Therefore, those delighted Elders were naturally thinking of certain juniors from their own lineage who could vie for this spot.
However, Zhou Chun knew deep down that Green Lotus Temple suddenly reciprocating such favors to the Zhou Family was not only because the Zhou Family had performed extraordinarily in the battle that annihilated the Jiang Family, but likely also because they had grown some reservations about the Zhou Family.
By bestowing the disciple slots and allowing Zhou Family Cultivators to join Green Lotus Temple, firstly, it indeed could motivate other families, secondly, it could bind the Zhou Family closer to Green Lotus Temple, and thirdly, if a conflict between the two parties occurred in the future, these clan members who had joined the Sect could play some unique roles.
In fact, Zhou Chun, Zhou Mingde, and others had long been psychologically prepared for this day.
Yet, at this critical juncture, Green Lotus Temple suddenly issuing such a decree was indeed quite thought-provoking.
"Elders, you may go back first, I will take the decree to the Supreme Elder for review!"
Although Zhou Chun had myriads of thoughts in his heart, he showed no sign or emotion on his face, and after waving the Elders to disperse, he then headed to the cave dwelling atop the mountain.
In the mountain-top cave dwelling, Zhou Chun handed over the decree from Green Lotus Temple to Zhou Mingde and Zhou Daoyi, who had rushed over.
After reading it, Zhou Mingde let out a soft sigh, "So, it has finally come to this!"
"Indeed, even though we knew this day would come, it's still unsettling now that it's actually here," Zhou Daoyi followed with a sigh, filled with emotion.
Following the sighs, Zhou Mingde looked at Zhou Chun and asked, "The decree from Green Lotus Temple is absolute, and we have no room to refuse. Zhengchun, what do you think our family should do about this matter?"
In the past, Green Lotus Temple only bestowed the Ascension Orders to the Zhou Family or subtly suggested via words that the Zhou Family could send someone to join Green Lotus Temple.
In response to these, the Zhou Family could feign ignorance and not utilize them.
But now, Green Lotus Temple had issued a direct decree, a notification rather than a negotiation.
The Zhou Family didn't want to fall into disrepute for being ungrateful or defying an imperial edict, so they certainly had no choice but to obediently comply.
Thus, upon hearing Zhou Mingde's inquiry, Zhou Chun immediately responded, "If it were up to me, the three Inner Sect Disciple slots would naturally be best chosen from those in the family who are in the latter stages of Qi Refinement and have a chance at Foundation Establishment. For the ten Outer Sect Disciples, we should select some of the younger clan members with slightly lesser aptitude."
"Hmm, this arrangement seems fair and reasonable. However, in my opinion, we should try to send more female clan members," Zhou Mingde slightly nodded, adding his own suggestion.
Female cultivators in a cultivation family did not all have to marry; many also dedicated themselves to the path and remained unmarried for life.
But for a cultivation family, given the same Spirit Root Aptitude, male cultivators were definitely more useful than female cultivators.
Not to mention that male cultivators were more efficient at extending the family lineage, but in terms of combat and contention, they were generally stronger than female cultivators as well.
Moreover, by sending female cultivators to the Sect, there was no worry that they would branch out and establish a new Zhou Family elsewhere; and if they formed a marital bond with cultivators within the Sect, it was as if the family gained another ally, achieving multiple benefits in one stroke.
So Zhou Mingde making such a proposal didn't surprise Zhou Chun.
He actually agreed with this approach, as for those female cultivators, aside from the separation from their kin, everything else about going to the Sect would be better than staying with the family.
At the very least, once they were in the Sect, not only could they benefit from the Sect's blessings, but in order to maintain their emotional ties to the family, the family side would definitely have to offer some subsidies.
Quickly nodding in agreement, he said, "I understand. Then we will arrange for nine female cultivators and four male cultivators."
"Let's settle on that then. When the time comes, Zhengchun, you can personally take them to the entrance of Green Lotus Temple and also collect that Talisman Treasure awarded by the Temple, granting you an additional protective item," Zhou Mingde waved his hand, finalizing the decision.
By the time Zhou Chun returned from the mountain-top cave dwelling, news about the decree from Green Lotus Temple had begun to spread among the Zhou Family's Qi Refinement Realm cultivators.
Many Zhou Family Qi Refinement Realm cultivators, who originally felt they had little hope of achieving Foundation Establishment, now saw an opportunity and gathered at Pagoda Peak to make their presence known to Zhou Chun, the Clan Leader, provided they were not on a mission.
They all knew that the family would definitely not send those with exceptional aptitude to Green Lotus Temple; such people would have been sent long ago if that were the case.
Therefore, it was a rare chance that came once in a hundred years, and they all wanted to seize this opportunity.
And indeed, the allocation of the three Inner Sect Disciple positions was rather headaches-inducing for Zhou Chun.
The reason was simple: there were too many qualified cultivators within the Zhou Family, and he couldn't just designate three at will without satisfying the consensus.
Thus, he could only speak sternly to those clan members loitering outside: "Whatever you all are thinking, I'm fully aware. Those who are in the later stages of Qi Refinement and below sixty years of age, who wish to contest for the three Inner Sect Disciple slots, come forward to register. Let me first see how many are interested!"
As soon as these words were uttered, within half a day, as many as twenty-three people registered, and these were just individuals who were at the family's main gate.
Regarding those Family Cultivators who were out on missions or traveling, Zhou Chun didn't discriminate, and he similarly instructed the Intelligence Hall to reach out and inform them of this matter.
After a month had passed, the final number of registered individuals reached forty-two, amongst whom eight were of the twelfth layer of Qi Refinement Level!
Zhou Chun wasn't surprised by this turnout, but with an inevitable look of helplessness, he sighed softly, "As expected, faced with the temptation of Foundation Establishment, even decades of family education and the bonds of blood cannot make people choose to stay."