Fellow Daoist, I gladly accept this heaven-defying opportunity.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. The three of them traveled through wind and rain, sleeping in the open, and finally caught a glimpse of the outline of Chu Jing City.

Xiao Yu, the leader, looked eager and delighted. He turned to the two behind him and said with a smile, "Senior Brother Zhang, Junior Brother Xu, Chu Jing City is just ahead! Once we're in the city, let's have a good rest and freshen up. My Xiao family owns a restaurant in the city, and some of their signature dishes are absolutely amazing. Once we're settled, I'll definitely take you two senior brothers to try them..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Linghe impatiently interrupted him from behind. The past two weeks of trekking through mountains and rivers had worn down this pampered young man's temper, and his face was long and drawn: "Alright, alright, enough of this nonsense, let's get into the city. These past two weeks of wind and sun, if I'd known I'd suffer like this, I shouldn't have taken this job!"

"Hehe, yes, yes, Senior Brother Zhang is right."

Xiao Yu forced a smile, not daring to utter a single word of rebuttal, and could only obediently turn his horse around and lead the way.

No one noticed that Xu Mofeng, who had been silent the whole way, suddenly had an astonishingly bright look in his eyes.

He saw it. At the end of the line of opportunity above Xiao Yu's head, there was a magnificent line of opportunity, as red as flames, right in front of him, right in Chu Jing City!

During their two-week trip together, Xu Mofeng also figured out the reason why Xiao Yu had invited people.

The Xiao family has been rooted in Chu Jing City for many years and can be considered a powerful force in the area. However, their power has gradually declined in recent years, and with the old master Xiao getting old, the other two major families in the city have joined forces to put pressure on them to redistribute their territory through a martial arts competition among the younger generation.

Xiao Yu invited the two of them, which was essentially asking for outside help to bolster his reputation.

Of course, Xiao Yu was mainly saying this to Zhang Linghe.

In his eyes, Xu Mofeng was only at the third level of Foundation Establishment. Spending five spirit stones to invite Chun Chun was just to make up the numbers and put on a show. To really rely on him to fight in the competition was nothing short of wishful thinking.

The three quickly entered the city and went straight to a magnificent mansion.

The servants at the gate, upon seeing Xiao Yu, immediately shouted with delight, "The Second Young Master is back! The Second Young Master is back!"

Xiao Yu straightened his clothes and led Xu Mofeng and Zhang Linghe inside.

Before long, the news that the second young master of the Xiao family had brought back two fellow disciples from the sect spread throughout the entire Xiao mansion.

Immediately afterwards, a servant came to announce that the master of the house had summoned him.

"Come with me to see my father."

Xiao Yu spoke to the two of them, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension.

The three quickly entered the reception room, where a middle-aged man who bore a striking resemblance to Xiao Yu sat in the main seat. His aura was deep and composed, indicating that he was at the seventh or eighth level of the Foundation Establishment stage, and he exuded an imposing and dignified presence befitting someone who had long held a high position.

"Father."

Xiao Yu stepped forward and bowed respectfully, adopting an extremely humble posture.

The head of the Xiao family nodded indifferently, his gaze sweeping over Xu Mofeng and Zhang Linghe behind him. There was no smile on his face as he casually ordered, "Take the two guests down to rest and treat them well."

The tone was no different from instructing a servant to arrange for two ordinary guests.

Xiao Yu opened his mouth, about to say something more, when suddenly a servant stumbled in, his voice full of joy: "Master! The eldest young master is back!"

The Xiao family patriarch, who had been expressionless just moments before, instantly changed his expression, abruptly standing up with barely concealed excitement on his face: "Quick! Come with me to greet Yi'er!"

With that, he strode out, and Xiao Yu and the others quickly followed.

As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw a handsome young man walking towards him with a smile. His cultivation level was clearly at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment, which was much higher than Xiao Yu's.

Behind him followed a cold-looking man carrying a sword, whose aura was profound and imposing; he was actually a master at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment!

The head of the Xiao family rushed forward, his face beaming with smiles: "Yi'er! My dear Yi'er is back! Good, good!"

Turning to look at the man holding the sword, she praised him highly: "This must be Yi'er's friend from the Xuanming Palace, right? At such a young age, he already possesses the eighth level of Foundation Establishment cultivation; truly a young talent with limitless potential!"

That warm enthusiasm was a world apart from the coldness he had shown towards Xiao Yu and the other person just moments before.

Xiao Yu's face paled slightly as he lowered his voice to explain to Xu Mofeng and the other man, "That's my half-brother, Xiao Yi, who cultivates in the Xuanming Palace. From childhood to adulthood, my father has always favored him more..."

Xu Mofeng sneered inwardly. This was hardly "valuing more"; it was clearly treating the second son like a weed and the eldest son like a treasure.

Then the head of the Xiao family said he needed to discuss important matters with his two sons, so Xu Mofeng and the others tactfully took their leave.

As Xu Mofeng turned to leave, he clearly noticed that the swordsman behind Xiao Yi glanced at them indifferently, his contempt and disdain undisguised, as if he were looking at two lowly servants.

Zhang Linghe was so angry that his face turned blue, and his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

But the other party's cultivation level of the eighth level of Foundation Establishment was far superior to his, so he could only grit his teeth and swallow his anger, not daring to utter a single word.

Xu Mofeng, however, did not care at all.

He didn't come to the Xiao family to save face; he came for the incredible opportunity that Xiao Yu possessed.

The cold stares of others? What does it have to do with him?

From the moment he entered the mansion, Xu Mofeng had been secretly observing and had already pinpointed the point of their destiny: somewhere in the Xiao family's backyard.

However, being a newcomer, he couldn't just barge in recklessly and could only wait until late at night to make his move.

And so they waited until nightfall.

After having dinner brought by the servants, Xu Mofeng used the excuse of digesting his food to leisurely stroll to the backyard.

"Logically, it should be around here, so why did the opportunity line suddenly disappear?"

Xu Mofeng was looking around, wondering what was going on, when he suddenly looked up and saw a figure standing by the pond in the courtyard with his back to him, lost in thought.

The crimson thread of opportunity that he had been longing for was hanging down from that figure and plunged straight into the depths of the pool.

Standing there is Xiao Yu!

The opportunity lies at the bottom of this pool!

Xu Mofeng's heart skipped a beat, fearing that Xiao Yu might impulsively jump in and seize the opportunity first. He quickly pretended to be passing by and walked over, feigning surprise as he asked, "Senior Brother Xiao? What are you doing standing here? Do you want to cool off in the water?"

Xiao Yu turned around and saw that it was Xu Mofeng. He forced a smile and said, "So it's Junior Brother Xu."

"Senior Brother Xiao seems to have something on his mind?"

Seeing his gloomy expression, Xu Mofeng followed up with a question.

Xiao Yu remained silent for a while before suddenly speaking, his voice tinged with self-mockery: "Junior Brother Xu, do you think I'm particularly useless compared to my elder brother Xiao Yi?"

Xu Mofeng's eyes flickered slightly: "What makes you say that, Senior Brother Xiao?"

Xiao Yu stared intently at the pool before him, his voice as soft as if carried on the wind: "Junior Brother Xu, I am actually born out of wedlock. My mother used to be a maid in the manor. From as far back as I can remember, no one in the manor respected me, not even my father. His heart and eyes were entirely devoted to my eldest brother, Xiao Yi. If I did ten things right, I wouldn't get a single word of praise from him; but if I made even the slightest mistake, I would be punished twice as severely. My eldest brother doesn't have to do anything to receive all the favoritism."

"I cultivated with all my might and finally got into the Azure Nether Sect, but the resources my family gives me are less than a fifth of what my older brother receives. I'm clearly more talented than him..."

"When the Xiao family was in trouble, I swallowed my pride and used all my resources to ask people to come back and help. But what was the result? He didn't even give me a second glance, and even the friends I brought back were neglected."

As Xiao Yu spoke, he gave a wry smile and looked at Xu Mofeng: "Junior Brother Xu, am I living a particularly unsuccessful life?"

The desolation and grievance in his tone made one's heart sink.

Xu Mofeng hadn't expected that beneath the glamorous reputation of this second young master of the Xiao family lay so many grievances; he was indeed a pitiful person.

However, while I may feel moved in my heart, I can't let him get stuck on the details.

Just kidding, if this person really couldn't think straight and jumped into the pond, who would he ask for his good fortune from?

Xu Mofeng said seriously, "Senior Brother Xiao, you are too obsessed. People don't live to compare themselves with others. You don't need to keep an eye on your elder brother in everything. Just do your best."

These were the truth, but Xiao Yu's expression only softened slightly upon hearing them.

A knot in one's heart that has been there for over a decade cannot be untied with just a few words.

But since someone was willing to listen to his heartfelt words, he felt much better. He smiled self-deprecatingly and pointed to the pool, saying, "To be honest, Junior Brother Xu, just now when I was standing here, I even had the absurd thought of jumping in and ending it all."

Xu Mofeng quickly said seriously, "Senior Brother Xiao, please don't have such thoughts. The path of martial arts is long and arduous. What is this little obstacle? There is still a long road ahead."

But in his mind, he added: "Brother, please don't jump. If you jump, all my trip will have been for nothing."

"Just kidding, it's all over now."

Xiao Yu took a deep breath and composed himself. "No matter how the Xiao family treats me, I am still a member of the Xiao family, and I must bear the responsibilities I should bear. I will go and ask my father about the details of the martial arts competition, and then I will drink with Junior Brother Xu when I get back."

"Alright, Senior Brother Xiao, please make yourself at home."

Xu Mofeng nodded in agreement.

Only after Xiao Yu's figure completely disappeared from the courtyard did Xu Mofeng withdraw his gaze and stare intently at the deep pool in front of him.

The crimson line of opportunity plunged straight into the bottom of the pool, standing out vividly in the night.

No one knows what kind of earth-shattering opportunity lies hidden beneath this calm surface.