"Such a clingy sister!"
Gu Changqing spread his hands and watched Gu Xun'er's departing figure with a helpless expression, silently grumbling in his heart.
"Pfft!"
Xiao Mei covered her mouth and laughed softly.
She was already familiar with how much Xun'er cared for her younger brother.
However, Xun'er faced some fierce competition.
Not just her—Xiao Yu, Xiao Yun, Xiao Xia, and many other beautiful young women from the Xiao family had their eyes set on this talented younger brother.
A lot of them were just waiting for Changqing to come of age before making their moves in secret.
Xun'er might have a hard time guarding him all by herself.
"Changqing, thank you. Without your help, I probably wouldn't have broken through to the eighth stage of Dou Disciple."
Xiao Mei moved closer to Gu Changqing, her face tilted up, eyes sparkling like water as she expressed her gratitude.
"Don't mention it. It was just a small favor."
Gu Changqing waved it off, keeping a little distance from Xiao Mei, not wanting to get too close.
Otherwise, his ever-watchful sister Xun'er would be back soon to give him another lecture.
Still, when he thought about helping Xiao Mei by clearing her meridians and checking her body, a strange expression flickered across Gu Changqing's face.
"The Innate Alluring Physique—born to be a cultivation cauldron."
Of course, Gu Changqing kept that thought to himself. There was no way he'd say such a thing in front of Xiao Mei, let alone Xun'er.
Otherwise, he'd truly be labeled a pervert.
"Xun'er, Dou Fighter: Five-Star! Class: Super!"
The voice of the examiner rang out across the square, cracking slightly from excitement.
Many of the Xiao family elders, as well as the younger generation, stood up in shock.
"Fourteen years old, Dou Fighter at Five Stars, Miss Xun'er is truly incredible!"
"Such talent! Even if Xiao Yan's talent reawakens, he still wouldn't be a match for Miss Xun'er!"
"I wonder how talented Gu Changqing is? Having such a powerful and beautiful sister is an enviable thing!"
Everyone's eyes burned with admiration as they stared at the stunning young woman standing in the center of the square.
This girl was not only a beauty beyond compare but also possessed extraordinary cultivation talent. She seemed flawless in every way.
"Xun'er's talent is truly terrifying!"
Xiao Mei was similarly stunned, her eyes wide.
She had thought she was exceptional, but compared to Xun'er, she was still far behind.
"A true prodigy."
In a distant corner, Xiao Yan sighed bitterly.
He had once believed that his talent would be enough to win Xun'er's affection.
From childhood, he had tried every method to get closer to Xun'er, to catch her attention.
He even came up with the shameless idea of sneaking into her room, hoping that by staying close, they would grow closer emotionally.
But thanks to Gu Changqing, none of his tricks had ever worked.
In fact, his efforts only earned him several beatings from Xun'er.
Now, the gap between them was growing wider and wider.
"Miss Xun'er, with such outstanding talent, when the next enrollment at Jia Nan Academy comes around, you will surely achieve excellent results. At that time, entering the academy will allow you to soar to even greater heights."
The middle-aged examiner spoke with a respectful tone, admiration clear in his gaze as he looked at the beautiful girl in front of him.
"Thank you."
Xun'er nodded slightly, showing no hint of arrogance despite the praise.
In truth, if it weren't for wanting to show her little brother how impressive she was, she wouldn't have bothered to reveal so much of her strength.
"Next, Gu Changqing!"
Finally, it was Gu Changqing's turn.
He walked up calmly, showing no signs of nervousness, and placed his hand on the black stone pillar.
Soon, a line of characters lit up, catching everyone's attention.
Dou Fighter: One Star!
"Wow, Gu Changqing has also broken through to Dou Fighter!"
"Didn't this guy only start training at around five or six years old? That's much later than many of us from the Xiao family, but his progress is faster than many others in our clan!"
"This guy's a genius too! If things go smoothly, he'll probably enter Jia Nan Academy next year along with Miss Xun'er!"
"If I recall correctly, Xiao Ning's sister, Xiao Yu, is already at Jia Nan Academy. Xiao Yu is known for having the longest legs in our clan and is absolutely stunning!"
"Don't get your hopes up! Xiao Yu and Gu Changqing seem to have a close relationship. I think Xiao Yu might even have feelings for him. In the future, she could very well become his girlfriend!"
Gu Changqing had started cultivating late. When he was found by the Xiao family, he was only about four or five years old. By the time Xun'er began teaching him to cultivate, he was already six.
Now, over a decade had passed, and Gu Changqing had grown into a young man who appeared to be eighteen or nineteen. He was tall, with striking features, but his true age was slightly younger than he looked. This was something he had deliberately controlled.
"Gu Changqing, Dou Fighter: One Star! Class: Advanced!"
The examiner's voice rang out again, loudly announcing Gu Changqing's result.
In the Xiao family, anyone who became a Dou Fighter before the age of twenty-five could stay in the family to continue cultivating and would be treated as a core disciple, receiving priority in resources. Gu Changqing, still not yet twenty, had just made it into this category, which was certainly something worth celebrating.
"Young Master Changqing, since you've broken through to Dou Fighter, as per the family's rules, tomorrow you may go to the Xiao family's Qi Pavilion to test your soul attribute and choose a suitable yellow-rank technique for cultivation."
After announcing the results, the examiner turned toward the Xiao family elders and clan leader, seeking their approval. After receiving their nods, he smiled and spoke to Gu Changqing.
"Thank you, Uncle Xiao Mo. I'll remember that."
Gu Changqing smiled, accepting the offer without refusal.
Although his actual cultivation system was different from the Dou Qi Continent's, he saw no harm in checking out the Xiao family's Qi Pavilion. His cultivation level was equivalent to a Dou Grandmaster at Nine Stars. In other words, he could easily defeat someone like Xiao Zhan if he wished.
However, he had no intention of revealing his true strength just yet. He planned to use the Xiao family's Qi Pavilion as a convenient cover while he continued to grow stronger in secret.
After the test, Gu Changqing and Xun'er gracefully said their farewells to the many peers who came to congratulate them and returned to their own residence.
"Chanqing, don't go to your clinic today. Let's first test your soul attribute, then I'll help you find a high-rank technique to cultivate."
Xun'er led Gu Changqing into her bedroom. With a graceful motion, she touched a delicate ring on her finger, and a soul attribute testing stone appeared in her hand.
"Alright, that works."
Gu Changqing nodded, not refusing. After a moment's pause, he placed his hand on the stone under Xun'er's expectant gaze.
Soon, radiant colors burst from the stone, and Xun'er's previously excited expression turned into one of sheer disbelief.
"This… this is impossible!"
Xun'er stood there, wide-eyed, staring at the dazzling display of light. For a moment, she was completely stunned, unable to process what she was seeing.