Zhou Chun initially did not understand the meaning behind Zhou Fei's words.
But when a red-robed elder of the Zhou Family, riding a red fire crane, arrived at the scene, he understood what Zhou Fei meant.
Because this red-robed elder was an Elder at the Foundation Establishment Stage in the Zhou Family, ranked third among the current Elders.
Upon arriving at the scene, this elder named Zhou Quan learned of the situation from Zhou Fei and immediately extended a hand to slap the Spirit Beast Pouch at his waist, releasing a gopher-like yellow-brown Spirit Pet.
He then instructed the Spirit Pet with a few words, and it ran over to the place where the loose cultivators had been, sniffing around vigorously.
After a moment, the little creature squeaked incessantly at Zhou Quan and then, like a wisp of smoke, it turned into a yellow phantom and dashed into the forest.
Seeing this, Zhou Quan immediately ordered Zhou Fei and the others, "You return home first to report the situation to the Clan Leader. I will go and exterminate those blind fools!"
Then, he rode his second-order Demon Beast fire crane to pursue them.
This was also because when the Zhou Family migrated from another country, the local loose cultivators had no idea what means they possessed, which is why they were foolish enough to attack the Zhou Family disciples near the Zhou Family's mountain gate.
In Fengguo, where the loose cultivators had heard of the name of the Sanjue Sect and the Zhou Family, they would never dare to lay an ambush near the Zhou Family's mountain gate to attack a Zhou Family disciple without being utterly confident they could silence them completely.
Because those fools from the past who dared to do so all ended up as food for the Spirit Pets bred by the Zhou Family Cultivators.
At this moment, seeing the silhouette of Zhou Quan on his crane disappearing above the forest, Zhou Fei quickly recovered and waved to Zhou Chun and the others, "Let's go, we should return to the family too. With the Third Elder personally handling it, those stupid thieves are sure to be dead!"
So, the group continued on their predetermined route and after traveling some seventy miles, they finally arrived at the current gate of the Zhou Family—Jiufeng Ridge.
Jiufeng Ridge, located deep within towering mountains, comprised nine magnificent peaks forming a spiritual sanctuary. The area stretched over twenty miles east to west and seventeen to eighteen miles north to south.
It was originally the lair of a group of loose cultivators in Lanzhou, with one Foundation Establishment Stage loose cultivator stationed on each of the nine peaks, and two to three hundred Qi Refinement Realm loose cultivators living here for long-term cultivation.
After Sanjue Sect was disbanded and the Zhou Family had nowhere else to go, they quickly set their sights on this place.
After investigating and finding out that these loose cultivators had no significant ties with larger sects or families, the Zhou Family launched an attack on Jiufeng Ridge, forcibly occupying this precious cultivation site.
At this time, it had not been more than three months since the large-scale conflict involving hundreds of cultivators, and many places inside and outside Jiufeng Ridge still bore the scars of that battle.
For instance, the burned forests, and the peaks with parts of their mountainsides blasted away.
According to Zhou Yong's account, during that battle, even though the Zhou Family had Purple Mansion Phase Cultivators and many second-order Spirit Beasts, which were comparable to Foundation Establishment cultivators, they still paid the price of over a dozen clan members who lost their lives for victory.
Now, within Zhou Chun's view, Jiufeng Ridge was obscured by a thick fog of formations, making it impossible to see the true scenery inside.
Following Zhou Fei's lead, the group walked around the area for a while and arrived outside a valley entrance between two mountains.
Upon reaching this point, without saying a word, the Zhou Family Cultivators guarding the entrance inside the misty valley recognized Zhou Fei, Zhou Yong, and the others, called out to them, and started asking about Zhou Chun's origins.
After explanations from Zhou Fei and additional confirmation from Zhou Jingwen and Zhou Yong,
the Zhou Family Cultivators inside quickly manipulated the formation, causing the mist veiling the valley's entrance to churn and reveal a passage wide enough for two people to walk side by side.
The four of them walked less than a hundred yards along this passage when the view opened up before them and they could clearly see the landscape inside without any obstruction.
Within this formation, nine Spirit Peaks of varying heights were distributed in the four directions of southeast and northwest, with dozens of smaller mountains encircling and guarding them.
Mountains, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, secluded ponds, grasslands, mountain streams, deep valleys...
All kinds of terrain and landforms could be found in this miniature world.
Within the forests, one could spot the figures of monkeys frolicking among the treetops, as well as the agile shapes of tigers and leopards springing and dashing.
By the streams, deer, sheep, bulls, horses, and other beasts quietly grazed on tender grass, while bears could be seen playfully fishing in the water.
In the lakes, giant turtles lounged on the water's surface.
Underneath a waterfall, several intimidating-looking blue-black giant pythons coiled around column-like rocks, allowing the rushing waters to cascade over them as if they were thoroughly enjoying it.
On the grasslands, one could see Zhou Family youths, who appeared underage, playing and chasing after giant wolves, along with young ladies grooming and de-lousing foxes larger than themselves.
Near a secluded pond, two Zhou Family elders played chess with stones as their board, deeply engrossed in their black and white game, while not far from them, a One-Horned Bull Demon was "huffing and puffing," locking horns and struggling in a head-to-head contest with another green bovine demon.
Zhou Chun, observing these scenes, quickly took a liking to this place after getting over his initial discomfort.
Humans and nature harmonized so perfectly here, animals and humans coexisted in such harmony, that places like this could purify the soul, allowing one to relax completely.
Before coming to this world, such places, such lives, had been what office workers like Zhou Chun yearned for in their dreams, existing only in fantasy.
"Brother Chun, don't overthink it. Although this place can't compare to the Sanjue Sect mountain gate we had back in Fengguo, it belongs solely to our Zhou Family. As long as we, the Zhou Family, manage and develop it well, it won't necessarily be worse than our time at Sanjue Sect!"
Walking through the pathless forests and mountains, Zhou Yong, noticing that Zhou Chun seemed somewhat out of sorts after the journey, quickly spoke up to comfort him.
Zhou Chun, seeing that he had been misunderstood, shook his head repeatedly and said, "No, Brother Yong, you worry too much, this place is very good, extremely good, I'm very satisfied!"
"Hahaha, if you're satisfied, that's great, that's great."
Zhou Fei, who was leading the way ahead, burst into laughter upon hearing Zhou Chun's words, clearly satisfied with his response as well.
After about two more quarters of an hour, they finally reached the main peak of Jiufeng Ridge, the office of the Clan Leader of the Zhou Family, Pagoda Peak.
Pagoda Peak, just like its name suggests, looked like a round pagoda standing tall on the land.
It towered four hundred and seventy zhang high, its peak covered in ancient trees reaching the sky, its spiritual energy rich and dense, making it the best spot for cultivation amongst all of Jiufeng Ridge.
Climbing up the mountain path carved out from the base to the midsection of the mountain, the view suddenly widened, revealing a range of palaces and pavilions built along the side of the mountain.
Before Zhou Chun could take a good look at these palaces and pavilions, Zhou Fei led them into the hall hanging a plaque that read "Central Peace Hall."
Soon, Zhou Chun saw the Clan Leader of the Zhou Family, Zhou Guyi, deep within the great hall.
Like many sects and families, the Clan Leader of the Zhou Family was not the individual with the highest cultivation level.
Zhou Guyi's cultivation level was only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.
He had become the Clan Leader of the Zhou Family when the Sanjue Sect was still extant.
For Zhou Fei, Zhou Chun and other descendants of the Zhou Family, this Clan Leader inspired more awe than even the current Purple Mansion Phase Supreme Elder.
The Clan Leader of the Zhou Family was a muscular figure with a resolute face, an aura of majesty, clearly a man accustomed to high authority.
After Zhou Fei and the others had finished their salutations, he didn't rush to inquire about Zhou Chun's matters, but instead had Zhou Fei report on the investigation in Hongya Marketplace and took the summary he had prepared to review.
Scanning through the booklet with lightning speed, it took him less than a quarter of an hour to finish reading, after which he put down the booklet and nodded slightly, saying, "You've handled this matter reasonably well. The relevant merits will be recorded by myself."
Then he turned his gaze to Zhou Chun and said, "Now, let's talk about your matter. If I remember correctly, your name is Zhou Chun, right? You were supposed to be working at Leopard Garden?"
As the Clan Leader of the Zhou Family, he had already committed to memory the names, appearances, and whereabouts of all adult Zhou Family cultivator clan members.
Shortly after seeing Zhou Chun, he had already recalled his relevant information, with no need for introductions by Zhou Fei or anyone else.
Hearing the topic shift to himself, Zhou Chun quickly responded respectfully, "Clan Leader's perception is as luminous as a torch; I am indeed Zhou Chun."
Then he took the initiative to recount his journey of escape from Fengguo to Jingguo Country, and how he had met Zhou Fei and the others, leaving out the part where he had fallen out with Li Family cultivator Li Han and rather told that the two had parted ways halfway upon hearing the news of Sanjue Sect's dissolution.
His story, which was nine parts true to one part false, certainly couldn't be questioned by Zhou Guyi, and he trusted that Zhou Guyi wouldn't delve deeply into the matter.
Indeed, Zhou Guyi just praised Zhou Chun's account of his escape, commending his determination and will to return to the family despite hardships and dangers, without probing any further.
Instead, after thinking for a moment, he nodded lightly and said, "Our family has just established our new mountain gate, and there's much to be done. We are in need of people. Zhou Chun, you braved great difficulties and intend to return to the family; such sentiments and intentions deserve to be rewarded."
"Since your previously trained spirit pet has fallen in battle, I bestow upon you this Rock Earth Turtle spirit egg to be nurtured as your new spirit pet. I hope you will cherish and make good use of this, and serve our family well in the future!"
Having said that, he tapped a storage pouch at his waist, took out a white jade box, and handed it to Zhou Chun.
Upon seeing this, Zhou Chun's face lit up with joy, overwhelmed with happiness.
Holding the jade box with both hands, he bowed deeply to Zhou Guyi, his face full of delight, and said, "Thank you for the reward, Clan Leader. I will certainly do my utmost to serve our family and live up to the Clan Leader and the family's generous love."
"Alright, you'll go to Baozhi Peak to cultivate next. Regarding the current state of our Zhou Family, as well as the rules and regulations you need to follow within the family, you can inquire about them from the Peak Master of Baozhi Peak, Zhou He," Zhou Guyi instructed then waved his hand lightly, signaling that they could leave.
Seeing this, Zhou Fei and the others hurriedly performed the salutations and retreated from the place.