Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

How could several years have passed,

yet Wei Tu’s Cultivation hadn’t increased at all?

"I have spent the last few years switching my Cultivation Technique and focusing on my research into the Talisman Dao... which has delayed my Cultivation..."

Wei Tu explained helplessly.

Most people who practice the Little Spring and Autumn Technique can successfully switch Cultivation Techniques in three or four years.

However, under the influence of his ’Late Bloomer’ Destiny Chart, his Geomagnetic Wood Spirit Seed was undergoing a new transformation, which was what had slowed his Cultivation speed.

He speculated that once he successfully converted to the Geomagnetic Spirit Body, his aptitude would be no less than that of someone with a Middle-Grade Spirit Root.

Therefore, for the sake of his future Cultivation, Wei Tu was willing to delay his progress by fifteen years to build a solid foundation.

Being fast for a moment didn’t mean you’d be fast forever.

The true key was to accumulate deeply and release that power later.

"What a pity." Zhao Qingluo sighed after hearing Wei Tu’s explanation. "With your attainments in the Talisman Dao, you would have been qualified to join the Qiyue Zhao Family as a son-in-law..."

"But your Cultivation is too low."

Her expression was calm, her gaze toward Wei Tu tinged with indifference, as if to say he had just missed out on a Great Opportunity.

’Sacrificing Cultivation time for an improvement in Talisman Skill... In her eyes, that’s not the mark of a true Talisman Dao genius. There’s no longer any need to recruit him.’

As her words fell,

Wei Tu was stunned into silence.

It turned out that Zhao Qingluo had asked about his Cultivation because she was considering recruiting him as a son-in-law for the Qiyue Zhao Family.

’This Zhao Qingluo is far too arrogant and conceited,’

he grumbled to himself.

For an Independent Cultivator, joining a Cultivation Family like the Qiyue Zhao Family as a son-in-law was indeed an opportunity to ascend to the heavens in a single step. But this didn’t apply to a Talisman Master like him, who had a valuable skill and a considerable reputation.

Wei Tu wondered if it was because he had acted so deferentially in her presence, knowing her temperament, that Zhao Qingluo had mistakenly thought he wanted to latch onto the Qiyue Zhao Family, prompting her to speak in such a manner.

Fortunately, after saying her piece, Zhao Qingluo returned to the main topic and began their Talisman transaction, saving Wei Tu from further embarrassment.

After the transaction was complete,

Wei Tu introduced Zhao Qingluo to Tong Peipei, the Tier One Talisman Master.

"A different person?" Zhao Qingluo was slightly surprised. Her memory was still of Alchemist Wang, who had come to sell her Basic Elixirs four years ago.

Hearing this,

Wei Tu’s heart stirred.

He pondered for a moment before telling Zhao Qingluo about how Alchemist Wang had died after leaving Lark Street.

"Princess Qingluo."

"I believe someone wanted to frame you for Alchemist Wang’s death,"

he said, cupping his hands.

Times had changed.

Things were not as they once were.

Back then, in front of Liu Yun, he hadn’t mentioned that Alchemist Wang had been severely beaten by Zhao Qingluo, nor did he send a message to inform her afterward.

There was only one reason.

A person of low status has no influence.

Rashly getting involved in this trouble would not only bring him no benefit but could also lead to his own death.

But things were different now.

First, he had Helian Xiong, a Late-Stage Qi Cultivation Assassin, backing him up and resisting the pressure from Geng Wen.

He was not afraid of Geng Wen.

Second, he was now just one step away from becoming a Tier One Middle-Grade Talisman Master, and his status had changed.

Otherwise, Zhao Qingluo would never have even considered recruiting him.

Third, since Zhao Qingluo happened to ask about it today, it was reasonable for him to take the opportunity to speak up without being suspected of deliberately trying to drag the Qiyue Zhao Family into the mess.

’After all, Geng Wen was already his public enemy. If I have a chance to step on him, of course I’ll take it.’

"I punished that Wang fellow one moment, and he died the next. I don’t need you to tell me what’s going on; I can see it for myself."

Zhao Qingluo snorted coldly.

"From the look of you, you must know who’s behind this scheme to frame me..."

"No need to be discreet. Just say it." Zhao Qingluo glanced at Wei Tu, her voice deep.

"Geng Wen."

Wei Tu said, his expression grave.

"That old man with no hope of reaching Foundation Establishment?" Zhao Qingluo was slightly surprised as memories of Geng Wen surfaced in her mind.

The last time she came to Danqiu Mountain, she had purchased a batch of Elixirs, Magical Artifacts, and Talismans.

Among the Pill Masters she bought Elixirs from, Geng Wen had been one of them.

Therefore, she was not unfamiliar with him.

"I understand."

Zhao Qingluo’s eyes turned icy as she gave a slight nod.

Although she wouldn’t blindly trust Wei Tu’s one-sided account, she also didn’t think he would lie to her about this matter.

...

After Zhao Qingluo left,

Tong Peipei looked worried and reminded him, "Fellow Daoist Wei, Geng Wen is, after all... a Tier One Middle-Grade Alchemist. His status is not insignificant..."

They had lived under the same roof for four years, and Wei Tu had even introduced her to Zhao Qingluo...

In her heart, although she didn’t consider Wei Tu a close friend, she did see him as someone worth knowing.

Therefore, sensing the danger, she couldn’t help but give Wei Tu a warning.

"Fellow Daoist Tong, you may not know... but the relationship between Geng Wen and me has long been like fire and water."

Wei Tu chose his words carefully, explaining to Tong Peipei his interactions with Geng Wen and the origin of their enmity.

"Why didn’t you say so earlier?"

Tong Peipei said resentfully.

Back when she had chosen the small courtyard on Lark Street, besides its cost-effectiveness, she had also been drawn to Wei Tu’s disposition for not making enemies.

She never imagined that Wei Tu had already provoked Geng Wen even before she moved in.

Wei Tu didn’t refute this, nor did he bother to explain that it was because Helian Xiong had "taken matters into his own hands" that his feud with Geng Wen had become public.

After all, four years ago, his relationship with Tong Peipei was not nearly this amicable.

There had been no need to inform her beforehand.

"I wonder, Fellow Daoist Tong, do you have any higher-grade Earth or Wood Attribute Talismans?" Wei Tu changed the subject.

He now had the ability to break through to become a Tier One Middle-Grade Talisman Master, and he was unwilling to remain at the level of a Tier One Lower-Grade Talisman Master.

"I do have some, but..."

Hearing this, the resentful look on Tong Peipei’s face vanished. She looked with a grin at the Spirit Stone Bag Wei Tu was holding.

Just now, she had witnessed the entire transaction between Wei Tu and Zhao Qingluo.

That Spirit Stone Bag contained over one hundred Spirit Stones that Zhao Qingluo had given to Wei Tu.

"If the Talisman Master Inheritance you have is good, Fellow Daoist Tong, I certainly won’t let you get the short end of the deal."

Wei Tu said in a deep voice.

Before long,

the two had finished their negotiations.

Tong Peipei sold Wei Tu one Wood Attribute Tier One Upper-Grade Talisman Making Technique and three Earth and Wood Attribute Tier One Middle-Grade Talisman Making Techniques for a total price of eighty-nine Spirit Stones.

This time, Tong Peipei didn’t play any tricks. Among the Tier One Middle-Grade Talisman techniques she sold to Wei Tu, there was one for an Auxiliary Talisman, not just attack and Defensive Talismans.

...

After the transaction, Wei Tu went to the gatehouse and retrieved a few letters.

Around this time every year, Wei Yan and Wei Xiuwen would send him letters from home.

As usual,

Wei Tu opened Wei Yan’s letter first.

A smile gradually spread across his face as he finished reading.

’Six years to successfully draw the Basic Talisman, the Water Talisman... Yann’er’s talent for the Talisman Dao might not be the best, but it’s not bad either.’

’Once she becomes a Tier One Talisman Master, she’ll have a hope of one day glimpsing the Foundation Establishment Realm.’

Wei Tu felt greatly relieved.

In his opinion, although Wei Yan’s talent for the Talisman Dao was not as good as his own, with his ’Late Bloomer’ Destiny Chart, it wasn’t much worse than Tong Peipei’s.

And as for Tong Peipei, as long as she progressed step-by-step, it wouldn’t be difficult for her to reach the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer before she reached the age of 120.

If her luck was good and she obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill, she could succeed in her breakthrough and become a Foundation Establishment Master.

’I wonder... what Xiuwen’s letter... is about this time...’

Putting away Wei Yan’s letter, Wei Tu glanced at Wei Xiuwen’s, a worried expression on his face.

Wei Xiuwen only had a Metal Spirit Root. In terms of aptitude, he was slightly better than Wei Yan with her Water and Wood Spirit Root.

Unfortunately, Wei Xiuwen had a tendency to fool around.

According to Wei Yan, after entering the Bai Shihu Marketplace, she often saw Wei Xiuwen hanging around with a group of low-level Cultivators and flirting with the Female Cultivators on the street.

Wei Tu had written to Wei Xiuwen to admonish him about this, but unfortunately, Wei Xiuwen showed no signs of improvement afterward.

With a sigh, Wei Tu opened the letter.

’This kid...’

’He’s no ordinary person.’

After reading the letter, Wei Tu was amazed. His impression of Wei Xiuwen had changed dramatically.

In the letter—

Wei Xiuwen mentioned one thing: he was getting married and taking a Dao Companion.

This Dao Companion was no ordinary person, but the daughter of the Hundred Soldiers Pavilion’s Master in the Bai Shihu Marketplace—Mei Zhen.

Although Wei Tu’s memory of the Hundred Soldiers Pavilion was vague, he knew it was a time-honored Spiritual Artifact Shop in the Bai Shihu Marketplace.

Anyone who could open a shop in the Marketplace either had considerable strength or an extraordinary background.

Take him, for example. Even as a Tier One Talisman Master, he didn’t have the means to open a "Talisman Shop."

The business he had taken on over the years had all been private jobs.

’Could it be... that this kid was deliberately hanging around with those people and gathering information just to get close to the daughter of the Hundred Soldiers Pavilion’s Master...’

Wei Tu mused silently.

The child is father to the man.

Wei Xiuwen was already in his twenties when he entered the Cultivation Realm. He didn’t believe his son’s personality could change so drastically in just a few short years.

There was only one answer.

Wei Xiuwen had acted this way deliberately to seize an "Opportunity" to turn his life around.

At this, Wei Tu recalled Wei Xiuwen’s judgment of Li Xingye from a past letter.

Wei Xiuwen believed that Li Xingye’s mistake was not in becoming an advisor to the Rebel King, but in not knowing how to act with meticulous care...

At the time, he had thought Wei Xiuwen might become a second Li Xingye, but now, his opinion of his son had changed.

’The son is not always like the father.’

Wei Tu thought with a sigh.

He preferred to do things steadily and step-by-step. That way, even if he couldn’t climb very high, he wouldn’t fall too hard.

But people like Wei Xiuwen and Li Xingye were different. They liked to take risks, betting a little to win a lot, and turn their fate around.

You couldn’t say one of these two paths was right and the other wrong.

They were both inextricably linked to timing and destiny.

If he didn’t have the "Late Bloomer" Destiny Chart, with his aptitude, he would never have reached Foundation Establishment even if he walked this path until his death. He would have just become another pile of bleached bones on the Immortal Path.

Thinking of this, Wei Tu wrote a reply to Wei Xiuwen. In it, he wrote only a single sentence: "Treating your actions like a gamble may work once, but not twice."

’I hope Xiuwen can understand this principle.’

Wei Tu shook his head.

After finishing the letter, Wei Tu placed the two letters from his children into a letter box, storing them carefully.

The Cultivation Realm was different from the mortal world.

Disaster could strike at any moment.

In the future, should his children fall on their path of cultivation, the letters in this box would serve as a memory for him.