Free Web NovelChapter 2: Chapter 2: The Hidden Panel
Qin Yuheng did not remember how he walked down from the platform.
The square was still noisy. Names continued to be called. Young heirs continued to place their hands on the Awakening Stone. Some received cheers. Others received silence. The ceremony did not stop because one person had failed.
That was the cruelty of the world.
No matter how heavy a result felt to one person, to everyone else, it was only another line in the day’s record.
But for the Qin family, the atmosphere had changed completely.
Qin Yuze was the first to rush forward.
"Brother, the stone must be wrong!" he said through clenched teeth. "You trained harder than anyone. How can you not awaken?"
Qin Yuheng looked at him.
His younger brother’s anger was real. It was not embarrassment. It was not disappointment. It was the anger of someone who felt that his family had been wronged.
That warmed Qin Yuheng’s heart more than any public applause could have.
"The Awakening Stone only shows talent status," Qin Yuheng said quietly. "It does not decide everything."
Qin Yuze opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but Qin Yuchen placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Enough," Qin Yuchen said. "This is not the place."
Qin Yuze stiffened, then lowered his voice. "I know..."
Qin Xue’er stepped forward and looked up at Qin Yuheng with worried eyes. "Big Brother, are you sad?"
Qin Yuheng smiled and gently patted her head.
"No."
It was not completely a lie.
He was not sad.
He was shocked.
Confused.
Careful.
Because the panel floating before his eyes had not disappeared.
[Name: Qin Yuheng]
[Age: 18]
[Level: 1]
[Public Talent Status: Not Awakened]
[True Talent Slot 1]
[Primordial Origin Evolution]
[Grade: Beyond Current Evaluation]
[Authority: Sealed]
[Available Functions]
1. Quantity Multiplication
2. Quality Enhancement
[Locked Functions]
Balanced Evolution
Talent Evolution
Origin Reconstruction
Authority Reversal
Qin Yuheng read the lines silently.
His expression did not change, but his mind was turning faster than ever.
Public Talent Status: Not Awakened.
True Talent Slot 1: Primordial Origin Evolution.
The difference between these two lines was terrifying.
It meant the Awakening Stone had not detected his real talent. Or perhaps it had detected something but failed to classify it. Either possibility was dangerous.
In this world, talents were rare, and powerful talents were even rarer. If someone awakened an S-grade or higher talent, they would become the focus of entire cities. Ancient clans, academies, guilds, and even national forces would pay attention.
But an unmeasurable talent?
A talent beyond current evaluation?
That was not a blessing if exposed too early.
It was a disaster.
Qin Yuheng lowered his gaze and dismissed the panel with a thought.
The panel vanished.
Then he called it again silently.
It reappeared.
His heartbeat quickened slightly.
He could control it.
That was good.
Very good.
"Yuheng."
His father’s voice sounded beside him.
Qin Zhengyuan had walked closer. The man’s face was still pale, but his gaze was steady and warm.
"Come back with us first."
Qin Yuheng nodded. "Yes, Father."
Mu Qinglan also looked at him. Her eyes were calm, but Qin Yuheng could feel her concern.
"Do not listen to the crowd," she said softly. "The world likes to define people quickly because it does not have the patience to understand them."
Qin Yuheng smiled faintly. "I know, Mother."
Qin Wanshan did not speak immediately.
The old man stared at Qin Yuheng for a long moment, as if trying to see something. For some reason, Qin Yuheng felt that his grandfather had noticed a faint abnormality.
Not the panel.
Not the talent.
But perhaps a change in his breathing, his eyes, or his spirit.
After a moment, Qin Wanshan turned away.
"Return."
Only one word.
But everyone in the Qin family obeyed.
As they left the square, the whispers followed them.
"The Qin family heir failed."
"Qin Wanshan must be disappointed."
"Without an awakened talent, how can Qin Yuheng enter Heavenly Gate Academy?"
"He can still enter if the Qin family uses connections, but what is the point?"
"Zhao Tianyu will suppress him completely."
Qin Yuze’s shoulders trembled with anger.
Qin Yuheng placed a hand on his brother’s head and pressed down lightly.
"Don’t turn around."
"But they—"
"They are only words."
Qin Yuze bit his lip.
Qin Yuheng looked forward.
"Remember this, Yuze. If every insult can make you lose control, then your enemies will never need swords."
Qin Yuze froze.
Qin Yuchen glanced at Qin Yuheng, his eyes thoughtful.
Even after receiving a Not Awakened result, Qin Yuheng was still calm enough to teach his younger brother. That calmness was not forced. It came from something deeper.
The Qin family carriage waited outside the square.
It was not luxurious. The wood was old, and the family crest on the side had faded slightly. Compared with the Zhao family’s crimson beast carriage, the Qin carriage looked almost plain.
But the driver was an old man with a silent posture.
Gu Tianhe.
To most outsiders, he was an old servant who had followed Qin Wanshan for many years. His hair was gray, his clothes were simple, and he rarely spoke.
But when Qin Yuheng passed him, he felt a strange sensation.
For a brief moment, the system panel flickered.
[Warning: High-level life aura detected.]
[Current authority insufficient.]
[Information cannot be read.]
Qin Yuheng’s pupils contracted slightly.
Gu Tianhe stood with lowered eyes, as if he had noticed nothing.
High-level life aura.
Current authority insufficient.
Information cannot be read.
Qin Yuheng stepped into the carriage silently.
The Qin family was not as simple as outsiders believed.
He had always suspected this. His grandfather’s past, his father’s injury, his mother’s hidden strength, the strange respect many old forces still showed the Qin name—all of it pointed toward a deeper truth.
But now the system had confirmed at least one thing.
Even the old servant driving their carriage was not ordinary.
The carriage moved through Heavenly Gate City.
Outside the window, the city was alive with celebration and disappointment. Families whose children awakened were already discussing academy applications, first-floor preparations, equipment purchases, and guild invitations. Families whose children failed walked in silence.
Tower society was realistic.
Cruelly realistic.
Qin Yuheng leaned back and closed his eyes.
The panel appeared again.
He focused on the first available function.
[Quantity Multiplication]
[Effect: Multiply the quantity of a selected eligible reward or item.]
[Current limitation: Can only be used once per item.]
[Copied items cannot be evolved again.]
Then he focused on the second.
[Quality Enhancement]
[Effect: Improve the quality, grade, essence, or potential of a selected eligible reward or item.]
[Current limitation: Can only be used once per item.]
[Enhanced items cannot be evolved again.]
Once per item.
Copied items could not be evolved again.
Enhanced items could not be evolved again. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
This was important.
It meant he had to choose carefully.
If he multiplied a low-grade fruit, he would gain many low-grade fruits. If he enhanced it, he would gain one high-grade fruit. Both options had value depending on the situation.
For family development, quantity might be better.
For his own breakthrough, quality might be better.
For rare items, quality was likely the first choice.
For currency or consumables, quantity might be more useful.
Qin Yuheng’s thinking became clearer.
His talent was powerful, but not mindless. It required judgment.
And judgment required information.
The carriage eventually entered the old district of Heavenly Gate City.
The Qin Estate stood at the end of a quiet stone road. Its walls were high but weathered. Its gate was large but not ostentatious. Two stone lions stood at the entrance, their surfaces covered with cracks.
At first glance, it looked like the residence of an old family that had lost much of its former glory.
But as the carriage passed through the gate, Qin Yuheng felt a subtle pressure brush across his skin.
The system flickered again.
[Ancient defensive formation detected.]
[Current authority insufficient.]
[Unable to analyze.]
Qin Yuheng lowered his eyes.
Another confirmation.
The Qin Estate was hiding something.
After entering the main courtyard, Qin Wanshan stepped down first.
"Yuheng," the old man said.
"Yes, Grandfather."
"Come to the ancestral hall tonight."
Qin Zhengyuan’s expression changed slightly.
Mu Qinglan looked at Qin Wanshan but did not stop him.
Qin Yuheng nodded.
"Yes."
Qin Wanshan turned and left with Gu Tianhe.
The moment they disappeared, Qin Yuze finally exploded.
"Why are they all acting like Brother is finished? Even without a talent, Brother is still better than those useless people!"
Qin Xue’er nodded fiercely. "Big Brother is the best."
Qin Yuchen said calmly, "Talent is important, but not everything. However, the Tower is dangerous. Without talent, the early floors become much harder."
Qin Yuze glared. "Are you saying Brother can’t climb?"
"I am saying we need preparation."
Qin Yuheng looked at his younger siblings and felt something settle inside his chest.
He had not told them anything.
Not yet.
He could not.
But their reaction had already given him his answer.
If this family stood beside him when the world thought he was talentless, then he would make sure this family stood above the world when he rose.
That night, after dinner, Qin Yuheng went alone to the ancestral hall.
The hall was old and quiet.
Rows of ancestral tablets stood beneath dim lamps. Some names were clear. Others were blurred. A few of the oldest tablets were cracked, as if something had erased the names by force.
Qin Wanshan stood before the tablets with his hands behind his back.
For a long time, he said nothing.
Then he spoke.
"Yuheng, do you want to enter the Tower?"
Qin Yuheng answered without hesitation.
"Yes."
Qin Wanshan slowly turned around.
His cloudy eyes were no longer cloudy.
For a moment, Qin Yuheng felt as if an ancient mountain had opened its eyes.
"Then remember my words," Qin Wanshan said. "Until the talent issue is solved, you are not allowed to enter the Tower."
Qin Yuheng’s heart moved. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
Before he could respond, Qin Wanshan raised his hand.
A jade box appeared in his palm.
The moment the box opened, a blue-gold fruit lay inside, surrounded by faint arcs of lightning.
The air in the ancestral hall changed.
Qin Yuheng’s panel opened automatically.
[Item detected.]
[A Grade Azure Thunder Battle Body Fruit]
[Type: Talent Fruit]
[Effect: Chance to awaken a thunder-body combat talent.]
[Estimated awakening chance: 32% - 48%]
[Eligible for Primordial Origin Evolution.]
Qin Yuheng’s breath slowed.
An A-grade Talent Fruit.
A treasure that could make powerful families fight in secret.
Qin Wanshan looked at him deeply.
"This fruit was not meant to be used lightly," the old man said. "But you are my grandson."
The jade box floated toward Qin Yuheng.
"Take it."
