Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

The moment he swallowed the Three-Eyed Silver Toad,

Wei Tu, sitting cross-legged, formed a hand seal and activated the three egg-sized Blood Pills near his Dantian.

The three Blood Pills instantly shattered, transforming into a dense, bloody mist that seeped into Wei Tu’s Dantian. The mist then compressed a pill at the center of his Dantian, one that resembled a white jade wax ball.

This white jade wax ball was the Void Pill that Wei Tu had spent years of hard work condensing.

Immediately after, the Crimson Spirit Liquid that Wei Tu had swallowed began to refine this Void Pill condensed from Jade Liquid.

Time slowly passed.

Several days later, the Void Pill slowly shattered. The mercury-like Jade Liquid inside poured out from the broken shell. Then, driven by the medicinal power of the Immortal Transformation Pill, it began to condense once more, transforming from a liquid to a solid.

The re-condensed Void Pill seemed to have come to life. It began to spin continuously within his Dantian, drawing in the vast nature’s spiritual energy from outside his Cave Mansion.

One day, two days...

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

A perfectly round pill the size of a pigeon’s egg gradually took shape, molded by nature’s spiritual energy, and began to float up and down within Wei Tu’s Dantian.

’I’ve finally overcome the perilous pass of the Jade Liquid Rejuvenation Pill.’ Wei Tu’s tense nerves immediately relaxed upon seeing the Golden Core form. He rose to his feet and let out several loud laughs.

He looked up at the world outside and felt the immensity of the heavens and the earth. It was as if nothing could ever hold him back again.

...

「Two and a half years later.」

After completely stabilizing his Cultivation Realm, Wei Tu flicked his wide sleeve, used an Array Talisman, and opened the stone door of his Cave Mansion.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Wei, on achieving the Golden Core."

"From now on, you are one of us."

As soon as he stepped out of his Cave Mansion, Wei Tu’s ears were filled with voices of congratulation.

Wei Tu looked up and saw that among the well-wishers was his master, True Monarch Che.

He instantly understood that these Cultivators before him must be the Golden Core True Monarchs from the Loose Immortal Alliance who had served as his Protective Daoists.

"I greet you, Senior Uncles." Wei Tu did not act arrogantly by calling them Fellow Daoists; instead, he lowered his own status by a generation.

After all, his master was True Monarch Che. If he addressed these people as Fellow Daoists, what position would that put his master in?

"Greetings, Master." After returning the salutations, Wei Tu walked up to True Monarch Che and bowed.

Seeing Wei Tu’s courteousness,

True Monarch Che’s tense heartstrings gradually loosened. He had most feared that Wei Tu would become arrogant after achieving the Golden Core, putting him, the master, in an awkward position.

"There’s no need for such formalities." True Monarch Che smiled and waved his hand.

Then, after a moment of thought, True Monarch Che spoke the words he had prepared years ago.

"Wei Tu, although you are my Disciple, I admit I haven’t taught you much. From now on, we can simply address each other as Fellow Daoists..."

"I feel unworthy of the title if you continue to call me Master."

True Monarch Che said, word by word.

Anyone with eyes could see that Wei Tu’s successful breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm was almost entirely due to his own efforts and had little to do with his master.

At most, he had provided Wei Tu with a stable environment for his Cultivation.

If he were to shamelessly continue acting as Wei Tu’s master, he would likely be mocked by other Cultivators behind his back.

"A teacher for a day is a teacher for a lifetime."

Wei Tu shook his head, declining True Monarch Che’s kind offer, and uttered these words.

Although the master-disciple bond between him and True Monarch Che was not deep, from beginning to end, True Monarch Che had never wronged him as a Disciple.

And now, he certainly had no intention of changing masters.

"This..."

True Monarch Che was taken aback, unsure how to persuade Wei Tu to be less stubborn.

In the Cultivation Realm, the skilled are the teachers. Wei Tu was not a Disciple he had raised from childhood; he had simply joined him with pre-existing skills. No one would have anything to say if Wei Tu decided to change his affiliation.

It was enough that Wei Tu felt a sense of loyalty; there was no need to insist on the title of Master.

"How about this?" True Monarch Qi stepped forward from the side and proposed a compromise. "In private, you can maintain the master-disciple address. But in public, just call us all Fellow Daoists. There’s no need to use terms like Senior Uncle."

Having a higher seniority might sound pleasant, but it could create unnecessary obstacles when conducting business.

In the future, when the Loose Immortal Alliance assigned tasks to Wei Tu, wouldn’t it seem like they, his elders, were bullying a junior?

The suggestion was appropriate.

Both Wei Tu and True Monarch Che adopted the suggestion, nodding in agreement.

"Now that you have successfully broken through, Fellow Daoist Wei, do you wish to leave the Loose Immortal Alliance, or formally join us?" True Monarch Qi asked, getting to the heart of the matter.

Ordinarily, since Wei Tu was a Loose Immortal Alliance Cultivator who had used the Alliance’s Spirit Veins for his breakthrough, he would naturally be expected to remain a member after reaching the Golden Core Realm.

However, a Golden Core True Monarch was different from a Foundation Establishment Master. So, even for something that should be a given, it was proper to ask.

"I am willing to join the Loose Immortal Alliance," Wei Tu stated directly, without hesitation.

Wei Tu understood that if he were to leave the Loose Immortal Alliance now, the same Golden Core True Monarchs who were currently so amiable might become his mortal enemies in the next instant.

He would not make such a foolish mistake.

...

Next, True Monarch Qi, acting as the "Steward" of the Loose Immortal Alliance, arranged for a suitable residence, benefits, and other provisions for Wei Tu, the newly promoted Golden Core True Monarch, within the Red River Mountain Marketplace.

After the arrangements were made, Wei Tu cupped his hands in salute, took his leave of True Monarch Qi and the others, and flew off toward his rented Cave Mansion—Lark Residence.

Over ten years ago, just as he was entering Seclusion, more than twenty of the Seven-Colored Illusion Moths he was raising had fallen into a deep slumber, showing faint signs of metamorphosis.

Now, over a decade later, it was possible that these Seven-Colored Illusion Moths had successfully promoted to become Tier Two Spirit Insects.

When a Spirit Beast breaks through from Tier One to Tier Two,

there is a small chance it might turn on and devour its master.

Therefore, Wei Tu needed to hurry back to Lark Residence to prevent any mishaps with his Seven-Colored Illusion Moths.

However, just as Wei Tu landed at the entrance to Lark Residence, he spotted two furtive figures lurking near his Cave Mansion.

’Gao Chen? Hua Xianlong?’

Wei Tu’s brow furrowed. He couldn’t figure out why these two would be waiting outside his Cave Mansion.

"Senior Brother Gao, Junior Brother Hua, come on out," Wei Tu said, his expression indifferent. He glanced toward their hiding spot, his tone slightly cold.

As his voice fell,

Gao Chen and Hua Xianlong, who had been hiding in the shadows, exchanged a look and emerged awkwardly from the corner of the alley.

Gao Chen walked up to Wei Tu, hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and offered him a Token. "This is the Cave Mansion Token for Yunyan Residence. It was my fault for being so blind, I unintentionally offended Junior Brother Wei... I mean, Elder Wei. I hope you will accept this Token, Elder Wei, and not hold any grudge."

How times had changed.

Over thirty years ago, when he had driven Wei Tu out of Yunyan Residence, he had done so relying on his Fake Pill Realm status. Back then, no matter how resentful Wei Tu might have been, he wouldn’t have dared to act against him.

But now, Gao Chen was filled with nothing but regret for having offended a man who was now a Golden Core True Monarch.

"I was already indebted to you for letting me stay at your Separate Mansion, Senior Brother Gao. I had no complaints when I left, so you don’t need to worry about it."

Wei Tu said frankly.

He wasn’t so petty as to hold a grudge just because the owner had asked him to leave.

"However, Junior Brother Hua," Wei Tu said, raising an eyebrow in confusion, "what brings you to my Cave Mansion?"

All told, he and Hua Xianlong had only ever met twice.

Once, when he was accepted as a Disciple.

The other time was during a lecture by True Monarch Che.

Clearly, they had not had many interactions.

Hua Xianlong gave an awkward laugh and said, "While you were in Seclusion, Senior Brother Wei, I... well, I spread some gossip about you. I came here today specifically to apologize."

If it had just been a matter of spreading rumors, he wouldn’t have bothered to come and apologize, so long as Wei Tu remained ignorant.

But Hua Xianlong was afraid that Nanzi, an acquaintance of Wei Tu’s, might tell Wei Tu that he had slandered him when they next met.

That was why he had no choice but to rush over and apologize in advance, as a preemptive measure.

"You’re certainly quick, Junior Brother Hua." Wei Tu’s expression was a little odd as he heard this.

He never expected that after he successfully formed his Golden Core, everyone he had ever had a conflict with, both openly and secretly, would come running to apologize.

’So this is the might of a Golden Core True Monarch,’ Wei Tu thought to himself.

"This is a Tier Two Magical Robe I managed to find. Please accept it, Senior Brother Wei."

At that, Hua Xianlong struck while the iron was hot, taking out a gift box and handing it to Wei Tu.