The next day.
Shen Tian, who had cultivated throughout the night, didn't feel the slightest bit tired. On the contrary, he was full of energy, more refreshed than even after a good night's sleep.
He tidied his clothes and opened the door—only to find a lovely figure already waiting outside. Who else could it be but Xun'er?
Dressed in a light green gown, Xun'er looked radiant. Her figure was graceful—long, round legs, gentle curves, and the vibrant aura of youth emanating from her. Combined with her elegant temperament, it caused even Shen Tian's heart to flutter!
Seeing Shen Tian's heated gaze, Xun'er's delicate face flushed a rosy red. She looked like a ripened apple—sweet, soft, and incredibly tempting.
"Brother Shen Tian, what are you looking at?" Xun'er asked playfully, her tone coquettish.
"Ah, with Xun'er standing before me, what else could I possibly look at? I have to say, you're especially beautiful today," Shen Tian responded with a grin, shamelessly complimenting her without the slightest hint of embarrassment.
"Hmph! Brother Shen Tian's mouth is the most dishonest!" Xiao Xun'er rolled her eyes and snorted softly.
Just then, a faint creak sounded. The two turned to see Xiao Yan walking out of his courtyard.
When Shen Tian saw Xiao Yan, he shouted, "Xiao Yanzi!"
Xiao Xun'er also shouted, "Cousin Xiao Yan!"
Upon spotting the two, Xiao Yan smiled bitterly. "Seems like only the two of you still treat me with respect these days."
Shen Tian smiled warmly. "We're brothers. That respect should always be there."
Xiao Xun'er chimed in as well, "Yes, Cousin Xiao Yan. Don't be discouraged—you should cheer up!"
Xiao Yan shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Don't worry. I'm fine."
But both Shen Tian and Xun'er could see through the act. Shen Tian sighed inwardly, "Looks like only when Nalan Yanran appears will his fighting spirit reignite."
Without further words, the three walked toward the Xiao family's training grounds—it was the day of the annual family test!
Soon, they arrived at the large bluestone training arena. Even before entering, they could hear a buzz of conversation. Dozens of young boys and girls had already gathered, and the air was filled with the youthful vigor of excitement and rivalry.
But the moment Shen Tian and the other two stepped into the arena, a hush fell across the entire field. All eyes turned toward them—no, toward Xiao Yan, the boy who had once been hailed as a genius, now branded a failure.
The silence didn't last long. In the next moment, the arena was filled with murmurs and jeers—Xiao Yan was the topic of them all.
"Why did he even bother showing up?"
"A waste like him is a disgrace to the Xiao family."
"Exactly! Still stuck at the third stage of Dou Zhi Qi? After his coming-of-age ceremony next year, he'll be sent to a branch family even if he's the clan leader's son. At best, he'll manage a market stall!"
Laughter followed. Shen Tian turned his head slightly and saw Xiao Yan trembling, his hands clenched into fists so tightly that his nails had pierced his palms—blood dripped silently, yet he seemed numb to the pain.
Shen Tian narrowed his gaze toward the group of mockers. He immediately recognized the lead troublemaker—Xiao Ke, a lackey of the First Elder's faction.
Back when Shen Tian first got close to Xun'er, Xiao Ke and his gang had repeatedly caused him trouble. Even after Shen Tian's talent earned recognition and his status rose, the harassment didn't completely stop—until he decisively beat them in front of everyone.
Sensing Shen Tian's cold stare, several of the mockers immediately lowered their heads. Even Xiao Ke's expression shifted, though he tried to maintain a defiant front. Shen Tian smiled coldly and said, "You guys love gossiping behind people's backs like a bunch of hens. If you've got the guts, how about joining me on the training stage?"
"You... Don't think I'm afraid of you! Big Brother Xiao Ning is coming soon—he's already at the seventh stage of Dou Zhi Qi. You better not cause trouble!" Xiao Ke's threat lacked conviction, and even he felt the weakness in his tone. His face turned red with shame.
Everyone here knew: even though Shen Tian was born to a servant, his talent had long surpassed many of the clan's direct descendants. When Xiao Yan became a Dou Zhe at eleven, he was considered a once-in-a-century genius of the Xiao family. But that same year, Shen Tian had reached the seventh stage of Dou Zhi Qi—at just ten years old!
Back then, people believed the Xiao family's status in Wu Tan City would soar because of Xiao Yan and Shen Tian. But after Xiao Yan's inexplicable loss of strength, Shen Tian had steadily risen through the ranks.
Just last year, he had already reached the ninth stage of Dou Zhi Qi. It was very likely that this year, he would become a Dou Zhe at the age of fourteen. Though it was slightly later than Xiao Yan's record, he was now undeniably the strongest youth in the Xiao family.
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I hope you guys liked this chapter!🙂