Battle Through the Heavens: Achievement System at the Start

"Cousin Xiao Yu, what happened between you two? Is there some kind of secret you're hiding?"

Xiao Yao watched the two arguing, a look of curiosity and inquiry on his face.

Xun'er smiled and covered her mouth, whispering, "Brother Xiao Yao, do you want me to tell you secretly?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu's expression changed slightly. She turned to look at Xun'er and Xiao Yao, a hint of panic and unease flashing in her eyes.

"Xiao Yao, why are you asking this? There's nothing between Xiao Yan and me," she said hurriedly, her voice tinged with tension and anxiety.

Seeing the nervous look on Xiao Yu's face, Xiao Yao became even more curious. He whispered to Xun'er, "Xun'er, tell me. Seeing how nervous Xiao Yu is, I'm even more curious about the story between the two of them."

Just as Xun'er was about to speak, Xiao Yan suddenly interrupted, "Actually, it's nothing. It's just that I accidentally stumbled into the hot spring where she was bathing in the back mountain back then, and I just happened to touch her thigh. As a result, I was chased and beaten by this crazy woman ever since."

"You little bastard!" Gritting her teeth, Xiao Yu, unable to bear it any longer, finally drew her long sword with a "clang" and pointed it at Xiao Yan: "Believe it or not, I'll cut your tongue out!"

Gazing at the gleaming steel sword before him, Xiao Yan didn't blink and said softly, "Want to try?"

As he spoke, Xiao Yan slightly curled his right palm, and a powerful suction force gradually formed in his palm.

Watching the two locked in a fierce confrontation, Xun'er shook her head helplessly, glanced into the distance, and smiled as she reminded them, "Uncle Xiao and the others are coming."

Hearing Xun'er's reminder, Xiao Yu frowned slightly and turned her head. Sure enough, she saw Xiao Zhan, whose expression had changed, hurrying over.

"Hmph, consider yourself lucky."

With a cold snort, Xiao Yu sheathed her long sword, turned and walked away with her sexy, shapely legs.

Xiao Yao watched Xiao Yu's departing figure, a playful glint in his eyes. He turned to Xiao Yan, a mischievous smile playing on his lips, and said, "Little Yan, how did it feel when you touched her legs? Weren't they smooth and slippery?"

"hiss!"

Xiao Yao suddenly felt his soft flesh on his left waist being pinched, and he gasped in pain. He turned his head and looked at Xun'er, who had a calm expression on her face, and felt a little panicked.

Xiao Yao laughed awkwardly and explained to Xun'er, "Haha, I was just joking. You can't take it seriously, Xun'er."

Xun'er pursed her rosy lips slightly and said softly, "Brother Xiao Yao, you wouldn't want to do that too, would you? Xun'er doesn't like such frivolous people."

Xiao Yao felt the soft flesh around his waist being pinched even harder. Enduring the pain in his waist, he quickly smiled and said to Xun'er, "Xun'er, it's all Xiao Yao's fault. Brother Xiao Yao promises you that he will never do such a frivolous thing."

"I'll forgive you this time, but Xun'er isn't that kind of generous person."

Hearing Xiao Yao's sincere words, Xun'er finally let go of his little hand, turned her head away, and let out a cold snort.

The three of them then turned their gaze to Xiao Zhan, who was walking over.

"Father, why have you come here?" Xiao Yao and Xiao Yan said at the same time.

"I just saw Xiao Yu in front of you... Nothing happened between you, right?"

Xiao Zhan breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Xiao Yan and Xiao Yao safe and sound.

"No...it's nothing, just a little squabble between Xiao Yu and Xiao Yan, it's nothing serious, don't worry, Father," Xiao Yao replied with a smile.

"It's good that you're alright."

Xiao Zhan looked up at the sky, then patted Xiao Yan and Xiao Yao on the shoulders, and said gently with a smile, "Alright, the coming-of-age ceremony is about to begin. I need to go prepare some things first. Don't embarrass your father later."

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yao patted their chests and nodded with smiles.

As time went on, the coming-of-age ceremony officially began with an announcement from the Grand Elder.

The coming-of-age ceremony, with its tedious procedures, can be quite a headache.

Sitting in the audience, Xiao Yao looked at the boy on the stage who was being manipulated like a puppet, and couldn't help but rub his forehead. He smiled wryly at Xun'er beside him and said, "This coming-of-age ceremony is just asking for trouble."

Seeing Xiao Yao's helpless expression, Xun'er's bright eyes curved slightly as she smiled and said, "There's nothing we can do. This is a rule that has been passed down through generations, and even Uncle Xiao and the others can't change it."

Xiao Yao sighed and nodded helplessly. He slowly glanced at the excited crowd around him, then turned his gaze to the VIP seats on the high platform. He looked at Xiao Zhan and several elders sitting in the center of the VIP seats, with the Mittel family and two other major families beside them, as well as some smaller families with some reputation in Wutan City.

Xiao Yao watched their conversation and suddenly felt bored.

Xiao Yao leaned back on the cool wooden chair, gently inhaling the fresh scent of the girl beside him, and leisurely closed his eyes to wait for the ceremony to begin.

When the coming-of-age ceremony on the stage was more than halfway through, a shout came from the stage. Xiao Yao slightly opened his narrowed eyes and looked at the complex expressions of the crowd around him.

"Next up, Xiao Yan!"

Xiao Yao looked at Xiao Yan standing straight on the stage like a piece of wood, and felt helpless at the thought of having to go through such boring and tedious things.

After a tedious half-hour ceremony, the Second Elder walked to the black stone tablet and shouted loudly, "Ceremony retest! Xiao Yan, begin the test!"

Hearing the Second Elder's loud shout, the audience, who had been somewhat bored, immediately perked up and turned their gazes directly to the platform.

In the VIP section, the gazes of those from various factions were also fixed on the black-clad youth on the stage. Their purpose in coming here was twofold: first, to confirm whether this genius youth who had once amazed Wutan City had regained his former talent; and second, to see if another genius youth had truly reached the level of a Battle Master.

A major reason they participated in the Xiao family's coming-of-age ceremony was to verify this idea.

Xiao Yan calmly walked to the black stone tablet, stopped, and slowly placed his hand on it...

Suddenly, the black stone tablet on the tall wooden platform emitted a dazzling light, revealing huge golden characters.

"Fighter: Two Stars!"

All eyes, after a slight pause, froze in disbelief on the black stone tablet that shone with golden light.

In the VIP section, the crisp sound of teacups falling to the ground could be heard repeatedly. The representatives from various forces in Wutan City were all dumbfounded, their faces filled with disbelief.

"This...this rumor is actually true! Xiao Yan has really recovered! This terrifying cultivation speed is even more terrifying than his back then!"

The crowd on the stage gasped and murmured, "Hiss! If Xiao Yan's cultivation level is real, wouldn't that greatly prove that another genius, Xiao Yao, has reached the Dou Shi level?"

"The Xiao family has really struck it rich this time..." Everyone thought to themselves. After all, with this kind of cultivation speed, in a few decades, the Xiao family will have two super strong people at the level of Dou Huang or Dou Zong, and they will be able to have a place in the Jia Ma Empire.

The people in the VIP seats exchanged glances, and a somewhat horrified thought flashed through their minds simultaneously.

"The ritual retest is complete. According to past rules, Xiao Yan will accept one challenge. The challenger must be below the second star of Dou Zhe. Who wants to come?"

The Second Elder's gaze swept over the younger generation of the Xiao family, and he spoke softly.

If the coming-of-age ceremony is a test of the strength of one's fighting spirit, then this challenge is a test of the clan members' cultivation and mastery of fighting techniques. After all, once a life-or-death battle begins, fighting techniques are also an important factor in determining victory or defeat, and the importance that each clan attaches to this is no less than that of cultivating fighting spirit.