Chapter 2: The Useless Third Young Lady

Luo Mansion, Spiritual Power Testing Hall.

The patriarch of the Luo family, Luo Jingfeng, sat atop the high dais, the aura of his formidable strength pressing down on everyone present, so much so that no one dared breathe too loudly.

The patriarch had been in seclusion for ten years, yet, unfortunately, his cultivation remained at the early stages of Level Eight, showing no progress.

In the Kingdom of Tianyou, those who had reached the eighth level were few and far between, but for Luo Jingfeng, his dream was to ascend to the pinnacle of the tenth level, to rise to the heavens and become immortal. Thanks to his protection, the Luo family stood as the foremost household in the kingdom, and the family head, Luo Anrong, was granted the title of Chancellor in recognition of the patriarch's prestige.

Luo Anrong, with all the members of the Luo family, had arrived early at the Spiritual Power Testing Hall to await the patriarch. Every time the patriarch emerged from seclusion, he required all members of the family, young and old, to undergo spiritual power testing.

"Congratulations, Father, on completing your seclusion."

"Congratulations, Grandfather, on emerging from retreat."

The patriarch responded with a faint acknowledgment. His temper was notorious, and Luo Anrong dared not inquire about any advancement in the patriarch’s cultivation, nor did anyone else.

Luo Jingfeng cast a cold glance over the assembled family, his presence commanding and stern. "Let us begin."

The first to be tested was naturally the direct eldest son, Luo Yue.

The levels of spiritual power were divided into: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, and Purple, each with sub-levels of upper, middle, and lower.

Luo Yue's result: Green, upper grade.

The patriarch’s expression darkened.

"Ten years ago it was Green, and now it’s still Green—no progress at all!"

No one dared utter a sound. Luo Yue’s face alternated between embarrassment and shame. The test results made clear he was destined never to become a genius like his grandfather.

Lady Luo hurriedly nudged Luo Rong forward.

Luo Rong, understanding her intent, quickly approached the testing platform.

The thirteen-year-old second son, Luo Rong, though born of a concubine, surpassed Luo Yue with a result of Cyan, lower grade.

Lady Luo was delighted, expecting praise from the patriarch. However, he remained silent and displeased.

After the patriarch entered seclusion, one of the concubines had given birth to another son for the family, the ten-year-old third son, Luo Xiang, who now approached the testing platform slowly.

"Grandfather, this is Luo Xiang, born shortly after you entered seclusion," Luo Anrong explained.

The patriarch did not look at Luo Xiang, his attention fixed solely on the results. To him, the spiritual power test was all that mattered.

This attitude pleased the concubines, who glanced triumphantly at the Madam of the House.

So what if one was born of the main wife? Clearly, their children were surpassing the legitimate ones. The patriarch’s attitude showed he cared little for the distinction between legitimate and concubine-born.

Cyan, upper grade.

The concubine beamed with pride, daring to look up at the patriarch, hoping for praise.

Yet the patriarch’s brows only knit tighter.

Not one of his grandsons had inherited his genius?

Luo Xiang stepped down from the platform, visibly aggrieved, while his mother’s face stiffened.

Next was Luo Yi.

She wore a light yellow gauze dress, a butterfly-shaped jade hairpin adorning her head. Her refined features were brightened by a smile, and her two dimples appeared, sweet and charming. Displaying her proud lightness skills, she moved gracefully; the butterfly on her jade pin seemed to flutter and dance, as if about to take flight. In the blink of an eye, she landed atop the testing platform.

Blue, upper grade!

The entire hall was stunned.

The patriarch’s eyes lit up.

At last, a little genius among them.

Luo Yi, quick to observe, noticed the sparkle in her grandfather’s gaze and smiled sweetly, her dimples enchanting. She cooed, “Grandfather, last year my result was Blue, lower grade. Since joining the Multei Organization, my spiritual power has improved greatly. I am now at the intermediate stage of Level Four. With more effort, I believe I will soon reach the peak of Level Four.”

“Excellent,” Luo Jingfeng praised. “The Multei Organization gathers the most outstanding talents in the nation. Luo Yi, you must work hard.”

Though the praise was brief, Luo Yi was overjoyed. “I will, Grandfather. I won’t let you down.”

After Luo Yi stepped down, Luo Mei took the stage.

Her test result was Cyan, upper grade, and her cultivation had reached the intermediate stage of Level Three. She hoped for the patriarch’s approval, but his brows only furrowed once more.

One by one, several more concubine-born sisters were tested, but each result was worse than the last.

The patriarch could hardly bear to look. His face grew colder still.

Not one of them had reached Purple, upper grade!

It seemed the family’s line of alchemists was doomed to die out with his generation.

To become an alchemist, the requirements were exceedingly strict. Ordinary people possessed only one attribute, but an alchemist needed two, and their primary attribute had to be fire, with a trace of wood energy mixed in as a catalyst. They also needed exceptional soul perception. In sum: materials, fire, and soul perception.

If one’s spiritual power did not reach Purple, upper grade, one could not even meet the first requirement for soul perception.

Wait—he recalled that Luo Xia’s body was of the fire attribute!

And on the day she was born, a phoenix had flown into the Luo Mansion and lingered for hours.

There was a prophecy that she would become the future empress of Tianyou.

Unfortunately, later tests revealed her spiritual power was zero.

As a result, the emperor dared not bestow her hand to the crown prince. Still, she was the designated crown princess in all but official decree, her status awaiting the right moment to be announced.

Yet the patriarch did not know that during his ten-year seclusion, the girl had been labeled a “good-for-nothing,” a “waste,” and “the disgrace of the Luo family.”

He wondered, after all these years, how Luo Xia’s spiritual power fared.

Everyone sensed the patriarch’s displeasure and stood silently, not daring to breathe.

But then his expression softened slightly, and Luo Anrong ventured, “Father, you have worked hard. The testing is complete…”

“Wait! Where is Luo Xia?”

The patriarch’s eyes, icy as a frozen lake, swept over the crowd, his voice thunderous.

“Luo Xia? The useless one?”

“That good-for-nothing?”

“She’s probably off crying in her little courtyard.”

The Luo family had many daughters—over twenty, in fact—but Luo Yi and Luo Mei stood at the top. The rest, though not entirely useless, were only at the first or second cultivation level, mere minor figures.

Luo Yi rejoiced in secret, relieved she had sent a maid to keep Luo Xia occupied. Who knew if that girl might rush into the testing hall at the worst moment? Even if her spiritual power was zero, it was better to be cautious.

Luo Mei glanced at Luo Yi, exchanging a knowing look.

The sisters understood each other perfectly. Luo Mei, aware of Luo Yi’s strength, went out of her way to curry favor with her.

The patriarch’s anger grew, his face icy as a crypt.

A crushing pressure descended upon the room, as if Mount Tai itself were bearing down. Lady Luo and the concubine, both only at the peak of the beginner level, collapsed to their knees.

“Father, please…”

The patriarch made no effort to restrain the overwhelming pressure he unleashed. Luo Anrong could only sigh, while the patriarch felt an ominous foreboding in his heart.

“Speak!”

The pressure intensified. Lady Luo and the concubine turned pale, on the verge of coughing blood.

“Father, during your ten years in seclusion, you may not know—Luo Xia has not shown a trace of spiritual power in all these years. Our family has become a laughingstock, all because of her!”

“Impossible!” The patriarch trembled with rage.

At his outburst, Lady Luo and the concubine coughed up blood.

Blood spurted from their lips—not just theirs, but all the Luo siblings, except for Luo Yi and Luo Mei, were forced to their knees by the pressure.

Only Luo Anrong and the two favored sisters remained standing.

“Father, please show mercy! These are all your family!” Luo Anrong pleaded, sweat beading on his brow.

He, who was the Chancellor of a kingdom, second only to the king, so powerful and respected—yet before the patriarch, he was as insignificant as an ant.