Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

So, while she heard Wei Tu’s pleasant words, she didn’t take them to heart.

’A Smiling Tiger!’ Master Qingmei privately appraised Wei Tu.

Wei Tu, who was standing nearby, had no idea that Master Qingmei’s impression of him had soured to such an extent.

Of course, even if he did know, Wei Tu wouldn’t have cared. After all, Master Qingmei was currently only a candidate for the Golden Core Realm, and her Profound Wood Spirit Body was still far from healed.

After greeting Master Qingmei, Wei Tu made his way to the Talisman House where Che Gongwei practiced his Talisman Painting. He knocked on the door and entered.

"Wei Tu, you’re here." Che Gongwei stopped his Talisman Painting when he saw Wei Tu enter. A look of complex emotion appeared on his face as he studied Wei Tu for a few moments.

"The three conditions in the letter—are you willing to abide by them and swear an oath never to break this promise?"

Che Gongwei stared intently at Wei Tu’s expression, not letting his guard down for a single moment.

Passing on the Talisman Dao Inheritance wasn’t just giving Wei Tu a powerful money-making tool; it was also revealing the greater part of his own secrets to him.

Upon hearing this, Wei Tu did not hesitate. He raised his hand and swore to the heavens, making a Heart Demon Oath.

For High-Tier Cultivators, a Heart Demon Oath was far more binding than an ordinary Spirit Contract.

As each word of the oath was spoken, Che Gongwei’s tense expression gradually softened. He nodded, took a yellow Jade Scroll from his sleeve, and handed it to Wei Tu.

"Most of my life’s work is contained within this Jade Scroll,"

Che Gongwei said in a solemn voice.

"Thank you, Master." Wei Tu bowed, accepting the yellow Jade Scroll with both hands and expressing his gratitude.

After receiving the Jade Scroll, Wei Tu wasn’t in a hurry to inspect its contents. Instead, he stood respectfully to the side, awaiting Che Gongwei’s further instructions.

Seeing that Wei Tu still maintained the proper etiquette of a disciple even after receiving the Jade Scroll, Che Gongwei secretly nodded in approval. His impression of Wei Tu improved somewhat.

After all, plenty of people in the world weren’t even willing to make a show of respect.

By that standard, this "disciple of convenience" of his was already leagues ahead.

"You saw Bing’er just now?" Che Gongwei asked, taking a seat and changing the subject.

The entire mansion was enveloped in his Guardian Map Divine Sense; he knew with perfect clarity everything Wei Tu had done from the moment he arrived.

Wei Tu nodded.

"As for her injuries, with another thirty-odd years of my treatment, there’s a good chance her Profound Wood Spirit Body will be completely restored."

"In the past, you harbored secrets and were unwilling to get too close to Mu Die and the others. I can understand that."

"However, now that you have successfully formed your Golden Core, I hope you... can grow a bit closer to Bing’er, Die’er, and the others."

Che Gongwei said slowly.

Before accepting Wei Tu as his disciple, he had investigated him. Only after learning that Wei Tu was a person who valued relationships did he decide to "entrust him with this great responsibility."

Unexpectedly, Wei Tu’s subsequent behavior had been a great disappointment.

But thinking about it now, Che Gongwei had come to understand Wei Tu’s reasons for keeping his distance.

—’Thirty-some years ago, Wei Tu reached the Late-Stage of Foundation Establishment and possessed a treasure as significant as the Immortal Transformation Pill. Why would he waste energy helping me train Mu Die and the others? He probably couldn’t hide from the trouble fast enough.’

"I understand."

Wei Tu nodded and agreed.

Getting closer to Master Qingmei and his other junior martial siblings was merely the surface meaning of Che Gongwei’s words. The true intent was for him, as a disciple, to align his future actions more closely with his master’s circle.

This was only natural.

After all, Che Gongwei had already bestowed upon him a portion of his Core Inheritance. At this point, he was not just a disciple in name but also one of Che Gongwei’s de facto successors.

Hearing Wei Tu’s reply, Che Gongwei looked pleased. He waved a dismissive hand at Wei Tu and said, "I have other matters to attend to. You may leave for now."

With those words, Wei Tu knew it wasn’t appropriate to disturb Che Gongwei any further. He gave a deep bow and excused himself.

After Wei Tu left the Che Mansion.

Just then, a figure emerged from the back room of the Talisman House and took a seat opposite Che Gongwei.

The figure wore a flowing cyan robe and a fine jade ornament on his forehead, giving him the air of a refined young nobleman.

Had Wei Tu been present, he would have surely recognized the man as the Tier Three Array Master, Qii Chengchu, whom he had met just over ten days prior.

"Wei Tu is indeed a rare talent, a true gem. A pity he isn’t ruthless enough," Qii Chengchu said with a faint smile after taking his seat, his gaze drifting toward the Talisman House entrance.

’If I were in his shoes,’ Qii Chengchu thought, ’knowing I had a chance for revenge against the Hee Mountain Huang Family, I would have agreed to the plan long ago and started plotting for the Huang Family’s Inheritance.’

Who would give up such a golden opportunity because of some old attachment?

"If he were too ruthless, I wouldn’t have dared to pass the Talisman Master Inheritance on to him," Che Gongwei said, shaking his head.

The inheritance of a Tier Three Talisman Master involves too much.

Therefore, before bestowing the Talisman Master Inheritance upon Wei Tu, Che Gongwei had reported the matter to Qii Chengchu—the one holding power in the Jing Country Sect of the Loose Immortal Alliance—and consulted with him.

"Wei Tu hasn’t been cultivating for long. It’s only natural that he still possesses a benevolent heart."

Qii Chengchu remarked.

Then he added, "However, this very incident has shown me the possibility of our Loose Immortal Alliance truly becoming unified."

"As long as there are more and more unaligned Golden Core Cultivators like Wei Tu, the factional strife within the Loose Immortal Alliance will cease to exist."

Although Qii Chengchu was the leader of the Jing Country Sect within the Loose Immortal Alliance, he deeply detested the constant factional infighting.

It was just that the conflict of interests left him no room to back down; he could only turn a blind eye to it all, and even continue to fuel the struggles between the factions.

The human heart is a complex thing.

Weakness would only earn more vicious attacks from the opposing faction; it would never bring about peace.

Only by introducing a new power could the struggle between the two factions be gradually tempered, and perhaps even mended.