Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

「One year later.」

「Golden Moon Cliff Exchange Meet.」

Wei Tu set up his stall, waiting for the customers who had pre-ordered Talismans at the last meet to arrive.

This time, he and Puppet Master Yu were not the only cultivators from the Sacrificial Hall setting up stalls in the pavilion; Artifact Master Xia had joined them.

Evidently, at this exchange meet, Artifact Master Xia had given up on pursuing Huang Caiyu.

Wei Tu didn't know that Artifact Master Xia's decision to stop pursuing the Second Miss, Huang Caiyu, had anything to do with him.

He only knew that two years ago, Artifact Master Xia had married another female Cultivator from the Huang Family, one in the Qi Refining Realm.

At the time, Artifact Master Xia had even sent him an invitation, asking him to be a guest.

However, Wei Tu had politely declined, using his seclusion as an excuse.

He had no desire to spend money on a gift for a "stranger" like Artifact Master Xia.

—Giving a cheap gift would have been even more embarrassing for everyone involved.

Afterward, Wei Tu heard from Puppet Master Yu that not a single Tributor from the entire Sacrificial Hall had gone to Artifact Master Xia's "Hundred Refinements Workshop" for the wedding. Only a few Huang Family Cultivators attended, and only out of a sense of obligation.

The incident made Artifact Master Xia flush with embarrassment on the spot, putting him in an incredibly awkward position.

It also became a running joke among the other cultivators, who mocked Artifact Master Xia for his poor social skills.

"Talisman Master Wei, Fellow Daoist Wei, last time... weren't you interested in this Cyan Yang Furnace of mine? This time, how about I give it to you for a ten percent discount... oh, no, thirty percent off?"

After setting up his stall, Artifact Master Xia saw Puppet Master Yu and Wei Tu chatting and ignoring him. He gritted his teeth, swallowed his pride, and walked over. With a broad smile, he began pitching his "Cyan Yang Furnace" to Wei Tu, proactively offering a discount on the Tier One Upper-Grade Pill Furnace.

This scene was the complete opposite of what had happened eight years ago.

「Eight years ago.」

Artifact Master Xia had been merciless, flatly refusing Wei Tu's attempt to bargain.

You don't hit a smiling man.

Wei Tu stopped his idle chat with Puppet Master Yu. He glanced at the Pill Furnace that Artifact Master Xia was holding, shook his head, and said sincerely, "Fellow Daoist Xia, I already acquired a Pill Furnace at the last exchange meet. I... I no longer have a need for this Cyan Yang Furnace. Please find another buyer, Fellow Daoist."

Seeing that Wei Tu's expression didn't seem feigned, Artifact Master Xia looked embarrassed and put the Cyan Yang Furnace back into his Storage Bag.

However, now that his pretext for interrupting was gone, Artifact Master Xia didn't know what to say to mend his relationship with Wei Tu and Puppet Master Yu.

"Xia the Dog, I hear you have a Tier One Middle-Grade Flying Ship. How about you lower the price and sell it to me or Fellow Daoist Wei?" Puppet Master Yu said with a grin.

The man was old and shrewd, and he could see that Artifact Master Xia wanted to rejoin their Sacrificial Hall circle and not be ostracized.

Making Artifact Master Xia offer the Flying Ship at a low price was not only a way to give Xia an out, but also a chance for him and Wei Tu to profit.

"A Flying Ship?" Artifact Master Xia's eyebrows shot up, and he was about to refuse immediately. But then he remembered the "disgusted" look from his father-in-law, so he swallowed the pain and took out a palm-sized, yellow Flying Ship.

"This is the 'Huang Yanzhou.' When pushed to its limit, its Escape Speed is comparable to that of a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. For normal travel, its speed is close to that of an Early-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator..."

"This Flying Ship was once valued at 1,500 Spirit Stones. I can sell it cheaper to you two fellow daoists for 1,200 Spirit Stones."

Artifact Master Xia said, steeling himself.

"1,200 Spirit Stones?" Wei Tu was slightly tempted when he heard the price.

A Flying Ship had many uses. Whether for traveling, chasing down enemies, or escaping, it could be quite effective.

Generally speaking, piloting a Flying Ship only consumed Spirit Stones and a small amount of Magical Power.

It was just the price...

Wei Tu shook his head.

Unfortunately, all he had on hand was a stockpile of Talismans, with no spare Spirit Stones.

"You can trade with Puppets and Talismans!" Artifact Master Xia quickly added.

It wasn't that he didn't know before that "Artisans" like them could barter.

It was just that Puppet Master Yu and Wei Tu weren't Pill Masters. Since he lived on Cloud Crane Mountain and rarely went out, he had no use for combat-oriented Spiritual Objects like Puppets and Talismans.

So naturally, he had never been flexible enough to agree to such terms.

But things were different now. His father-in-law wanted him to get on good terms with Wei Tu and Puppet Master Yu to acquire their low-priced Puppets and Talismans as a precaution against "the unexpected."

Although Artifact Master Xia didn't know what "unexpected" event his father-in-law was referring to, he was well aware of his father-in-law's standing in the Hee Mountain Huang Family.

Aside from the Golden Core True Monarch, his status was in the top five of the Huang Family; he was a person of real power.

The three of them negotiated the price.

In the end, Puppet Master Yu backed out, doing Wei Tu a favor by yielding the "Huang Yanzhou" to him.

Following that, Wei Tu bought the "Huang Yanzhou," a Tier One Middle-Grade Flying Ship, for five hundred Spirit Stones and three Tier Two Talismans.

"Congratulations on acquiring the Flying Ship, Fellow Daoist Wei."

Puppet Master Yu said, cupping his hands in congratulation.

As he spoke, Puppet Master Yu also secretly sent a voice transmission to Wei Tu, explaining that he already owned a Flying Ship and had only made Artifact Master Xia offer this one for sale to do Wei Tu a favor.

"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Yu." Wei Tu raised an eyebrow, deciding he needed to be more careful in his future dealings with Puppet Master Yu.

After this episode, Artifact Master Xia was reintegrated into the Sacrificial Hall's circle. On the surface, neither Wei Tu nor Puppet Master Yu showed any more signs of ostracizing him.

...

「Two or three days later.」

The customers who had pre-ordered Talismans from Wei Tu gradually arrived, paid the remaining balance, and collected their reserved Talismans.

'The number of Talismans pre-ordered by the Fangg Family this time is more than double the last order?'

'The orders from the other families have also increased. Could it be... that a war is breaking out in the Zheng Country Cultivation Realm?'

Seeing this unusual development, Wei Tu grew uneasy and thought to himself.

The falling of a single leaf heralds the coming of autumn.

It was true that the Foundation Establishment Families subordinate to the Hee Mountain Huang Family had a shortage of Talismans because their old Tier Two Talisman Master Tributor had passed away. But that didn't explain why they were suddenly buying them in such large quantities.