chapter 6

moment she got on stage, the murmurings and discussions quietened down and every pair of fiery eyes were

locked on her face.

The teenage girl wasn't more than 14 years old. Although her beauty wasn't immediately evident, her small childish face combined with her innocence

captured the attention of the audience. She quickly stepped forward and put her tiny hands on the black stone monument.

She then closed her eyes gently.

As the girl closed her eyes, the

monument shined brightly once again.

'Dou Zhi Li. 7th stage!'

"Xiao Mei, Dou Zhi Li, 7th stage! Rank: High!"

"Yeh!" Hearing the tester read out the

result, the teen girl smiled proudly.

"Tsk tsk, 7th stage Dou Zhi Li. How impressive! At this rate, in three years

she'll be named a true Dou Zhe3 already."

"She really fits the name of the clan's

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Hearing the unanimous praise coming from the crowd, the girl's smile turned even wider. Vanity, the temptation that so

many girls are unable to resist...

While chatting with her fellow sister members, her line of sight weaved through the surrounding people and landed on a lonesome figure away from

them.

Furrowing her brows for a while, she finally decided against walking over. Between the two of them was already a huge gap. Looking at Xiao Yan's performance these past few years, by the time the Adulthood Ceremony comes, he would only be able to place at the lower

tier clan member ranks. She, however,

with her brilliance. would become the clan's very important and thus wellnurtured fighter. There would be no limit

to her future.

"Ai..." An inexplicable sigh emerged from her. Xiao Mei thought back to the youth from three years ago, bursting with energy and pride. At 4 he started practicing, and at 10 he achieved the 9th stage Dou Zhi Li.At11 he broke the 10th stage Dou Zhi Li barrier and condensed his Dou Zhi Qi Zu4 successfully. He became the youngest Dou Zhe in the clan

since the past 100 years.

At that time, his self-confidence as well as immeasurable power attracted countless young teens which of course,

included Xiao Mei.

However, the path of a genius was always winding. Three years ago, this genius youngster whose fame reached the absolute top, received what could

possibly be the cruelest blow. The hard

work he put into acculmulating and condensing the Dou Zhi Qi Zu over the past ten years had, injust one night, vanished into nothingness. All the Dou Zhi Li in his body slowly dissipated with

time and instead, pity for him grew.

As a result of losing his Dou Zhi Li. his

physical strength decreased as well.

From the position of a genius, in one night he fell below the average person. This kind of blow made the youth lose his will to carry on training. The reverence once associated with this lad had slowly

changed into disdain and ridicule. Standing so high up, and falling right down this kind of fall mightjust be one that he could never recover from.

"Next, Xiao Xun Er!"

Among the commotion, the tester's voice

sounded yet again.

reputable name, the group of people quietened down immediately. Every

single gaze turned.

At the centerpoint of attention was a teer girl clad in a purple dress, elegantly standing there. Her calm. tender and immaculate face was completely unaffected by the many gazes of the

crowd.

Her calm and indifferent attitude could be compared to the blooming of a lotus. At such a young age, she already had the air of a refined lady. It would be hard to imagine how she would affect the city

and the nation once she grew up.

This purple dress girl, if compared to Xiao Mei in terms of beauty, was clearly several leagues above. It's no wonder the

crowd would have this kind of actions.

Taking small, graceful steps, the girl

named Xiao Xun Er walked up in front of

the stone monument. She stretched her small hand out and the purple sleeve mixed with black and gold threads fell down her arm, revealing a delicate snowwhite wrist. She touched the monument

lightly.

In the silence, the monument shone once

more.

"Dou Zhi Li, 9th stage! Rank: High!"

Looking at the words on the monument.

the entire square fell into deep silence.

... She really reached the 9th stage, how frightening! The position of the youngest high rank in the clan has been taken, without a shred of doubt, by Miss Xun Er!" After the silence, several teens couldn't help but wolf whistle, their eyes

full of respect and awe.

Dou Zhi Li was essential towards being a Dou Zhe. Dou Zhi Li is split into 10 different stages. and when the body

downtrodden youth in the back of the group.

"Brother Xiao Yan." At the youth's side, the teen girl stopped. She faced Xiao Yan and bowed respectfully. Her beautiful and gentle face showed a elegant smile which

would make the surrounding girlsjealous.

"What qualifications do I have right now for you to call me that?" He faced the girl that could be considered the clan's radiant pearl and said bitterly. She, after being down-hearted for an extremely short while, continued to maintain her

respect.

"Brother Xiao Yan, you once said to Xun Er6 before to take on anything, one must first be able to let go. One is only truly free when he can take on and let go easily7." Xiao Xun Er said gently, her

smiling face full of warmth.

"Haha, truly free? I only know how to say

it. Look at me now, do I look like a free

person? This world wasn't mine to begin with." Xiao Yan laughed at himself, saying

dispiritedly.

Facing Xiao Yan's somber mood, Xiao Xun Er's fine brows furrowed a little, and she said seriously: "Brother Xiao Yan, though I don't know what's happening to you, Xun Er honestly believes that you will stand again and reclaim your lost glory and respect..." She stopped for a moment, her white tender face reddening a little. "Back then, there were a lot of people who

were attracted to you..."

"Haha..." Hearing the girl's whole-hearted truth, he laughed awkwardly but didn't say anything else. Other people would be swayed by it, but he did not have the qualifications nor the mood. Instead, he silently turned around and walked away

from the square.

Standing still and facing the lonely back of the youth, she hesitated for a while

before chasing after him and walking