Battle Through the Heavens: Beauties Abound Starting with Yunlan and Her Disciples

18: Section 18This year is their generation’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony. If they can’t reach the Dou Qi Seventh Stage this year, they will be exiled to the Branch Family.

Those who cannot reach the Dou Qi Seventh Stage but wish to prove themselves can only do so by challenging someone who has qualified, proving they can fight above their rank to remain in the Xiao Family.

Generally, this is very difficult to achieve and is mostly just a formality.

But Xiao Yan had been at Dou Zhi Qi Stage Three for three years, and suddenly reached the Dou Qi Seventh or Eighth Stage in just a few months. Other Xiao Family disciples might think her Dou Qi is unstable. By speaking up, Xiao Mei clearly intended to help Xiao Yan defend the stage.

”No need, I can fight too.” Xiao Yan shook her head, about to refuse.

Xiao Mei took Xiao Yan’s hands in both of hers and explained:

”Sister! Just consider it part of my atonement!” Since she put it that way...

Xiao Yan was soft-hearted and agreed.

Seeing Xiao Yan agree, Xiao Mei happily returned to Yun Xiancheng’s embrace for a hug. ”Surely no one is foolish enough to come looking for a beating.”

Yun Xiancheng looked at Xiao Yan, who was already at the Dou Qi Eighth Stage, and shook his head helplessly.

”I told you, Alchemist Brother’s embrace is never lacking girls.” A familiar girl’s laughter came from nearby.

Xiao Xun Er said with a faint smile:

”After a few months apart, Alchemist Brother hasn’t slackened in his cultivation. No wonder you haven’t visited for months.”

”I’ve indeed been busy with cultivation lately. It was my oversight, please forgive me, Xun’er,” Yun Xiancheng explained.

Hearing this, Xiao Mei’s face turned slightly red, but she remained silent.

She had also been busy with that embarrassing ”cultivation.” ”Four-Star Dou Master... your speed...”

Walking to Yun Xiancheng’s side and carefully sensing his aura, the girl accurately judged Yun Xiancheng’s current realm.

She clearly remembered that when she first met him, he seemed to be a Nine-Star Dou Practitioner? Even if he broke through that day, going from a One-Star Dou Master to a Four-Star Dou Master in a few months...

”Did you go back to the Cloud Mist Sect? Or did you use some pills?” Xun’er was surprised by Yun Xiancheng’s progress.

Excluding resources, pills, bloodlines, and all external factors, a ”base” Xiao Xun Er’s talent was slightly inferior to a ”base” Xiao Yan.

Yun Xiancheng shook his head and said, ”I did use resources.”

It was just a permanent five-times cultivation speed cheat, plus one-tenth of the Dou Qi from Xiao Mei and Yanran’s cultivation fed back to him. It all stacked up.

”I see, I see.”

Xun’er had a look of realization.

If pills were used, it wasn’t a ”base” talent comparison, so there was no point in comparing cultivation speeds.

The girl felt a slight pity. Yun Xiancheng was an interesting person, and she truly wanted to see if he could keep up with her.

After checking Yun Xiancheng’s status, Xiao Xun Er picked up her fan and joined the group. She then noticed Xiao Mei’s aura fluctuating; she had unknowingly succeeded in condensing a qi cyclone and reached One-Star Dou Practitioner.

”Something’s not right.”

Xiao Xun Er cried out internally after sensing Xiao Mei’s condition.

She knew Xiao Mei’s talent. It was decent in the Xiao Family but mediocre elsewhere. With normal cultivation, she should have reached the Dou Qi Eighth Stage at most for this Clan Competition.

Why did she leap from the Dou Qi Seventh Stage to One-Star Dou Practitioner in a few months? That jump was too large!

He must have secrets he hasn’t told. I really want to know, the girl thought.

031 Little sister might as well sit in the Young Master’s lap.

The rest of the Xiao Family weren’t aware of Xiao Yan’s recent events, so they looked at her with sarcasm and ridicule. ”That former genius is going to the Branch Family next year, right?”

”Haha, I remember how high and mighty she was. Seeing her looking so pathetic after her Dou Qi vanished makes me laugh every time I think about it.”

The mockery rose and fell, like knives carving into Xiao Yan over the past three years. But...

But now, with her senior brother’s encouragement and her Dou Qi restored, Xiao Yan had stepped out of the shadows. Her youthful spirit had returned. She no longer feared their gazes. Facing them, she stood calmly in front of Xiao Xun Er and Xiao Mei, leading them...

...into the Training Ground.

Yun Xiancheng followed calmly behind Xiao Yan. With his hood down, his face looked no different from the surrounding Xiao Family disciples—just as young. Most disciples were surprised by Xiao Yan’s confidence and few noticed him.

Only a small number noticed his unfamiliar face. Some looked at him with envy, seemingly jealous that he was surrounded by these beautiful women.

”Who is this?”

”This person... looks a bit unfamiliar.”

”Xiao Xun Er is very close to him. Is he some quiet type? I’ve never seen him before.” ”Why... hasn’t he left yet?”

Among the Xiao Family disciples, one person was startled upon seeing Yun Xiancheng. That person was Xiao Ning.

Xiao Ning naturally remembered Yun Xiancheng. On the day they first met, when he was bullying Xiao Yan, Xiao Mei had suddenly switched sides, leaving him to take the full blame as the bully.

For the first few days, he was worried the Cloud Mist Sect guest would punish him severely. But after a month of worrying without any consequences, he assumed the person had left.

”This person... looks a bit unfamiliar.”

”Xiao Xun Er is very close to him. Is he some quiet type? I’ve never seen him before.” The Xiao Family’s younger generation whispered.

Of course, the Xiao Clan Leader and the three elders attending the ceremony recognized Yun Xiancheng’s face. ”Will he settle scores later?”

”The Young Sect Leader of the Cloud Mist Sect shouldn’t be the type to seek revenge for every grievance, right?”

Seeing Yun Xiancheng chatting happily with Xiao Yan, the three elders were all breaking out in a cold sweat.

”Looking at this, Xiao Yan can definitely cultivate again. Is the theory of the Innate Body true?”

On the day of the broken engagement, the First Elder had directly offended Yun Xiancheng, and the other two elders had bullied Xiao Yan using the rules. Since it was all within the rules, Xiao Zhan couldn’t say much.

But now Yun Xiancheng’s arrival broke the balance. They could no longer use Xiao Family rules to control Xiao Yan from the Cloud Mist Sect. In fact, if the Cloud Mist Sect wanted to hold the Xiao Family accountable, they could.

Because the Cloud Mist Sect was the strong one.

In a world of cultivation, there is a supreme law that isn’t always spoken aloud: the strong come first.

However, Yun Xiancheng was quite open-minded. The First Elder had indeed offended him, but that was that, and the man had apologized later.

The Xiao Family Guest Elder token he’d been given was still hanging from his waist. It wasn’t some irreconcilable blood feud. But for Xiao Yan, it was a different story.

After all, compared to the original story, the girl Xiao Yan had a much harder time.

Xiao Yan noticed Yun Xiancheng’s gaze, turned back, and smiled slightly:

”It’s fine, Senior Brother. I don’t feel anything from their mockery anymore.” ”The Coming-of-Age Ceremony officially begins! Those whose names are called, please come up for the strength test!”

Xiao Zhan shouted loudly, drawing everyone’s attention. ”Xiao Xun Er.”

”Though I can’t compare to Alchemist Brother, I’ve learned a bit lately.”

Hearing her name, the girl gave Yun Xiancheng a shallow smile. She walked to the large upright stone in the center and placed her hand on it. [One-Star Dou Zhe]

The four large characters slowly lit up.

Yun Xiancheng sat cross-legged at the edge of the Training Ground. Xiao Mei sat obediently on his left, while Xiao Yan sat on his right. Looking at Xiao Xun Er’s realm, she nodded:

”Xun’er’s talent is truly high. I remember back then, only she and I were comparable.”

”It’s good,” Yun Xiancheng nodded.

The crowd’s gaze made Xiao Xun Er frown. She wasn’t used to being in the spotlight. Once the test was over, she stepped back behind the others. Xiao Mei looked at the departing Xun’er, feeling a bit dazed.

If she had followed the normal path, she would be at the Dou Qi Eighth Stage at most. But Brother Xiancheng’s arrival had completely changed everything.

At this moment, the girl’s heart was filled with endless gratitude. ”I want to be with Brother for a lifetime,” Xiao Mei suddenly whispered into Yun Xiancheng’s ear.

The voice was very quiet, but Xiao Yan heard it too.

Her face immediately turned red, and she perked up, wanting to hear what happened next.

”What are you joking about?”

Yun Xiancheng rubbed the girl’s cheeks with both hands. ”It’s for all eternity, you little dummy.”

Their intimate actions in the Training Ground left Xiao Yan stunned.

To her, showing affection in front of everyone was quite a challenge.

Meanwhile, the three elders on stage couldn’t help but think: It’s settled! Our Xiao Family has latched onto the Cloud Mist Sect’s thigh in every possible way!

The Third Elder’s expression changed from a cold sweat to a smile as he stroked his beard, his expression mirroring Xiao Zhan’s. Xiao Mei was his granddaughter.

Seeing the Third Elder and the Clan Leader’s expressions, the First Elder couldn’t find any joy.

”When is Yu’er coming back? Damn it.” ”She’s my only precious granddaughter,” the First Elder thought.

He had to make sure Xiao Yu built a good relationship with him.

A Dou Master at fourteen or fifteen—he’d never heard of such talent. Among the four elders, some were happy, some were worried—the most worried was the Second Elder:

”Why don’t I have a granddaughter? It’s over, my lineage is doomed.”

He covered his face with his hands, thinking in agony. Xiao Xun Er slowly walked to Yun Xiancheng and sat down.

”One on each side, how comfortable,” she said.

”If you don’t mind, you can come into my embrace.” ”No.”

She sat down facing Yun Xiancheng. ”Xiao Mei!”

”I’m going up.”

Xiao Mei nodded to Yun Xiancheng and walked to the Testing Stone. Everyone’s eyes fell on the girl in the peacock blue dress.

”Wasn’t her last test Dou Qi Seventh Stage?”

”I’m so envious. She’s basically guaranteed to stay in the Main Family.” The crowd whispered.

The Third Elder watched Xiao Mei nervously. Whether his precious granddaughter would be valued depended on this moment.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, a flash of light appeared.

The ”One-Star Dou Zhe” marker shone brightly.

”First Elder, I think you should be a bit more stable.”

The Third Elder was overjoyed. He quickly said to the First Elder:

”I’m going to settle the score for you shouting at my Grandson-in-law a few months ago. How embarrassing, what a huge embarrassment!” The First Elder’s face turned pale and then flushed, but he couldn’t say much:

”My bad, my bad. I indeed had issues that day.” Then he added:

”You should be careful; the Clan Leader hasn’t said anything yet.”

”Let the younger generation handle their own loves and hates for now. We’ll just be spectators,” Xiao Zhan said.

Xiao Mei enjoyed the feeling of being in the spotlight, with the sounds of whispers in her ears.

”Dou Practitioner... a Dou Practitioner?” ”Heavens!”

”How is this possible?”

The disciples’ voices exploded. If Xiao Xun Er reaching One-Star Dou Practitioner was taken for granted...

...then someone from the upper-middle tier like Xiao Mei suddenly exploding into a tie for first place was even more shocking. She heard various emotions in their voices.

In the past, Xiao Mei had also dreamed of her talent suddenly exploding, becoming a genius like Xiao Xun Er.

But now that the dream had come true, hearing the shocked voices of the crowd didn’t bring her much joy. ”All of them combined aren’t as good as a kiss from Brother Xiancheng.”

She bowed slightly to Xiao Zhan and the three elders to show her gratitude.

Brother Xiancheng likes good children; Mei’er must be polite. ”Good, good!”

The Third Elder nodded upon seeing the change in Xiao Mei’s character. After bowing, the girl quickly rushed toward Yun Xiancheng.

Only to find that her spot had been taken by Xiao Xun Er at some point.

Xiao Xun Er noticed Xiao Mei’s return but had no intention of moving. Instead, she chuckled, ”Why doesn’t little sister Mei’er just sit in Alchemist Brother’s lap?”

Xiao Mei blushed, but then, she actually sat directly in Yun Xiancheng’s lap. Looking at Xiao Xun Er, she stuck out her tongue and said, ”I’d love to!”