Clan Cultivation: Starting from Beast Taming

According to Wang Zhixiong, if the Li Family who specializes in elixirs and the Yu Family who masters formations, both having Golden Core Stage cultivators, are included, then the four states under the jurisdiction of the Green Lotus Temple alone would have five Golden Core families.

And the territories ruled by the Moon Wheel Sect had seven such families while the Sunflame Sect possessed five.

Thus, the Golden Core families alone accounted for seventeen!

These Golden Core families would undoubtedly aim to enter the top thirty.

So, a family like the Zhou Family could only compete for the remaining thirteen spots.

And in Jingguo Country, the cultivation families with Purple Mansion Phase cultivators added up to probably seventy or eighty!

Out of these seventy to eighty cultivation families, at least ten possessed not just one, but multiple Purple Mansion cultivators, and at least another ten had Purple Mansion late-stage cultivators!

When all was calculated, it meant that the remaining five or sixty families were vying for those few leftover spots.

In light of such fierce competition, Zhou Chun felt quite hopeless about the Zhou Family's chances of breaking into the top thirty.

In his view, even if they revealed the Green Flood Dragon that Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi had, the Zhou Family still lacked the strength to secure victory against those formidable cultivation families.

Similarly, when Zhou Mingde learned of the inside information from him, he too was at a loss for words for a long while.

In the end, he could only let out a long sigh, "Alas! We must give it our all. Even if there's little hope, we can't just give up easily. At the very least, we must make a name for the Zhou Family at this Hundred Clans Conference!"

Zhou Chun heard his words and pursed his lips slightly before saying in a low voice, "Right now, we still don't know what the standards are for ranking the families at the Hundred Clans Conference, or what the rules are. Maybe there will be rules that end up being favorable for our Zhou Family!"

"That's true!"

Zhou Mingde nodded, agreeing with his statement.

After waiting another half a month, the rules for the "Hundred Clans Conference" were finally announced.

For the Zhou Family, these rules were a mixed blessing.

The good news was that according to the rules of the "Hundred Clans Conference," each competing family had to send three teams into battle.

Purple Mansion cultivators would form one team; up to three Purple Mansion cultivators could take part, earning three points for each victory accrued.

Foundation Establishment cultivators would form another team; up to five Foundation Establishment cultivators could participate, earning two points for each win.

And Qi Refinement cultivators would make a team; up to ten Qi Refinement cultivators could join, earning one point for each victory.

This meant that if the Zhou Family faced off against a family with late-stage Purple Mansion cultivators for ranking, and even if the Zhou Family lost the Purple Mansion cultivator match, as long as they won the Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement matches, it would still be considered a draw.

The worrying part was that, according to the competition's rules, in the event of a tie in points, referees from the three major sects would evaluate and decide which family won.

Although the criteria for the referees' evaluation were unknown, the cultivation world has always respected the strong, and it's feared that the referees might be more inclined to declare the family that won the match with the Purple Mansion team to be the victors.

"It's a double-edged sword, but it still offers our Zhou Family a considerable opportunity; we must seize it!"

Zhou Daoyi, having returned to the Zhou Family, expressed his determination with a resolute tone.

After spending more than two months in Longxing Valley with Zhou Chongshan, finalizing the array layout was nearly complete.

Zhou Chongshan would go there first to lay the foundation of the array, handling the most challenging part.

When the stronghold needed to be activated later on, the rest could be completed by those skilled in formations.

Upon learning about the "Hundred Clans Conference," he also firmly stated that he would strive for the Zhou Family to be ranked among the top thirty.

Seeing his importance on the matter, Zhou Mingde then suggested, "Since we're giving it our all, we should call back Daoquan as well. With him, our Zhou Family will be unmatched in the Foundation Establishment cultivator team!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chun immediately added, "Also, we should ask Lin Hongyu for one of those Purple Pattern Golden Peaches as a deposit. We may not have the Red Shining Flowing Pearl Pill she wants right now, but we could look to acquire it for her at the trade fair or auction after the Hundred Clans Conference!"

"That's the plan. Taking advantage of the year we have before the Hundred Clans Conference, let's mobilize the whole clan and prepare for this grand event!"

Zhou Daoyi clenched his fists, showing his strong resolve.

And it wasn't just the Zhou Family that was preparing for the event with all their might.

Although the other Cultivator Families didn't know that the three major sects had decided to settle scores with the Dragon Transformation Sect, they too sensed the scent of danger from the suddenly announced "Hundred Clans Conference."

At the same time, they were envious of the mysterious benefits awarded to the top thirty clans.

And so, every Cultivator Family that felt they had a chance to be in the top thirty was opening up their Family Treasure Vaults and preparing for battle with all their might.

Suddenly, all sorts of exquisite Magic Artifacts and Talismans became hot commodities, with many Cultivators buying them up.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Chun and a few high-level members decided to simply replace the Magic Artifacts for the Zhou Family Cultivators who were confirmed to be going into battle, and took the opportunity to sell off those that were discarded.

Neither Zhou Chun nor Zhou Daoyi was short on second-order Magic Artifacts; it was just that before, there was no reason to simply hand them over to others.

Now that the Zhou Family needed to prepare for war, of course, they wouldn't be stingy with these.

Furthermore, they weren't just giving away Magic Artifacts for nothing.

These Magic Artifacts would later be reimbursed to them slowly using the surplus Spirit Coins from the family accounts, year after year.

In this way, another half a year passed quickly.

One day, the Zhou Family's Third Elder, Zhou Daoquan, finally returned to the gates of Zhou Family Mountain on Jiufeng Ridge, having been away from home for several years and responding to the family's call.

"Third Elder, please forgive the haste in summoning you back home. It's truly because the family needs the Elder's strength, not to intentionally disturb the Elder's search for opportunities!"

Inside the Central Peace Hall, Zhou Chun immediately went forward to express his apologies upon seeing the returned Third Elder, Zhou Daoquan.

At this time, Zhou Daoyi was accompanying the Second Elder, Zhou Chongshan, to set up formation foundations in Longxing Valley and incidentally deliver the first batch of goods collected by the Zhou Family for trading with Lu Ran at Dragon Abyss Marsh.

"We are all family; there's no need for explanations!"

Zhou Daoquan waved his hand and spoke with a solemn expression, "As a member of the Zhou Family and an Elder, if the family requires my strength, naturally I have no objections to offer!"

"It's best that you understand, Third Elder."

Zhou Chun relaxed and replied with a smile.

Then, he led Zhou Daoquan to the mountain peak to meet the Supreme Elder Zhou Mingde and, along the way, told him about the Zhou Family's full-scale preparation for the "Hundred Clans Conference."

"Daoquan, it's good that you've returned safely. I believe Zhengchun has already told you the reason for summoning you back in such a hurry. Do you have anything you want to say?"

In the cave abode, the sight of Zhou Daoquan returning from a distant journey brought a smile to Zhou Mingde's face.

"I have no objections, Junior; since the family has decided to compete, then let's compete with all our might!"

Zhou Daoquan shook his head slightly, showing no dissent toward the family's decision.

That was his way: as long as it wasn't something that seriously contradicted his own beliefs, he would not voice any opposition.

And at this moment, after responding to Zhou Mingde's question, Zhou Daoquan changed the subject, "However, after this Hundred Clans Conference, I would like to ask for the family's help with one thing!"

"Oh? What do you want the family to help you with?"

Zhou Mingde's eyes flashed with surprise, quite astonished by Zhou Daoquan's statement.

"During my travels, I visited three countries, and in Yueguo Country, to the northeast of Cheng Country, I collaborated with someone to excavate the ancient tomb of a senior cultivator. However, a Purple Mansion Family from the local region muscled in on the discovery and even nearly killed my Spirit Pet, the Earth Armored Bear. I cannot let this vengeance go unavenged!"

A cold light flashed in Zhou Daoquan's eyes as he spoke firmly, his request being for the family to help him take revenge! Discover stories at empire