Chapter 90: Genius Xiao Yan Returns

Xiao Family, Testing Square.

"Today marks an important coming-of-age ceremony for our Xiao Family. I won't repeat the rules; I believe everyone understands. Those who have not reached the Dou Disciple Seventh Stage by the age of sixteen will cease to receive resources for cultivation and will be assigned to manage our industries!"

As the words of the examiner fell, the young people on the square who were self-aware showed sorrowful expressions. Losing the supply of resources from the family head meant cutting off the possibility of becoming stronger.

"From today onwards, return the worthless reputation to those who bestowed it upon me!"

Xiao Yan, with an indifferent expression, sneered. Most of the people on the field had mocked him. One who insults will inevitably be insulted.

"Brother Xiao Yan, it's been a long time. I haven't seen you much this year."

On Xun'er's delicate and ethereal face, a hint of resentment appeared.

"Sorry, Xun'er."

"Over the past year, I've spent most of my time in cultivation."

Xiao Yan awkwardly scratched his head. In order to catch up with Nalan Yanran's progress as quickly as possible, he had Old Yao come up with the most rigorous cultivation plan, and it was indeed a bitter experience.

"Humph~ Xun'er doesn't care. Isn't Brother Xiao Yan afraid that in this past year, someone else might have won Xun'er's heart?"

Xun'er, with an annoyed look, uncommonly displayed a bit of a sulky demeanor.

"Ah, well, um..."

Xiao Yan was suddenly at a loss for words, and a deep worry appeared between his brows.

Afraid, huh? That's more like it! Hehe~ Xun'er decided to give him the cold shoulder for a while.

"Xiao Mei!"

The examiner's voice shifted Xiao Yan's attention.

"Hehe! She used to cling to quite tightly."

Watching the calmly walking red-dressed girl towards the testing platform, Xiao Yan spoke with a complex expression.

"I'm curious about what attitude she'll have toward Brother Xiao Yan after today."

Xun'er blinked her lively eyes and said meaningfully.

Xiao Yan shrugged, expressionless, "Some things, once ruined, are ruined. No matter how you try to make amends, there will still be glaring cracks."

Xiao Yan holds grudges; he remembers those who treated him well and those who treated him poorly, keeping them firmly in his heart.

"Xiao Mei, Dou Disciple: Ninth Stage, High level!"

On the testing stele, a dazzling golden light shone, and a row of large characters appeared on the surface of the stele.

With the examiner's announcement, Xiao Mei's face displayed a triumphant smile. With her results, she could rank in the top five among the younger generation of Xiao Family, earning considerable cultivation resources. As long as she broke through to Dou Practitioner, she could choose a Qi Method for cultivation.

"Haha~ Truly my granddaughter, Mei'er did splendidly!"

The second elder laughed heartily.

"It seems that the temptation of the Black Rank High-level Qi Method is quite motivating."

Xiao Zhan's face revealed a hint of helplessness.

A year ago, when Nalan Yanran came to annul the engagement, she compensated with a water-attribute Black Rank High-level Qi Method. Unfortunately, neither he nor Xiao Yan had the water attribute, so they had to give away the Qi Method and let the talented young members of the clan cultivate it.

"Mm~ Thanks to the formidable Qi Method, our Yu'er has become a top student at Jia Nan Academy."

The Grand Elder was also pleased. His granddaughter, Xiao Yu, returned home for a visit a year ago and practiced this Black Rank High-level Qi Method. With a rapid advancement in strength, she is now a 7-Star Dou Practitioner, truly a genius among the younger generation.

"Two stages of Dou Disciple in a year is not bad. Xiao Mei, this lazy girl is quite surprising"

Xiao Yan raised his eyebrows, seemingly not expecting such achievements from her. Given his understanding of her personality, which involved intermittent effort, breaking through the First Stage in just a year was quite unexpected.

"Perhaps, this is the power of love~"

"Brother Xiao Yan, you don't know. Since meeting the outstanding young talent from Misty Cloud Sect a year ago, Xiao Mei often mentions him, showing signs of admiration."

Xun'er squinted her eyes and said with a teasing tone.

"Oh? Love? That Yun Tianming."

Xiao Yan's face stiffened. His little younger sister, who once had a crush on him, now seemed to have moved on and developed feelings for another guy. This left him somewhat vexed. However, considering that the other guy had already been a 9-Star Dou Practitioner a year ago and was also quite handsome, fitting the image of a prince charming in the hearts of many girls, Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel a strong sense of crisis.

Feeling the rising unease within, Xiao Yan turned his head, looking at Xun'er with a worried expression. He nervously asked, "Xun'er, you wouldn't also have feelings for that Yun Tianming, right?"

"Ah~ Who knows?"

Xun'er playfully stuck out her tongue, turned her head, and secretly reveled in her heart: Brother Xiao Yan is getting anxious!

"Next, Xiao Yan!"

Under the scrutiny of everyone, Xiao Yan had to temporarily suppress the various thoughts in his mind. He walked up to the testing stele, took a deep breath, and forcefully struck the stele, as if venting the extremely arduous year of his cultivation journey.

"Xiao Yan: Dou Disciple, Ninth Stage, High level!"

"Hiss, hiss, hiss~"

The entire crowd collectively inhaled a breath of cold air, looking at the large characters displayed on the stele with faces full of disbelief. Their expressions became extremely vivid.

"Crack!"

On the high platform, Xiao Zhan was so excited that he crushed the teacup in his hand, his body trembling uncontrollably, tears streaming down as he exclaimed, "Six Stages in one year! Yan'er, you've really done it!"

The Three Elders beside him were also startled. Just a year ago, he was a Third Stage Dou Disciple, and now he had reached the Ninth Stage? The speed of his cultivation couldn't be described as merely "fast"; it was truly monstrous!

Feeling the focused gazes of the crowd on him, Xiao Yan's previous frustration vanished. A crazy smile couldn't help but spread across his lips.

He's back!

The prodigious talent, Xiao Yan, has finally returned!

————

"6-Star Dou Practitioner, Xiao Yi Xian, your cultivation speed, if word gets out, will surely make numerous geniuses feel ashamed."

Yun Tianming couldn't help but praise, within a short half-year, the girl before him had completely transformed from her previous delicate figure.

By continuously ingesting poisonous substances, Xiao Yi Xian smoothly condensed the Dou Qi Vortex. In just half a year, she broke through to become a 6-Star Dou Practitioner. The terrifying growth potential of the Woeful Poison Body was indeed well-deserved!

"Always saying such things, Tianming, don't you want to take a look at your own level?"

If it were someone else praising her, Xiao Yi Xian might have felt proud, but the man in front of her made her feel full of frustration.

"Only a 9-Star Dou Master, encountering a bottleneck in cultivation."

Yun Tianming said casually.

In the past six months, he had been wandering in the Magic Beast Mountains, hunting and killing Magic Beasts of the same level, sometimes challenging higher-ranked ones. Through numerous bloody battles and accumulated experience, he progressed from 5-Star to 9-Star, a natural and logical outcome. Additionally, he achieved some proficiency in his two Earth Rank Low-Level Dou Techniques.

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