Chapter 1178: Chapter 505: 1 Joy 1 Sorrow [Please Subscribe]_4

Zhou Chun, upon receiving the news, immediately traveled to the Su Family in Jiangzhou. Using the Dual Cultivation Technique taught by the Ancestor of the Su Family, he transferred a portion of his Lifebound Essence to Su Yuzhen. She was able to use the methods within *The Mysterious Art of the Plain Girl* to refine this pure Golden Core Essence into nourishment for her strength.

After finishing the transfer of his Lifebound Essence, Zhou Chun refrained from disturbing Su Yuzhen further. He quickly left the secret chamber to consume an elixir for restoring his Essence Energy.

However, the loss of Lifebound Essence this time was rather substantial. Even though Zhou Chun consumed the elixir provided by the Ancestor of the Su Family, he still felt a wave of weakness.

As such, he could only return to his cave dwelling in Tuyun Ridge for deep meditation and closed-door cultivation to recuperate his depleted Essence Energy.

Over a year passed, and the Su Family brought good news: Su Yuzhen had successfully formed her core!

Upon hearing the news, Zhou Chun let out a long breath of relief.

Although he had always harbored great confidence in Su Yuzhen, he couldn’t truly put his mind at ease until the final result was revealed.

Now that the result was out, he could finally let go of his worries.

Su Yuzhen’s successful core formation not only elevated the Su Family’s prestige within Jiangzhou but also granted the family two Golden Core Stage cultivators to oversee it.

This was equally a grand celebration for the Zhou Family.

After all, she was Zhou Chun’s officially wedded Dual Cultivation partner–a member of the Zhou Family in all but name.

Now, with both her and Zhou Chun having successfully formed their cores, their tale was sure to become a celebrated story across Jingguo Country.

Had Zhou Mingde not been in closed-door cultivation attempting his own core formation, he’d surely be ecstatic, pulling Zhou Chun aside to discuss how they might send gifts to celebrate.

However, unlike Zhou Chun, Su Yuzhen did not have extraordinary treasures such as the *Five Elements Spirit Fruit* to rapidly stabilize her cultivation level.

After forming her core, she would still need several more years of closed-door cultivation to consolidate her strength before she could emerge to meet guests.

Therefore, upon receiving the news, Zhou Chun didn’t rush to visit the Su Family but instead sent a letter to express his congratulations.

At this time, Zhou Chun’s attention was entirely focused on Zhou Mingde.

Counting on his fingers, Zhou Mingde had already been in closed-door cultivation for core formation for seven to eight years.

Owing to the limitations of his cultivation technique, Zhou Mingde’s refinement of a “False Core” took significantly longer than cultivators like Zhou Chun, who practiced top-tier cultivation techniques. Moreover, the ultimate peak of refining a “False Core” could never match the heights reached by them.

Still, seven to eight years should be enough to complete this process.

If there were no accidents, the result should be revealed within the next year or two.

At such a critical time, Zhou Chun dared not leave the family. His original plan to travel to the Great Zhou Kingdom to find Luo Qingni for alchemy and collect Taiyi Profound Gold Qi had to be postponed.

Yet, before the results of Zhou Mingde’s core formation appeared, Zhou Chun first received news of the passing of the Zhou Family’s last cultivator from the “Jia” generation.

“There’s still a lingering regret! If only I could have lived to see the Supreme Elder succeed in forming his core before departing, it would have been perfect!”

Inside his cave dwelling, facing Zhou Chun, who had come to bid him farewell, Zhou Jiapeng–already in the final moments of his life–spoke with a tinge of regret in his tone.

Hearing his words, Zhou Chun felt an ache in his heart for Jiapeng’s unfulfilled wish.

Yet circumstances had reached this point, and all Zhou Chun could do was comfort him by saying, “Uncle Peng, rest assured. The Supreme Elder will certainly succeed in his core formation!”

After speaking, Zhou Chun observed him and asked, “Uncle Peng, do you have any other final wishes to convey?”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiapeng hesitated briefly before replying in a somber tone, “I’ve already told the juniors everything that must be passed down. If there’s anything else I’m worried about… it’s my Golden Winged Iron Feather Hawk. It has accompanied me through southward battles and northward campaigns for over two hundred years. I’ve long regarded it as family. I hope it can live out its years peacefully and be buried beside my tomb.”

According to Zhou Family traditions, cultivators who reached the end of their lifespan and prepared to sit and transform would release their contract with their Spirit Pets. If the Spirit Pets did not wish to return to the wilderness, they could be entrusted to junior members or adopted by the family.

Zhou Jiapeng had already severed his contract with the Golden Winged Iron Feather Hawk. However, demon birds like hawks were exceptionally loyal creatures. This particular hawk did not wish to leave and had chosen instead to guard his descendants.

Currently, this Golden Winged Iron Feather Hawk had reached the upper second rank–a formidable combat force. Yet, none of Zhou Jiapeng’s descendants had achieved Foundation Establishment.

Without a Foundation Establishment cultivator, even though the Golden Winged Iron Feather Hawk wished to protect his lineage, his kin would struggle to command the powerful demon bird. This would inevitably require intervention from the family.

And the Zhou Family does not keep idle demon beasts!

Understanding Zhou Jiapeng’s concerns, Zhou Chun solemnly vowed, “If this is your concern, Uncle Peng, you can set your mind at peace. I promise you that unless the family faces an existential threat, I will never send your Golden Winged Iron Feather Hawk into battle with powerful enemies. I will ensure it lives out its days peacefully within our clan!”

Hearing this promise, Zhou Jiapeng’s expression grew animated. He couldn’t help but exclaim repeatedly, “Good, good, good! Now I can truly rest without regret!”

As his voice faded, he soon sat peacefully and transformed, a contented smile on his face.

With Zhou Jiapeng’s passing, the entire “Jia” generation of the Zhou Family came to a full end. The names of these ancestors would now only remain in the family’s genealogy and on memorial plaques within the ancestral hall!