Seeing Xun'er walking towards Xiao Yan, the group of youths in the courtyard all showed envious gazes. In the Xiao Family, there was only one person who could be so close to Xun'er, but this person was famously known as a good-for-nothing…
Beside the square, Xiao Zhu, surrounded by his friends, glared angrily at Xiao Yan.
"You little bastard, let's see if you'll still have the face to be with Xun'er after today." Muttering to himself, Xiao Zhu sneered, imagining the scene where he would humiliate Xiao Yan.
Under countless envious and angry gazes, Xiao Yan led Xun'er directly to the end of the line, and then they chatted and laughed softly together.
Xiao Yan, at this moment, looked completely at ease. The high-ranking family members on the elevated platform couldn't help but feel a little astonished. Doesn't this person know that after today's test, he will no longer have any opportunities?
"Heh heh, I'm afraid he'll just wish for it in vain." The two elders sneered.
Hearing these words, Xiao Zhan, who was nearby, seemed on the verge of a furious outburst. The two elders, who had been waiting all day without seeing any sign of progress, couldn't help but look at Xiao Zhan beside them with a hint of surprise.
"Elders, one should always wait until the very end before drawing conclusions. Otherwise, it might not be you who gets the last laugh…" Xiao Zhan, with a profound gaze, briefly glanced at the youth chatting in the courtyard, then lowered his head and closed his eyes.
A corner of their mouths lifted, and the two elders snorted coldly, saying, "Go ahead and hope. I'm also waiting for him to bring me a little surprise."
"Alright, it's time. Let the test begin." The Great Elder interrupted the two of them in a deep voice.
Xiao Zhan nodded slightly and stood up. The training ground fell silent, and he shouted in a clear voice: "You are all new members of the family, and you should know that today's test is extremely important to you. The rule of the test is that you must reach Dou Qi Level Seven to qualify. If you don't, you are naturally disqualified. Furthermore, according to family regulations, after the test, anyone whose Dou Qi is below Level 7 has the right to issue one challenge to someone whose Dou Qi is Level 7 or above. If the challenge is successful, they will also be considered qualified!
"Once everyone understands, then, let the test begin!"
As Xiao Zhan spoke in a deep voice, the youths in the training ground immediately became extremely nervous.
Towards the black stone tablet, the examiner coldly stepped forward, took out a list from his robes, and his icy voice sent shivers down many people's spines.
Sitting cross-legged on a clean stone, Xiao Yan calmly watched his peers weep dejectedly because their Dou Qi didn't meet the requirements. He indifferently licked his lips, neither moved by their plight, nor did he mock or comfort them.
Compared to himself, they were even lower-ranked clan members. He had probably never thought of finding pleasure in their misery, nor had he ever considered that he himself might one day face the same fate.
He who shames others will be shamed by others.
Sitting beside Xiao Yan, Xun'er's delicate face was elegant. Her calm and indifferent demeanor was like a lotus untouched by dust. Her hand toyed with her braid, and her gaze met the eyes of the youth beside her. She, too, like Xiao Yan, paid little attention to these dejected youths.
"Xiao Mei!"
The examiner's icy voice made Xiao Yan frown, his eyelids twitching.
Ignoring Xiao Yan and Xun'er, Xiao Mei, at this moment, couldn't help but let out a triumphant, mocking laugh.
"Ah, ah, he used to be so good to me..." Xiao Yan chuckled faintly, his eyes narrowed as he watched the red-robed girl leisurely walk forward.
Xun Er blinked her large eyes. She tilted her head, looking at the faint mockery hidden in Xiao Yan's smile, and said with a smile, "I wonder what kind of attitude he'll have towards Brother Xiao Yan after today?"
Xiao Yan shrugged lightly and said softly, "Some things, once lost, are lost. No amount of compensation can bring them back. In this clan, there aren't many people I consider friends, only a few..."
"What about Xun Er?" Her small, rosy lips curved into a slight smile as Xun Er asked charmingly.
Xiao Yan smiled gently, his hand gently stroking Xun Er's braid before slowly letting it fall, and smiled, saying, "Of course!"
Opening her beautiful eyes wide, Xun Er's gaze became slightly hazy, as if that image had penetrated her soul, but a hint of worry slowly appeared in them...
Not long ago, the little boy who would come to her room in the middle of the night, using a method that evoked a certain longing – his meticulous and caring treatment of her frail body. Even though he knew it wouldn't have much effect, the little boy persisted for two years...
Cute, charming dimples appeared on her delicate little face. Xun Er slightly raised her head and said with a soft laugh, "In this clan, there aren't many people Xun Er truly considers friends. There's only one person, and that's Brother..."
From afar, watching Xiao Yan and Xun Er's intimate gestures, Xiao Yu's face tightened, and jealousy burned in his heart. He wished he could rush forward and beat Xiao Yan up.
"Dou Qi: Eight Duan!"
On the black stone stele, a strong light emanated, revealing several large characters prominently displayed on it.
"Xiao Mei: Dou Qi, Level 8, High-Grade!" The examiner glanced at the black stone stele, gave a cold nod, and announced in a deep voice.
Hearing the examiner's voice, Xiao Mei let out a sigh of relief. Immediately after, her small face puffed up with pride. In one year, she had raised her Dou Qi from Level 7 to Level 8. Such progress and achievement were rare in the clan, so it was no wonder Xiao Mei felt satisfied.
The examiner's announcement caused a stir in the training grounds, and envious gazes shot towards Xiao Mei.
"Raising one level of Dou Qi in a year... that's barely adequate," Xiao Yan commented indifferently, rubbing his nose.
"Mm." Xun Er twirled a strand of her hair, her gaze casually sweeping over everyone, like a princess observing Xiao Mei's mediocrity.
After Xiao Mei's moment of glory, among the more than ten people who followed, only one also reached Level 7 or Level 8 Dou Qi. The rest were all eliminated.
"Xiao Xun Er!"
The examiner's cold voice read out the name, yet it carried a hint of emotion.
All eyes in the training grounds moved with the sound, turning towards the exceptionally beautiful girl.
"Brother Xiao Yan, don't be too surprised later..." Straightening up, Xun Er leaned in and said with a soft laugh to Xiao Yan.
Frowning, Xiao Yan looked at the beautiful and captivating girl's figure, and muttered, "Could it be... she's advanced to a Dou Master?"