Ten years later .......
A young man could be seen sitting cross-legged beneath a towering Spirit Ginkgo Tree.
Golden-green leaves swayed gently above his head as strands of spiritual energy gathered around him. The surrounding spiritual Qi slowly flowed toward his body as he circulated his cultivation technique.
The young man was none other than Su Yang.
His breathing followed a steady rhythm as he circulated the Qi through his meridians, repeatedly directing it toward the invisible barrier preventing him from advancing.
He was attempting to make a breakthrough.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Again and again, Su Yang gathered his spiritual Qi and pushed against the bottleneck.
Yet every attempt ended in failure.
The spiritual Qi he had painstakingly accumulated would mysteriously disperse whenever he came close to breaking through.
After several failed attempts, Su Yang finally opened his eyes.
"Again…"
He sighed helplessly.
After calming the restless Qi within his body, he gave up on the breakthrough attempt and slowly rose to his feet.
It had been like this for years.
Ever since the talent-testing ceremony organized by the town when the children reached ten years of age, Su Yang's cultivation journey had become increasingly frustrating.
Every child of the appropriate age had been allowed to participate in the ceremony.
Everyone except him.
His mother and the Town Head had strictly forbidden him from taking the talent test.
No matter how many times Su Yang asked why, neither of them gave him a proper explanation.
Naturally, their strange decision caused rumors to spread throughout the town.
Many townspeople believed Su Yang was talentless and that Su Mei and the Town Head had prevented him from participating because they were afraid his lack of talent would be exposed publicly.
The fact that Su Yang had remained stuck at the Second Level of the Spirit Realm for years only seemed to confirm their suspicions.
Eventually, the whispers turned into ridicule.
The children around his age began teasing him constantly.
"Trash."
"Talentless."
"Second-Level cripple."
Those words became increasingly common whenever Su Yang walked through town.
Over time, mere teasing turned into bullying.
Fortunately, Su Lan had always been there to protect him.
Anyone who dared to bully her younger brother in front of her would quickly discover that Su Lan was anything but gentle when angered.
However, Su Lan could no longer remain beside him all the time.
Her cultivation talent had been discovered during the talent-testing ceremony, and Elder Yi had personally selected her to become a disciple of the Heavenly Immortal Sword Sect alongside his granddaughter.
That granddaughter was Yi Luwei.
Su Yang, Su Lan, and Yi Luwei had practically grown up together.
Ever since they were children, Yi Luwei had frequently visited the Su residence whenever she accompanied her grandfather into town. As the years passed, the three naturally became extremely close.
After the talent test, however, Su Lan and Yi Luwei somehow became even more protective of Su Yang.
The two girls had seemingly deemed it their life mission to protect him from anyone who attempted to bully or humiliate him.
Because of how close the three were, outsiders frequently misunderstood their relationship.
Some even whispered that Su Yang and Yi Luwei were childhood sweethearts.
Whenever such rumors reached Su Yang's ears, he could only shake his head helplessly.
Remembering all this only worsened his already crestfallen mood.
He glanced back at the Spirit Ginkgo Tree.
"How long am I going to remain at the Second Level?"
There was no answer.
Su Yang sighed and headed home.
By the time he reached their courtyard, he saw his mother carefully picking medicinal herbs from the garden.
Years had passed, but the familiar fragrance of medicinal herbs still surrounded Su Mei.
Before Su Yang could even approach her, Su Mei had already sensed his presence.
More importantly, she sensed his dejected mood.
Another failed breakthrough.
She did not need to ask.
"Yang'er," Su Mei called gently.
"Mother."
Su Yang approached her.
Su Mei looked at his crestfallen expression and smiled softly.
"Another failed attempt?"
Su Yang reluctantly nodded.
"Yes."
"I almost succeeded this time, but whenever I reach the final step, the spiritual Qi suddenly disperses. I don't understand what I'm doing wrong."
Su Mei's hands paused for the briefest moment.
A complicated emotion flashed through her eyes before disappearing.
She knew there was far more to Su Yang's condition than simple lack of talent.
However, she could not tell him.
Not yet.
"You're still young," Su Mei consoled him. "There is plenty of time ahead of you. Cultivation is not something that can always be rushed."
"But everyone else—"
"Do not compare your cultivation path with someone else's."
Su Yang fell silent.
Su Mei gently patted his shoulder.
"Some people advance quickly at the beginning and encounter difficulties later. Others advance slowly but eventually travel much farther. What matters is that you do not lose your determination."
Su Yang stared at his mother for several moments.
His gloomy expression gradually disappeared.
"You're right, Mother."
"Of course I am."
A faint smile finally appeared on his face.
Seeing his mood lighten, Su Mei returned to picking herbs.
Instead of leaving, Su Yang rolled up his sleeves.
"Let me help."
Mother and son spent the next several hours working together in the medicinal garden.
Once they had finished gathering and arranging the herbs, Su Mei packed a portion into a wooden medicinal box.
"Yang'er."
"Yes, Mother?"
"Take these herbs to the Yi Family residence for me."
Su Yang accepted the medicinal box.
"Alright."
He left the courtyard and made his way through town.
As usual, his presence quickly attracted unwanted attention.
"Look, isn't that Su Yang?"
"The famous Second-Level genius?"
"Hahaha! Genius? He has been stuck at the Second Level of the Spirit Realm for years!"
"I still don't understand why Healer Su adopted someone so useless."
Su Yang heard every word.
His hands tightened slightly around the medicinal box.
However, he did not stop.
He kept his head held high and continued walking.
Some passersby pointed fingers at him, while several youngsters openly mocked him.
"Trash!"
"Talentless fool!"
Su Yang ignored them.
Over the years, he had learned something important.
If he reacted every time someone insulted him, he would spend his entire life fighting meaningless battles.
One day, he would prove them wrong.
Not with words.
With strength.
Eventually, the magnificent gates of the Yi Family residence appeared before him.
Su Yang approached and rang the bell beside the gate.
He waited patiently.
Several minutes later, the gates opened and a servant stepped outside.
The servant immediately recognized him.
"Young Master Su."
Su Yang smiled.
"My mother asked me to deliver these medicinal herbs."
"Of course. Please come inside."
The servant ushered him through the gates.
Compared to Su Mei's modest courtyard, the Yi Family residence was enormous. Beautiful stone pathways stretched between elegant courtyards, while spiritual plants and decorative ponds could be seen throughout the estate.
Su Yang and the servant made small talk as they walked.
"How have you been, Young Master Su?"
"The same as always."
The servant chuckled.
Before long, they reached one of the inner courtyards.
"Master Yi is currently in a meeting," the servant explained. "It may take some time before he is finished."
Su Yang nodded.
"That's fine. I can wait."
"Feel free to stroll around the residence in the meantime. I will inform Master Yi that you are here once his meeting concludes."
"Thank you."
The servant bowed slightly before leaving with the medicinal herbs.
Now alone, Su Yang looked around the familiar Yi residence.
Since he had visited countless times throughout his childhood, there was little chance of him getting lost.
With nothing else to do, he placed his hands behind his back and began strolling leisurely through the estate.