Chapter 115, Unprecedented Rewards!

Translator: Raznick

 

Zhou Chun did not take long to return to the pool in the mountain forest.

 

He gave the emerald-green and deep pool a content look before beginning his journey home.

 

Upon reaching Nine Peaks, he suddenly heard a cheer erupt from somewhere.

 

Curious, he approached and saw a Zhou youth riding the lead stag of the Eight Antlers Stag, letting it carry him in a continuous sprint through the mountains.

 

It seemed he was taming the stag.

 

Within the cheering crowd, Zhou Chun also spotted Zhou Zhengyong.

 

He immediately walked over, greeted Zhou Zhengyong, and then asked curiously, “Why would Third Elder allow Fifth Brother to come tame the lead stag? He is only at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining cultivation; will the lead stag submit to him?”

 

The fifth brother was the young man taming the stag, whose name was Zhou Zhengxun. He ranked fifth in power among his peers and was also the newly added manager of the Deer Pen in the beast enclosure.

 

Hearing Zhou Chun’s words, Zhou Zhengyong immediately smiled and replied, “This was Fifth Brother’s request. He said that now that he has taken on the position of Deer Pen manager, he couldn’t look after the deer if he couldn’t even manage the Eight Antlers Stag, so the elder praised his ambition and gave him this opportunity.”

 

“It is unexpected that Fifth Brother would have such ambition; he is worthy of our clan.”

 

Zhou Chun praised, then turned to Zhou Zhengyong, saying, “Brother Yong, last time you said you were working hard to encourage the Diamond Ape and Redtail Monkey to combine and cultivate a new Blazing Diamond Monkey. Have you had any results yet?”

 

“It’s not that easy!”

 

Zhou Zhengyong rolled his eyes, looking at him with some impatience, saying, “You think raising new demon beasts is something that can be done in three or five years? If it were, wouldn’t our Zhou Clan have cultivated a heap of new demon beasts a long time ago?”

 

Hearing his words, Zhou Chun didn’t get upset but instead looked at him and advised, “If it’s not going to show results quickly, Brother Yong, you should put more energy into cultivating yourself. With your talent, if you work hard, you still have some hope of Foundation Establishment.”

 

Zhou Chun was thirty-four years old. Zhou Zhenghyong was four years older than him and was close to forty.

 

But his cultivation was still at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.

 

As a good friend, Zhou Chun certainly didn’t want this clansman to waste his potential.

 

Zhou Zhengyong then understood his true intentions and immediately nodded with a grateful expression, saying, “Thirteenth Brother, I know your good intentions, but raising new demon beasts is also something I do while cultivating.

 

“Besides, if I really do raise a second Blazing Diamond Monkey, the clan will certainly reward me handsomely.”

 

Hearing his words, Zhou Chun didn’t know what else to say and could only sigh lightly, saying, “Oh, since you know, Brother Yong, I won’t say any more. I have something to report to the Clan Leader, so I’ll take my leave.”

 

Next, Zhou Chun went to Medicine Peak, handing over the bodies of several Venomous Thornfish to Fourteenth Uncle Zhou Jiawei for disposal.

 

After returning to Pagoda Peak from Medicine Peak, he calmed his mind and entered Central Palace, telling Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi about the astonishing discoveries he made on his trip.

 

After finishing all the discoveries at once, he didn’t wait for Zhou Daoyi to express any feelings but reached out and patted his waist storage bag, taking out all the various things he obtained.

 

“Clan Leader, please look; these are the things I brought back.”

 

Looking at the pile of things Zhou Chun had taken out, Zhou Daoyi immediately straightened up and began examining the record books.

 

During this time, Zhou Clan cultivators came to the Central Palace to report on relevant clan affairs, which Zhou Chun handled on his behalf, without disturbing Zhou Daoyi’s review of the records.

 

After ten hours, Zhou Daoyi put down the cultivator’s notebook from the Dragonized Sect, and his expression was full of surprise.

 

“What a great opportunity! Zhengchun, your harvest this time is truly a great opportunity!

 

“These records, especially the records of alchemy, artifacts, talismans, and arrays of skills, are coming at just the right time for our Zhou Clan.

 

“With them to fill in the gaps, our Zhou Clan can try to develop more broadly and cultivate some of our own clan refiners and array masters.”

 

Refiner and array master—these two professions had always been the biggest weakness of the Zhou Clan.

 

Until now, the Zhou Clan didn’t even have a cultivator who refined a superior first-grade artifact.

 

As for array masters, there was Zhou Clan’s Second Elder Zhou Chongshan, but the problem was that the arrays Zhou Chongshan learned were mostly from the You Clan.

 

Now that the Three Absolute Sect was divided into four, if the Zhou Clan didn’t want to offend the You Clan and let the You Clan come to inquire about the matter, the arrays that Zhou Chongshan learned from the You Clan certainly couldn’t be taught within the Zhou Clan.

 

Therefore, the array master legacy was also lacking in the Zhou Clan.

 

However, the records that Zhou Chun brought back this time happened to be the most comprehensive, with as many as four records specifically recording the tool-refining legacy.

 

Another two array records detailed the arrangement methods for a dozen first-grade and second-grade arrays and were perfectly suited as foundational teaching materials for the Zhou Clan array masters.

 

This made it impossible for Zhou Daoyi not to be overjoyed.

 

In his eyes, these profession legacies were even more important than the three cultivation methods that could only be cultivated after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage and the two secret arts that could only be cultivated after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage.

 

The Zhou Clan had a thousand-year-old legacy, and several generations of Golden Core cultivators had emerged. Cultivation methods were, in fact, not lacking.

 

After all, when the Three Absolute Sect was still in existence, several clans had exchanged cultivation methods.

 

It was a professional legacy that was viewed by the various clans as fundamental, and no one was willing to allow outsiders to learn their core legacy.

 

Secret arts, unlike the Dragonized Sutra, weren’t powerful enough to establish the foundation of a large power. Their effect might not even be greater than that of an artifact; they simply gave cultivators another skill.

 

After a moment of excitement, Zhou Daoyi’s eyes shone as he looked at Zhou Chun and said, “Zhengchun, your harvest this time is truly remarkable. I must take these things to the Grand Elder to show him, and the corresponding rewards will need to be discussed with the Grand Elder before a decision is made.”

 

After a brief pause, he glanced at two of the physical objects and said, “But this Heaven Spirit Order and this superior second-grade artifact, and those spirit coins issued by the Dragonized Sect, you can keep them for now. You decide how to deal with them.”

 

“Yes, I understand.”

 

Zhou Chun replied and then put away the crimson-gold claw artifact and the “Heaven Spirit Order.”

 

Zhou Daoyi’s trip lasted a full two days and nights.

 

When he returned from the Grand Elder Zhou Mingde’s cave, he directly summoned Zhou Chun, who had been cultivating at home, to the Central Palace.

 

When Zhou Chun arrived at the Central Palace, Zhou Daoyi directly said to him, “The Grand Elder is also very pleased and appreciative of your generosity in presenting your gains this time, so I have discussed with him about the reward for you.

 

“We have preliminarily drafted a plan, and you can see if you are satisfied. If there is anything you find lacking, I will relay it to the Grand Elder.”

 

Then he said in a low voice, “The current plan is that in the future, your Foundation Establishment matter will be entirely handled by the clan; even if you fail to reach Foundation Establishment after taking a Foundation Establishment Pill, the clan will find a way to get you a second or third.

 

“Of course, if that were to happen, the other rewards will be forfeited after you reach Foundation Establishment.

 

“If you reach Foundation Establishment on the first or second attempt, all of the cultivation methods and secret arts that the clan currently possesses will be open to you to cultivate, and you will be directly designated as the sole Deputy Clan Leader of the Zhou Clan.

 

“Furthermore, at that time, the Grand Elder will personally gift you two second-grade artifacts and unconditionally help you with a personal matter!”

 

After finishing the reward scheme, Zhou Daoyi lightly waved his hand and said, “Zhengchun, you don’t need to rush to give a reply. The clan will not neglect any meritorious member. Your merits, the clan will always remember, and the rewards will never be lacking.”

 

However, even though he said this, Zhou Chun quickly responded, “Clan Leader worries too much. I have no objections to this reward, and I am fully willing to accept the clan’s arrangement.”

 

It was a matter of attitude!

 

When the clan members offered the things they had gained through their own opportunities, the clan assessed the value of the things and offered related rewards. This was the clan’s most basic operating rule.

 

As for whether the rewards given by the clan meet the expectations of the clan members who offered them, that was actually beyond their control.

 

Because before choosing to offer something, the clan members had the right to choose.

 

They could choose to offer it or not.

 

Having chosen to offer it, it represented believing in the clan and being willing to accept any fair or unfair rewards from the clan.

 

At this point, facing the rewards given by the clan, suddenly saying that it was unreasonable, or saying this or that, would be asking for trouble.

 

Zhou Chun was determined to become the Zhou Clan’s Clan Leader, so how could he lack such a broad perspective?

 

In short, the Grand Elder and Clan Leader could grant him the power to negotiate, but he couldn’t treat it as something he deserved and simply act on it.

 

Even if he were to do that, he would have to wait until he reached Foundation Establishment and became the Zhou Clan Deputy Clan Leader before doing so.

 

“It’s good that you accept it.”

 

Zhou Daoyi stared at Zhou Chun for a moment before smiling and nodding repeatedly, very satisfied with his attitude.

 

In fact, the so-called power to negotiate was never truly a significant matter.

 

It was merely a small test for Zhou Chun.

 

He created this test to see if, after accumulating merit, Zhou Chun would become overconfident, arrogant, and truly consider himself the third most important figure in the Zhou Clan!

 

If that were the case, he would indeed have to give this junior a stern warning.

 

But now it seemed his worries were unfounded; this junior was even more outstanding and stable than he had imagined.

 

Satisfied, Zhou Daoyi then continued, “Let’s talk about the disposal of the other items.”

 

“I’m keeping that metal foil secret scroll for now; if you want to study it later, you can take it and study it yourself.

 

“As for the Heaven Spirit Order, it depends on what you think. If you want to participate in the Heaven Spirit Trial yourself, keep it with you; if you don’t, you can have the clan help you sell it.

 

“As for the other things, you can just keep them for now as you please.”

 

Zhou Chun immediately replied, “I am very interested in the Heaven Spirit Trial; I plan to use this Heaven Spirit Order myself.”

 

Zhou Daoyi expected it.

 

The Heaven Spirit Trial was a trial established thousands of years ago by the sect to select elite disciples. Any Qi Refining cultivator with ambition and ability would want to participate in this trial and verify their abilities.

 

Not to mention the numerous trial rewards left behind by the Heaven Spirit Sect within the trial grounds.

 

Thus, he quickly nodded and said, “If that’s the case, you should carefully safeguard this Heaven Spirit Order. When it exhibits unusual activity, it will signify that the trial grounds are about to open. At that time, I will personally escort you to the Heaven Spirit Sect ruins.”

 

“I understand.”

 

Zhou Chun acknowledged and then withdrew.

 

During the following period, Zhou Chun also devoted himself to quiet cultivation within the clan while simultaneously preparing for the upcoming “Heaven Spirit Trial.”

 

He sent a letter to Liu Shiyun of Green Lotus Monastery, requesting her assistance in gathering more information about the Heaven Spirit Trial.

 

At the same time, he acquired artifacts, talismans, and pills from both the clan and the market.

 

With the reward promised by the clan, Zhou Chun no longer needed to worry about his own Foundation Establishment at all.

 

Therefore, the clan merits and spirit coins he accumulated could all be used to prepare for the Heaven Spirit Trial.

 

It wasn’t long before news arrived from Liu Shiyun.

 

As Zhou Chun had anticipated, Green Lotus Monastery possessed more detailed intelligence records about the Heaven Spirit Trial.

 

According to Liu Shiyun, the trial grounds of the Heaven Spirit Trial contained both individual trial zones and group trial zones where multiple participants competed against one another, and even the most dangerous deathmatch trial zones.

 

Upon entering the trial grounds, participants generally first underwent an individual trial.

 

Only by succeeding in the trial could they continue to choose to participate in a group trial zone or attempt a more powerful individual trial.

 

However, many years have passed, and now even clearing a solo challenge is difficult to obtain the prepared completion rewards.

 

Therefore, to truly reap valuable treasures within the Trial Grounds, one must enter the group trial where herbs grew.

 

This harvest could be the herbs that have grown for many years within the Trial Grounds, or it could be items taken from other competitors.

 

Because now that there were no high-level cultivators from Heaven Spirit Sect to supervise, all group trials could be deadly, and the danger was far greater than the trials of the past.