Wu Zheng soon reached his father's pavilion, where he informed his father about his successful seclusion. He also expressed his desire to establish a fixed time period for future seclusions, ultimately deciding on one year after consulting with his father. He aimed for a duration that balanced his personal growth with the expectations of his family. Wu Cheng, acknowledging his son's commitment, reminded Wu Zheng to visit the monumental area before he left.
With that, Wu Zheng set off toward the fifth elder's residence, but he discovered that the elder was not home. A quick inquiry revealed that he was in the production area—known for alchemy and the creation of spirit stones, the lifeblood of cultivation. The Wu family was fortunate to have two alchemists capable of crafting high-tier spirit stones, a rarity in the Huang Kingdom, where such skills were scarce. Wu Zheng's thoughts drifted briefly to the Han Kingdom, renowned for its abundance of alchemists, which contributed to its prosperity.
After navigating the production area, Wu Zheng finally located the fifth elder.
"Greetings, Elder," Wu Zheng said, a respectful nod accompanying his words.
"Oh, Wu Zheng! Elder Wu Hua informed me of your arrival this morning," the elder replied, a hint of surprise in his voice. "I anticipated you would arrive later in the day after visiting Clan Leader Wu and Elders Wu Yan and Wu Mei. Please forgive my oversight."
"It's quite alright, Elder. You have your duties," Wu Zheng replied, his tone neutral. He understood the elder's responsibilities and held no expectations for immediate attention.
"You possess a remarkable temperament, young master. Your patience is commendable. Now, let us head to the monumental area," the fifth elder said, gesturing for Wu Zheng to follow.
They walked together toward the upper levels of the clan manor, the atmosphere shifting as they ascended. The monumental area stood at the pinnacle of the clan's hierarchy, a place steeped in tradition.
Upon arriving at the monumental area, they were greeted by an imposing gate adorned with intricate carvings of two dragons intertwining, their heads meeting at the top. Two guards, both at the Foundation Establishment realm, stood watch.
As the fifth elder exchanged a glance with the guards, they began to open the massive gate, revealing more Foundation Establishment realm cultivators beyond. Wu Zheng took note of the heightened security surrounding this revered space.
Entering the monumental area, Wu Zheng and the elder navigated through walls made of a dense, powerful metal, leading them deeper into the hall until they reached a cave. Following the fifth elder, Wu Zheng stepped inside.
The cave was home to five massive stones arranged in a circle, each bearing inscriptions that spoke of the clan's legacy. An opening led further into the space. Wu Zheng moved between the stones with purpose, studying them intently.
The first stone on the left was devoid of names, while the rightmost stone bore the most inscriptions. Wu Zheng recognized the significance of each stone: the first on the right for Qi Condensation realm cultivators, the second for Foundation Establishment realm cultivators, the first on the left for Essence Soul realm cultivators, the second from the left for Nascent Soul cultivators, and the central stone designated for Golden Core cultivators.
His gaze swept across the inscriptions again, taking in the absence of names on the Essence Soul stone. On the Nascent Soul stone, he noted two names: Wu Cheng and Wu Lang. He recalled that Wu Lang, his uncle, had chosen a life of seclusion, unlike his father, who had embraced the responsibilities of leadership.
The sheer number of names on the stones left a stark impression on Wu Zheng. There were 61 names on the golden core stone, over 2,000 on the Foundation Establishment stone, and more than 15,000 on the Qi Condensation stone. Yet, despite the weight of history and expectation, Wu Zheng felt no excitement or pressure.
Inwardly, he remained resolute, viewing the monumental area as just another step in his journey of cultivation. The expectations of his family, while notable, held little sway over his dedication to his path. He was here to cultivate, not to carry the weight of legacy.