The monotonous wait lasted a full quarter of an hour, and the crowd at the Martial Arts Arena had already started to grow impatient. However, Zhao Letian still hadn't shown up.
As the final moments drew near, many people began to assume that Zhao Letian truly dared not come.
"It's probably for the better that he doesn't come. After all, representatives from all the major families in the city are here today. Once the pride of the Zhao Family, if he is easily defeated by his peers in the assessment today, it would not only be a loss of face for him and his mother, but also for our Zhao Family," Zhao Wuji thought to himself, as Zhao Lingshan behind him stared at the empty entrance of the Martial Arts Arena.
Though Zhao Lingshan had seen with her own eyes yesterday how Zhao Letian easily defeated Zhao Kang, she still believed that there were many other younger members of the Zhao Family who could defeat Zhao Letian, especially since the martial prowess Zhao Letian displayed yesterday was only at the Primordial Martial Sixth Realm, not even a High-level Primordial Martial.
To put it more bluntly, Zhao Lingshan thought that Zhao Letian had indeed become useless, no longer worthy to compete with the elite youths of the Zhao Family.
"Hmph! A useless person is still a useless person, too scared to even attend the assessment!" Zhao Kang, behind Zhao Liehu, touched his arm wrapped in a white bandage and bitterly thought to himself that it was a pity Zhao Letian did not come, otherwise his elder brother would definitely have avenged him.
"No worries, younger brother, even if he does not come, your elder brother will still avenge you. After the assessment, I will go with you and cripple his cultivation!" said the fierce-looking young man in a black robe beside him, coldly smiling. This person was Zhao Kang's elder brother, Zhao Hongyu.
"Alright, elder brother!" Zhao Kang immediately showed a cruel gleam in his eyes.
This conversation between the brothers was clearly heard by Zhao Yixin, who was not far away, but she did not take it to heart. She knew very well that these two were not yet a threat to her son and even if they really were going to trouble her son, she would not stop them. To her, this was a matter for the younger generation and she would not interfere lightly, seeing it as a small trial for her son.
"Is it not time yet?" Zhao Wuji, sitting in the center of the VIP seats, looked up at the sun and asked the Elder who was presiding over the event.
"It's almost time." The presiding Elder estimated the time; it was almost at the final moment.
"Then cancel Zhao Letian's qualification for the assessment and announce the start of the assessment," Zhao Wuji said expressionlessly.
"Yes, Clan Leader." The presiding Elder bowed, then turned to face the crowd at the Martial Arts Arena, and announced loudly, "The time has come, I hereby announce the start of the annual mid-year family assessment! Additionally, as Zhao Letian did not show up, his qualification for the assessment is canceled!"
Upon hearing this, even Zhao Yixin could hardly sit still, her eyebrows slightly furrowing. Although she was certain that her son would not have stayed away out of fear, since he still hadn't appeared until now, could it be that he had encountered some trouble?
Meanwhile, the watching crowd also issued a wave of disappointed hisses; they had come today to see a joke, and without Zhao Letian, this assessment would not be very interesting.
"Who said I haven't come? Just moments before your declaration, I had already stepped into the Martial Arts Arena, so I shouldn't be considered late, should I?"
Just then, a very calm and confident voice of a young man suddenly came from the entrance of the Martial Arts Arena.
The crowd turned to look in the direction of the voice, only to see the newcomer dressed in a plain, clean white robe, his eyes shining like stars, striding in with the breeze, looking dashing.
"Zhao Letian!"
"He actually dares to come?"
"Hehe, this is finally going to be a good show!"
The crowd, which had already been disappointed, was immediately ignited. Today, they would finally witness the Zhao Family's once-celebrated prodigy fall from grace and be humiliated by his own clan members. Although they couldn't personally partake in the punishment, for most of them who were just ordinary people, seeing a genius reduced to a mere waste, even lesser than themselves, brought a perverse pleasure that was extraordinary.
"Clan Leader, what should we do?" Seeing Zhao Letian arriving right on time, the presiding Elder was momentarily unsure of how to proceed and, frowning, turned to look at Zhao Wuji.
"This assessment is under your charge; how you handle it is your decision," Zhao Wuji said, not giving a clear answer.
"..." The presiding Elder was speechless, knowing the Clan Leader did not wish for Zhao Letian to participate. Yet, according to the rules, although Zhao Letian had walked in at the last moment, he indeed hadn't been late; thus, he couldn't cancel Zhao Letian's eligibility for the assessment.
"Is there even need to think about it? My son has not arrived late; you have no right to cancel his examination qualification. Announce that the assessment should begin," said Zhao Yixin suddenly speaking out with much authority in her tone, just when the presiding Elder was caught in a bind.
On the stage, the high-ranking members of the Zhao Family were all frowning. In their view, Zhao Yixin was being too presumptuous. She was merely one of many Elders in the clan, yet she dared to command the presiding Elder on what to do, completely ignoring the nearby Clan Leader Zhao Wuji. It was outrageous.
However, even though they were dissatisfied, none of the high-ranking members of the Zhao Family dared to step forward. The reason was simple: Zhao Yixin was powerful, far beyond their own.
"Well then, since Zhao Letian indeed has not been late, let him participate in the assessment too," the presiding Elder hesitated momentarily, saw there was no opposition from the Clan Leader, and then gritted his teeth and said.
Below the stage, Zhao Letian smiled faintly and casually walked into the ranks of the clan's younger generation.
"Hmph! Zhao Letian, you waste, how dare you make us wait so long, you'll see what's coming!"
"Zhao Letian, what are you doing here, you disgrace? If you want to embarrass yourself, don't drag the entire Zhao Family down with you; just scram!"
"Zhao Letian, how much cultivation do you even have left, daring to participate in the assessment, aren't you afraid of being beaten to death by us?"
Seeing Zhao Letian approaching, the Zhao Family's younger members started whispering, eager to personally teach Zhao Letian a lesson right then.
Yet, Zhao Letian seemed as if he hadn't heard these taunts at all, standing with his hands behind his back, composed, showing no sign of what he was thinking. But one thing was for sure, soon, he would make these people understand a lesson, that being ruthless does not need many words.
At the same time, on the stage, alongside their elders, Zhao Lingshan, Zhao Kang, and others had various thoughts flit across their faces.
Zhao Lingshan felt that Zhao Letian lacked self-awareness; participating in the assessment was simply overestimating himself and inviting humiliation, possibly even bringing shame to the Zhao Family along with him—he was loathsome, and she determined to teach him a lesson later.
Zhao Kang and Zhao Hongyu, on the other hand, showed sinister, excited smiles, their gaze towards Zhao Letian akin to viewing prey. They finally had the opportunity to publicly humiliate Zhao Letian and take their revenge.
"Since everyone is present, let's formally begin the assessment. The first item, check the cultivation levels, bring out the cultivation ranking stele!" At this moment, the presiding Elder suddenly shouted aloud.