Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

"Big Brother, here are nineteen Spirit Stones and two High-Quality Earth Spike Talismans."

"I’d like to ask Hongying to help me purchase an Earth Essence Pill. Since she’s a Sect disciple, no one will investigate her over a single pill."

"Also... I need her to arrange for a private Cultivation Cave Mansion where I won’t be disturbed. I need it for my breakthrough..."

Wei Tu said.

In truth, the number of Spirit Stones he had on him already exceeded the thirty-two required for an Earth Essence Pill.

He was now using two Earth Spike Talismans to cover the thirteen-Spirit-Stone shortfall for the pill.

This offered two advantages.

First, the difference in value would serve as a commission for Kou Hongying for procuring the Earth Essence Pill.

Second, the High-Quality Earth Spike Talismans would demonstrate his own value to Kou Hongying.

They were uncle and niece.

This time, thanks to his connection with Kou Liang, she would likely have helped him even without any reward.

But it would be more difficult in the future.

Kou Hongying might find excuses to refuse.

Even relationships required mutual benefit to be maintained.

When Kou Liang heard Wei Tu’s request, his heart skipped a beat. He wasn’t sure how to refuse, especially since his daughter, Kou Hongying, had already been displeased the last time he had given Wei Tu an Earth Essence Pill.

—If Wei Tu were asking for his personal help, he would go through hell and high water for him. But when it came to his daughter, his hands were tied.

However, once he fully understood the meaning behind Wei Tu’s words, his brow unfurrowed. He patted his chest reassuringly and said:

"Don’t worry, Third Brother. I’ll ask Hongying to take care of it. I’ll have an answer for you in five days at the soonest."

A High-Quality Earth Spike Talisman.

Each one was worth about ten Spirit Stones.

This time, having his daughter help would not only allow him to honor his bond with his brother, but would also let Hongying make a small profit... It was a win-win.

...

「Three days later.」

In a remote, low-grade Cave Mansion in the Bai Shihu Marketplace.

’This is the Small Spirit Gathering Array? The Spiritual Qi it gathers is more than three times denser than in the shantytown...’

Wei Tu ran his hand over the Array Patterns of the Spirit Gathering Array inlaid in the floor, unable to suppress his awe.

Now he finally understood why Hu Yao was always looking for chances to go to Steward Liu’s Cave Mansion and mooch some Spiritual Qi.

Steward Liu’s status was considerable; his Cave Mansion was arguably one of the top fifty on all of Danqiu Mountain.

The amount of Spiritual Qi Hu Yao could absorb by spending just four or five days there was likely equivalent to two or three Spirit Stones.

’Come to think of it, Fellow Daoist Hu’s Cultivation is probably not as low as the Qi Cultivation Third Layer. She might actually have a real chance on the path to Foundation Establishment.’

Wei Tu mentally tallied the number of times Hu Yao had visited the Cave Mansions of Steward Liu and other Cultivators in the Market District. After finishing his calculation, he was rather surprised.

Based on his calculations—

He realized that between the Spiritual Qi she mooched from Cave Mansions and the Spirit Stones she earned from side jobs, her annual gains were a cut above his own as a Talisman Master.

It was enough to say she had a real shot at Foundation Establishment.

’There’s no point in dwelling on it. I should focus on my own path. Everyone has their own road to walk.’

Wei Tu pushed aside his distracting thoughts. He placed the meditation cushion he had just moved back over the Small Spirit Gathering Array, sat cross-legged upon it, and began to focus on his Cultivation.

「Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.」

On this day, Wei Tu finally sensed the opportunity for a breakthrough. He mustered all the Innate True Qi and Thick Earth Spiritual Power within his body, directing them to converge in his Dantian.

The two intertwined forces gradually became inseparable.

At the same time, Wei Tu felt an itching sensation between his eyebrows, as if some power was about to break free from its shell.

One day.

Two days.

Several days passed.

Wei Tu’s consciousness leaped from his mind into the outside world. He looked around and saw that his entire body was emitting a faint, yellow halo.

Drawn by the halo, the surrounding Spiritual Qi continuously converged on his Dantian, more than twice as fast as before.

’Fifty-one years old, Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer.’

’Not bad!’

A smile spread across Wei Tu’s face.

But at that moment, he also felt a throbbing ache between his eyebrows. He quickly withdrew the Guardian Map Divine Sense he had released from his body, returning it to his Sea of Consciousness to recuperate.

’Now that I have my Guardian Map Divine Sense, I can refine this Silver Hairpin Magical Artifact.’

Wei Tu took out the Silver Hairpin Magical Artifact he had seized from the masked female cultivator and began to permeate it with his Spiritual Power, working to erase the Divine Sense Mark within.

...

「Two months later.」

Having stabilized his new Cultivation level, Wei Tu emerged from his Seclusion in the remote Cave Mansion.

"Congratulations, Third Brother." Kou Liang was the first to congratulate him.

When Wei Tu broke through to the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, Kou Liang had felt a faint pressure coming from the Seclusion Chamber.

This pressure was from the Guardian Map Divine Sense that a cultivator develops at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, which naturally suppresses the Divine Souls of those in Early-Stage Qi Cultivation.

"A cause for us both to celebrate," Wei Tu replied, clasping his hands in a formal salute.

"Uncle Wei."

The next moment, a young Female Cultivator with an elegant and otherworldly aura burst into the courtyard. She wore a long, pale blue dress.

"Niece Hongying."

Wei Tu nodded in reply, perfectly composed. His eyes no longer held the stunned admiration he’d felt when he first saw her after her transformation.

Over half a year ago, when he saw the once plain-faced Kou Hongying suddenly blossom into an absolute beauty in the Cultivation Realm, he had been so shocked that he’d almost made a fool of himself.

He later learned that the Cultivation Techniques practiced by the Female Cultivators of Jingshui Pavilion all had beautifying effects.

Basically, every Female Cultivator from Jingshui Pavilion was a stunning beauty, each with her own unique charm.

"Was the Cave Mansion to your satisfaction, Uncle Wei?" Kou Hongying asked, performing a graceful curtsy. Her voice was light and pleasant.

This Cave Mansion had been a gift from Master Qin, who had leased it for her after she became his disciple.

"It was," Wei Tu said with a nod. He returned the Cave Mansion’s key to Kou Hongying and offered his thanks.

The Cultivation Realm was different from the mortal world.

The strong came first.

Even though Kou Hongying was his niece, he couldn’t afford to be arrogant or pull rank based on his age when dealing with her.