Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

—Although Talismans had a longer shelf life than Elixirs, it was still finite. Their power would gradually diminish over time.

Otherwise, the various Golden Core Families wouldn't be so desperate to recruit talented Talisman Masters.

He knew about the war between the Chisong Jia Family and the Qiyue Zhao Family, but he didn't believe it could have such a significant impact on the Talisman trade in the region around the Hee Mountain Huang Family.

'Perhaps Artifact Master Xia knows something?'

Wei Tu looked over at Artifact Master Xia, who was at his own stall nearby.

He didn't believe Artifact Master Xia's peace offering was simply an attempt to fit in with the other Tributors in the Sacrificial Hall and avoid being ridiculed.

'I'm a Talisman Master. Even if war breaks out, the Hee Mountain Huang Family wouldn't send me to fight unless it was a last resort...'

Wei Tu shook his head. 'No need to rush.' He and Artifact Master Xia weren't well-acquainted; in fact, there was a small grudge between them. If he went and asked rashly, Artifact Master Xia wouldn't necessarily tell him about such "secret matters."

Besides, exposing Artifact Master Xia's "true intentions" would be a slap in the face, and he wasn't that tactless.

"Fellow Daoist Li, why are you buying so many more Talismans this time around?"

Wei Tu asked a customer who was pre-ordering Talismans, trying to gather information.

"I'm not sure," the Foundation Establishment Cultivator surnamed Li said, shaking his head. "I just heard that someone bought out all the Talismans in the nearby Marketplaces a few days ago, so I'm just following the crowd and buying a few extra..."

Afterward, Wei Tu asked a few more people.

The answers he received were more or less the same as Fellow Daoist Li's.

They were all just following the trend and buying Talismans.

However, a few days later, Zhao Qingluo's arrival made Wei Tu's eyes light up.

Compared to the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Zhao Qingluo's status was a cut above, so she might have some inside information.

"Buying up Talismans?" Zhao Qingluo murmured in surprise upon hearing Wei Tu's question. After a moment of careful thought, she shook her head.

"If it's about *that* matter..."

"It might be related to why so many Cultivators are buying Talismans."

Half a day later, Zhao Qingluo returned to the pavilion where Wei Tu had set up his stall and shared her theory with him.

"When I was young, I heard my father mention that the Hee Mountain Huang Family controls a Secret Realm called the 'Yunze Secret Realm.'"

"The Yunze Secret Realm exists in an Alternate Space. It opens once every two hundred years and only allows Cultivators below the Golden Core realm to enter..."

"By my calculations, it should be about time for the Yunze Secret Realm to open again."

"The Secret Realm contains many Spiritual Objects that are rare in the outside world."

"Many of the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects the Huang Family uses to refine Foundation Establishment Pills come from that very Secret Realm."

"Some of the Treasures within the Secret Realm are even effective for Golden Core True Monarchs," Zhao Qingluo added in a measured tone.

'A Secret Realm?' Wei Tu's heart skipped a beat. He was no longer a novice in the Cultivation Realm; he knew exactly what a Secret Realm signified.

Secret Realms were isolated from the outside world, filled with abundant Spiritual Qi, and contained countless rare Spiritual Materials.

Many Elders in the Cultivation Realm had seized an Opportunity within a Secret Realm and soared to new heights.

"Although the Hee Mountain Huang Family is powerful, they aren't strong enough to monopolize the Yunze Secret Realm. Every time it opens, the Hee Mountain Huang Family invites its Allies, as well as Cultivators from the Three Immortal Sects, to explore it."

"As a Tributor to the Huang Family, Talisman Master Wei, you should be on the invitation list as well," Zhao Qingluo added.

Hearing this, Wei Tu finally understood why Fellow Daoist Li and the others knew nothing about the Yunze Secret Realm.

Their families were merely vassals of the Hee Mountain Huang Family, not true Allies.

The Hee Mountain Huang Family's only Allies were the other two Golden Core Families: the Qiyue Zhao Family and the Xuefeng Zheng Family.

'Still, some people from the Foundation Establishment Families must have also received qualifications to enter the Yunze Secret Realm. That's what caused Fellow Daoist Li and the others to jump on the bandwagon and buy up Talismans,' Wei Tu thought to himself.

Cultivators weren't that much more discerning than Mortals.

If he weren't a Talisman Master but someone of similar status to Fellow Daoist Li, he probably would have blindly done the same upon seeing the market's supply of Talismans dwindling, just to be on the safe side.

After all... if war really was on the horizon, it would be too late to buy Talismans then.

Wei Tu then asked about the specific time the Yunze Secret Realm was set to open.

"The Hee Mountain Huang Family uses an Array to open the Spatial Node to the Yunze Secret Realm, so the exact time can't be determined."

"However, I'd guess it will be within the next decade or so," Zhao Qingluo replied after a moment of thought.

Having gotten his answer, Wei Tu thanked Zhao Qingluo and gave her a small discount on her Talisman order.

Zhao Qingluo offered a gentle smile and accepted his gesture of thanks.

—From Wei Tu, it seemed she was learning the proper way to interact with people.

...

After the gathering concluded, Wei Tu temporarily set aside his Cultivation and began focusing all his energy on Talisman Making to sell his wares.

However, less than a few months later, an invitation from the Hee Mountain Huang Family to a "Foundation Establishment Assembly" interrupted his plans.

The Foundation Establishment Assembly was a meeting the Hee Mountain Huang Family called for all Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the clan.

Wei Tu suspected that this assembly would likely reveal information about the "Yunze Secret Realm."

He left the Talisman Heart Residence and headed for the Clan Affairs Hall to attend the "Foundation Establishment Assembly."

"Array Master Si." Just as he stepped out of his courtyard, Wei Tu saw Si Qing emerging from the yard next door, lifting the hem of her dress. He paused to greet her.

Unlike Yu Kui Master or Artifact Master Xia, Si Qing had always been reclusive and rarely ventured out.

In the eleven years since he had joined the Hee Mountain Huang Family, Wei Tu had only seen Si Qing twice.

"Talisman Master Wei." Si Qing paused her graceful steps. Her beautiful eyes appraised Wei Tu for a moment, and a slight smile touched her flawless face as she returned his greeting.