Jia Ma Empire.
Wutan City.
On the Xiao Family's martial training ground, the crowd was packed shoulder to shoulder.
One by one, the still-young disciples looked excitedly toward the Dou Qi testing magic stele at the center of the square.
Today was the Xiao Family's big Dou Qi testing day — a direct evaluation of every clan member's strength.
Resources on the Dou Qi Continent were limited, and the Xiao Family's training resources were even more so.
Survival of the fittest was the natural law. The stronger your strength, the more cultivation resources you deserved.
'This might not be a famous scene, but it's definitely a not-so-famous famous one.'
Hun Miesheng stroked his chin, thinking quietly to himself.
His handsome features caused a few undeveloped girls nearby to blush and look away, hearts pounding.
'Sigh, what can I do? This seat is just too handsome, born with unmatched beauty.'
Hun Miesheng spread his hands helplessly.
"Dou Qi, Stage 3, Low Grade! Disqualified!"
The examiner beside the stele announced loudly, recording the results and drawing a wave of laughter from the crowd.
A chubby youth walked off the platform with his head down, looking dejected.
Of course, that wasn't Xiao Yan — because today was his shining moment. Right now, he was still the genius youth admired by all.
"Hall Master, all is ready. Shall we proceed now?"
Gui Lao asked softly.
He stood behind Hun Miesheng, his presence hidden by slight spatial fluctuations — completely invisible and undetectable to the crowd.
Gui Lao couldn't help feeling puzzled. Why was the Hall Master paying so much attention to such a tiny, insignificant clan?
He had thought the Hall Master came to deal with some hidden powerhouse or a reclusive ancient family.
Instead, it turned out to be a small clan he could crush with a flick of his finger. The strongest among them was just that hidden Dou Huang off to the side.
To handle people like this, even two of the lowest-ranking enforcers would be overkill — why come in person?
"Let's just watch the show first."
Hun Miesheng spoke casually.
He had already spotted Xiao Yan — seated near the front row closest to the platform.
Xiao Yan looked confident and high-spirited.
Clearly, he had yet to experience society's cruelty. The people around him treated him with the utmost flattery and humility.
Xun'er stood beside him, dressed in a flowing purple gown. The young girl's delicate face held a gentle smile, composed and elegant like a blooming lotus.
Her presence clearly outshone everyone around her.
"Eight point five. No more than that."
Hun Miesheng crossed his arms and shook his head.
Jealous and admiring gazes flooded toward the boy and girl pair, as though they were the very center of this world.
"Next for testing — Xiao Yan!"
The examiner's voice rose excitedly as he shouted the name, louder than before.
"Xiao Yan! Xiao Yan! Xiao Yan…"
The atmosphere instantly exploded. Hun Miesheng looked on speechlessly, as if he'd returned to a celebrity fan meet on Blue Star.
"Big Brother Xiao Yan is so popular."
Xun'er feigned annoyance as she glanced at Xiao Yan.
"You're not doing too badly yourself, Xun'er."
Xiao Yan chuckled.
"Big Brother Xiao Yan, good luck!"
Encouraged by the crowd's cheers, Xiao Yan confidently and gracefully walked up to the testing platform.
From an ordinary office worker's perspective — suddenly becoming a genius youth admired by all, and also the son of the clan leader — this must be what peak life feels like.
"Young Master Xiao Yan began cultivating Dou Qi at age four, and by last year — at just ten years old — he already reached the ninth stage! Amazing!"
"Young Master Xiao Yan is the pride of our Xiao Family! I just wonder if he's managed to break through to Dou Practitioner?"
"Breaking through isn't that easy. Even with Young Master Xiao Yan's talent, it would take at least two years to condense a Dou Qi Whirlpool!"
...
"May I begin?" Xiao Yan asked the examiner calmly.
"Of course!"
The examiner's expression turned respectful. He wouldn't dare offend this young master.
"Let me give you something more to cheer about!"
Xiao Yan raised his hand and pressed it onto the stele.
Brilliant golden light burst from the stele as two large characters emerged on its surface.
Time seemed to freeze in that moment.
"Dou… Dou… Dou Practitioner!" the examiner stammered in shock.
An eleven-year-old Dou Practitioner!
Such terrifying talent!
"Congratulations to Young Master Xiao Yan for successfully condensing a Dou Qi Whirlpool and becoming the youngest Dou Practitioner in the past century — no, in all of Wutan City's history!"
The plaza fell into a stunned silence, then erupted with thunderous cheers.
Xiao Zhan stood up from his seat, tears running down his face.
"Our Xiao Family has finally birthed a once-in-a-century genius! The ancestors are watching over us!"
"Young Master Xiao! Young Master Xiao!"
"A genius! A genius!" The chants soared to the sky.
Brimming with confidence, Xiao Yan stepped down from the platform.
"A genius?"
Just then, a calm voice drifted from the crowd.
"Are you kidding me?"
Xiao Yan's expression turned cold as he looked toward the source of the voice — a handsome black-robed young man walking out from the crowd.
"What do you mean by that?" Xiao Yan clenched his fists. If not for maintaining his image, he would have already struck.
Standing atop the platform and looking down, Xiao Yan suddenly felt as if he were the one being looked down upon.
The black-robed youth in front of him felt like a vast, boundless starry sky.
"What do I mean?"
Hun Miesheng smiled faintly and took a step into the air. Word by word, he said:
"I started training in Qi at age three. Reached Dou Practitioner at four. Became a Da Dou Shi at eight. And by eleven — I was already peak Dou Wang."
"The word 'genius'? You — don't — deserve — it."
"This kid's nuts, right? Four years old Dou Practitioner? At least try to lie realistically!"
The Xiao Clan members couldn't help but laugh.
But when they saw what Hun Miesheng did next, their laughter froze.
He stepped into the air.
Walking on air!
Only a Dou Zong-level expert or higher could do that!
Someone like this… was not someone they could afford to offend.
Ding!
[Achievement Unlocked: Villain's Grand Entrance — Villain Points +100]
Hun Miesheng blinked.
'Just for talking I get 100 Villain Points? This is easier than I thought.'
"Peak Dou Wang at eleven? Senior, are you mocking me?"
Xiao Yan exhaled deeply, now fully aware of Hun Miesheng's power.
Facing such a strong opponent, all he could do was suppress his anger and endure.
Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west — I'll take my revenge in the future if I must!
Hun Miesheng spread his hands.
A frog in a well — how small your world is.
"In the Gu Clan, if someone didn't break through to Dou Practitioner by eleven, they'd be cast out to fend for themselves."
Hun Miesheng's lips curled into a smile.
"Don't you agree, Miss Gu Xun'er?"
His meaningful gaze locked onto Xun'er, whose expression changed instantly.
How did this man know her identity? Besides her father, only a few Grand Elders of the Gu Clan knew she was sent to the Xiao Family.
Ding!
[Achievement Unlocked: Villain's Intimidation — Villain Points +100]
"Senior, may I ask why you've come to our Xiao Family?" Xiao Zhan quickly stepped forward to ease the tension.
"Why?"
Hun Miesheng gave a seemingly kind smile, then uttered two words:
"To kill."
The temperature in the plaza seemed to plummet ten degrees in an instant.
"What!" Everyone froze in place.
Before the words fully settled, Hun Miesheng had already vanished.
His hand pierced straight through Xiao Yan's chest.
Xiao Yan's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Why?" Bloodshot eyes stared at the man before him.
It wasn't supposed to end like this! Wasn't he the main character? Wasn't this just the beginning of his peak life?
Why did it turn out like this?
"Goodbye… my fellow earthling."
Cold words echoed one last time in Xiao Yan's ears, and black flames consumed both his body and soul into nothingness.
Xiao Yan, dead.
"Because I'm the villain."
(End of Chapter)