Outside of the Drunken Immortal Tavern, five shadowy figures converged on top of a rooftop just across the tavern. They were warily looking towards the establishment— a legend of sorts.
When they saw Mo Fan walking inside, they steeled their resolves to stop him at all cost when suddenly—
"Stop."
An ethereal voice warned them, it was fleeting yet pleasing.
Their bodies trembled and all of their thoughts slowed down, the voice of that woman had that much about power.
Then like magic, a heavenly figure slowly appeared from their sights. Winds converged, a scent so tantalizing that it would make people dazed, and finally the voice of the woman appeared with all her glory. Her silver hair danced around the wind, her eyes were frighteningly silver— tranquility and grace with all its majesty.
All five figures knelt and did not dare look at her eyes, the women smiled and said casually, "I will forgive you this once for nearly losing sight of my unruly son."
A womanly shadow visibly trembled despite the pardon, she knelt much further towards the ground. Wu Xiu didn't pay much further to them and looked towards the Drunken Immortal Tavern's sign, she hesitated for a moment, before ultimately deciding not to stop Mo Fan from entering.
The five of them were visibly in shock, but they kept it in nonetheless.
Wu Xiu noticed this and decided to entertain them, "Well, all of you must be figuring out. Why did I stopped you and myself at the last second?"
"We don't dare!"
Their shouts were in unison, all thoughts and curiosities were erased from their mind. Meanwhile, Wu Xiu visibly sighed before explaining it anyway, "All of you are boring. Mo Fan needs to reign in on his arrogance, spoiling your child too much would be contradictory to what his destiny would be."
Wu Xiu's eyes flashed with despair, but her resolve became stronger— the time is near…
_____
Unaware that his mother has long since caught him, Mo Fan was staring intently at the food that arrived at their table. The scent was so enticing that his stomach grumbled.
The others were in similar states, not minding the sound made by Mo Fan. They were too caught up with the smell of the food.
The waitress noticed this and grinned, she placed all the food on the table then finally left six cups of the legendary Immortal Dew, she left abruptly— leaving the youngsters into daze.
The scent of the Immortal Dew wafted around them, needless to say it smelled so heavenly that they would really believed that it was the real Immortal Dew.
Mo Fan couldn't bear it anymore and said, "Let's eat!"
Like a signal they've all been waiting for, all of them ravaged the meal that they ordered. The way they ate were like starving wolves in the middle of winter, not leaving behind any speck of grain of rice.
They ate so happily that they weren't aware of the gazes of the others were sending to their tables, needless to say, it wasn't envy— it was pity.
Mo Fan was only focused on his meal, despite eating fast, his elegance and grace of a noble wasn't tainted. He ate steadily while handling cutlery to its finest degree. If it wasn't for the fact that he ate faster than them, they would think that he was really elegant.
In his mind, all his thoughts were left with a single thought… eat.
It was very primal to say the last, and Mo Fan's willpower couldn't defend against this primal instinct of his. And why would he want to?
This was the best meal he ever ate in his 15 years of life!
Not even the dishes served by their best chefs with the most lavish ingredients could compete with the single steak he ate.
"One more!"
Mo Fan shouted with all his might, the others soon followed as they finished their meals.
Then like magic, they awoke from their stupor of being savages, and they blushed hard from their lack of etiquette.
Mo Fan noticed this and said, "It's fine. We have only met but… this is one of the best evenings I've ever hard…" then noticing the untouched Immortal Dew, his eyes sparkled at his thought.
Raising his cup he shouted—
"Cheers!"
The others were stumped, but laughed and held their cups…
"Cheers!!!"
A long and unforgettable night is just about to start.
The youths were unaware of the scandal that they would cause in this very night.
A disappointed sigh rang outside the tavern, it was a tired and helpless one.
_____
Atop a gigantic peak, lay a palace coiled around it. It was the Dragon Palace, the main residence of the Mo Clan.
Inside a room, there was a middle-aged man. He was currently fiddling on a jade slip, while he was sitting on his chair, his face was stern and despite his grown-up look, his appearance was especially dazzling and regal, he was the clan leader of the Mo Clan— Space Immortal Emperor.
The jade slip he was fiddling with and intently looking at was the footage of his son, Mo Fan. The footage showed his entry to an enigmatic establishment, his face showed no reaction but when he saw his conceited and arrogance he gritted his teeth.
It was much so when he saw him dig into the food without much care and vigilance. He was so angry that he was about to break the jade slip.
But then—
When he saw the cordial scene, his heart softened and warmed.
"I've been to lenient on you, but just this once… the last one."
He looked towards a painting in the right side of his office, it showed the three of them smiling happily. Mo Fan was hugging his mother tightly whilst Mo Tianjingzi was being left alone to his poor self. The peaceful and loving atmosphere affected the whole office itself.
Mo Tianjingzi's heart turned stern, he threw away the jade slip and focused on an artifact. It was filled with countless runes and lines, despite this its beauty and craftsmanship was flawless. He was making his last preparations.
_____
They were now on their sixth order, but it seemed like the six of them still hadn't had enough. While they were eating, they all seemed to have gained their clarity and could now talk to each other.
They discussed multiple things about their cultivation, stories, and food.
Their eyes were a bit dazed from the strong liquor from the Immortal Dew, but since they have only drank one cup since, they could still maintain their selves.
The food and liquor was taking long that their conversation suddenly turned into the upcoming event.
Mo Fan asked them, "So… Im assuming that all of you must be coming for this generations Mortal Luck Trial?"
Most of them nodded, only leaving Luo Jing who seemed clueless about things. She visibly flustered about not knowing about it.
Mo Fan seemed to have sensed her confusion, so he explained.
"The Mortal Luck Trial is a trial made by the Heavenly Dao, it was a trial specifically designed to temper future generations and also now a tradition to see who has the best foundation in todays generation."
They nodded, agreeing with his statement. Mo Fan continued, but now with pride.
"My Clan, has been the winner of all previous nine Mortal Luck Trial. And despite our ancestors roots to the lower realm, he fought countless geniuses from the Nine Provinces and proved himself as the best of the best."
All of their eyes also glowed from admiration, the Mo Clan Ancestor is certainly is their goal. Someone who can make an unstoppable foundation for their sects and clans.
Mo Fan also wanted to become like his forefathers and make his children Immortal Emperors and Empresses. He then focused on explaining the trial to the confused Luo Jing.
"Enough about our old foggies, the trial consists of three stages. The first one and the most brutal one is the battle royal, like its name— it is a battle royal that would last for a week… also the luck of the people you killed on the trial would be transferred to you."
Some of them knew this, but to those who didn't, they were shaken. Stealing someone's luck is a taboo in of itself, but in this event alone it was allowed. Luck is a real thing and can be used in numerous ways, it is a cheat and a way the heavens favor some individuals. It is generally innate but can also be given by the heavens itself, just like the first trial.
"Then the remaining survivors can also leave if they want to after this trial, but continuing on the second is by far the most brutal. Fighting against yourself, the stronger version of you by a single percent."
He left them sink in to their thoughts, most of their clans tried to imitate this stage specifically since it would boost their disciples confidence. But, it would always be struck down by the heavens, only in this trial could you ever challenge a stronger version of you in every way possible.
"But wouldn't that make the trial impossible?" Fairy Long Hua asked, she was kept in the dark about this.
Xing Ye then explained, "Yes it would be impossible in normal terms but history and results show that it is, every trial there would be tens to even hundreds every generation who passed this trial."
This made all of them sigh in relief, since their ancestors could do it, they could also do it.
Mo Fan gave Xing Ye an approving nod, he finally said the last trial.
"Then lastly, the most important one. The tournament, like the last one you could leave before the start of the tournament. It varies from generation to generation, it could be 2v2, a team fight or the most popular one the life and death battle. The last generation was a 2v2, it was won by my mother and father!"
Mo Fan puffed out his chest, he was truly blessed to be born into such a heavenly favored family.
Meanwhile all of the look at him in envy and admiration, even Luo Jing couldn't help it. If they were born and become the heir in such a clan, becoming Immortal Emperor was just a matter of time.
Mo Fan saw their envying gazes and it made him sneer in his heart, it was not his fault that he was born into such a loving and strong family.
When thinking about his mother and father, his heart warmed. He smiled so lovingly that, even the arrogant Long Hua was a bit dazed by the sight.
Meanwhile, Luo Jing couldn't help but mutter, "I wish that I have one…"
Her soft murmurs couldn't escape the hearing of five peak level mortals.
Their heart ached for the mysterious woman, and even Mo Fan couldn't help but feel a bit apologetic for his boasting.
Mo Fan stirred the conversation towards another topic announcing, "Since all of you have accompanied me tonight… I'll let all of you stay at the Dragon Palace before the competition, how's that sound?"
Peaking towards Luo Jing, she seemed to be a bit alright now making him sigh in relief.
Now that they are done, Mo Fan called while gesturing for the bill, "Waiter!"
After a few seconds the foxy waitress arrived, but now she was accompanied by what seemed to be like the chef. He had a cleaver on his left and a toque on top of his head, he had a warm smile on his face as he said, "Thank you for enjoying tonights meal, guests…"
"The food is good," said Huo Fengchang.
It then followed by countless compliments from the others, then finally Mo Fan asked.
"Esteemed chef, how much for the scrumptious meal this night?"
Out of nowhere—
The atmosphere turned solemn, the chef no longer had a kind smile on his face but rather a sinister one.
All six of them turned vigilant, they were raised with countless life-threatening situations and they weren't unfamiliar with this.
The chef noticed this and his smile turned warm again as he said, "Mortal… no even Immortal currency had long been invaluable for me. For me, what I want is value."
He paused then looked deeply into Mo Fan, "Something that you value more than yourself!"