After being interrupted by Xiao Yan's words, the originally silent hall returned to calm, but everyone looked at Xiao Yan with a different kind of flavor in their eyes.
"Ahaha, drink, drink!"
Seeing that the silent atmosphere was broken, Xiao Zhan and several elders looked at each other and saw the worry in each other's eyes.
However, fortunately, they were all old foxes and quickly chose to temporarily cover up the impact of this matter.
But even so, they were somewhat absent-minded when drinking.
Xun'er's family background was far beyond what the Xiao family could afford to provoke. Even if Xiao Yan possessed such heaven-defying aptitude, he might not be looked upon favorably by those people.
On the contrary, Xiao Yan, who was at the center of this storm, still had a calm gaze and didn't worry too much. Instead, he gently comforted the frightened little girl.
No matter what Xun'er's state of mind was, she was ultimately just a twelve-year-old little girl. For him to say these things to her at this age was indeed easy to scare this girl.
"Xiao Yan."
Below Xun'er, it was none other than the siblings Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning. After them were Xiao Mei and a group of children with fairly good talent.
At this moment, Xiao Ning looked at Xun'er, who was being carefully comforted by Xiao Yan yet whose face was flushed red, and felt a pain in his heart as if it were being torn apart.
But he powerlessly discovered that he had no other way besides feeling distressed.
"Put away those unrealistic thoughts of yours."
Just when Xiao Ning's face was gloomy, Xiao Yu's voice came quietly from the side.
"Sis!"
Xiao Ning couldn't help but be slightly stunned. He looked up and saw Xiao Yu's slightly indifferent eyes.
"Even without Xiao Yan, do you think you are worthy of Xun'er? If you cut off this unrealistic thought now, you can still be considered to have stopped your losses in time."
Xiao Yu's voice was very low, trying to avoid Xiao Yan and Xun'er who were beside her, but her beautiful eyes looked at her brother with some pity.
It really wasn't a good thing to meet someone too stunning at a young age.
"I..."
Xiao Ning couldn't help but open his mouth, only to find that what his sister said was indeed a fact.
Even without Xiao Yan, could he, a toad, really eat swan meat?
The same mentality was actually playing out in the hearts of every young man present. It wasn't until the banquet was nearing its end that Xiao Ning, who had been numbing himself with drinks, seemed a little unwilling.
He glanced at Xiao Yan and Xun'er, who had returned to their normal state. A bit of youthful immaturity made him want to vent the depression in his heart.
Thus, Xiao Ning looked at Xiao Yu, who was calm and composed beside him, and couldn't help but raise his voice a bit, feigning calmness as he said, "Sis, when do you plan to break through to Dou Zhe?"
Hearing this voice, everyone in the room couldn't help but pause slightly and look at each other. Many people's gazes quickly shifted to Xiao Yu.
After all, Xiao Yu was only sixteen or seventeen this year. If she could break through to Dou Zhe at this age, then her talent would definitely be ranked among the top in Wutan City.
Even Xiao Ding and Xiao Li back then became Dou Zhe at about the same age.
However, Xiao Ning regretted it a little after saying this. He could clearly feel that some of the adults were looking in his direction with rather playful gazes, making him feel as if he had been seen through.
What made him somewhat angry and ashamed was that Xiao Yan beside him was also looking at him with the same kind of gaze. That feeling clearly didn't treat him as an opponent on the same level, but rather as a naive and ignorant child.
What made him most uncomfortable was that Xun'er's and Xiao Yan's gazes were actually somewhat similar!
Frowning slightly, Xiao Yu originally didn't want to say too much. After all, there was a risk in breaking through from Dou Qi to Dou Zhe. Once she failed, she would fall back to the eighth Duan of Dou Qi, and then she would lose a lot of face.
However, seeing Xiao Yan also looking at her with a smile, a desire to compete suddenly rose in Xiao Yu's heart. She couldn't help but look at Xiao Yan provocatively and smile, "If I'm lucky, I should be able to break through next month." As her voice fell, many people in the hall cast approving glances.
Although Xiao Ning's behavior just now had a bit of a show-off meaning, if she could break through to Dou Zhe at this age, then Xiao Yu would be considered an important force in the family in the future.
"Hahaha, Third Elder, you are truly blessed. The talents of your granddaughter and grandson are both very good. They will be pillars of our Xiao family in the future."
As if sensing that the atmosphere was a bit strange, Xiao Zhan pondered for a moment and couldn't help but laugh.
"Not at all, not at all."
"These two little ones are far worse than the patriarch's three boys."
The Third Elder smiled humbly, but there was still some happiness in his eyes.
Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning's talents were undoubtedly far inferior to Xiao Yan and Xun'er's, but if they were willing to work hard, there was still a glimmer of hope of catching up to Xiao Ding and Xiao Li.
At the very least, ranking in the top ten among the younger generation was not a problem.
Under the teasing of several Xiao family higher-ups, the slightly awkward atmosphere finally dissipated a little. But it was at this moment that Xiao Ning, who had originally fallen silent, finally looked somewhat unwillingly at Xiao Yan, who was almost putting his hand on Xun'er's shoulder.
"Cousin Xiao Yan, I wonder how long it will take you to break through to Dou Zhe."
As his voice fell, the hall, which had recovered some of its liveliness, fell silent again. This time, everyone turned their gazes to Xiao Yan.
"Yeah, what level has this damn dog cultivated to?"
"Look at his smug look!"
Many young people were looking at Xiao Yan with considerable displeasure at this moment, their hearts filled with sour complaints.
Even Xiao Yu, who was beside him, was looking at Xiao Yan intently at this moment.
She also really wanted to know what stage Xiao Yan had cultivated to after these six months. In her heart, she had always wanted to become a Dou Zhe one step ahead of Xiao Yan.
Looking at the once again silent hall, Xiao Zhan's brow finally furrowed with a bit of displeasure. Seeing this, the Third Elder beside him felt his heart tremble slightly, only to hear Xiao Li suddenly speak up from the side.
"Xiao Ning, it's been many years since we last saw each other. When you have time, big brother will take you to exercise your body."
Hearing Xiao Li's words, Xiao Ning's face immediately changed drastically, and even Xiao Yu showed a trace of fear.
Xiao Li's fierce reputation wasn't just outside; within the Xiao family, he was equally formidable. Among the younger generation of the Xiao family, apart from Xun'er and Xiao Yan, almost everyone had been beaten by him.
This was an out-and-out cruel official, daring to beat anyone. If he had the cultivation of a Da Dou Shi at this moment, he would probably even dare to discipline the elders.
"Brother Li, I was just curious, I really didn't mean it."
The moment Xiao Li stared at him, Xiao Ning felt as if he had been targeted by a wild wolf, his whole body turning somewhat cold.
Just as he was about to speak again, Xiao Yan's voice finally sounded.
"Second Brother, don't scare Xiao Ning anymore, he's still a child."
As he spoke, Xiao Yan's palm quietly picked up a teacup. A faint red airflow suddenly swirled around his palm, and the slight high temperature was even detected by Xiao Yu, who was not far away.
A moment later, the tea water was already boiling.
"Advance to Dou Zhe? I already have."
As his voice fell, the already somewhat quiet hall completely fell into a deathly silence.
(End of this chapter)