Xiao Yan's Moment in the Spotlight

Jia Nan Academy's recruitment team brought a wave of excitement to Wu Tan City. After all, they would not visit every small city, which meant people from several nearby towns who wanted to enter the academy streamed in one after another to take the assessment.

Unfortunately, the storm came quickly and left just as quickly.

As the recruitment team departed seven days later, Wu Tan City gradually returned to its former peace.

As for Chen Xiao...

Breaking through to Dou Shi did not bring much change to his life. He still trained diligently every day.

"Roar of the Mad Lion," Yan Return Strike, and even proficiency with the Purple Cloud Wings—these all required time.

Broadening his knowledge through reading likewise required accumulation.

Only by guarding against arrogance and impatience could he advance steadily!

However, at the beginning and middle of every month, Chen Xiao would also ask Xun Er to accompany him to Mitre Auction House.

While keeping an eye out for any Storage Rings in stock, he would purchase some Amplification Pills that could aid his cultivation.

In addition, he used these opportunities to sell off, in batches, the useless medicinal herbs he had obtained from the cave's Stone Chamber.

This was probably the only diversion in Chen Xiao's dull life of bitter cultivation.

Idle clouds and pool shadows drifted through the long days; stars shifted, seasons changed, and autumn came and went.

Two and a half years passed in the blink of an eye.

The Xiao Family's Back Mountain.

Chen Xiao, whose figure had grown taller by another palm's length, stood atop the cliff. The battle-qi armor on his body, seemingly as solid as substance, gradually faded away.

By contrast, the long blade in his hand began to be covered by a thick layer of ice-blue battle qi.

As Chen Xiao poured in more and more battle qi, the color on the long blade grew increasingly radiant. In the end, amid the surging battle qi, it actually formed the shape of an energy lion's head roaring toward the sky.

"Roar of the Mad Lion!"

Chen Xiao gave a soft shout, and the energy lion head at the tip of the blade suddenly shot out, hurtling violently toward the dense forest to the side.

In an instant, a savage lion's roar resounded through the Back Mountain.

What followed immediately after was the crackling sound of trees snapping apart.

Looking closely, the area swept through by the energy lion head, within a radius of over ten zhang, had already become a complete mess. At the very center, an alarming pit had appeared!

Seeing this, Chen Xiao's face, now somewhat stripped of childishness and gradually handsome enough to be called dashing, could not help but reveal a satisfied smile.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

A crisp sound of applause rang out. Xun Er, who had been standing not far away watching, walked forward and praised him without stint.

"Big Brother Chen Xiao's control over this Dou Technique has become increasingly effortless. In Xun Er's opinion, with the perfected Yan Return Strike and this 'Roar of the Mad Lion,' even Uncle Xiao Zhan would probably be unable to last twenty moves against Big Brother Chen Xiao."

Xun Er, now nearly eleven, had grown almost a head taller compared to two and a half years ago. Although her features were still youthful, she was already a beauty in the making.

At this moment, her smile was bright and gentle, leaving even Chen Xiao, who considered his state of mind fairly steady, feeling light and buoyant as he listened.

"Clan Leader Xiao Zhan has immersed himself in the Da Dou Shi realm for many years, and his battle experience isn't something a green kid like me can compare to. However, if I faced the clan leaders of the other two great families, I'd be confident I could fight and defeat them!"

One who took from others had a weaker hand, and one who ate from others had a softer mouth.

The Xiao Family had treated him well, so Chen Xiao did not want to deliberately belittle Xiao Zhan in order to elevate himself.

Although, after these two and a half years of bitter training, his current realm was indeed just a little ahead of Xiao Zhan's.

His Dou Techniques and Qi Method were likewise just a little higher.

In summary, his advantage was only a little.

"It seems Big Brother Chen Xiao is preparing to make a move?"

Xun Er smiled sweetly, then grew slightly more serious as she made her guess.

She knew everything about Chen Xiao's past. Over the years, Chen Xiao had also never hidden his hostility toward the Oba Family.

"It's been seven years. It's time to settle things. I'll handle these trivial matters as soon as possible. In half a year, when Jia Nan Academy's recruitment team arrives, I'll go and sign up," Chen Xiao nodded and replied.

Chen Xiao had long since planned out the remaining half year.

The matter of the Oba Family had to be dealt with. Apart from that, he also had to complete the follow-up for the Pre-paid Qi Method, the Ice Emperor Scripture.

After hearing Chen Xiao's plans, Xun Er was slightly dazed.

Even she herself had not noticed that time had passed so quickly. In the blink of an eye, she had already been in the Xiao Family for so many years.

Thinking of the task she carried, Xun Er felt another headache coming on.

Over these years, Ling Ying had practically searched the Xiao Family inside and out, yet he simply could not find the object they sought.

In that case, there was only one explanation.

That thing was being carried personally by someone among the Xiao Family's higher-ups!

Although Xun Er had a suspected target, since she could not use forceful methods, it was truly rather difficult to make a move.

Coming back to herself, Xun Er smiled helplessly.

"Let's not talk about that for now, Brother Chen Xiao. We should hurry back. Uncle Xiao Zhan sent word to the entire clan last night that there would be an important announcement at noon today, and no one is allowed to be absent."

With Xun Er's status, she naturally did not need to care.

But since she was staying in the Xiao Family...

She would just take it as giving them some face.

Chen Xiao also remembered the matter and immediately put the long saber into the Storage Ring on his fingertip.

This low-grade Storage Ring had been obtained from Mitre Auction House and had cost Chen Xiao a full ninety thousand gold coins. The space inside was not large either, less than two cubic meters, but for the current Chen Xiao, it was barely enough.

"That's true. Since Clan Leader Xiao Zhan made such a grand show of it, what he wants to announce must be no small matter. Does Xun Er have any inside information?"

He asked aloud, but in Chen Xiao's heart, he already had some guesses.

Xun Er smiled gracefully and said, "It's most likely related to that cousin, Xiao Yan."

Hearing this, Chen Xiao became even more certain of his guess.

Over the past few years, he had kept a low profile and trained bitterly, never once showing off in front of others.

The complete opposite of him was Xiao Yan.

Last year, Xiao Yan had been only ten years old, yet he had already reached the terrifying level of Nine Stages of Dou Zhi Li!

For a time, not only in the Xiao Family, but throughout the whole of Wu Tan City, everyone heard Xiao Yan's name. He could truly be said to be known by all.

Everyone was paying attention, wondering when this newly famous genius of the Xiao Family would be able to condense a Dou Qi Cyclone and step into the ranks of Dou Zhe.

After all, this matter was not only important to the Xiao Family; it was also closely tied to the other families in Wu Tan City, especially the Oba Family and the Gale Family, with whom relations were tense.

As the person at the center of it all, Xiao Yan was surrounded every day by a crowd of bootlickers, and naturally became somewhat carried away. One could say he displayed youthful arrogance to the fullest.

When Chen Xiao and Xun Er returned from the Back Mountain, the Xiao Family's vast training field was already almost packed with people.

The Xiao Family's younger generation stood at the very front of the square, while behind them were the Guards and servants.

And on the high platform, Clan Leader Xiao Zhan, who was rarely seen on ordinary days, as well as the three Grand Elders, were all present. Every one of their faces was brimming with joy that could not be hidden.

"Brother Chen Xiao, I'll head over first."

When they reached the edge of the square, Xun Er lowered her voice.

Her status in the Xiao Family was worlds apart from Chen Xiao's. Now that so many people were present, if she really continued staying by Chen Xiao's side, it would draw far too much attention.

Chen Xiao nodded slightly and watched Xun Er walk to the first row of the crowd, while he himself continued to stay at the edge of the square.

After waiting for another ten minutes or so, a few scattered people arrived along the way.

It was not until noon, when he saw that the time was about right, that Xiao Zhan strode forward under pairs of curious eyes.

"Hahaha, I gathered everyone here today because there is something I wish to announce. Actually, it isn't anything major."

He tried hard to be a little modest.

Unfortunately, there was not the slightest bit of modesty in him.

His mouth was almost grinning crooked.

"Over the past few years, our clansmen, and even some people from other families, have all been paying attention to Yan'er, constantly guessing when he would condense a Dou Qi Cyclone and become a Dou Zhe."

"What this Old Man wants to say today is that from now on, you no longer need to make wild guesses. Because my son, Xiao Yan, successfully condensed a Dou Qi Cyclone last night!"

Boom!

As Xiao Zhan's words fell, the square instantly erupted into an uproar.

Xiao Zhan did not stop them. Only after everyone had calmed down slightly did he extend a hand in invitation.

The next moment, Xiao Yan, dressed in black robes, walked out from the rear in high spirits, accompanied by Xiao Ding and Xiao Li.

At this moment, Xiao Yan was the center of everyone's attention.

His prestige had reached its peak!