Chapter 2

Gazing at the information on the stone tablet, the middle-aged examiner beside him, usually expressionless, unexpectedly showed a faint smile and said with slight deference to the girl: "Miss Xun Er, I believe you will reach Dou Shi soon."

"Thank you." The girl nodded slightly, her plain face showing no joy at his praise; she quietly turned and walked slowly toward the teenage genius standing at the very back of the crowd, amidst countless men's ashamed yet fervent gazes.

The girl halted her steps, bowed slightly to Xiao Yan, tilted her head, and smiled with crinkled brows and eyes: "Brother Xiao Yan."

On her beautiful face appeared a refined, elegant smile that made the surrounding girls envious.

"Xun Er, you're about to overtake me again."

Looking at the girl before him—the most brilliant jewel in the entire clan—no matter how much Xiao Yan's strength had grown these past years, or how mature his temperament had become, this girl who had grown up with him remained his softest, most vulnerable weakness.

Although Xiao Yan often liked to joke around and boast about his strength, savoring the screams and worship from little admirers like Xiao Mei.

But his feelings for Xun Er had never changed.

"The more accomplished should come first; I guess I'll have to call you Senior Sister Xun Er from now on."

"Brother Xiao Yan, you're teasing me again." Xiao Xun'er puffed out her cheeks slightly; her voice, still slightly childish, warmed the heart.

Xiao Mei watched the two banter, gave a self-deprecating smile, and said listlessly: "I'll never be able to match her, no matter how hard I try."

The goddess has intentions, but the king dreams not; the falling petals have affection, yet the flowing water remains indifferent.

"The Young Clan Leader and Miss Xun Er are truly a perfect match."

"Exactly—they've been childhood companions, and both possess such extraordinary talent and strength."

"Why does everyone adore the Young Clan Leader? Leave us some affection too!"

Amid the envious howls behind them, Xiao Yan and Xun Er walked side by side away from the Guang Chang—the wait for results was merely an excuse; waiting for the maiden was the true purpose.

Along the way, Xun Er laughed like a blooming flower at Xiao Yan's little jokes. Only before Xun Er did Xiao Yan behave like a fifteen-year-old boy—carefree and witty.

On the high platform, the clan's Elders and the current Clan Leader, Xiao Zhan, watched the two closely.

The First Elder stroked his beard, growing more and more pleased, and said: "I think Xiao Yan and Xun Er suit each other perfectly."

The Second Elder nodded slowly: "If they could become husband and wife, given time, our Xiao Clan will surely become the largest family in Wutan City."

The Third Elder also nodded with satisfaction.

Only Xiao Zhan, Xiao Yan's father and the Clan Leader, wore a troubled expression, worrying: "Xun Er isn't of our Xiao Clan. I fear this matter is difficult to decide."

Only Xiao Zhan knew that though he had met Xun Er's father only once, even that single encounter had made him realize the man's strength far surpassed his own—possibly by a great margin. Should things turn hostile, the entire Xiao Clan could face annihilation.

The moon hung like a silver plate, the sky strewn with countless stars.

At the cliff's peak, Xiao Yan, bare-chested, practiced his Dou Technique again and again against the rock, punching and kicking the hard stone until his Dou Qi was exhausted, then stopping. His strength was not gained without cause; beyond cultivation, he understood the importance of Dou Techniques.

Strength alone without technique is merely the folly of a brute.

"Before I knew it, it's already been fifteen years." Xiao Yan exhaled, looked up at the bright moon, and murmured softly.

In his past life, Xiao Yan was merely an utterly ordinary member of the masses—money, beauty, these things were parallel lines with no intersection; thus, upon arriving on this Dou Qi Continent, Xiao Yan resolved to train relentlessly.

Moreover, due to his experiences across two lives, his Spiritual Soul was far stronger than an ordinary person's—this was one of the key reasons Xiao Yan achieved twice the results with half the effort.

On the Dou Qi Continent, the Spiritual Soul is innate; though it may grow slightly stronger with age, no Cultivation Method exists to train the Spiritual Soul alone.

Xiao Yan grew up bearing the title of genius, yet he remained strict with himself, never slacking for a moment—after all, Xun Er wasn't a Transmigrator, yet her cultivation speed had kept pace with his all along.

This placed immense pressure on Xiao Yan; he naturally understood the truth of the frog in the well.

Wutan City was merely a remote border town of the Jia Ma Empire; in the imperial capital, Wang Du, existed even stronger beings.

Xiao Yan's eyes suddenly flickered; he turned his head and relaxed his guard upon seeing the figure behind him, smiling warmly at the dark forest: "Father, you're here?"

Xiao Yan's Soul Perception was far sharper than that of even a high-level Dou Shi or Da Dou Shi; even before Xiao Zhan drew near, he sensed the faint movement within the trees.

After a moment of silence in the forest, Xiao Zhan's weary voice came: "Yan'er, you really don't know how to care for your body—you train until late every night, then rise early again to cultivate and raise your Cultivation Realm. Do you think you're made of iron?"

Branches swayed, and a middle-aged man leapt out; though he scolded, the satisfied smile on his lips could not be hidden. Looking at his son standing beneath the moonlight, he grew more and more pleased.

The greatest danger in cultivation is abandoning it halfway or becoming arrogant and complacent; seeing his son never grew proud of his genius title, yet persisted in daily training, the old father naturally felt joy.

The middle-aged man wore luxurious gray robes, his bearing regal and commanding; his thick eyebrows added to his bold aura—he was the current Clan Leader of the Xiao family, and Xiao Yan's father: the Five Star Da Dou Shi, Xiao Zhan!

"Father, aren't you still awake either?"

Looking at the middle-aged man, Xiao Yan's mature inner self vanished instantly; his smile deepened. Though he carried memories of his past life, since birth, this father had doted on him endlessly—such conduct made Xiao Yan willingly call him Father.

"You're already fifteen, right? In another year, you'll hold your Coming-of-Age Ceremony, and then you'll truly be the Young Clan Leader."

Though the clan members already called Xiao Yan the Young Clan Leader, the official proclamation would only come after his Coming-of-Age Ceremony.

"It's not such a big deal—I'm already called that anyway."

"That's different. Once you become the Young Clan Leader, you'll be allowed to learn more powerful Mystic Rank Dou Techniques. Our clan's strongest techniques are only Mystic Rank. If you wish to grow stronger, more powerful Dou Techniques and Cultivation Methods are essential. Starting early to cultivate stronger methods will benefit you greatly."

Xiao Yan only smiled without replying, touching the ring on his right hand—he did not lack powerful Dou Techniques or Cultivation Methods.

"Enough smiling. I came to urge you to go back and rest—important guests are arriving tomorrow."

"Hehe, I'll train a bit longer."

"You little rascal, get back to your room and sleep now."

Early the next morning, Xiao Yan briefly stretched in his room when a withered voice came from outside: "Third Young Master, the Clan Leader requests your presence in the Hall!"

Third Young Master—Xiao Yan was the third son at home, with two older brothers who had long left for external trials, returning only occasionally at year's end. Overall, both older brothers treated Xiao Yan, their younger brother, quite well.

"Understood." Xiao Yan replied casually, changed his clothes, stepped out of his room, and smiled at the elderly man in blue robes outside: "Let's go, Master Mo."

Xiao Yan felt a pang of curiosity—what kind of important guest could make his father so cautious?