Gazing at Xiao Yan, who was walking alongside Xuner, the young men in the field all had expressions of jealousy. In the Xiao family, the only person who could get so close to Xuner was probably this infamous failure… At the edge of the square, Xiao Ning, surrounded by a crowd of peers, stared at Xiao Yan with eyes full of anger. “Little brat, let’s see what face you’ll have left to be with Xuner after today.” Muttering under his breath, Xiao Ning sneered with schadenfreude.
Ignoring the gazes filled with jealousy and fury, Xiao Yan led Xuner directly to the back of the line, where they began to chat quietly. Seeing Xiao Yan’s relaxed and contented appearance, the high-ranking family members on the stage couldn’t help but feel surprised. Didn’t this guy know that today’s test would determine his future path?
“Heh, he’s probably just planning to give up,” Second Elder sneered coldly.
Originally, he thought that after saying this, Xiao Zhan next to him would explode with anger, but after waiting for a while, there was no reaction. He turned to look at Xiao Zhan in surprise.
“Second Elder, it’s best to wait until the end before making any conclusions. Otherwise, you’ll only end up slapping yourself in the face…” Xiao Zhan took a deep look at the young man in the field who had his head bowed and eyes closed, and said calmly.
The corner of Second Elder’s mouth twitched as he snorted coldly, “Let’s hope. I also expect him to surprise me.”
“That’s enough, time is up, stop dawdling,” First Elder interrupted sternly.
Xiao Zhan nodded slightly, stood up, and looked around the quiet training ground. He said in a firm voice, “You are all the fresh blood of the family. You should understand how important today’s test is for you. Those who reach the seventh level of Dou Qi or above are considered qualified, and those who do not are unqualified. However, according to the previous additional rules, after the test, those below the seventh level of Dou Qi have the right to challenge those above the seventh level once. If they win, they can enter the qualified area!”
“Since everyone is clear, let’s begin the test!” As Xiao Zhan’s solemn voice fell, the boys and girls on the training ground immediately tensed up.
Beside the black stone stele, the cold examiner stepped forward and took out a list from his chest. His icy voice made the person called tremble all over.
Sitting cross-legged on the clean green stone floor, Xiao Yan calmly watched the peers who were crying because their Dou Qi was not up to standard. He indifferently curled his lips, feeling no pity. These people who liked to mock those lower than themselves were not worth sympathizing with. When they sought pleasure from humiliating their lower-ranked clan members, they probably never imagined that they would one day experience the same fate.
He who humiliates others will be humiliated in return.
Sitting beside Xiao Yan, Xuner’s face was serene, her composure like the clouds gathering and dispersing. She resembled an unstained lotus leaf, toying with a strand of hair, occasionally glancing at the boy with his head lowered. Like Xiao Yan, she paid little attention to the disheartened youths.
“Xiao Mei!” The cold voice of the examiner made Xiao Yan’s eyebrows twitch slightly, and his drooping eyelids lifted lazily.
Xuner, who had been watching Xiao Yan all along, saw his expression and couldn’t help but wrinkle her pretty nose.
“Haha, she used to stick to me like glue back then…” Xiao Yan squinted at the red-clad girl stepping forward calmly, and chuckled lightly.
Xuner blinked her big, bright eyes and tilted her head, smiling at the faint mockery in the corner of Xiao Yan’s mouth. “I’m curious, what kind of attitude will she have towards you after today?”
Xiao Yan shrugged slightly and said softly, “Some things, once destroyed, are destroyed. No matter how much you try to mend them, the glaring cracks remain. In this family, there are few people I recognize, just a handful…”
“Does Xuner count?” Lifting the corners of her rosy lips playfully, Xuner asked coyly.
Xiao Yan smiled warmly, extending his hand, and gently slid two fingers down a strand of Xuner’s hair. “Of course!”
Xuner’s big, bright eyes curved into beautiful crescents. Her gaze became slightly hazy, and the warm image almost engraved in her soul gradually reappeared…
When they were little, the boy who would sneak into her room late at night, using his clumsy hands to care for her seemingly frail body. Although he knew it didn’t have much effect, the little boy persisted for two whole years…
A cute dimple appeared on her delicate face as Xuner tilted her head slightly, and in her heart, she smiled, “In this family, the only person Xuner truly recognizes is you…”
From afar, Xiao Ning’s face twitched, seeing Xiao Yan’s intimate gesture towards Xuner. The jealousy in his heart made him want to rush over and stomp on that pitiful face.
“Dou Power: Eighth Level!” A burst of strong light erupted from the black stone stele, and large, neat characters floated on its surface.
“Xiao Mei: Dou Power, Eighth Level, Advanced!” Glancing at the black stone stele, the indifferent examiner nodded slightly and announced solemnly.
Hearing the examiner’s words, Xiao Mei sighed in relief, and a proud smile spread across her face. In a year, she had risen from the seventh level to the eighth, a progress that placed her in the top five of the family. Such a remarkable achievement made the young woman very satisfied.
After the examiner’s announcement, a commotion arose in the training ground, and envious gazes shot towards Xiao Mei.
“Rising one level in a year, not bad…” Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and commented lightly.
“Mm,” Xuner played with her hair, her gaze casually sweeping over Xiao Mei, who was surrounded like a princess by the crowd.
After Xiao Mei’s performance, only one out of the next dozen reached the seventh level of Dou Qi; the rest were eliminated.
“Xiao Xuner!” The examiner’s cold voice, for once, carried a hint of emotion when calling this name.
All eyes in the training ground, following the sound, shifted to the spotless, beautiful young girl.
“Xiao Yan, don’t be too surprised later…” Standing up straight, Xuner leaned down and smiled mischievously at Xiao Yan.
Raising an eyebrow, Xiao Yan gazed at the attractive figure of the girl, muttering, “Could she have become a Dou Zhe already?”
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