When Zhouyang emerged from Elder Zhou Minghan's cave dwelling, his expression had completely returned to calmness.
Advancing from the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation to the ninth layer within a decade is almost impossible for an ordinary middle-grade spiritual root cultivator during the Qi Cultivation stage.
The path of cultivation always becomes more challenging the further one progresses. After reaching the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation, advancing one layer every decade is considered a good pace for a cultivator with a middle-grade spiritual root.
Take Zhouyang's father, Zhou Xuanhao, and his third aunt, Zhou Xuan Yu, for example. Both of them reached the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation in their thirties. Zhou Xuanhao only advanced to the ninth layer at sixty-three, while Zhou Xuan Yu was slightly faster, reaching the ninth layer at fifty-eight.
Zhouyang reached the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation at the age of twenty-two. Under normal circumstances, he would definitely be able to advance to the ninth layer before fifty, leaving him ten years to plan for Foundation Establishment.
But since Elder Zhou Minghan has already indicated he would help solve the "Foundation Establishment Pill" issue, Zhouyang has no choice but to give it his all. Otherwise, given the current situation of the Zhou Family, they could never afford the spirit stones for purchasing two "Foundation Establishment Pills" in the short term.
Zhouyang doesn't want a repeat of what happened to his third aunt, Zhou Xuan Yu, to happen to himself.
"Initially, I wanted to focus on improving my artifact refining skills after breaking through to the seventh layer. But now, to quickly reach the ninth-layer Qi Cultivation, I must temporarily set aside artifact refining."
For a cultivator, the most fundamental and crucial task is to elevate their cultivation realm. Learning skills like artifact refining and alchemy should all serve this purpose.
When there is a conflict between improving cultivation realm and improving artifact refining skills, Zhouyang will naturally abandon artifact refining without hesitation and focus entirely on enhancing his cultivation.
If one prioritizes refining skills over cultivation, it would be putting the cart before the horse, and it would be too late for regrets in the future.
Having made up his mind, he immediately returned to the cave dwelling where he had been in seclusion to continue his cultivation.
To enable him to increase his cultivation to the ninth layer of Qi Cultivation within a decade, Elder Zhou specifically allocated this cave dwelling for his temporary use, and during these years, no clan duties would be assigned to him.
His sole task now is to cultivate, cultivate, and cultivate again, striving with all his might to quickly reach the ninth layer of Qi Cultivation.
While Zhouyang was wholeheartedly dedicated to his closed-door cultivation, the late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators stationed in various places by the Zhou Family returned to the clan under the pretext of commemorating the family's Grand Elder Zhou Qian.
Among these returning cultivators were naturally Zhouyang's father, Zhou Xuanhao, and mother, Lin Yuting.
"Father, Mother, when did you return? Why didn't you inform me earlier? Do you know how much I missed you?"
When Zhouyang received a message from Elder Zhou Minghan several months later, informing him to descend the mountain to the family's ancestral hall for a meeting, he arrived and immediately spotted his parents standing among a group of elders. In an instant, his eyes turned red.
"Mother missed you too, Yang'er!"
Mrs. Zhou also stepped out with teary eyes and embraced her son, whom she hadn't seen in seven or eight years.
"My Yang'er has grown taller. When Mother left, you were only as tall as Mother's shoulder, and now you're a head taller than Mother and more handsome!"
With a face full of affection, Mrs. Zhou held her son's shoulders and caressed Zhouyang's jade-like, handsome face with her slender fingers, her eyes filled with joy.
"Alright, alright, pay attention here in the ancestral hall; let's finish the official matters first, and then you two can catch up in private."
Father Zhou, being a man, managed to hold back his emotions. Seeing his wife and son reunite with tears of joy, he felt warmth but also feared drawing gossip from other clan members, so he softly admonished them, reminding them of the setting.
Unexpectedly, just as Zhouyang and Mrs. Zhou were about to separate, Zhou Xuan Yu, who was also watching with slightly red eyes, unceremoniously mocked:
"Elder Sister-in-law hasn't seen Yang'er in eight years, what's wrong with some intimate conversation at their meeting? Brother, saying such things might pass among younger generations, but everyone here today is beyond seventy or eighty, who hasn't experienced separation from wives and children to understand this sentiment?"
"You didn't visit Yang'er in the mountain cave, that's fine, but you even stopped Sister-in-law from going. Is that how you act as a father? Or as a husband?"
The elder members of the Zhou Family all knew that Zhou Xuanhao and Zhou Xuan Yu never quite saw eye to eye since childhood.
Both had middle-grade spiritual root talents; one slightly older, always leading as the elder sibling, while the other, a favored granddaughter of Elder Zhou Minghan, pampered since childhood, was slightly superior in cultivation and never paid heed to her brother's status.
In their younger days, the two were constantly at odds, openly and covertly struggling within the clan. It was only later, as they aged and were often separated on family duties, that their relationship gradually improved.
But Zhou Xuan Yu would still seize any chance to mock her elder brother Zhou Xuanhao with words.
It's unavoidable; after all, women are known to hold grudges more than men!
Upon hearing Zhou Xuan Yu's verbal jab at her older brother Zhou Xuanhao, the "Xuan" generation cultivators at the ancestral hall exchanged amused glances, each turning their heads, with no one daring to intervene.
The "Guang" generation cultivators, like Elder Zhou Quan and Elder Zhou Yun, were all too familiar with this scenario, finding it amusing rather than bothersome. Instead of stepping in, they chuckled as they observed, exchanging winks, seemingly wishing for the two to engage in yet another row.
The elders knew these stories well, but Zhouyang was completely unaware.
Seeing Third Aunt come out to speak for him and his mother, he was both touched and worried about causing misunderstandings.
He knew that his father not visiting him was definitely not due to a lack of concern. On the contrary, it was precisely because his father cared too much that he didn't want to disturb his cultivation and delay his path.
So he quickly broke free from his mother's embrace and anxiously looked at Third Aunt Zhou Xuan Yu to explain for his father, "Third Aunt, you've misunderstood my father. Father and mother didn't visit me just because they didn't want to disturb my cultivation. And earlier, I was indeed a bit disrespectful. I hope all the elders can forgive me."
Seeing his anxious expression, those who knew the inside story had to stifle their laughter, including his mother, Lin Yuting.
However, Zhou Xuan Yu rolled her eyes and replied with a huff, "Hmph hmph, Xiao Jiu, you're really an ungrateful wolf! As soon as your parents return, you forget all the good care Third Aunt has given you. As expected, not being related by blood makes a difference!"
"Pfft!"
Finally, Mrs. Zhou couldn't hold back her laughter and chuckled.
Then she looked at her son, who was staring at her blankly, and playfully tapped Zhouyang's forehead with her jade finger, laughing, "Alright Yang'Er, your Third Aunt is just being jealous. I think, since all the elders are here today, why don't you acknowledge her as your foster mother? That way, she won't keep tipping over the vinegar jar and drenching your father!"
"This old man thinks it's a good idea. What do you think, Xiao Jiu?"
The old Clan Leader, Zhou Minghan, who hadn't spoken until now, suddenly brightened up and couldn't help but agree with Mrs. Zhou Lin Yuting's suggestion.
Beside him, Zhou Xuan Yu, who had been initially displeased at being called jealous, now had a flash of joy in her eyes. Her beautiful eyes were fixed nervously on Zhouyang, her expression clearly revealing her inner thoughts.
"If you have no objections, Yang'Er, I have none either,"
Zhou Xuanhao, who also hadn't spoken until now, said as he fixed his gaze on Zhouyang.
With both parents agreeing, the Clan Leader personally offering approval, and considering how much Third Aunt had cared for him since childhood, Zhouyang thought it over and immediately kneeled before Zhou Xuan Yu, respectfully kowtowing thrice, saying, "Child Zhouyang greets Foster Mother."
At this time, he should have also greeted Zhou Xuan Yu's husband, Third Uncle Wu Tao, as "Foster Father."
However, since Wu Tao was a son-in-law of the Zhou family, he couldn't be entrusted with the family's innermost secrets like the Red Flame Iron Ore Vein. The old Clan Leader, Zhou Minghan, had long issued a strict order that unless Zhouyang successfully established a foundation, this information must not be revealed outside.
Thus, at this time, people like Wu Tao and other Zhou family relatives were outside, replacing those like Zhou Xuanhao who had been reassigned within the clan.
"Good child, be good, quickly get up, quickly get up!"
Zhou Xuan Yu's face, full of tension, eased into a smile like a blossoming flower. She quickly extended her hand to help Zhouyang up, her beautiful eyes filled with joy.
"Congratulations, Third Sister, on gaining a foster son!"
The group of "Xuan" generation Zhou family cultivators, who had been watching with their eyes, noses, and hearts, now woke up as if from a dream and began congratulating her with smiles.
The elderly "Light" generation members, who had been winking and laughing, now also burst into hearty laughter, offering their blessings, "Haha, Third Girl has wanted a son for so many years. Today she finally got her wish. It's indeed worth congratulating, truly worth congratulating!"
Upon hearing these congratulations from elders and peers, the smile on Zhou Xuan Yu's pretty face grew even brighter. She unabashedly pulled Zhouyang into her arms for a tight hug, laughing heartily, "Say what you will, I just like this child Yang'Er. I've loved his calm nature and cleverness since he was little. This is exactly the kind of good son our Zhou family should have."
With a bewildered expression, Zhouyang was held in Zhou Xuan Yu's arms, his eyes wide open as he looked at his smiling mother, Lin Yuting, feeling as though his mother had sold him out.
Sure enough, the next second, he saw his mother's beautiful eyes squinting, her face smiling as she looked at the newly acknowledged foster mother and said, "When a master takes on a disciple, they give a gift. Since Little Sister Yu accepted Yang'Er as her foster son, there should be a present, right? Our Yang'Er doesn't lack elixirs or spirit stones, so I think Little Sister Yu should give him some of her crafted talismans."
"Oh, Lin Yuting, I wondered why you'd suddenly be so kind as to let me share your precious son. So you were eyeing the treasures in my hands!" Zhou Xuan Yu raised her delicate eyebrows, pretended displeasure, and gave Mrs. Zhou a resentful glance, seeming a bit upset.
But when she turned back to look at Zhouyang, who had an awkward face in her arms, she giggled, "Hehe, Yang'Er understands how to care for his foster mother. Unlike his heartless mother, who plots against her good sister of many years for a few talismans!"
Even as she said so, she didn't hesitate to reach into her storage bag, take out a stack of glowing talismans, and placed them in Zhouyang's hand.
"Good child, here, these talismans are the result of your foster mother's practice over the years. You take them first. If you run out, come back and ask your foster mother for more. Though I lack other things, I'm not short of these self-drawn talismans!"
Practice works?
Would practice works be all Tier Two High-Grade?
Looking at the thick stack of talismans in his hand, Zhouyang felt a warm sensation in his heart, indescribably moved.
He knew that every talisman in this stack was a masterpiece crafted with great care by his foster mother, Zhou Xuan Yu.
Even though Zhou Xuan Yu herself was a Tier Two High-Grade Talisman Maker, she couldn't possibly have many of these Tier Two High-Grade Talismans. But now, she had given him a thick stack, showing just how much she cared for him.