Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

"Gong Shulan?" Kou Hongying asked, puzzled. She had never heard of a Foundation Establishment Master by that name in Danqiu Mountain.

Fu Zhizhou offered a brief explanation.

"So she's a Female Cultivator who does *that* sort of thing." Kou Hongying's fair face flushed slightly, and she spat a few times in disdain.

'So Ren Yifeng and his partner are tracking Gong Shulan, and she just successfully reached Foundation Establishment...'

'She must possess something that those two, or the Shuyun Alliance, covet.'

'Back then, Geng Wen was probably just a Chess Piece used by the Shuyun Alliance.'

Wei Tu looked hesitant.

His intuition told him—Gong Shulan held a Great Opportunity, one significant enough to change the fate of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

This Opportunity was just like the one he had seized when he killed Geng Wen and took the Foundation Establishment Pill.

If he played his cards right, it could save him decades, or even a century, of struggle.

However, Ren Yifeng and Chentang both had Middle-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation. Meanwhile, his Talisman Sword was broken, and he had used up most of his Talismans. He was at his weakest.

If he rushed in recklessly, there was no guarantee he wouldn't face some unforeseen danger.

"Uncle Wei, you don't need to worry. Ren Yifeng and his men wouldn't dare lay a hand on us."

Kou Hongying saw what was on Wei Tu's mind. She chuckled lightly and said, "A Golden Core True Monarch from my Jingshui Pavilion is stationed at the Yuquan Mountain Marketplace. The moment I crush this Help Token, the Golden Core True Monarch will be notified and come immediately."

As soon as she said this, Wei Tu made up his mind.

He nodded firmly and immediately made arrangements: Fu Zhizhou would stay behind to provide support, while he and Kou Hongying would sneak ahead to find out why Ren Yifeng and his partner were tracking Gong Shulan.

—Fu Zhizhou had only recently reached Foundation Establishment and couldn't completely conceal his aura, making him easy for the two Middle-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators to discover.

"Yes, Third Brother." Fu Zhizhou took the Signal Token Wei Tu handed him and nodded in acknowledgment.

...

「A quarter of an hour later.」

Wei Tu and Kou Hongying snuck to a spot Gong Shulan was bound to pass—a cliffside. There, they lay in wait for the arrival of Gong Shulan, Ren Yifeng, and Chentang.

Just as Wei Tu expected, it wasn't long after they had settled into their hiding spot that Ren Yifeng and his partner cornered Gong Shulan at the cliff.

Gong Shulan landed.

Her face was pale and a trace of blood stained the corner of her mouth. She coughed a few times and looked at Ren Yifeng, who was blocking her path.

"Uncle Ren, my father was once your friend. Is this how you treat his daughter?" Gong Shulan demanded sharply as she raised her Magical Power Shield, trying to make Ren Yifeng change his mind.

"If you only had the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object that everyone talks about, I would not only refrain from forcing your hand, I would even protect you."

"Unfortunately, Niece Gong, what you have is more than just a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object," Ren Yifeng said, the corner of his mouth curling up as he studied Gong Shulan for a few moments.

As he spoke, Chentang also arrived at the cliff, and together with Ren Yifeng, they surrounded Gong Shulan from the front and back.

"Gong Shulan, you're a clever one. You took the opportunity while we were at the Underground Auction to escape Danqiu Mountain and secretly attempt Foundation Establishment in the Yaolang Mountain Range..."

"But alas, for all your careful scheming, you still fell one step short."

Chentang laughed a few times.

A few years ago, he and some Foundation Establishment Independent Cultivators from the Shuyun Alliance had left Danqiu Mountain not just for the Underground Auction, but also to lure the snake from its hole—to get Gong Shulan to leave Danqiu Mountain and retrieve the Gong Family's Treasure herself.

"As long as you hand over the Gong Family's Secret Treasure, offer it to the Shuyun Alliance, and agree to become our Servant, then I and your Uncle Ren… will promise not to kill you…"

"It wouldn't be very pleasant to be brutally killed right after reaching Foundation Establishment."

As he said this, Chentang summoned a long black saber and activated it, slashing at Gong Shulan's Magical Power Shield.

After just a few strikes, Gong Shulan's Magical Power Shield was already showing signs of failing, on the verge of shattering.

However, having pushed her to this point, Chentang didn't press his advantage to kill her. He held back and continued to persuade Gong Shulan to surrender and hand over the Gong Family's Secret Treasure.

Hiding nearby, Wei Tu and Kou Hongying saw this and exchanged a look. They instantly understood Chentang's intentions perfectly.

'The Shuyun Alliance must… only know that Gong Shulan possesses the "Gong Family's Secret Treasure," but they don't know what it is, nor are they sure if she even has it on her.'

—The Soul-Searching Secret Technique was a Magic Skill that only a Golden Core True Monarch could master.

'That's why the people from the Shuyun Alliance went to such great lengths and never moved against Gong Shulan.'

'They even let her reach Foundation Establishment successfully.'

"Since you two uncles desire the Secret Treasure, I have no choice but to fulfill your wish and hand it over…"

"But after I hand it over, I hope you two will spare my life."

Gong Shulan bit her lip, her face filled with a sorrowful expression as if begging Ren Yifeng and Chentang to agree to her request.

"As long as you hand over the Gong Family's Secret Treasure, sparing you is a small matter," Ren Yifeng immediately agreed.

However, Chentang, who was standing to the side, made another demand. "Gong Shulan, I hear you're quite good at… serving men. If you serve me well, not only will I let you go, but I'll also reward you handsomely."

He licked his lips, a lecherous expression on his face. His gaze traveled down from Gong Shulan's fair neck, lingering for a long time on her prominent curves.

"This is the Gong Family's Secret Treasure." Gong Shulan seemed to have made up her mind. She opened her mouth and spat out a Skull Jade Pendant that emanated a green glow.

"Good, good, good," Ren Yifeng said, overjoyed. He flicked his sleeve and sent out his Magical Power to catch the Skull Jade Pendant as it flew toward him.

However, just as Ren Yifeng caught the Jade Pendant and was about to put it away, the skull on the pendant suddenly came to life. Two wisps of Glow shot from its empty eye sockets.

The Skull Jade Pendant transformed into a human-head-sized skull radiating a green light, and it lunged for Ren Yifeng's neck.

It all happened in a flash.

Therefore, despite his caution, Ren Yifeng was caught completely off guard by the Skull Jade Pendant.

He hastily raised his Magical Power Shield to block the green skull, but his shield was as thin as paper. The green skull easily bit through it and pierced his neck.

Immediately after, Ren Yifeng's body shriveled rapidly, his eyes bulged out, and all the Flesh and Blood in his body was sucked completely dry.

"Demonic Cultivator?" Chentang's expression changed slightly when he saw this. He stared at Gong Shulan and muttered those two words.

Seeing Ren Yifeng die, he should have fled. But he was certain that Gong Shulan was now at the End of the Crossbow and no match for him. So, he overcame his fear and remained at the cliff.

After the green skull finished devouring Ren Yifeng's Blood Qi, it grew skeletal limbs. Then, Flesh and Blood gradually grew upon the bones, which resembled green fluorite, transforming it into a beautiful, fair-skinned woman.

"Hu Yao?!"

This woman was no stranger to Wei Tu. He clapped a hand over his mouth, staring at the scene in astonishment, his face a mask of disbelief.