The strengthening of the soul also created Adam Bennett's cultivation talent, and likewise, earned him the reputation of a genius.

When an ordinary and mediocre person discovers that he has the potential to become the focus of countless people's attention, without sufficient self-control, it is very difficult to stay true to oneself. Clearly, Adam Bennett, who was just an ordinary person in his previous life, did not possess such superhuman willpower. So, after he began cultivating Dou Qi, he chose the path of becoming a genius in the spotlight, rather than quietly growing in obscurity!

If nothing unexpected had happened, Adam Bennett might really have grown up with the title of genius. Unfortunately, at the age of eleven, that title was gradually stripped away by a sudden turn of events, and overnight, the genius became a laughingstock, mocked as a good-for-nothing by passersby!

……

After shouting a few times, Adam Bennett's emotions slowly calmed down, and his face returned to its usual loneliness. Things had come to this point—no matter how furious he was, he could not recover the Dou Qi cyclone he had painstakingly cultivated.

Shaking his head bitterly, Adam Bennett actually felt a bit aggrieved in his heart. After all, he had no idea what had happened to his body. He checked himself regularly but never found anything wrong. His soul, as he aged, only grew stronger, and his rate of absorbing Dou Qi was even more powerful than at his previous peak a few years ago. All these conditions indicated that his talent had never diminished. Yet, all the Dou Qi that entered his body disappeared without exception, leaving nothing behind. This bizarre situation left Adam Bennett feeling despondent...

With a sorrowful sigh, Adam Bennett raised his hand. On his finger was a black ring, very simple and old-fashioned, its material unknown, with some blurred patterns engraved on it. This was the only gift his mother had given him before she died. He had worn it for ten years since he was four. As his mother's keepsake, Adam Bennett was deeply attached to it. Gently stroking the ring with his finger, Adam Bennett gave a wry smile and said, "These past few years, I really have let down my mother's expectations..."

Taking a deep breath, Adam Bennett suddenly turned his head and smiled warmly toward the dark forest. "Father, you’re here?"

Although his Dou Qi was only at the third stage, Adam Bennett's soul perception was much sharper than that of a five-star Dou Practitioner. When he mentioned his mother earlier, he had already sensed a slight movement in the forest.

"Hehe, Yan'er, it's so late—why are you still up here?" After a moment of silence in the forest, a man's caring, cheerful voice sounded.

The branches shook, and a middle-aged man leapt out, a smile on his face as he gazed at his son standing in the moonlight.

The middle-aged man wore luxurious gray robes, his stride full of authority and vigor. The thick eyebrows on his face added to his heroic aura. He was the current head of the Xiao family, and also Adam Bennett's father, the five-star Great Dou Master, William Bennett!

"Father, aren't you still awake as well?" Looking at the middle-aged man, the smile on Adam Bennett's face grew even warmer. Although he had memories of his previous life, ever since he was born, this father had doted on him in every possible way. Even after he fell from grace, the affection only increased. Such behavior made Adam Bennett willingly call him father.

"Yan'er, are you still thinking about the test this afternoon?" Striding forward, William Bennett asked with a smile.

"Hehe, what's there to think about? It was just as expected." Adam Bennett shook his head with a maturity beyond his years, though his smile was a bit forced.

"Sigh..." Looking at Adam Bennett's still somewhat youthful and delicate face, William Bennett sighed, fell silent for a moment, and then suddenly said, "Yan'er, you're fifteen now, right?"

"Yes, Father."

"In another year, it seems... you'll have to go through the coming-of-age ceremony..." William Bennett said with a bitter smile.

"Yes, Father, one more year!" Adam Bennett replied calmly, his hand tightening slightly. He knew very well what the coming-of-age ceremony meant. Once he passed it, if he still had no cultivation potential, he would lose the qualification to enter the Dou Qi Pavilion to seek Dou Qi techniques, and would be assigned to one of the family's various businesses to handle ordinary affairs. This was the family rule—even though his father was the clan head, it could not be changed!

After all, if one did not become a Dou Practitioner before the age of twenty-five, they would not be recognized by the family!

"I'm sorry, Yan'er. If your Dou Qi doesn't reach the seventh stage in a year, then I will have no choice but to assign you to the family's businesses, even though it pains me. After all, this family is not run by me alone. Those old guys are always waiting for me to make a mistake..." Looking at the calm Adam Bennett, William Bennett sighed apologetically.

"Father, I will work hard. In a year, I will definitely reach the seventh stage of Dou Qi!" Adam Bennett smiled, comforting him.

"One year, four stages? Heh, if it were before, maybe it would have been possible. But now... there's basically no chance at all..." Although he was comforting his father with his words, Adam Bennett could only smile bitterly at himself in his heart.