After chatting with his sister and mother for the entire night, Wu Zheng left his sister's house the following morning, feeling rejuvenated.
Instead of going directly to the clan leader's house, he decided to take advantage of the day. First, he would visit his second and third mothers before meeting his father.
After a short 20-minute walk, Wu Zheng arrived at his third mother's house. Wu Mei, his third mother, was the strongest of the clan leader's three wives, standing at the ninth stage of the Golden Core, just one step away from the Nascent Soul realm.
Wu Mei had five children. Wu Da, her oldest son and the third young master of the clan, was currently at the seventh stage of the Golden Core. Wu Zheng recalled that Wu Da had always looked down on him, especially now that he possessed a potential of 24 percent; it was likely he was already plotting against him.
Her second child, Wu Hui, was the fourth child of the clan leader, currently at the fourth stage of the Golden Core, the same as Wu Zheng's sister, Wu Hei. The third child, Wu Xuan, was the seventh child of the clan leader and was at the first stage of the Golden Core. The youngest, Wu Li and Wu Yao, were at the eighth and fifth stages of the Foundation realm, respectively.
After a warm greeting and three hours of engaging conversation with Wu Mei, Wu Zheng left her house, feeling both uplifted and reflective.
Next, he headed to the home of his second mother, Wu Yan, who was at the sixth stage of the Golden Core. While she was the weakest of the three wives, her gentle demeanor and wisdom were invaluable to the family. Wu Yan had three children, each contributing to the clan's legacy.
Wu Chen, the oldest, was at the fifth stage of the Golden Core, on par with Wu Zheng's brother, Wu Ming. The competition between them was palpable, especially since both were seen as future leaders. Wu Rui, the youngest, was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm, while Wu Di, the second child, was at the third stage of the Golden Core.
Upon arriving at Wu Yan's house, Wu Zheng greeted her and settled in for a lengthy conversation. Just as they were catching up, Wu Chen burst through the door.
"Mother, are you inside?" he called out, his voice echoing through the room.
Wu Yan rose to greet her son, and Wu Zheng remained seated, a sense of unease creeping in as he prepared for their inevitable encounter.
When Wu Chen entered, he immediately noticed Wu Zheng and rolled his eyes, though he kept his thoughts to himself. Wu Zheng stood, bowed, and greeted him with respect.
"Wu Zheng," Wu Chen said, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I see you've reached the peak of the second stage of Qi Condensation. How about a little duel? I'll suppress my cultivation to match yours."
Wu Zheng's heart sank. "Brother, I appreciate the offer, but I'm not interested in a duel right now. My focus is on cultivating, not fighting. You may suppress your cultivation, but your combat skills and experience far surpass mine. I wouldn't stand a chance."
Wu Chen's smile faltered, and he frowned slightly. "Are you rejecting your brother's advice just because you think you have more potential? Let me give you a lesson."
"It's not about that," Wu Zheng insisted, "I genuinely want to improve my skills in a way that doesn't involve combat. I have little experience, and I'd rather learn at my own pace."
Despite Wu Zheng's calm demeanor, Wu Chen sensed the underlying tension. He didn't want to admit it, but Wu Zheng's potential was a source of insecurity for him. Wu Zheng was not just another sibling; he was a rising star in the clan, and the pressure of expectations loomed large.
"Fine, if that's how you feel," Wu Chen said, his voice dripping with disdain. He turned to Wu Yan, his expression shifting to one of urgency. "Mother, I have something important to discuss with you."
Understanding Wu Chen's intentions, Wu Zheng sensed the moment was right to exit. He bowed to both of them again and prepared to leave, but not before Wu Chen shot a parting remark over his shoulder: "Coward!"
Wu Zheng felt a flash of irritation but quickly quelled it. "Where do you get your guts from, challenging a Qi condensation realm cultivator despite having the cultivation of golden core realm?" he muttered under his breath, reminding himself that he was the one on a different path, focused on cultivating rather than engaging in petty rivalries.