Staring at the black-robed youth standing motionless on the field, the atmosphere grew slightly quiet. On the raised platform, Xiao Zhan's smile slowly widened, until finally, he could no longer contain himself and burst into laughter. Listening to the proud, enthusiastic laughter of Xiao Zhan, the three elders exchanged glances, sighed softly, and then remained silent—deeply impressed by the young man's evident potential. A progression from fourth segment to first in just one year was truly astonishing; they felt a sense of disappointment that their own descendants would likely never catch up. With a heart full of satisfaction, Xiao Zhan stood up, clapped his hands, and smiled warmly to announce, "Xiao Ke, my nephew, has failed his challenge. I hope he continues to diligently train in the future!" On the field, Xiao Ke, pale-faced, listened to the verdict and grew somber. His eyes, complex and full of emotion, fixed upon the black-robed youth not far ahead—the one who had once been mocked as a useless prodigy. Now, after just one year, he stood above everyone else in the family, a transformation so dramatic it felt like a complete reversal. Xiao Ke suddenly recalled the firm, cold words the young man had spoken in the hall that day: "Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west—don't underestimate the young and poor." With a wry smile, he shook his head and struggled to rise, then bowed slightly to Xiao Yan, his earlier disdain now completely gone. "Xiao Yan, nephew, you've won. Congratulations on your recovery!" Xiao Yan nodded slightly and then slowly scanned the crowd. Those who met his dark gaze all hesitated, slightly intimidated. His gaze casually swept over Xiao Mei, who had been staring at him the entire time, and Xiao Yan turned slightly, offering a calm, gentle smile to the group of young族 members who hadn't passed the trial. "Are there any others who would like to challenge?" Seeing Xiao Yan's gaze, the young men who had initially been stunned quickly closed their mouths, each adopting an expression of deep contemplation, yet none dared to step forward as the second one to take the plunge. Observing their awkward, pretentious demeanor, Xiao Yan gave a slight shrug and then turned to walk toward the back. Watching Xiao Yan settle down beside her, Xun smiled warmly, her eyes gliding over the crowd. With a delicate finger, she twisted a strand of hair into a neat curl, and gently curved her lips, murmuring, "Xiao Yan, back three years ago, they looked at you just like this." "Back then, I was excited by their reverence. Now? I don't feel much anymore." Xiao Yan rubbed his nose, speaking with a composed tone. "That's how Xiao Yan has grown more mature," Xun said, playfully blinking her bright, lively eyes. "How mature you are! Sometimes I actually think there's a thousand-year-old monster hiding beneath this young girl's body!" said the little girl seriously, and Xiao Yan couldn't help but find it amusing. He gently rubbed the top of Xun'er's head with a warm, familiar touch, teasing her. Xun'er gave Xiao Yan a delicate, slightly scolding glance, her refined features showing a touch of irritation. No matter how open-minded a young girl might be, she didn't want to be called a old monster. The youthful pout of a young girl was especially endearing; Xun'er's unintentional display of youthful charm not only made the group of young boys across the way stare in wide-eyed wonder, but even some of the girls themselves couldn't help but feel envious. "This little brat is simply too arrogant..." Even as he was equally enchanted by Xun'er's endearing charm, watching her affectionate gestures toward Xiao Yan, the flame of jealousy in Xiao Ning's heart nearly overwhelmed his reason. In this family, he had always believed himself to be the only one worthy of Xun'er. No matter how hard he tried, he could never win her smile—while Xiao Yan, once considered a mere failure, consistently made her laugh and delight. This stark contrast left Xiao Ning's teeth clenched so tightly they clicked. "Little brat, keep being arrogant! On the day of the coming-of-age ceremony, I'll have you on your knees before Xun'er's very eyes!" With his fists tightly clenched, Xiao Ning fixed a stern gaze upon the distant, meditating Xiao Yan. Although Xiao Ning was also deeply impressed by Xiao Yan's rapid progress over the past year, his habitual sense of superiority had yet to fully shed the label of "a waste." As the second most promising young member of the family after Xun'er, Xiao Yan's remarkable advancement had already begun to stir a quiet sense of urgency in Xiao Ning. He resolved to strike hard while Xiao Yan was still maturing—ideally, to knock him down completely and leave him shaken. With a cold, calculating thought, Xiao Ning slowly lifted a grim smile. Though Xiao Yan now possessed seventh-tier Battle Qi, Xiao Ning remained confident in his own eighth-tier level, knowing that each subsequent step beyond the seventh tier represented a significant leap. While softly chatting with Xun'er, Xiao Yan casually glanced toward the edge of the training ground and caught sight of Xiao Ning's stern expression. He paused slightly, then offered a composed smile—how could someone who managed to conceal even the slightest emotion of joy or displeasure possibly rise to such prominence? ... After Xiao Ke's defeat in his challenge to Xiao Yan, no one dared to step forward again. The inadequately qualified clan members had to seek new targets. After several rounds of trials, only two managed to defeat their opponents—thanks to refined combat techniques and a bit of luck—successfully entering the qualified zone. As the training grounds gradually calmed down, Xiao Zhan, beaming with a smile, rose to announce the conclusion of the assessment and the key points to remember for the coming adult ceremony one month later. Slowly standing up, Xiao Yan offered a gentle smile to Xiao Zhan, who stood proudly on the dais, clearly impressed and giving his son a well-deserved thumbs-up. After brushing off the dust from his garments, a fragrant breeze swept over him. Faintly furrowing his brow, Xiao Yan looked up at Xiao Mei standing before him and smiled softly, "Is there something?" Seeing the subtle coldness hidden on Xiao Yan's refined face, Xiao Mei was momentarily caught off guard, offering a smile that was somewhat forced and speaking softly, "Uncle Xiao Yan, congratulations!" "Thank you." Nodding slightly, Xiao Yan glanced toward Xun'er beside him. "Uncle Xiao Yan, tomorrow at the Dueling Hall, my father will be teaching Huang-stage advanced dueling techniques. Would you like to join us?" Xiao Mei smiled, her face embodying a delicate balance between grace and purity, truly captivating. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's brow subtly arched. Just as Xiao Yan was about to find an excuse to decline, a pair of long, fair, delicate arms emerged from beside him and gently encircled his arm. A moment of surprise, Xiao Yan turned to see a clear, composed face beaming with warm smiles. "I'm truly sorry, Aunt Xiao Mei," he said, "Xun'er has already asked Uncle Xiao Yan to accompany her around Wutan City tomorrow. I might not be able to join you at the Dueling Hall." Amidst a circle of wide-eyed, stunned gazes, Xun'er gently held onto Xiao Yan's arm, a touch of apology lingering on her refined features.