Xiao Tian glanced at the three-star Dou Practitioner badge on Xiao Yu's chest and teased, "It seems you haven't made much progress at Jia Nan Academy all these years? We'll see about that later!"
"You… you…" Xiao Yu stared at his punchable face, itching to hit him again, but remembered she couldn't beat him and gave up. "What about you, Xun'er? …Never mind, I won't ask. If Xiao Tian goes, you'll definitely go. If he doesn't, you definitely won't. I really don't know what kind of bewitching potion this guy fed you. And you, Xiao Yan, you little rascal?"
Xiao Yan, already getting a headache from Xiao Yu's return, replied helplessly, "I'll think about it."
"Then you two think it over. I really don't understand why all the good talents end up around you two."
Just then, the entire testing ground suddenly quieted down.
Clan Leader Xiao Zhan and the three Great Elders were ascending the platform, accompanied by distinguished guests. Ya Fei was among them and subtly winked at Xiao Tian when their eyes met.
The coming-of-age ceremony began. Under a series of complicated and solemn procedures, Xiao Tian and the other youths were moved around like puppets. It took nearly half an hour for the rituals to conclude.
After the formalities came the re-testing.
Xiao Yan was the first to be re-tested. He displayed eight-star Dou Qi and then defeated Xiao Ning, who had challenged him on stage. Thanks to Xiao Tian's repeated "lessons" over the years, Xiao Ning didn't dare use Qi-boosting powder this time.
After Xiao Yan's moment, other clan members took their turns. Some achieved good results and left beaming, while others walked away dejected. When Xiao Xun'er tested at one-star Dou Practitioner, many people were shocked once again.
Seeing the ceremony finally ending, Xiao Tian stood up. "The ceremony is over and it's getting late. We should head back to cultivate."
Xun'er bid farewell to Xiao Yu and left hand-in-hand with Xiao Tian. Xiao Yan also quickly slipped away, afraid Xiao Yu might suddenly explode and take revenge on him.
Time passed day by day.
Inside the hidden mountain cave…
"Break!"
The surrounding heaven-and-earth energy surged wildly into Xiao Tian's body, transforming into pure Dou Qi. His meridians expanded continuously. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Xiao Tian let out a low shout. His aura exploded outward as he broke through from Dou Practitioner to Dou Master!
The liquid Dou Qi circulating wildly in his body gradually stabilized.
"Phew… I've finally broken through to Dou Master."
Xiao Tian clearly felt that after advancing to Dou Master, his body was filled with powerful strength — many times stronger than when he was a Dou Practitioner. He immediately condensed the symbol of a Dou Master — the Dou Qi Veil.
His Dou Qi Veil was a beautiful silver-pink color. After testing its defensive power and slight auxiliary amplification, he nodded. "Decent, but not particularly outstanding yet."
He dried his sweat-soaked clothes with Dou Qi and examined his body.
"Four-star Dou Master? I only advanced three stars this time. The Dream God Divine Heaven Harmony Art has also evolved to Earth-rank High-grade. With my current combat power, without using my physique amplification, I should be able to fight a one-star Great Dou Master to a draw. This pain was worth it."
"Xun'er, if you're here, come out."
"Hehe, Brother Xiao Tian still found me~" Xiao Xun'er walked out from behind a rock with a sweet smile.
"Why are you here? Did you miss me?"
"N-no… it's… it's Cousin Xiao Yu. She said tomorrow is the Jia Nan Academy enrollment day and asked if you're going…" Xun'er's face instantly turned red from his direct question.
Xiao Tian pulled her over to sit on a flat stone and looked at her quietly. "Xun'er, I know you have your secrets, and I have mine too. For now, it's inconvenient for both of us to explain everything. I will participate in this Jia Nan Academy enrollment, but after registering, I might leave for about a year. After one year, I will go to Jia Nan Academy to find you."
Xun'er looked at him with a lost expression. "Then… I won't be able to see Brother Xiao Tian for a whole year! Although Xun'er knows you have your own things to do and I can't hold you back… Xun'er is really reluctant to be apart from you for so long."
"I'm also very reluctant to be without Xun'er." Xiao Tian reached out and gently pulled the despondent girl into his arms.
Xun'er was suddenly embraced. She looked up, their eyes met, and the air instantly filled with an ambiguous atmosphere. Hormones surged between them.
Slowly, Xiao Tian leaned down and finally kissed her soft, rosy lips.
After a long while, Xun'er pushed him away with a blushing face and ran off like a frightened rabbit, disappearing in an instant. "Brother Xiao Tian, you're too naughty!"
"Don't blame me. It's just because you're too beautiful, Xun'er. I couldn't control myself…" Xiao Tian looked helplessly at his hands. In the heat of the moment, he had unconsciously touched a certain soft, untouchable part of her upper body.