"Kid, you're lucky this time!"
On the platform, Ling Quan had no choice but to obey after hearing Gu Yao's words. As he stepped down, he shot Xiao Yan a disdainful glance.
"Crack..."
At this moment, the humiliation Xiao Yan felt was beyond words. His fists clenched tightly, and the sound of bones grinding together could be heard as he tried to suppress his anger. But unfortunately, all he could do was vent his frustration like this. No matter how furious he was, he couldn't do anything to Ling Quan, a Dou Venerate.
Luckily, no one paid much attention to the emotions of a nobody like him. Even Xun Er had a similar outlook. In her eyes, it was a stroke of luck that Xiao Yan had avoided a fight with Ling Quan.
Without putting themselves in his shoes, few could understand the pain Xiao Yan was feeling.
"Why am I so powerless?"
Xiao Yan cried out internally, feeling as if Xun Er was protecting him as if he were weak, rather than out of genuine concern.
"Xiao Yan, take it easy. There shouldn't be anyone else causing you trouble now," Venerable Feng said, patting Xiao Yan on the shoulder. His words finally pulled Xiao Yan out of his inner turmoil and back to reality.
That's right!
As a mere Dou Ancestor, avoiding a fight with Ling Quan was already a stroke of fortune. What more could he ask for?
Xiao Yan laughed self-deprecatingly.
After Ling Quan left the platform, several other young members of the Gu Clan went up to test their bloodline, receiving their clan markings.
Soon, it was Gu Yao's turn to test his bloodline. Gu Yao stepped onto the platform and gently placed his hand on the star disk. At first, the star disk remained silent, but after a moment, it suddenly trembled, and a brilliant light erupted from it. One star after another began to appear on the disk.
"One, two, three... eight stars!"
As the eighth star slowly emerged, the crowd erupted in astonishment. Even some of the elders nodded in approval, clearly satisfied with the results.
"An eighth-grade bloodline... No wonder he's one of the four Great Generals of the Black Submerged Army!"
The whispers of envy and admiration filled the square.
"Gu Yao, one of the four Great Generals of the Black Submerged Army, a Nine-Star Dou Venerate, with an eighth-grade bloodline, is granted the Purple-Gold Clan Mark!"
As the elder announced this, he produced a purple-gold dragon brush, which emitted a dazzling light. With swift strokes, an intricate symbol was soon inscribed on Gu Yao's forehead.
"Whew!"
Drawing the Purple-Gold Clan Mark seemed to consume a lot of Dou Qi. By the time the final stroke was made, the elder was slightly sweating and took a deep breath as the brush's glow gradually dimmed.
"A Nine-Star Dou Venerate... My teacher was at this level at his peak, and yet this young Gu Clan member has already achieved this..."
Watching one after another of the Gu Clan members ascend the platform, Xiao Yan couldn't help but feel the immense power of the clan. At the same time, he felt a deep sense of inadequacy.
He had heard that a thousand years ago, his Xiao Clan was on par with the Gu Clan in terms of strength, but now, after a millennium, it had fallen to such a state...
What had happened back then that caused the decline of the once-great Xiao Clan?
...
"I will preside over the next part of the ceremony."
After testing a few more young members of the Gu Clan, an elderly voice filled with immense pressure echoed above the square. An elder suddenly descended onto the platform, and the other elders around him greeted him respectfully, each with a look of shock in their eyes. They all knew what it meant for this elder to personally preside over the coming-of-age ceremony. It meant that a member of the clan with a bloodline surpassing the eighth star was about to appear.
"Xun Er, it's your turn!"
As the elder appeared, his gaze fell on Xun Er, standing in a corner of the square.
"Yes!"
Xun Er straightened her posture and slowly walked onto the platform under the gaze of thousands.
"Brother Gu Fei, in a moment, you're going to be amazed by me..."
After ascending the platform, Xun Er glanced deeply in Gu Fei's direction. Then, she closed her eyes and placed her delicate hand on the star disk.
One by one, the stars began to appear on the disk.
One, two, five... eight stars!
As the number of stars on the disk increased, the crowd's breathing grew heavier. Some with keen senses might even notice the faint fluctuations in the space around them, accompanied by a subtle but powerful aura.
Under countless gazes, shortly after the eighth star appeared, another burst of light gathered.
"Nine stars, a ninth-grade bloodline!"
Seeing the nine brilliant stars on the disk, nearly all the members of the Gu Clan gasped. A ninth-grade bloodline meant that the Gu Clan would produce a member with the potential to become a Dou Saint!
Though it was only potential, having such potential, along with enough time, could truly lead to the rise of a new Dou Saint!
A Dou Saint, a being that symbolized the pinnacle of existence in this world.
Even a superpower like the Gu Clan highly valued such individuals because at their level, the number of Dou Saints a clan possessed determined their true power.
"Indeed, it's a ninth-grade bloodline. Xun Er's bloodline is truly formidable..."
Even Gu Yao, who had just been promoted to Great General of the Black Submerged Army, couldn't help but click his tongue in admiration. Although he no longer had feelings for Xun Er, this did not diminish his respect for someone with such a high-grade bloodline.
"Already at the peak of the ninth grade..."
On the platform, the Gu Clan elder testing Xun Er's bloodline stared intently at the dazzling stars, his eyes wide with shock.
As countless eyes watched, Xun Er's delicate hand suddenly trembled, and her entire arm seemed to become transparent. Inside, the blood in her veins flowed rapidly, and tiny golden specks of light surged through her veins, gathering in the hand touching the star disk.
"Hiss!"
As the golden specks intensified, Xun Er's entire arm began to glow as if it were made of gold. When the light reached its peak, the star disk trembled violently, and fine cracks began to appear, spreading rapidly.
"What terrifying bloodline power, it's even causing the star disk to crack!"
Even the elders were shocked by this sight.
"Buzz!"
As the cracks spread, a faint golden light began to appear after the ninth star. After a moment, a dim, golden star slowly emerged under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
"Boom!"
At the moment when the tenth golden star appeared, the star disk used for the test shattered completely with a loud bang.
"Ten stars... A divine-grade bloodline!!"
Nearly all the members of the Gu Clan were left speechless, staring at the golden pillar of light piercing the sky.
"Brother Gu Fei, did I amaze you this time?"
Xun Er slowly opened her eyes, seemingly unsurprised by the outcome. Her gaze locked onto Gu Fei as she felt a slight sense of pride.