"Dou Practitioner, 3-Star!"
Gazing at the bright, almost dazzling three characters on the Magical Testing Monument, the young man remained expressionless. However, upon closer inspection, one could discern a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips.
Don't be fooled by the young man's smiling face; deep inside, he was already cursing. His Low Huang Qi Method was dragging him down to the point where he could hardly stand it!
The young man made a graceful turn, his right hand inadvertently brushing his clothes as he waved his sleeve. He didn't take a strand of cloud away, but he did take the hearts of countless young girls.
TL/N: The original phrase is "not taking even a strand of cloud away" from the poem "Saying Goodbye to Cambridge Again" by the Chinese poet Xu Zhimo.
"3-star Dou Practitioner! The Little Clan Leader's test result is that of a 3-star Dou Practitioner!"
Beside the Magic Testing Stone Tablet, a middle-aged man glanced at the information displayed on the tablet. His expression was filled with excitement as he cried out, a tear of relief lingering in the corner of his eye. He even forgot to jot down the result in his record book…
A genius!
The middle-aged man's words had just escaped his lips when they caused quite a stir in the bustling square.
"3-star Dou Practitioner?!!! My goodness, how has the Little Clan Leader cultivated! Wasn't it said that it gets harder as one progresses?"
"I heard from Cousin Xiao Yu that in the admission rating of the Jia Nan Academy, being a 3-star Dou Practitioner under the age of twenty is considered a C grade, and reaching 6-star is the highest, an S grade!"
"Hiss! The Little Clan Leader is only fourteen years old this year!"
"I'm just trash compared to the Little Clan Leader. I've really brought shame to the clan…"
"Hmph! If it weren't for the fact that the Clan Head is his father, how could he cultivate so quickly?"
"Hehe, even if the Clan Head is your father, you still wouldn't be able to cultivate as fast as the Little Clan Leader. Do you know that the Little Clan Leader's cultivation speed is already unmatched in the history of the clan?"
"Do you know how the Little Clan Leader has spent these years? I have heard that he sacrifices sleep and food every day, and often cultivates late into the night."
"The young genius famous in Wu Tan City is indeed not just a rumor. Why does the world have to be so unfair?"
"Who knows, maybe the Little Clan Leader saved the world in his past life or something..."
The exclamations of astonishment and envy that fell upon the young man, who walked like the wind with an indifferent expression on his face, inevitably caused the corners of his mouth to slowly lift.
The young man walked back to the square at a leisurely pace. By now, the color of authority was already evident on his face. His gaze was sharp. The majesty of the Little Clan Leader instantly silenced all the hecklers and noisemakers. Not a single person dared to meet his gaze.
"Little Clan Leader, you've worked hard. There's no need to wait in line, you can go back to the mansion and rest."
"How can I break the rules when I should be setting an example as the Little Clan Leader?"
The faint voice reached the ears of the crowd. The young man quietly made his way back to the last row of the line. Even though he was at the end of the line, a star was still a star, shining bright and dazzling.
In truth, Xiao Yan's heart was already about to cry out, 'If it weren't for cultivating that strange Low Huang Qi Method after reaching the Dou Practitioner realm, I would have been at least a 6-star Dou Practitioner by now!'
The secret that made him so strong was known only to himself—he was not a native of the Dou Qi Continent, but rather a reincarnator.
He was unexpectedly reincarnated from a certain blue planet due to an accident.
While others were still in their infancy, he, with the experience of a lifetime, deeply understood that cultivation must begin at an early age.
He began to cultivate by observing and imitating others in his clan when he was barely able to walk and talk at the age of four.
His cultivation journey began at the age of four!
Relying on the mindset of someone who had lived two lives, he not only broke the record for the fastest cultivation to the Dou Practitioner realm in the history of the clan, but also became the fastest cultivator in the whole of Wu Tan City since records were kept.
It was often said that the path of genius was always tortuous. However, the reality was often quite the opposite.
Some people were unlucky enough to get a toothpick stuck in their mouth while drinking cold water, while others were lucky enough to stumble upon a Tian Class Dou Technique by the roadside. Three years ago, this young genius had reached the pinnacle of his reputation. Now, he had a name of even greater fame and a strength that was unparalleled among his peers. He had long been the beacon of the clan's future.
This was also the reason why he had always been referred to as a genius.
On the high platform, three Clan Elders and the current Clan Head, Xiao Zhan, all kept their eyes on the young man.
The Grand Elder rubbed his beard, finding the sight more pleasing the longer he looked. He said, "The speed at which this kid cultivates is truly astounding. I was only a 7th-stage Dou Disciple when I was fourteen. I felt so happy back then."
The Second Elder also slowly nodded and said, "In time, our Xiao Clan will definitely be the biggest clan in Wu Tan City."
The Third Elder also nodded with satisfaction and said, "Xiao Zhan, you have a genius son."
The Clan Head Xiao Zhan looked at his genius son with a worried expression on his face as he sighed, "Alas this kid Xiao Yan is good in every aspect, but he's too earnest and serious, throwing himself into cultivation as if his life depended on it."
Only Xiao Zhan knew that his son's strength wasn't a result of luck, but rather obtained through daily rigorous practice and relentless cultivation.
He raised his son alone after losing his wife several years ago. His greatest wish in life was to see his son grow up safe and sound. He wasn't looking for an exceptionally powerful son.
"The next one, Xiao Mei!"
Hearing the examiner's call, a nearby girl, who had been secretly watching Xiao Yan with a look as tender as spring, finally came to her senses.
Rushing out from the crowd, the girl had just made her appearance when the previously quiet murmurs around her started up again. Pair after pair of slightly heated eyes, filled with a hint of budding affection, were fixed on her.
The girl was no older than fourteen. Although she couldn't be described as stunningly beautiful, her youthful face still carried a subtle charm. Since ancient times, people have had an appreciation for beauty, and she had successfully become the focal point of the entire scene.
After taking a deep breath, the girl stepped forward and placed her hand on the Magical Testing Monument as Xiao Yan had done. Soon, the pitch-black stone once again emitted a bright light.
"Dou Disciple, 7th-Stage!"
"Xiao Mei, 7th-Stage Dou Disciple!"
The three elders nodded slightly as they saw the test results. Being a 7th-stage Dou Disciple at the age of fourteen was already a key focus of cultivation for the clan, but compared to Xiao Yan, it seemed somewhat dim.
The girl's anxious cheeks lifted into a proud smile when she heard the results announced. She immediately looked at the last row of the line in the square, waved her hands, and shouted, "Xiao Yan ge, I did it! I have finally reached the Dou Disciple high stage!"
Xiao Yan smiled and nodded as he heard the girl's shout.
The discussion in the square resumed after seeing the girl's results.
"Tsk tsk, 7th-Stage Dou Disciple is already pretty good. At this rate, it will take Xiao Mei three years at most to become a true Dou Practitioner, right?"
"She's not only good-looking but also talented. I would laugh in my dreams if I had a wife like her."
"Sigh, but with the Little Clan Leader around, none of us stand a chance."
Not just Xiao Mei, but every young girl in Wu Tan City would be lying if they claimed they didn't have a crush on him.
The smile on the girl's cheeks deepened as she heard the waves of admiration from the crowd. Even her little sister couldn't stop her from running to Xiao Yan's side.
Xiao Mei grabbed Xiao Yan's sleeve with both hands in an excited manner and tilted her head, her eyes curved with a smile as she said, "Xiao Yan ge, am I not amazing? I've reached the 7th-stage of Dou Disciple and can now join the core disciples of the clan."
Xiao Yan smiled as he gently patted Xiao Mei's little head and said, "Don't slack off. The 7th-stage Dou Disciple is just the beginning of the high stage. Cultivation at the high stage requires you to take it one step at a time. The progress will be much slower. You still have a long way to go before you become a Dou Practitioner."
"Ugh, Xiao Yan ge, you're naturally fast in cultivation because you're a genius. Not everyone is like..."
Before Xiao Mei could finish her sentence, the examiner's voice rang out over the noisy crowd, announcing the next name.
"The next one, Xiao Xun Er!"
Upon hearing these two words, even Xiao Yan, who'd been so serious all along, couldn't help but show a hint of a smile. He slowly lifted his head to look over.
The originally heated discussions among the clan members abruptly stopped. All eyes followed the movement of a girl dressed in a purple gown.
Even Xiao Yan was not an exception.
The girl exuded a cool and indifferent temperament, like that of a pristine lotus in the early stages of blooming. Her pupils were clear and bright. Her delicate willow-like eyebrows and three thousand strands of hair fluttering in the wind were a mesmerizing sight.
When it came to beauty and temperament, Xiao Xun Er undoubtedly surpassed Xiao Mei by a few points. It was no wonder that everyone present couldn't take their eyes off her.
The girl named Xiao Xun Er walked up to the Magical Testing Monument. Her delicate hand reached out and gently touched the stone. Her expression was indifferent, as if this test, which was paramount to the clan, meant little to her.
Everyone held their breath waiting for the result. If there was anyone who could surpass Xiao Yan as a genius, it was only this girl before them.
The glaring light once again burst forth from the monument after a brief moment of silence.
"Dou Practitioner, 2-Star!"
A moment of silence enveloped the scene as they looked at the characters on the monument. Xiao Yan inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
So close, just a hair's breadth away from being surpassed!
"Oh my great-granduncle! She's only one star away from the Little Clan Leader!"
"Last year, Miss Xun Er was a 1-star Dou Practitioner. To actually break through this year is truly amazing!"
After a moment of silence, the surrounding youths involuntarily swallowed a mouthful of saliva. Their eyes were filled with awe.
By breaking through from being a 10th-Stage Dou Disciple to becoming a Dou Practitioner, one was qualified to wear a star badge on the chest to showcase one's strength. Each star was a symbol of strength, a symbol of identity.
In Wu Tan City, a Dou Practitioner was a pillar of a clan.
At the sight of the glaring words "Dou Practitioner, 2-Star," any trace of pride that had just been rising in Xiao Mei's heart was completely shattered. She unconsciously released her grip on Xiao Yan's sleeve.
She couldn't even bring herself to be jealous.
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TL/N: Keep in mind that the setting of the original work is being used here, i.e. Xiao Yan is a reincarnated person who does not know the plot of this world.
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