Like everyone else, Hun Xiu had assumed that being called forward meant he was about to be officially declared the first-place winner of the clan competition.
After all—
Judging by how the other three—Hun Feng, Hun Yu, and Hun Huan'er—had no intention of fighting him, his victory seemed a sure thing.
But then...
Upon hearing Elder Hun Dun's words, Hun Xiu was momentarily stunned.
He thought to himself:
"So this is the next trap, huh? They're not done toying with me."
Regaining his composure, he didn't immediately respond.
Instead, he lifted his gaze and looked toward the high platform—at his "convenient" father, Hun Tiandi.
"Wasn't it agreed that the elders wouldn't interfere in the battles of the younger generation?Then what is this now?"
First, they changed the competition rules midway.Now, they were asking him to publicly reveal his cultivation level?
Was this not blatant interference?
Hun Xiu, of course, already understood why Hun Feng and the others hadn't dared make a move against him.
It was largely due to fear.
After all, his earlier display of power—Coupled with the rumors spreading through the clan—had painted him as something far beyond his real strength.
They said he, a mere Dou King, had reached Dou Sect, even Dou Venerate.
Some even claimed he was a young Dou Saint already.
Such wild tales, combined with the aura he had revealed earlier, left the others in awe—if not terror.
"Given all that, how could they possibly have the guts to challenge me?Who would volunteer to get crushed?"
But now…
If they found out that his true cultivation was only that of a mere Two-Star Dou King, would they still back off?
That was a question even Hun Xiu couldn't answer.
He knew this was all part of Hun Tiandi's plan.
If Hun Feng and the others had fought from the start, none of this drama would have been necessary.
But their cowardice had forced Hun Tiandi to take matters into his own hands.
And now, if he, Hun Xiu, revealed his real strength—And they still didn't dare move—Then those three would be an even greater disappointment than expected.
From above, Hun Tiandi felt his son's gaze and responded with a subtle smirk.
Hun Xiu returned the smile knowingly and lowered his eyes.
He understood.
Among the truly powerful—like those at the Dou Venerate level—his strength wasn't a secret.
But to those below that realm, his cultivation was still an unsolved mystery.
So, since things had come to this…
Hun Xiu paused briefly, smiled, and announced calmly:
"Hun Xiu. Two-Star... Dou Venerate."
BOOM.
As those words fell from his lips, the atmosphere exploded.
Everyone's expressions shifted—some in disbelief, others in awe.
On the high platform, Hun Tiandi choked on his tea, spraying it out.
His eyes locked onto Hun Xiu.
"This brat… he really dares to brag that big?"
"Who taught him this? Dou Venerate? He actually said it out loud?"
Beside him, Gu Xun'er blinked her wide eyes and asked innocently:
"Father, why is Uncle Hun so shocked?"
Gu Yuan chuckled.
"He's just... a bit excited."
"Oh!"
"Uncle Hun, why are you so excited?"
Hun Tiandi: "…"
He was speechless.
Meanwhile, the elders on the high platform wore various expressions of intrigue and concern.
They all knew that Hun Xiu was merely a Two-Star Dou King.
The gap between a Dou King and a Dou Venerate was enormous—almost unbridgeable.
Let alone Two-Star Dou King to Two-Star Dou Venerate.
They couldn't understand:
"Why would he lie like this?""Doesn't he fear being exposed and humiliated?"
Among the crowd, the onlookers were in an uproar.
A wave of excited discussion swept across the plaza.
"I knew it! Young Master Hun Xiu is a Dou Venerate!""Confirmed now—he's a young Dou Venerate!""Truly a prodigy with the potential to become Emperor!"
On the floating platform, the trio of Hun Feng, Hun Yu, and Hun Huan'er exchanged glances.
All three saw the same helplessness in each other's eyes and silently shook their heads.
"Dou Venerate…""That's the realm of true power."
In front of a Dou Venerate, a Dou King was nothing—fragile and insignificant.
Even if the three of them teamed up, they wouldn't survive a single strike.
Now, facing Hun Xiu, all will to fight had vanished.
Not even a sliver remained.
Elder Hun Dun was momentarily stunned by Hun Xiu's bold claim.
After a breath, he looked toward him and asked:
"Hun Xiu, are you sure you're a Two-Star Dou Venerate?"
After all, with his own power, Hun Dun should've been able to sense the truth.
But he couldn't tell.
Hun Xiu nodded seriously.
"Of course."
Hun Dun turned his gaze to the other three.
They looked at Hun Xiu with nothing but reverence and fear—no desire for battle in their eyes.
He shook his head slightly, disappointed in them.
Then his eyes flicked toward Hun Tiandi.
The clan leader gave a small nod.
Hun Dun looked back toward Hun Xiu, thinking:
"Good son. You really know how to bluff.""Dou Venerate, is it? Alright… let's go with that."
Hun Tiandi had already made up his mind:
"You started this bluff, now you'll finish it—even if it makes you cry."
Receiving Hun Tiandi's unspoken instruction, Hun Dun secretly transmitted a message to the three:
"Hun Xiu is only a Two-Star Dou King.""Don't let the Clan Leader's good intentions go to waste."
"Huh?" ×3
The three were stunned by the voice in their minds.
But they quickly caught on.
All three looked at Hun Dun in disbelief.
Hun Dun gave a subtle nod to confirm it.
Joy and shock surged in the trio.
Their once respectful gazes toward Hun Xiu quickly changed.
The fear vanished.
If Hun Xiu really was a Dou Venerate, they wouldn't even dare to dream of challenging him.
But if he was just a Dou King—?
"Then we've got a fight!"
"Who wants second place when first is up for grabs?"
They had no reason to doubt Hun Dun's words.
He was a revered elder—why would he lie?
Why drag the Clan Leader into a lie?
Meanwhile, Hun Xiu noticed the change in their expressions and raised an eyebrow.
"Hmm…?"
"Looks like they've found out I'm bluffing."
He subtly glanced at Hun Dun.
But he wasn't angry.
His strength still spoke for itself.
He was here for first place, and no one would take that from him.
"You want to try?Ask the sword in my hand if it agrees."
He knew now—winning without a fight was no longer possible.
So be it.
Whoosh!
Hun Xiu's Dou Wings flared to life behind him.
He rose with the wind, standing midair, wooden sword in hand.
Pointing it at the three, he declared coldly:
"Come. My sword has long hungered for battle."
"So it's true!"
Seeing that Hun Xiu needed Dou Qi wings to stay aloft, the trio's eyes lit up.
Their own Dou Wings emerged.
They rose into the sky, surrounded by roaring Dou Qi storms.
Hun Feng let out a cold snort:
"Hun Xiu, so you really are just a Dou King.""You had us fooled."
Hun Yu added:
"That's right. A mere Two-Star Dou King pretending to be a Dou Venerate.You really tricked us well."
Hun Huan'er joined in mockingly:
"Exactly. I knew you couldn't be a Dou Venerate.Just another braggart trying to ride the hype."
Seeing Hun Xiu forced to reveal his true cultivation just to hover midair, the three of them regained their confidence.
They could feel it:
Their time had come.