Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Parents, Hatching of the Snake Egg [Please follow the story]
```
Time flew by, and before Zhou Chun knew it, three months had passed since he returned from the Wang Family in Hongyao Valley.
In these three months, there had indeed been a stir within the Zhou Family due to Zhou Zhengkang being designated as a Foundation Establishment Seed of the Zhou Family.
However, after the commotion, everything returned to normal, and the outcome remained unchanged.
Zhou Chun, although he had gained another opportunity to choose secret techniques for cultivation, hadn't successfully cultivated the first two secret techniques, so naturally, he didn't have the time to pick new ones.
His cultivation level quickly progressed after he began taking the "Jade Ginseng Pill".
There were a total of ten Jade Ginseng Pills in the two bottles, and Zhou Chun took one every fifty days as usual, usually breaking through an acupoint each time.
At this rate, those two bottles of Jade Ginseng Pills would be enough to raise his cultivation level to the ninth layer of the Qi Refinement Realm, which is the latter stage of Qi Refinement.
As his own cultivation steadily increased, Zhou Chun did not neglect the Rock Earth Turtle Spirit Pet that had contributed greatly to his achievements.
He used some of the family's goodwill to exchange for three bottles of Beast Spirit Pills from Hundred Medicines Peak, planning to use these elixirs to train the Rock Earth Turtle into a first-grade superior Demon Beast.
One day, as Zhou Chun was deeply immersed in cultivating the Five Elements Spiritual Armor Technique in the quiet room of his dwelling, he suddenly sensed someone triggering the formation outside, indicating a visitor.
When he finished his cultivation and exited the quiet room, he opened the courtyard gate and immediately saw a middle-aged couple dressed in satin brocade, along with Zhou Zhengyong who had brought them there.
As Zhou Chun gazed at the couple, who showed not the slightest trace of mana, feeling that they were somewhat familiar and dear, yet he couldn't recall their names and backgrounds for a moment.
Seeing him standing motionless, Zhou Zhengyong couldn't help but give him a push and said, "Thirteen, what are you standing around for? Quickly invite your uncle and aunt inside. They've come a long way to see you and have had quite a tough journey!"
Boom!
Hearing what Zhou Zhengyong said, memories suddenly flooded Zhou Chun's mind, and he remembered the identities of the middle-aged couple before him.
His expression changed, and he hurried forward, catching the corner of their clothes and kneeling as he cried out, "Father, Mother, your unfilial son has let you suffer!"
On hearing his words, the couple, who had been staring blankly at him, immediately bent down and embraced his head tightly, weeping with joy.
"My child!!!"
Indeed, this middle-aged couple were the parents of Zhou Chun.
They had been living as wealthy landlords in a mundane city of Fengguo, enjoying a carefree life.
More than a year ago, once the Zhou Family had established a foundation in Jiufeng Ridge of Lanzhou in Jingguo Country, they began to arrange for cultivators to relocate those mundane clansmen from Fengguo. As direct relatives of the Zhou Family cultivators, they were also among the first to be relocated.
Missing their son, as soon as they were moved near a mundane settlement close to Jiufeng Ridge, they couldn't wait to trek through mountains and waters to visit Zhou Chun.
Now, having understood the situation, Zhou Chun also felt immensely moved and tightly grasped his parents' hands, saying, "Father, Mother, you've worked hard. From now on, you should stay on the mountain, and let your son honor you properly!"
However, upon hearing his words, Zhou Chun's father immediately shook his head and said, "No, that won't do. This Spirit Mountain is a place for you cultivators to practice in solitude. Your mother and I—mere mortals—shouldn't disturb your cultivation here."
Zhou Chun's mother also nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, yes, your brothers and sisters are also outside the mountain in the towns. Your mother and I can't ignore them either!"
Hearing this reply from his parents, Zhou Chun fell silent.
Truth be told, with his current status as an elite clan member of the Zhou Family, he could have arranged for his immediate relatives to settle in Jiufeng Ridge.
But he knew that such surroundings at Jiufeng Ridge were not really suitable for mortals to settle and live.
Humans are social creatures, most of them enjoying bustling and lively places and the warmth of community life.
Cultivators, on the other hand, prefer tranquility.
Therefore, for most mortals, living in towns filled with a large population of fellow mortals is far more convenient and pleasant than residing in the wilderness of Jiufeng Ridge.
"Alright then, since Father and Mother don't fancy the mountain life, I won't force it. Anyway, where you live now is not far from the mountain. When I am free, I will come to visit you more often!"
After a long silence, Zhou Chun finally nodded. He no longer insisted on them living on the mountain, only asking his parents to stay for a few more days to allow him to fulfill his filial duties.
This request out of filial piety, was naturally not refused by his parents.
After staying on the mountain for half a month, because his parents were truly worried about their other children outside the mountain, Zhou Chun had to escort them back to the town, and took the opportunity to meet with his brothers and sisters as well.
In terms of family hierarchy, Zhou Chun was the third eldest, with an elder sister and brother above him, and a younger sister and brother below him.
Except for him and his youngest brother, the rest of his siblings were already married with children.
```
```
This time, it was thanks to him, his siblings, and roughly five thousand other Zhou Family Mundane Clansmen, that after migrating for more than a year and traversing thousands of miles, had arrived in Jingguo Country's Lanzhou, restarting their lives under the protection of the family's Cultivators.
When Zhou Chun met these siblings this time, he gave them some Elixirs he had specially exchanged from within the family as gifts, presenting a few to each of them.
For Cultivation families like the Zhou Family, which had a large number of Mundane Clansmen, they specially concocted certain Elixirs to serve these Mortals to allow their Cultivators to show filial piety and affection conveniently.
Such Elixirs were primarily concocted using Spiritual Medicine, with mild effects and easy absorption, beneficial for treating illnesses and detoxifying in Mortals, as well as extending their lives.
Even some ailments from Zhou Chun's past life, like heart attacks and strokes, which were difficult to cure, would see miraculous effects after taking these Elixirs, providing relief upon consumption, and could be considered omnipotent Spiritual Medicine.
Zhou Chun provided each of his direct kin with one, as a token of his own heartfelt sentiment.
After spending three days with his relatives in the world of the Mundane, he finally returned to Jiufeng Ridge's gate on the Zhou Family Mountain.
"It seems I've truly adapted to this world and this identity. During these few days of meeting and interacting with my relatives, I didn't feel even a bit of discomfort or awkwardness; everything felt so natural and relaxed!"
In his room, Zhou Chun mutterend to himself in a low voice while looking into the mirror at his fair and handsome face, his eyes shifting unpredictably.
Whether this was a good or bad thing, he himself couldn't tell.
Perhaps the environment and atmosphere have such a powerful assimilating effect on people.
Now, apart from insisting on three meals a day and occasionally having thoughts that differed significantly from other Zhou Family Cultivators, Zhou Chun was indistinguishable from the native inhabitants of this world.
In the first year, he occasionally missed the technological products of his previous life, the comfortable soft beds, and the various delicacies and drinks.
But now he had completely adapted to sleeping on hard wooden board beds, accustomed to the daily simple tea and meals, and to the routine of rising early for meditation and Cultivation.
He was now a proper Cultivator, his every word and deed in line with the precepts of Cultivation.
"Perhaps this is the real me now!"
With a slight smile on his face, Zhou Chun was very satisfied with his current life and preferred it over his past one.
In the following two to three months, Zhou Chun indeed took the time every month to visit the Mortal town outside the mountain, checking on his newly settled parents and relatives, helping them overcome worries, and solving practical inconveniences in life.
It should be said that the Zhou Family took good care of their Mundane Clansmen and did not neglect them after they migrated.
Within the residential area, the Zhou Family now had a Cultivator from the "Jia" generation permanently stationed to protect these Mortals. Should the local Mortal forces ever think to bully these Zhou Family members, they would quickly learn how severe the consequences could be.
However, that Cultivator could only offer martial support; for matters related to everyday life, he was truly helpless and could only rely on the Mortals themselves to find solutions.
With his knowledge and experience from a previous life, Zhou Chun could most of the time find ways to resolve these daily life issues, thus providing considerable help.
As time unwittingly flew by, the Cultivation-focused Zhou Chun had almost forgotten his agreement with Elder Zhou Daoquan.
It was not until this day, when Zhou Daoquan suddenly sent for him to Baozhi Peak, that he remembered the matter.
"Kid, you've finally shown up. You've stumbled upon a great opportunity this time; I wonder how you plan to thank this old man?"
At Flying Rock Peak, when Zhou Chun met Elder Zhou Daoquan, he saw the latter looking at him with a displeased expression and uttering such words.
As Zhou Chun pondered over these words, he soon grasped their significance.
Then, with both joy and trepidation, he gazed at Zhou Daoquan and said, "Your grace and kindness, Elder, will surely be repaid by this junior in the future!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Daoquan's eyebrows twitched, and he rolled his eyes in irritation, "What's the difference between saying that and saying nothing at all? Can't you speak frankly and promise to honor this old man with ten thousand Spirit Coins or perhaps a thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine?"
Now it was Zhou Chun's turn to roll his eyes.
Ten thousand Spirit Coins, a thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicine — the old man really dared to ask!
With a pained expression, he could only reply, "Please don't jest with this junior, Elder. What I just said was utterly sincere; if you don't believe me, you can surely see for yourself in the future based on my actions."
"Hmph, you've said it yourself; if you dare not to perform in the future, this old man won't let you off easily!"
Zhou Daoyi snorted lightly, then waved his sleeve and took out the mysterious snake egg that Zhou Chun had handed over to him for research.
At that moment, the snake egg was slightly reduced in size, but a faint life force was now perceptible.
In other words, the life within had been nurtured and was ready for a Cultivator to form a contractual incubation.
While Zhou Chun keenly gazed at the mysterious snake egg, Zhou Daoquan couldn't help but express his envy as he revealed its true origin.