Wu Tan City, Xiao Clan.
"Dou Fighter, one-star!"
Gazing at the four shining characters on the Testing Magic Stone Tablet, Xiao Yan's face was completely calm.
He had transmigrated into the world of Battle Through the Heavens ten years ago.
With no elderly parents to care for, no children, and not yet married, he had no emotional ties to hold him back. Arriving on the Dou Qi Continent was no different from being reborn.
He had easily and gladly accepted the fact that he had transmigrated.
Knowing that the damned Hall of Souls would come knocking sooner or later, and not wanting to suffer the tragedy of his teacher being captured and his father imprisoned, Xiao Yan began cultivating Dou Qi at the age of three. Relying on his formidable Talent, he had already advanced to a Dou Fighter at the tender age of ten.
However, in less than two years, Yao Lao would awaken and start absorbing his Dou Qi. For someone who was already short on time and craved power, that three-year blank period was truly unacceptable!
"Xiao Yan, Dou Fighter: one-star!"
Beside the Testing Magic Stone Tablet, the middle-aged man in charge of the test looked at the information displayed on the tablet, his face flushed red as he announced it in a loud, rather excited voice.
As his voice fell, it unsurprisingly triggered a wave of gasps across the crowded square.
"Heavens, a ten-year-old one-star Dou Fighter? He truly is the genius young master of the Xiao Clan!"
"So strong! When I was ten, I was only a three-dan Dou Disciple!"
The surrounding sounds of astonishment and praise, along with the fawning voices, fell on Xiao Yan's ears but failed to stir any emotion in him.
He knew that a mere one-star Dou Fighter was not enough!
Protector Wu of the Hall of Souls had probably already entered the Cloud Mist Sect by now and was colluding with Yun Shan.
If he wanted to protect his father and Yao Lao, he absolutely could not clash with the Cloud Mist Sect too early and risk escalating the conflict.
He was only ten years old right now.
There were still a full five years until Nalan Yanran came to annul the engagement!
In these five years, he had to cultivate with all his might. Even if it meant taking off the Bone Flame Ring, he absolutely could not let Yao Lao absorb his Dou Qi!
"Next, Xiao Xun'er!"
Amidst the noisy crowd, the tester's voice rang out again.
As this somewhat elegant name was called, the crowd suddenly fell silent, and all eyes shifted in unison.
At the focal point of everyone's gaze, a little girl in a purple dress stood with an air of quiet grace. Her calm, delicate, and youthful face remained completely unchanged by the crowd's attention.
The girl's cool and detached temperament was like a newly bloomed lotus. At such a young age, she already possessed an otherworldly quality. It was hard to imagine just how devastatingly beautiful she would become when she grew up...
With light, lotus-like steps, Xiao Xun'er walked to the Magic Stone Tablet. She extended her small hand, and the gold-threaded purple sleeve slid down, revealing a section of her snowy-white, delicate wrist. Then, she lightly touched the stone tablet...
After a brief moment of silence, a dazzling light burst forth from the tablet once more.
"Dou Disciple: eight-stage! Level: High!"
Looking at the characters on the stone tablet, the entire square fell into a deathly silence.
"...She's actually at eight-dan, how terrifying! As expected of the genius second only to Young Master Xiao Yan!"
After the silence, the surrounding youths couldn't help but swallow hard, their eyes filled with reverence.
In the crowd, Xiao Mei frowned slightly as she stared at the purple-dressed girl before the stone tablet, a flash of jealousy on her cheeks—she was currently only a four-dan Dou Disciple, completely incomparable to Xiao Xun'er.
Although they both had the surname Xiao, she and Xiao Yan were not first cousins. Even going back to their grandfathers' generation, they were only distant relatives.
She really liked her cousin Xiao Yan. He had great Talent, cultivated diligently, and was quite handsome. Just looking at his spirited appearance brought her joy.
But besides cultivating, Cousin Xiao Yan was always with Xiao Xun'er. She had no chance at all!
Gazing at the information on the tablet, the middle-aged tester beside it also revealed a smile. He spoke to Xun Er with a slightly respectful tone:
"Miss Xun Er, I believe you should be able to condense a Dou Qi Vortex within two years. If you succeed, you will become the second person in the Xiao Clan in a hundred years to become a true Dou Fighter at the age of eleven!"
"Thank you."
Xun Er nodded slightly. Her calm little face showed no joy at his praise. She quietly turned around, her gaze fixed directly on the first person in a hundred years, Xiao Yan.
"Brother Xiao Yan."
Xun Er called out in a clear, crisp voice, a graceful smile appearing on her beautiful little face that made the surrounding girls green with envy.
"Not bad, Xun Er. Your cultivation speed is almost catching up to mine!" said Xiao Yan with a grin, having not left the stage at all.
Hearing this, Xun Er's eyes curved into two small crescent moons, her face filled with the joy of being praised by Xiao Yan.
"I'm still not as good as Brother Xiao Yan. A ten-year-old Dou Fighter, even in the entire... " Xun Er almost let it slip and quickly corrected herself, "Even in the entire Jia Ma Empire, Brother Xiao Yan is the best!"
"Haha, you sure know what to say. Alright, there's nothing left for us here. Let's head back. Otherwise, we'll be surrounded and stared at like monkeys again. It's just a Dou Fighter, what's there to see?"
Being genuinely praised by the young lady of the Ancient Clan, Xiao Yan felt a little pleased himself. He waved his hand and led Xun Er off the testing stage, walking towards Xiao Zhan.
He was a Dou Fighter now; it was time to find a Cultivation Method.
Hearing this, Xun Er couldn't help but want to roll her eyes at Xiao Yan.
There was nothing special about a Dou Fighter, but a ten-year-old Dou Fighter was incredibly rare!
After discovering Xiao Yan's rapid cultivation speed, she had also requested resources from her clan to cultivate. Even so, she could only barely keep up with Xiao Yan's pace.
It was truly outrageous!
"Father, Cultivation Method."
Xiao Yan brought Xun Er before Xiao Zhan and held out his hand, demanding it.
Hearing this, Xun Er, who was standing to the side, also became thoughtful.
The Xiao Clan didn't have any high-grade Cultivation Methods, which was a complete waste of Brother Xiao Yan's Talent.
But if she rashly took out an Earth Rank High Grade Cultivation Method, would it scare Brother Xiao Yan?
Perhaps she should start with a Profound Rank High Grade one. She didn't have any lower-grade methods on hand. Hopefully, Brother Xiao Yan wouldn't mind.
"Huh?"
Xiao Zhan was lost in thought and was startled when Xiao Yan suddenly called out to him. He was dazed for a moment before realizing that as a Dou Fighter, it was indeed time for him to learn a Cultivation Method.
"Er, about the Cultivation Method, there's no rush. We have a distinguished guest visiting the clan later. You must not be impolite."
"A distinguished guest? Who?"
Xiao Yan was taken aback.
"You'll know in a bit."
Winking at Xiao Yan, Xiao Zhan grinned.
Hearing this, Xun Er frowned imperceptibly. She suddenly had a bad feeling.
Xiao Yan, on the other hand, felt that Xiao Zhan's line sounded more and more familiar the more he thought about it.
Wait a minute!
Could it be... her?