Battle Through the Heavens

Introduction

Volume 1 Chapter 1 The Fallen Genius

Fighting Power, Level Three!
Looking at the five glaring words on the testing magic stone tablet, the boy's expression was blank, with a hint of self-mockery at the corner of his lips. His tightly clenched fist dug his slightly sharp nails deep into his palm, bringing waves of piercing pain...
Xiao Yan, Fighting Power, Level Three! Rank: Low! Beside the testing magic stone tablet, a middle-aged man glanced at the information displayed on the tablet and announced it in a flat tone...
As soon as the middle-aged man's words left his mouth, a wave of mocking commotion erupted in the crowded square.
Level Three? Heh, just as I expected, this 'genius' has been treading water for another year!
Sigh, this waste has really brought shame to the family.
If it weren't for the patriarch being his father, this kind of waste would have been kicked out of the family long ago, left to fend for himself, with no chance to stay in the family and live off them.
Alas, how has that once-renowned genius boy from Wutan City fallen to this state?
Who knows, maybe he did something shameful and angered the gods...
The disdainful laughter and sighs of pity from the crowd pierced the boy's ears like sharp thorns, making his breath quicken slightly.
The boy slowly raised his head, revealing a somewhat delicate youthful face, his dark eyes blankly scanning the mocking peers around him, and the self-mockery at the corner of his mouth seemed to turn even more bitter.
Are these people really that cruel? Perhaps it's because three years ago they once showed the most humble smiles in front of me, so now they want to take it back... With a bitter smile, Xiao Yan turned away in desolation, quietly returning to the last row of the line, his lonely figure feeling out of place in the surrounding world.
Next, Xiao Mei!
Hearing the tester's call, a girl quickly ran out from the crowd. As soon as she appeared, the nearby discussions quieted down significantly, and pairs of slightly heated gazes locked onto her cheeks...
The girl was only about fourteen years old. While she wasn't a stunning beauty, her youthful face contained a hint of charm, a blend of innocence and allure that made her the center of attention...
The girl stepped forward quickly, her small hand skillfully touching the black magic stone tablet, then slowly closed her eyes...
After the girl closed her eyes for a moment, the black magic stone tablet lit up again...
Fighting Energy: Level Seven!
Xiao Mei, Fighting Energy: Level Seven! Rank: High!
Yay! Hearing the tester announce her score, the girl's cheeks lifted into a proud smile...
Tsk tsk, Level Seven Fighting Energy, that's impressive. At this rate, she might only need three years to become a true fighter...
Truly a seed-level talent in the family...
Listening to the waves of envy from the crowd, the girl's smile grew even wider; vanity is a temptation that many girls cannot resist...
Chatting and laughing with a few of her sisters, Xiao Mei's gaze suddenly passed through the crowd and landed on that solitary figure outside the throng...
Frowning in thought for a moment, Xiao Mei dismissed the idea of approaching. The two of them were no longer on the same level; given Xiao Yan's performance in recent years, he would at most be a lower-tier member of the family after reaching adulthood, while her excellent talent would make her a key figure cultivated by the family, with a future that could be said to be limitless.
Sigh... With an inexplicable sigh, Xiao Mei's mind suddenly recalled the spirited boy from three years ago, who practiced Qi at four, reached Level Nine Fighting Energy at ten, broke through to Level Ten Fighting Energy at eleven, and successfully condensed his Fighting Energy vortex, becoming the youngest fighter in the family in a century!
That boy was confident and had immeasurable potential, making countless girls' hearts flutter, including Xiao Mei's back then.
However, the path of a genius always seems to be fraught with twists and turns. Three years ago, this once-renowned genius boy suddenly faced the most brutal blow of his life. Not only did the Fighting Energy vortex he had worked hard to condense for over a decade vanish overnight, but the Fighting Energy within him also became increasingly scarce with the passage of time.
The direct result of the disappearance of his Fighting Energy was a continuous decline in his strength.
From the pedestal of genius, he fell overnight to a level even below that of an ordinary person. This blow left the boy lost and despondent, and the title of genius was gradually replaced by disdain and mockery.
The higher you stand, the harder you fall; perhaps this time, he would never have the chance to rise again.
Next, Xiao Xun'er!
Amidst the noisy crowd, the tester's voice rang out again.
As this somewhat elegant name was called, the crowd suddenly quieted down, all eyes shifting in unison.
In the focal point of everyone's gaze stood a girl in a purple dress, elegantly poised, her calm youthful face unchanged despite the attention.
The girl's cool and serene aura was like a blooming lotus; at such a young age, she already possessed an otherworldly quality. It was hard to imagine how stunning she would be when she grew up...
This girl in the purple dress, in terms of beauty and grace, undoubtedly surpassed Xiao Mei, which explained the crowd's reaction.
With a graceful step, the girl named Xiao Xun'er approached the magic stone tablet. Her small hand reached out, the black-gold threaded purple sleeve sliding down to reveal a delicate, snow-white wrist, then lightly touched the stone tablet...
After a brief moment of stillness, the stone tablet once again burst forth with dazzling light.
Fighting Energy: Level Nine! Rank: High!
Looking at the characters on the stone tablet, the crowd fell into silence.
...She actually reached Level Nine, that's terrifying! Among the younger generation in the family, Miss Xun'er is undoubtedly the best! After the silence, the surrounding boys couldn't help but swallow hard, their eyes filled with awe...
Fighting Energy is a necessary path for every fighter. The initial levels of Fighting Energy are divided into ten stages. When the internal Fighting Energy reaches Level Ten, one can condense the Fighting Energy vortex and become a respected fighter!
In the crowd, Xiao Mei frowned slightly, staring at the girl in the purple dress in front of the stone tablet, a hint of jealousy flashing across her cheeks...
Looking at the information on the stone tablet, the middle-aged tester's usually indifferent face even revealed a rare smile as he respectfully said to the girl, Miss Xun'er, in half a year, you should be able to condense your Fighting Energy vortex. If you succeed, you will be the second person in the Xiao family to become a true fighter at the age of fourteen!
Yes, the second person, the first being Xiao Yan, who had lost his genius status.
Thank you. The girl nodded slightly, her calm face showing no joy at the compliment. She quietly turned around and slowly walked to the despondent boy at the back of the crowd under everyone's intense gaze...
Brother Xiao Yan. As she passed by the boy, the girl paused, respectfully bending slightly towards Xiao Yan, her beautiful face revealing a graceful smile that made the surrounding girls envious.
Do I still have the right to have you call me that? Looking at the girl who had grown into the most dazzling pearl of the family, Xiao Yan said bitterly. She was one of the very few who still respected him after his fall.
Brother Xiao Yan, you once told Xun'er that to let go is to be able to take hold, to be free is to be at ease! Xiao Xun'er smiled gently, her slightly childish voice warm and comforting.
Heh, free? I can only talk about it. Do I look free now? Besides... this world never belonged to me. Xiao Yan self-mockingly smiled, his interest waning.
Facing Xiao Yan's despondency, Xiao Xun'er's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she said earnestly, Brother Xiao Yan, although I don't know what exactly happened to you, I believe you will stand up again and reclaim your glory and dignity... At this point, she paused for a moment, her fair face showing a hint of blush for the first time: The Xiao Yan of back then was indeed very charming...
Heh... Faced with the girl's unreserved words, the boy awkwardly chuckled but said nothing more. A young man should be romantic, but he truly lacked the qualifications and mood for it now. He turned away in desolation and slowly walked out of the square...
Standing in place, watching the boy's lonely figure that seemed to be isolated from the world, Xiao Xun'er hesitated for a moment, then, amidst the jealous howls from behind, quickly chased after him, walking side by side with the boy...