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Xiao Zhan stood below the stage, his face beaming with pride, a gleam of satisfaction flashing in his eyes. Watching his daughter achieve such remarkable progress filled him with a sense of fulfillment and relief, as though all his sacrifices were now worthwhile.
Meanwhile, in the ranks of the Jia Lie and Oba families, all the young men were captivated by Xiao Xun'er's beauty, gazing at her with admiration and awe. The young women, on the other hand, showed flashes of envy in their eyes, unable to tolerate Xiao Xun'er's dazzling talent and remarkable beauty—a jealousy they couldn't contain.
But there was nothing they could do. After all, her excellence was undeniable.
Xiao Xun'er gracefully stepped off the platform and walked towards Xiao Yan, her eyes shining with encouragement.
"Brother, good luck," she said softly, her voice filled with warmth and support.
Xiao Yan gave a slight smile, his gaze fixed with determination on the path ahead.
"I will," he replied firmly, his tone conveying his resolve for the test.
Next, it was Xiao Yan's turn to take the stage.
He strode confidently toward the testing stone, his inner calm unshaken despite the many eyes watching him intently.
From the audience, murmurs of doubt rippled through the crowd as they whispered and judged Xiao Yan.
"This loser... even if he's recovered, he's still just a nobody," someone sneered.
"Yes, who knows what side effects that strange illness left him with!" another scoffed.
"He'll never have the talent his sister does. He's got no future."
"Is the Xiao family just here to embarrass themselves by letting him on stage?" one person mocked.
"Shh, let's just watch quietly. Don't laugh too hard when he fails—it'd be impolite to our hosts," another teased.
Xiao Yan's gaze remained resolute, his posture tall and unyielding, exuding an aura of determination.
As he focused on the testing stone before him, confidence filled his heart. Every eye in the room was fixed on him, waiting to see what he would display.
He extended his hand, placing his fingers on the surface of the stone with a slight press, activating the testing mechanism.
The runes on the stone began to glow, each one pulsing with a mystical light as they flowed across the surface, radiating an unusual brilliance.
In the dazzling glow, Xiao Yan's figure seemed even more imposing, unwavering before the task.
"Let's do this," he murmured.
As he faced the testing stone, Xiao Yan carefully gauged his own power, consciously restraining the torrent of energy within him, leaving only a fraction exposed.
A potent aura began to rise from him, hinting at a force that could shatter any barrier standing in his way.
The spectators stared in shock, watching the scene unfold, their emotions fluctuating with each change on the stone.
Suddenly, the runes settled, and lines of text emerged clearly.
"One-Star Fighter!"
A burst of golden light shone, the characters appearing as vividly as a comet streaking across the night sky.
"My god!!"
At that moment, the entire audience was left speechless, engulfed in sheer astonishment.
Gasps and exclamations echoed throughout the hall, each one sparking new waves of awe.
Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes, a faint light reflecting in them.
He smiled slightly, undisturbed in his heart. Xiao Yan knew full well that his true strength far surpassed the level of a One-Star Fighter; in truth, he had already achieved the status of a Three-Star Warrior.
However, his master, Shui Wuya, had advised him before he went on stage: until the Xiao family's relocation was complete, he should avoid drawing too much attention to himself, keeping a low profile to prevent unnecessary complications.
Thus, Xiao Yan chose to reveal only a small part of his power, modestly presenting himself as a mere One-Star Fighter.
The hall fell silent, the atmosphere thick with both tension and anticipation.
All eyes remained fixed on Xiao Yan, unable to conceal their shock and surprise.
"Wow! Xiao Yan went from a mere three stages of Dou Qi to the power of a One-Star Fighter in just one year! This is unbelievable!"
"Yeah, I thought he'd remain a 'nobody' forever. Who would've guessed he'd been hiding such power all along?"
The Xiao family was abuzz with excitement, their cheers resounding in celebration. Witnessing Xiao Yan's sudden rise filled them with pride and exhilaration.
"Master, did you see? Brother Xiao Yan is truly amazing!" one member exclaimed.
"Yes, Yan'er has finally come into his own. Our family now has new hope!" another elder responded.
Xiao Zhan and Xiao Xun'er exchanged a knowing look, each smiling with relief. They had known about Xiao Yan's concealed strength, but seeing him reveal it so impressively was thrilling nonetheless.
Meanwhile, Xiao Ning and others who had once mocked Xiao Yan turned pale, their faces betraying a mix of fear and disbelief. They now understood that the "useless" Xiao Yan was no longer someone they could look down upon. If he held a grudge for their past words, the consequences could be dire.
"We're in trouble. If Xiao Yan holds a grudge, we're doomed!" one of them whispered anxiously.
"Enough. What matters now is finding a way to make amends. Otherwise, he might just make our lives miserable," another replied with a shudder.
Across the way, members of the Jia Lie and Oba families, along with other clans, were equally shocked by Xiao Yan's strength. Their eyes betrayed a mixture of jealousy and apprehension, fully aware that Xiao Yan's rise signaled a resurgence for the Xiao family. For them, it meant intensified competition and a potential shake-up in the power balance—certainly not welcome news.
Though the heads of the Oba and Jia Lie families harbored envy toward Xiao Zhan, they forced smiles as they went to offer their congratulations.
"Oh, Brother Xiao, your Yan'er is truly remarkable! Like father, like son!" one of them said with feigned admiration.
"Yes, indeed. Xiao Yan must have inherited his father's talent. He's enviable indeed," another chimed in.
Xiao Zhan smiled courteously as he exchanged polite pleasantries with the family heads, though he understood their true thoughts well enough.
"Haha, thank you for the praise. But my Yan'er still has a lot to improve upon—he has much to work on," Xiao Zhan replied, his tone modest.
"Yes, yes, young people still have a long way to go," the others agreed with forced smiles.
And so, the Xiao family's coming-of-age ceremony ended amid waves of joy and celebration. People congratulated one another, smiles lighting up their faces, though each knew that the days to come would bring fierce rivalry among the various powers in Wu Tan City.
After the ceremony concluded, Xiao Zhan immediately gathered the Xiao family's key figures for a meeting. Amid the festive atmosphere, his face bore a serious expression.
Standing at the head of the gathering, Xiao Zhan's gaze swept over the elders, his demeanor grave, as though he carried a heavy burden.
The elders offered their congratulations, expressing admiration and anticipation for Xiao Yan's potential. They saw limitless promise in his future and believed he would become the pride of the Xiao family.
(End of Chapter)