Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

"Rise!" Wei Tu pointed a finger. The Geomagnetic Primordial Light in his hand suddenly shot out, lunging toward the Talismans on the desk.

Guided by his thoughts, the Earth Spike Talismans sped toward him.

Then, Wei Tu manipulated the Geomagnetic Primordial Light in his hand, testing its other capabilities a few more times.

"Amazing!"

’A divine sense during the Qi Cultivation Stage can extend ten feet at most, while my Geomagnetic Primordial Light can reach a full thirty feet. What’s more, controlling objects with it is much easier than with my Guardian Map Divine Sense.’

Wei Tu took out a brush and paper and listed out the abilities of the Geomagnetic Primordial Light that he had just tested.

’It’s just a shame.’

’There’s still too little of this Geomagnetic Primordial Light. It can only lift about three pounds at most. Any more than that, and it fails.’

Wei Tu sighed.

He had been hoping to use the Geomagnetic Primordial Light to achieve sustained flight during the Qi Cultivation Stage.

That way, no matter how powerful a Cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer was, they would never be able to catch or even touch him.

’But I shouldn’t be discouraged.’

’This small amount of Geomagnetic Primordial Light is just the beginning. Once the Spirit Seed’s transformation is complete, I might just be able to achieve Flying in the Sky.’

Wei Tu observed the Geomagnetic Wood Spirit Seed with his Guardian Map Divine Sense and discovered that it generated a bit of Geomagnetic Primordial Light every hour.

Although the amount was minuscule, only the size of a sesame seed, it would accumulate into a considerable quantity over time.

...

After noticing the Spirit Seed’s transformation, the gloom and frustration Wei Tu felt from Geng Wen’s schemes completely vanished.

He settled into a peaceful life in his small courtyard on Lark Street, spending his days on Talisman Painting and meditative Cultivation.

Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, another three years had passed.

That year, the Qiyue Zhao Family arrived at the Lark Street courtyard to fulfill their agreement, purchasing the Talismans Wei Tu had painted over the last three years.

However, the Zhao Family Cultivator who came this time was not Zhao Qingluo, but an Imperial Race prince named Zhao Quan.

After collecting the Talismans, Zhao Quan did not place a new order with Wei Tu.

Wei Tu suspected that the war between the two major Cultivation Families was likely coming to an end.

’Or... the Qiyue Zhao Family has found a new Talisman Master and doesn’t need me anymore.’

...

After deducting the cost of Talisman Paper and Spirit Ink, Wei Tu made a net profit of one hundred and seventeen Spirit Stones from his deal with the Qiyue Zhao Family.

However, Wei Tu quickly spent all of these Spirit Stones.

He spent one hundred and sixty-three Spirit Stones at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion for a Tier One Middle-Grade Talisman Pen.

Wei Tu understood the principle: to do a good job, one must first sharpen their tools.

A Tier One Middle-Grade Talisman Pen would last him all the way through the Qi Cultivation Stage.

It was a far better value than buying a Tier One Lower-Grade Talisman Pen now.

「Two months later.」

Fu Zhizhou paid him a visit.

However, unlike his usual visits, this time Fu Zhizhou was carrying something.

It was a bundle the size of a human head, dripping blood from the bottom—a truly ghastly sight.

"Third Brother, I’ve gotten your revenge for you. This is that bastard Ying Bing’s head."

Fu Zhizhou sat on a stone stool in the courtyard, opened the bundle right in front of Wei Tu, and revealed the head inside.

"The bastard finally couldn’t take it anymore and left Danqiu Mountain a few days ago. I seized the opportunity..."

A cold sneer spread across Fu Zhizhou’s face.

The incident had been weighing on his mind for a long time.

After all, the attack by the Tribulation Cultivators had happened because he had carelessly flashed his wealth. If Wei Tu hadn’t been so incredibly lucky to survive, he would have been responsible for his death.

"Ying Bing is dead?"

Although seeing Ying Bing’s severed head made Wei Tu happy, he couldn’t help a surge of anxiety.

’With Ying Bing dead, Geng Wen is sure to take notice.’

"We need to be extra careful from now on, brother. We can’t give him any openings..."

he advised.

"Don’t worry, Third Brother." Fu Zhizhou waved his hand with a laugh. "Brother Helian broke through to the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer a few days ago. With his strength, he’s more than capable of protecting us."

"Geng Wen? He’s just a Pill Master. How could his combat prowess possibly compare to us Assassins?"

At this point, Fu Zhizhou also revealed his own cultivation level.

"The sixth layer of Qi Cultivation?"

Wei Tu was a little surprised. He hadn’t expected Fu Zhizhou to break through two more Small Realms in just seven years.

He was now a whole Realm ahead of him again.

"It’s all thanks to your Talismans, Third Brother. Without them for protection, how could Brother Helian and I have dared to venture deep into the Yaolang Mountain Range..."

Fu Zhizhou explained.

Hearing this, Wei Tu nodded.

He had sold the Talismans to Fu Zhizhou at near-cost price, and the ones he sold to Helian Xiong were also thirty percent below market rate.

With the help of his Talismans, the two of them had naturally grown bolder, daring to hunt in the Yaolang Mountain Range to make a fortune.

Considering this, it would have been more suspicious if their Cultivation hadn’t progressed so quickly.

"Set your mind at ease, Third Brother."

"In a few days, Brother Helian is going to move to Lark Street to live near you, Third Brother."

"Once Geng Wen sees Brother Helian is around, he won’t dare to make a move on you."

Fu Zhizhou added.

"Helian Xiong is moving here?" Wei Tu raised an eyebrow, catching the key piece of information.

’I have plenty of Defensive Talismans sewn into the lining of my robes. Even if Geng Wen came in person, he wouldn’t necessarily be able to harm me.’

Therefore, while he was grateful for Helian Xiong’s gesture, he wasn’t particularly concerned about it deep down.

’It’s better to rely on yourself than on others.’

"You know how it is, Third Brother. Brother Helian is away all year, so renting an expensive Cave Mansion isn’t very economical for him..."

"...but the Spiritual Qi in the Shantytown is insufficient."

"After thinking it over, Lark Street seems like the best fit."

Fu Zhizhou said.

"As long as you think it’s suitable," Wei Tu said, shaking his head slightly and adding a reminder.

The Lark Street courtyard already housed him and Tong Peipei. With one more person, it wouldn’t be as good of a value.

He and Helian Xiong were merely acquaintances. The only reason he’d sold Talismans to him was because Fu Zhizhou had acted as a middleman to arrange the deal.

Now that Helian Xiong was coming to Lark Street, Wei Tu considered it for a moment and came to a conclusion—Helian Xiong must want to bypass Fu Zhizhou and trade for Talismans directly with him.

"I trust Brother Helian’s character."

Having known each other for years, Fu Zhizhou immediately understood the hidden meaning in Wei Tu’s words. He just smiled and offered that reply.

...

「Meanwhile.」

Deep within the Danqiu Mountain Marketplace, inside an exquisitely built Cave Mansion.

"What?"

"Ying Bing is dead?"

In the Pill Room, an old man in a Feather Robe sat cross-legged on a cushion before a Pill Furnace. His brow furrowed deeply as he heard Chu Yinn’s report, finding it hard to believe.

Ying Bing was powerful. If he used the Blood Burst Pill he had refined, he could match the power of a Late-Stage Qi Cultivation Cultivator for a short time.

How could he have possibly perished so soon after leaving Danqiu Mountain?

"Is this related to Wei Tu?"

Geng Wen asked, his expression darkening as he searched his memories.

Seven years ago, he had dispatched Zhuo Yan and Ying Bing to ambush and kill Wei Tu, hoping to uncover the "Opportunity" the two of them had acquired.

He suspected this Opportunity was perhaps related to the Gong Family’s "legacy."

Gong Shulan had been reduced to living in the Shantytown, and right at that time, Fu Zhizhou had suddenly come into a sum of Spirit Stones from an unknown source and purchased an Earth Essence Pill...

Unexpectedly, however, Zhuo Yan had failed and was killed.

Later on, after Chu Yinn’s probing mission ended and Wei Tu had become a complete shut-in, he had gradually forgotten about the man, pushing the Tier One Lower-Grade Talisman Master to the back of his mind.

Only now, with Ying Bing’s death, did he remember Wei Tu as a potential enemy.

"It was Fu Zhizhou."

Chu Yinn said respectfully, taking out a Communication Talisman and handing it to Geng Wen.

On the blank Talisman Paper, a single name was strikingly written: "Fu Zhizhou."

"Fu Zhizhou?" Murderous intent flashed in Geng Wen’s eyes. He looked at Chu Yinn. "The next time Fu Zhizhou leaves Danqiu Mountain, hire someone to kill him."

"And as for Wei Tu..."

Geng Wen’s eyes were cold. "This man’s character is something else. He must have detected your probing last time and deliberately chose not to reveal it."

Just as he was speaking, a knock suddenly came from the door.

"Master, an Assassin calling himself Helian Xiong has sent you a Visit Card."

"He says he has business to discuss with you."

the maid standing outside the door said.

"Helian Xiong?" Geng Wen raised an eyebrow, a sneer playing on his lips. "Is that the Cultivator who recently broke through to the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer?"

’It seems he’s come to ask a favor of me. He wants pills.’

Filled with confidence, Geng Wen instructed the maid outside to show Helian Xiong in.

Seeing this, Chu Yinn, who stood to the side, wanted to speak up with a warning, but after a moment’s thought, she swallowed her words.