Initially, the Xie family head had very high expectations for Xie Aotian.
They took him under their wing and cared for him meticulously.
Xie Aotian lived a carefree and wealthy life for several years, surrounded by admirers.
When Xie Aotian was ten years old, his aptitude was tested, and he was found to be a useless person with five spiritual roots.
After that, Xie Aotian's status plummeted.
From being the center of attention to being ignored, and then being beaten and kicked, and insulted by servants.
They moved from the exquisite and luxurious main courtyard to a desolate and dilapidated side courtyard, and their life of luxury turned into one of hunger and cold.
Young Xie Aotian had no idea why all of this was happening.
Why did his father, who used to be kind and gentle to him, suddenly become a different person overnight?
The servants who used to be gentle and attentive to him suddenly changed their tune.
Although he didn't know why all of this happened, a seed of hatred was planted in his young heart.
As time went by, the seed gradually took root, sprouted, and grew stronger.
Xie Aotian has an elder brother born of the principal wife, who is ten years older than him and, like his mother Yuwen Yingying, is an ordinary person.
The eldest son of the Xie family was named Xie Lanzhi.
His name reflects his character; he is as beautiful as a jade tree and an orchid.
Xie Lanzhi was born intelligent and had a humble and open mind.
He was well-versed in poetry and literature from a young age, and his every move exuded elegance.
In addition, he was handsome and gentle, and was a renowned gentleman in the world at that time.
Even though he was just an ordinary mortal, he still won the hearts of many female cultivators.
Xie Lanzhi was the most insightful person in the Xie family, and the only person Xie Aotian didn't hate in the Xie family, even showing some affection and fondness for her.
Xie Lanzhi understood that the reason why the head of the Xie family went to great lengths to marry his mother, Yuwen Yingying, was because of her status as the eldest princess of the imperial dynasty.
They wanted to use the power of the imperial court to vie for the position of family head.
Ultimately, as he wished, he became the head of the Xie family.
However, after he became the head of the family, he began to despise Yuwen Yingying's mortal status.
Especially after her eldest son, Xie Lanzhi, was born, she was also a mortal.
Xie Zhenping grew increasingly disgusted with Yuwen Yingying.
Even though Yuwen Yingying always treated him with tenderness and affection.
Even so, Xie Lanzhi was exceptionally intelligent and renowned.
Xie Lanzhi observed everything and treated him with respect and courtesy, but she did not become close to him, nor did she expect Xie Zhenping's affection.
Xie Zhenping was not surprised to bring Xie Aotian back from the secret realm, and he felt no hatred towards him. In fact, he felt sorry for Xie Aotian because he lost his mother at a young age and even protected him.
Because he knew that even if Xie Aotian wasn't there, there would be others.
He couldn't control Xie Zhenping's behavior; all he could do was spend more time with and comfort his mother, Yuwen Yingying.
Even so, Yuwen Yingying still fell ill from depression and passed away before she was forty years old.
Less than five years after Yuwen Yingying's death, Xie Lanzhi also fell seriously ill and was bedridden.
He could have been saved; the imperial court, upon learning of his condition, specially sent him a miraculous medicine.
However, the elixir never reached Xie Lanzhi's hands.
Instead, he was detained by Xie Zhenping.
He couldn't bear to give the elixir to a mortal destined to live no more than a hundred years, even if that person was his own son.
Ultimately, Xie Lanzhi succumbed to illness and lost her life.
Xie Zhenping also has a son who is three years younger than Xie Aotian. He was born to a concubine who was at the Golden Core stage. He is the third child in the family and his name is Xie Tianyi.
Xie Tianyi was jealous of Xie Aotian's father's doting affection from a young age. After Xie Aotian fell out of favor, Xie Tianyi took advantage of his misfortune and ridiculed and humiliated him in every way.
When Xie Aotian was twelve years old, he accidentally learned that the clan's most precious treasure, the top-grade Spirit Marrow Stone, could help people cleanse their marrow and bones. After taking it, their cultivation aptitude would undergo earth-shattering changes.
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