Chapter 14

"Little lecher, today I'll mete out heavenly justice!" Xiao Yu stabbed at Xiao Yan with sword after sword.

But Xiao Yu, only a Three Star Dou Zhe, was certainly no match for Xiao Yan—let alone compare to Nalan Yanran from a year ago, much less defeat Xiao Yan.

Watching Xiao Yu's furious eyes, Xiao Yan scratched his head in evasion; his steps were agile and uncanny—though merely an Arcane-Rank Low-Level stepping Dou Technique, they were already enough to dodge a Dou Zhe's attacks.

"I really didn't mean it back then—I didn't intentionally see your body," Xiao Yan said while dodging.

Hearing Xiao Yan bring up the old incident in public, Xiao Yu bit her lip hard, her beautiful eyes stubbornly glaring at him, the hatred in them growing stronger, not fading.

"Xiao Yan, you little brat, shut up!"

Ya Fei and the others nearby heard the commotion and looked over; Ya Fei laughed: "Who'd have thought the Xiao Clan's prodigious Young Clan Leader would one day be chased around with a sword."

Xiao Zhan and several Elders also sighed helplessly; before Xiao Yan, the clan's strongest prodigy had been Xiao Yu, who ultimately lived up to expectations and successfully entered Jia Nan Academy for further study.

She returned this year for the Adult Ceremony to prepare for Jia Nan Academy's upcoming recruitment, hoping to negotiate with the clan to send more members there and strengthen the clan's power.

"Enough playing." With a clang, Xiao Yan pinched her sword between two fingers, gripping it tightly and flicking it away with a snap of his fingers.

Xiao Yu's face turned ashen at how easily Xiao Yan had disarmed her, her eyes blazing with fury.

"No matter what, I won't let you off lightly today, you little lecher!" No sooner had the words left her lips than she stepped forward with her left foot, her graceful body curving seductively—her shapely right leg whipped through the air with a faint whistling sound, slamming straight toward Xiao Yan's crotch.

Seeing Xiao Yu still wouldn't let up, Xiao Yan grew annoyed—he'd acted out of accident, and he was the Young Clan Leader; today's Adult Ceremony would officially proclaim him as Young Clan Leader, and Xiao Yu was showing him far too little respect.

Xiao Yu humiliating him like this naturally angered him.

Facing the kick, Xiao Yan's gaze sharpened; his right hand shot out and seized her right ankle.

Xiao Yu, her right leg caught, frantically clutched her skirt to prevent exposure.

After struggling fruitlessly, she glared at Xiao Yan, her full chest rising and falling as she scolded: "Little lecher! Let go!"

Xiao Yan ignored her completely, pulling her long right leg like leading a ox along the main road.

Xiao Yu hopped on her left foot, bouncing as she was dragged along, roaring: "Let go! Let go!!"

"I'm the Young Clan Leader—don't you think you're treating me a bit too lightly?"

"A lecher like you as Young Clan Leader? I, Xiao Yu, would rather die than acknowledge it!"

Xiao Yan's eyebrows shot up; he smirked maliciously: "Oh? You're forcing me, then?"

Xiao Yan immediately yanked off her shoe, pulled a herb from his storage ring that looked like a dog's tail, and—guessing his intent—Xiao Yu's face turned pale; she shrieked, voice trembling: "Xiao Yan! You… you dare!"

Xiao Yan sneered: "What's there I, Xiao Yan, wouldn't dare do?"

With that, he didn't hold back—he dragged the dog-tail herb back and forth across Xiao Yu's snow-white leg, making her writhe with helpless, ticklish laughter.

Seeing Xiao Yu's long, flawless leg exposed to the air, many male onlookers couldn't help swallowing hard, even showing physical reactions.

They all held back from giving Xiao Yan a thumbs-up.

So pleasing to the eye!

Just as Xiao Yan himself was starting to enjoy the game, a clear, tranquil voice came from behind: "It seems Brother Xiao Yan really enjoys this kind of 'game'."

Xiao Yan froze at the sound of Xun Er's voice, immediately releasing her leg—Xiao Yu, caught off guard, plopped onto the ground.

He casually tossed the dog-tail herb aside and laughed: "Ahahaha, just a little punishment, nothing more."

Sitting on the ground, Xiao Yu's face flushed crimson with fury and shame; her beautiful eyes blazed as she screamed through gritted teeth: "Xiao Yan! I'll tear you into a thousand pieces!! Bastard! Total bastard!"

"Sis."

Xiao Ning and Xiao Mei walked over and helped Xiao Yu up; Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning were biological siblings.

"Perfect timing, Xiao Ning—let's team up and grab him!"

Xiao Ning frowned, displeased: "Sis, you're being unreasonable. How could the Young Clan Leader ever have done something so vile?"

!!!! Xiao Yu's mind: Are you really my brother??

Xiao Mei chimed in: "Yes, Cousin Xiao Yu, Brother Xiao Yan couldn't possibly be that kind of person—he's an upright man."

"Upright?! Have you both been drugged?!"

As she cursed, tears welled in Xiao Yu's eyes—she was so wronged! She couldn't beat him, and even her own brother had been won over by Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan awkwardly rubbed his nose; though not evil, he certainly wasn't that upright either.

After the commotion, Xiao Zhan looked up at the sky, clapped his hands, and said: "Enough fooling around—the Adult Ceremony is about to begin."

The Adult Ceremony's procedures were so tedious they made one's head ache—especially for Xiao Yan, whose Young Clan Leader rites were several times more elaborate than anyone else's.

In the end, Xiao Yan grew numb, letting the Elders manipulate him at will.

Watching Xiao Yan's helpless expression, Xun Er's bright, watery eyes curved into a smile: "Brother Xiao Yan, this is an ancient tradition—even Uncle Xiao and the others can't change it."

Xiao Yan could only sigh helplessly, silently vowing that once he became Clan Leader, he'd abolish these outdated customs!

After the Adult Ceremony came the crucial cultivation level test—especially vital for clan members who had been Six Star Dou Zhe last year; their fate—whether to stay in Wutan City or be sent away to clear wastelands—depended on this test.

The Adult Ceremony was hosted by Second Elder Xiao Ying; one by one, members of the Xiao clan stepped forward to take the test. Around thirty members were fifteen years old, half of whom failed to meet the standard and were sent to distant lands to clear and cultivate new land.

"Xiao Yan, your turn." Second Elder smiled gently and waved toward Xiao Yan seated in the VIP section.

Xiao Yan was last, since Xun Er's Adult Ceremony wasn't held by the Xiao Clan; so far, the highest cultivation level among them was Xiao Mei, at Nine Star Dou Zhe.

Xiao Yan had given Xiao Mei a Foundation Building Spirit Liquid, raising her to Nine Star Dou Zhe.

The entire hall fell silent—even Ya Fei, who had been listless moments before, perked up. Everyone had come to see how much Xiao Yan's cultivation had improved.

"What do you think Xiao Yan's level is this time?"

"A year ago he was a Three Star Dou Zhe. Without a miracle or an Elixir, improving one star in a year is already impressive."

"Xiao Yan started Qi Condensation at four and became a Dou Zhe at eleven—ten levels in seven years. Though Dou Zhe is harder, if he used some Pills, he might have climbed two stars."

On the tall wooden platform, the massive black stone stele suddenly glowed; golden characters, bold and swirling, appeared on its surface.

Second Elder stared at the four characters on the stele—and even he was stunned.

"Six Star Dou Zhe!"

In the VIP section, the crisp sound of teacups clattering to the ground echoed repeatedly; representatives from all factions in Wutan City stared in disbelief.

Looking at the confident young prodigy in the arena, the Old Generation couldn't help rubbing their eyes, convinced they were seeing things.

Ya Fei looked at the youth, and she suddenly regretted having said something like "if Xiao Yan reaches Dou Zong, I'll wrap myself up and give myself to him," because right now she vaguely felt that Xiao Yan might really be able to become a Dou Zong!

"One star in a year?!!!"