"Power of Combat: Three Ranks!" Gazing at the five bold, shining characters on the examination stone tablet—so bright they even seemed glaring—the young man remained expressionless, a touch of self-mockery playing at the corner of his lips. His tightly clenched hands had caused his slightly sharp fingernails to pierce deeply into his palms, delivering sharp, piercing pain. "Oh, how could it be that the prodigy once renowned throughout Utan City has now fallen to such a state?" "Who knows? Perhaps he has done something dishonorable, offending the deities..." The surrounding scorn and pity, falling upon the boy who stood motionless like a stake in the ground, pierced his heart like sharp thorns, making his breath come in short, hurried puffs. Gently lifting his head, the boy revealed a fresh, somewhat delicate face. His dark eyes scanned the younger peers who now mocked him, and the wry smile playing at his lips grew even more bitter. "Are these people so sharp and unkind? Perhaps they once showed him the most humble gestures when he was still young, and now, seeking to repay that favor..." With a wistful, bitter smile, Xiao Yan turned quietly and settled back into the last row of the group, his solitary figure standing out, out of place amidst the bustling world around him. "Next, Xiao Mei!" Hearing the examiner's call, a young girl swiftly emerged from the crowd. As soon as she appeared, the murmurs around her softened, and a steady stream of warm, attentive glances settled firmly on her face. The girl was barely fourteen, not particularly stunning, yet her youthful features carried a subtle grace—pure and elegant, a delicate blend of innocence and charm—that made her instantly the center of attention. She stepped forward with confident ease, gently touching the dark magical stone tablet with her hands, then closed her eyes. After a brief moment, the dark tablet glowed once more. "Battle Qi: Seven Ranks!" "Xiao Mei, Battle Qi: Seven Ranks! Level: Advanced!" "Yay!" Hearing the scores called out by the examiner, the young girl beamed with pride. "Hm, seventh-level battle energy—remarkable! At this pace, she'll likely be recognized as a true battle practitioner within just three years." "Indeed, a true seedling of the family." As waves of admiration rippled through the crowd, the girl's smile grew even brighter—vanity, a trait that many girls find irresistible. While chatting with her usual sisters, Xiao Mei's gaze suddenly shifted beyond the crowd, settling on a solitary figure standing outside. After a brief moment of contemplation, she set aside her earlier thoughts. The two of them no longer belonged to the same tier. Given Xiao Yan's recent performance, even after reaching adulthood, she would likely remain among the lower ranks of the family. In contrast, with her exceptional talent, Xiao Mei would become a key focus of the family's cultivation efforts, with a truly boundless future ahead. "Oh..." With a breathless sigh, Xiao Mei suddenly found herself recalling the young prodigy from three years ago—the boy who had begun cultivating at age four, achieved nine-tier Battle Qi at ten, broke through to ten-tier Battle Qi at eleven, and successfully formed a Battle Qi vortex, becoming the youngest Battle Master in the family's century-long history. Back then, he was full of confidence and possessed immense potential, captivating countless young women—of course, including Xiao Mei herself. Yet, the path of a prodigy often proves winding. Just three years ago, when his reputation had reached its peak, this brilliant young master faced an unexpected and devastating blow: not only did the Battle Qi vortex he had painstakingly cultivated over decades vanish overnight, but his internal Battle Qi also began to dwindle in an increasingly strange manner over time. As a direct consequence, his strength steadily declined. From the pedestal of a prodigy, he plummeted overnight to a level even ordinary people could surpass. The blow left the young man bewildered and disoriented, and the title of "prodigy" gradually gave way to indifference and mockery. The higher one stands, the harder one falls—this fall might have rendered him incapable of rising again. "Next, Xiao Xun'er!" The tester's voice rang out once more amidst the bustling crowd. As the name, somewhat refined and elegant, was spoken, the crowd instantly fell silent. All eyes turned toward a single point. There, a young woman dressed in a purple robe stood calmly. Her gentle, youthful face, fresh and unassuming, remained unchanged, untouched by the weight of everyone's gaze. The young girl's composed and serene demeanor was like a lotus in full bloom—though still young, she already possessed an air of refinement that was hard to believe. It was hard to imagine how breathtakingly beautiful she would become when she grew older. In terms of beauty and grace, this purple-dressed girl surpassed the earlier Xiao Mei without a doubt, which explained why everyone present was so impressed. With graceful, measured steps, Xiao Xun'er approached the magical stone stele. She extended her hand, her purple sleeve, adorned with black and gold threads, slipping gently down, revealing a delicate, pale forearm. Then, she lightly touched the stele. The brilliant light on the stele flared once more. "Combat Qi: Nine Ranks! Level: Advanced!" As the characters on the stele appeared, a hush fell over the gathering. "...Nine ranks? Truly astonishing! It's likely that no one else in the younger generation of the family will match her achievement." After the silence, the young men around couldn't help but swallow a lump in their throats, their eyes filled with reverence... The battle aura was every warrior's essential path. The initial stages were divided into ten levels, from one to ten. When a warrior's battle aura reached the tenth level, they could coalesce it into a spiraling aura, becoming a respected warrior. Among the crowd, Xiao Mei furrowed her brows, staring at the purple-dressed girl before the stone tablet, a hint of envy flickering across her cheeks. As she read the information on the tablet, the middle-aged examiner, who had usually remained expressionless, unexpectedly smiled gently, bowing slightly to the girl: "Miss Xun, within six months, you should be able to form a spiraling aura. If you succeed, at just fourteen years old, you will become a true warrior—making you the second person in the Xiao family in a century. Yes, the second. The first, of course, was Xiao Yan, who once held the title of prodigy but has since shed that brilliance." "Thank you." The young girl nodded slightly, her composed face showing no sign of joy at his praise. She quietly turned around and, amidst the warm gazes of the crowd, slowly made her way to the weary boy at the very end of the group. "Xiao Yan brother," she said, pausing as she passed by him. With a respectful bow, she smiled—a graceful, elegant smile that made the surrounding girls envious. "Do I still have the right to call you 'Xiao Yan brother'?" Xiao Yan asked, his voice bitter as he gazed at the young woman who had grown into the most brilliant jewel of the family. She was one of the few who had maintained their respect for him even after he had fallen from grace. "Xiao Yan brother," Xiao Xun said with a gentle smile, her voice still a bit youthful yet warm and comforting. "You once told me that only by letting go can one truly grasp—by being able to release and hold, one becomes free." "Hmm, a free person?" I can only speak so much—I look at my current state, do I seem like someone at ease? Moreover… this world was never meant for me from the beginning. Xiao Yan chuckled to himself, his spirits gradually fading.