The Supreme Elder

Chapter 12 The Supreme Elder

Jiufengling, Baozhifeng.

That day, after Zhou Chun came out of the Jingling Pavilion, he returned to his residence as usual to meditate and recover his magical power.

But he had only been meditating for less than a quarter of an hour when he felt that the formation in the courtyard had been disturbed by an outsider.

After he finished his practice and got up, he opened the courtyard gate and saw Zhou Yong waiting for him with an anxious look on his face.

Upon seeing him emerge, he immediately said in a deep voice, "The clan leader has ordered that, except for the cultivators guarding the Pure Spirit Pavilion and the mountain-protecting formation, all clan members within the mountain gate must assemble at Pagoda Peak. There is an important matter that needs to be announced publicly!"

After saying that, he cupped his hands in greeting and said, "I still need to inform the others. Chun-ge, you should hurry to Pagoda Peak."

Is there something important that needs to be announced publicly?

A hint of doubt flashed in Zhou Chun's eyes. He glanced at Zhou Yong's departing figure, then immediately packed his things and set off for Pagoda Peak.

When he arrived at the top of Pagoda Peak, he found that dozens of Zhou family cultivators had already gathered there.

From centenarians to teenagers, they all looked bewildered, clearly having been summoned here suddenly, just like Zhou Chun.

Seeing this, Zhou Chun gave up the idea of ​​asking around and immediately greeted some familiar clansmen, and then waited together.

After waiting for more than half an hour, when the number of Zhou family cultivators gathered on the mountain approached one hundred, the clan leader Zhou Guyi and the three elders finally came out of the "Zhongping Hall".

Just when Zhou Chun and the others thought that the reason was about to be announced, the four Foundation Establishment cultivators, including Clan Chief Zhou Guyi, suddenly bowed to the mountaintop and said in unison, "Welcome back, Supreme Elder, as you emerge from seclusion."

As soon as he finished speaking, a ball of green light shot up from the mountaintop and quickly landed halfway down, revealing the figure of an old man with white hair and green robes.

This old man in blue robes is none other than Zhou Wende, a Purple Mansion stage cultivator and the current pillar of the Zhou family.

Although he looks a bit old, Zhou Wende's lifespan is actually not considered high among cultivators in the Purple Mansion stage.

The lifespan of cultivators in the Purple Mansion stage generally exceeds four hundred years, and some can even live to nearly five hundred years.

Zhou Wende is only a little over two hundred years old. The reason he has a full head of white hair is because when he cultivated to the Purple Mansion stage, he was already over two hundred years old and was approaching the lifespan limit of a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator.

In retrospect, Zhou Wende's breakthrough to the Purple Mansion stage more than a decade ago can be considered a blessing from heaven for the Zhou family.

If it weren't for Zhou Wende, a cultivator at the Purple Mansion stage, daring to step forward and take the lead, when the Three Absolutes Sect was split up, I'm afraid few Zhou family cultivators would have dared to face Yu Jinghua, who had the cultivation of the Golden Core stage, and wouldn't have dared to say that they wanted to establish their own sect and build the Zhou family.

Therefore, in the Zhou family today, Elder Zhou Wende is still very popular and respected.

Upon seeing him appear, all the Zhou family cultivators present, led by clan leader Zhou Guyi, bowed and said, "Junior greets the Supreme Elder."

"Fellow clansmen, there's no need for formalities. Please follow me into the ancestral hall!"

With a wave of his sleeve, Zhou Wende led the way to the ancestral hall, which had been closed ever since it was built.

As a cultivation family organized around clans, the Zhou family's ancestral hall was naturally a place of great importance to its construction. All the materials used were precious, and it was also protected by a separate magic array.

Normally, only the Supreme Elder Zhou Wende and the Clan Chief Zhou Guyi are qualified to open this ancestral hall.

At this moment, Zhou Wende opened the gate of the ancestral hall, and Zhou Chun and other Zhou family cultivators followed behind him, seeing the scene inside the ancestral hall for the first time.

Upon entering, one sees a square courtyard with a pool in the center where several lotus leaves float. The lotus leaves are as green as jade, exuding a spiritual aura.

Beneath the lotus leaves, in the clear pond, several large golden carp swam about, their bodies radiating a faint spiritual aura.

Looking at the long corridors on both sides of the courtyard, the walls are decorated with murals and texts that describe the origins of the Zhou family and record some of the great deeds of the Zhou family ancestors.

For example, there was a Zhou family ancestor named Zhou Tong who, along with two Golden Core stage friends, once killed a fourth-order dragon that was causing havoc in the cultivation world.

On the mural, one can see the image of this Zhou family ancestor slaying a dragon.

For example, an ancestor of the Zhou family named Zhou Xia once entered a wondrous place and brought back a kind of spirit insect called the Jade Spirit Bee, which greatly benefited the Zhou family.

On the mural, you can also see the figure of this Zhou family ancestor raising bees and collecting honey.

In short, the Zhou family ancestors who are depicted in the form of murals in this ancestral hall are all those who have made great contributions to the Zhou family, and their merits deserve to be remembered forever by the later generations of Zhou family cultivators.

"One must not forget one's roots, and even more so, one's ancestors!"

"We cultivators, though we seek immortality, must, as human beings, prioritize humanity, act with humanity, and follow the path of humanity."

"If it weren't for the contributions of the Zhou family ancestors listed on these two walls of merit, would we have the opportunity to stand here today? Would we have achieved this level of cultivation?"

"Therefore, no matter how high your cultivation level becomes in the future, no matter where you are, never forget the achievements of your ancestors, and never forget whose blood flows in your veins!"

"Of course, I hope that one day in the future, one of your names will appear on this wall of merit, so that the spirits of our ancestors in heaven, and future generations of the Zhou family, will be proud of you!"

A deep, resonant voice slowly came from Zhou Wende's mouth, echoing leisurely within the ancestral hall.

All the Zhou family cultivators present in the ancestral hall felt a strange emotion rise in their hearts after hearing his words.

Some of the elderly people looked ashamed and embarrassed, their heads hanging low, as if they felt they had let down their ancestors.

Some teenagers and young people couldn't help but puff out their chests, their eyes revealing longing.

Even Zhou Chun's eyes narrowed slightly, as if he was somewhat moved.

Worshipping ancestors and bringing glory to one's ancestors were things that the Chinese people revered and recognized even in his previous life.

I still remember when he was admitted to university, his parents, grandparents and other blood relatives were so happy that they told everyone they met about it. The villagers also praised him for his success.

That must have been the most glorious moment of his past life!

Unfortunately, after entering the workforce, that kind of thing never happened again. In fact, because I never got married, I didn't even dare to go home often!

Lost in thought about his past life, Zhou Chun unknowingly followed the crowd into the main hall of the ancestral hall.

The Zhou family has a history of over a thousand years, and the number of cultivators and clansmen who have emerged from it is countless.

Therefore, those who have memorial tablets in this main hall, apart from the first and second generation ancestors, are all people with cultivation levels above the Foundation Establishment stage.

The ancestral tablets of the Zhou family cultivators who were not yet at the Foundation Establishment stage were enshrined in the side halls on both sides of the main hall of the ancestral temple.

In reality, because ordinary people are not allowed to enter the ancestral hall, it is difficult to find the corresponding descendants of many of the ancestral tablets in the ancestral hall among the cultivators present today.

Take Zhou Chun as an example. His parents and grandparents were all mortals, and he was the only cultivator with spiritual roots to appear in his body within five generations.

If he didn't consult the family genealogy, he really wouldn't know what the names of his ancestors who were cultivators three generations or more ago were, or where their memorial tablets were now enshrined.

Among the Zhou family cultivators present here, there are quite a few in the same situation as him.

So, in order not to affect the unity of the clan, Zhou Wende simply led everyone to bow and offer incense to all the ancestral tablets, starting from the main hall.

After the entire sacrificial ceremony was completed, everyone returned to the main hall of the ancestral temple. Zhou Wende slowly turned around, his back to the ancestral tablets behind him, and looked solemnly at everyone.

Upon seeing this, everyone tensed up, knowing that he was about to announce something important.

They immediately perked up and waited patiently, holding their breath.

"My Zhou family has existed since our ancestors founded the Three Absolutes Sect. It can be said that my Zhou family has existed for as many years as the Three Absolutes Sect has been."

"Over the years, my Zhou family has shared weal and woe with the Three Absolutes Sect. In order to maintain the sect's heritage and unity, our ancestors have always tried to downplay the family's influence."

"Now the Three Absolutes Sect is gone, and the Zhou family has suffered a great calamity, splitting in two and causing the clan to fall apart."

"We, the Zhou family members of the Jiufengling lineage, having inherited the Zhou family's orthodoxy and the ancestral incense offerings, must, in the future, take the family as our foundation and bloodline as our bond, work together to create brilliance, carry forward the Zhou family, and make our ancestors and future generations proud of us!"

Zhou Wende paused slightly at this point, looking at the clansmen who were listening attentively.

Then his tone suddenly turned serious, and he solemnly said, "Therefore, in order to bring glory to the Zhou family, to make cultivation smoother and more convenient for all clansmen in the future, and to make the Zhou family stronger and better, reform is imperative!"

"After several months of discussion with the clan chief and elders, we have preliminarily drafted most of the changes that need to be made. Today, we announce this to the public, in front of our ancestors."

It's very important to read the new book during the initial period. I hope all readers can read the updated chapters every day. Thank you!

(End of this chapter)