Chapter 31: The Absent Youth

"Why didn't Young Master Xiao Yan come today?" the youths in the square asked, seeing the test begin. Some were terrified that their results would be poor, their hearts pounding with anxiety, so they wanted to chat to overcome their fear.

"Who knows? Young Master Xiao Yan could defeat the nine-stage Dou Qi Jia Lie Ao half a year ago. By now, he must be at least a nine-stage Dou Qi, or even a Dou Zhe, so he probably disdains participating in this family test."

"Breaking through from three-stage Dou Qi to Dou Zhe in one year? That's too terrifying! He's not human, he's a monster!"

"I really hope Young Master Xiao Yan comes to test, so we can see exactly what terrifying level he has reached!"

The boys and girls in the blue stone square turned in unison to look behind them, hoping to see the figure of that youth, but alas, they did not see him. They could only sigh helplessly, continue their discussion, and wait for the examiner to call their names.

"Xiao Mei!"

Hearing the praise from the crowd below, Xun Er showed no expression. But when she heard them say she and Xiao Yan were a perfect match, her small face instantly turned bright red. It made her look even more beautiful, and the eyes of the youths below stared blankly.

"Dou Qi: Seven Stages!"

Xiao Yan stood on a giant rock, slowly closing his eyes, reflecting in his heart on the reasons for his constant failure. Because of the Exotic Fire, the pattern Xiao Yan drew was half black and half white, looking very much like the Taiji pattern of later generations. But every time, the pattern would only flash before him and then vanish directly.

"Is it because my strength is insufficient, so I can't use it? Or is there a problem with the method?" This time, Xiao Yan did not rush to start, but waited until his Dou Qi had fully recovered before trying again.

"Xiao Xun'er, Dou Zhe... One Star!" The examiner's voice even trembled slightly.

"Wow! Miss Xun Er has actually reached Dou Zhe. I originally thought it would be nine-stage Dou Qi!"

Hearing the examiner's voice, the commotion in the square stopped for a moment again. Eyes turned toward the black stone stele, but after looking up for a few seconds and feeling slightly surprised, they lowered their heads again to continue their discussion.

Xiao Xun'er had a curvaceous figure, like a blooming flower. She possessed a beautiful and exquisite face, a broad and high forehead, and long, curved eyebrows that looked as perfect as if they had been painted. Her eyes were bright and spirited, revealing intelligence and gentleness in her gaze.

"Next, Xiao Xun'er!"

Looking at the four shining characters on the black stone stele, the entire square fell into silence.

Yet, it was precisely when Xiao Yan was experimenting with the Dou Zhuan Xing Yi that problems arose. Xiao Yan had originally thought that as long as he mixed in the Exotic Fire during use, the rebound force would rise directly, and the power might be comparable to an Earth-tier technique. Moreover, as the power of the Exotic Fire increased, the power would continue to rise. Unfortunately, Xiao Yan experimented for an entire morning, and all attempts ended in failure.

Xiao Xun'er stepped with lotus steps, slowly walking toward the testing black stone stele. When she reached the front of the stele, she extended her jade hand to touch it. The black stone stele was silent for only a moment before its light flared, blinding everyone present.

Hearing this name, the previously noisy crowd suddenly quieted down, and everyone's gaze turned in unison toward Xiao Xun'er.

"I didn't expect her to have broken through to Dou Zhe, and she has become even more beautiful!" Looking at Xiao Xun'er on the platform, a sense of inferiority arose in Xiao Mei's heart.

"What of it? Brother Xiao Yan broke through to Dou Zhe at ten, and now..." Xiao Xun'er said indifferently.

"Miss Xun Er's cultivation talent is also very impressive, almost catching up to Xiao Yan's!"

Xiao Yan was currently standing on a giant rock at the peak of the back mountain, his hands constantly drawing the Taiji pattern. Every time the Taiji pattern was drawn, Yao Lao would launch an attack at it. However, the attack was not blocked by the Taiji pattern but passed directly through it to strike Xiao Yan's body. Xiao Yan staggered and was sent flying backward.

And what was Xiao Yan doing at this time?

"Forget it! One last time. Whether it succeeds or not, I have to go down the mountain. If I don't go down, the test will be over." Xiao Yan always said it was the last time, but if the idea in his heart wasn't realized, he felt uncomfortable all over.

"Is his radiance really that dazzling?" Xiao Mei bit her lip slightly. Hearing the entire crowd discussing Xiao Yan, she couldn't help but feel a bit lost. This should have been her moment of glory! She should have been the center of attention! It had been completely ruined by a single name.

"This... I'm not sure either. I haven't been with Brother Xiao Yan for half a year," Xun Er murmured, looking toward the Xiao Family back mountain.

"Dou Zhe: One Star!"

Looking at the four characters on the black stone stele, the middle-aged examiner rarely showed a hint of a smile and said to the young girl with slight respect: "Congratulations, Miss Xun Er, for breaking through to Dou Zhe at only fifteen."

"That's true. Does Miss Xun Er know where Xiao Yan went? Why hasn't he come to test even now?" The examiner felt a wave of emotion when he heard Xiao Xun'er mention Xiao Yan; he also wanted to know Xiao Yan's current strength.

Getting up and patting the dirt off his body, Xiao Yan acted as if nothing had happened, returning to the giant rock and murmuring: "This makes no sense! Could the idea be wrong?"

Ever since Xiao Yan learned he had an Exotic Fire in his body, he had been constantly trying various ways to use it on the way down the mountain. The Exotic Fire was like a red buff; when a punch was thrown, as long as it was coated with a layer of Exotic Fire, the power increased geometrically. Even long-range attacks mixed with Exotic Fire were not to be underestimated.

"I think Miss Xun Er and Young Master Xiao Yan are a perfect match! Young Master Xiao Yan's cultivation talent is so heaven-defying, and Miss Xun Er is so beautiful. They are truly a talented man and a beautiful woman!"

Hearing the examiner's shout, a young girl quickly walked out of the crowd. As soon as the girl appeared, the eyes of everyone in the square turned toward her, but after looking for only a moment, they lowered their heads again to continue their discussion.

However, thinking of Xiao Yan, Xiao Mei suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness. No matter how hard she tried, it was useless; she could never catch up. Xiao Mei walked gently to the front of the black stone stele, extended her fair jade hand to press it against the stele, and mobilized the Dou Qi in her body to slowly inject it. After the black stone stele was silent for a moment, it lit up with light.

Seeing that the results of her year of hard work were ignored, Xiao Mei's small face became extremely ugly, turning slightly blue with anger. Her fists were clenched, but then she loosened them powerlessly and walked toward the end of the line with a sense of loss.

At this moment, compared to last year, the immaturity on Xiao Xun'er's face had gradually faded, replaced by a more mature charm. Certain parts of her body, perhaps because of a certain beast, had developed even better. Such a Xiao Xun'er was truly too attractive; even Ya Fei of the Mittel Auction House paled in comparison.

"Xiao Mei, Dou Qi: Seven Stages! Level: Advanced!"

Xiao Yan circulated the Dou Qi in his body, following the route of the Dou Zhuan Xing Yi. This time he did not hold back, frantically mobilizing the Dou Qi in his body, using every bit he had.

Xiao Yan extended his left hand, and a mass of black flame emerged from his palm. The black flame emitted a rich aura of death, bit by bit devouring the life energy of the surrounding air. Xiao Yan then extended his right hand, and a mass of white flame emerged from his palm. This white flame emitted the life force of nature, diametrically opposed to the previous flame.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 32 =====