Chapter 1: The Fallen Genius
After the girl closed her eyes for a moment, the dark magic stone tablet once again illuminated with light
Amidst the noisy crowd, the tester's voice rang out once more
Faced with Xiao Yan's dejection, Xiao Xun'er slightly furrowed her delicate brows and said earnestly: "Xiao Yan, although I do not know what exactly is going on with you, I believe that you will rise again and reclaim your glory and dignity..." At this point, she paused for a moment, and for the first time, the young girl's fair and charming face revealed a faint blush: "The Xiao Yan of those years was indeed very captivating..."
Alas, how has that once-renowned genius youth from Wutan City fallen to such a state now?
"Do I still have the right to dictate how you address me?" Looking at the brilliant gem that had grown to be the most dazzling in the family, Xiao Yan said bitterly. She was one of the very few who still held respect for him after his downfall.
Who knows, perhaps some wrongdoing was committed, provoking the wrath of the deities
As soon as the middle-aged man spoke, it inevitably stirred up a wave of mocking commotion in the crowded square
In the place where everyone's gaze converges, a young girl dressed in a purple gown stands gracefully, her calm and youthful face remains unchanged despite the attention of the crowd
Gazing at the information on the stone tablet, the middle-aged examiner, whose indifferent face rarely showed any emotion, surprisingly revealed a hint of a smile. He addressed the young girl with a slight tone of respect: "Miss Xun'er, in half a year, you should be able to condense the vortex of fighting energy with the help of the library. If you succeed, you will become a true fighter at the age of fourteen, making you the second person from the Xiao family in a hundred years to achieve this"
Fighting Qi: Seventh Stage
The disdainful laughter and the sighs of pity that came from around him fell into the ears of the boy, who stood still like a wooden post, as if sharp thorns were piercing his heart, causing his breath to quicken slightly
Indeed, the second person, that first person, is Xiao Yan, who has shed the halo of genius
Hehe... Facing the girl's unabashedly candid words, the boy let out an awkward laugh but said nothing more. Youth is often associated with romance, yet he felt he had neither the qualifications nor the mood for it now. With a sense of loneliness, he turned around and slowly walked away from the square.
As these somewhat elegant names were mentioned, the crowd suddenly fell silent, and all gazes abruptly shifted.
Gazing at the inscriptions on the stone tablet, a silence fell over the gathering
Tsk tsk, the Seven Segment Fighting Qi is truly remarkable. At this rate, it is likely that in no more than three years, she will be able to call herself a true fighter...
Standing in place, gazing at the boy's lonely figure that seemed isolated from the world, Xiao Xun'er hesitated for a moment. Then, amidst the jealous howls of the pack behind her, she quickened her pace and caught up, walking side by side with the boy
With delicate steps, the girl named Xiao Xun'er approached the magic stone tablet. Her small hand reached out, and the purple sleeve adorned with black and gold threads slipped down, revealing a section of her snow-white and tender wrist. She then gently touched the stone tablet
This girl in the purple dress, when it comes to beauty and grace, undoubtedly surpasses the previously mentioned Xiao Mei by several degrees, which explains the actions of those present.
The direct consequence of the disappearance of fighting spirit is the continuous decline of one's strength
In the crowd, Xiao Mei furrowed her delicate brows, staring at the girl in the purple dress in front of the stone tablet, a hint of jealousy flashing across her cheeks
The Dou Qi is an essential path for every fighter. The initial stage of Dou Qi is divided into ten levels. When the Dou Qi within the body reaches the tenth level, one can condense the Dou Qi vortex and become a respected fighter
If it weren't for the fact that the clan leader is his father, this useless person would have long been expelled from the family, left to fend for himself, with no chance to remain in the family enjoying free food and drink
Truly a person of seed-level status within the family
The young girl possesses a cool and serene demeanor, akin to a freshly blossomed lotus. Despite her tender age, she already exhibits an extraordinary grace that is hard to imagine. It is difficult to conceive how enchanting she will become as she matures, potentially captivating the world with her beauty.
Hearing the shouts of the examiner, a young girl quickly ran out from the crowd. As soon as the girl appeared, the nearby murmurs diminished significantly, and pairs of slightly fervent gazes were firmly fixed on the girl's cheeks
The young boy slowly raised his head, revealing a somewhat delicate and youthful face. His pitch-black eyes numbly scanned the surrounding peers who mocked him, and the self-deprecating smile at the corner of his mouth seemed to grow even more bitter.
Thank you. The young girl slightly nodded and glanced at the book, her plain face showing no joy from his praise. She quietly turned around and, under the intense gaze of the crowd, slowly walked to the front of the despondent boy at the back of the group.
The girl was around fourteen years old. Although she could not be considered a stunning beauty, her youthful face contained a subtle charm, a blend of innocence and allure, a contradiction that made her the center of attention in the entire venue
The higher one stands, the harder one falls; this time's descent may perhaps leave no chance of rising again
Next, Xiao Mei
Sigh... A vague sigh escaped her lips, and Xiao Mei suddenly recalled the spirited youth from three years ago. At the age of four, he began cultivating energy; by ten, he possessed the ninth level of fighting energy; at eleven, he broke through to the tenth level of fighting energy, successfully condensing the fighting energy vortex, and leaped to become the youngest fighter in the family in a century
As she heard waves of envy rising from the crowd, the smile on the young girl's face grew even brighter, fueled by her vanity, a temptation that many girls find irresistible
The young girl stepped forward quickly, her small hand deftly touching the pitch-black magic stone tablet, and then she slowly closed her eyes
Xiao Yan, fighting power, third stage! Level: low! Beside the test magic stone tablet, a middle-aged man glanced at the information displayed on the tablet and announced it in a tone of indifference...
"Brother Xiao Yan, you once told Xun'er that one must be able to let go in order to take hold, to be able to lift and place freely, which is true freedom!" Xiao Xun'er said softly with a smile, her slightly tender voice warming the heart.
Fighting Power, Level 3
A slight stillness enveloped the scene, and on the stone tablet, a blinding light once again burst forth
Xiao Mei, Combat Qi: Level 7! Rank: Advanced!
Three segments? Hehe, as expected, this 'genius' has once again made no progress this year
However, the path of a genius seems to always be fraught with twists and turns. Three years ago, this young genius, who had reached the pinnacle of fame, suddenly faced the most brutal blow of his life. Not only did the fighting energy he had painstakingly cultivated for over a decade vanish overnight, but the fighting energy within him also became increasingly scarce with the passage of time.
"Hehe, am I free? I can only speak about it. Just look at my current appearance; do I seem free? Moreover... this world was never mine to begin with," Xiao Yan said with a self-deprecating smile, his interest waning.
From the pedestal of genius, he fell overnight to a state even worse than that of an ordinary person. This blow left the young man in a state of despair, and the title of genius was gradually replaced by disdain and ridicule.
Oh! Upon hearing the scores announced by the examiner, the girl raised her cheeks in a proud smile
The youth of that time, confident and with immeasurable potential, stirred the hearts of countless young girls, including the former Xiao Mei.
Are these people all so mean-spirited? Perhaps it is because three years ago they once showed the most humble smiles in front of me, that now they wish to reclaim what they have lost... A bitter smile crossed Xiao Yan's face as he turned away in desolation, quietly returning to the last row of the team, his solitary figure feeling somewhat out of place in the surrounding world
Fighting Qi: Ninth Stage! Level: Advanced!
"Brother Xiao Yan." As the girl passed by the young man, she paused, respectfully bending at the waist towards Xiao Yan. On her beautiful face, she unexpectedly revealed an elegant smile that made the surrounding girls envious.
Alas, this worthless individual has truly brought shame upon the family.
Furrowing her brow in contemplation for a moment, Xiao Mei ultimately dismissed the thought of the past. The two of them were no longer on the same level. Based on Xiao Yan's performance in recent years, after reaching adulthood, he would at most be relegated to a lower-tier position within the family. In contrast, with her exceptional talent, she would become a key focus of the family's cultivation efforts, and her future could be described as boundless.
While chatting and laughing with a few sisters as usual, Xiao Mei's gaze suddenly pierced through the surrounding crowd and landed on a solitary figure outside the throng
Gazing at the five glaring characters on the test magic stone tablet, the young man wore an expressionless face, with a hint of self-mockery at the corners of his lips. His tightly clenched fist, due to the force, caused his slightly sharp nails to dig deeply into his palm, bringing waves of excruciating pain
Next, Xiao Xun'er
... has actually reached the ninth rank, truly terrifying! Among the younger generation of the family, it seems that Miss Xun is undoubtedly the first. After a moment of silence, the surrounding youths could not help but swallow hard, their eyes filled with awe ...