Chapter 40, Parents and the Incubating Snake Egg

Translator: Raznick

 

Time passed quickly; in no time at all. Since Zhou Chun returned from Red Herb Valley and the Wang Clan, three months went by.

 

During this time, because of the decision to designate Zhou Zhengkang as a Foundation Establishment seed  within the Zhou Clan, there was quite some turmoil within the Zhou Clan itself.

 

But after all the commotion, everything returned to its original state, and the outcome of this matter remained unchanged.

 

However, Zhou Chun, although he had gained another opportunity to choose a secret art to train, but the two previous secret arts he had chosen had not yet been successfully trained, he naturally had no time to select a new secret art to train.

 

After he began taking the Jade Ginseng Pill, his cultivation was able to make great strides once more.

 

Two vials of Jade Ginseng Pills in total, each contained ten pills. Zhou Chun similarly took one every fifty days, and each time he took it, he was also able to break through one acupoint.

 

According to this situation, these two vials of Jade Ginseng Pill would be sufficient to propel his cultivation to Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, which was late Qi Refining.

 

Even though his own cultivation had steadily improved, Zhou Chun did not neglect his Rock Turtle, the loyal spirit pet that had worked hard alongside him.

 

He spent some clan merits, obtaining three vials of Beast Spirit Pills from Medicine Peak in exchange. He planned to use these pills to train the Rock Turtle into a superior first-grade demon beast as well.

 

One day, Zhou Chun was immersing himself in training the Elemental Armor Art secret art within the quiet chamber of his residence when he suddenly sensed that the array outside his residence had been triggered, indicating that someone was paying a visit.

 

Once he finished his practice and left the meditation chamber, he pushed open the courtyard door. Before him stood a man and woman dressed in polished silk garments—a husband and wife of middle age—and Zhou Zhengyong, who had brought them here.

 

As Zhou Chun gazed at the middle-aged couple, who exuded no trace of spiritual aura, he felt a strange sense of familiarity and closeness, yet he could not immediately recall their names or origins.

 

Seeing that he was standing still, Zhou Zhengyong couldn’t help but push him and said, “Thirteenth Brother, why are you still standing there? Hurry up and invite your uncle and aunt in. They came all the way to see you, but they have suffered a lot!”

 

Upon hearing Zhou Zhengyong’s words, Zhou Chun was instantly flooded with memories. He immediately recalled the information about the middle-aged couple standing before him.

 

Then his face changed expression, and he quickly rushed forward, grabbing both of them and kneeling as he shouted, “Dad, Mom, your unworthy son has caused you to suffer!”

 

Upon hearing his words, the couple, who had been staring at him in shock and anticipation since they first saw him, immediately threw themselves down, tightly embracing his head, bursting into tears of overwhelming joy.

 

“Son!”

 

It turns out this middle-aged couple was Zhou Chun’s own parents.

 

These two individuals were originally living in a mortal city within the Feng Kingdom, enjoying a life of ease and freedom.

 

More than a year ago, after the Zhou Clan had established their roots in Jing Kingdom’s Mist Province at Nine Peaks, they began dispatching cultivators back to Feng Kingdom to relocate the ordinary clansfolk. As their direct relatives of Zhou Clan cultivators, they were also placed in a priority group for relocation.

 

After recently moving to a mortal settlement near Nine Peaks, they eagerly made their way to Nine Peaks to visit Zhou Chun.

 

At this point, having understood the situation clearly, Zhou Chun was deeply touched and firmly held his parents’ hands as he said, “Father, Mother, you’ve worked so hard. From now on, stay here at the mountain; let your son serve you and fulfill his duties.”

 

After hearing his son’s words, Mr. Zhou immediately shook his head in disagreement: “That won’t do. This is a sacred mountain and valley for cultivators to cultivate and refine their spiritual essence. We ordinary folks shouldn’t disturb your practice here.”

 

Zhou’s mother nodded eagerly in agreement, her tone reflecting both understanding and concern. “Yes, indeed! Your brothers and sisters are still out there in the towns beyond these mountains. Your father and I simply can’t abandon them.”

 

Hearing his parents’ response, Zhou Chun fell into a thoughtful silence.

 

As an elite clan member of the Zhou Clan today, he could arrange for his direct family members to settle within the Nine Peaks.

 

But he also knew that the situation in Nine Peaks was not very suitable for ordinary people to settle down.

 

Humans were social beings, and most preferred the lively and vibrant life filled with the energy of daily living.

 

The cultivator, however, liked purity and peace.

 

Therefore, for most ordinary people, living in towns with a large concentration of mortal was far more convenient and enjoyable than living in remote mountainous areas like Nine Peaks.

 

“Well, since you don’t like life in the mountains, I won’t force you. Anyway, where you live now is not far. I will come to visit you whenever I can!”

 

Zhou Chun was silent for a long time before finally nodding. He no longer mentioned the idea of living on the mountain and simply asked the two to stay there for a few more days so that he could fulfill his filial duties.

 

The respectful request would not be refused by the two.

 

After staying on the mountain for half a month, Zhou Chun personally escorted the two back to the town outside the mountain since they were deeply concerned about their other children. Along the way, he also had the opportunity to meet up with his own siblings.

 

According to the clan’s seniority ranking, Zhou Chun was third eldest, with an elder sister and older brother above him, a younger sister who was fourth, and a youngest brother as the fifth.

 

Except for him and his fifth brother, all the other siblings have already married and started families.

 

This time, it was also thanks to him that his siblings and their entire household, along with roughly five thousand other Zhou Clan civilians, traveled for over a year, crossing a distance of thousands of miles, to reach the Jing Kingdom’s Mist Province. There, they were granted renewed protection under a clan cultivator.

 

Zhou Chun met with his siblings at this point and gave each of them some pills he had specially acquired from his clan as a gift.

 

A cultivating clan, because they had many mortal clansmen, they specially crafted some pills tailored for the needs of these ordinary individuals to make it convenient for their cultivator members to fulfill filial piety and show affection towards these ordinary relatives.

 

These pills were prepared from certain herbs. Their effects were gentle and easy to absorb, offering cures for diseases, aid in detoxification, and promoting longevity among mortals.

 

Even some heart diseases and brain complications that Zhou Chun had found difficult to cure in the past proved highly effective when these pills were taken, providing immediate relief. They were talked about in glowing terms as wonder herbs.

 

Zhou Chun gave a Soul-Nurturing Pill to each of his direct relatives, which was also his own gesture of goodwill.

 

After spending three days with a few relatives in the mortal world, he finally returned to the Nine Peaks Zhou Clan estate.

 

“It seems I have fully adapted to this world and identity. Over these past few days, interacting with those relatives has been surprisingly seamless and comfortable for me. Everything feels so natural and at ease!”

 

In his room, Zhou Chun stood before the mirror, gazing at his fair and handsome face reflected within it. He muttered to himself in a low voice, his eyes shifting with uncertainty.

 

Whether it was a good thing or a bad thing, even he couldn’t tell.

 

Perhaps the influence of the environment was so strong.

 

Except for his insistence on having three meals a day, he had different ideas compared to other Zhou Clan cultivators; but in every other aspect, he was completely indistinguishable from the local natives.

 

In the first year, he occasionally missed the technological wonders of his previous existence, longing for the soft, luxurious beds he had once enjoyed, and craving the array of delectable foods and refreshing drinks that had been part of his life before.

 

But now he had grown completely used to the hardwood bed, used to the plain tea and simple meals each day, used to cultivating in the early mornings.

 

He was now a proper cultivator, and every word and deed of his adhered to the code of conduct expected of a cultivator.

 

“Maybe the me right now is the true me.”

 

With a faint smile, Zhou Chun was very satisfied with his current life. Compared to before, he preferred this way of living.

 

Over the next couple of months, Zhou Chun did indeed manage to make time each month to venture outside and visit the mortal towns, paying the new settlement a visit. His purpose was to check in on his recently relocated family, addressing their concerns and helping them with the inconveniences of daily life.

 

In other words, the Zhou Clan has been quite considerate towards these ordinary clansfolk and did not abandon them after their relocation.

 

Within the settlement, the Zhou Clan has stationed a “Jia” generation cultivator to protect these ordinary folks. If any local mundane forces were to bully these Zhou Clan civilians, they would soon learn how serious the consequences could be.

 

The cultivator could only offer martial assistance, clearly unable to help with matters of daily life. It was up to the ordinary folks to figure out how to resolve those on their own.

 

With his past-life knowledge and experience, Zhou Chun could handle matters of daily living. He usually found ways to resolve them effectively, which often proved quite helpful.

 

Time slipped by unnoticed as Zhou Chun, busily engaged in his cultivation practices, almost forgot about his agreement with Third Elder Zhou Daoquan.

 

It was on this day that Zhou Daoquan suddenly had someone come to Ganoderma Peak to visit him, and only then did he recall the matter.

 

“Youngster, you’ve finally arrived. This time, you’ve shure won big. I wonder how you plan to thank me?”

 

On Flying Stone Peak, when Zhou Chun encountered the Third Elder, he noticed the hostile gaze cast his way and listened as the elder spoke in a tone that left no room for misunderstanding.

 

He mentally pondered over what he had been told, and suddenly tasted the flavor of its deeper meaning.

 

Filled with a mix of joy and anxiety, he looked at Zhou Daoquan and said, “Elder, I will certainly repay you for your great kindness and favor!”

 

Zhou Daoquan, upon hearing this, immediately twitched his eyebrows and glared at him with rolling eyes, saying crossly: “What is the point of you speaking? It’s as if you said nothing. Can’t you tell me plainly? Give me ten thousand spirit coins or one thousand-year herb.”

 

This time it was Zhou Chun’s turn to roll his eyes.

 

[This old man is really outrageous!]

 

At that moment, Zhou Chun could only look crestfallen and said respectfully, “Elder, please do not tease me. What I said earlier was completely true; you can judge my words by observing my actions in the future.”

 

“Hmph, you said it yourself. If you dare to underperform in the future, I won’t go easy on you!”

 

Zhou Daoyi gave a light snort, then with a sweep of his sleeve, took out the mysterious snake egg that Zhou Chun had given him to research.

 

Only then did Zhou Chun notice the snake egg. Its size had slightly decreased, but a faint yet detectable aura of life now permeated the air.

 

That was to say, the life inside had already developed and could be used by cultivators for incubation through a contract.

 

As Zhou Chun intensely gazed at the mysterious snake egg, Zhou Daoquan also expressed with envy the true origin of the mysterious snake egg.