Thunder rolled in waves, and rain poured down in torrents.
A rare torrential rain, unseen for over a decade, descended upon the region near Jiufeng Ridge where the Zhou Family was located.
In the Zhou Family Beast Garden, many Demon Beasts that disliked the rain had hidden in their nests.
As beasts raised by humans, they had the advantage of human-built lairs, which were not only spacious but also sheltered from wind and rain.
Meanwhile, on Hundred Medicines Peak, some Zhou Family Cultivators who tended to the Spiritual Medicine hastily drew out tarps to cover the medicine fields to prevent the heavy rain from destroying the delicate plants, also working swiftly to drain the accumulated rainwater from the land.
In the face of such a downpour, even low-level cultivators could feel powerless.
At the same time, in a small courtyard on Pagoda Peak, Zhou Chun was at a critical juncture in his cultivation.
Three days ago, he had taken two Elixirs meant to enhance his mana and Cultivation Level, aiming to use the doubled medicinal power to break through to the later stage of Foundation Establishment.
Now, three days had passed, and the power of the Elixirs had peaked; he was at the most crucial moment of his breakthrough.
Inside the Cultivation Room, he sat cross-legged, his face shimmering with a golden sheen as if coated in gold powder.
This was a sign that he had pushed the Golden Cauldron Profound Technique to its extreme limits.
At this moment, the golden cauldron within his Dantian Qi Sea shook violently as if nurturing some breathtaking entity within, with faint golden auspicious light seeping through.
After an indeterminable amount of time, as another ground-shaking peal of thunder roared through the skies, a powerful momentum suddenly emerged from the secret chamber where Zhou Chun was in closed-door cultivation.
He had successfully broken through to the later stage of Foundation Establishment.
This year, Zhou Chun was ninety-six years old—a full sixty years since he had successfully established his foundation!
For ordinary cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage, sixty years might at best allow one breakthrough, from the initial to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.
But Zhou Chun, through various encounters and the fervent support of the Zhou Family, had broken through two realms in these sixty years, advancing from the initial stage to the later stage of Foundation Establishment!
It might seem as if he had merely doubled the speed of ordinary cultivators, but the reality was far more remarkable.
Only truly knowledgeable cultivators could comprehend what it meant for him to possess the Cultivation Level of the later stage of Foundation Establishment at his age.
"I've finally reached the later stage of Foundation Establishment!"
"Now, if I quietly cultivate for a few years to consolidate my Cultivation Realm, I can begin to plan for the acquisition of the Spiritual Objects necessary to open the Purple Mansion!"
Inside the secret chamber, Zhou Chun's eyes opened, feeling the surge of mana within his body; his heart was filled with confidence as he envisioned the higher realms that lay ahead.
For him, the later stage of Foundation Establishment had never been a barrier.
The real hurdle was definitely the opening of the Purple Mansion.
This challenge was not only perilous but also had an extremely high failure rate.
Although his initial failure at Foundation Establishment hadn't left Zhou Chun with any psychological scars, it had certainly taught him to never underestimate such a significant breakthrough.
Therefore, even knowing that the Zhou Family would provide full support, he did not dare to be careless or underestimate the process.
Aside from Zhou Chun himself, the person who was most delighted with his breakthrough to the later stage of Foundation Establishment was none other than Zhou Mingde.
Zhou Mingde had long placed the future hopes of the Zhou Family on Zhou Chun, valuing him more than anyone else.
Seeing Zhou Chun report the good news to him personally, he was utterly gratified and clapped his hands in approval, saying, "Well done, very good, Zhengchun, you've finally reached the later stage of Foundation Establishment!"
"A cultivator under a hundred years old at the later stage of Foundation Establishment—our Zhou Family hasn't seen such a figure for at least three hundred years, and now, at last, a genius has emerged once again!"
As he said this, his face showed a genuinely joyful smile.
In response to his praise, Zhou Chun humbly replied, "Supreme Elder flatters me too much; I dare not accept the title of genius. I, for one, know my limitations, and any Cultivation Level I have achieved today is entirely due to the family's all-out support!"
Hearing Zhou Chun's words, Zhou Mingde was even more delighted, repeatedly expressing his approval, "Very good, very good! If you can think this way, it makes me even happier. It shows that I and the family haven't been wrong about you, and that all the efforts to cultivate you have not been in vain!"
Without comparison, there is no harm felt.
Compared to Zhou Chun, Zhou Zhengkang, who initially received the same support from the Zhou Family and Zhou Mingde, was astonishingly foolish.
He, relying on his background and talents, attributed all his achievements to his own genius, without a shred of gratitude towards the family, even betraying the family for trivial personal gains.
Such shortsighted and foolish behavior contrasted sharply with Zhou Chun's current situation.
Decades had passed since that incident, and Zhou Mingde had long put it behind him.
Otherwise, recalling it now would certainly stir different feelings.
After his moment of joy, Zhou Mingde looked at Zhou Chun with a serious expression and said, "Now that you, Zhengchun, have broken through to the later stage of Foundation Establishment, it's time to start planning for the opening of the Purple Mansion. Do you have any thoughts on this matter?"
Zhou Chun had anticipated this question and promptly replied, "I plan to quietly cultivate for a few years to stabilize my Cultivation Level, and in the meantime, I'll sell off some unnecessary items to accumulate Spirit Coins. Then I'll inquire about the Spiritual Objects needed for opening the Purple Mansion in the neighboring countries, and once I manage to acquire one or two Spiritual Objects, I will make the attempt!"