Chapter 82, A New Foundation Establishment Cultivator and a New Role

Translator: Raznick

 

“Who would have thought? Who could have imagined that the Jade Spirit Bee could return to the Zhou Clan once more?”

 

On Ganoderma Peak, including Zhou Chun and several dozen other Zhou Clan cultivators, they were allgathered outside a newly built hive. They watched as one by one, those gigantic bees flew up and down, familiarizing themselves with their new home. Every person present wore an expression filled with deep emotion.

 

The bees were about the size of sparrows, their bodies covered in emerald green patterns, even their wings resembling jade carvings, exuding faint ripples of spiritual power. These were Jade Spirit Bees, a rare and precious type of demon bee.

 

The Jade Spirit Bee although possessed formidable combat strength when they formed a swarm, their greatest utility to cultivators was their production of spiritual honey. The spiritual honey from the Jade Spirit Bees was not only extraordinarily delicious and sweet but also an excellent tonic. This type of spiritual honey had  versatile uses—it could be diluted with water for drinking, mixed into honey tea, or used as an additive in pills.

 

Furthermore, the spiritual energy and nutritional components within the spiritual honey were easily absorbed and refined by cultivators. It was known to have various effects such as enhancing cultivation, healing internal injuries, replenishing vitality and blood, and extending one’s lifespan.

 

For instance, Zhou Chun and other members of the Zhou Clan, who were in the early stages of cultivating, often experienced improper Qi circulation and damage to their meridians when they first practiced cultivation.

 

Generally, cultivators would need to rest for ten to fifteen days in such situations before continuing their cultivation. However, Zhou Clan cultivators could recover fully within three days simply by drinking a spoonful of spiritual honey and then resume their cultivation practice.

 

It was precisely because of the Jade Spirit Bee’s extraordinary rarity that Zhou Clan’s ancestor, Zhou Xia, who had spent his entire life with his cultivation stuck at the Foundation Establishment Stage, still had his name and deeds recorded on the mural within the Zhou Clan’s Ancestral Hall. Back then, Zhou Xia had only managed to bring back fewer than a hundred Jade Spirit Bees.

 

It was thanks to the Zhou Clan’s concentrated efforts over generations to cultivate and pass down these bees that their population eventually grew substantially, with their numbers increasing more than tenfold by now!

 

Unfortunately, during the split of the Three Absolute Sect, all these Jade Spirit Bees were retained by Yu Jinghua in the Spirit Beast Manor. Not a single one was allowed to be taken back by the Zhou Clan.

 

At that time, many Zhou Clan cultivators even believed they would never see the bees return to the Zhou Clan in their lifetime. It turned out, however, that just a few short years later, the clan leadership successfully facilitated the return of these Jade Spirit Bees to the Zhou Clan!

 

This event also caused many outsiders within the Zhou Clan to hold great respect and admiration for Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi and Grand Elder Zhou Mingde.

 

In doing so, it somewhat lessened the impact of the news regarding Zhou Zhengkang’s mysterious disappearance.

 

Following the resolution of Zhou Zhengkang’s matter, Zhou Chun did not return to the market.

 

Instead, Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi assigned him a new position: a personal scribe to Clan Leader, responsible for assisting Clan Leader in handling clan affairs.

 

Additionally, the task of collecting Venomous Thornfish mucus, which had previously been handled by Zhou Jiahui, was now entrusted to him as well.

 

It was this role as Clan Leader’s personal scribe that suddenly thrust Zhou Chun into the spotlight of all Zhou Clan cultivators, making him a prominent figure within the Zhou Clan.

 

Everyone knew that before Zhou Chun, there had been no scribes whatsoever in Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi’s vicinity; all clan affairs were decided by Clan Leader alone.

 

Now, however, Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi had specifically established a scribe position for Zhou Chun, enlisting his help in managing clan affairs.

 

The purpose was obvious—even the simplest person could see it.

 

At this point, Zhou Chun’s various merits on behalf of the Zhou Clan over the past few years were made public. Upon learning that Zhou Chun’s individual merits alone now ranked him as second among all Qi Refining cultivators in the clan, those who had harbored resentment toward Zhou Daoyi for his favoritism toward Zhou Chun fell silent.

 

While merits alone couldn’t fully determine a person’s capabilities, they did reflect the extent of their contributions to the clan. For the clan, a cultivator who made significant contributions deserved to be treated with greater honor and privilege. Besides, Zhou Chun was merely Zhou Daoyi’s personal attendant and not the Clan Leader himself.

 

Under these circumstances, the earlier incident involving Foundation Establishment seed Zhou Zhengkang’s disappearance from the clan became less impactful. Within just a few months, hardly anyone spoke of it.

 

One day, Zhou Chun was organizing accounts in the Central Palace when he heard excited laughter coming from up the mountain. This caused him to pause and rise from his seat, heading toward the entrance of the hall.

 

Outside, Zhou Chun looked up and easily spotted a gray-clad man floating in midair, still chuckling uncontrollably. Floating in midair was a natural ability that cultivators mastered after reaching Foundation Establishment Stage. It could also be considered a form of innate divine technique.

 

Flying with spiritual power, True Barrier, and Foundation Establishment true fire… These various applications of spiritual power were all techniques that cultivators used once reching the Foundation Establishment Stage due to the transformation of their spiritual power. However, generally speaking, no Foundation Establishment cultivator would lose control of their emotions simply because they had mastered such abilities.

 

There was only one exception!

 

That’s exactly what Zhou Chun saw at the moment: a Qi Refining cultivator who had just reached Foundation Establishment for the first time was using these abilities.

 

Upon seeing the gray-clad man in the sky, Zhou Chun immediately recognized his identity.

 

That was none other than Zhou Jiarui, a core member of the Zhou Clan, who had been in meditation in a secluded room on Pagoda Peak for over three months to establish his foundation.

 

Ever since three months ago, when the Alchemy Li Clan sent them two Foundation Establishment Pills, the two individuals designated to take these pills, Zhou Jiarui and Zhou Jiacheng, had directly taken the pills into the secluded rooms on Pagoda Peak to attempt the Foundation Establishment breakthrough.

 

From what could be seen now, at least Zhou Jiarui had succeeded in establishing his foundation.

 

At this moment, Zhou Chun hesitated slightly before quickly cupping hands and paying respects, shouting, “Nephew Zhou Chun congratulates Eleventh Uncle on successful Foundation Establishment; may you live a long and healthy life.”

 

The congratulatory phrase “live a long and healthy life” was never out of place when addressing a cultivator’s breakthrough.

 

Because the very essence of cultivation was to pursue immortality.

 

Each major breakthrough in a cultivator’s journey significantly extends their lifespan. Therefore, upon hearing Zhou Chun’s congratulations, Zhou Jiarui, who was in the sky, also laughed with even greater joy. He ranked eleventh among the “Jia” generation and was already seventy-six years old. If he had not reached Foundation Establishment, he would only have about forty years left to live, or perhaps even less. However, now that he did, his lifespan had been extended to over two centuries, making him relatively young among Foundation Establishment cultivators, with endless possibilities ahead.

 

“Ha ha ha, Zhengchun, you are most polite.” He burst into laughter and instantly rose into the air, landing right before Zhou Chun. At this point, due to his loud laughter, Grand Elder Zhou Mingde and Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi, who had been cultivating in their rooms, were also drawn out.

 

“Excellent, excellent. Jiarui, you did not dissapoint the Zhou Clan’s care it had for you!”

 

Zhou Daoyi looked at Zhou Jiarui and praised him first.

 

Zhou Jiarui expressed gratitude and cupped his hands: “My humble achievements today are entirely due to the Zhou Clan’s care, the attention of Grand Elder and Clan Leader. I shall never forget the clan’s favor!”

 

Zhou Mingde also nodded in approval: “Well said. Hopefully you will always remember these words and not let down the Zhou Clan’s trust in you.”

 

“Always！”

 

Zhou Jiarui’s expression turned solemn as he made a firm pledge.

 

Following tradition, the Zhou Clan held a Foundation Establishment celebration for Zhou Jiarui, with most Zhou Clan cultivators attending to congratulate him and present gifts.

 

Additionally, some rogue cultivators who had good relations with the Zhou Clan also participated in the celebration.

 

In the midst of all this commotion, another cultivator who had failed to reach Foundation Establishment, Zhou Jiacheng, had quietly withdrawn from seclusion as well.

 

A single Foundation Establishment Pill could increase a Qi Refining cultivator’s chances of reaching Foundation Establishment by roughly threefold, but it did not guarantee success.

 

Zhou Jiacheng was one of those unlucky individuals.

 

Though he had consumed the Foundation Establishment Pill, he still failed to reach Foundation Establishment. He merely relied on the pill’s effects to preserve his life and maintain his cultivation level.

 

For a time, he dared not face his clansmen.

 

It was only after Zhou Jiarui reached Foundation Establishment and hosted a grand celebration with feasting and entertainment that even the last shred of hope within Zhou Jiacheng’s heart evaporated.

 

Now, he could only retreat from seclusion with nothing but reluctant shame in his heart.

 

However, even in this quiet departure, he still owed an explanation to his clan.

 

After finishing his meditation, he did not return to his residence but instead went directly to the entrance of the Ancestral Hall, where he knelt down facing the wall. After attending Zhou Jiarui’s celebration, Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi returned and easily noticed Zhou Jiacheng.

 

Actually, Zhou Jiacheng’s failure in establishing his foundation was already no secret to both Zhou Mingde and Zhou Daoyi. They knew that Zhou Jiacheng was deeply affected by this failure and hoped he would come to terms with it on his own, so they pretended not to notice. Seeing Zhou Jiacheng emerged on his own, Zhou Daoyi felt quite relieved inside. He slowly walked behind Zhou Jiacheng, who was still kneeling on the ground, and sighed softly, “It’s normal to fail. Establishing one’s foundation isn’t something that always works out; being able to preserve one’s life and cultivation is already commendable.”

 

The younger man replied, “But I cannot forgive myself! How great is your trust in me! You granted me the Foundation Establishment Pill, which countless clan members longingly desire, to aid in my Foundation Establishment. This is beyond what I deserve!

 

“I am ashamed, I have failed to live up to the trust of Grand Elder and Clan Leader.

 

“I am deeply guilty; I truly feel unworthy to see you two Seniors again, or any of our fellow clansmen!”

 

By the end of his speech, Zhou Jiacheng was in tears.

 

He was a man in his sixties, someone who had seen countless trials and tribulations in life, and not easily moved to tears.

 

But Foundation Establishment was the most significant event in a cultivator’s lifetime.

 

Through the blessings of his ancestors and his own diligent efforts, Zhou Jiacheng had been granted the clan’s Foundation Establishment Pill to aid him in this crucial task.

 

Under normal circumstances, he should have succeeded in establishing his foundation, fulfilling the clan’s expectations and living up to the hopes of the Seniors.

 

But in the end, he failed!

 

This failure not only disappointed the clan and seniors’ expectations for his upbringing but also deeply saddened him, considering the legacy of his late grandfather who had once favored him.

 

Such a blow, even for someone in their sixties, was difficult to bear.

 

“You can think this way precisely because neither I nor Grand Elder have overlooked you!

 

“The decision of the clan on who receives the Foundation Establishment Pill follows strict criteria. Your selection indicates that you excelled over others at that time.

 

“It’s not stated that anyone taking the Foundation Establishment Pill will surely succeed, nor is it implied that failure makes one a disgrace to clan!

 

“Should you succeed, congratulations are in order; if not, it merely reflects less fortunate circumstances.

 

“Grand Elder and I will never hold this against you, and other clan members will gradually come to understand your situation,” Zhou Daoyi comforted Zhou Jiacheng, gently guiding the discouraged clan descendant.

 

Since the losses were irreparable, a spirited Twelfth Layer of Qi Refining Stage cultivator would be more valuable to the clan than one who wallows in self-pity. As Clan Leader, Zhou Daoyi had no choice but to console and guide Zhou Jiacheng, even if for this reason alone.

 

Under his consolation, Zhou Jiacheng gradually recovered and even stood up, able to face him once more. Turning around to meet his gaze, he then brushed away the tears from his eyes before bowing deeply: “Thank you, Clan Leader, for your guidance. I now understand what I should do. From this day forward, I will devote myself wholeheartedly to serving the clan and repay the clan’s upbringing!”

 

Zhou Daoyi nodded with a smile: “There you go! You’re still young; as long as you work hard for the clan, there may yet be another chance for you to attempt breaking through in the future.”

 

This remark, laced with subtle encouragement, sparked hope in Zhou Jiacheng’s eyes. He declared with determination: “Thank you, Clan Leader, for your teachings. I assure you, I will never let you down again!”

 

After seeing off Zhou Jiacheng as he left Pagoda Peak and descended the mountain, Zhou Daoyi shook his head before turning around and heading back to his own residence.

 

Now that Zhou Chun was helping manage clan affairs, he gained a lot of free time, and the time for cultivation had obviously increased a lot.

 

This was a win-win situation for him.

 

For Zhou Chun, this job had also benefited him.

 

As an aide to Zhou Daoyi, he not only got rid of other chores, but also concentrated on cultivation on the Pagoda Peak with abundant spiritual energy.

 

In this way, he could focus on improving his own cultivation and get in touch with many clan secrets and obtain a lot of first-hand information.

 

For example, Medicine Peak refined a batch of Beast Spirit Pills. He knew better than anyone just how many were in the clan treasury for clan members to exchange and use.

 

This way, whenever he had a need, he could take advantage of the opportunity to make an exchange.

 

Moreover, since he was always at Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi’s side every day, he could seek advice whenever he encountered problems in cultivation or had questions about raising his spirit pet, receiving guidance as needed.

 

This kind of treatment was something ordinary members of the Zhou clan could only dream of.

 

It could be said that, aside from not yet reaching Grand Elder status, Zhou Chun’s treatment now was no different from what Zhou Zhengkang had back then.

 

Although he had not yet been officially designated as a Foundation Establishment seed by the clan, in reality, he was already beginning to enjoy that status’s privileges.