As the green-clad girl slowly walked forward, the training ground fell into a hush, every pair of burning eyes fixed on her figure.
On the high platform, all the high-ranking clan members paused their conversations, speaking in low whispers, their gazes all fixed on the Xiao Clan's shining pearl.
Xiao Zhan and the three elders wore solemn expressions, tinged with a hint of curiosity. They, too, were eager to discover what level this foremost junior of the clan had reached after a year of cultivation.
...
With all eyes intently focused, the girl walked at an unhurried pace towards the stone tablet. She extended a small hand, pulling up her sleeve to reveal a snow-white palm.
Her jade-like hand gently touched the stone tablet. Xun'er slowly closed her eyes, and the Dou Qi within her body rapidly began to activate.
As the Dou Qi was channeled in, the stone tablet remained silent for a moment, then a powerful light burst forth...
Dou Practitioner: One Star!
Seeing the four large, golden characters flashing on the stone tablet, the training ground fell silent for a moment. Everyone was stunned, then the clamor grew louder and louder.
"Miss Xun'er, a One-Star Dou Practitioner!"
A little shaken by the four large, glowing golden characters, the test administrator couldn't help but shake his head in awe and exclaim loudly.
"Tsk tsk... A fifteen-year-old Dou Practitioner... Truly worthy of being..."
Hearing the test administrator's announcement, Xiao Zhan on the high platform gasped in pleasant surprise, his words trailing off in amazement.
The three elders nodded slightly, their expressions equally shocked. While it was still a little short of Xiao Yan's achievement at twelve years old that year, this kind of cultivation speed could nonetheless be called monstrous.
In the middle of the training ground, everyone was marveling at Xun'er, dazzled by the four golden characters on the stone tablet. Their gazes shifted to the elegant girl standing beside the tablet, and thoughts of profound admiration arose within them. Becoming a One-Star Dou Practitioner at fifteen, such a dazzling halo, he simply couldn't imagine such transcendence.
Among the crowd, Xiao Yan exclaimed in awe. He hadn't expected Xun'er to advance to Dou Practitioner within a year, but even more, she had advanced to a higher Dou Practitioner level, gaining a star. This kind of cultivation speed could truly be compared to his own, achieved by using the Foundation Elixir.
Xun'er removed her hand from the stone tablet, seemingly unconcerned, and frowned helplessly. She then turned back to the crowd below, saw Xiao Yan's awestruck expression, and chuckled, her small mouth curving charmingly.
"You're too smug," Xiao Yan said humorously, shrugging. "Given your talent, this achievement is entirely within my expectations. (This guy is a god-level braggart.) If you hadn't advanced to Dou Practitioner level within a year, *that* would have truly surprised me."
Hearing this, Xun'er's small face immediately showed a hint of resentment as she glared at him.
Pulling Xun'er to sit back on the mat, Xiao Yan rested his chin on his hands, boredly watching the other clan members continue to step forward for their tests.
To cultivate Dou Qi to Level 7 by fifteen normally requires talent to succeed. However, talented individuals are not found everywhere; even with the Xiao Clan's influence, only twelve or thirteen people met the requirements this time.
As more and more people failed to qualify, the atmosphere in the training ground grew a little somber. With clan members failing, everyone's faces grew serious. However, whenever someone failed to qualify, a flicker of joy would appear in the eyes of others...
Sitting cross-legged below, Xiao Yan repeatedly observed the tests. Among the more than a hundred people who had been tested, only one or two, like Xiao Mei, had reached level eight Dou Qi, and not a single person had yet appeared to reach level nine.
The number of testers in the arena grew smaller and smaller. Finally, only Xiao Yan and a few others remained.
Not far away, the last youth also stood up to be tested. However, after half a day of waiting, he too was disqualified and retreated dejectedly.
Regarding the last ten-plus slots, everyone actually knew well in their hearts that these ten individuals were the family's key cultivation targets. If not for the sake of fair selection, these ten slots would likely have been directly assigned.
“Xiao Yan!”
Below the stone stele, the examiner, with a somewhat complex gaze, called out this last name.
“Brother Xiao Yan, it’s your turn…” A soft, small hand gently grasped Xiao Yan’s, and Xun’er said softly.
Slightly raising his head, Xiao Yan opened his half-closed eyes. His gaze swept across the training ground, and the expectant, even malicious, gazes flashing towards him made him unable to help but let out a soft, cold laugh.
Slowly standing up, Xiao Yan turned his head, looking towards Xiao Zhan on the high platform, and smiled.
Seeing his son approaching, smiling as he looked, Xiao Zhan nodded happily. With one hand, he raised his teacup, leaning back gently against the backrest.
Taking a silent breath, Xiao Yan stepped towards the stone stele. His eyes suddenly emitted a certain aura that made the mocking laughter of the clansmen below die in their throats in shame.
Under the complex gazes of those present, Xiao Yan walked towards the stone stele.
Looking at the black-robed youth before him, the examiner sighed softly in his heart. That year, Xiao Yan created a miracle, and he was the first to witness it. But three years later, the gradual decline of the genius was also something he witnessed with his own eyes. After today, if no miracle occurred, this would be the last time the youth would undergo a test in the family…
Under the intense gazes of the entire arena, Xiao Yan’s chest slowly rose and fell. His hand slowly extended, placing it upon the cold stone stele.
At this moment, all eyes were focused on the stone stele. They were well aware that this test would likely be the last for the genius youth who had once astonished all of Wu Tan City.
The stone stele was silent for a moment. A moment later, a powerful light burst forth!
On the stone stele, gigantic golden characters appeared, making every heart present stop beating for a moment.
“Dou Li… Level Seven!”