Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

’The Five Demonic Sects’ invasion... coincides exactly with the opening of the Yunze Secret Realm...’

’The Golden Core Families also have a duty to defend against the Demon Dao’s invasion. The Huang Family is short on Foundation Establishment Cultivators... which means a Talisman Master like me might be sent to the battlefield...’

Wei Tu’s expression was grim and uncertain.

The Huang Family only had twelve Foundation Establishment Cultivators. After subtracting the seven entering the Yunze Secret Realm, only five clan cultivators would remain at home.

Compared to the family’s inheritance, a mere Tier Two Talisman Master like him was clearly expendable.

The Clan Leader, Huang Changshun, would surely dispatch him and the other Tributors not going to the Yunze Secret Realm to the Righteous Demon Battlefield to fill the gap left by the Huang Family’s Foundation Establishment clan members.

This was all to be expected.

’Fu Lin gave me this news, and the Hee Mountain Huang Family probably doesn’t know about it yet.’

’I need to secure a spot for the Yunze Secret Realm as quickly as possible, before the Hee Mountain Huang Family changes its mind...’

Wei Tu thought to himself.

He certainly wasn’t the first to know about the Demon Dao’s invasion of Jing Country, but he believed the Hee Mountain Huang Family hadn’t learned of it any earlier than he had.

In Zheng Country, the Hee Mountain Huang Family was a respectable power, but within the Seven Kingdoms Righteous Alliance, only the Three Immortal Sects truly had a voice.

Only powers like the Three Immortal Sects could plant traitors within the Demon Dao and obtain firsthand intelligence.

The Golden Core Families were a step below; their influence barely extended beyond Zheng Country, making them merely local powers.

Unless the Hee Mountain Huang Family, like him, also had a "nephew" who had become a Demonic Cultivator and reached the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Originally, Wei Tu had been hesitant about entering the Yunze Secret Realm, but after seeing Fu Lin’s letter, he made up his mind to participate.

Compared to the brutality of the Righteous Demon Battlefield, these family conflicts were undoubtedly much tamer.

Wei Tu remembered how Gong Shulan of the Ghost Puppet Sect alone had been able to slaughter two Middle-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators and escape into the Yaolang Mountain Range while being pursued by a Core Formation True Man.

At the thought of Gong Shulan, Wei Tu’s expression soured.

For this invasion, the Five Demonic Sects were passing through the Yaolang Mountain Range, arriving at the same time as a beast tide. It was obvious the Demon Beasts of the Yaolang Mountain Range had reached some sort of agreement with the Five Demonic Sects...

Based on this, it was unlikely that Gong Shulan had died when she fled into the perilous Yaolang Mountain Range four years ago. In fact, there was a good chance she had survived.

In other words, he now had... a formidable enemy lurking in the shadows.

’Life is never smooth sailing. On the contrary, I should be glad that the Demon Dao’s invasion at this time has given me a choice.’

Wei Tu composed himself, choosing to face the situation proactively rather than wallowing in resentment.

In short:

Do your best and leave the rest to fate.

He just needed to do his best at every stage, and that would be enough. There was no need to worry about what might or might not happen.

Compared to other cultivators, he was already fortunate enough.

...

「A few days later.」

Kou Hongying sent word that her master, Master Qin, had agreed to go to the Yunze Secret Realm.

Wei Tu replied, asking Kou Hongying to find an opportunity to arrange a meeting between him and Master Qin to discuss the details of the trip.

「Two or three days later.」

Master Qin and Kou Hongying left the Bai Shihu Marketplace and came to the Kou Mansion.

Master Qin was graceful and elegant, dressed in a moon-colored gown. Like Kou Hongying, she was a peerless beauty.

However, she differed slightly from Kou Hongying in that her charm was more mature, lacking Kou Hongying’s youthful freshness.

"Talisman Master Wei? Over the past century, I’ve heard Hongying mention you many times. Meeting you now, I see you are indeed as exceptional as she said."

Entering the living room, Master Qin sized up Wei Tu, who had come to greet them. Seeing his restrained aura and his eyes that held a focused spirit, she couldn’t help but offer a word of praise.

Over seventy years ago, Kou Hongying had consulted her about Wei Tu changing his Cultivation Technique.

Today, Wei Tu had successfully achieved Foundation Establishment and become her peer.

The three of them took their seats.

Kou Hongying personally poured tea for her two elders, Wei Tu and Master Qin.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, I imagine Hongying has already told you about the Yunze Secret Realm."

"There is also some inside information that Hongying isn’t aware of, which I... will share with you..."

Wei Tu took a sip of tea and smiled faintly.

"Inside information?" Master Qin was slightly surprised.

In terms of status, Wei Tu was merely a Tributor for the Hee Mountain Huang Family. How could he possibly know any inside information about the Yunze Secret Realm?

"Please elaborate, Fellow Daoist Wei."

Master Qin assumed a listening posture.

Given her status, she could have asked her fellow sect members for information about the Yunze Secret Realm, but she had suppressed the idea to avoid competition for the spot.

Seeing this, Wei Tu gained some insight into Master Qin’s character. He nodded to himself and proceeded to explain the Three Races Agreement.

"I obtained this Three Races Agreement from the Zhao Family Patriarch. I must ask that you do not leak this information, Fellow Daoist Qin."

"In exchange for this information, I also agreed to a condition from the Zhao Family Patriarch. After entering the Yunze Secret Realm, I will lend a hand to the cultivators of the Qiyue Zhao Family—within reason, of course."

Wei Tu added.

This time, he had exploited an information asymmetry.

First, he used the influence of a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator like "Master Qin" to seek cooperation with the Qiyue Zhao Family. Then, he presented the terms of this cooperation to "Master Qin" herself.

It was a case of acting first and reporting later.

"This condition isn’t too demanding." Master Qin smiled faintly after reading the Stone Rubbing Jade Scroll. "Having an ally is better than having none. Besides, the relationship between Jingshui Pavilion and the Chisong Jia Family isn’t exactly harmonious."

The Three Immortal Sects of Zheng Country were Jingshui Pavilion, the Supreme Profound Sect, and Qingzhu Mountain.

Just as Foundation Establishment Families were vassals to Golden Core Families, the Seven Golden Core Families were, in turn, vassals to the Three Immortal Sects.

The Chisong Jia Family was affiliated with Qingzhu Mountain.

The Qiyue Zhao Family was affiliated with the Supreme Profound Sect.

Of course, a powerful Golden Core Family like the Chisong Jia Family had a semi-independent affiliation with Qingzhu Mountain; they were not mere lackeys.

As for Jingshui Pavilion, it did not get along well with Qingzhu Mountain. While not enemies, they were certainly not allies.

With the higher-ups setting the example, it was only natural that the Chisong Jia Family had little interaction with Jingshui Pavilion.

"Your insight is clear, Fellow Daoist Qin."

Wei Tu offered a bit of flattery.

"There’s no time to waste. The Hee Mountain Huang Family is only offering eight spots. If we’re late, other cultivators will surely claim them."

Having concluded their business, Master Qin urged Wei Tu to set off with her immediately for Cloud Crane Mountain.

Compared to Wei Tu’s "limited experience," as a veteran Foundation Establishment cultivator from an Immortal Sect, Master Qin knew just how rare an Opportunity the Yunze Secret Realm was. Although the Hee Mountain Huang Family spread the benefits around by inviting Jingshui Pavilion cultivators each time, they never offered many spots. The spots they did offer could only be obtained with the backing of a Golden Core elder, so she never had a chance.

The three of them departed from Nanhang City.

"Talisman Master Wei, you actually have a Flying Ship?" After seeing Wei Tu release the "Huang Yanzhou," Master Qin’s beautiful eyes widened in disbelief.

One must understand that even she, a dignified Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, couldn’t bring herself to buy a Flying Ship.

’Are Tier Two Talisman Masters this profitable?’

’He can even afford a Flying Ship?’

Master Qin re-evaluated Wei Tu’s wealth and power, shedding the faint disdain she had held for him before.

She knew how incredibly adept "Artisans" like Talisman Masters and Pill Masters were at earning Spirit Stones.

But Wei Tu had only reached Foundation Establishment a little over a decade ago. Even if he was earning money, it shouldn’t have been this fast—not only had he maintained his cultivation, but he had also bought an extra like a Flying Ship.

"I have a slight talent for the Talisman Dao," Wei Tu said humbly with a smile.

Ordinary Talisman Masters, no matter how proficient they became at Talisman Making, would inevitably make mistakes.

But he was different. Not only did he master new Talismans quickly, but once his proficiency increased, he rarely failed when drawing the same type of Talisman again.

These differences made his earning potential equivalent to that of two, or even three, Talisman Masters of the same tier.

"’Slight talent...’"

The corner of Master Qin’s mouth twitched.

Based solely on the wealth Wei Tu had displayed, she judged that his potential in the Talisman Dao was likely around that of a Tier Three Talisman Master.

He probably wouldn’t encounter any major obstacles in his Talisman Dao before becoming a Tier Three Talisman Master.

’If he gets the right opportunity, Wei Tu might even be able to achieve Core Formation in the future,’ Master Qin thought, her eyes glinting.

Great wealth could compensate for a lack of innate aptitude. If an Immortal Sect took a liking to Wei Tu’s "Tier Three Talisman Master potential," they would very likely cultivate him and grant him a Core Formation Opportunity.

...

While the three were traveling to Cloud Crane Mountain aboard the "Huang Yanzhou," Wei Tu asked Master Qin if she had any elixirs that could increase the Magical Power of an Early-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, offering to buy them at market price.

Since breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage, he had never taken any elixirs to increase his cultivation.

First, he wanted to keep his Magical Power pure to increase his chances of Core Formation in the future.

Second, he wanted to avoid Pill Poison and the risk of being poisoned by others.

The first problem could be solved with his "Primordial Forbidden" technique.

The Primordial Forbidden had the effect of purifying Magical Power.

As long as he didn’t take too many elixirs, he could use the Primordial Forbidden to purify any impurities in his Magical Power, preventing damage to his foundation.

As for the second problem—Jingshui Pavilion was a renowned Righteous Sect, and its elixirs had never been known to be secretly tainted with Pill Poison to harm others.

Compared to Independent Refiners, Wei Tu trusted the Pill Masters of Jingshui Pavilion more.

However, unlike buying elixirs on the open market with Spirit Stones, elixirs from Jingshui Pavilion could only be exchanged for Contribution Points by the sect’s own cultivators.

There was a reason he didn’t ask Kou Hongying to make the exchange for him—she hadn’t been in cultivation for long, so she didn’t even have enough Contribution Points for herself, let alone any spare to help her "uncle."

Only a cultivator like Master Qin, who had been in the Foundation Establishment stage for a long time, would have a surplus of Contribution Points to exchange for elixirs and trade privately with outside cultivators.

"Elixirs for the Early-Stage Foundation Establishment?" Master Qin’s slender eyebrows rose slightly. "Jingshui Pavilion has three common elixirs that can increase Magical Power at that stage."

"I have one of those three elixirs on me. It’s called the Jade Marrow Pill. Its medicinal effects are pure, with almost no Pill Poison."

"I originally procured this bottle of elixirs for my nephew, but if you wish to buy it, Talisman Master Wei, I can consider selling it to you."

Master Qin understood his unspoken request immediately. She turned her palm over, revealing a Pill Bottle labeled "Jade Marrow Pill."

"Her nephew?" Hearing this, Wei Tu recalled the arrogant "Senior Brother Zhuu" he had met at Kou Hongying’s Foundation Establishment celebration years ago.

If he wasn’t mistaken, the Jade Marrow Pills in Master Qin’s hand must have been prepared for that "Senior Brother Zhuu."

...

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