"Patriarch. I have broken through to Dou Zhe, 1-Star, and came to report. May the Xiao Clan live longer and prosper."
The words echoed off the high, golden-tiled vaulted ceilings of the Grand Assembly Hall, pristine and utterly clear. But words in the Dou Qi Continent were cheap. To solidify his claim, Yoriichi did not wait for an invitation.
He unsealed the gates of his Dantian.
A pulse of pure, milky-white energy exploded from his lean frame. It didn't rage wildly like a typical newly advanced cultivator who couldn't control their surging power. Instead, it rolled out in a perfectly controlled, heavy wave—a dense, suffocating ring of authentic Dou Qi that rippled across the polished azure jade floor.
The sheer physical force of the emission blew the stagnant incense smoke to the corners of the room and caused the heavy silk banners hanging from the pillars to snap violently.
Sitting on the grand central throne, Clan Leader Xiao Zhan's eyes widened to the size of saucers.
THUD!
Xiao Zhan's large, calloused hands clamped down on the thick armrests of his wooden throne with such violent force that the solid ironwood actually cracked under his grip, sending splinters shooting to the floor. He lurched forward, his Da Dou Shi aura entirely forgotten, replaced by sheer, unadulterated shock.
Beside him, the Second Elder dropped his teacup. It shattered against the jade floor, hot tea splashing over his silk shoes, but the old man didn't even blink. He was too busy staring at the youth in the center of the hall as if he were looking at a ghost.
For half a minute, the Grand Assembly Hall was plunged into a crushing, absolute silence. The only sounds were the ragged, deep breaths of the elite guards by the door, completely overwhelmed by the gravity of what they were witnessing.
A sixteen-year-old Dou Zhe.
In the grander scale of the Central Plains, it might have been commonplace. But here, in the remote, rugged borders of Wu Tan City, it was the absolute hallmark of a top-tier prodigy.
In the past, Xiao Ning had been considered a genius by the clan's modest standards—a boy with decent talent who coasted comfortably on his grandfather's status. But looking at the impossibly dense, perfectly stable cyclone radiating from him now, the elders realized the chilling truth.
Xiao Ning was a genius, but now a terrifying one. The kind of anomaly that could either elevate a clan to the heavens or drag it into a bloody, envious war for survival.
Realizing that his jaw was slightly slack, Clan Leader Xiao Zhan quickly cleared his throat.
Cough. The slight, authoritative sound broke the spell, allowing the Patriarch to regain a measure of his dignity and control over the unexpectedly explosive situation. He sat back slowly, his tiger-like eyes locking onto the stoic youth standing in the center of the hall.
"Xiao Ning..." Xiao Zhan began, his voice thick with a complex mixture of disbelief and soaring hope. "Very much congratulations. The Xiao Clan now has a true genius in its ranks. Tell me... you are sixteen now, correct?"
Yoriichi met the Patriarch's gaze without a flinch. He answered truthfully, his voice perfectly level. "Yes, Patriarch. I will turn seventeen next month."
The confirmation sent a fresh wave of murmurs through the hall.
"Impossible," the Second Elder muttered, finally wiping the spilled tea from his robes. His eyes narrowed with a mix of awe and deep suspicion.
"To jump from a crippled state to a true Dou Zhe in a matter of weeks? Patriarch, we must be cautious. There are forbidden alchemical pills that can forcibly ignite a cyclone at the cost of burning away a cultivator's lifespan and permanently ruining their foundation."
The tension in the room spiked instantly. The Second Elder's words, while harsh, carried the pragmatic paranoia necessary for survival in the Dou Qi Continent.
First Elder Xiao Lu slammed his fist onto his knee, his beard bristling with fury. "Are you implying my grandson would resort to demonic arts, you old snake?!"
"I am merely stating facts to protect the clan's future!" the Second Elder snapped back.
"Enough!" Xiao Zhan's voice boomed, carrying the weight of a Da Dou Shi, instantly silencing the bickering elders. He threw his head back and let out a hearty, booming laugh that shook the dust from the rafters, completely breaking the remaining tension in the room.
"Forbidden pills create chaotic, violently unstable Qi," Xiao Zhan stated firmly, his gaze never leaving Yoriichi. "Does that energy feel unstable to you? No. It is as solid as a mountain."
Xiao Zhan sighed, a genuine smile replacing the deep lines of stress on his face. He turned to his right. "The Heavens have not abandoned us! Xiao Lu, you old ghost... you really have a genius grandson. You hid him well!"
First Elder Xiao Lu, who had been glaring daggers at the Second Elder, finally let out a massive, proud guffaw. He puffed his chest out so far it threatened to burst the seams of his robes.
"Eh! Of course!" Xiao Lu boasted loudly, stroking his white beard with immense satisfaction. "He is my grandson, after all! His blood runs hot with my legacy. He simply needed a little time to polish his blade!"
Standing slightly behind her grandfather, Xiao Yu covered her mouth and giggled musically at the old man's shameless bragging. The guards by the door exchanged relieved grins; the usually terrifying Grand Hall had suddenly adopted the warm, jubilant atmosphere of a festival.
Xiao Zhan let the laughter ride for a moment before raising a hand, instantly returning the hall to a state of formal business. He turned his full attention back to Yoriichi.
"Hmm... Xiao Ning," Xiao Zhan said, his tone turning generous but authoritative. "The clan rewards its geniuses. That is the law of our ancestors. Because you have successfully crossed the threshold of Dou Zhe, you are now granted access to the Dou Ji Pavilion."
Xiao Zhan leaned forward, his eyes turning serious. "You may enter the Pavilion and pick the Qi Method best suitable for you. However, you may only choose one. Do you understand? Attempting to practice multiple Qi Methods will result in a clash of elemental forces. It will destroy your meridians and cripple you permanently."
Yoriichi nodded calmly. "I understand, Patriarch."
He already knew this rule perfectly. In his past life, combining incompatible Breathing Styles tore muscles apart. Here, combining incompatible Qi Methods literally exploded the Dantian. It was a universal law of energy he had no intention of breaking.
"Good," Xiao Zhan nodded approvingly. "After you select your Qi Method, you may also choose two Dou Skills from the clan treasury. Furthermore, the clan will double your monthly stipend and provide you with Tier 1 and Tier 2 medicinal pills to stabilize your new realm and meet your cultivation needs."
The other elders, even the skeptical Second Elder, nodded in unison. Grooming a genius required a mountain of resources, and throwing gold at a sixteen-year-old Dou Zhe was an incredibly valid investment for the clan's future survival.