Standing among the crowd, Xiao Yan raised his head and gazed at the grand pavilion before him, shaking his head in awe. On the scroll above the pavilion, the characters "Dou Qi Ge" were elegantly inscribed, bearing a distinctly ancient charm. The scroll had slightly yellowed, and the grooves etched upon it revealed the passage of time. This pavilion was the heart of the Xiao family—the Dou Qi Ge! All the Dou Qi techniques accumulated by the family over several centuries were stored here, and these techniques formed the very foundation of the family's current status. As the most important location within the family, the pavilion was guarded with exceptional vigilance, typically considered off-limits even to family members. Only after the coming-of-age ceremonies would it be temporarily opened to the public. With his eyes slightly narrowed, Xiao Yan scanned the darker corners of the pavilion. His keen spiritual perception allowed him to sense that every movement of the people here was being carefully observed by the hidden guards stationed in the shadows. In the more secluded corners of the pavilion, Xiao Yan could still sense a few subtle yet powerful presences, indicating that the family truly placed great importance on the Qi Pavilion. Gently turning his head to meet Xun'er's gaze, both of them saw a smile in each other's eyes—clearly, they had both noticed the hidden defenses surrounding them. "Many young people cheered enthusiastically, their eyes blazing with eager anticipation as they gazed at the towering pavilion. The ability to secure a strong qi cultivation technique would give them a solid advantage at the outset—a dream cherished by every member of the clan." "Wind-type. Hmm, come in." Glancing at the crystal ball, Xiao Zhan nodded and smiled. Once someone led the way, the crowd below immediately grew restless, rushing forward one by one, eager to determine their own elemental attributes and then swiftly entering the Qi Hall. As the number of people around them dwindled, Xiao Yan rubbed his nose and smiled at Xun'er, "Shall we go? Let's see what we can find." Xun'er, with a charming gesture, spread her hands, showing little interest in the family's techniques—yet she was happy to accompany Xiao Yan. Since neither of them was particularly eager, they waited until everyone else had entered, then finally approached with a composed grace, under Xiao Zhan's slightly exasperated gaze. Xiao Yan grinned at Xiao Zhan, running his palm over the crystal ball—the vibrant red glow was even brighter than that of anyone else, clearly indicating Fire-type. Xiao Zhan had long understood his son's nature, so he didn't display any other expressions. After a slight nod, his gaze quickly swept the surroundings, then he took a quiet step forward, cleared his throat, and bowed slightly, speaking in a low voice: "Room 43, the third path of the Fire Way!" Hearing his father's soft words, Xiao Yan was momentarily startled, then found it rather amusing—his father was clearly acting in favor of him, using his influence for personal gain. Nodding subtly without drawing attention, Xiao Yan stood by, watching Xun'er's test. Xun'er looked at the smooth crystal sphere, hesitated slightly, then shook her head with a touch of resignation, gently touching it with her slender finger. As Xun'er's fingertip made contact, the crystal sphere remained still for a moment before suddenly blazing crimson, then instantly transforming into a blazing, radiant orb of fire. Staring in awe at the crystal sphere now glowing like a fiery ball, Xiao Yan opened his mouth slightly, taking a quiet breath of cool air. The ball of flame lingered for a moment before gradually fading as Xun pulled her fingers back. At that instant, fine cracks had already spread across the entire surface of the crystal sphere. Gazing at the crystal sphere, which was rapidly approaching fracture, Xiao Zhan sighed in resignation, his eyes holding a certain enigmatic expression as he looked at Xun. He waved a hand and said, "Go in now." "Hmm, such a refined fire body—though regrettable, there's no wood nature within her. Otherwise, she'd truly be a natural alchemist." As Xiao Yan was stunned, a voice of admiration from the old pharmacist suddenly echoed in his mind. Nodding slightly with a quiet sense of disappointment, Xiao Yan watched Xun approach, shrugged helplessly, and then turned to walk toward the Qi Pavilion. Looking at the two who had entered the Hall of Qi side by side, and then glancing down at the crystal sphere that finally cracked and shattered into several halves with a crisp "snap," Xiao Zhan stroked his chin and murmured, "Well, that's truly impressive. Xun'er is not only kind-hearted and beautiful, but also comes from an even more formidable background—far surpassing Nalan Yanran. If Yan'er could have a wife like this, how wonderful that would be..." After saying this, Xiao Zhan shook his head with a touch of self-mockery, feeling helpless at his own fanciful thoughts. As he did so, he was entirely unaware that, upon hearing his words, Xun'er, who was about to step into the Hall of Qi, suddenly stiffened—her delicate ears, now flushed with a vibrant red, resembling the crystal sphere that had previously shattered.