Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

This old man, in his seventies, wore a gray robe and had a neat beard. His back was slightly hunched. At this moment, he stood just half a step behind Xiaoo Mountain King Woo Yisan, a position that suggested he held considerable status within the Rebel Army.

"Those two Immortal Masters are too much for us to handle, but Xie Yuanshan... with our combined strength, capturing him and forcing him to tell us the Immortal Secrets he knows shouldn’t be difficult!"

A sharp glint flashed in Fu Zhizhou’s eyes, a hint of ruthlessness showing in their depths.

They had finally managed to make contact with people from an Immortal Family, but due to their own hesitation, they could only watch as the Opportunity slipped through their fingers.

Fortunately, every cloud has a silver lining. Now that they’d run into Xie Yuanshan, a survivor from Wuyun Tower, they had another chance to uncover Immortal Secrets.

"Alright, we’ll do as Zhizhou says," Wei Tu nodded in agreement.

They couldn’t handle Immortal Master Wuk and Immortal Master Jia, but they were more than capable of overpowering Xie Yuanshan, the survivor from Wuyun Tower.

Besides, he and Weii Fei had killed Xie Qing back then and stolen Mrs. Xie’s Immortal Skill. They were already irreconcilable with Xie Yuanshan, so if they could take this opportunity to eliminate a future threat, it would be a good thing.

Once they had a target, the three men didn’t act rashly. They first slipped away from the main force of the Rebel Army, then used the chaos to capture one of Xiaoo Mountain King’s accompanying generals to interrogate him for information about Xie Yuanshan.

A cold, sickle-shaped moon hung in the sky.

In the pitch-black thicket,

the chirping of insects grew louder.

Fu Zhizhou pressed two fingers between the rebel general’s eyebrows, using the Spirit Secret Technique of an Innate Martial Master to extract information.

Although Wei Tu and Fu Zhizhou had never interacted with other Innate Martial Masters after reaching the rank themselves, they had gradually discovered some of the uses for Innate True Qi after mastering it.

For example, the Spirit Secret Technique of Innate Martial Masters that they had once feared.

This Spirit Secret Technique was actually not that mysterious. It was just a hypnotic method that used Innate True Qi to stimulate the acupoint between the tortured person’s eyebrows.

Under Fu Zhizhou’s hypnosis, the rebel general slowly revealed the information he knew about Xie Yuanshan.

’He’s just a general, so he doesn’t know many secrets. But this information is enough.’

A smile appeared on Fu Zhizhou’s face.

’Tonight, I was dragged into a duel between Immortal Masters and almost became a casualty... Even though I was lucky enough to escape, I’ll inevitably be a wanted man in the future...’

’My life has almost hit rock bottom tonight.’

’But if I can capture Xie Yuanshan and force out the Immortal Secrets he knows, it will all be worth it.’

A dozen or so breaths later, the three men had devised a plan to deal with Xie Yuanshan based on the information they’d gathered.

"Let’s go." Wei Tu looked up at the sky, estimated the time, and then with a casual flick of his blade, slit the throat of the hypnotized rebel general.

In an instant, the three of them blended into Xiaoo Mountain King’s rebel troops and disappeared.

「Half a quarter-hour later」

A soldier dressed as a Personal Guard approached Xie Yuanshan and said in a low voice, "Tower Master, the Young Master is looking for you."

"Zhibai is looking for me?" Xie Yuanshan looked surprised. He sized up the personal guard in front of him, and seeing an unfamiliar face, he couldn’t help but frown.

But he didn’t think too much of it. After all, Xiaoo Mountain King’s influence had grown so quickly that it was inevitable there were people among the personal guards he didn’t recognize.

"The Young Master said he completed the task you gave him. He has succeeded in Qi Sensing..." the Personal Guard added, lowering his head.

Hearing this, Xie Yuanshan immediately cast all his doubts aside. His face lit up with joy, and after exclaiming "Good!" three times, he hurried toward his tent.

...

「A quarter of an hour later」

On a hilltop far from Xiaoo Mountain King’s camp, Wei Tu, Fu Zhizhou, and Kou Liang gazed into the distance, watching the Magical Combat in a valley miles away.

At their feet lay two unconscious, bound figures.

The two were one old and one young. The elderly man, in his seventies, was none other than the Vice Tower Master of Wuyun Tower who had just left Xiaoo Mountain King Woo Yisan’s side—Xie Yuanshan.

"Immortal Master Wuk and Immortal Master Jia... The outcome of their Magical Combat is impossible to predict, and we have now deserted..."

"Regardless of who wins or loses, the three of us can no longer show our faces in public..."

Wei Tu’s gaze hardened. He looked at Fu Zhizhou and Kou Liang and began to analyze their current situation.

No matter who won or lost, it wasn’t a good thing for the three of them.

The only difference was that if Immortal Master Wuk won, the people of Qingfeng Prefecture’s Prefecture City would be spared from being slaughtered and ravaged by the Rebel Army.

The promise to sheathe their blades three days after a successful siege was never an empty one.

"Wei Tu, you decide," Fu Zhizhou said quickly, his gaze shifting from Kou Liang to Wei Tu.

Originally, when the four brothers of the Yee Society formed their Alliance, they were led by the eldest, Kou Liang, and deferred to his decisions on all matters.

But as time went on, due to Kou Liang’s mediocrity in matters of Cultivation, the group’s center of gravity gradually shifted from him to Wei Tu.

"You decide, Wei Tu. I’ll listen..." Kou Liang felt a bit awkward hearing Fu Zhizhou’s words, but he had no objections to Wei Tu taking the lead.

Hearing this, Wei Tu nodded and laid out a detailed plan based on their current situation.

"We’ll split into two groups. Kou Liang and Zhizhou, you’ll take Xie Yuanshan and his grandson to Xiaoyi Prefecture..."

"Zhizhou, you’ll guard the prisoners. Kou Liang, you’ll ride ahead to Xiaoyi Prefecture with all speed, get our three families out, and find a Secret Land to settle them temporarily."

"Once that’s done, Kou Liang, you will wait for news at the Qingliang Posthouse in Xiaoyi Prefecture."

"Zhizhou, you will also go to the Qingliang Posthouse to rendezvous with him."

"As for me..." Wei Tu paused, then said, "I’ll go back to the Prefecture City to get Weii Fei, and then I’ll catch up with you."

"This..."

"No, going back to the Prefecture City is too dangerous."

Fu Zhizhou shook his head.

Although he greatly admired Wei Tu for still caring about their brotherhood in this situation, the danger of returning to the Prefecture City now was simply too great.

Soon, the sky would brighten, and the duel between the two Immortal Masters would be decided. The obstacles and dangers Wei Tu would face by sneaking into the Prefecture City at such a time to help Weii Fei escape the battlefield were entirely predictable.

"I bought another abandoned private residence inside the Prefecture City. I had a deep cellar dug there, which we can use to lay low."

Wei Tu was concise.

This time, saving Weii Fei involved some risk, but he felt it was a risk he could manage.

Besides, he was the West Gate Guard Captain and knew the city’s defensive forces best.

Know your enemy and know yourself. For him, getting Weii Fei out of the Prefecture City wasn’t an overly dangerous task.

Hearing this, Fu Zhizhou stopped trying to persuade him.

He said, "If I don’t see you at Qingliang Posthouse in ten days, Wei Tu, I’ll enter the Prefecture City to find you..."

"If anything should happen to you..."

"I swear I will take good care of your family."

Fu Zhizhou uttered this last sentence with absolute conviction.

"Same here," Kou Liang added, nodding firmly.

They had originally formed an Alliance for mutual benefit, calling each other brother out of convenience. But after this battle, they suddenly realized they had become true brothers in arms.

...

Leaving the hilltop, Wei Tu raced toward the Prefecture City’s West Gate with all his might. He had to enter the city and get Weii Fei out before dawn.

He was an Innate Realm Martial Artist. At full speed, he was as fast as a galloping horse—perhaps even faster.

And so, in just a matter of minutes, Wei Tu had traveled from the south gate, where Xiaoo Mountain King’s forces were, to the West Gate, where the armies of the Cyan Tiger King and the King of Mingzhou were stationed.

His figure was graceful as he stepped on the roofs of the various tents in the camp, flitting by so fast that he left only a trail of afterimages in mid-air.

Unlike Xiaoo Mountain King’s tight security, the forces of the Cyan Tiger King and the King of Mingzhou were poorly disciplined—perhaps from having just merged—and their camp was riddled with openings.

Therefore, despite his "high-profile" movement, not a single visible or hidden sentry spotted him.

However, just as Wei Tu flitted past a large, brightly lit tent, he suddenly heard a familiar voice from within.

’Li Xingye?’ Wei Tu thought, slightly surprised. With a flicker of movement, he landed in the tent’s shadow and listened to the sounds from inside.

Although the voices inside the tent were low, his hearing had become astonishing after he reached the Innate realm. Even the faintest whisper was clearly audible to him.

At the same time, he applied force with his fingertip, pierced the felt of the tent, and peered through the small hole to observe the people inside.

Inside the tent, he saw two other people besides Li Xingye.

One of them was tall and broad, with a bushy beard and a rugged face. He wore Bright Silver Armor and had a gray cloak draped over his shoulders.

The other was dressed similarly to Li Xingye, with the appearance of a scholar.

"Ming King, with Xiaoo Mountain King’s army fighting the Court’s Military Officers, the Prefecture City’s defenses are weak. This is the perfect opportunity to storm the city and win great merit."

"I urge the Ming King to make a swift decision."

Li Xingye bowed deeply to the large, bearded man, his attitude respectful.

"Brother Xingye, why the rush? Xiaoo Mountain King and the Court haven’t yet decided a victor. If our army attacks the West Gate now, to put it nicely, we’d be stealing Xiaoo Mountain King’s glory. To put it bluntly, it would be a slap in his face!"

The middle-aged scholar scoffed.

"Miao Dashu, don’t you go too far! In terms of scholarly achievement, you’re nothing but a failed Child Scholar. What right do you have to point your finger at me?" Li Xingye shot back, his face flashing with shame and anger.

After his outburst, he added an explanation to the King of Mingzhou, "Ming King, although this move risks stealing credit, after breaking into the West Gate, you can use the momentum to grow your power. In time, it’s not impossible that you could replace Xiaoo Mountain King and become the Alliance Leader."

"If we don’t take this risk, our Mingzhou Soldiers will sooner or later be devoured by Xiaoo Mountain King, piece by piece."

"The rest of us could perhaps surrender to Xiaoo Mountain King, but you, Ming King? What would your fate be?"

he added.

"That makes sense." The King of Mingzhou was moved. He gave Li Xingye a deep look and nodded.

"Ming King, you mustn’t." The middle-aged scholar named Miao Dashu refused to admit defeat and said through gritted teeth, "Has the Ming King forgotten that Brother Xingye’s family was killed half a month ago?"

"Brother Xingye’s urgency for the Ming King to attack the West Gate might well be so he can use the Ming King’s soldiers to take his revenge and kill that Captain Wei!"