"Zhao Gang! Dou Qi Strength: Second Stage! Qualified!"
The announcement from Captain Yan Hongtao echoed across the familiar training square, and an immediate uproar followed. The children awaiting their turn stared with wide, envious eyes. A small group of boys, with Zhao Gang as their self-appointed leader, broke into exaggerated flattery.
Even Yan Hongtao offered a rare nod of approval. "Well done. Not bad at all."
"Next, Chen Guan."
As his name was called, Chen Guan calmly walked to the black stone testing monolith under the watchful gaze of the entire group. He placed his hand on its cool surface, and a moment later, the stone glowed, displaying the result and sparking another wave of commotion.
"Chen Guan! Dou Qi Strength: Second Stage! Qualified!"
"Incredible! Chen Guan is just as strong as Boss Zhao!" a boy whispered in awe.
"What do you know?" another retorted with a scoff. "Boss Zhao was just practicing casually. Chen Guan had to work himself to death just to keep up. How can you even compare them?"
"That's true. It seems Boss Zhao's talent is just better."
Over the past six months, Chen Guan's diligence had become legendary. Yan Hongtao often used him as an example to admonish the others, which, ironically, only served to isolate him further from his peers.
Hearing the murmurs, Chen Guan felt not a flicker of emotion, only a faint, private amusement. Though their results were identical on paper, the gulf between them was wider than anyone knew.
He and Zhao Gang were responsible for cleaning the room where the testing monolith was kept, granting them frequent, unmonitored access. He knew that Zhao Gang had only just broken through to the second stage ten days ago, a fact the boy had proudly confirmed by testing himself during a cleaning session just to satisfy his childish vanity.
Chen Guan, on the other hand, had reached the second stage three months ago. He could feel the familiar pressure of an impending breakthrough now; if not for his desire to avoid standing out, he would already be at the third stage.
He was more than satisfied with his speed. The official requirement from Yan Hongtao was to reach the first stage in half a year. The difficulty of accumulating Dou Qi would only increase with each stage.
The test concluded in less than two hours. Only he and Zhao Gang had reached the second stage. Seventeen children hadn't even reached the first. The rest had barely met the passing line.
Yan Hongtao addressed the group. "Six months ago, I told you this test would determine your destiny. To those who passed, congratulations. For the next five years, as long as you cause no trouble, you may continue your cultivation in peace. His Majesty will even bestow upon you certain elixirs to strengthen your bodies. This is a gift from the royal family. You must be grateful and practice harder! Strength is the ultimate reward. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir!" the successful children roared in unison.
Yan Hongtao nodded, then turned his gaze to the dejected group of failures on his left.
"Aptitude is innate, but it is not the only thing that defines a person. Though you did not pass this test, it does not mean you are useless. The great Jia Ma Empire needs talents of all kinds. As long as you are willing to learn, the royal family will spare no effort in training you!"
This 'chicken soup for the soul' was remarkably effective, especially on a group of children who were like blank sheets of paper. Their sense of belonging and loyalty to the royal family swelled visibly.
Even Chen Guan had to admit that, regardless of their motives, the Jia Ma royal family had shown them all a kindness. Without them, many of these children would have starved to death or lived a life of humiliation at the bottom of society. Compared to that bleak existence, this was a world of difference.
Chen Guan had his own plans and would never be truly brainwashed, but he committed this favor to memory. Debts of kindness must be repaid, just as debts of hatred must be collected. His worldview was that simple.
After the speech, the seventeen who had failed were led away by a guard. No one knew where they went or what fate awaited them. They were simply never seen again.
Life returned to its rigorous routine, but the disappearance of the seventeen had left a deep impression, and everyone trained with a new, desperate intensity. Only Zhao Gang's focus was singular: he was secretly competing with Chen Guan. In his mind, it was unacceptable that the less-talented Chen Guan could keep pace with him. He had to widen the gap and secure his position as the undisputed number one genius.
Unfortunately for him, the gap did widen.
But in the opposite direction.
That very night, Chen Guan quietly broke through to the third stage of Dou Zhi Qi.
In the days that followed, the royal family began distributing a low-grade spiritual fruit called the Qingling Fruit, which had mild medicinal properties and could strengthen one's physique. It was certainly nothing compared to the legendary Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid that Yao Lao would one day refine for Xiao Yan, but any resource that could deepen one's foundation before the Dou Zhe realm was invaluable. The major clans of the Jia Ma Empire lacked such means, highlighting the deeper resources of the imperial family.
Thanks to their "extraordinary" talent, both he and Zhao Gang received a double share every time. A stronger body was incredibly beneficial for cultivation, and Chen Guan's speed of absorbing and refining Dou Qi increased even further.
With no more unified tests for the next five years, Chen Guan no longer needed to hold back. He let go completely, practicing with all his might. The gap between him and the "genius" next door grew wider by the day.
It was during this period that the reputation of Xiao Yan, the prodigy of the Xiao Clan in Wu Tan City, began to spread, with whispers of his name occasionally reaching even the imperial capital. Yan Hongtao used the boy as a role model, urging Chen Guan and Zhao Gang to set their sights on this distant genius.
It was from the captain's mouth that Chen Guan learned of Xiao Yan's current progress.
He was at the third stage of Dou Zhi Qi. The exact same as Chen Guan.
When Zhao Gang heard this, his face was a mask of shock and disbelief. Chen Guan, however, felt a rare, genuine smile spread across his face.
Achievement unlocked: Caught up to Xiao Yan.
What filled him with even more satisfaction was the knowledge that his own talent was superior. After all, Xiao Yan had started cultivating long before him. When the Xiao Clan's prodigy was taking his first steps as a cultivator, Chen Guan was still a starving orphan huddled in a corner, wondering where his next meal would come from.
To have now come from so far behind and reached the same level… it gave him a small, deeply personal sense of accomplishment.
He remembered a line from a story in his past life: An enemy defeated by me is no longer my opponent. I will give you time to catch up until you are left gazing at my back.
Chen Guan felt he could learn from that sentiment. It was time to leave them all behind.
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