"Next, Xiao Yan!!" the elder called out, his voice laced with a hint of respect upon recognizing the name.
The noisy courtyard stilled for a moment, and all eyes shifted toward the path where a solitary figure stepped forward. Xiao Yan's expression was calm, his eyes deep and unreadable as he walked with unhurried steps toward the massive testing stone that loomed ahead. His black robe fluttered slightly in the breeze, and with each step, a subtle pressure seemed to emanate from him—a grace that once made him the pride of the younger generation.
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
"Even that nobody Cousin Xiao Tian managed to break through to Dou Zhe 2nd star. Then Cousin Xiao Yan should be at least at Dou Zhe 6th star by now, right?" a youth whispered, unable to hide the admiration in his tone.
"Yeah, you're right! After all, he's the clan's genius!" another responded in hushed agreement, eyes glinting with anticipation.
However, a clear, cold voice cut through their whispers like a blade. "You two are clearly underestimating the huge amount of Qi required for advancement," the girl retorted, folding her arms. Her sharp gaze never left Xiao Yan's back.
The boys turned quickly, their faces paling slightly upon realizing who had spoken. It was Xiao Mei, one of the brightest stars of the Xiao Clan's younger generation. Dressed in a white and blue robe, her delicate features were marred by a faint frown, her eyes glittering with sharpness. Though young, she had long commanded respect within the clan, not just because of her talent but her fearless personality.
Xiao Yan stepped up to the stone without hesitation. His hand slowly rose, fingers curling into a loose fist. The courtyard was silent now, the weight of anticipation palpable as everyone held their breath.
With a simple, almost lazy motion, Xiao Yan's fist connected softly with the testing stone.
A faint glow radiated from the stone's surface, ancient inscriptions flickering to life. Then—just as quickly—the light dimmed, and a result appeared on the surface in shimmering characters:
Dou Zhi 3rd Stage (Early).
For a moment, no one reacted. It was as if the courtyard had been struck by lightning, leaving everyone frozen in disbelief.
"…What?" a voice finally broke the silence, weak and incredulous.
"He… wasn't he a Dou Zhe just a month ago? How… how did he drop to Dou Zhi?!" someone else gasped, their face a mixture of shock and confusion.
The silence shattered instantly, replaced by a storm of murmurs and exclamations. People leaned in, whispering frantically to one another, unable to reconcile what they were seeing.
"He dropped? That's impossible!"
"This must be a mistake! Xiao Yan's talent is unparalleled—there's no way…"
But as reality settled in, the initial shock gave way to something uglier. One by one, faces twisted with scorn, and voices rose in mocking laughter.
"Crippled!!"
"Playboy!!"
"Loser!!"
The cruel words sliced through the air like knives, cutting deep. Many of those who had once flattered and admired Xiao Yan now turned on him without hesitation, their scorn as sharp as their previous praise had been sweet.
Xiao Yan stood motionless, his eyes locked on the testing stone as if it might change its answer if he stared long enough. His usual arrogant smirk was nowhere to be seen. Instead, a look of pure shock spread across his face, his lips parting slightly.
"…How did this happen?!" he murmured under his breath, his voice trembling. His fists clenched at his sides, knuckles white, and a shadow passed through his eyes—something cold and unfamiliar, a hint of desperation.
From the sidelines, Xiao Tian watched with narrowed eyes. His heart was pounding, but not from excitement.
'This… this doesn't make sense,' he thought, his mind racing. He crossed his arms, gaze sharp. 'Wasn't Yao Chen supposed to absorb his Dou Qi a few months later? Everything I remember said it happened gradually…'
Xiao Tian's brow furrowed deeper as he pieced things together. This shouldn't have happened yet. Something was off—terribly off.
Suddenly, a flash of realization struck him, and his breath hitched. A single thought surged into his mind, so shocking that he froze mid-thought.
'Could it be…? Could it be because of that?!' His eyes widened slightly, and he whispered under his breath, "…The Son of Destiny title?"
His thoughts swirled chaotically. The world around him seemed to blur for a moment as countless fragments of his knowledge collided. The title—Son of Destiny—was no ordinary thing. It marked someone whose fate was twisted by the threads of destiny itself, someone who would always find a way to rise no matter how far they fell.
Xiao Tian's shoulders finally relaxed, his expression easing into something calmer, even thoughtful.
'So… the world is correcting itself faster because of me,' he realized, letting out a quiet breath. 'Good. This means things are truly moving now.'
As the crowd continued to mock Xiao Yan, Xiao Tian's lips curled into a faint smile. He glanced up at the sky, eyes gleaming with hidden meaning.
'Xiao Yan, your fall is painful now… but your true rise is only just beginning.'
And with that, the test continued, but the whispers of fate had already shifted.
"Xiao Mei!!",
The elder called out loudly.As soon a Figure in red came in front of the stone.Looking beautiful second to Xun'er.
"Cousin Xiao Mei looks so good!!",A young male said enthusiastically.
"Sure,She does!!!"
Xiao Mei stepped forward confidently, her eyes focused as she raised her hand and pressed it gently against the testing stone. A faint Dou Qi glow spread from her palm.
In moments, glowing characters appeared on the stone's surface:
'Dou Zhi, 6th Stage.'
Murmurs rippled through the crowd, but the excitement was much calmer this time, especially compared to the earlier shock caused by Xiao Tian and Xun'er's results.
---
Later that evening, in the quiet of his room, Xiao Tian lay sprawled across his bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind churned restlessly, thoughts racing like a wild beast unleashed.
"How can I get my hands on Yao Chen's ring?" he muttered to himself, brows furrowed in deep concentration.
He knew the importance of that mysterious ring—the key to Xiao Yan's future greatness. But timing was everything.
Turning to his side, he stared out the window, lost in thought. "Maybe I should approach Xiao Yan and explain why he hasn't been able to cultivate Dou Qi properly..."
As the idea solidified in his mind, Xiao Tian sat up abruptly, determination flashing in his eyes. Without hesitation, he jumped off the bed, his next steps already forming in his thoughts.