Chapter 35: Another Pointless Effort, Perhaps

Ou Xinlai, who was sleeping soundly and drooling, never imagined that even a nap could lead to trouble. Shu Nuo Nu Pan was clearly a notorious slacker, yet somehow was dragged into doing something as serious as work fit for an ox.

The Steward Elder himself had stepped in, and Ou Chenfeng was using the merits earned before becoming clan leader to call the shots—no one could utter a word of refusal. Thus, the members of the Ou family watched, drooling themselves, as Ou Chenfeng hauled the deeply sleeping Ou Xinlai to the Five Elements Feng Shui Grounds.

Ou Jinju widened his eyes at the Five Elements Array, realizing this was the fabled array of the Ou family. He had always believed that he would never set foot in this place in his lifetime.

"Clan leader, what should we do next?" Ou Xinlai, still sprawled on the lounge chair, was carried into the array by Ou Jinju.

The Elder of the Five Elements activated the array, and as the dazzling colors burst forth, Ou Jinju felt a surge of longing. One day, he vowed, he would test the might of the Five Elements Array himself. It was said that children under the age of ten were more easily stimulated to awaken their powers within the array, but no one had ever claimed that those above ten would necessarily fail.

"Throw Xinlai in." Ou Chenfeng’s eyes were sharp as ever, so he had no intention of pulling Ou Xinlai off the chair. Everything invisible to Ou Jinju had already registered in Ou Chenfeng’s gaze.

Between Ou Xinlai and the chair, from time to time, a faint, barely visible purple current flickered. The current moved so quickly that ordinary people couldn’t see it at all. Despite using all his strength, Ou Jinju couldn’t pry Ou Xinlai off the chair.

The Elder of the Five Elements observed the changes in Ou Xinlai with a flicker of curiosity. Had Ou Xinlai’s powers been awakened during her previous encounter with the array? Yet her ability seemed rare, and since awakening, why hadn’t she mentioned it?

"Just throw her in?" Ou Jinju was startled by Ou Chenfeng’s answer, but seeing his calm, unruffled expression, he knew Ou Chenfeng wasn’t joking. So Ou Jinju lifted the entire lounge chair and tossed it toward the beam of light. Afterward, he dusted off his hands, feeling immensely satisfied. He had wanted to do that for ages—throw this lazy pig and see if she’d finally wake up.

Compared to the previous, more subdued occasion, Ou Xinlai’s second entry into the Five Elements Array was grand and conspicuous. Everyone knew she was entering for a second time, and her peculiar skills had advanced further. No one could explain how she had absorbed a needle into her body and later reflected it toward Ou Xinya.

Just as everyone waited with bated breath, Ou Xinlai was finally carried out!

Seeing Ou Xinlai being carried out, many watched with schadenfreude, convinced she had been harmed by the array and thus had to be removed.

Despite knowing the truth, Ou Chenfeng and Ou Jinju offered no explanation, and their sour expressions only confirmed the crowd’s suspicions.

"Clan leader, has Ou Xinlai awakened her powers?" Upon hearing the news, Ou Chendong hurriedly had himself carried over to witness the drama between Ou Chenfeng and Ou Xinlai. Ou Chenfeng owed him, and Ou Xinlai owed his daughter!

Ou Chenfeng smiled faintly. "Xinlai is doing well. Thank you for your concern."

"Perhaps you didn’t hear my question clearly. I asked if Ou Xinlai’s powers have awakened?" Ou Chendong was certain they hadn’t; otherwise, Ou Chenfeng’s expression would never be so grim. If Ou Xinlai was no longer a failure, Ou Chenfeng would have been setting off fireworks in celebration.

Despite having the luck to enter the Five Elements Array twice, Ou Xinlai failed both times to awaken her powers. This made it abundantly clear: she was a failure among failures.

When Ou Chendong heard the Steward Elder had supported Ou Chenfeng’s decision to let Ou Xinlai enter the array again, he was so furious his eyes could spit fire.

One should never wear a crown larger than their head!

The higher one is lifted, the harder the fall. He was waiting to watch Ou Chenfeng and Ou Xinlai make fools of themselves!

He hadn’t become the clan leader, but Ou Chenfeng’s daughter was already branded a failure. No matter what, his own daughter outshone Ou Xinlai. What he couldn’t achieve, his daughter would surely obtain!