Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

After inviting Wei Tu to take a seat in the living room, Huang Peng made an excuse, apologized, and pulled Huang Chengfu outside.

On the corridor outside, Huang Peng paced a few steps, then gritted his teeth, took out two Spirit Stones, and stuffed them into Huang Chengfu's hands.

"Chengfu, here are two Spirit Stones. Go to Shengfu Restaurant and arrange for a fine banquet. Also, buy a pot of the best Spirit Wine..."

"Make sure it's their signature Bamboo Leaf Green."

he instructed in a low voice.

Feeling the two heavy Spirit Stones in his hand, Huang Chengfu didn't ask why his father, Huang Peng, was being so generous today. His lips moved slightly, and he nodded heavily.

He knew that his future—whether he could "soar to success"—depended on this very day.

When asking for a favor,

preparing a banquet was the custom.

Two Spirit Stones.

It was almost his family's entire savings.

Spending these two Spirit Stones on a banquet was the greatest show of sincerity his family could offer.

"When the waiter at Shengfu Restaurant pours the wine, pay attention. Don't let him water it down."

"We can't have your grand-uncle displeased while he's drinking."

Just as Huang Chengfu was about to set off and run out the door, Huang Peng grabbed his arm again and patiently added a final instruction.

...

The conversation outside.

Did not escape Wei Tu's Divine Sense.

Wei Tu took a sip of tea, glanced at the somewhat reserved Huang Fang sitting beside him, and shook his head.

Huang Fang was the young woman in the ruqun dress who had been following behind Huang Peng and his son earlier.

Unlike Huang Chengfu, her appearance matched her age; her Bone Age was only nineteen. She was Huang Peng's late-in-life daughter.

Having a child late in life was not considered strange in the Cultivation Realm; it was quite common.

"Grand-uncle, Fang'er will pour you more tea." Seeing that Wei Tu's cup was empty, Huang Fang remembered Huang Peng's prior instructions. She hesitated for a moment before standing up and speaking.

Even though Wei Tu was her grand-uncle and they had this family connection, she was born on Cloud Crane Mountain and knew exactly what the title "Foundation Establishment Master" signified...

On Cloud Crane Mountain, a Foundation Establishment Master was truly second to one person and above ten thousand others.

"Alright." Wei Tu nodded, not refusing Huang Fang's kind gesture.

At that moment, Huang Peng, who had been outside, also walked back into the living room and took his seat again.

The two began to chat idly, reminiscing about their past in the mortal world.

An hour later,

The fine banquet that Huang Chengfu had brought back from Shengfu Restaurant was laid out in the living room.

After several courses and three rounds of drinks, Huang Peng finally stated his request to Wei Tu.

"Grand-uncle, you've come to Cloud Crane Mountain all alone, so you must be in need of a servant to sweep the courtyard. Chengfu... although he's a bit slow and not very clever, he's a hard worker..."

"I hope you can take him in."

"If he doesn't do things right, you can dismiss him, or even beat and scold him as you please. I will have no complaints..."

But there are servants, and then there are servants.

Even the doorkeeper of a Prime Minister is a Seventh-Grade Official.

In terms of status, the servant of a Foundation Establishment Master could be higher than an ordinary Late-Stage Qi Cultivation Cultivator.

Besides, Wei Tu was his grand-uncle. If he really took his son, Huang Chengfu, as a Servant, how could he truly let him do only a servant's work?

When the time came,

if Wei Tu gave him a little guidance,

his son Huang Chengfu's future would be set, and he would no longer have to worry.

—He had already asked around about Wei Tu's identity yesterday and knew that Wei Tu was the new "Tier Two Talisman Master" hired by the Hee Mountain Huang Family.

"A Servant?" Wei Tu murmured, placing his bamboo chopsticks on the table without immediately agreeing.

At this moment, he had to admire Huang Peng's "shrewdness."

There was a limit to pushing one's luck.

If Huang Peng had asked him to take Huang Chengfu as a Disciple, he would have refused outright without any hesitation.

After all, a disciple is like half a son.

They inherit their master's legacy.

He had just reached Foundation Establishment; where would he find the time to take on a disciple, especially one with poor aptitude?

But a Servant was different.

As a relative, it would be unreasonable for him, the grand-uncle, not to help out a little.

Furthermore,

what Huang Peng said made sense.

As a Tributor who had come to the Hee Mountain Huang Family alone, he did need a trustworthy Cultivator as a Servant to manage his daily affairs.

And for that role—Huang Chengfu was the optimal solution, the most suitable choice.

"This child, Chengfu... from what I've seen, he's a loyal and honest sort..."

After letting Huang Peng wait for a moment, Wei Tu finally spoke, expressing his willingness to take Huang Chengfu as a Servant.

Relationships have varying degrees of closeness.

With the passing of his second aunt, Wei Hong, his relationship with the Huang Family had long since grown distant.

By making Huang Peng wait and not agreeing immediately, he was sending a message: agreeing to this one thing today was fine, but in the future, he should "choose his words carefully" and not damage their relationship by asking for too much.

This was the same attitude his second aunt had shown him when he had gone to ask her for the Health Cultivation Technique all those years ago.

This wasn't Wei Tu being vengeful.

Rather, now that his status was high, too many people would want his help. If he agreed to every request, he would never have a moment's peace.

It was only human nature.

Of course, if the positions of the Wei and Huang Families were to reverse again in the future, perhaps his descendants would one day be the ones begging the Huang Family's descendants...

However,

that possibility was very small.

...

"Quick! Call your grand-uncle 'Master.'"

Hearing Wei Tu's reply, Huang Peng let out a sigh of relief. He gave Huang Chengfu a light kick and reminded him.

However,

unexpectedly,

this time, Huang Chengfu didn't listen to his father. He knelt on the ground, but instead of calling Wei Tu "Master," he glanced at him and said cautiously, "Grand-uncle, my aptitude is limited. It's... not quite right for me to be your Servant. My little sister is young... she's more dexterous and better at taking care of people than I am..."

"Could my sister take my place as your Servant, Grand-uncle?"

"You brat!" Hearing this, Huang Peng's face changed instantly. He swung his hand and slapped Huang Chengfu squarely across the face.

After the slap,

Huang Peng wanted to continue, but he quickly remembered Wei Tu was still there. He forced himself to suppress his anger and shot Huang Chengfu a vicious glare.

"Chengfu was just joking. I hope you won't take offense, Grand-uncle," he said with an embarrassed laugh.

Huang Fang was his own daughter, and she would likely have a better future by Wei Tu's side than Huang Chengfu would. But how could a daughter compare to a son? Huang Chengfu was the pillar of their Huang Family.

As he spoke, however, a sliver of hope grew in Huang Peng's heart—perhaps Wei Tu would consider their past relationship and take one more person.

Wei Tu watched this scene with a cold, expressionless face.

Just now, he had seen it all—the dejection and disappointment on Huang Fang's face when she heard Huang Peng say that only Huang Chengfu would follow him as a Servant.

However—

'What does that have to do with me?'

'If I were only taking in a member of the Huang Family to be a Servant who sweeps the courtyard, then one more or one less would make no difference. But in taking Huang Chengfu, I'm actually taking on a disciple in all but name and treatment.'

'One more person.'

'Where would I find so much time?'

'I have no intention of lifting the entire Huang Family into Cultivation.'

Therefore, although he was slightly moved by the bond between the Huang siblings, it wasn't by much.

"You bastard, hurry up and apologize to your grand-uncle!" Huang Peng saw through Wei Tu's thoughts. He cursed at Huang Chengfu while secretly giving Huang Fang a meaningful look.

Seeing this, Huang Fang bit her lip, holding back the tears welling in her eyes. "Grand-uncle, I want to stay home and take care of Father. Please let my brother have the position of Servant."

Huang Chengfu stopped struggling. He lowered his head in silent acceptance.

"In five days, come find me at the Sacrificial Hall." Wei Tu stood up, took out a Pass Token, and placed it on the table.

Then, Wei Tu glanced at the weeping Huang Fang. He pondered for a moment, then took out a Jade Scroll from his sleeve and presented it to her.

'I'm not taking Huang Fang.'

'It's because I don't have that much free time.'

But he wasn't too stingy to offer some extra gifts.

'Knowledge is a form of wealth.'

'And it isn't difficult to copy.'

...

After Wei Tu left,

Huang Fang clutched the Jade Scroll tightly and carefully pressed it to her forehead.

"Basic Talisman..."

"Calm Heart Talisman..."

she murmured to herself.

Wei Tu had only left her the method for this one Basic Talisman, but in it, she saw hope for her own Cultivation.

"Sigh." Seeing this, Huang Peng, who was standing to the side, let out a deep sigh. He muttered "what a mess" to himself and didn't bother with the Jade Scroll in Huang Fang's hand.

Today, a joyous event had come to their door.

Yet it had also created a deep rift between him and his daughter—a rift that would be difficult to mend in the future.

But he was helpless.

Because there was only one "Immortal Fate" to be had.

With his shrewdness, how could he not know how much the chance of failure would increase if he begged for one more person?

...

Leaving the Huang Family,

Wei Tu returned to the Sacrificial Hall.

He summoned the Steward, Huang Yu'er, gave her instructions regarding Huang Chengfu, and then entered the Cultivation Room in the Talisman Heart Residence to begin his Seclusion.

「One month later.」

Wei Tu finished changing his Cultivation Technique. The Little Spring and Autumn Technique had been switched from the "Qi Cultivation Chapter" to the "Foundation Establishment Chapter."

'Cultivate for three hundred years...'

'Only then can I glimpse the Golden Core Realm.'

After cultivating for several days, Wei Tu saw another line of text appear on the Golden Purple Destiny Chart in his mind.

"Little Spring and Autumn Technique (1/100): Meditate for five hours a day; completion in three hundred years."

Wei Tu noticed that unlike in the Qi Refining Realm, where it specified a number of sessions per day, the text on the Golden Purple Destiny Chart had changed to "meditate for five hours a day."

'Meditate for five hours every day for three hundred years, and I can reach the Peak of Foundation Establishment.'

'It seems my Middle-Grade Spirit Root has taken effect.'

Wei Tu thought to himself.

A Lower-Grade Spiritual Root Cultivator's potential was basically limited to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

To go any higher, unless they consumed massive amounts of Elixirs or found another Opportunity, it was difficult to ever reach the Peak of Foundation Establishment and touch upon the Golden Core Realm in their lifetime.

But he.

Was different.

When he broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, he had used the second Foundation Establishment Pill for a Washing Marrow and Cutting Bone, finally breaking through the limits of his Spirit Root and transforming it into a Middle-Grade Spirit Root.

...

Time flew.

Another two years passed.

During that time, Wei Tu left Cloud Crane Mountain once. He returned to Danqiu Mountain, placed the Sky-Splitting Carving that he had left at Luoxue Courtyard into a newly purchased Spirit Beast Bag, and brought it back to his residence, the Talisman Heart Residence.

The Sky-Splitting Carving was a Profound Tier Bloodline Demon Beast.

Its potential was equivalent to a Human Race Cultivator's Middle-Grade Spirit Root, meaning its growth potential was very high.

Furthermore, it was a rare avian Spirit Beast.

Wei Tu naturally couldn't neglect the Sky-Splitting Carving.

As for feeding the Sky-Splitting Carving, Wei Tu handed the task over to Huang Chengfu, no longer involving himself in such trivial matters.