For three consecutive months, Zhou Chun had been stabilizing his cultivation level within his own residence.
After three months of cultivation, his body and Divine Soul, refined and strengthened by the Foundation Establishment genuine essence, finally completed a thorough transformation.
At this time, his physical body was tough and robust; ordinary iron-forged swords could hardly cut through his skin, and he possessed the strength of a thousand catties in one hand—strong enough to lift an ox!
Such a sturdy body was naturally immune to all diseases and unaffected by wind, frost, snow, or rain.
Even if he got injured, the recovery speed was much faster than an average person's, and he could endure pains that ordinary people could not.
He could even, like some Demon Beasts and wild animals, have a full meal and then go without food for a hundred days, sustaining himself only on wind and dew during that period.
Even his appearance had reverted to that of a twenty-three or twenty-four-year-old, handsome and extraordinary, with a graceful demeanor.
And this body, which had initially transcended the mundane, was the very foundation guaranteeing a life span of over two hundred years for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
Compared to the extraordinary changes in his physical body, the transformation of his Divine Soul was invisible, yet it had indeed occurred.
At that moment, Zhou Chun's Divine Sense could extend outward to a maximum distance of more than eight hundred and sixty zhang.
Whereas for Cultivators like Zhou Jiahe and Zhou Jiarui at the initial stages of Foundation Establishment, their Divine Sense could only cover a range of five to six hundred zhang.
Additionally, not only had the range of his Divine Sense increased, but its strength had also been enhanced, greatly improving its penetrating ability underwater and underground.
Before Foundation Establishment, Zhou Chun's Divine Sense could extend outward for more than one hundred and twenty zhang on land, but at a hundred zhang deep under water, it could only reach less than twenty zhang.
The effective detection depth underground was less than three feet.
But now, even underwater, his Divine Sense could reach out to over a hundred zhang.
Depending on the geological structure, the detection depth underground varied from seven feet to three zhang.
Under such circumstances, even Spiritual Medicines and Spirit Ores deeply buried underground would hardly escape his Divine Sense detection.
Another benefit of the transformation of his Divine Soul and body was that Zhou Chun's ability to learn and cast first-order spells had greatly improved.
It was as if he had become a spell cultivation prodigy; now he could learn to cast a high-grade first-order spell he had never cultivated in just a few days.
Spells he used to frequently cast now could be instantaneously invoked without difficulty.
Spells that previously seemed impossible to learn smoothly now seemed as if all obstacles had vanished into thin air.
Moreover, there were some spells that previously required awkward incantations to cast; the previously difficult-to-master syllables were now easily uttered.
To verify this, Zhou Chun even made a point of learning some beast languages.
He discovered that even when learning beast languages, he was much faster than before, with his understanding and imitating abilities rising sharply.
This feeling was very peculiar; it appeared as though he had become smarter, yet in reality, it was not that simple.
The principle behind this likely resembles how a three-year-old child has difficulty lifting a ten-catty object while a six-year-old can do it more easily.
In terms used by Cultivators, it means he had advanced further on the path of enlightenment, coming closer to the great Dao.
And the great Dao encompasses everything, accommodating all.
Those who are closer to the great Dao naturally find it easier and deeper to comprehend than others.
After such a period of secluded cultivation, the Zhou Family began their Foundation Establishment celebration ceremony for Zhou Chun.
Because the invitation hinted at an important announcement, the Foundation Establishment celebration this time saw many invited friendly families and powers sending as many as eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
All Zhou Family Cultivators who weren't on duty attended the celebration, including Supreme Elder Zhou Mingde, with no exceptions.
A Foundation Establishment celebration of such caliber was a first since the Zhou Family had settled in Jiufeng Ridge.
Many keen-sensed Zhou Family Cultivators, upon seeing such a lineup, immediately realized that a major event would take place today, most likely involving the protagonist of the day, Zhou Chun.
Indeed, halfway through the celebration, Supreme Elder Zhou Mingde suddenly stood up, raised both hands, and silenced the crowd.
Then, in a deep and resonant voice, he said, "Distinguished guests and fellow Clan Members, please quiet down. I have an important announcement to make now."
As he said this, his gaze swept over everyone present, finally settling on Zhou Chun.
He continued in a deep voice, "The younger generation of the Zhou Family, Zhou Zhengchun, has made significant contributions to our family since we established ourselves in Jiufeng Ridge, repeatedly earning great merit, and has shown extraordinary talent in the management of family affairs, offering numerous suggestions and strategies, assisting the Clan Leader in leading our family to thrive."
"Based on his contributions to the family and his displayed talent in family management, after multiple tests by the Clan Leader and myself, we have decided to promote him to the position of Vice Clan Leader and to be the successor to the next Clan Leader."
"Now, please, guests and Clan Members, join us in congratulating our Zhou Family's new Vice Clan Leader!"
After speaking, he stepped aside.
Then Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi stepped forward, being the first to extend his congratulations to Zhou Chun.
This was followed by several Zhou Family Elders and the visiting Cultivators from other families who had come to witness the event.
As for other Zhou Family Cultivators below the Foundation Establishment Stage, they took this moment to bow in unison toward Zhou Chun, saying, "We pay our respects to the Vice Clan Leader!"
Zhou Chun, seeing this, also quickly returned the gesture, saying, "My fellow Clan Members are too kind. I will need your support in the days ahead, and if there's anything I do amiss, please do not hesitate to point it out, my elders and brothers and sisters."