Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

"Better to offend an old man than to bully a poor youth. Good! Good! Good! Helian Xiong, to think you’d bully me of all people..."

Geng Wen’s anger turned to laughter.

He had always thought that phrase was just a proverb, never imagining that one day, it would apply to him.

"Should I contact the Blood Elder Demon to kill this Helian Xiong...?" Seeing Geng Wen’s anger, Chu Yinn immediately stepped forward and asked softly.

The Blood Elder Demon she spoke of was a master at Qi Cultivation Perfection, who had once famously killed three Late-Stage Qi Cultivation Cultivators at once.

However, unlike Zhuo Yan and Ying Bing,

the Blood Elder Demon and Geng Wen had a partnership.

"There’s no need."

"The priority right now is to pressure Gong Shulan and make her hand over the Gong Family’s Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object..."

Geng Wen waved his hand dismissively.

The price to hire the Blood Elder Demon was steep.

It wasn’t worth it for such a personal grudge.

"Ever since that Alchemist Wang died, she’s been in a difficult position. One more push... and she’ll offer up the Gong Family’s Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object."

"With this Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object, I can pool resources with others to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill."

"Then, once I reach Foundation Establishment, it won’t be too late to take my revenge."

Geng Wen said slowly.

He was already starting to imagine himself standing before Helian Xiong after achieving Foundation Establishment.

Achieving Foundation Establishment granted two hundred years of longevity.

At that time, he would be rejuvenated, regaining the appearance and vitality of his youth.

By then, it would be hard to say who was the old man and who was the youth.

...

Helian Xiong was not one for subtlety.

After leaving Geng Wen’s Cave Mansion, he went straight to Lark Street and told Wei Tu how he had pressured Geng Wen.

"I... thank you for your help this time, Fellow Daoist Helian..."

"If you ever need Talismans in the future, Fellow Daoist Helian, please feel free to come find me..."

Wei Tu said, somewhat at a loss for words.

Although Fu Zhizhou had told him in advance that Helian Xiong would protect him, and he was somewhat prepared, he was still caught off guard by Helian Xiong going directly to Geng Wen’s door to pressure him.

At this moment, he even began to suspect the worst—’Was Helian Xiong secretly behind Fu Zhizhou killing Ying Bing, all just to make me owe him a huge favor?’

’If Ying Bing hadn’t stirred up trouble, Geng Wen might not have noticed me again.’

Thinking of this, Wei Tu lowered his head, planning to add the name "Helian Xiong" to his book after he left, as a reminder to always be wary of him.

’I can tell Helian Xiong isn’t a reckless person, so this action of his must have been carefully considered.’

’If it was carefully considered, yet he didn’t discuss it with me, then that’s suspicious.’

’He’s probably after something else from me, and it’s likely no small thing.’

"Since you’ve said that, Fellow Daoist Wei, I’ll be blunt." Helian Xiong chuckled. "I noticed your Rock Shield Talismans are a bit stronger than those of ordinary Talisman Masters... I was wondering if you have any High-Quality Rock Shield Talismans on hand..."

"Other High-Quality Talismans would be fine too."

"I’d like to buy a few."

"High-Quality Rock Shield Talismans?" Wei Tu frowned. "I do have two, but I’ve always kept them... for saving my life..."

"But if it’s for you, Brother Helian..."

Wei Tu paused in thought, then said, "I suppose I could part with them for you."

"I’ll buy them at market price." Helian Xiong raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself, ’As expected.’

"The usual thirty percent discount is fine."

Wei Tu smiled, took two High-Quality Rock Shield Talismans from his sleeve, and placed them on the table.

Over the past seven years, his progress with the Rock Shield Talisman on the Golden Purple Destiny Chart had already reached Great Success. In a few more years, he would reach Perfection.

Therefore, while he didn’t have many High-Quality Rock Shield Talismans on hand, he still had about a handful.

This was the first time he had revealed the extent of his Talisman Dao skills to an outsider.

"You’re very generous, Fellow Daoist Wei!" Hearing this, Helian Xiong took a brocade box from his robes and placed it on the table as well.

Inside the brocade box were four translucent, light-green jade-like stones.

"Middle-Grade Spirit Stones?"

Wei Tu was surprised.

One Middle-Grade Spirit Stone could be exchanged for at least ten Lower-Grade Spirit Stones.

A High-Quality Rock Shield Talisman was as effective as a Tier One Middle-Grade Talisman, and the price was similar.

The price was around twenty Lower-Grade Spirit Stones.

In other words, selling these two High-Quality Rock Shield Talismans to Helian Xiong at a thirty percent discount would net him thirty Spirit Stones at most.

Helian Xiong had overpaid him.

"Just put the remaining Spirit Stones on my tab, Fellow Daoist Wei. When I buy Talismans from you in the future... you can just deduct it then."

Helian Xiong said generously, waving his hand.

Hearing this, some of Wei Tu’s wariness toward Helian Xiong faded.

’Even if Helian Xiong has designs on me, that’s a problem for the future. I just need to stay vigilant.’

’For now, at least, we’re getting along well, and I don’t feel uncomfortable around him.’

...

「Two days later.」

Helian Xiong moved into Lark Street.

Wei Tu welcomed him, hosting a meal for Helian Xiong and Fu Zhizhou at Jingyun Inn to celebrate his new home.

Life returned to its peaceful rhythm once more.

「Six months later.」

Wei Tu and Tong Peipei walked out of their rooms at the same time and met in the courtyard.

Tong Peipei initiated the conversation. "Fellow Daoist Wei, I heard you’re acquainted with people from the Qiyue Zhao Family... I was wondering if you could make an introduction so I could do some business with them too?"

Wei Tu paused, surprised. He thought, ’So Tong Peipei wants to follow in Alchemist Wang’s footsteps and get seriously injured by a flick of Zhao Qingluo’s sleeve.’

So, he kindly reminded Tong Peipei, "The Qiyue Zhao Family only buys Tier One Talismans."

As soon as he finished speaking, Tong Peipei’s face flushed with indignation. "Don’t you look down on me, Fellow Daoist Wei! My Talisman Dao might not be as good as yours, but I became a Tier One Talisman Master two years ago."

Wei Tu honestly didn’t know that.

After all, he rarely interacted with Tong Peipei; they were merely nodding acquaintances.

"Alright then. I’ll give you a shout when the people from the Qiyue Zhao Family arrive."

Wei Tu agreed.

’The Qiyue Zhao Family buys Talismans in huge quantities. The few Tier One Talismans Tong Peipei has won’t be enough to affect my business.’

Seeing Wei Tu agree, Tong Peipei’s face lit up with joy. She said, "In a few more months, news that the Feng Dynasty and the Zheng Country Court are going to war will probably reach Danqiu Mountain. You should prepare early, Fellow Daoist Wei, and stock up on Talismans to sell."

"What?"

"Those two mortal powers are going to war?"

Wei Tu was taken aback.

As far as he knew, these two mortal powers had been in a standoff for nearly twenty years without any major wars breaking out.

"I heard from other Fellow Daoists that the Zheng Country Court has been mobilizing grain from all over for the past few months..."

"As the saying goes, ’an army marches on its stomach.’"

"A war between the two countries is practically a done deal."

Tong Peipei said smugly.

"You have great foresight, Fellow Daoist Tong." Wei Tu complimented her upon hearing this.

Seeing a single leaf and knowing autumn’s approach. From a small glimpse, one could see the bigger picture.

The Zheng Country Court was gathering supplies; there was almost no other possibility besides preparing for war with the Feng Dynasty.

And with a war between the two powers, it was now predictable that the Qiyue Zhao Family would come to Danqiu Mountain to purchase Talismans in bulk.

"I just don’t understand why the Qiyue Zhao Family has changed its battle plans."

Back in his room, Wei Tu frowned.

’Logically, the two great Cultivation Families should have settled their own conflict first before deciding the fate of the mortal world.’

’After all, with the duel between the two Cultivation Families still undecided, the successes and failures of mortals were hardly worth mentioning.’

’Perhaps there are other factors at play that I’m not aware of.’

He shook his head and decided not to dwell on it.

’Sometimes, things that seem unreasonable aren’t unreasonable at all; it’s just that I haven’t reached a level where I can understand them.’

...

Tong Peipei was right.

「Three months later.」

Wei Tu once again saw Zhao Qingluo, dressed in a white gown, step into the small courtyard on Lark Street.

"A High-Quality Rock Shield Talisman?" After seeing the High-Quality Talisman Wei Tu showed her, Zhao Qingluo’s delicate brows rose slightly, and her gaze toward him held a newfound hint of admiration.

A Cultivator who could draw a Tier One Lower-Grade High-Quality Talisman at Wei Tu’s age could already be called a genius of the Talisman Dao.

"What layer of Qi Cultivation are you at now?"

After a moment of thought, Zhao Qingluo glanced at Wei Tu and asked.

To see through another Cultivator’s Realm, one had to be at least a full Great Realm higher.

With her current Guardian Map Divine Sense, she could only vaguely sense that Wei Tu’s Cultivation was in the Middle-Stage Qi Cultivation.

’Why is she asking about my cultivation?’

Wei Tu was confused, but he answered truthfully about his cultivation.

"Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer?"

"Why is your Cultivation so low? The Spirit Stones I gave you last time should have been enough to raise you by several Small Realms, at the very least!"

Zhao Qingluo was utterly astonished, speaking bluntly without any filter.

She remembered that Wei Tu had been at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer several years ago.