Clan Cultivation: Starting from Beast Taming

“Actually, with your cultivation strength and background, Taoist Friend Zhou, once you register, there is a great likelihood of successfully being accepted into the Green Lotus Temple.”

“If you could enter the Green Lotus Temple, not to mention various other benefits, your chances of successfully reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage would greatly increase!”

In the backyard of the Spirit Beast Restaurant, Liu Qingshan, who was “on leave” to visit his daughter, was now discussing with Zhou Chun about the Green Lotus Temple opening its doors wide to recruit disciples.

He had no hope of registering because the Green Lotus Temple had strict requirements for recruiting disciples.

First was the age limit, where in principle, cultivators over thirty years of age were rejected outright, unless they possessed top-tier Spirit Root Aptitude, which could allow for an exception.

Next was one’s background. Those who were mere Loose Cultivators, with too much Evil Qi accumulated in their bodies, were also absolutely rejected.

Lastly, there was the requirement of cultivation level, where cultivators over fifteen years old who were below the mid-stage of the Qi Refinement Realm were completely undesirable.

For those cultivators under fifteen, they would be evaluated and selected based on a comprehensive examination of their background and Spirit Root Aptitude, taking only the best.

Liu Qingshan was overaged to begin with, naturally having no chance to register.

However, facing Liu Qingshan’s advice, Zhou Chun responded indifferently, “Zhou is of course aware of the benefits of being a disciple of a major sect, but Zhou is even more aware of the involuntary circumstances that come with it. Compared to that, it is more suitable for Zhou to cultivate within the Zhou Family.”

These were also the exact words he used to refuse the Clan Leader, Zhou Daoyi.

In fact, for the Zhou Family, whether Zhou Chun joined the Green Lotus Temple or stayed with the Zhou Family, both options were greatly beneficial to the family, and it was hard to say which was better.

If he joined the Green Lotus Temple, given Zhou Chun’s current age and cultivation level, plus his contract with a middle-tier Demon Beast like the Silver Lightning Python, the chances of him successfully reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage were very high, and by then the Zhou Family would have someone who could speak for them within the Green Lotus Temple.

Similarly, if he stayed in the Zhou Family, in time, the Zhou Family might gain a powerful Elder in the Foundation Establishment Stage, significantly enhancing the family’s overall strength.

Therefore, when Zhou Daoyi learned that he had no intention of joining the Green Lotus Temple, he didn’t persuade him much, but rather respected his choice.

After hearing Zhou Chun’s response, Liu Qingshan first fell silent for a while before nodding lightly and saying, “Perhaps, for a Family Cultivator like Taoist Friend Zhou, staying with the family is indeed a good choice!”

But then his tone shifted seriously, “However, for Loose Cultivators like myself, joining a major sect is indeed the best choice, which is why I plan to have my daughter register for this grand event!”

“Oh, Taoist Friend Liu plans to have your dear daughter register?”

A flash of surprise crossed Zhou Chun’s eyes as he frowned and said, “But with your beloved daughter only at the sixth level of the Qi Refinement Realm, aren’t you worried about her safety, Taoist Friend Liu?”

Thanks to his help, Liu Shiyun had been practicing in the Marketplace every day for the past six months and had already broken through to the sixth level of the Qi Refinement Realm.

However, Liu Shiyun was already twenty years old, and at that age, if she registered, she would have to compete with many cultivators at the seventh and eighth levels of the Qi Refinement Realm, many of whom were Family Cultivators.

Zhou Chun was doubtful of her chances of success.

Liu Qingshan, who had been scraping by in the Cultivation World for decades, could not fail to detect the underlying message in Zhou Chun’s words.

He immediately explained, “Shiyun has a good Spirit Root Aptitude, and although not top-tier, she is certainly outstanding among the middle-tier. Moreover, I have focused on cultivating her various aspects from a young age, and she is not as frail as Taoist Friend Zhou might imagine.”

“Besides, opportunities like these are rare. If we miss this chance, there’s no possibility of joining the Green Lotus Temple later on. I can only travel across mountains and rivers to try other sects in Jingguo Country, and the risks involved would then be far greater!”

Is that so?

Zhou Chun nodded slightly, acknowledging his explanation.

But soon after, his brows furrowed, as if he had thought of something, and he looked at Liu Qingshan to ask, “But why did Taoist Friend Liu bring all this up to Zhou?”

Hearing this question, Liu Qingshan couldn’t help but smile bitterly and spread his hands, “Taoist Friend Zhou knows that I am currently a criminal and cannot leave the Marketplace, naturally unable to accompany my daughter to Lianzhou’s Green Lotus Temple to take part in this grand event.”

“Therefore, I would like to humbly request Taoist Friend Zhou to help speak to your esteemed family, allowing my daughter to accompany those of your family who wish to join the Green Lotus Temple on their journey to Lianzhou.”

Is that all?

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chun felt relieved inside.

He had feared that Liu Qingshan would make a huge demand, asking him to help Liu Shiyun join the Green Lotus Temple, which he would have been utterly unable to assist with.

He nodded immediately in response, “Zhou understands. If it’s just this matter, then leave it to Zhou.”

After all, the Zhou Family was sending people to the Green Lotus Temple anyway, and sending one more, Liu Shiyun, wasn’t a big deal at all.

As a core member of the Zhou Family, Zhou Chun certainly had the clout for such a favor.

So, a few days later, Zhou Chun took leave from the Zhou Family and escorted Liu Shiyun to Jiufeng Ridge’s Zhou Family, also taking the opportunity to buy some new varieties of Spirit Fruit for the Green Wood Spirit Ape that had once helped him greatly.

Upon arriving at the Zhou Family, Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi quickly agreed to Zhou Chun’s request to add Liu Shiyun to the team.

The number of Zhou Family cultivators seeking entry into the Green Lotus Temple was fewer than Zhou Chun had expected; only three people in total, two of whom were under fifteen and part of the ‘righteous’ generation of younger relatives.

It was precisely because their numbers were so small that the Zhou Family didn’t even prepare a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator to escort them this time. They simply let Zhou Jiapeng, who had already reached the eleventh layer of the Qi Refinement Realm, escort the few to the Sun Family at Golden Maple Ridge and then proceed to Lianzhou with the Sun Family’s cultivators.

Consequently, after watching Liu Shiyun and the others leave the Zhou Family, Zhou Chun was also ready to leave his family and return to the marketplace.

When he learned of Zhou Chun’s plans to depart, Zhou Zhengyong insisted on dragging him back home for a meal.

“Your sister-in-law has become quite skilled at cooking now; today is just the right day for you to come and have a taste,”

Zhou Zhengyong said this with a face full of smug pride.

Zhou Chun knew why he was so proud.

It was because the last time he visited Zhou Zhengyong’s house, Zhou Chun had personally cooked several dishes himself.

Seeing his smug expression now, it was obvious that he wanted to show off that he had married a virtuous partner.

After all, getting a partner who is a cultivator to put aside her pride and learn mortal cookery is not an easy feat!

If it had been his past life, faced with a friend trying to swagger and show off like this, Zhou Chun would likely have left right away, denying him the chance and infuriating him.

But in this world, it certainly couldn’t be done that way; it would be too rude.

So he had no choice but to follow Zhou Zhengyong to his home.

And after trying seven or eight dishes made by Zhou Zhengyong’s partner Sun Yujiao, Zhou Chun really did feel a bit envious of the fellow.

Having a wife at home who could cook and warm his bed had always been his greatest dream in his previous life.

“Actually, Thirteenth Brother, you should think about finding a partner too. I think that Taoist Friend Liu Shiyun is quite nice; if she doesn’t get the chance to join the Green Lotus Temple this time, you might want to give it a try,”

Zhou Zhengyong seemed to notice the envy in Zhou Chun’s heart and winked at him while offering his suggestion.

For some reason, when Zhou Chun heard what Zhou Zhengyong said, the first thing that came to his mind was an illustration from the “Flower Seeking Manual.”

He quickly shook his head, snuffed out that improper thought, and rolled his eyes at Zhou Zhengyong, “Don’t talk nonsense, my relationship with Taoist Friend Liu is pure, don’t ruin the lady’s reputation!”

Pure?

Doubt covered Zhou Zhengyong’s face.

“Really, I haven’t even seen the true face of Taoist Friend Liu to this day!”

Seeing that Zhou Zhengyong still didn’t believe him, Zhou Chun simply shrugged and said, “If you don’t believe it, then forget it, but the main reason I escorted Taoist Friend Liu this time was because her father entrusted me.”

The Liu father and daughter had brought him a total gain of two thousand Spirit Coins.

Zhou Chun always had a clear sense of gratitude and grudges; even in a fair transaction, he was willing to offer help within his means to those who enabled him to make a profit.

Seeing him say this, Zhou Zhengyong felt it was no longer appropriate to keep questioning this matter, as it would seem too distrusting.

So he quickly changed the subject, “Did you know? It’s said that Seventh Brother initially wanted to join the Green Lotus Temple this time too, but he was forcibly kept by the Supreme Elder, who refused to let him leave the family. He’s even been grounded for it!”

Such a thing happened?

Zhou Chun’s expression showed surprise; it was the first he had heard of this.

After pondering for a moment, he shook his head, “I really didn’t know about this, but since it’s the Supreme Elder’s decision, we better not discuss it without permission!”

“Of course I know that, but we’re not outsiders, so that’s why I mentioned it to you.”

Zhou Zhengyong nodded, smiled a knowing smile at him as if to say “I understand.”

He then couldn’t help but sigh with emotion, “Ah! Before I was really envious of the special privileges he enjoyed, but now it seems that people like him who receive so much support from the family and elders also pay a price!”

But is it really so?

Zhou Chun shook his head slightly again, yet said nothing more.

What price does Zhou Zhengkang’s so-called “sacrifice” really compare to the special privileges he enjoys within the family?

If he were really allowed to join the Green Lotus Temple, that would be the true definition of reaping all the benefits, and he might become a source of complaint among the clan members for Supreme Elder Zhou Mingde for the rest of his life!

Of course, there was no need to share these thoughts with Zhou Zhengyong.

After a full meal at Zhou Zhengyong’s house, Zhou Chun left Jiufeng Ridge as the couple saw him off.

ps: Speechless, I set the timer wrong and scheduled it for tomorrow morning…