Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

'What a pity for Fourth Brother.'

Hearing Fu Zhizhou's heartfelt words, Wei Tu shook his head.

The Cultivation Realm was not without stories of those with poor aptitude but unshakeable determination who still reached the peak.

However, compared to the vast number of Cultivators, those who managed to stand out relying on willpower alone were few and far between.

In other words,

For a Cultivator to reach the peak, willpower, opportunity, and strength were all indispensable.

Willpower could only determine one's lower limit, never their upper limit.

Among Independent Cultivators in the Qi Refining Realm, there were plenty whose determination was comparable to Fu Zhizhou's.

But the vast majority of them would never reach Foundation Establishment and would be left with lifelong regrets.

Let alone the feat of a Hundred-Year-Old Foundation Establishment.

The reason Fu Zhizhou had managed his Hundred-Year-Old Foundation Establishment was that he had fulfilled all three of these requirements while in the Qi Refining Realm.

While in the Qi Refining Realm, although Fu Zhizhou hadn't directly received any Immortal Fate, he had indirectly obtained it through me and Kou Hongying. This compensated for his lack of opportunity, allowing him to successfully reach Foundation Establishment.

For most Independent Cultivators, even reaching the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer before the age of 120 was considered a mark of considerable ability.

A Foundation Condensation Pill.

An Abnormal Foundation Establishment Technique.

These were Great Opportunities that many Independent Cultivators could never hope to obtain.

However—

After reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage,

things were different.

It would be very difficult for Fu Zhizhou to replicate his success from the Qi Refining Realm—because in terms of opportunity, it was clear that I and Kou Hongying could no longer provide him with that level of help.

A Core Formation Opportunity was unlike one for Foundation Establishment; the saying "when one person achieves enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven" would basically never apply.

Furthermore,

My and Kou Hongying's own prospects for Core Formation were merely hopeful; we weren't as "confident" as we had been about reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm back when we were in Qi Cultivation.

...

After they finished discussing Fu Zhizhou's plans,

Wei Tu mentioned that he was preparing to make a trip to the Yaolang Mountain Range to gather Iron Magnetic Spirit Wood.

"For all these years, I've been cultivating safely in Danqiu Mountain and Cloud Crane Mountain. I have no experience venturing into the Yaolang Mountain Range..."

"So I'd like to ask you two, Hongying and Fourth Brother, to help me this once."

Wei Tu said solemnly.

The Spiritual Lands where Iron Magnetic Spirit Wood grew were all deep within the Yaolang Mountain Range, and he might encounter Tier Two Demon Beasts there.

Aside from a few with special bloodlines, the strength of most Tier Two Demon Beasts was inferior to that of Same-Tier Cultivators.

However, in a life-or-death battle, a Demon Beast's ferocity would erase that gap, allowing it to severely injure or even kill a Human Race Cultivator of the same tier.

After all, Cultivators sought to win unharmed and at the lowest possible cost, while Demon Beasts would fight to the death just to survive.

Regarding Wei Tu's request,

Kou Hongying and Fu Zhizhou agreed readily, without much hesitation.

For years, Wei Tu had been quietly funding and supporting them both without ever asking for anything in return.

If they had any sense of gratitude, they wouldn't refuse such a reasonable request from Wei Tu.

"If I enter the Yaolang Mountain Range with Uncle Wei and we cooperate, this junior can also reap some rewards." Kou Hongying smiled as she stated her agreement.

Although she had never seen Wei Tu fight, she knew perfectly well how terrifying the combat potential of a Tier Two Talisman Master was.

Besides, like her, Wei Tu was also a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. He wouldn't be a burden to her in the Yaolang Mountain Range.

She was there to help, not to be his full-time bodyguard.

In contrast to Kou Hongying,

Fu Zhizhou was a man of fewer words. He simply nodded silently, accepting the task.

Over the past decade or so, Kou Hongying had long since repaid the favors she owed Wei Tu.

'He, on the other hand, hadn't repaid a thing.'

Therefore, even if entering the Yaolang Mountain Range was a life-threatening risk, he had no choice but to go through hell and high water for him.

Of course,

Fu Zhizhou trusted that Wei Tu would never treat him like that or regard his life as a joke.

...

「The next day.」

The Cultivators from the Shuyun Alliance, having learned of Kou Hongying's arrival, came to the small courtyard on Lark Street once again to invite Fu Zhizhou to join their alliance.

"My mind is made up." Fu Zhizhou shook his head, cutting off Helian Xiong's attempt to persuade him. He stated frankly that he was preparing to join the Qiyue Zhao Family.

"The Qiyue Zhao Family?"

Helian Xiong frowned and urged, "Brother Fu, forgive me for being blunt, but do you know how dangerous that place is? Joining them is no different from throwing your life away..."

He glanced around. Seeing that Wei Tu and Kou Hongying weren't there, he grew bolder. "It's true that Talisman Master Wei and you have a good relationship, Brother Fu, but he can't just sell you out... The Hee Mountain Huang Family is on good terms with the Qiyue Zhao Family. He's telling you to go there? Who knows, he might even be getting a cut."

"I know it's not my place to interfere between close friends."

"But I'm only saying this for your own good."

"Take my advice: stay away from Talisman Master Wei. He's not one of us..."

"He's a Tier Two Talisman Master, favored by a Golden Core Family. And what are we? We've got nothing special. If we don't stick together for survival, we'll eventually be picked clean."

As Helian Xiong spoke, he carefully watched Fu Zhizhou's expression.

When he saw that Fu Zhizhou's expression remained unchanged and he was completely unmoved, he rose, sighed three times in succession, and departed with a flick of his sleeve.

He paused at the door. "Brother Fu, I've said my piece. Just don't let yourself be sold and then help the buyer count the money."

With that said,

Helian Xiong turned and walked away.

However, he didn't walk very quickly, as if hoping Fu Zhizhou would change his mind and call him back.

Back in his room, Helian Xiong glanced in the direction of Fu Zhizhou's quarters, his eyes dark. 'It seems Fu Zhizhou has really decided to join the Qiyue Zhao Family...'