Chapter 1 The Meeting

Wan Hongxin and Fang Huifeng made eye contact.

This was their first meeting.

Fang Huifeng had visited the Wan family before, but only stayed briefly at the main residence of the Wan Clan. At that time, Wan Hongxin was at the South Residence.

Later, when Wan Hongxin moved to the main residence, he had already left.

After that, Wan Hongxin came to the Central Region, not using his own name, but forging the reputation of the White-Haired Sword Demon. Old Fang had heard of him, but didn't know he was Wan Lei's father.

Through various missed opportunities, they were only now formally meeting.

Although the location was far from formal.

Surrounded by people from various factions, it was certainly not a good occasion for in-laws to meet and exchange pleasantries.

"Patriarch Fang."

Wan Hongxin cupped his hands in greeting.

"Wan... Brother Wan."

Old Fang hesitated for a moment, unsure how to address the other man.

After all, Wan Hongxin was not a residence lord or clan leader, holding no official position. He couldn't just say, "Halt, White-Haired Sword Demon, take this punch!" upon meeting him.

After much thought, since the other party was an in-law and of similar standing, and younger than himself, he decided to address him as "Brother Wan."

Even though Old Fang was older than Wan Lei's grandfather.

The two nodded somewhat awkwardly and exchanged some polite compliments like "I've heard so much about you,"

making the atmosphere even more awkward.

Young Master Lei, standing to the side, was so embarrassed his toes were practically forming a three-bedroom apartment.

Just as he was thinking of saying something to ease the tension, Sui Xiaohang's voice suddenly came from a distance.

"Young Master Lei, Young Master Lei, hahaha, I knew you wouldn't die. Come on, quick, come with me, there's something good over there."

Wan Lei's eyes lit up. Sui Xiaohang always arrived at the most opportune moments.

"Oh? What good thing?"

Young Master Lei's tone was quite enthusiastic.

"On the edge of the Dark Area over there, there's a formation. The elders of the Heavenly Formation Pavilion have been trying to break it for a day without success. Xu Qing hurried to ask me to invite you.

There must be something good inside. Let's go take a look quickly."

"How do you know there's something good inside?"

"Isn't that obvious? People have explored the edge of the Dark Area completely. Besides that one formation, there's nothing else. How could there not be a great treasure?"

Wan Lei's eyes brightened at this, and he exchanged a glance with Fang Xiaoyu.

The Dark Area was considered the very end of the Wood Immortal Secret Realm. If there was only one formation there, it meant the final trial must be within the formation.

If he could break that formation and pass the trial, wouldn't he be able to obtain the token?

"Let's go, let's go, what are you dawdling for?"

"Damn, aren't you the one who's been asking all these questions here?"

Wan Lei flew towards the distance with Sui Xiaohang, and Fang Xiaoyu naturally followed.

The remaining people exchanged glances.

Old Fang sighed,

"Let's go take a look together."

After flying for a short while, they crossed the hilly terrain and entered the endless darkness.

In the darkness, besides the formation, there was truly nothing else.

Outside the formation, many curious onlookers were watching.

And beside the formation, over a dozen cultivators were studying it. Xu Qing was among them, clearly the elders of the Heavenly Formation Pavilion.

"Make way, make way, Wan Lei is here, let Wan Lei have a look."

Sui Xiaohang's voice was very loud. Hearing Wan Lei's name, and seeing Patriarch Fang and the others, people immediately parted to make a path for them.

"Wan Lei, you're here, quickly take a look and see if there's a way to break this formation."

Xu Qing's delicate brows furrowed slightly.

"Hmph, a stinking brat who hasn't even lost his baby teeth, what's with the airs? Pretending to know when you don't, go to the side. Our Heavenly Formation Pavilion's dignified nine elders haven't broken this formation, so how can a mere youngster like you covet it?"

A Heavenly Formation Pavilion elder glared fiercely at Wan Lei. The other elders also wore gloomy and displeased expressions, as if Wan Lei had come specifically to cause trouble.

Young Master Lei's eyes lit up at this. It was like someone delivering a pillow when one was sleepy, or a villain spouting threats when one wanted to show off. How thoughtful!

Old man, are you doing this intentionally? You're so understanding, I think highly of you.

Just wait and see how I'll slap your faces later.

However, the development of reality often isn't as smooth as in novels, like now.

Old Fang raised his hand and blasted out a palm, directly sending the speaking Heavenly Formation Pavilion elder flying. The elder fell to the ground, spitting blood, his bones fractured.

"Hmph, he's someone you can insult? What are you?"

Old Fang let out a sinister cold laugh.

Dominating,

Truly damnably dominating. He truly lived up to being Old Fang.

This was Young Master Lei's first reaction.

His second reaction was,

Old Fang, why are you butting in? I was planning to rely on my own strength to shut them up, and now everyone will think I'm living off my wife.

Wan Lei shook his head and walked over. The other elders, though angry, dared not speak. No one dared to provoke Patriarch Fang's displeasure.

Wan Lei activated his array eye and carefully observed the formation.

"Such a complex formation."

"How is it? Do you have confidence?"

Fang Xiaoyu asked softly.

"It will probably take... five minutes."

As soon as he said this, everyone around sneered.

A formation that the nine elders of the Heavenly Formation Pavilion couldn't break in a day, and you think you can break it in five minutes?

Eat shit.

Wan Lei began to break the formation. Behind him, Old Fang and Old Wan, this pair of in-laws, bored and idle, started their awkward conversation again.

"Brother Wan, this son of mine, Lei'er, is truly remarkable."

Old Fang looked at Wan Lei in the distance, starting with a compliment.

At this point, Wan Hongxin should have said something like, "Not at all, my son is incompetent."

But who would have thought...

"Yes, Lei'er's mother left early, and I didn't discipline him much. I let him grow on his own, and I never expected him to grow up to be so outstanding.

Lei'er, since childhood, has always been obedient, honest, sweet-mouthed, good at talking, and not one to flirt with others..."

Old Fang looked at Wan Hongxin in surprise, wanting to stop him and ask if the Wan Lei he was describing was the same person as the one he knew.

He hadn't seen any of these virtues he mentioned!

He hadn't expected the iron-blooded and ruthless White-Haired Sword Demon to be so shameless, truly taking after Wan Lei.

No, he's the father, so it should be Wan Lei taking after him. No wonder that kid is so shameless.

This is inherited shamelessness. From which generation did it start?

As Old Fang pondered, he finally calculated that from the generation of the Thunder Emperor, the Wan family seemed to have had this tradition of shamelessness.

"Ahem."

Old Fang really couldn't listen anymore. These father and son, are they here to challenge his blood pressure today?

"These two children, these past five years haven't been easy. I've heard them talk about it. In that spatial turbulence, all rules are chaotic. It's good enough to have spiritual energy. They managed to survive, they must have suffered a lot."

Old Fang sighed with emotion.

"Yes, the children have had a tough time. If it weren't for Xiaoyu, Lei'er would probably have died tragically long ago. It's thanks to them supporting each other and enduring together to escape.

Their affection has been tested by life and death, and it is more solidified than any other couple."