The journey home was smooth.
Days after leaving the Qingping Mountain Oasis, Zhouyang successfully returned to Jade Spring Peak, which he hadn't seen for five years.
When he descended the mountain five years ago, he was a spirited young man who had just broken through to the Sixth-Layer Qi Cultivation.
Now, after five years, although his cultivation remains at the Sixth-Layer Qi Cultivation, the once spirited young man has grown into a handsome youth, with a height of six feet and an impressive appearance. (One foot is 33 cm)
According to the clan rules, clan cultivators returning from their station outside must first report to the clan's Household Affairs Elder and submit a duty report.
The Household Affairs Elder of the Zhou Family is currently Zhou Xuan Yu, the only female cultivator among the eight elders of the Zhou Family, and the highest-ranking female cultivator in the Zhou Family.
Ranked third in the Xuan generation, Zhou Xuan Yu is a direct descendant of the old clan leader Zhou Minghan, possessing Middle-grade Spirit Root Talent. When she reached the Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation, she was not yet sixty years old. If she had used a Foundation Establishment Pill for Foundation Establishment at that time, the probability of success would have been quite high.
Unfortunately, as a woman, she naturally lags behind men in acquiring clan resources. Even though she is a direct descendant of the old clan leader Zhou Minghan, she couldn't get all the elders in the clan to agree to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill for her to attempt Foundation Establishment.
Cultivators with Top-grade Spiritual Roots have a one-third success rate for Foundation Establishment without a Foundation Establishment Pill, but for those with Middle-grade Spiritual Roots, the success rate is less than ten percent without it.
And Foundation Establishment, as the first major hurdle in cultivation, without this protective pill, in the event of failure, ninety percent of cultivators will suffer from rampaging magical power bursting their meridians, resulting in death. Even those lucky enough to survive would lose all their magical power and become a cripple.
To fall from the lofty Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation to such a state, how can any cultivator bear such a blow?
So even if someone survives such madness, they would rather give their life for their path than live with disgrace.
The danger of Foundation Establishment is so great that in today's Cultivation Realm, unless possessing Top-grade Spiritual Roots or having a Foundation Establishment Pill at hand, it's rare for any of the hundred Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation cultivators to dare the risk of Foundation Establishment.
Those who have reached the Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation have endured countless hardships and fatigue over their lifetime. No one wishes to lose their hard-earned cultivation in one brief moment.
This is especially true for Zhou Family cultivators from the Foundation Establishment Clan. Upon reaching the Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation, they can step into the clan's high ranks and wield immense power, making it unworthy to risk such ventures.
For these clan cultivators, rather than risking a life-or-death attempt at Foundation Establishment, they'd focus on earning spirit stones in their lifetime and nurturing their bloodline. Perhaps, over two or three generations, they could gather enough spirit stones to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Then, even if they themselves might pass away, their descendants might succeed in Foundation Establishment with the Pill, making their sacrifice worthwhile.
Only those loose Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation cultivators without ties and living alone, desiring the long lifespan and great divine techniques of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, dare the gamble, forcing Foundation Establishment.
Upon success, their lifespan doubles to 240 years. Whether establishing a cultivation clan by taking over an oasis spiritual vein or joining a powerful cultivation clan as a Guest Elder, is far better than remaining as a loose cultivator.
Even in failure, the experience justifies their cultivation efforts, being considered a sacrifice for the path.
However, a realistic issue arises. Loose cultivators, lacking resources and good cultivation techniques, even with Middle-grade Spiritual Roots, rarely reach Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation before sixty. Without the Foundation Establishment Pill, attempting Foundation Establishment after sixty reduces chances dramatically, nearly ensuring death.
Thus, in total consideration, despite the large number of loose cultivators and their greater determination compared to clan cultivators, the actual number succeeding in Foundation Establishment falls far below those in major cultivation clans relying on Foundation Establishment Pills.
Being a Zhou Family descendant and a direct descendant of the old clan leader Zhou Minghan, even if Zhou Xuan Yu wanted to risk Foundation Establishment, Zhou Minghan would stop her. Besides, raised in comfort and ease, she lacked such determination.
Though disappointed by the lack of a Foundation Establishment Pill provided by the clan, she didn't resent the clan but swiftly recruited a young Mid-Stage Qi Cultivation loose cultivator to join the Zhou Family, demonstrating her loyalty to the clan through action.
Due to this, all high-ranking members of the Zhou Family, including the old clan leader Zhou Minghan, felt guilty towards her, thus appointed her as the Household Affairs Elder, compensating by allowing her to care for the clan and descendants from within.
Zhouyang's mother, Lin Yuting, had a close friendship with this Eighth Aunt, who doted on him since childhood. Thus, he wasn't worried at all about this so-called reporting duty.
"Oh, we haven't seen each other in years, and our Xiao Jiu is getting more handsome. I wonder which family's daughter will be lucky enough to marry the Qilin'Er of our Zhou Family."
In the clan's Ministry Hall, Zhouyang had just entered when he saw a middle-aged beauty in a white Lotus Robe arranging documents. Upon seeing him enter, her eyes lit up, and she eagerly put down the documents and joked with a cheerful smile.
Even though Zhouyang was mature-minded, he couldn't help but blush in response to such banter and bitterly smiled, repeatedly cupping his hands to plead, "Third Aunt, please don't tease your nephew. Your nephew is still young, and matters of marriage are far off!"
Cultivators, unless those low-grade spiritual root cultivators who have no hope for Foundation Establishment, otherwise any cultivator with thoughts of Foundation Establishment would not lose their Primordial Yang and Primordial Yin before Foundation Establishment.
According to experience summarized by predecessors, cultivators who retain their Primordial Yang or Yin body not only have a faster cultivation speed usually, but their success rate during Foundation Establishment is significantly higher than those who lose their Primordial Yang and Yin.
Thus, even upper-grade spiritual root cultivators with a great chance of successful Foundation Establishment wouldn't break their body prematurely before Foundation Establishment.
Major cultivation clans like the Zhou Family, while emphasizing bloodline continuation, rather encourage talented clan descendants to marry and have children later, preferably after sixty years old.
Zhouyang's father, Zhou Xuanhao, and his current Third Aunt Zhou Xuan Yu, both married and had offspring after passing sixty without hopes for Foundation Establishment.
Fortunately, with the strong physique of cultivators and the use of healing magic to cure injuries, giving birth after sixty doesn't endanger life like mortal mothers. However, having children usually harms one's cultivation, slowing down future progress.
Zhouyang's mother, Lin Yuting, was at the Seventh-Layer Qi Cultivation when she bore him, and twenty years later, she remained at the same cultivation level, showing the significant impact childbearing has on low-tier female cultivators.
In contrast, Zhou Xuan Yu fared much better. Before marriage and childbirth, she was a Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation cultivator, unlikely to advance unless Foundation Establishment succeeds. Childbearing barely impacted her cultivation, though it may slightly reduce her lifespan.
Unfortunately, Zhouyang's Third Aunt seemed to have persistent bad luck. Despite both parents having middle-grade spirit root talent, among three offspring, two sons and one daughter, only the daughter possessed a low-grade spiritual root.
Though continuous childbearing didn't make Zhou Xuan Yu's cultivation regress, it significantly accelerated her aging appearance. Although she didn't care much, Old Clan Leader Zhou Minghan feared her lifespan might drastically reduce, forcing her to stop childbearing with pills despite her opposition and complaints.
Upon learning of his Third Aunt's story, Zhouyang developed great respect for her, recognizing her as a great woman worthy of reverence by the entire clan.
"That's true, given your talent, you have a great chance for Foundation Establishment in the future. The clan's current situation is much better than before, plus your parents' savings should be able to prepare a Foundation Establishment Pill for you. Once successful, you'll naturally have plenty of time to find a fitting Dao Companion slowly!"
Looking at her handsome nephew, Zhou Xuan Yu momentarily daydreamed, recalling her younger self at the same age. Back then, she solely aspired to follow her grandfather's path, becoming an enviable Foundation Establishment Cultivator, without considering marriage.
Sadly, luck wasn't on her side. When she was Zhouyang's age, the Zhou Family exhausted its resources purchasing a Foundation Establishment Pill for the then promising Grand Elder Zhou Qian, depleting years of savings that took decades to recover.
Unfortunately, despite expectations, Grand Elder Zhou Qian failed to establish a foundation after consuming the pill, only advancing to Tenth-Layer Qi Cultivation, known as Qi Cultivation Great Perfection.
Though Great Perfection cultivators are much stronger than Ninth-Layer cultivators, they are worlds apart from Foundation Establishment cultivators, especially since Great Perfection is still within the Qi Cultivation Stage, offering no lifespan increases.
Because of wasting a Foundation Establishment Pill, Zhou Qian carried enormous clan debt, laboring to repay throughout his life, leaving no descendants behind.
Due to depleted clan savings, Zhou Xuan Yu lost her chance to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill, leaving lifelong regrets.
Such a small Foundation Establishment Pill directly influenced two generations of Zhou Family elders' destinies!
From a young age, Zhouyang was advised by his parents never to mention the Foundation Establishment Pill around his Third Aunt to avoid causing her pain.
Now hearing Zhou Xuan Yu voluntarily mention the Foundation Establishment Pill, his heart jumped. His initial desire to chat and reminisce with his Third Aunt vanished immediately. He hurriedly submitted his pre-written report and, using visiting Old Clan Leader Zhou Minghan as an excuse, fled the Ministry Hall.