Chapter 23: The Price of Authority

The Grand Meeting of Elite Talents had come to an end, but its echoes lingered in conversations and admiring glances. Diệp Lạc Duật Vân, with his spectacular victory, had earned everyone's respect, but the attention didn't stop there.

One quiet evening at the Lê family residence, Lê Ngọc Hân sat in the living room, a teacup lightly held in her hand, her gaze distant. She had witnessed the competition of the young geniuses, including her own brother—Lê Hạo Thiên—who had failed to win. Ngọc Hân knew that Hạo Thiên would never show his true emotions, but she understood that he was upset. Hạo Thiên's ego was so great that he couldn't reveal his defeat to anyone, not even his own family.

"Ngọc Hân, aren't you sad?" A gentle voice echoed from the doorway. Lê Hạo Thiên entered, his eyes cold but containing a hint of weariness.

Ngọc Hân placed her teacup on the table, smiling at her younger brother. "I know you never liked to lose. But not everything can be measured by victory, right?"

Hạo Thiên sat down opposite her, his face still holding its usual coldness. "You don't understand. I want to do everything to prove I can win. But… if I can't surpass someone like Duật Vân…"

Ngọc Hân gently placed her hand on her brother's, speaking softly: "Everyone has their own path, Hạo Thiên. Duật Vân winning doesn't mean you've lost. Don't forget, you still have advantages that Duật Vân doesn't."

Hạo Thiên looked up, his sharp eyes meeting his sister's. "I understand. But sometimes, I feel… something's missing."

Ngọc Hân looked at her brother, recognizing the burning desire for victory in his eyes. She let out a soft sigh. "The price of power is sacrificing many things. Are you willing to pay that price?"

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Duật Vân sat in his private office, looking at the rankings of the Grand Meeting of Elite Talents. His name was at the top, but the feeling of victory didn't bring him joy. Duật Vân had hidden intentions, schemes that no one knew about.

"Lê Hạo Thiên… is still a formidable opponent." He said to himself, his eyes deep in thought.

However, in Duật Vân's heart, not everyone who wins is the strongest. "This game has just begun…" He whispered, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Grand Meeting of Elite Talents Rankings:

Diệp Lạc Duật VânLê Hạo ThiênDịch Thừa HànNguyễn Minh HoàngLê Ngọc HânTrần Minh Hoàng

That night, Minh Hoàng lay in bed in his simple room, his face dejected. Although he knew he couldn't expect too much, he couldn't help but feel disappointed. The Grand Meeting of Elite Talents had ended, and he couldn't even make it into the top 5, his name wasn't even on the rankings.

"It's alright…" Minh Hoàng whispered, even though he knew he had done his best. He just needed to try harder, to continue on his path.

One day, he would prove to everyone that he wasn't just an ordinary student, but a formidable opponent.

In a dark room, Dịch Thừa Hàn stood by the window, looking out at the night sky. He chuckled softly, a cold smile on his face. "It's time to begin."

He had lost in this competition, but that didn't mean he had given up. Dịch Thừa Hàn only did that to create another opportunity, an opportunity that he could manipulate and seize everything.

The next day, all of Đan Vũ was abuzz about the results of the Grand Meeting of Elite Talents, but behind this event, another battle had begun. The schemes, the conspiracies, and the strategies behind the scenes of the young geniuses would now gradually be revealed.