Chapter 68, Differences between Immortals and Mortals and an Unexpected Discovery

Translator: Raznick

 

When Zhou Chun, dispatched by Zhou Jiasheng, returned to the Zhou Clan to attend the funeral on behalf of the Spirit Beast Pavilion, he noticed that all clan members had wrapped white cloth around their heads as part of their mourning for the late High Elder Zhou Mingshan.

 

He quickly found a white cloth and wrapped it around his own head before heading to Pagoda Peak to pay his respects to the late High Elder Zhou Mingshan’s body.

 

It was noted that while the Zhou Clan had established its roots in Nine Peaks for over five years, it was unprecedented for a High Elder like Zhou Mingshan to pass away naturally in the cultivating world.

 

The mourning procedures needed to be determined by Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi and the Elders.

 

After much discussion, they decided to honor High Elder Zhou Mingshan’s status as an Elder and set the mourning period to last nine days.

 

During these nine days, except for those responsible for guarding the Purification Pavilion, all Zhou Clan members were required to gather at the Ancestral Hall on Pagoda Peak to recite incantations and offer prayers for the late High Elder Zhou Mingshan’s soul.

 

And during these nine days, the other four cultivating clans, as well as some groups from Mist Province, also sent people to mourn.

 

Some rogue cultivators living near Nine Peaks Zhou Clan would come to pay their respects when they cultivated at Zhou Clan.

 

After this grand farewell, Zhou Mingshan’s body was finally buried in the clan cemetery at the back of Pagoda Peak.

 

With the burial, the mourning rituals came to an end.

 

Most Zhou Clan cultivators returned to their normal lives, just as before.

 

Zhou Chun managed to meet privately with Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi at this point.

 

He had come with a specific task: asking whether the clan could continue to stably supply various Zhou Clan exclusive pills to Spirit Beast Pavilion.

 

“Rest assured on this matter; High Elder passed away while cultivating, but he prepared enough pills for the clan to use over several years beforehand when he entered seclusion. The supply from the shop will decrease moving forward, but not by much!”

 

“Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi,” Zhou Chun respectfully addressed, “I have come to inform you that the number of customers in our shop is in decline. As for the Spirit Beast Edifice, they don’t seem to be causing any new disturbances this time—probably just watching us with amusement.”

 

Zhou Daoyi listened intently and sighed deeply. “Alas, there’s no escaping this situation. Try not to worry too much; the clan’s income from the Scarlet Glow Iron mine is sufficient for several more years.”

 

Zhou Chun felt somewhat relieved. He and Zhou Jiasheng were concerned that the clan might misunderstand their ineptitude as the reason for the drop in shop revenue, leaving them defenseless against such accusations.

 

With gratitude, Zhou Chun bowed low and replied, “Thank you, Clan Leader, for your understanding. I will convey your kind words to Sixteenth Uncle as soon as I return.”

 

As he spoke these words, another thought occurred to him.

 

“Clan Leader, one more thing. I obtained a strange fish from a rogue cultivator a few days ago and brought it here for your examination. This creature is not recorded in our Zhou Clan’s collection of demon beasts, nor do we know the use of the parts of its body. I would like to ask you to identify whether it has any special value.”

 

Zhou Chun casually patted his waist storage bag and produced a wooden box containing the strange fish specimen.

 

Thanks to his use of a lot of ice for preservation, the fish inside remained in relatively fresh condition, not much different from when it was first acquired.

 

Zhou Daoyi examined the fish closely. After scrutinizing it thoroughly, he nodded and said, “This is indeed a new species of demon beast not recorded in our clan’s records. Tell me more.”

 

“Certainly.”

 

Zhou Chun replied with respect and recounted what Luo Guangshun had told him regarding the strange fish.

 

“As the rogue cultivator mentioned, this strange fish appears in schools, which suggests it has strong reproductive capabilities.”

 

“If such demon beasts don’t require specific habitats or have low food demands, even if they serve no other purpose, we could capture some and keep them in rivers and ponds inside and outside the clan estate, raising them as a food reserve for other meat-eating demon beasts.”

 

Zhou Daoyi pondered for a moment before sharing his own thoughts.

 

Social demon beasts had always been valued by clans like the Zhou Clan, which specializes in beast-taming.

 

This was because such demon beasts were easier to breed, which helpped the clan avoid situations where cultivators didn’t have their own demon beast contracts.

 

However, social demon beasts also had their drawbacks. Once their population became too large, it was hard to provide food for their long-term care.

 

For example, demon beasts like Redtail Monkeys and Green-crowned Flying Snakes were manageable since they either ate fruits or plants, but very little of them.

 

If you were to replace them with larger predators like lions, tigers, wolves, or leopards, the demand for meat would become enormous.

 

And these kind of demon beasts were picky eaters, only eating live prey or fresh meat. Raising large numbers of them was no easy task.

 

So the Zhou Clan hadn’t targeted this type of demon beast for keeping. If Zhou Chun brought in such strange fish, which didn’t have high demands on water quality or food, then raising them as a source of greater demon beasts for breeding could be a good idea.

 

“I understand. I will try to contact that rogue cultivator and see if I can find out the nest of these strange fish.”

 

Zhou Chun nodded, showing he knew what to do. After leaving the remains of the strange fish at the clan for research, Zhou Chun went to visit his parents and siblings in the nearby mortal town.

 

Since he had gone to the market, he had rarely had time to see them. Upon returning this time around, he found that his fifth brother had already married and his wife was pregnant, while his fourth sister’s family had also welcomed a big healthy baby boy.

 

Sadly, they still lacked spirit roots.

 

“Son, as long as you remember us and visit now and then, it’s more than enough. Just don’t neglect your own cultivation because of this.”

 

“Our clan takes care of us, and with your brothers and sisters taking good care of your parents, everything is fine!”

 

In the private dining hall exclusively reserved for the Zhou Clan, Zhou Chun’s family had a reunion dinner around the long table. After the meal, Zhou Chun’s father looked at him with affection and said these words to him.

 

Hardly had he finished speaking when Zhou Chun’s second brother, who was smarter than the others, quickly chimed in: “Yes, yes! Father is right. Third Brother, you are the only cultivator among several generations of our family. You must not neglect your cultivation because of us ordinary folks. Your parents have us to take care of them, so you can rest assured.”

 

Zhou Chun’s eldest sister also added her oppinion: “Listen to your Second Brother. Third Brother, your own cultivation is the most important thing. We are here to take care of our parents, so don’t let these matters distract you.”

 

With the eldest brother and sister speaking up, even the fourth and fifth siblings, who were not as sharp, knew they had to say a few words as well.

 

They all began to express similar sentiments in quick succession.

 

Zhou Chun looked at this scene with complicated feelings.

 

It wasn’t that he had very deep feelings for them, but more because he felt guilty and, out of a sense of compensation, often found time to visit them.

 

Unwittingly, his enthusiastic performance had backfired, leading to misunderstandings from the family.

 

This left him at a loss for words.

 

However, he did notice that when he, as the only cultivator in the family, was present, things felt rather awkward. His father and mother were still manageable, but his siblings, their spouses, and children acted with utmost caution. It would be an understatement to say they were overly cautious.

 

Even though Zhou Chun remained smiling, they hardly dared to speak to him unless he addressed them first.

 

It seemed as if Zhou Chun was not their brother, but rather a superior who could determine their futures and lives with just one word.

 

This superior-subordinate relationship did not make Zhou Chun, in his role as the “leader,” feel any joy. Instead, it made him feel they were distant and unnatural.

 

At this moment, looking at his siblings seeking to please him, Zhou Chun remained silent for quite some time.

 

Then, without saying much, he simply nodded and said, “Mom, dad, you may rest assured. I am fully aware and will not slack off in my cultivation.”

 

He turned to his several siblings and said, “I will leave it to you Senior Sister, Big Brother, Fourth Sister, and Fifth Brother to look after them. If you have any problems, make sure to inform me. I will do my best to resolve them for you.”

 

Both his parents, as well as his siblings, smiled with joy.

 

His plan to stay for a couple more days changed, and Zhou Chun left earlier.

 

Upon returning to the market, Zhou Chun relayed Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi’s instructions to Zhou Jiasheng. This news eased the recent gloomy spirits of the shop manager and was looking much better.

 

With no pressure from the clan and assured that the store’s supply would not decrease significantly, the shop manager indeed felt less burdened.

 

As a result, both of them continued to run and maintain the store while brainstorming ways to regain lost popularity.

 

On that day, Zhou Chun was thinking about the strange fish discovered by rogue cultivator Luo Guangshun and decided to take a day off to visit Liu Qingshan for help. However, since being confined to the market, Liu Qingshan had lost contact with his friends and couldn’t assist Zhou Chun in finding Luo Guangshun.

 

As Zhou Chun was returning to his shop, he passed by the Spirit Beast Edifice and suddenly noticed a familiar figure emerging from it. Why would this person be here?

 

From behind a tree, Zhou Chun watched as the figure quickly left the Spirit Beast Edifice. He couldn’t help but feel puzzled and suspicious.