"The real show is finally about to begin."
Hearing the chorus of mockery and discussion directed at Xiao Yan from the crowd around him, a meaningful smile appeared on Gu Changqing's face.
Having arrived on the Douqi Continent more than a decade ago, he had finally waited for this day.
Barring any accidents, today was the strength test, tomorrow Nalan Yanran would arrive to annul the engagement, and Xiao Yan would be ready to throw away his ring.
As long as he dared to throw it away, Yao Chen and the Flame Mantra would be lost to him forever.
Qi Power: Stage Three!
Without the slightest surprise, Xiao Yan's strength was still a pitiful Qi Power: Stage Three.
"Xiao Yan, Qi Power: Stage Three! Level: Low!"
The tester read out Xiao Yan's name and strength expressionlessly.
Once again, the scene erupted into a uniform wave of mockery.
"Tsk tsk, as expected, this good-for-nothing has stayed right where he was for the entire year!"
"This good-for-nothing brings shame upon our Xiao Family. If the patriarch wasn't his father, our Xiao Family wouldn't keep such a worthless person of poor character and zero talent within the clan."
"It's true retribution. If it were anyone else, I might feel a shred of sympathy, but for Xiao Yan? Forget it."
"..."
Actually, it wasn't that the members of the Xiao Family lacked sympathy; it was simply that Xiao Yan's conduct three years prior had been utterly atrocious.
Had he possessed the dazzling halo of a genius, people might have tolerated his various flaws.
But once stripped of that halo of genius, his entire being was nothing but flaws.
If one person spoke ill of him, it might still be chalked up to a personal grudge. But when everyone spoke ill of him, the problem undoubtedly lay with him.
"Next, Xiao Mei!"
The tester continued, calling out the name of the next participant.
Amidst the gaze of the crowd, a pretty girl in cyan robes, her delicate face a blend of innocence and allure, slowly stepped forward.
The young girl was around fourteen years of age, with an innocent face and pure features, yet her petite frame was already developing alluring, curvaceous contours.
That innocent face carried a hint of captivating charm, giving the young girl an irresistible allure that left the youths in the prime of their youth utterly spellbound.
Qi Power, Stage Eight!
As the girl's slender hand pressed against the black stele, a row of eye-catching large characters instantly sparked a fierce commotion among the crowd.
"Hiss, did Xiao Mei take some sort of immortal elixir? How did she suddenly reach Stage Eight Qi Power?"
"Didn't Xiao Mei only have Stage Six Qi Power last year? Gaining two stages of Qi Power in a single year—since when did her talent become this formidable?"
"Although Xiao Mei is a genius in her own right, improving by two stages of Qi Power in a year is hardly inferior to that former genius of our Xiao Family!"
"Hehe, I bet you guys didn't know this, did you? I heard Xiao Mei once went to Gu Changqing to have him check her body."
"Ah, is that so? If she had Gu Changqing check her body, then it's no wonder. Gu Changqing is a renowned young physician far and near in Wutan City, and he's exceptionally skilled at treating physical ailments!"
"Oh, come off it. Treating illnesses isn't the same as aiding cultivation; all I can say is that Gu Changqing is truly formidable!"
"..."
Across the square, many of the younger generation of the Xiao Family were green with envy and jealousy.
On one hand, they envied Xiao Mei's talent; on the other hand, they were jealous that Xiao Mei had actually been able to enlist Gu Changqing's help to assist her cultivation.
Gu Changqing was no ordinary person within the Xiao Family; he possessed genuine, invaluable skills.
Ever since witnessing the hardships of the common people across the Douqi Continent, Gu Changqing had opened a medical clinic in Wutan City, specializing in treating patients with difficult and miscellaneous ailments, as well as mercenaries who lived their lives on the edge of a blade.
Consequently, Gu Changqing enjoyed an exceptionally high reputation in Wutan City.He is revered by many mercenaries and commoners as the Little Doctor.
"Brother Qing, did you really help Xiao Mei examine her body?" Hearing the murmurs from those around them, Xiao Xun'er, who had a bit of a brother complex, narrowed her beautiful eyes and cast a dangerous look at Gu Changqing.
Having been raised by Xiao Xun'er since he was a child, Gu Changqing was all too familiar with that icy tone. He broke into a cold sweat, stammering, "Sister Xun'er, you know how it is. With the admissions for Canaan Academy approaching, Xiao Mei wanted me to help clear her meridians so that she could be assessed at a higher talent level when the academy arrives to recruit."
"I’m just not the type of person who is good at refusing others, so..."
"Is Xiao Mei’s body pretty?" Xiao Xun'er suddenly asked.
Gu Changqing subconsciously replied, "It’s quite fair, and she’s developed very well—curvaceous in all the right places, uh..."
Gu Changqing’s expression suddenly froze, followed immediately by a shrill cry of agony.
"Ah! Sister Xun'er, easy, take it easy! I didn’t see anything, I really didn’t see anything! Stop pulling, please stop! My ear is going to fall off!"
Gu Changqing felt quite helpless. Xiao Xun'er was perfect in every way, except for her overpowering possessiveness.
Unfortunately, he also happened to be a bit of a lecher. It made things very difficult when Xiao Xun'er wouldn't let him get close to other beautiful women.
"Hmph. You’ll be clearing my meridians tonight as well, or you are forbidden from going out for the next six months!"
Xiao Xun'er knew exactly what kind of boy her brother was—a little pervert at heart. If it weren't for her keeping him on a tight leash, he would have likely already been surrounded by a group of adoring fangirls.
Although Gu Changqing had his own bottom line and wouldn't do anything truly inappropriate, given his looks and talent, if things were allowed to progress unchecked, he would likely end up with a harem of wives and concubines in the future.This was something Xiao Xun'er was determined to prevent at all costs.
Qingdi could belong to her, and her alone!
"Xiao Mei, Qi Power: Eighth Stage! Level: Advanced!"
The voice of the tester carried a hint of excitement.
An Eighth Stage of Qi Power at age fourteen truly made her a remarkably rare and gifted young girl for the Xiao Family.
"Xun'er, Changqing."
A moment later, Xiao Mei stepped down from the platform. Looking up at Gu Changqing and Xiao Xun'er's faces, she walked slowly over and greeted them with a smile.
Because Xiao Yan had been notorious since childhood—and stood in such stark, brilliant contrast to his outstanding younger brother Gu Changqing—Xiao Mei and the others rarely bothered to play with Xiao Yan. Instead, they interacted much more frequently with Gu Changqing, whose easygoing personality and handsome looks made him a favorite.
This was precisely why Xiao Mei had been able to ask Gu Changqing to help her clear her meridians and rapidly boost her strength.
After all, when a childhood-friend beauty asked you for a favor, you could hardly refuse.
"Xiao Mei!"
"Sister Xiao Mei!"
Xiao Xun'er and Gu Changqing both nodded back at her.
However, Xiao Xun'er's delicate body quietly shifted a little closer to Gu Changqing, blocking Xiao Mei from sidling up and getting close to his side.
Gu Changqing naturally noticed Xiao Xun'er's petty little move. While he felt helpless, he couldn't help but laugh despite himself.
With such an obsessively brother-fond sister, he truly suffered sweet agony.
"Next, Xiao Xun'er."
At that moment, the tester called out Xiao Xun'er's name.
With a helpless sigh, Xiao Xun'er glanced at Xiao Mei, then cast a dark, warning gaze at Gu Changqing before stepping forward amid the gazes of the crowd, walking at a slow pace toward the platform.