Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

"The Xiaoyao Mountain Secret Realm?" Wei Tu was slightly surprised. He hadn’t expected Shenn Yao, the smooth-talking Steward of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, to also be a Tribulation Cultivator behind the scenes.

Within Zheng Country, besides the explorable region of the Yaolang Mountain Range, there were other smaller Secret Realms that could also be explored.

Among them, the Xiaoyao Mountain Secret Realm was a major Treasure Land, second only to the Yaolang Mountain Range.

Many Foundation Establishment Masters would venture there to explore.

If Shenn Yao had come a few days earlier, Wei Tu would have found it difficult to conclude that he was a Tribulation Cultivator.

But unfortunately, just a few days ago, Kou Hongying had sent him a letter mentioning her own fruitless expedition to Xiaoyao Mountain in search of a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object.

"I appreciate Steward Shenn’s kind intentions, but I... I am a coward and I don’t like to explore."

Wei Tu refused him outright.

At this, he paused thoughtfully and said, "Compared to a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object from Xiaoyao Mountain, I’m more optimistic about... buying one at a high price from other Cultivators on Danqiu Mountain..."

Within Danqiu Mountain, Gong Shulan wasn’t the only Independent Cultivator who possessed a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object.

"Very well." Shenn Yao’s expression stiffened. He sighed, cupped his hands in farewell, and left.

After Shenn Yao left, Wei Tu immediately went to Fu Zhizhou’s residence to warn him to be careful these days and to avoid going out as much as possible.

He was worried that Shenn Yao and the other Tribulation Cultivators would use Fu Zhizhou’s relationship with him to lure him out.

While he was there, Wei Tu also told Fu Zhizhou that he planned to attempt Foundation Establishment within the next ten years.

"I understand." Fu Zhizhou knew the gravity of the situation and immediately nodded in agreement without a hint of hesitation.

Although not leaving Danqiu Mountain for ten years would have a significant impact on his future Cultivation, how could brothers quibble over such a small matter?

Ever since he started working as an Assassin, he would have died in the Yaolang Mountain Range countless times if not for the Life-Saving Talismans Wei Tu had given him.

"Brother, even if Hongying finds a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object in the next ten years and gives it to you... a single one isn’t enough to trade for a Foundation Establishment Pill," Fu Zhizhou asked, puzzled.

It was common knowledge among Independent Cultivators that it took two Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects to trade for one Foundation Establishment Pill from one of the Three Immortal Sects.

If one only had a single Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object, the only option was to pool resources with other Cultivators and find a Tier Two Alchemist to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill.

However, the latter option was generally time-consuming and laborious; it would be difficult to gather enough Spiritual Objects to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill without spending several decades.

"I already have one Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object," Wei Tu revealed softly, taking out the jade box containing the Pill Essence Ginseng.

—While Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects were precious, they weren’t so rare that they could never be shown to others.

And Fu Zhizhou was someone he could trust.

Upon seeing the Pill Essence Ginseng, Fu Zhizhou had a sudden realization.

"Don’t worry, Brother. I’ll keep this secret and won’t tell anyone else," Fu Zhizhou vowed.

After that, Fu Zhizhou didn’t ask any more questions about the origin of the Pill Essence Ginseng.

Everyone has their own Opportunities.

Prying too deeply could turn even the closest of brothers into enemies.

...

Time flew.

In the blink of an eye, another four years passed.

One day, Wei Tu felt a sudden inspiration. He went to the Seclusion Chamber in Luoxue Courtyard and sat down cross-legged to meditate.

Half an hour later, a faint, almost imperceptible Spiritual Pressure emanated from his body.

"Ninety-two years old, Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer."

Wei Tu opened his eyes, a trace of world-weariness flashing in their depths before vanishing instantly.

Then, he took a Spirit Testing Talisman from his sleeve and placed it on the spot between his eyebrows.

In the mirror, Wei Tu saw the Talisman Paper on his forehead reveal an earthen and cyan light, faintly the size of a fist.

’I estimate that in another twenty-odd years, my Spirit Root will reach the Middle Grade. At that point, my chances of succeeding at Foundation Establishment would increase by more than ten percent,’ Wei Tu mused.

The success rate of Foundation Establishment after consuming a Foundation Establishment Pill varied depending on a Cultivator’s Spirit Root.

For those with a Lower-Grade Spirit Root, the success rate with a Foundation Establishment Pill was below fifty percent.

But for those with a Middle-Grade Spirit Root, the success rate could reach around sixty percent.

’However... if Hongying delivers the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object...’

’after I trade it with the Supreme Profound Sect, I’ll have two Foundation Establishment Pills. The probability of success would reach over seventy percent. And on top of that... this half of a Snow Lotus can add another five percent chance...’ Wei Tu thought to himself.

He now had two choices.

One was to wait for his Late Bloomer Destiny Chart to upgrade his Spirit Root to a Middle-Grade Spirit Root.

The other was to break through immediately.

Saving himself twenty years.

’I’ll wait and see...’ Wei Tu thought. ’If Hongying is late in delivering the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object, and it’s not long until my Spirit Root reaches Middle Grade, then... it wouldn’t be too late to postpone my Foundation Establishment until after the upgrade.’

If the time difference was only a few years, it was clearly more advantageous to attempt Foundation Establishment after his Spirit Root had been upgraded.

But just then, a knock came from outside Luoxue Courtyard.

"Uncle Wei, it’s me." Along with the knocking, Kou Hongying’s voice came from outside the gate.

Hearing her voice, Wei Tu was overjoyed, thinking to himself, ’A double portion of good fortune has arrived.’

For Kou Hongying to come to Danqiu Mountain to find him at this moment, there was only one possibility—she was here to deliver the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object promised in their Spirit Contract.

Wei Tu ordered the Wind-Splitting Carving to hide, then got up, walked out of the Cultivation Room, and opened the courtyard gate.

"This is the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object I promised you, Uncle Wei—a Cold Smoke Fruit."

After a bit of small talk, Kou Hongying took a jade box from her Storage Bag and placed it on the table.

The moment the jade box was opened, a fist-sized, ice-colored fruit instantly released a frosty aura, lowering the surrounding temperature by several degrees.

Wei Tu accepted the Cold Smoke Fruit and cupped his hands to thank Kou Hongying.

He knew from their correspondence that in the eleven years since Kou Hongying’s own Foundation Establishment, she hadn’t rested for a moment, constantly helping him search for a Foundation Establishment Spirit Fruit within Zheng Country.