Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

"Why did Fellow Daoist Wuk choose you to be his Disciple, Second Brother? Did he give you a reason?"

Wei Tu inquired about what happened.

A while ago, Immortal Master Wuk mentioned he was looking for a young, clever Disciple with good aptitude to be his Successor.

And Weii Fei...

He didn’t seem to fit the description of ’young’ or ’high-aptitude’ at all.

Among the four brothers, Weii Fei’s aptitude was a notch below his and Fu Zhizhou’s. Moreover, his potential was limited from taking too many Blood Food Pills.

Weii Fei was now fifty-four, yet his Cultivation was still stuck at the Qi Cultivation Second Layer.

Successfully forming a Spirit Body was a distant prospect for him, something that would take at least another twenty to thirty years.

"He didn’t say."

Weii Fei shook his head.

"But I have a theory..." Weii Fei mused for a moment before sharing his thoughts. "I think it has something to do with you, Third Brother. When Elder Wuk was talking to me, he sounded quite displeased with you..."

"When Elder Wuk said a few days ago that he didn’t mind you abandoning him, he must have been lying."

"Perhaps... Elder Wuk originally intended for you to be his Successor. But because of that incident, he changed his mind."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wei Tu’s confusion began to clear.

’So Weii Fei basically snatched the Inheritance that Immortal Master Wuk might have given me.’

’Weii Fei had no connection to Immortal Master Wuk, neither by blood nor by friendship, and his aptitude was average at best. Without me in the picture... Immortal Master Wuk would have been highly unlikely to pass his Inheritance to Weii Fei and make him his Successor...’

Of course, there might have been another factor at play.

Perhaps Immortal Master Wuk simply took an immediate liking to Weii Fei.

...

Now that he understood the full story, Wei Tu finally realized why Weii Fei’s first words to him had been to ask him not to be angry.

Because if Weii Fei hadn’t stepped in and revealed what happened over a decade ago, the Inheritance from Immortal Master Wuk would most likely have gone to him, his much younger friend living under the same roof.

’If Second Brother had also been chosen by Governor Liu to fight in that valley back then... this Opportunity might never have come his way.’

Thinking of this, Wei Tu couldn’t help but marvel at the mysterious workings of fate and Opportunity.

He glanced at the slightly uneasy Weii Fei, then rose, stepped forward, and clapped him on the shoulder, smiling.

"Our friendship is stronger than any Inheritance."

"Knowing my personality, even if Immortal Master Wuk had offered me the Inheritance, my conscience wouldn’t have let me accept without telling him what happened all those years ago."

’He wasn’t so selfish as to think Immortal Master Wuk’s Inheritance was his for the taking.’

’Who to give the Inheritance to was Immortal Master Wuk’s decision alone.’

"As long as you’re not angry, Third Brother. Once I receive this Inheritance, I’ll share it with you."

Seeing that Wei Tu didn’t seem to mind, Weii Fei felt a wave of relief and immediately made his position clear.

"I already have my own Cultivation Technique and a clear path forward. Immortal Master Wuk’s Inheritance would be of no use to me."

Wei Tu shook his head, refusing Weii Fei’s offer.

A man must live with integrity.

Since Immortal Master Wuk had explicitly said he didn’t want Weii Fei to share the Inheritance with him, pressuring Weii Fei would just put him in an impossible position.

It would be asking Weii Fei to commit the act of Betraying Master.

Besides, he was telling the truth.

His own path was now clear. As long as he followed it step by step, he could see a clear path to Foundation Establishment.

Immortal Master Wuk’s Inheritance only covered the Late-Stage Qi Cultivation; it didn’t extend to the Foundation Establishment Realm. It was of no use to him.

Even when he first befriended Immortal Master Wuk, he had never coveted the man’s wealth. All he’d wanted was to learn from the elder’s experiences in the Cultivation Realm.

"In that case, I’ll just tell Elder Wuk I don’t want his Inheritance."

Weii Fei said, his jaw set.

He was, of course, thrilled at the prospect of receiving an Inheritance for nothing, but it wasn’t worth it if it ruined his friendship with Wei Tu.

He didn’t believe a Late-Stage Qi Cultivation Inheritance would be enough to help him reach the Foundation Establishment Realm anyway.

After all, Immortal Master Wuk himself was stuck at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer; his power had its limits.

Besides, there was no significant difference in lifespan between the Early-Stage and Late-Stage of Qi Cultivation. He was managing just fine in the secular world, so there was no need to desperately fight for this Inheritance.

With that said, Weii Fei didn’t even wait for Wei Tu to try and stop him. He walked straight out the door and headed for Immortal Master Wuk’s room.

’Second Brother is truly a man of principle.’

Inside, Wei Tu heard the voices of Weii Fei and Immortal Master Wuk conversing in the hallway and sighed in admiration.

In fact, there was something he hadn’t mentioned during his conversation with Weii Fei just now.

He suspected that by offering the Inheritance to Weii Fei and deliberately saying what he did, Immortal Master Wuk was attempting to sow discord, a classic "kill two warriors with one peach" gambit.

He was intentionally trying to drive a wedge between the two brothers.

All to get revenge for that old grudge.

However, the Inheritance was still a great Opportunity, so he had kept this concern to himself.

He knew that if he’d voiced his suspicion, Weii Fei would have refused the Inheritance, even if he wanted it.

...

「Several minutes later.」

In the small courtyard on Lark Street, Immortal Master Wuk was steeping Spirit Tea. Once it was ready, he poured a cup for both Wei Tu and Weii Fei.

"This old man was in the wrong. Please don’t hold it against me, Fellow Daoist Wei."

Immortal Master Wuk said apologetically.

"For you to do this in order to select a suitable Disciple is understandable, Fellow Daoist Wuk." Wei Tu accepted the teacup, took a sip, and smiled.

Just moments ago, he had thought Weii Fei’s chance at the Inheritance was lost. He never expected it had all been a test of Weii Fei’s character, orchestrated by Immortal Master Wuk.

"Back then, you abandoned me, Fellow Daoist Wei. It would be impossible for me to say I don’t care..."

Immortal Master Wuk glanced at the prosthesis on his right arm and snorted, his face a mask of displeasure.