Chapter 22: The Moment of Truth

  Following Su Laifu's disappointing result, the ceremony took an even more discouraging turn. One after another, candidates stepped forward only to reveal mediocre talents—mostly two-star ratings with the occasional one-star disaster that left families cringing in shame. The air grew thick with disappointment as hopes were crushed with each lackluster performance.

  The pattern became numbingly predictable: nervous approach, trembling hand placement, the dim glow of one or two stars, followed by dejected retreat. Parents in the viewing stands began shifting uncomfortably, their earlier excitement transforming into anxious worry.

  "What is happening to our Su family's younger generation?" one spectator finally voiced what many were thinking. "Are there truly no talents among them?"

  "Tsk, tsk," another observer shook his head. "Ever since Su Laifu's test, it's been nothing but mediocrity. How unfortunate."

  Murmurs of concern rippled through the crowd. When a generation failed to produce new cultivation talents, it often marked the beginning of a family's decline—a truth that chilled every heart present.

  Even Su Huiqing felt the pressure mounting, his expression growing grave. "Continue with the testing," he commanded.

  "Next—Su Ji!" Su Yuan called out, his voice carrying forced enthusiasm despite the string of disappointing results.

  A young man with flowing black hair and confident bearing stepped forward, his movements radiating self-assurance that provided the first spark of hope.

  "It's Su Ji! I heard he's a direct descendant of the main Su bloodline."

  "Please, let him awaken something respectable."

  Su Ji approached the platform with determined steps, placing his hand on the talent orb without hesitation while the entire crowd held its collective breath.

  Ding!

  One star blazed to life! Then the second! The third! And finally—the fourth!

  "Four-star talent!" The crowd's excitement erupted like a dam bursting. "Finally—an outstanding result!"

  "Su Ji, congratulations on awakening four-star talent," Su Yuan announced with genuine pleasure. "With dedicated cultivation, you can achieve greatness in the future."

  "Thank you, Fifth Elder! I will definitely give my absolute best!" Su Ji replied with pride, offering a respectful bow.

  "Excellent! Truly excellent!" Su Yuan laughed with renewed energy.

  "Next—Su Ruxue!"

  The name sent fresh ripples of anticipation through the crowd as a young woman stepped forward. Her delicate beauty was matched by an aura of cold indifference.

  "It's Su Ruxue—Fourth Elder Su Yuntian's daughter!"

  "This should be interesting! With her bloodline, she must have potential!"

  The discussions grew animated. On the elevated platform, Su Yuntian's normally indifferent expression cracked slightly, revealing hints of nervousness beneath her icy exterior.

  Su Ruxue moved with casual grace, placing her hand on the talent orb with the same indifferent expression she maintained in all situations.

  Ding!

  One star! Two stars! Three stars! Four stars!

  "Another four-star talent!" The crowd's enthusiasm reached new heights.

  Su Ruxue stared at the glowing orb without any change in expression, as though she had already predicted this outcome. Her reaction—or lack thereof—surprised no one.

  Su Yuntian exhaled slowly with relief, a rare smile gracing her usually stern features.

  "Congratulations, Su Ruxue," Su Yuan offered.

  Su Ruxue nodded with characteristic indifference before stepping down. Su Yuan took no offense—everyone knew about her cold, introverted nature.

  "She's quite outstanding, isn't she, Young Master?" Xie Ling observed.

  Su Tianhao nodded absently, but his eyes never wavered from the platform where his own fate would soon be determined.

  "Next candidate!"

  The ceremony continued with renewed momentum. Many three-star talents emerged from the remaining candidates, with a few two-star results mixed in.

  "Su Gang!" Su Yuan called out with growing enthusiasm.

  A tall young man stepped forward—taller than most of his peers and carrying himself with quiet dignity. Su Gang was an ordinary commoner who had earned the Su family surname through recommendations from one of the business managers.

  Su Gang advanced with measured strides while the crowd barely spared him attention, too busy discussing previous results.

  "Please place your hand on the talent orb," Su Yuan instructed.

  Su Gang nodded and pressed his palm against the orb's surface.

  Ding!

  One star! Two stars! Three stars! Four stars!

  "Four-star talent!" Su Yuan announced with genuine surprise.

  The crowd turned toward Su Gang with shocked expressions—no one had anticipated this result from someone of such modest background.

  "It's actually four-star talent!" Even Su Gang himself appeared stunned.

  "Hahaha! Excellent! Truly excellent!" Su Huiqing's laughter boomed across the arena.

  The other elders shared his elevated mood, though Grand Elder Su Guangye had kept his eyes closed throughout the entire ceremony thus far, his meditation apparently undisturbed by even the best results.

  After Su Gang's surprising success, the testing continued through the remaining minor candidates until attention focused on the ceremony's three most anticipated participants.

  All eyes shifted to Su Tianhao, Su Jian, and Su Lei—the final trio whose results would likely define this generation's legacy. An invisible tension descended over the arena.

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  Each possessed extraordinary importance within the family hierarchy. Su Lei served as Third Elder Su Minghe's direct disciple, renowned for his passionate dedication to martial arts. Su Jian carried the weight of being the Patriarch's biological son. And Su Tianhao—the adopted prodigy whose intelligence had already made him famous throughout Oakwood City—represented the most anticipated result of all.

  "Su Lei," Su Yuan called from the platform.

  Su Minghe's eyes sharpened with intense focus, eager to witness his disciple's talent revelation.

  Su Lei stepped forward with an excited smile illuminating his features. Without requiring instruction, he immediately placed his hand on the talent orb with confidence that radiated from every fiber of his being.

  The entire arena held its collective breath.

  Ding!

  One star blazed! Then the second! The third! The fourth! And the fifth!

  "Five-star talent!" Su Yuan shouted with explosive excitement.

  The crowd erupted in absolute uproar. "Five-star talent! A genuine genius has finally appeared!"

  "Incredible! A true prodigy among us!"

  "The Su family's future is secured!"

  The elders beamed with satisfaction as they offered congratulations to Su Minghe.

  "Congratulations, Third Elder, on accepting such a remarkable disciple!"

  Su Minghe basked in the praise, throwing back his head in hearty laughter.

  Su Qingfeng nodded with deep satisfaction, stroking his long white beard.

  Even Grand Elder Su Guangye finally opened his eyes, studying Su Lei with penetrating intensity before nodding in acknowledgment—a gesture that carried immense weight.

  Su Lei stood on the platform laughing with uncontainable excitement. "Five-star talent! Five-star talent!"

  Su Tianhao smiled with genuine happiness for his friend's success, though he couldn't entirely suppress the nervous flutter in his own chest.

  "From today, his name will spread throughout the entire city," Xie Ling observed with awe.

  Suddenly, cutting through the celebration—

  "Su Jian."

  The name fell like a stone into still water as all attention shifted to the Patriarch's biological son. His expression had grown extremely dark, the bitter taste of his earlier boast about surpassing both Su Tianhao and Su Lei now turned to ash in his mouth.

  He didn't move immediately after his name was called, standing frozen as internal conflict raged across his features.

  "What are you waiting for? Get up there!" Su Yuan called with a deepening frown.

  Su Jian finally nodded sheepishly, approaching the platform with sluggish, reluctant movements.

  "That's the Patriarch's son—why is he acting so cowardly?"

  "He must be intimidated by Su Lei's impressive result."

  The whispered criticisms carried clearly through the arena, adding humiliation to Su Jian's mounting anxiety.

  On the elevated platform, Su Huiqing's face darkened with parental frustration and embarrassment. "Get up there immediately!" he commanded.

  "Y-Yes!" Su Jian shrieked in response, immediately rushing toward the platform in such haste that he nearly stumbled, causing scattered laughter throughout the crowd.

  "Jian'er..." Madam Niu murmured with maternal concern.

  Su Tianhao watched Su Jian's approach with calculating eyes, genuinely curious about what result his adoptive brother would achieve. He wasn't alone—every person present, from the youngest observers to the eldest elders, focused their complete attention on this crucial moment.

  Under the watchful eyes of hundreds of spectators, Su Jian stepped onto the platform with slow, hesitant movements. Each step echoed in the hushed arena.

  "Place your hand on the talent orb," Su Yuan said calmly, though tension was visible in his posture.

  Su Jian swallowed nervously as he approached the glowing artifact. Despite his fearful behavior, whispers rippled through the crowd.

  "He may act scared, but he's still the Patriarch's son!"

  "Surely his bloodline will show itself now!"

  With trembling fingers, Su Jian placed his hand on the talent orb. The entire crowd leaned forward.

  The talent orb began to glow brightly under his touch, spiritual energy swirling within its depths.

  Ding!

  One star blazed to life! Then the second! The third! The fourth!... And fifth!

  Su Yuan's eyes widened as he prepared to announce the five-star result, but before he could speak, another star suddenly flared with brilliant light.

  "SIX-STAR TALENT!" Su Yuan shouted in shock.

  The crowd erupted into complete chaos.

  "Six-star talent! It's actually six-star talent!"

  "The Su family is truly blessed! Six-star talents are once-in-a-century geniuses, yet two have appeared in just ten years!"

  "Yes! The last one was Su Mei, but I never expected Su Jian to also awaken such potential!"

  "The heavens are smiling upon us!"

  On the high platform, the family leaders sat frozen in amazement before quickly recovering. Congratulations poured forth.

  "Congratulations, Big Brother!" Su Liang beamed. "What tremendous fortune!"

  "Congratulations, Patriarch! You have raised a remarkable son," Su Qingfeng laughed heartily.

  "My congratulations as well," Su Yuntian offered with a rare smile.

  "What wonderful news! This definitely calls for a grand celebration!" Su Minghe's booming laughter filled the arena.

  "Well done, boy," even the normally silent Grand Elder Su Guangye opened his eyes to offer praise, a small smile playing on his ancient features.

  Seeing this reaction, Madam Niu's weathered face transformed with pride, her eyes shining with tears of joy.

  In that moment, everyone's opinion of Su Jian completely changed. Where they had seen a coward before, now they saw a destined genius.

  "Excellent work, Jian'er! You've made your father incredibly proud," Su Yuan declared.

  "HAHAHAHA!" Su Jian's laughter rang out across the arena, his previous anxiety vanishing. In its place arose pure, undiluted arrogance.

  His eyes blazed with satisfaction as he turned toward his adopted brother. "Su Tianhao! Get your worthless self up here and test your pathetic talent!"

  The crude words echoed across the gathering, causing everyone to gasp. Yet rather than condemn such behavior, many found themselves nodding.

  "He's certainly arrogant now..."

  "Well, he does have the right to be confident."

  "A six-star genius can say whatever he wants."

  "Let's see what surprise the Second Young Master will give us."

  All attention shifted to Su Tianhao like a crushing weight. Hundreds of burning gazes focused on him.

  "You've got this, Young Master!" Xie Ling called out, though worry flickered in her eyes.

  "Go show them, Brother Tianhao!" Su Lei added with enthusiastic support.

  Su Tianhao nodded with grim determination, walking toward the platform with steady steps. Each footfall seemed to echo with six years of accumulated expectations.

  The crowd watched in complete silence, the arena falling so quiet that even a whisper could be heard clearly.

  "Hehe, go ahead," Su Jian sneered with malicious glee. "Let's see what magnificent talent you'll awaken. Maybe one star? Perhaps two if the heavens are feeling generous?"

  Su Tianhao glanced at his adoptive brother with cool indifference before dismissing him entirely.

  'In just a few moments, we'll see your miserable result!' Su Jian thought with savage satisfaction. 'There's no way you could awaken a once-in-a-century talent like me!'

  "Place your hand on the talent orb," Su Yuan said gently.

  Su Tianhao nodded before pressing his palm against the orb's surface. Immediately, he felt a rush of strange energy flooding into his body—an uncomfortable sensation unlike anything he had experienced. The power examined him thoroughly before withdrawing back into the artifact.

  Su Lei watched with intense focus, his entire body tense. Even the normally indifferent Su Ruxue found herself leaning forward slightly.

  Every young person in the arena held their breath.

  But as seconds stretched into long, agonizing minutes, the talent orb remained completely dark and silent.

  "What's happening?" someone whispered.

  "No stars? How is this possible?"

  "There must be some mistake with the orb."

  "Test it again!" Su Huiqing commanded from the high platform, his voice sharp with worry.

  "Young Master..." Xie Ling's voice trembled.

  Meanwhile, Su Jian's lips slowly curled into a smile of pure vindictive pleasure.

  "P-please place your hand on the orb again," Su Yuan stammered.

  Su Tianhao nodded mutely, pressing his palm against the talent orb once more.

  Whoosh!

  Again the mysterious energy surged through his body, examining every part of his being before retreating with the same complete lack of reaction.

  "This—" Su Yuan's face went pale.

  "ZERO STARS! NO TALENT AT ALL!"

  The crowd's collective shout of disbelief shattered the arena's silence.

  "Am I dreaming? This can't be real!"

  "Someone wake me up—this must be a nightmare!"

  Some of the younger spectators pinched themselves and rubbed their eyes.

  The reality crashed over everyone like ice-cold water. The Su family's celebrated young genius was actually completely without cultivation talent!

  "How can this be? There has never been someone with zero talent in our family's entire history!"

  "The prodigy who saved our family from bandits... has no cultivation ability?"

  "Intelligence without power is worthless in the cultivation world!"

  "From heaven to hell in a single moment!"

  "All those years of praise... for nothing!"

  On the platform, Su Tianhao stood like a shattered statue, his face frozen in disbelief. His golden eyes, which had always blazed with sharp intelligence, now stared blindly ahead without focus. The foundation of his entire identity had crumbled in an instant.

  Su Yuan gazed at the broken young man with profound sympathy. "No one could face such a sudden reversal," he murmured. "What terrible irony."

  "HAHAHAHA!" Su Jian's laughter rang out like a victory cry. "Trash! You're actually worthless trash! How perfectly fitting!"

  But Su Tianhao showed no reaction to the mockery. His face remained pale and expressionless.

  "Pathetic!" Su Jian spat before leaping from the platform. He strode away with exaggerated swagger, savoring his moment of complete victory. Finally—finally!—he had surpassed both Su Lei and Su Tianhao decisively.

  On the high platform, the family elders exchanged troubled glances, their expressions reflecting disappointment and uncomfortable embarrassment.

  Su Huiqing stared down at his adopted son with disappointment clouding his features. The boy he had rescued and nurtured, the strategic mind that had saved their family, revealed as completely ordinary in the only way that truly mattered.

  "So this celebrated prodigy is actually cultivation trash," Su Liang observed with cruel satisfaction.

  "How unfortunate," Su Minghe shook his head with pity. "Intelligence means nothing without power to back it up."

  Su Yuntian sighed heavily. "Such a waste of expectations."

  "The heavens are truly envious," Su Qingfeng said solemnly, stroking his white beard. "Too much intelligence traded for cultivation potential. The balance of fate is rarely kind."

  Grand Elder Su Guangye glanced at Su Tianhao with dismissive finality before rising from his seat. With a single step forward, he soared into the air, his robes fluttering around him as he vanished into the distance—true flight—a demonstration of Martial Grandmaster abilities that emphasized Su Tianhao's now?meaningless existence.

  Seeing the Grand Elder's departure, Su Huiqing rose heavily from his chair. His gaze lingered on Su Tianhao's motionless form with poorly concealed disappointment before he sighed deeply and announced, "The talent testing ceremony is concluded."

  Without another word, he began walking away. The other elders followed behind him like a funeral procession.

  The crowd began filing out in scattered groups, their voices carrying every shade of reaction from genuine pity to cruel mockery.

  "So the Second Young Master is actually worthless!"

  "What kind of prodigy has no cultivation talent?"

  "Intelligence without power—how pathetic!"

  Soon even the younger generation departed, leaving only three figures in the vast, empty arena: Su Tianhao standing frozen on the platform, Su Yuan watching with profound sadness, and Xie Ling with tears streaming down her cheeks.

  Su Yuan approached slowly and placed a gentle hand on Su Tianhao's shoulder. "Little Tian, this isn't the end of everything," he said with forced encouragement. "Though you cannot cultivate, your intelligence remains extraordinary. You could become a renowned scholar, perhaps even a court advisor. There are other paths in life."

  But Su Tianhao showed no reaction whatsoever. His world had collapsed so completely that even kind words couldn't penetrate the void where his dreams used to live.

  "Xie Ling," Su Yuan turned to the weeping woman. "Please take the Second Young Master back to his room. He needs time and quiet to process this reality."

  "Y-yes, Fifth Elder," Xie Ling managed through her tears, approaching Su Tianhao with infinite gentleness. She took his unresisting hand and began guiding him away from the platform where his fate had been sealed.

  As Su Yuan watched the tragic pair disappear into the distance, he couldn't suppress a heavy sigh of regret. "The heavens truly are unjust," he whispered to the empty arena. "To grant such brilliance while withholding the power to use it... what cruel irony indeed."

  The afternoon sun continued to shine down upon Oakwood City, but for Su Tianhao, all light had gone out of the world. The little genius had fallen from grace so completely that the impact would echo through the Su family compound for years to come.

  His legend was over before it had truly begun.