Chapter 32, Presenting Treasures and Clan Leader Is Wise

Translator: Raznick

 

He hit it big!

 

In the mountain, Zhou Chun was looking at Feng Zhen’s Log in his hand, which recorded the cultivating techniques of Cicada Forest Blending Breath. His face was alight with excitement.

 

In the cultivation world, for a sect or organization, the most precious things were not those artifacts, pills, and talismans, but rather all sorts of secret techniques with special uses.

 

Artifacts, pills, and talismans were meant to benefit only a single individual. Meanwhile, secret arts could be cultivated by any cultivators who met the requirements for cultivating.

 

While a secret art was also a conceptual term, it encompassed things like secret medicinal formulas, inherited techniques for crafting artifacts, alchemy skills, and so on—all of which fell under the category of secret arts heritage.

 

Therefore, for a faction, the more secret art heritages they mastered, the greater their resources would be.

 

The major sects, such as Jing Kingdom’s Moon Cabal、 Helios Sect、 and Green Lotus Monastery, which were guarded by cultivators at the Nascent Soul Stage, boasted a vast collection of secret arts.

 

Therefore, the cultivators from these sects, even if their artifacts did not hold an advantage, were still far beyond the reach of those cultivators from small clans or minor sects.

 

Zhou Chun now possessed the Cicada Forest Blending Breath. Although it was not something that could directly boost combat strength or produce resources for the clan through alchemy skills or refining, it excelled because its requirements for cultivators were simple. Almost everyone could train, and even low-ranking cultivators would find it useful.

 

This universal art significantly enhanced its value to a cultivating clan.

 

Zhou Chun was now 80% certain that, by offering this secret art, he would not only become an elite clan member directly but also stand a good chance of obtaining a substantial amount of clan merits.

 

How could he not be happy?

 

In this joyful mood, Zhou Chun, with a beaming smile, summoned the bamboo leaf flying artifact and took to the sky, hurrying back to his clan.

 

But when he arrived at the clan, he had calmed his excitement and did not rush to Pagoda Peak to find Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi to report his findings. Instead, he went directly to Ganoderma Peak’s residence to meditate and restore his spiritual power first.

 

The stone jar capable of producing Spiritual Water was something Zhou Chun currently didn’t want anyone to know about.

 

Every time he returned to the clan, regardless of whether his spiritual power was significantly depleted or not, he would always first drain his spiritual power down to just a tenth or two.

 

This way, nobody would suspect him of meditating outside to restore his spiritual power.

 

And he also needed some time to process and enhance the experience through artistic creation.

 

For example, where did he get the spirit coins to purchase the Shooting Moon Edge, a superior first-grade artifact?

 

Or after he had a hard battle with the enemy outside, he did not quickly return to the clan using the flying artifact. Instead, due to excessive consumption of spiritual power, it took him more than three days to walk back to the clan!

 

These details were of utmost importance; he had to always remain vigilant and attentive at all times.

 

Otherwise, even if no one detected any loopholes in the first few attempts, if it happened multiple times, nobody was going to be that naive—and they would definitely notice something off about it.

 

Like this, Zhou Chun had been meditating on top of Ganoderma Peak for several hours. Once he had regained his full strength, he went to Pagoda Peak to pay his respects to Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi.

 

“Zhengchun, you’ve finally decided to come back after such a long time, but if you hadn’t returned, the clan selection competition might be something you wouldn’t get to participate in.”

 

In the Central Palace, after receiving Zhou Chun, Zhou Daoyi looked at him intently and said some words loaded with deep meaning.

 

As for Zhou Chun, this young member of the clan, Zhou Daoyi still had a good impression of him.

 

Mainly, the several things Zhou Chun had done earlier, as well as his few suggestions he had made, all brought significant benefits to the clan. As Clan Leader, it would be improper for him to overlook such a deserving individual.

 

However, although he had high hopes for Zhou Chun, as the Clan Leader, he must act impartially and couldn’t arbitrarily grant special treatment or rewards to anyone.

 

Except for certain aspects where Zhou Chun was given a bit of consideration, he did not arbitrarily bestow gifts upon Zhou Chun without reason.

 

After hearing Zhou Daoyi’s words filled with deep meaning, Zhou Chun quickly replied, “I ask Clan Leader for your understanding. I have indeed returned late due to valid reasons.”

 

Generally, Zhou Clan cultivators would have ample time to make a trip to Red Cliff Market—even if taking it slow going and coming back leisurely. It would still be ample time within seven or eight days.

 

After all, he’d go there for trade, not staying to cultivate.

 

He went away for over ten days, while others had a day or two more, which was essentially less time spent on tasks for the clan.

 

If someone were to speak ill of him, spreading rumors, as the Clan Leader, Zhou Daoyi might just have to punish them to maintain order.

 

However, despite the circumstances being explained, Zhou Chun chose not to rush into explanations. Instead opting to showcase his prized possession.

 

“Clan Leader, I respectfully report that this junior’s recent outing, though faced mortal peril, have received a bountiful harvest. I obtained an exceedingly useful secret art for the clan.”

 

Speaking thus, Zhou Chun directly retrieved the Feng Zhen’s Log which recorded the Cicada Forest Blending Breath technique, and handed it toward Zhou Daoyi.

 

“Is this true?”

 

Zhou Daoyi’s expression shifted, and he immediately took the scroll from his hand and looked at the page Zhou Chun had deliberately flipped to.

 

He began reading through the book, studying the cultivation methods and descriptions of the effects recorded in The Cicada Forest Blending Breath. As he read, his expression gradually brightened, and he nodded repeatedly. “Indeed,” he said with a smile, “it is an extremely practical secret art! Zhengchun, you’ve truly done something extraordinary for the clan!”

 

As he finished speaking, his eyebrows suddenly furrowed, recalling Zhou Chun’s earlier mention of deadly peril. He immediately asked with concern: “What happened? You said you went through deadly peril. Are you telling me you encountered bandits?”

 

“Clan Leader is wise; it is exactly so.”

 

Zhou Chun flattered him slightly, and then told him about his experience of meeting the bandit couple, including the fight process, which he described in great detail without hiding anything.

 

After hearing Zhou Chun’s account, Zhou Daoyi was also greatly startled.

 

He looked at Zhou Chun before him, and hadn’t realized… such a young, junior cultivator, not even twenty-five yet, could hold his own against two bandits despite being at a disadvantage in cultivation. He had even managed to defeat these two cultivators and even kill one of them.

 

At that moment, he was simultaneously surprised by Zhou Chun’s strength and repeatedly shook his head and cautioned him. “That was really dangerous! Zhou Chun, in the future, when you come across such situations, it’s best to leave immediately if possible. After all, cultivators are striving for immortality, not necessary to engage in these matters of pride!”

 

After finishing his previous statement, he seemed worried Zhou Chun hadn’t fully understood and emphasized earnestly, “I’m not telling you to avoid trouble at all costs. What I’m trying to convey is that there’s no point in engaging in pointless conflicts. Those bandit cultivators are like strays. We have no reason to risk our lives against them when we’re not certain of our chances.”

 

Zhou Chun knew that he was indeed well-intentioned, so he didn’t explain anything and replied respectfully: “Understood, I will be more careful in the future.”

 

“Good child, it’s good that you understand.”

 

Zhou Daoyi smiled faintly and nodded in approval of his attitude.

 

Zhou Chun said, “I have something else I want to ask Clan Leader. When I was cleaning the bandit’s storage bag, I found a vial of pills and a piece of ore that I didn’t recognize. I would like to ask the clan leader to help me identify them.”

 

Having heard his words, Zhou Daoyi softly said, “Oh, show me what you have there.”

 

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chun immediately retrieved the vial of pills and the dark yellow ore.

 

Upon seeing this, Zhou Daoyi first opened the jade vial and poured out a pill to examine it. He quickly nodded and said, “This pill is the Yellow Ginseng Pill, a type of pill that can enhance the spiritual power of late Qi Refining cultivators. It’s more effective than our clan’s Spring Sun Pill, but its nature is more formidable. It should not be taken in large quantities, and the recommended interval between doses should be at least two months.”

 

Then he returned the jade vial to Zhou Chun and looked at the yellowish-brown ore, saying, “This ore is quite valuable. It contains pure earth element spirit force. It can not only be used as a crafting material but also serves as food for some earth attribute demon beasts.”

 

He gestured toward Zhou Chun and explained, “Once your Rock Turtle reaches superior first-grade, you can feed it this item. Even if it doesn’t lead to the evolution of its bloodline into that of an average demon beast, it will still enhance its lineage and lay the foundation for future advancements in terms of resources.”

 

Zhou Chun heard this and expressed gratitude, nodding repeatedly. “I understand,” Zhou Chun said. “Thank you, Clan Leader, for clarifying things for me.”

 

After he had put away both items, Zhou Daoyi looked at him and said, “Alright, if there’s nothing else you need to attend to, you may return now. As for the rewards for your contribution in offering up the secret art, I will discuss it with the Elders and then summon you again to announce the decision.”

 

Zhou Chun, upon hearing this, immediately responded in a respectful tone, “I shall comply, Senior.”

 

After saying this, he withdrew from the hall and returned to Ganoderma Peak to wait for news with peace of mind.

 

After Zhou Chun had left, Zhou Daoyi looked at the Feng Zhen’s Log in his hand, and suddenly realized he had forgotten to ask Zhou Chun where the spirit coins used to purchase a superior first-grade artifact came from.

 

“Forget it, we cultivators who travel far and wide…who wander across vast lands, each must have their own fortune and personal secrets. As long as he does not embezzle clan property for his own gain, what need is there to probe deeper into these matters？”

 

Zhou Daoyi shook his head slightly and quickly pushed aside the desire to ask too many questions, deciding not to inquire further about this matter.

 

He was the Clan Leader of the Zhou Clan, but he wasn’t the parent of every cultivator in the Zhou Clan.

 

Moreover, even parents couldn’t invade their child’s privacy.

 

If he insisted on digging into every secret of Zhou Clan cultivators, the likely result would be that the clan members would grow distant both morally and emotionally from him—or even sever ties with him entirely.

 

To become a qualified Clan Leader, Zhou Daoyi must know exactly what questions to ask and which ones to refrain from asking.