The morning glow filtered through the silk curtains, softly illuminating Di Sheng's room as he prepared for his meeting with the clan elders. After taking care of his appearance, wearing an outfit of sober but refined elegance, he walked confidently towards the meeting room.
Her outfit consisted of a long black silk dress, adorned with intricate gold designs that evoked the prestigious heritage of the Di family. A matching coat, embroidered with gold thread, fell elegantly on his broad shoulders, adding a touch of majesty to his already imposing appearance.
Leaving her room, Di Yu, who was standing in front of the door waiting for a request from her lord, was surprised by the presence of Di Sheng outside her room.
"I salute the patriarch. Patriarch, I didn't expect you to come out in such a short time. Are you feeling better?"
She spoke, bowing and greeting him respectfully. Looking at him closer, from his point of view his master seemed different. As if he had become much more confident.
"Yu'er, I'm more than fine, I've even made progress in my cultivation. But now is not the time to talk about that. I need you to go tell the elders. Tell them to come to the meeting room, I have announcements to make."
He replied with confidence in his voice. His voice is quite soft as if an angel is speaking.
"It's great! The clan will greatly benefit from this. Congratulations on your progress. I'm going to warn the elders right away."
She said in a happy tone, rushing to go and tell the elders. After she left, he began to smile, remembering the moments spent with her. She has always been loyal to him and for that he made a promise to allow her to cultivate sooner or later.
On his way to the meeting room, he took the time to observe the structure of the clan.
The current clan consists of a main residence, this is the house in which Di Sheng resides and which also has the room for meetings.
Family houses are places where elders and their families reside as well as all those linked to the clan.
The ancestral pavilion is a building where family relics, portraits of ancestors are kept and where rites and ceremonies in their honor are organized.
The technical room where the few techniques owned by the family are kept.
And finally, the tournament and training grounds. Normally a normal family of their level does not have so many buildings of this size but given that the Di family comes from a powerful lineage this explains this fact.
Arriving in the hall, Di Sheng took his place in the patriarch's seat, impatiently awaiting the arrival of the clan elders.
There are four elders in the clan, Di Yuan an elder at the 10th level of body strengthening, he is a fiery man who specializes in fist techniques and is passionate about refining weapons.
Di Cheng, an elder at the 9th level of body strengthening, who specializes in the study of formations.
Di Xinyi, an 8th-level body strengthening elder, is fascinated by flames and alchemy.
And finally Di Liwei, an elder who is at the 8th level of body strengthening, she wants to discover the art of divination and hopes one day to be able to help the clan by seeing into the future.
While contemplating his memories of the clan elders, he sensed their presence outside the meeting room, causing him to feel stressed. Despite maintaining a demeanor befitting a lord, it was his first time assuming the role of patriarch.
"We greet the Patriarch!"
Upon their arrival, they all bowed their heads solemnly and spoke in unison.
"Welcome, clan elders. Please take your seats. There are revelations I must share with you, which is why I requested Di Yu to summon you."
Upon hearing Di Sheng's words, they momentarily appeared confused but quickly took their seats. As they settled in, they noticed the distinct aura surrounding their young patriarch. It was as if they were encountering an entirely different person from the one they knew. Additionally, they found his eyes peculiar, or more precisely, unique.
"I am honored to address you, esteemed elders," he stated in a firm yet respectful tone. "I am grateful for this opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of us."
The elders nodded in agreement, acknowledging the maturity and determination displayed by the young patriarch.
"Di Sheng, it's important to remember that the greatness of a clan depends not only on the strength of its members but also on their wisdom and ability to make sound decisions," remarked Di Yuan, the fiery elder. It's worth noting that all the elders are from his father's generation, making them slightly older than him. They also represent the strongest cultivators in the clan prior to Di Sheng's system binding.
Di Sheng nodded respectfully, recognizing the wisdom in his elder's words. He understood that strength alone couldn't guarantee the clan's prosperity and stability. It also required clear leadership and strategic foresight to overcome challenges and capitalize on opportunities.
"I understand the importance of making informed decisions, Elder Yuan,"
he replied humbly.
"That's why I'm here today, to inform you that in a few days, I will break through to the realm of Qi Condensation. I recently had a stroke of luck and am on the verge of this breakthrough. Additionally, new buildings, techniques, and martial arts will soon be available for everyone. I am committed to restoring the clan's power to its peak and surpassing it. Please trust me on this."
The elders' faces displayed astonishment, their expressions betraying their questions. Firstly, how was their young patriarch, who was previously injured, able to recover? And how could he break through to the Qi Condensation Realm? It's worth noting that the Qi Condensation Realm is the first stage on the path of cultivation and breaking through to this realm is extremely challenging. However, achieving this breakthrough can drastically increase one's lifespan and enable the control of spiritual energy, marking a fundamental difference between the Body Strengthening Realm and the Qi Condensation Realm.
"Patriarch, I understand that we should be pleased for the family, finally having a cultivator in the Qi Condensation Realm after thousands of years, but what meeting are you referring to?"
questioned Di Xinyi with a skeptical tone. Although everyone has their secrets, as family, these matters concern them all. This sentiment echoed among all the elders.
"Elders, I know you have questions. At this moment, I'm unable to provide all the details, but rest assured, when I breakthrough to the realm of Qi Condensation, I will promptly address our enemies, particularly the Feng family, and reclaim the mine they have stolen from us, along with all their agricultural resources. This will mark our first step toward restoring our former glory. I'm counting on your support in this endeavor. Each of you will have your chance to break through soon,"
he assured them, bowing sincerely.
The elders exchanged approving glances, acknowledging the wisdom and maturity of their young patriarch. For hours, they deliberated on the challenges and opportunities facing the clan, meticulously examining every aspect of internal and external politics.
Di Sheng listened attentively, absorbing every word with keen interest. He was resolute in making the best decisions to ensure the prosperity and security of his family, fully aware that the fate of the clan rested in his hands.
Finally, after extensive deliberation, the elders reached a consensus on the optimal path forward. They shared their recommendations with Di Sheng, offering him invaluable advice on navigating the complex landscape of clan politics with prudence and sagacity.
"I am grateful for your wise counsel, esteemed elders."
Di Sheng expressed, recognizing the value of the knowledge and experience they imparted.
"I will heed your recommendations and strive to lead our clan toward a prosperous and glorious future."
The elders nodded respectfully, recognizing the determination and resolve of the young patriarch. Together, they stood up and headed out of the meeting room, ready to face the challenges and opportunities that await them in the outside world.
As Di Sheng watched his elders walk away, he felt a wave of determination take hold of him. He was ready to face any challenge, to overcome any obstacle, to ensure the prosperity and security of his family.
For he was Di Sheng, the young patriarch of the Di family, and he was ready to conquer his destiny with all the strength of his Imperial Body and his system.
[Ding]
[The host does not need to worry; the elders of the host's clan are all 100% loyal.]
This affirmation of the system somehow reassured Di Sheng
[Ding! Due to the host's aspirations, the system issues a quest to the host.]
[Available quest: Retrieving the Spirit Mine]
A new notification sounded in Di Sheng's mind, announcing the arrival of a new quest. He felt a wave of anticipation wash over him as he read the details of the mission assigned to him.
[Quest objective: Collect the Spirit Mine and wipe out the Feng family]
[Quest description: A spiritual mine, containing valuable resources for the development and prosperity of the clan, has been discovered in the surrounding mountains. However, the Feng family attacked you and took it over. Recover the mine and confront the Feng family]
[Quest reward: Access to spiritual mine resources, strengthening the clan's power.]
Di Sheng's heart jumped with excitement as he read the details of the quest. He knew that the success of this mission was crucial to ensure his first step into the martial world and also a short-term project for his family.