Chapter 33, Clan Rewards and Selecting a Secret Art

Translator: Raznick

 

Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi did not inquire where the spirit coins for purchasing the Shooting Moon Edge came from, and Zhou Chun also felt a bit strange about it.

 

However, to him, it was a great stroke of good fortune.

 

Although he believed his fabricated reason was flawless, lies were still lies.

 

If one could refrain from lying, there would naturally be no possibility of being exposed.

 

So for the next few days, Zhou Chun was also waiting while inquiring about the registration status of this clan selection competition among close clansmen, all while awaiting Clan Leader’s decision on his reward for offering the Cicada Forest Blending Breath.

 

This year, the Zhou clan held an internal selection competition. To motivate the clansmen to actively sign up and participate, some rewards were also set.

 

If one entered the top ten of the clan’s elite group and youth group, they would be eligible to receive an additional year of welfare offerings corresponding to their clan status as merits.

 

This reward, though modest, was better than nothing.

 

Therefore, within the clan, essentially every cultivator who met the registration criteria signed up.

 

Zhou Chun was confident of making it into the top ten of the junior group without an issue. In fact, even getting into the top three might not be that much of a problem.

 

As for being first, he was better off not thinking about it.

 

The Zhou Clan’s oldest cultivator under thirty years was Zhou Zhengkang, the seventh-ranked Zheng generation member. This year, he was only twenty-nine years old but had already reached the Tenth Layer of Qi Refining cultivation and possessed at least two superior first-grade artifacts.

 

This Zhou Zhengkang was also a strong contender for the first place in the youth group of this year’s five clans’ martial competition, and Zhou Clan’s seniors held high hopes for him.

 

Zhou Chun’s goal was simple enough; he didn’t even bother with the Zhou Clan’s internal selection. All he needed was to make it into the top ten to go to the martial competitions.

 

It was said that cultivators who ranked in the top ten could obtain a superior first-grade artifact, or rewards of equivalent such as pills.

 

Such a reward, indeed, was highly practical.

 

This way, as they waited, three days flew by in an instant.

 

Three days later, Zhou Chun was called to Pagoda Peak by the spirit pet of Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi and then learned about his reward.

 

“After a discussion between myself and three Elders, for offering of Cicada Forest Blending Breath, we have decided to grant you, Zhengchun, the following.

 

“Promote you to an elite clan member.

 

“Grant you the opportunity to enter the library’s second floor and select one secret art to cultivate.

 

“Reward you with three hundred merits.”

 

In the Central Palace, Zhou Daoyi looked at Zhou Chun, whom he had summoned, and announced his reward with a solemn voice.

 

This reward cannot be described as anything less than generous!

 

Setting aside the status of being an elite clan member, the opportunity to select a secret art to cultivate and the three hundred merits as a reward were tangible benefits.

 

Even Zhou Chun hadn’t expected the reward to be so much richer than his own prior estimate.

 

So much so that he was left speechless at the time, forgetting to express gratitude.

 

It was Zhou Daoyi who noticed that he remained silent and thus spoke up, addressing him: “How about it? Zhengchun, are you satisfied with the clan’s offer of reward?”

 

He finally came out of his stupor.

 

“Satisfied, I am very satisfied indeed.”

 

After finishing, he turned towards Zhou Daoyi, cupping his hands in a respectful bow and humbly said, “Thank you for the esteemed favor of Clan Leader and all the Elders. I am deeply grateful.”

 

“You’re welcome; I’m glad you’re satisfied.”

 

Zhou Daoyi nodded and immediately looked at Zhou Chun, earnestly advising him, “In the future, as long as you put your heart into serving our clan, the clan will treat you well in return.”

 

“I will certainly remember Clan Leader’s teachings.”

 

Zhou Chun respectfully replied, then left Pagoda Peak with gratitude.

 

After that, he wasted no time and went directly to the library located on Flying Stone Peak.

 

Regarding the second floor of the Zhou Clan’s library, Zhou Chun had not been merely curious for a day or two.

 

Now finally, he had an opportunity to enter and choose one of the secret arts to cultivate—how could he still sit around?

 

To enter the second floor of the library, Zhou Daoquan, the Third Elder, must help with the unlocking.

 

Zhou Chun had been waiting on Flying Stone Peak for nearly an hour when Third Elder Zhou Daoquan finally had time to come to the library’s exterior.

 

Regarding Zhou Chun, who took the mysterious snake egg to conduct research at his own place, Zhou Daoquan naturally had a deep impression.

 

After seeing him, he looked at him with an approving expression and said, “You’ve got some luck, kid. Only clan core members are typically allowed access to the second floor of the library to select a secret art to cultivate. You’ve just recently been promoted to elite clan member and have already accomplished this.”

 

Zhou Chun responded with equal modesty, complimenting them: “It is all due to Clan Leader and Elder’s generous support and guidance that I had such an opportunity.”

 

Upon hearing these words, Zhou Daoquan couldn’t help but chuckle, saying, “Heh heh, your mouth is certainly sharp. It’s no wonder Clan Leader speaks highly of you in our presence and praises you endlessly.”

 

Was Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi highly favoring him?

 

Zhou Chun’s face showed a moment of surprise, then he felt an overwhelming wave of joy inside him.

 

The good and proper Zhou Daoquan would never deceive him about such a matter; thus it was likely that the facts were as they seemed.

 

This actually proved to be excellent news for him.

 

Having caught the attention of Zhou Daoyi, the Clan Leader, he would now have a powerful ally within the Zhou Clan in the future.

 

Though he was overjoyed inside, he kept his composure on the surface and continued to speak smoothly: “What I said earlier are all my genuine thoughts. I swear every word is true.”

 

Zhou Daoquan, however, did not respond to him. Instead, he gestured toward a corner on the first floor of the library and cast a beam of spiritual light.

 

Instantly, the staircase that had been originally located above and hidden by a spell came into Zhou Chun’s line of sight.

 

“Alright then, I’ve opened the barrier. You may go upstairs to and make your choice. Once you’ve chosen, come down and inform me.”

 

Zhou Daoquan waved his hand, having spoken those words and then went to the Azure Giant Ape guarding the library. He began communicating with this Zhou Clan beast in its language.

 

As a Foundation Establishment cultivator who mastered the art of beast-taming, Zhou Daoquan understood over a dozen beast languages and could communicate directly.

 

Naturally, this kind of communication was limited to only simple words. Moreover, communicating with wild demon beasts was far less convenient than doing so with trained spirit beasts.

 

Zhou Chun was no stranger to Zhou Clan cultivators communicating with beasts using beast speech, and now he just found it completely normal.

 

After casting a quick glance, he eagerly made his way up the stairs to the second floor of the library.

 

Compared to the spacious first-floor area, the second-story space was significantly smaller.

 

Furthermore, when Zhou Chun looked, only the bookshelves marked with secret art came into view; the remainder of the room remained shrouded in emptiness, still separated from him by an impassable barrier.

 

He took a step toward the bookshelf, his gaze sweeping across it. There, arranged in orderly succession, lay thirteen volumes.

 

These thirteen booklets represented the thirteen secret arts that the Zhou Clan possesses.

 

Of course, Zhou Chun was well aware that the Zhou Clan certainly wouldn’t only have these thirteen secret arts. It was merely that these thirteen could now be imparted to the clan’s Qi Refining cultivators, and no more.

 

Additionally, within them was also the Cicada Forest Blending Breath that he had contributed.

 

Metal Spirit Sword Art, a secret art requiring a metal spirit root, was divided into two levels. Upon completing the first level, one can imbue Metal Spirit Edge onto one’s sword, enhancing their sharpness. Upon completing the second level, practitioners could unleash Metal Spirit Energy through their swords or blades, an ability comparable to a superior first-grade mystical art.

 

The Elemental Armor Art, a defensive secret art. After successful cultivation, one could forge an Elemental Armor that matched their own spiritual power attributes. The defensive effects of this armor were determined by the individual’s cultivation level.

 

The Burning Blood Art, a support secret art, after cultivation, one could burn blood essence into spiritual power.

 

……

 

As Zhou Chun leafed through them one by one, he discovered that among the dozen or so secret arts on the bookshelf, they covered a wide range of applications and seemed quite impressive.

 

It was a pity that he coul choose only one secret art to cultivate.

 

The next time he wanted to come here to select secret arts for cultivation, he might have to wait until he was promoted to become a core member of the clan.

 

After careful consideration, Zhou Chun still chose the defensive secret art Elemental Armor Art.

 

He didn’t want to die.

 

And once he successfully cultivated this defensive secret art, his ability to protect himself and stay alive during combat would be greatly enhanced.

 

Having chosen the secret art, Zhou Chun carried the book downstairs and handed it to Third Elder Zhou Daoquan.

 

Zhou Daoquan took the scroll, glancing at the name before nodding slightly. “Since you’ve made your choice,” he said, “then this secret art will be entrusted to the old ape. In the future, when you start training, come find it to obtain the scroll for study until you master it.”

 

Having finished speaking, Zhou Daoquan handed the scroll to the Azure Giant Ape beside him.

 

“Yes, Elder.”

 

Zhou Chun acknowledged with a brief response and then cupped hands to pay respects to the Azure Giant Ape.

 

At that moment, Zhou Daoquan seemed to recall something and suddenly looked at him and said, “Oh right, about the beast egg you left with me for study—I’ve already made some progress. If all goes well, it should yield results within half a year. Remember not to wander off during this period; we must keep track of your whereabouts so that I can find you when needed!”

 

[So soon?]

 

Zhou Chun’s mind snapped to attention, then instantly lit up with delight. He immediately nodded his head earnestly and said, “I’ll remember.”