Jia Ma Empire, Wutan City.
Xiao Family.
“Eighth Stage Dou Zhi Qi, High Level!”
In front of a simple, black testing stone tablet, a youth stood with his head held high, his face full of pride.
This was the Xiao Family’s most dazzling Genius in recent years, Xiao Yan.
At only four years old, he had already sensed Dou Qi and successfully Cultivated the first stage of Dou Zhi Qi.
Now, at the age of nine, he had Cultivated to the Eighth Stage Dou Zhi Qi.
With such talent, reaching the Ninth Stage Dou Zhi Qi at ten and becoming a Dou Zhe at eleven was almost a certainty.
“Cousin Xiao Yan is truly amazing!
To reach the Eighth Stage Dou Zhi Qi at nine, he truly deserves to be called the most outstanding Genius in our Xiao Family’s history.”
Xiao Mei, watching from below, gazed at the dazzling Xiao Yan on the high platform with flirtatious eyes.
It was not uncommon for others to like Xiao Yan just as Xiao Mei did; fawning over Xiao Yan was a common occurrence in the Xiao Family.
The youth was high-spirited, naturally capturing the hearts of the young girls.
Xiao Yan’s talent was top-tier not just in Wutan City, but even across the entire Jia Ma Empire.
The corners of Xiao Yan’s mouth curled up, his heart filled with immense satisfaction.
This feeling of being the center of attention truly intoxicated him.
In a corner, a beautiful but cold-looking young girl also revealed a sweet smile at this moment.
Below the stage, the Xiao Family’s Clan Chief, Xiao Zhan, laughed heartily:
“My son Xiao Yan has the potential of a Dou Huang!”
Soon after, the news that Xiao Yan of the Xiao Family had reached the Eighth Stage Dou Zhi Qi at the age of nine spread throughout Wutan City.
This news once again set Wutan City abuzz.
The reactions of the Jia Lie Family and the Ao Ba Family—two of the three major families in Wutan City—as well as the Mite’er Auction House, were all different…
In the backyard of the Mite’er Auction House, the sun was leaning toward the west, casting long shadows across the courtyard.
The courtyard wasn’t large, but it was organized with great discipline.
A few rare medicinal herbs were planted in the corner, and a bitter, herbal fragrance floated in the air.
Beside a stone table, a woman leaned lazily against a soft chair.
Clad in a red dress as vibrant as fire, it tightly hugged her curvaceous figure.
Her waist was slender, yet those curves flared out suddenly at her hips, outlining a soul-stirring silhouette.
The slit of her dress was very high, and her crossed legs looked incredibly fair under the sunlight.
She held a celadon teacup in her hand, her long nails painted with rouge, idly swirling the tea inside.
This was the chief auctioneer of the Mite’er Auction House, Ya Fei.
“Younger Brother Lu Heng, we’ve been in Wutan City for over a year now, haven’t we?”
Ya Fei took a sip of tea, her red lips glistening with moisture, appearing even more enchanting.
She turned her head to look at the youth who was organizing medicinal ingredients at the other end of the courtyard.
The youth wore simple green cloth clothes.
He was taller than his peers and had handsome features.
He nimbly sorted out several dried Blue Spiritual Plants.
Hearing Ya Fei’s words, Lu Heng straightened up, patted the dirt off his hands, and said with a smile:
“By Sister Ya Fei’s side, I’m accustomed to being anywhere; naturally, it’s comfortable.”
“Comfortable?”
Ya Fei let out a light chuckle.
The sound was like a feather brushing against an eardrum, light and tingling.
She set down her teacup, resting her cheek on her jade-like hand as her gaze drifted:
“The world outside is turning upside down.
You’ve heard about the commotion at the Xiao Family today, haven’t you?”
Lu Heng walked over to the stone table and sat down, pouring himself a cup of water:
“The third young master of the Xiao Family, nine years old, Eighth Stage Dou Zhi Qi.
The whole street is calling him a Genius.”
Ya Fei’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly as she observed Lu Heng.
Ever since three years ago, Lu Heng had always been by Ya Fei’s side.
Even now that Ya Fei had been reassigned to Wutan City, she still kept Lu Heng with her.
Others merely thought Ya Fei had picked up a brat on a whim.
Some old fogies in the Family even gossiped behind her back, saying Ya Fei couldn’t bear the loneliness and was raising a ‘pretty boy’ in the making.
But only Ya Fei knew how much power was hidden within this seemingly mild-mannered youth.
“Nine years old, eighth stage…”
Ya Fei gave a soft hum, her fingertips lightly tapping on the stone table.
“That ignorant lot simply doesn’t know our Lu Heng’s true capabilities.
Last year, when you were only eight, you had already reached the threshold of the Ninth Stage Dou Zhi Qi.
After a year has passed, I suspect that final barrier is about to be broken, isn’t it?”
Lu Heng’s movements paused slightly, and then he nodded:
“I can’t hide it from Sister Ya Fei.
There are already signs of a vortex condensing; it should be within these next two days.”
Nine years old, attempting to become a Dou Zhe.
If this news were to get out, the entire Jia Ma Empire would likely be shaken.
That halo of Genius the Xiao Family was so proud of would likely pale in comparison to Lu Heng.
The smile on Ya Fei’s face deepened.
She suddenly sat up straight, her lazy expression tightening slightly.
“Give me your hand.”
Lu Heng was startled and instinctively reached out his right hand.
A warm, soft, and smooth palm grasped Lu Heng’s hand.
Ya Fei’s hand was somewhat cool, but the sensation was exquisite.
She didn’t say much.
Her other hand brushed over her ruby storage ring, and a lustrous mutton-fat jade bottle appeared in her palm, which she then gently pressed into Lu Heng’s hand.
The bottle was warm, still carrying Sister Ya Fei’s body heat.
“This is…”
Lu Heng looked down and pulled out the stopper.
He could faintly see a round Medicinal Pill lying inside, emitting a dense medicinal fragrance.
“Qi Gathering Powder.”
Ya Fei’s voice was very soft, yet it felt like a heavy hammer striking Lu Heng’s heart.
Lu Heng looked up abruptly, his fingers instinctively tightening around the jade bottle: “Sister Ya Fei, this is too precious.”
Qi Gathering Powder, a fourth-grade pill!
It could allow someone at the Ninth Stage Dou Zhi Qi to 100% successfully condense a Dou Qi Vortex and advance to a Dou Zhe.
In a place like Wutan City, this was a treasure that money couldn’t buy.
Even in the Mite’er Auction House, obtaining one was by no means easy.
Let alone for the current Sister Ya Fei.
“Take it.”
Ya Fei did not withdraw her hand; instead, she turned it over to hold the back of Lu Heng’s hand.
Her grip wasn’t strong, but it brooked no refusal.
She looked at Lu Heng.
Those eyes, which usually held three parts flirtatiousness and seven parts shrewdness, now contained something more.
“You know my situation within the Family.”
Ya Fei withdrew her hand and tidied a stray hair by her ear, her tone feigning nonchalance.
“My talent is mediocre, and I’m a woman.
If I don’t produce results, those old fogies will eventually send me off for an arranged marriage to gain benefits for the Family.
This Wutan City is merely a refuge for me.”
Ya Fei gave a self-deprecating smile and stood up.
Her red dress swayed, bringing with it a gust of fragrant wind.
“This Qi Gathering Powder was obtained using my own savings and some connections.
Lu Heng, I don’t ask for any repayment now, it’s just…”
She paused and turned her back to Lu Heng, her voice somewhat ethereal.
“I just feel that instead of handing my fate over to those old fogies who treat me like cargo, I’d rather take a big gamble.
My eye for people has always been good.”
As she finished speaking, Ya Fei recalled the heavy snow in the Imperial Capital three years ago.
She had lifted the carriage curtain and, among a group of shivering beggars, spotted at a glance that child who, though his face was purple from the cold, still fiercely protected half a stale bun in his arms.
That ruthlessness and that wild desire to survive had made Ya Fei stop the carriage as if possessed.
Ya Fei was certain then that if she didn’t take him with her, she would definitely regret it.
Perhaps Ya Fei’s eye truly was that excellent, as she had taken Lu Heng away with a single look.
Over these three years, because of Lu Heng, Ya Fei had also faced much criticism.
But now, at only nine years old, Lu Heng had reached the Ninth Stage Dou Zhi Qi, proving her judgment back then was not wrong!
As for why Ya Fei hadn’t recommended Lu Heng to the Family, on one hand, she had some selfish motives; on the other hand, Lu Heng himself had rejected her proposal.