu Ni know Yu'er?

He did not ask, however, and instead continued exchanging pleasantries with the two.

Soon, the coming-of-age ceremony began.

After Xiao Zhan's opening speech, the First Elder and Second Elder also took their turns speaking. It was all the usual blessings for the younger generation and thanks to the guests.

Then came the elaborate coming-of-age rites, personally presided over by the Second Elder.

One by one, the boys and girls underwent the rites, their bodies steeped in the scents of various spices.

"Xiao Shan!"

"Xiao Xu!"

"Xiao Mei!"

"Xiao Xun'er!"

"Xiao Yan!"

"Xiao Yu!"

Still asleep, Xiao Yu woke when he heard someone calling his name. Although he could sleep in a place with so many people, his sleep was light, and he woke easily.

Fairly clearheaded after waking, Xiao Yu looked around. When he saw Xiao Yan gesture with his lips toward the massive wooden platform in the center of the training grounds, he understood that it was his turn and walked toward the distant platform at an unhurried pace.

Everyone had seen Xiao Yu looking freshly roused from sleep, but no one commented. After all, he was a sixteen-year-old Three-Star Dou Zhe.

"Pfft!"

Seeing Xiao Yu's adorably languid, just-awakened look, Ya Fei could not help laughing aloud.

"This little fellow is rather cute."

This was actually Ya Fei's first time seeing Xiao Yu. On his previous visit to the Mittel Auction House, he had gone in the guise of a mysterious Alchemist.

With a complicated yet delighted look in his eyes, the Second Elder began performing Xiao Yu's coming-of-age rites.

He sprinkled all manner of spices over Xiao Yu as though they cost nothing. The fragrance was so pungent that Xiao Yu had no choice but to form filters of Dou Qi in his nostrils to block out the smells.

The hour-long coming-of-age rites left Xiao Yu utterly miserable. He had never expected the ceremony to be this troublesome. It was practically asking to suffer.

Having finally endured it to the end, Xiao Yu could not help breathing a sigh of relief. He was about to step down when the Second Elder stopped him.

"Xiao Yu, don't hurry down just yet. You're the last to undergo the coming-of-age rites. Next comes the ceremonial retest, so you might as well take yours now."

Xiao Yu nodded at his words. The sooner he finished, the sooner he could relax. Naturally, he had no objection.

He followed the Second Elder to the Black Stone Stele used for testing, and with the elder's announcement, the ceremonial retest officially began.

After the Second Elder nodded for him to proceed, Xiao Yu placed his hand against the stele and began the test.

Once the light faded, several large, glowing words appeared upon it.

"Four-Star Dou Zhe!"

"???"