Beast Taming Immortal Clan

Chapter 259 Honorary Elder, Zhou Chongshan's Last Words [Please Subscribe]

Lin Hongyu failed to deliver the promised treasure to the Zhou family on time, which indeed disappointed Zhou Mingde, who had been eagerly anticipating it.

However, Lin Wan'er's staying made up for some of the losses.

Lin Wan'er's staying with the Zhou family is not just about providing the Zhou family with another Foundation Establishment cultivator; it also means that the intelligence network she possesses will be put to use by the Zhou family.

According to Lin Wan'er's own confession, the intelligence network she was assigned to manage and establish by Lin Hongyu now has twelve core members and thirty-four peripheral members.

The twelve core members were all cultivators who had been trained and sponsored by Lin Hongyu, and were people who could be turned into combat personnel at any time.

The thirty-four peripheral members can also be made to fight for you with money and treasures.

With the Dragon Transformation Sect severely damaged and herself freed from its constraints, Lin Hongyu no longer wanted to expend resources to support this intelligence network. Therefore, she handed it over to the Zhou family along with Lin Wan'er, which could be considered one of her rewards to the Zhou family.

The Zhou family is currently short of manpower, and this intelligence source is undoubtedly a powerful supplement for them.

Therefore, when Lin Wan'er chose to stay in the Zhou family as arranged by Lin Hongyu, Zhou Mingde immediately said that he would continue to entrust this intelligence line to her for management and provide her with full financial support.

Lin Wan'er was also very quick to act. She not only handed over the intelligence data of the core members and peripheral members to the Zhou family, but also went to Zhou Daoyi to receive the dragon spirit blood and began to cultivate the "Dragon Transformation Secret Technique".

Just as Lin Wan'er began her secluded cultivation of the "Dragon Transformation Secret Technique" on Pagoda Peak, Zhou Chun approached Zhou Mingde to discuss the arrangement of her identity.

"It is certainly a great thing that Fellow Daoist Lin has joined the Zhou family, but what kind of status should the family assign her?"

The Zhou family is no longer a small or insignificant family. The fact that a Foundation Establishment cultivator has suddenly appeared in the family is something that cannot be kept secret from the family members or outsiders.

So, how to assign Lin Wan'er a new identity also troubled Zhou Chun.

Only Foundation Establishment stage cultivators of the Zhou family can serve as elders, and even ordinary Foundation Establishment stage cultivators may not be able to serve in this role in the future.

It would definitely be inappropriate to have Lin Wan'er as an elder of the Zhou family.

However, given her Foundation Establishment stage cultivation level, if she doesn't become an elder, there isn't any other position in the Zhou family's current identity system that would be more suitable for her.

Therefore, after thinking about it for a long time without finding a solution, Zhou Chun could only ask Zhou Mingde for advice.

Upon hearing Zhou Chun's words, Zhou Mingde was momentarily stumped and unsure how to respond.

After pondering for a while, he looked at Zhou Chun and said softly, "How about setting up a guest elder position in the family? Such a position would have the same treatment and status as the family elders, but would not have voting rights at the family elders' meetings, and would not be invited or allowed to attend the family elders' meetings."

Guest Elder?

Zhou Chun was slightly taken aback. After thinking about it carefully, he realized the origin of this position.

Generally, cultivation families do not have guest elders. This position is usually only established by cultivation sects, and it is usually set up for high-level cultivators outside the sect who are very close to the sect.

For example, Qinglian Temple has several guest elders, and those guest elders are all Golden Core stage cultivators from Golden Core families.

These Golden Core families were either established by disciples of the Qinglian Temple, or had many members who had joined the Qinglian Temple over generations, and thus had a very deep relationship with it.

In this situation, in order to win over these Golden Core stage cultivators, Qinglian Temple would appoint them as guest elders, allowing them to enjoy some of the benefits of Qinglian Temple elders.

Thinking of this, he immediately said, "If we were to call him a guest elder, I'm afraid it would only make us a laughing stock if outsiders found out, and Fellow Daoist Lin himself might not be willing to do so."

"In my humble opinion, how about changing the title to Honorary Elder? It would retain the honorary title of elder without involving oneself in the management of internal family affairs!"

"Honorary Elder?"

Zhou Mingde paused for a moment, muttered the words "Honorary Elder" to himself, and then said with a smile, "Very good, the title of Honorary Elder is quite appropriate. Let's establish another Honorary Elder position within the family!"

Seeing that he agreed, Zhou Chun immediately said, "Since the Supreme Elder agrees, then I will inform the entire clan first, and after Elder Lin comes out of seclusion, I will ask the Supreme Elder to personally bestow this honor upon him."

"Very well, Dao Yi and I will jointly bestow this honor upon Fellow Daoist Lin at that time."

Zhou Mingde nodded and readily agreed.

After Zhou Chun left his cave, he quickly posted a notice announcing the matter.

The sudden appearance of a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the family, and the creation of an "Honorary Elder" position specifically for him, certainly piqued the curiosity of many members of the Zhou family.

Many people went to Zhou Chunhe's acquaintances and elders to inquire about the identity and background of this elder from another family, while others asked how to treat this elder with proper etiquette.

Zhou Chun had already consulted with the elders, including Zhou Jiarui, who had met Lin Wan'er beforehand, so they gave a unified response.

According to him, Lin Wan'er was a rogue cultivator who grew up in Yunzhou. Knowing how difficult it was for someone to cultivate alone, she wanted to find a family to rely on.

Because of the Zhou family's outstanding performance in this war, and because Zhou Mingde had once saved her life by chance, she decided to seek refuge with the Zhou family.

There are quite a few Foundation Establishment stage cultivators in the cultivation world who seek refuge with cultivation families like this, so this reply is easy to believe.

As for how the family cultivators address Lin Wan'er, they naturally all address her as Elder Lin.

After all, the Zhou family currently only has one elder surnamed Lin!

Lin Wan'er herself was indeed outstanding; she completed the introductory training of the "Dragon Transformation Secret Technique" in just twelve days.

It should be noted that Zhou Chun was able to complete the introductory training of the "Dragon Transformation Secret Technique" in just three days because the top-level cultivation technique he practiced, the "Golden Cauldron Profound Technique," had a strong tempering and strengthening effect on his physical body.

Lin Wan'er did not cultivate the top-level techniques that could temper the body, yet she was able to complete the introductory cultivation of the "Dragon Transformation Secret Technique" in twelve days, which is a very good performance within the Dragon Transformation Sect.

After she successfully cultivated the "Dragon Transformation Secret Technique" using the spiritual blood of the Azure Flood Dragon as a medium, she was officially bound to the Zhou family.

Therefore, Zhou Mingde and Zhou Daoyi quickly conferred upon her the title of "Honorary Elder" of the Zhou family in front of dozens of Qi Refining stage cultivators from the Zhou family.

With Lin Wan'er's formal joining, the Zhou family now has eight Foundation Establishment stage cultivators.

At this time, Zhou Chun also gave Lin Wan'er a new task, which was to be in charge of training Xu Fu and other servants adopted by the Zhou family.

Lin Wan'er herself worked in intelligence and was very experienced in training cultivators. Her wilderness survival experience was unmatched by anyone in the Zhou family.

It would be most appropriate to have her train the cultivators who would be sent to Dragon Rising Valley to establish wilderness strongholds.

Another month passed, and Zhou Chongshan finally repaired the Zhou family's protective mountain formation, the "Five Directions Miro Formation".

After the formation was repaired and passed the activation test, Zhou Chongshan suddenly said to the several Zhou family elders who were beaming with joy, "This is the last time I will serve the family. I have a premonition that my time is coming to an end. I will now quietly organize my life's insights on formations at my residence. Unless it is urgent, please do not disturb me!"

"Chongshan, you..."

Zhou Mingde's expression changed slightly. He looked at Zhou Chongshan, but didn't know what to say.

Human lifespan has a limit, and cultivators are no exception.

Zhou Chongshan's lifespan was already short, and the severe injuries he sustained during the southern campaign further exacerbated his loss of vital energy. It's already quite remarkable that he has managed to survive until now.

"Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural order of things, and I have long since become indifferent to them."

Zhou Chongshan gently shook his head, indicating that there was no need to say anything more comforting.

Then he sighed softly, "Besides, I've lived for over two hundred years, so I haven't lived in vain. It's just a pity that I can no longer serve the family and witness its resurgence!"

He never married and devoted his life to the art of array formations. Before his death, his greatest concern was for his family.

Although the Zhou family is doing better and better now, it cannot be said to be reviving until a Golden Core cultivator appears.

His greatest regret was not being able to witness the Zhou family's resurgence and restoration of its former glory.

Hearing his heartfelt words, Zhou Chun couldn't help but whisper, "Second Elder, all the efforts you've made for the family, and the achievements you've made, are seen and remembered by everyone in the family!"

"As long as this protective mountain formation remains, as long as the Zhou family exists, you will forever live in our hearts!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chongshan suddenly laughed, a very happy laugh.

He reached out and patted Zhou Chun on the shoulder, smiling as he said, "Zheng Chun, I'm very happy to hear what you said. I'm even happier that the Zhou family has such an outstanding member like you. I believe that under your leadership and that of the Supreme Elder, our Zhou family will surely be able to rebuild its glory and reclaim everything that once belonged to us!"

"It definitely will!"

Zhou Chun nodded vigorously, his tone absolutely firm.

Seeing his expression, Zhou Chongshan's eyes flickered slightly, but he quickly composed himself and said solemnly, "There are some things I originally intended to tell Zhengchun before I passed away, but since the Supreme Elder and the others are all here today, and I don't know if I'll be able to see you then, I'll just tell you now!"

"Second Elder, please speak. This junior is all ears!"

A flicker of curiosity flashed in Zhou Chun's eyes; she also wanted to know what Zhou Chongshan was about to say with such a solemn expression.

Even Zhou Mingde and Zhou Daoyi, who were standing to the side, showed curiosity.

"Masazumi, your abilities are beyond doubt, and no one doubts your loyalty to the family. However, the changes you've made to the family have always been a bit too ambitious, giving the impression of being impatient for quick results. This approach is actually not good!"

"A family is different from an individual. If an individual takes a big step, at most it will hurt themselves, but if a family takes too big a step, the entire family will be hurt!"

"You were just the deputy clan leader before, and it's understandable that you were eager to show yourself and prove yourself. Besides, even if you made a mistake, we elders would remind you and help you correct it."

"But now that you are the clan leader, even the two elders can no longer easily oppose or deny some of your decisions."

"If you make a mistake that causes losses to the family, it will not only be a dereliction of duty on your part, but it will also cause the family members to doubt you, and even doubt the Supreme Elder!"

"And you must understand, for a family to develop steadily upwards, trust and unity are the most important. Once family members develop doubts and distrust towards the family's leadership, no matter how many other advantages the family possesses, it will be difficult for it to continue its upward trajectory!"

"So sometimes, walking slowly isn't scary; what's scary is taking the wrong path, because that will only take you further and further away from your destination!"

"I hope you will keep this in mind. In the future, when you want to make any changes to the family, you must listen to the opinions of others, preferably the opinions of the cultivators under the family. Don't think that just because you are doing it for the good of the family and other clansmen, you can disregard the feelings of others!"

Zhou Chongshan paused slightly, then glanced at Zhou Chun, who seemed moved by his words, and continued, "Secondly, I hope you can spend more time on your personal cultivation in the future. You can delegate more of the family's affairs to other elders or deacons. Although your personal aptitude is not very good, since you have successfully cultivated a top-level technique, you are the most promising person in the family to form a core in the future. You must live up to the hardships you have endured for this."

"Thirdly, I hope you can consider the matter of a Daoist partner. If you don't intend to remain unmarried for life like me, then you should find a Daoist partner with whom you can progress together. If you can leave behind a few talented descendants for the Zhou family, that would be even better!"

After saying this, Zhou Chongshan didn't wait for Zhou Chun to figure out how to answer him before waving his hand and saying, "Alright, that's all I wanted to say to you. Whether you listen to me or not is up to you. I'll head back now."

Then he flew alone to Zhenxuan Peak, where he cultivated.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Chun quickly spoke up, "I will remember the Second Elder's words and will certainly take the Elder's admonitions seriously!"

At this moment, Zhou Mingde also chimed in, "What Chongshan said was indeed from the bottom of his heart. Zhengchun, you really should think more about your personal cultivation and marriage!"

"Yes, I will seriously consider it."

Zhou Chun responded without arguing.

He has his own plans for his life, and he will listen to and take the advice of his elders as a reference.

Ultimately, he has his own choice regarding what to do.

More than a month later, the three major sects finally tallied up the war achievements of the various cultivation families, drafted the relevant rewards, and also announced the standards for compensation for the dead.

Second update today!

(End of this chapter)