Ten years had passed since Xiao Feng was born into the Xiao Clan, and three years since the memories of his previous life had quietly returned to him. Since that day, he had trained far more seriously than any child his age. While others slept or played, Xiao Feng spent long nights practicing breathing techniques and refining his control over Dou Qi.
Because of this constant effort, he had finally stepped into the realm of a Dou Practitioner not long ago. Still, he kept his progress quiet, choosing not to show it off within the clan. To everyone else, he was simply the calm and dependable cousin who often trained with the younger generation.
In the original story , Although Xiao Yan was widely praised for reaching the Dou Practitioner realm at the young age of eleven and a half, Xiao Feng had quietly stepped into that same realm more than a year earlier, at just ten years old. While Xiao Yan's talent shocked the Xiao Clan, Xiao Feng's achievement remained far less known because he never cared to boast about it. To him, cultivation was not about fame within the clan, but about steadily growing stronger step by step.
One morning, while Xiao Feng was meditating in the courtyard, two familiar figures ran toward him. The first was Xiao Yan, wearing his usual energetic grin.
"Brother Feng! What are you doing sitting here?" Xiao Yan asked as he stopped in front of him.
Beside him stood Gu Xun'er, who smiled gently. "Today is the clan's aptitude test. Everyone our age has to go."
Xiao Feng slowly opened his eyes and looked at the two of them. "So that's today?" he said calmly.
Xiao Yan grabbed his arm immediately. "Yes! The testing stone is already set up in the training hall. Come on, let's go see everyone's results."
Xun'er giggled softly. "Brother Feng, if we don't go now, the elders might think you're avoiding the test."
Xiao Feng sighed with a faint smile as he stood up. "Alright, alright. I'm coming."
The three of them walked together toward the Xiao Clan training hall, talking along the way. Several disciples were already gathered there, waiting for their turn to test their Dou Qi.
At the front of the hall stood the testing stone, with a clan elder beside it holding a scroll of names. One by one, young disciples stepped forward as their names were called.
"Xiao Lin!" the elder called.
A young boy nervously placed his hand on the stone. A faint light appeared before the words formed slowly.
"Dou Qi… 7th Stage."
A few people nodded while the elder marked the result on the scroll.
The elder continued calling names.
"Xiao Mai!"
A young girl hurried forward, clearly nervous. The stone glowed softly.
"Dou Qi… 6th Stage."
"Passable," the elder said calmly as he recorded the result.
Standing in the crowd, Xiao Yan watched everything with bright curiosity. "Looks like most people are around the 6th or 7th stage," he whispered.
Beside him, Gu Xun'er nodded slightly while observing the testing stone.
Just then, the elder looked down at the scroll again and called out clearly.
"Xiao Feng!"
Xiao Feng blinked slightly when he heard his name.
Before he could even react, Xiao Yan immediately pushed him forward with excitement. "Brother Feng! It's your turn!"
Xun'er smiled gently and gave him a small push as well. "Go on, Brother Feng. Everyone is watching."
Xiao Feng sighed helplessly as the two practically shoved him out of the crowd.
"Alright, alright," he said calmly as he walked toward the testing stone.
Under the watchful eyes of the disciples and elders, Xiao Feng stepped forward and slowly placed his hand on the cold surface of the stone. The hall gradually grew quiet as he began circulating his Dou Qi.
A soft glow appeared on the stone.
Moments later, clear words slowly formed:
"Dou Practitioner… One-Star."
A small wave of whispers spread through the hall. Reaching One-Star Dou Practitioner at just ten years old was already considered quite impressive even in the Central Planes.
Xiao Yan stared at the stone with wide eyes before laughing excitedly. "Brother Feng! You actually broke through already!"
Xun'er's calm eyes brightened slightly as she looked at him. "Congratulations, Brother Feng."
Xiao Feng simply removed his hand from the stone, his expression as calm as ever. For him, this was only the beginning of a much longer path.
One of the elders slowly stood up, disbelief clear in his eyes. "Ten years old… and already a Dou Practitioner," he muttered. "This… this level of talent is extraordinary."
Another elder slowly shook his head in amazement. "Ten years old and already a Dou Practitioner… In all the decades of the Xiao Clan's history, no one has ever reached this level so early."
He looked at Xiao Feng with clear admiration before continuing, "This child's talent is unprecedented within our clan. Without question, he can truly be called a prodigy."
Standing among them, Xiao Zhan looked at Xiao Feng with deep pride. After all, Xiao Feng was the son of his elder brother — his own nephew.
"Feng'er," Xiao Zhan called.
Xiao Feng immediately bowed respectfully. "Uncle."
Xiao Zhan studied him for a moment before speaking with a rare smile. "Reaching Dou Practitioner at ten years old… your talent has surpassed many of the clan's younger generation. Your father would certainly be proud."
One of the elders then asked curiously, "Xiao Feng, have you already chosen a cultivation technique?"
Xiao Feng calmly shook his head. "Not yet, Elder. I planned to visit the pavilion after the test."
Hearing this, Xiao Zhan nodded approvingly. "Good. Since you have already stepped into the Dou Practitioner realm, you are now qualified to enter the Technique Pavilion."
He paused briefly before adding in a serious tone, "Choose wisely. A cultivation technique determines the speed and limits of your growth."
Behind him, Xiao Yan stared at Xiao Feng with bright admiration. "Brother Feng… you're amazing. You're already a Dou Practitioner!"
Beside him, Gu Xun'er smiled gently, her calm eyes showing clear respect. "Congratulations, Brother Feng."
Around them, whispers quickly spread among the disciples.
"A ten-year-old Dou Practitioner…"
"The Clan Leader's nephew truly is a genius…" one of the disciples whispered in awe as they looked toward Xiao Feng. "No one in the Xiao Clan has ever reached the Dou Practitioner realm at just ten years old."
Standing calmly in the center of the hall, Xiao Feng showed no pride on his face. But from that moment onward, the Xiao Clan had begun to recognize him as one of its most promising prodigies.
Standing at the entrance, the guardian elder first asked Xiao Feng to test his elemental affinity. Xiao Feng placed his hand on the small testing crystal and slowly circulated his Dou Qi. At first, a deep red glow appeared inside the crystal.
"Fire attribute," the elder said with a nod.
But before he could finish speaking, another faint light began to appear within the crystal. A soft green glow slowly intertwined with the red flame-like light.
The elder's expression immediately changed.
"Fire… and Wood?"
The other elders nearby stepped closer, clearly surprised. One of them carefully examined the crystal again before speaking with disbelief.
"A dual attribute of Fire and Wood… this is extremely rare."
Another elder nodded slowly. "Such a combination is naturally suited for the path of alchemy."
Even Xiao Zhan showed visible surprise. He looked at Xiao Feng thoughtfully before saying, "Fire for refining flames, and Wood for stabilizing medicinal energy… Feng'er, you have the potential to become an alchemist."
Hearing this, several disciples began whispering excitedly. Alchemists were incredibly respected figures, far rarer than ordinary cultivators.