Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

Only now did he have the leisure to carefully examine the contents of the seven Jade Scrolls.

’These four Jade Scrolls are a Tier One Upper Grade Pill Master inheritance...’

’It must have been given to Geng Wen by Alchemist Shu, that Tier Two Alchemist.’

Wei Tu picked out the four identical, light-yellow Jade Scrolls and set them aside.

Then, his gaze fell upon the other three Jade Scrolls, each of a different design.

’One is a collection of self-developed pill formulas, including the Aphrodisiac Powder, and another is the pill formula for the Purple Kite Pill...’

Of the three Jade Scrolls, Wei Tu had already investigated two of them back in the valley.

After a moment of thought, he picked up the last one—a peculiar black Jade Scroll.

’The *Thousand-Faced Illusion Technique*?’

Wei Tu’s eyes narrowed as he saw the first line of golden characters on the Jade Scroll.

He hadn’t expected this black Jade Scroll to be a Cultivation Technique Jade Scroll.

After reading through the entire technique, its effects immediately brought to Wei Tu’s mind the time over a decade ago when Chu Yinn had disguised herself as "Yuchi Yu" and hidden in the small courtyard on Lark Street.

At the time, he had been astonished, wondering how someone’s disguise could be so exquisite, showing almost no trace of "face changing."

However, after seeing this cultivation technique, all his doubts vanished completely.

The *Thousand-Faced Illusion Technique*, an exotic technique in the Cultivation Realm, allowed one to change their appearance and physique, transforming into another person, just by reaching the second level.

Its only flaw was the difficulty in altering one’s own aura.

One could only do their best to mask it.

’Even so, this technique is still quite an exotic one.’

Wei Tu put away the black Jade Scroll, planning to cultivate this technique concurrently after some time.

His cultivation of the *Celestial Fragrance Luo Technique* had resulted in a "Xiangluo Nose" that already surpassed the technique’s original limits.

Perhaps, if he cultivated this new technique to perfection, it too would develop some miraculous effects, just like his Xiangluo Nose.

’Unlike Geng Wen’s, the Blood Elder Demon’s Storage Bag is completely intact.’

’This Elder Demon was hunted for so many years; his wealth must be substantial.’

Wei Tu picked up the Blood Elder Demon’s Storage Bag and began to use his divine sense to grind away the Divine Sense Mark left upon it.

Compared to the Divine Sense Mark on Zhao Qingluo’s Storage Bag, the one on the Blood Elder Demon’s was far more powerful.

It was extremely resilient.

It took Wei Tu a full two days or so to finally wear down the Divine Sense Mark on the Storage Bag.

He plunged his divine sense inside.

A few breaths later, the corner of Wei Tu’s mouth twitched slightly. ’This Blood Elder Demon... is a bit poor.’

It was a far cry from the bountiful harvest he had imagined.

Inside the Blood Elder Demon’s two-cubic-meter Storage Bag, Spirit Stones were extremely scarce. There were just over one hundred and forty stones, only slightly more than what Geng Wen had.

Over a hundred Spirit Stones wasn’t a small amount, but for a powerful Demon Cultivator like the Blood Elder Demon, it was absurdly low.

But on second thought, Wei Tu immediately felt a sense of understanding.

The two Spirit Beasts the Blood Elder Demon had raised were both Tier One Upper Grade, equivalent to two Late-Stage Qi Cultivation cultivators.

Spirit Beasts were notorious for being money pits.

For the Blood Elder Demon to still have over a hundred Spirit Stones left in his Storage Bag was a sign of good household management.

’If he were truly wealthy, who would bother being a Tribulation Cultivator?’ Wei Tu thought to himself.

Tribulation Cultivators, much like Assassins, would convert any Spirit Stones they had into personal strength as quickly as possible. They wouldn’t leave so many Spirit Stones lying around for others to pick up after killing them.

However, it wasn’t the Spirit Stones in the Blood Elder Demon’s Storage Bag that Wei Tu valued most.

Treasures like Magical Artifacts, Jade Scrolls, and Spiritual Materials were worth far more than Spirit Stones.

His gaze shifted, landing on a pile of the Blood Elder Demon’s Jade Scrolls, Pill Bottles, and several blood-stained bundles.

「Half a day later.」

Wei Tu finished identifying and organizing all the miscellaneous items besides the Spirit Stones.

Regarding the Jade Scrolls, although the Blood Elder Demon had many, their quality was far inferior to Geng Wen’s. Most of them contained Qi Refining Realm cultivation techniques from around the Cultivation Realm, such as the *Golden Yuan Spell* and the *Fire Marrow Skill*.

There were two Blood-Colored Jade Scrolls of a decent level, but they were useless to Wei Tu, as they contained the Blood Elder Demon’s Demonic Cultivation Methods.

As for Magical Artifacts, Wei Tu found a pleasant surprise.

Besides the Blood-Colored Scythe, an Upper-Grade Magical Artifact used by the Blood Elder Demon, he also found a Heavy Water Pearl that integrated both offense and defense, and a Purple Iron Shield used for protection.

Both of these Magical Artifacts were Middle-Grade Level.

’As for materials...’

Wei Tu carefully opened a jade box. His eyes, tinged with excitement, fell upon a three-foot-long Vermilion Red Ginseng inside.

’A Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object—a Pill Essence Ginseng!’

Wei Tu muttered to himself.

He never imagined that the Blood Elder Demon had a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object hidden on him.

Although this Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object was one of the lower-end ingredients among the thirteen Spiritual Materials required for refining a Foundation Establishment Pill, its value was still undeniable.

It was worth at least two to three thousand Spirit Stones.

’Originally, I was worried that using a Foundation Establishment Pill to achieve Foundation Establishment would attract too much attention, since I have no known channel to acquire one...’

’But now, with this Pill Essence Ginseng, plus the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object that Kou Hongying will give me in the future... I’ll be able to trade for a Foundation Establishment Pill in the Marketplace.’

’The story will check out!’

’By then, with two Foundation Establishment Pills in hand, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm will be a certainty.’

Wei Tu was overjoyed.

Although he currently possessed the Geomagnetic Spirit Body, which was equivalent to a Middle-Grade Spirit Root, this only manifested in his daily cultivation.

If he were to attempt Foundation Establishment within a hundred years...

...at the time of the breakthrough, he would likely still have a Lower-Grade Spirit Root.

—The Late Bloomer Destiny Chart was very slow at improving one’s Spirit Root.

The chance of a Lower-Grade Spirit Root achieving Foundation Establishment, even with the help of a Foundation Establishment Pill, was less than fifty percent.

Half a chance.

But with two Foundation Establishment Pills, it would be a different story.

The odds of success would be at least seventy percent.

...

After organizing his gains, Wei Tu hid all the "loot" in the Storage Bag he’d gotten from the Blood Elder Demon, then tucked it away securely on his person.

Next, he left the small courtyard on Lark Street to go and gather information.

—More than four days had passed since Zhao Qingluo’s escape.

Walking down the street, Wei Tu initially planned to investigate the area around Geng Wen’s Cave Mansion, but he was worried about running into Zhao Qingluo and arousing her suspicion.

So, with a change of plans, he made his way to Hu Yao’s residence in the shantytown.

"Fellow Daoist Wei, you haven’t visited my humble place in over ten years. What’s the occasion? Feeling a sudden whim today?"

In the main hall, Hu Yao looked at the rather reserved Wei Tu and spoke with a teasing smile.

"It’s nothing in particular." Wei Tu shook his head, not directly asking Hu Yao for recent information about Geng Wen.

The two of them made small talk for a moment.

After Hu Yao had poured him a cup of tea,

Wei Tu finally asked, "Fellow Daoist Hu, I heard from the late Fellow Daoist Wang that Gong Shulan has a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object?"

He planned to use the matter of Gong Shulan to steer the conversation toward Geng Wen.

This way, asking about Geng Wen’s subsequent movements would seem much more reasonable and less likely to arouse suspicion.

"Oh?"

"Is Fellow Daoist Wei also thinking of scheming for this Foundation Establishment Opportunity?"

Hu Yao sat down, placing the teapot on the small table. She lowered her head for a moment, and when she looked up again, her expression was a strange, unreadable mix of a smile and something else.

Seeing Hu Yao’s expression,

Wei Tu grew puzzled. ’Why did Hu Yao’s demeanor change so drastically, as if she became a different person, the moment Gong Shulan was mentioned?’

He felt a certain coldness directed at him.

’Could it be a rivalry?’ After a moment’s thought, Wei Tu came up with a plausible answer.

Hadn’t Alchemist Wang abandoned his old flame, Hu Yao, for his new love, Gong Shulan?

"Er... I’m just asking around..." Wei Tu explained casually, then steered the topic toward Geng Wen. "I heard Geng Wen has been plotting to get the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object from Gong Shulan. If he succeeds... I’m afraid my own death won’t be far off..."

—Hu Yao had long known about the enmity between him and Geng Wen.

The last time Zhao Qingluo had caused a scene at Geng Wen’s Cave Mansion, it was Hu Yao who had relayed the news to him through Tong Peipei.

"I see." Hearing Wei Tu’s explanation, Hu Yao’s expression softened considerably.

Then, Hu Yao shared the information Wei Tu was most concerned about.

"Fellow Daoist Wei, you no longer need to worry about Geng Wen seeking revenge on you."

"Two days ago, Geng Wen’s Cave Mansion was razed to the ground by a Foundation Establishment Master from the Qiyue Zhao Family. Even Geng Wen’s master, Alchemist Shu, was punished by the Qiyue Zhao Family..."

Hu Yao said slowly.

"Why did that happen?" Wei Tu asked, feigning surprise.