Chapter 1: When the father suffers humiliation, the son must avenge him

  Xiao City, Xiao Family!

  The city is called Xiao City, and the Xiao family's status can be seen from this. However, the Xiao family guards who are usually proud and arrogant today have a humble and cautious expression on their faces, although they are dressed in bright clothes, but with a hint of humility and flattery. At this moment, the main gate of the Xiao family has already been opened, and both sides are lined with beautiful maidservants, with red lanterns hanging high under the eaves, such grand treatment is like welcoming someone.

  "Father, is the messenger from Luoyun Valley really that unapproachable? Must we be so cautious with them, given our Xiao family's strength?" In the grand hall of the Xiao family, Xiao Lin wore a proud expression. As the young master of the Xiao family, he had grown accustomed to people being overly polite and deferential towards him over the years, naturally developing an arrogant personality.

  "Shut up!" Xiao Wenting's face suddenly changed, and he angrily rebuked, while carefully looking around, seeing that there was nothing unusual, only then did he secretly let out a sigh of relief. However, his face was still extremely solemn, and he sternly shouted: "You shut your mouth, if you provoke the heavenly messenger because of this, see how I'll deal with you!"

  Xiao Lin's face changed, he didn't expect his father, who usually spoiled him, to scold him so severely for this. However, he wasn't a fool and wisely kept his mouth shut.

  "All right, to avoid any of you accidentally offending the heavenly messenger and bringing disaster to our Xiao family, I'd like to remind you all of a few things." Xiao Wenting's expression was stern, and the masters of the other branches of the Xiao family also had serious faces.

  "Luoyun Valley is not the worldly power you imagine, otherwise with our Xiao family's strength, how could we be so careful and fawning! Luoyun Valley is a sect of cultivators who are above the world, with divine powers that can move mountains and seas, and have no difficulty in destroying our Xiao family with just one disciple. Xiaowen Ting's eyes were filled with reverence and admiration, for he had seen the cultivators of Luoyun Valley display their skills back then. The famous thieves on the rivers and lakes, as well as the top martial artists, were all reduced to ashes by a single small fireball, without even leaving behind half a bone!"

  "My family, the Xiao clan, has been fortunate enough to have an old connection with Luoyun Valley. Every twenty years, we get a chance to send our eligible young men for testing. If they possess the talent for cultivating immortality, they can soar to great heights and be taken in as disciples, becoming one of those legendary immortal beings!"

  "What! There really are immortals in this world?"

  "Are we here just to take a test? Is this for real?"

  "Ah! It's too great, I have a chance to become immortal!"

  "Immortal! I'm going to become an immortal!"

  In the great hall, a dozen or so young men of the Xiao family suddenly became excited.

  "So, all of you must remember that when the messenger comes next time, you must be careful and respectful. Otherwise, if something goes wrong and brings disaster to our family, you will not be able to atone for your mistakes even with your deaths!" The last sentence was spoken by Xiao Wenting with a stern tone and an icy demeanor.

  "Yes, Clan Leader!" The young men of the Xiao family heard this and their expressions immediately became tense, their eyes filled with a mixture of reverence and anticipation.

  Xiao Wenting nodded in satisfaction, but his move was actually a bit too cautious. The immortal master had always been cold and arrogant, looking down on the worldly people's petty flattery, not even bothering to take a sip of tea after arriving, and leaving immediately with his entourage. Even if he wanted to make amends, there would be no opportunity.

  At this moment, a young servant in a green robe suddenly ran in from the outer hall. His face seemed to be somewhat difficult, and after kneeling down, he said respectfully: "Master, there is a father and son outside who claim to be from the Xiao family branch and have come to participate in the Immortal Master selection today. These two people are very unfamiliar, and I have never seen them before, but they are wearing...the clothes they wear are indeed the Xiao family attire, so I dare not take it upon myself, and I have come to ask for your instructions."

  The young man in the green robe carefully finished speaking, but his heart was secretly drumming. Today is an important day for the Xiao family, which comes once every twenty years. If the two people outside are really from the Xiao family, that's fine. Otherwise, he fears he won't be able to escape a beating. However... That old gentleman really has a lot of presence, so he probably isn't a swindler, right?

  Xiao Wenting's mouth slightly curled up, revealing a hint of coldness, and he waved his hand: "I already know about this matter, just bring the two of them here."

  After the little servant left, the second person on Xiang Wenting's left frowned and said: "Big brother, all three gates and eight houses of our Xiang family are here. Those two people outside are obviously deceiving you. Why let them in? What if they rush at the Immortal Envoy later and cause unnecessary trouble?"

  "Haha, Fourth Brother, you're wrong about that. Strictly speaking, our Xiao family has three gates and nine households. Have you forgotten? Back then, one of my brothers was driven out of the house by our first mother, Old Lady Xiao." A hint of mockery appeared on Xiao Wenting's face. "Yesterday, he invited me and Second Brother and Third Brother out, begging us pitifully. I took pity on him and agreed to let his son participate in this Treading Immortal Gate selection."

  "It was him, the one who vowed never to set foot in my Xiao family again after leaving all those years ago. Today, he's come running back with his tail between his legs. Heh, let's see how I'll humiliate him this time." Xiao Wenyin, the fifth master of the Xiao family, gazed coldly towards the main hall entrance.

  Just then, two figures stepped in from outside the door, who were none other than Xiao Chen and his father.

  "Hah, you probably don't know yet, the person in front of us is actually a big shot from our Xiao family back in the day, deeply favored by the old master. But later on, because of secretly plotting to seize the family property, was expelled from the house by the old lady. Today, he actually has the face to come back!"

  "Hmph! They're only coming to fawn on us because they see that our Xiao family is about to take the Treading Immortal Gate test. If it were me, I'd have directly kicked those two out and avoided all this trouble!"

  "Look at that kid, frail and pale, thinking of becoming a fairy master's disciple, what a pipe dream!"

  In the hall, Xiao Wenting wore a cold smile, while the crowd of Xiao family members continued to mock and ridicule him.

  Xiao Fu gripped Xiao Chen's arm tightly, his strength immense, pinning him down firmly, his eyes sternly forbidding any argument.

  A moment later, Xiao Wenting slightly waved his hand, and the numerous cold jeers instantly dissipated. He said, "Since I have already agreed to it, I will absolutely not go back on my word!"

  "But you father and son remember, this is the last chance I give you, from now on whether you live or die, never step into our Xiao family's gate again!"

  "Hurry up and move aside, lest you unknowingly offend the immortal master!"

  "Yes." Xiao Fu ignored the mocking and sarcastic gazes of the crowd, pulled Xiao Chen over and took him to a corner.

  "Morning child, don't ask me why I'm doing this, and don't have any burdens in your heart. For now, just remember one thing: after following the immortal and leaving, think of every way to stay there!"

  Xiao Chen heard the words and nodded heavily, although his eyes were red, but he had never left half a tear, because his father said that men should stand up to heaven and earth, shed blood but not tears!