Clan Cultivation: Starting from Beast Taming

The shallow waters are not fit for the Flood Dragon.

All Demon Beasts have strict requirements for their habitats.

At the very least, there must be enough food.

However, the mountain lake before Zhou Chun was only three or four acres in size, and with such a small area, it was simply impossible to sustain those strange fish.

Therefore, he concluded that there must be more to this lake than meets the eye.

Yet, to discover the secrets hidden within the lake, one would definitely need to dive in.

Although Zhou Chun was aware of the high-grade first-level spell “Water Avoidance Technique,” he had not practiced it.

Of course, this was not a big problem because, with his late-stage Qi Refinement cultivation level, holding his breath for an hour was not difficult.

But without the “Water Avoidance Technique,” fighting a Demon Beast underwater could be risky, as there was a chance of suffocation in case of a misstep.

The strong Spirit Pet, the Rock Earth Turtle, wouldn’t be able to utilize any of its capabilities.

This made Zhou Chun hesitant about whether to take the risk of diving into the water.

“Forget it, I’ve come all this way. If I don’t discover anything, wouldn’t the trip have been in vain?”

Touching the Bright Dawn Pendant on his chest, Zhou Chun finally gritted his teeth, took out the Moon Blade Meteor Wheel, and jumped into the lake.

Just as Zhou Chun had expected, there was indeed more to the lake beneath the surface.

He had descended less than twenty yards when he saw a pitch-black enormous cave; it turned out that the lake water was actually flowing out from that cave!

But just as he was about to enter the cave to explore what was inside, two strange fish suddenly rushed out of the cave and shot water arrows at him.

Seeing this, he quickly activated the Bright Dawn Pendant to envelop himself in a yellowish-brown light for protection, then brandished the Moon Blade Meteor Wheel in his hand, slashing at the two strange fish.

The lake water significantly disrupted his Divine Sense. While Zhou Chun could control his weapon up to eighty yards on land, underwater he could not even manage half that distance.

Fortunately, the two strange fish were only about a dozen yards away from him, and the two Moon Blades easily cleaved them in two.

Still, Zhou Chun didn’t dare to linger underwater any longer because the smell of blood would surely attract more strange fish.

If more strange creatures were to arrive, it wouldn’t matter if a second-level Demon Beast appeared, even dozens of first-level strange fish could prevent his return to shore.

“That underwater cavern must be connected to an underground river, but it’s unknown where that river leads.

“However, to be able to support so many carnivorous Water Demons, the water in that cavern must be incredibly deep!”

“It seems that to unravel the mystery of this place, we can only request the help of a Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage or a Clan Member who has tamed a Water Demon.”

On the shore, the soaking wet Zhou Chun looked at the lake before him with a very solemn expression.

Several days later, after purchasing the strange fish corpses brought by Luo Guangshun at the Marketplace, Zhou Chun once again asked for leave to return to the Zhou Family.

“Currently, the few Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators of the family cannot easily leave. However, Jiahe’s Spirit Pet, the Azure Scale Crocodile, and Jiahui’s Spirit Pet, the Spiral Water Turtle, both are first-level high-grade Demon Beasts proficient in water combat. Let the two of them accompany you on this trip!”

In the Central Peace Hall, after listening to Zhou Chun’s report on the situation with the strange fish nest, Zhou Daoyi pondered briefly and then proposed his handling strategy.

This plan was within Zhou Chun’s expectations.

Since the Great Elder Zhou Mingshan passed away, including the Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi, the Zhou Family only had three Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators left, each with important responsibilities.

Second Elder Zhou Chongshan was the Family Array Master; only he could maximize the power of the sect’s protective Formation, and thus he couldn’t easily leave the sect.

Third Elder Zhou Daoquan was currently managing the Zhou Family’s Beast Garden. He needed to supervise and subdue some untrained dangerous Demon Beasts.

He was also responsible for patrolling the surrounding areas of Jiufeng Ridge to deter the faint-hearted, so he couldn’t easily depart too far from the sect either.

There was no need to mention Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi.

So upon hearing Zhou Daoyi’s plan, Zhou Chun immediately responded, “Junior understands. I will assist the two Elders in managing this matter.”

However, Zhou Daoyi shook his head upon hearing this and said, “No, not assist. You should take charge of this mission. I will make this clear to them.”

Ah!!

Zhou Chun’s expression froze, and he looked at Zhou Daoyi in surprise, almost doubting his own ears.

As Zhou Chun looked on in surprise, Zhou Daoyi simply waved his hand and said, “Do not be so astonished. You are now a core member of the Zhou Family. Moreover, I have seen all of your previous performances, and the clan members who have worked with you have also praised you highly.”

With these words, he looked at Zhou Chun with full encouragement and continued, “Although our Zhou Family teaches its members to respect their elders, someone with the ability to assume responsibility can truly strengthen the family. Therefore, I believe that with you in charge, you will certainly bring me another pleasant surprise!”

These words, upon reaching Zhou Chun’s ears, immediately moved and inspired him greatly.

Indeed, his efforts over the years had not been in vain. The trust that Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi now showed was undoubtedly the best affirmation of his efforts in the past few years.

Without any further modesty, he immediately replied with firm conviction, “This junior understands. I will definitely not fail the Clan Leader’s trust and expectations!”

Seeing this, Zhou Daoyi smiled with satisfaction and said, “Then I will await your good news back at the family.”

Zhou Jiahe was the Peak Master of Baozhi Peak, with a Qi Refinement of the twelfth layer and was seventy-two years old this year. In the “Jia” generation, she was thirteenth in line, and Zhou Chun should address her as Thirteenth Aunt.

Zhou Jiahui was younger, ranked nineteenth in the same generation, with a Qi Refinement of the eleventh layer, and Zhou Chun should address her as Nineteenth Aunt.

When the two of them learned that this task was to be led by Zhou Chun, they were both very surprised.

Especially Zhou Jiahe, the Peak Master of Baozhi Peak.

You see, Zhou Chun was a member of her Baozhi Peak and usually under her control!

Of course, that was before Zhou Chun’s promotion to a core clan member.

Now as a core clan member, she had no authority over Zhou Chun; only the Clan Leader and Family Elders had that qualification.

Even so, that didn’t mean she should be commanded by Zhou Chun!

But seeing the uncompromising expression of Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi, even though they were astonished and uncomfortable, they had no choice but to follow the Clan Leader’s orders.

After all, although they were Zhou Chun’s elders, Zhou Daoyi was their elder and the Clan Leader of the Zhou Family.

However, Zhou Chun knew in his heart that even if the two elders were to follow Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi’s orders, he must not take advantage of those orders to boss them around or give them orders arrogantly.

Otherwise, the reputation he painstakingly cultivated within the family would be completely destroyed, and he would be labeled a conceited snob upon gaining a little power.

So, after leaving the family riding the Large-Horned Green Sheep, he greeted the two of them with a broad smile and a polite bow, “Rest assured, dear aunts. Although the Clan Leader has given his orders, I will not show any disrespect towards you both. This mission is mainly about scouting and won’t involve much risk!”

Upon hearing his words, the visages of the two Zhou family female cultivators relaxed noticeably.

Zhou Jiahe glanced at him and then smiled, saying, “Nephew Zhengchun, you are too polite. Since the Clan Leader has asked you to lead, there must be good reason behind it. I trust the Clan Leader’s judgment.”

Zhou Jiahui also nodded lightly, “Sister Jiahe is right. If you have gained such high regard from the Clan Leader, Nephew Zhengchun, it must be for some special merit that we are not aware of.”

Having been through decades of life, these two female cultivators certainly understood the principle that respect begets respect.

Now that the junior, Zhou Chun, had already shown his humility and goodwill, if they continued to ignore him on account of their seniority, they would only be causing trouble for themselves.

“The two elders are too kind; I am still young and have much to learn from my elders. I dare not accept such praise.”

So it goes, human nature is such.

When Zhou Chun, as the junior, had to lead the two elders, they could not help feeling uncomfortable about it.

But when Zhou Chun, as their leader, was willing to put aside his leadership status to flatter them as their junior, the joy and satisfaction they received was many times greater than usual.

When they were in good spirits, their view of Zhou Chun, the junior, became much more favorable, and they no longer dwelled on the fact that they were being led by him.

They even thought about cooperating more with Zhou Chun when the time came to demonstrate the nobility of their seniority.

With the three of them traveling together and after several days of travel, they eventually returned to that deep mountain pool once again.

“This is the pool. I shall rely on the two of you for this task.”

At the edge of the pool, Zhou Chun pointed to the clear blue waters, his face full of expectation as he looked towards the two Zhou family elders.

“Rest assured, Nephew Zhengchun, we will handle this!”

Zhou Jiahe and Zhou Jiahui exchanged glances, took off the Spirit Beast Pouches from their waists, and released their Spirit Pets.

Zhou Jiahe’s Spirit Pet was a giant azure-black crocodile, over two zhang and three chi in length, covered in azure-black scale armor, exuding a formidable and imposing presence.

Zhou Jiahui’s Spirit Pet was a large black turtle, somewhat smaller in size than Zhou Chun’s Rock Earth Turtle, with a smooth shell unlike the Rock Earth Turtle’s spiny one. This turtle’s tail was quite peculiar, somewhat resembling that of a pangolin.

Now, the two Spirit Pets, after receiving instructions from their owners, each dived into the pool.