On the Xiao Clan's training grounds.
The plaza was packed with people. It was time once again for the Xiao Clan's semi-annual cultivation assessment, where the elders evaluated the younger generation to allocate resources appropriately based on their performance.
Beside the black Testing Stone, a long line of young clan members queued up. Some were elated, others dejected.
"Next—Xiao Yan!"
A middle-aged man beside the Testing Stone called out loudly.
As soon as the name rang out, the previously bustling crowd instantly erupted into a wave of chatter.
"It's Xiao Yan! It's finally his turn!"
"The Clan Head even got him a Dou Zhe Pill at auction. He's probably a two-star Dou Zhe by now, right?"
"Hiss... a two-star Dou Zhe at twelve years old... He really is the most talented youth in all of Wu Tan City."
Voices buzzed from all directions—praise after praise, as everyone looked toward Xiao Yan with admiration.
Xiao Yan, however, wore a somber expression. Behind him, Xiao Mei was dabbing the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief, encouraging him gently, "Good luck, Brother Xiao Yan!"
Not far away, Xun'er frowned deeply at the scene.
She couldn't understand why Brother Xiao Yan had been avoiding her lately.
Xiao Yan slowly stepped forward and placed his hand on the Testing Stone. A moment later, a faint light flickered across the surface of the black monolith.
But this time, the reaction from the crowd was not awe—but a wave of gasps and disbelief.
"H-How is that possible? Only the eighth stage of Dou Qi?"
"Could the Testing Stone be broken?"
"Yes, yes! It must be! Xiao Yan was already a one-star Dou Zhe months ago. Even if he didn't improve, there's no way he'd regress. It has to be malfunctioning!"
"Brother Xiao Yan…" Xiao Mei's voice trembled as she stared at the result in disbelief.
Xun'er covered her red lips with her jade-like hand, unsure of what to think.
Seated at the top of the plaza, Xiao Zhan, the clan head, trembled slightly before his voice rang out deeply, "What's going on? Is the Testing Stone broken? Hurry and inspect it!"
"Yes, Clan Head!" The middle-aged man beside the monolith immediately began inspecting it. After a long while, he found nothing wrong and turned to Xiao Mei. "Try it yourself."
Xiao Mei stepped up cautiously, placing her hand on the stone. Moments later, the surface glowed once more.
Dou Qi, fifth stage.
The result was consistent with previous testers.
"It's working fine," the man muttered, scratching his head before turning back. "Young Master Xiao Yan, please try again."
"No need," Xiao Yan replied coldly. "The result is real."
His tone was blank, his lips curled in self-mockery. His tightly clenched fists dug his nails into his palms, drawing sharp, stinging pain.
With that, Xiao Yan turned and began to walk away.
His words ignited another wave of noise in the crowd.
Not mockery, not ridicule. After all, even at the eighth stage of Dou Qi, Xiao Yan was still among the clan's more talented youths.
But confusion and disbelief spread like wildfire. Wasn't he a Dou Zhe just a while ago?
How had he fallen back to the Dou Qi stage?
Could it be… because of the Dou Zhe Pill?
Someone in the crowd finally voiced the unspoken thought.
Immediately, many others began to nod in agreement.
After all, that Chen Mo had a grudge with Xiao Yan.
If he had tampered with the pill and then manipulated the auction so the Clan Head would acquire it… it was entirely possible.
"Brother Xiao Yan, wait!"
Xun'er caught up with him.
At this moment, Xiao Yan's mood was bleak. Seeing Xun'er—the very girl who had kept secrets from him—he couldn't bring himself to be warm. His tone was cold. "Xun'er? What do you want? A person like me isn't worthy of you calling me that anymore."
Xun'er frowned, then said earnestly, "Brother Xiao Yan, is it really like they say? Was it because of the Dou Zhe Pill?"
Xiao Yan shook his head. "No."
Though he disliked Chen Mo, he wasn't the type to wrongly accuse someone without proof.
"Then... is it because of your cultivation method?" Xun'er asked with a smile as she retrieved a scroll from her storage ring. "Brother Xiao Yan, this is a high-grade Xuan-level fire attribute cultivation method—Blazing Flame Art. I hope it can help you."
Xiao Yan's face darkened. "So now you pity me? You think I've fallen so low that I need your sympathy? I don't want it."
Smack!
He slapped the scroll from her hands.
Xun'er's heart ached. She felt deeply hurt but still tried to explain. "Brother Xiao Yan, it's not about pride. I know you're not a stubborn person. A high-grade cultivation method could really help you, so I—"
"I said I don't need your sympathy! And this has nothing to do with my cultivation method. Enough—I'm leaving."
Expressionless, Xiao Yan turned and walked away.
Just then, tears welled up in Xun'er's bright, water-like eyes. Her voice cracked as she called after him, "Brother Xiao Yan, you've really disappointed me!"
"Disappointed?"
Xiao Yan froze. Then he turned back, his voice rising with suppressed anger. "Disappointed? Who's the one truly disappointed here? Who are you really? What's your real identity? A young lady who can casually hand out a high-grade Xuan-level technique... why are you hiding in a small clan like the Xiao Clan? What's your goal? What are you planning?"
All the frustration and humiliation bottled up in Xiao Yan finally burst forth—he poured it all out onto Xun'er.
"Brother Xiao Yan…" Xun'er sat on the ground in shock, unable to argue back. After all, she did have her reasons for staying hidden in the Xiao Clan.
"Don't call me that anymore. I don't deserve it. Just leave."
After shouting, Xiao Yan realized he had gone too far. His tone softened.
"Sorry. I lost control."
Then he walked away.
Xun'er pouted with grievance, her large, watery eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
Meanwhile, Chen Mo had no idea he had been blamed for something he didn't do.
He was currently finishing up packing all the resources from the Amethyst Winged Lion King's lair.
Several vials were now filled to the brim with Amethyst Source Essence. And when he handed a Violet Spirit Crystal to Yun Yun—
The Great Amethyst Winged Lion King and its cub both let out low, pained growls.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Yun Yun immediately took out a large quantity of pills from her storage ring and handed them over.
"These are all the pills I have. They're yours," Yun Yun said.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King still looked heartbroken. It glanced at Chen Mo.
Chen Mo chuckled. "Alright, when we get back, I'll refine either a Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill or a Three-Patterned Azure Spirit Pill for your son."
Only then did the lion finally relent.
Yun Yun looked confused.
"Aren't both of those fourth-tier pills?"
—
High on a cliffside—
A woman in a flowing violet dress stood gracefully against the wind. The breeze stirred her robes, revealing a glimpse of her snowy-white calves.
She turned around, revealing a face of unmatched beauty.
Yun Yun gazed at Chen Mo's handsome features. Her mind drifted to the recent days they had spent together—intimate, tender days. Her usual cold expression softened noticeably.
With a quiet sigh, she murmured, "It's time to part ways. Who knows when we'll meet again?"
"It won't be long."
Chen Mo gave a light laugh. Then, without warning, he extended his arms and gently embraced her slender waist—hidden beneath the layers of her long dress—as Yun Yun stood frozen in stunned silence.
****
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