Early Morning Sun
Jia Ma Empire, Wutan City — Xiao Family Residence Square.
The square buzzed with life, filled with the chatter of onlookers and the excited murmurs of children. Today marked an important occasion — the annual Dou Qi assessment of the Xiao family. Young boys and girls had gathered, their faces a mix of eagerness and nervous anticipation as they awaited the start of the test.
Off in one corner of the square, a boy stood quietly. His expression was calm, almost indifferent, a stark contrast to the energy around him. The faint look of boredom on his face made it clear—he held little interest in the Dou Qi test that everyone else seemed so eager for.
Looking at the excited crowd in front of him, the boy let out a long sigh.
"Why must the Dou Qi test be held so openly? Wouldn't it be better if they kept it quiet?" he muttered inwardly, his eyes showing a trace of helplessness.
Although he felt it was unnecessary, he was powerless to change it. With a faint shake of his head, he diverted his gaze toward another corner of the square. There, another young man stood tall, clearly older than him. Compared to his own ten-year-old frame, that youth's presence carried a sharper edge, a sign of maturity that set him apart from the younger children.
He was none other than the third young master of the Xiao family—Xiao Yan, once hailed as the brightest genius of the clan. Yet three years ago, his brilliance dimmed overnight, and the genius who once stood at the pinnacle had fallen from the throne into the dust, branded now as nothing more than a crippled waste.
After that fall, Xiao Yan had endured three years of endless ridicule from his own clansmen. Even now, within the bustling square, faint whispers and mocking tones could be heard aimed in his direction.
What made it all the more bitter was the memory of the past—those very same people, who now sneered at him, were once the ones who had praised him as a genius and showered him with admiration.
Just as his thoughts wandered aimlessly, the lively square suddenly grew quiet. It seemed the long-awaited test was finally about to begin.
At the front of the square stood a towering stone stele, its surface faintly gleaming under the morning light. This was the Magic Testing Stone Stele, an ancient artifact capable of revealing a person's Dou Qi talent and level.
Beside the stele stood a middle-aged man in simple robes, his expression calms yet dignified. Clearly, he was the examiner in charge of overseeing today's assessment.
"The test is about to begin. First—Xiao Yan." The middle-aged examiner's steady voice echoed across the square.
Hearing his name called first, a trace of bitterness welled up in Xiao Yan's heart. But outwardly, he remained calm, his expression indifferent as he stepped forward through the silence of the crowd.
Reaching the front, he slowly placed his palm against the cold surface of the Magic Testing Stone Stele.
A faint glow rippled across the stone before a dazzling character flared into existence above it.
"Fighting Power—Level Three!"
The words shone brightly, but the radiance only made the atmosphere heavier. Xiao Yan's face remained composed, showing no change. Yet deep within, his heart churned with emotions too complex to voice.
"Xiao Yan, Fighting Strength: Stage Three. Level—Low." The middle-aged man announced the result in an indifferent tone, as though it were nothing out of the ordinary.
The moment his words fell, the square erupted in murmurs. As expected, a wave of mocking laughter and hushed ridicule spread through the crowd like wildfire. Some shook their heads in pity, while others smirked with open disdain—exactly the reaction Xiao Yan had long grown accustomed to.
"Third stage? Heh, just as I expected. This so-called 'genius' hasn't improved at all this year!"
"Hmph, what a disgrace. He's truly brought shame to the family."
"If the clan leader weren't his father, trash like him would've been kicked out long ago and left to starve. How could he still live here, eating for free?"
"Alas… who would have thought? That talented young man, once famous across Wutan City, reduced to this miserable state."
"Who knows? Perhaps he offended the heavens and lost their blessing…"
Hearing the mocking whispers from the crowd, the young boy could only shake his head in quiet disappointment.
If he were just an ordinary child of the clan, perhaps he too would have joined in the ridicule. But he was not a normal person—his eyes saw things differently.
"Next, Xiao Hai!" the middle-aged examiner's voice rang out, calling forth the next participant.
Hearing his name called, the young man stepped out from the crowd and walked steadily to the front of the Magic Testing Stone Stele.
Without hesitation, he placed his palm gently upon its surface.
In the next moment, light flared from the stele, and a dazzling character appeared in the air above it.
"Fighting Power—Level Eight!"
Even as gasps of shock rippled through the crowd, the young man's face remained calm, untouched by pride or arrogance.
"Xiao Hai, Fighting Strength: Stage Eight! Level—Advanced!" the middle-aged examiner announced loudly, his tone carrying an unmistakable note of joy and approval.
As the announcement echoed across the square, the crowd immediately burst into whispers of excitement.
"Stage Eight? Haha, as expected of the family's rising star!"
"Indeed, Xiao Hai is truly remarkable. To think he's only ten years old—his achievement is already no less than Xiao Yan's back in his prime."
Even though Xiao Hai could hear the voices of praise rising all around him, he did not respond. Without a word, he turned away from the square the moment his test was finished, heading directly toward his residence—clearly unwilling to linger any longer.
As he walked past Xiao Yan, their eyes met for a brief moment. Xiao Hai did not speak, but instead gave a faint nod accompanied by a gentle, encouraging smile. After all, he knew Xiao Yan was not a bad person at heart, and despite everything, the bond between them had not completely faded.
But the moment Xiao Hai left the square, another wave of murmurs quickly followed in his wake.
"Heh, so what if he's a rising star? Did you forget Xiao Yan? He was once hailed as a genius too, and now look at him—reduced to nothing but waste. Who's to say Xiao Hai won't end up the same way? After all, his arrogance knows no bounds."
"Well, I can't say if he'll become like Xiao Yan… but one thing's certain: he's far too arrogant. He doesn't even see us as fellow clansmen. Just last week, when I tried to greet him, he ignored me completely and walked away. Hmph, what an ungrateful fellow."
"Shh—keep your voice down! Haven't you heard? His mother's a pharmacist. If someone reports your words to her, your family might find themselves without medicine when they need it most."
"Hah, I'm not afraid. My father is the head of the Xiao clan's guards. No one would dare touch me."
"Heh… lucky you."
While the crowd continued whispering among themselves, waiting anxiously for their own names to be called, Xiao Hai had already left the noise of the square behind and arrived at his residence.