Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

"The items before were merely appetizers for the auction. These next three final treasures are the real main course..."

Louu Hong lightly tapped the jade gavel.

The Cultivators present grew solemn upon hearing this, and a sense of tension filled the air.

They knew that the previous items alone weren’t enough to attract so many Foundation Establishment Masters.

"The first final treasure... is the renowned Tier Two Elixir from the Cultivation Realm—the Youthful Appearance Pill!"

"After taking this pill, your appearance will be preserved for life. Even at the end of your Lifespan, you will show no signs of aging..."

Louu Hong’s tone grew impassioned when she said the words "Youthful Appearance Pill".

Her gaze also held a trace of envy as she looked at the Pill Bottle on the jade table.

Although the Youthful Appearance Pill had no practical use and offered no boost to one’s Cultivation, it was a priceless Treasure for any beauty-conscious Female Cultivator.

"I am determined to have this Youthful Appearance Pill. I hope my fellow Daoists... will grant me this favor..."

Halfway through the bidding, Zhao Qingluo suddenly raised her voice from her private box and said this.

As her voice fell,

the Cultivators all looked at each other in dismay.

On the auction stage, the female auctioneer, Louu Hong, even knitted her delicate brows, a flash of displeasure crossing her face.

But intimidated by the Influence of the Qiyue Zhao Family, a Golden Core Family, none of the Cultivators dared to speak out.

’Looks like this Princess Qingluo has a short memory. Has she already forgotten about that assassination attempt so quickly?’

Fu Zhizhou communicated with Wei Tu using his Guardian Map Divine Sense.

A few years ago, Kou Hongying had sent him a letter after avenging her father—that’s how he learned some of the inside details about Zhao Qingluo’s attempted assassination by Geng Wen and the Blood Elder Demon.

However,

just as Fu Zhizhou finished his thought,

Zhao Qingluo made a bid, raising the price of the Youthful Appearance Pill directly from four hundred to Seven Hundred Spirit Stones.

At this, the crowd of Cultivators was immediately silenced.

After hearing the bid, Louu Hong, who was running the auction, also relaxed her expression slightly.

Seven Hundred Spirit Stones for a Youthful Appearance Pill. Although it was a bit lower than the price she had anticipated, it was still within a reasonable range.

The Hundred Treasures Pavilion would still make a profit.

Hearing this, Wei Tu formed a new assessment of Zhao Qingluo: ’She’s reined in her arrogance a little, but not by much.’

But on second thought, Wei Tu felt it made sense.

’There’s no reason not to use your family’s prestige.’

By invoking the Qiyue Zhao Family, Zhao Qingluo could save several hundred Spirit Stones on the Youthful Appearance Pill.

A bit of ill repute was clearly not enough to fundamentally shake a Golden Core Family.

No Cultivation Power has ever been destroyed by a bad reputation alone.

Geng Wen had only taken such a desperate risk to ambush Zhao Qingluo because he was old and had no hope of reaching Foundation Establishment.

That time was just an exception.

...

A few breaths later,

Zhao Qingluo obtained the Youthful Appearance Pill as she wished.

Next,

the auctioneer Louu Hong began to auction the remaining two final treasures.

These two Treasures.

They were a Tier Two Middle Grade Fire Scale Sword and a Lifespan Extension Pill that granted ten years of Longevity.

Not many people bid on the Fire Qilin Sword.

But when it came to the Lifespan Extension Pill,

the Foundation Establishment Masters, aside from Zhao Qingluo, went wild, frantically driving up the price of the pill.

They pushed it all the way to three thousand Spirit Stones.

"Ten years of Lifespan is only enough time for a Foundation Establishment Master to enter Seclusion two or three times."

"And yet, they’re bidding so crazily for this Lifespan Extension Pill."

"It seems the Foundation Establishment Realm isn’t as carefree as I’d hoped..."

Seeing this, Fu Zhizhou was deeply shaken, his Dao heart wavering.

The long and arduous Immortal Path.

His journey had already been so difficult in the Qi Refining Realm.

And now, at the Foundation Establishment Stage—

how was he supposed to continue?

The road ahead was pitch-black.

He could barely see a sliver of light.

Before he had ever met a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, his mind was filled with fantasies about the Foundation Establishment Stage. He believed that after breaking through to Foundation Establishment, he could finally relax and enjoy a life of freedom.

But now, seeing so many Foundation Establishment Masters fighting tooth and nail over a single Lifespan Extension Pill... he had no choice but to accept the cruel reality.

After leaving the Hundred Treasures Pavilion,

Fu Zhizhou shared these worries and troubles with Wei Tu.

He wanted to hear Wei Tu’s opinion.

Among the four sworn brothers, Wei Tu was the most level-headed and the one with the best grasp of the bigger picture.

"Fourth Brother, do you still remember when the four of us stood together against Hex Prefecture in the Government Office?"

Wei Tu asked after a moment of contemplation.

"Hex Prefecture?" Fu Zhizhou’s memories were instantly pulled back more than forty years.

He remembered what Wei Tu had said—that he was just a Horse Groom, and that even becoming a low-ranking Military Officer was better than his previous life.

Back then,

he, Fu Zhizhou, had come from a family of generals. Even though he was being suppressed, his future was still limitless.

But it was different for Wei Tu and the others.

Times had changed.

Now, in the Cultivation Realm, his situation was similar to what Wei Tu and the others had faced back then...

"You’re right, Third Brother. No matter how bad it gets, it’s still better than before. I just need to keep moving forward and not worry so much."

Fu Zhizhou came to a realization. He smiled, straightened his back, and shifted the Bright Silver Long Spear on his shoulder. The confidence of the eighteen-year-old who passed the Military Examination returned to his world-weary face.

However,

just as Fu Zhizhou had walked a short distance,

the Spiritual Pressure around his body suddenly began to surge, as if a great power was building up, about to be unleashed.

Seeing this,

Fu Zhizhou immediately realized what was happening.

Ignoring the stares and the gathering crowd, he immediately sat down cross-legged on the ground, took out the Qi Removing Pill he had obtained at the auction, and swallowed it.

Nearly half an hour passed.

A Spiritual Pressure equivalent to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer rose from Fu Zhizhou’s body.

’I’ve finally broken through to this realm.’