Clan Cultivation: Starting from Beast Taming

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Indeed, upon seeing the man in gray in the sky, Zhou Chun immediately recognized his identity.

It was Zhou Jiarui, a core member of the Zhou Family, who had been in seclusion at Pagoda Peak for over three months, attempting Foundation Establishment.

More than three months ago, when the Elixir from the Li Family arrived, containing the two Foundation Establishment Pills meant for the Zhou Family, Zhou Jiarui and Zhou Jiacheng, who had already been designated to take these pills, entered the sealed chambers on Pagoda Peak to tackle the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Now it appeared that at least Zhou Jiarui had succeeded in Foundation Establishment.

After a moment of astonishment, Zhou Chun hurriedly cupped his hands in salute and loudly congratulated him, "Junior respectfully congratulates Uncle Eleven on his successful Foundation Establishment, may you enjoy a prolonged life and extended years."

The phrase "prolonged life and extended years" would never go amiss when congratulating a Cultivator on their breakthrough in cultivation.

For the very purpose of Cultivation is the pursuit of longevity.

Each significant breakthrough in the realms of Cultivation greatly extends the Cultivator's lifespan.

Hence, upon hearing Zhou Chun's congratulations, Zhou Jiarui in the sky laughed even more heartily.

He was eleventh in the "Jia" generation and was already seventy-six years old, having surpassed the proverbial three-score and ten.

If he had not succeeded in Foundation Establishment, he might have had only a little over forty years to live, if he even lived that long.

But with his successful Foundation Establishment, his lifespan had been extended to over two hundred years, and at his current age, he was still considered young among Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage, with endless possibilities ahead.

"Hahaha, Nephew Zhengchun is too courteous."

He laughed heartily and immediately soared through the air, landing swiftly in front of Zhou Chun.

Attracted by his laughter, Supreme Elder Zhou Mingde and Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi, who had been cultivating in their caves, were also drawn out.

"Excellent, excellent, Jiarui, your success in Foundation Establishment has truly done justice to the family's nurturing efforts!"

Zhou Daoyi first voiced his praise upon seeing the successful Foundation Establishment of Zhou Jiarui.

Facing his praise, Zhou Jiarui also bowed with a look of gratitude, saying, "Junior owes all to the family's nurturing grace, to the profound love and high regard of the Supreme Elder and Clan Leader. The kindness bestowed by the family I shall never forget for all my days!"

Hearing these words, Zhou Mingde also couldn't help but nod his approval, "Very good. I hope you will always remember what you've said today and not fail the trust and cultivation the family and we have placed in you!"

"Yes, Junior will never dare to forget!"

Zhou Jiarui solemnly promised with resolve in his voice.

Following tradition, the Zhou Family held a Foundation Establishment celebration for Zhou Jiarui, attended by most of the Zhou Family Cultivators who congratulated him and bestowed various gifts.

A number of Loose Cultivators with good relations to the Zhou Family also took part in the celebration.

In the midst of this bustling excitement, another Cultivator, Zhou Jiacheng, who had failed at Foundation Establishment, slipped out of seclusion unnoticed.

A single Foundation Establishment Pill could almost increase the probability of successful Foundation Establishment by thirty percent for those in the Qi Refinement Realm, so consuming the pill did not guarantee success.

Zhou Jiacheng was just one of those unlucky ones.

Even though he had taken the Foundation Establishment Pill, he did not succeed in Foundation Establishment, barely managing to preserve his life and Cultivation Level due to the effects of the pill.

He had always been too ashamed to face his fellow clanspeople.

Not until Zhou Jiarui's successful Foundation Establishment and the subsequent celebration, did he lose all lingering hope.

He had no choice but to leave his seclusion with regret and humiliation.

But even though he came out quietly, he still had to give the Zhou Family an explanation.

Hence, after leaving his seclusion, he did not return to his cave, but instead kneeled and faced the wall outside the family's ancestral shrine.

After Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi finished attending Zhou Jiarui's Foundation Establishment celebration and returned, he easily noticed Zhou Jiacheng kneeling outside the ancestral shrine.

The fact of Zhou Jiacheng's failure to establish Foundation was no secret to Zhou Mingde and Zhou Daoyi.

Understanding that Zhou Jiacheng was profoundly affected by this event, they had been pretending to be unaware, hoping he would come to terms with it on his own.

Seeing that Zhou Jiacheng had finally come out, Zhou Daoyi felt a sense of relief in his heart.

He slowly walked up to Zhou Jiacheng, who was kneeling on the ground, and sighed gently, "Ah! It's normal not to succeed. Foundation Establishment is by no means guaranteed. To be able to save your life and Cultivation Level is already quite good!"

"But Junior cannot forgive himself!"

"The Supreme Elder and Clan Leader placed such trust in Junior, bestowing the Foundation Establishment Pill that countless clan members yearn for, to assist in Junior's Foundation Establishment—it's such an immense trust!"

"It's regrettable that Junior lacks the ability, failing the trust of the Supreme Elder and Clan Leader, failing the family's nurturing!"

"Junior feels immense guilt; I truly do not have the face to meet the two Elders or the clan members again!"

By the end of his words, Zhou Jiacheng was choked with sobs.

He was already over sixty, and in his life, he was used to seeing all manner of storms and was not someone who would easily shed tears over an affair.

But Foundation Establishment was the greatest event in the life of a Qi Refinement Cultivator.

Zhou Jiacheng had secured the opportunity to attempt Foundation Establishment with an inherited family blessing and his own diligent efforts.

Under normal circumstances, it should have been his successful Foundation Establishment, living up to the family's nurturing and the high hopes of his elders.

But he failed!

This failure not only let down his family and elders' nurturing expectations but also shamed the memory of his deceased grandfather.

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