Chapter 1654: Chapter 629: Passing the Torch
Hearing this, Zhou Chun also showed a reaction and couldn’t help but ask, "Oh, what idea do you have in mind?"
"Do you remember a low-level demon beast in the family, the Five-Colored Pheasant? It is a type of demon bird we obtained from the Jiang Family mountain gate after we wiped out the Jiang Family in Lingzhou."
Zhou Mingde said quietly.
"I seem to have some impression." Zhou Chun nodded slightly, indicating he remembered.
Upon seeing this, Zhou Mingde continued, "Five years ago, some clan members discovered that a rooster in a free-range group of Five-Colored Pheasants had died, and a Tier-2 plume was found in the coop. It was suspected to be a feather from a Tier-2 demon beast, the Red Crested Fire Pheasant. They subsequently discovered several eggs that were different from the other eggs!"
"When those different eggs hatched, they produced a type of Five-Colored Fire Pheasant that could breathe demon fire. Not only were they larger than ordinary Five-Colored Pheasants, they also possessed much stronger flying abilities and their combat power far exceeded that of ordinary Five-Colored Pheasants!"
"As a result, some clan members speculated that the thin Phoenix Bloodline within the Five-Colored Pheasant might have been stimulated by the Red Crested Fire Pheasant’s bloodline, causing some dominant mutations. Perhaps feeding them Phoenix Fire Essence Blood could promote an evolution into intermediate demon beasts with Fire Phoenix Bloodline!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Chun understood.
Then he cheerfully said, "In that case, there’s no problem on my end with this matter. Whenever that junior needs it, as long as I’m within the family, I can provide the blood anytime!"
"There’s no rush. Those Five-Colored Fire Pheasants have not yet reached the first-tier superior grade, nor have they left any offspring. I’ll approach you again when the time is right."
Zhou Mingde waved his hand, signaling no hurry.
Afterwards, the two of them chatted about some family matters before Zhou Mingde took his leave.
Currently, all kinds of affairs of the Zhou Family were being handled personally by Zhou Mingde, while Zhou Chun acted like he used to, becoming a hands-off shopkeeper.
All of this was so Zhou Chun could focus on cultivation and achieve a breakthrough to the late Golden Core Stage as soon as possible.
Generally, only matters that Zhou Mingde deemed relatively important would prompt him to discuss with Zhou Chun and ask for his opinion.
Zhou Chun himself usually didn’t distract himself by paying attention to family affairs.
He is now also under considerable pressure to break through to the late Golden Core Stage and perform Nascent Soul Formation as soon as possible.
Because he knew very well that if he couldn’t reach Nascent Soul Formation early, the Green Lotus Mountain Range, which the Zhou Family invested heavily in building, might end up benefiting others!
Time flies, and seven years have passed in the blink of an eye.
Zhou Chun, along with his five Spirit Pets, continued their silent cultivation, rarely leaving the family mountain gate.
Occasionally, Golden Core Stage cultivators from Jingguo or those traveling to Jingguo would visit him, but he only engaged in Dao discussions and rarely traveled afar.
Even when a Golden Core Late Stage cultivator from the Moon Wheel Sect invited him to an exchange meeting, he declined.
This was done not only to avoid distractions but also with the intent to remain low-key.
On this day, Zhou Chun met with a clan member he’d not seen for a long time, a junior who had left the family to travel for several decades.
"Junior Zhou Zhiqian pays respects to the Clan Leader."
Inside the cave, a middle-aged man in a silver robe with a long beard respectfully bowed deeply to Zhou Chun as a sign of respect.
He was none other than Zhou Zhiqian, the superior spiritual root aptitude clan member who embarked on the path of a sword cultivator.
Back then, when he insisted on the path of a sword cultivator, Zhou Chun allowed him to leave the family to travel across various countries, honing his swordsmanship.
Now, after several decades, he had successfully opened the Purple Mansion, with an aura sharp and imposing, clearly having achieved significant accomplishments in the path of a sword cultivator.
At this point, after carefully examining this junior, Zhou Chun couldn’t help but show a pleased expression and nodded, "Not bad. To succeed in opening the Purple Mansion without the family’s help and find your path through decades of travel is commendable!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqian quickly responded with respect, "Junior owes all my achievements to the Clan Leader’s guidance and care back then. Without your life-saving gifts, I would have perished in foreign lands long ago!"
He then lowered his voice, showing an expression of guilt, "Unfortunately, when the beast tide broke out a few years ago, I was in a remote place and was in seclusion to break through to a major realm, unable to return to contribute to the family. I feel truly ashamed of failing the Clan Leader’s and family’s cultivation!"
"There’s no need for guilt in this matter. In such a situation, having one more of you wouldn’t have made a difference, nor would having one less. Even if you had returned on time, it wouldn’t have changed the bigger picture."
Zhou Chun slightly shook his head, indicating no blame was placed on this junior.
He then smiled slightly and said, "Instead, your current ability to open the Purple Mansion and return when the family needs manpower speaks to your loyalty!"
"Yes, the junior will certainly serve the family well in the future, to live up to the Clan Leader’s cultivation and hopes!"
Zhou Zhiqian replied earnestly and solemnly.
Hearing his firm and powerful words, Zhou Chun appreciated this junior even more.
He quickly nodded and said, "Since you have successfully opened the Purple Mansion, according to family rules, you should be promoted to Family Elder. Let this Sword Grinding Stone be a gift from me to you, and it will belong to you from now on."