The Silent Feast, A Rapidly Beating Heart

As the Xiao Clan disciples were called up one by one by the clan chief, Xiao Zhan, their faces showed both joy and worry as they took the stage.

"Xiao Ning, Dou Qi, fourth stage. Mid-grade!"

"Xiao Le, Dou Qi, second stage. Low-grade (climbing stairs)."

After hearing Luo Zixi's words, Xun'er revealed a satisfied smile on her delicate face.

Her guess had indeed been correct. Luo Zixi had long noticed that she had spent the past six years slacking off and having fun. Though he had hinted at it now and then, she simply had not listened at all.

She truly had not cultivated much over the past six years, and was now only barely at the ninth stage of Dou Qi.

After all, she had come to the Xiao Family to search for the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade and happily play here for a few years. As for cultivation, she could rapidly improve after returning to her clan.

Bearing a God-Tier Bloodline, Xun'er had naturally advanced to the ninth stage of Dou Qi without taking pills or cultivating. Fortunately, no one else in the Xiao Family knew about it, or she would surely have drawn their envy.

"Xiao Mei, Dou Qi, sixth stage! High-grade!"

Xiao Mei's Dou Qi was more than a whole level above what it had been in the original story. There, she had only barely reached the eighth stage of Dou Qi four years later. Of course, compared with the original story, she was now far more diligent and serious. Her current strength was the result of cultivating day and night and practicing martial arts.

Her level was enough to look down on all her peers in the Xiao Family. Standing atop the platform, she looked like a proud little peacock. Then, amid everyone's envious gazes, she skipped toward Luo Zixi.

"Hehe, Zixi Gege, Mei'er worked really hard!"

Xiao Mei arrived at Luo Zixi's other side with a sweet smile. When Xun'er saw her approach him, a hint of jealousy appeared in her autumn-water eyes.

"Next, Xiao Xun'er!"

Hearing her name called for the test, Xun'er temporarily set aside her jealousy. She would use her strength to thoroughly crush this "little vixen's" confidence!

As Xun'er stepped onto the stage, the gazes of nearly every boy and young man in the Xiao Family turned toward Luo Zixi. It was clear they were deeply displeased.

Xiao Family Extra A: I want to beat him up.

Xiao Family Extra B: I'm jealous of that face of his.

Xiao Family Extra C: +1

Xiao Family Extras D, E, F, G: +438

"Mm, little sister Xiao Mei is really amazing. Keep working hard in the future too."

Luo Zixi stroked Xiao Mei's little head, and she clearly enjoyed it. But just then, Xiao Zhan's voice sounded once more.

"Xiao Xun'er, Dou Qi, ninth stage. High-grade!"

As Xiao Zhan announced this, his somewhat kindly old face was filled with excitement.

She had reached the ninth stage of Dou Qi at ten years old. Didn't that mean, like Xiao Yan, she only needed a single Qi Gathering Powder to become a Dou Practitioner before turning eleven?!

Yet before he could finish getting excited, Xun'er leaped directly down from the five-meter-high stone platform. Her lotus steps lightly touched the ground as she arrived beside Luo Zixi.

"Little sister Xiao Mei, compared with your sixth stage of Dou Qi, it seems Xun'er's ninth stage is still a bit better."

Seeing this, Xiao Zhan stood frozen in place. He looked at Luo Zixi, then at his useless "unfilial son."

Sigh... all he could say was that his youngest son had been bad from an early age. At six, he had sneaked into Xun'er's room at night and been beaten out. At eight, he had nearly seen Xiao Yu bathing and gotten beaten again.

Damn it, the more he thought about it, the angrier he got!

Even if that brat had just become a Dou Practitioner last night, tonight he would settle both old and new scores with him properly!

When Xiao Zhan saw the next name, his anger immediately flared up.

"Next test participant, Xiao Yan!"

Sitting in a shady spot and watching Luo Zixi fool around with Xun'er and Xiao Mei, Xiao Yan's eyes were full of envy.

He genuinely envied Luo Zixi's "womanly face." It was fucking gorgeous—so stunning that even he, an iron-blooded straight man, could clearly feel the impact!

Fortunately, though, the other's cultivation talent should not be as good as his. After all, he was already a Dou Practitioner!

Xiao Yan easily leaped onto the high platform and flamboyantly pressed one hand against the stone monument.

"Xiao Yan, one-star Dou Practitioner. High-grade!"

As Xiao Zhan's voice fell, waves of astonished cries rose from the clan. An eleven-year-old Dou Practitioner—such talent would be considered absolutely genius even in the Gama Empire!

At that moment, Luo Zixi also turned his gaze toward Xiao Yan, who stood gloriously atop the platform. Yet inwardly, he observed a brief two-and-a-half seconds of silence for him.

Before long, this old brat Xiao Yan would likely spend the darkest three years of his life amid curses and ridicule.

Xiao Yan also noticed Luo Zixi's gaze and flashed him a smug smile, as if saying, See how badass I am?

But when Xun'er followed Luo Zixi's gaze, she saw Xiao Yan's "I'm above everyone else" expression.

Xun'er was unhappy—and furious!

He was only a tiny Dou Practitioner. What was he so smug about?!

"Zixi Gege, you should go up and test too, so that lecher does not get too carried away."

Hearing Xun'er's words, a bitter smile gradually appeared on Luo Zixi's lips.

"Um... Xun'er, maybe we should forget it. Doing that doesn't seem very appropriate."

Luo Zixi wanted to refuse. If he really compared sizes with Xiao Yan, he was afraid the other would become insecure.

Yet before he could finish voicing his refusal, Xiao Ning, who had been watching this area from not far away, directly added another stab.

"Little Brother Luo Zixi, go up and take the test. Consider it a check on the results of your cultivation over the past few years."

However, the moment Xiao Ning spoke, Xun'er shot him a cold glance. Feeling her hostile gaze, Xiao Ning's back turned chilly, as though some savage beast had fixed its eyes on him.

"Sister Xun'er, if Zixi Gege doesn't want to go up, then he doesn't have to. What's the big deal?"

Seeing that Luo Zixi did not want to take the stage, Xiao Mei hurriedly tried to smooth things over. But since Xun'er had already spoken, Luo Zixi naturally had no reason to refuse.

Gently patting both of their little heads, Luo Zixi slowly rose to his feet.

"Patriarch Xiao Zhan, may I take the test as well?"

The moment Xiao Zhan heard Luo Zixi's words, his interest was immediately piqued.

After all, according to Xun'er, this absurdly handsome youth had been picked up by her from a garbage heap outside on some rainy night. Though there was some suspicion that she had made it up, he was still very curious about the youth's current cultivation level.

"Alright, you may come over and test yourself."

Xiao Zhan was not some stubborn old fossil. The stone tablet was meant to test one's level; whether or not someone belonged to the Xiao Family was completely unimportant.

Luo Zixi stepped forward and made an effortless leap, landing directly beside the Xiao Family's testing stone tablet.

At that moment, the Xiao Family disciples stared fixedly at Luo Zixi. He was simply too envy-inducing; if his talent was also exceptional, then the world would be far too unfair!

Xiao Zhan also fixed his gaze on Luo Zixi. A white light began to flash wildly across the stone tablet, then reached the top. Yellow light rose from below after it!

Then the green light reached the top, and purple light rose in its place, climbing all the way to the very peak!

The entire process was extremely fast. To the Xiao Family disciples, it lasted no more than an instant.

Very soon, a bright, glaring number appeared on the stone tablet: nine!

"Holy crap! This guy actually has the same Nine Stages of Dou Qi as Xun'er!"

"No way, is he cheating?!"

"Heavens, this is unfair! Why is he so handsome and so talented too?!!!"

After witnessing Luo Zixi's talent, the younger members of the Xiao Family all erupted into miserable wails.

Damn heavens, this is unfair!

Yet at that very moment, three distinct purple words appeared on the stone tablet.

Great Fighter, Nine Stars!

The wailing quickly stopped. Even the sound of breathing seemed to freeze. All they could hear were the violently pounding heartbeats of themselves and those around them.

Luo Zixi turned gracefully. Before leaving, he did not forget to pat Xiao Yan, his fellow townsman, on the shoulder.

"Keep it up, Xiao Yanzi. Don't let me leave you too far behind."