Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

Clan Leader Huang Changshun didn’t immediately agree. After a moment of contemplation, he retrieved a Spirit Contract from his Storage Bag, infused it with Magical Power, and presented it to Master Qin.

Compared to an Independent Cultivator like Wei Tu, Master Qin’s status was undoubtedly far more prestigious. If an accident were to happen to her in the Yunze Secret Realm, the Hee Mountain Huang Family would be unable to bear the consequences should Jingshui Pavilion hold them accountable.

Therefore, signing a Spirit Contract in advance to ensure there were no future troubles was a necessity.

Master Qin took the Spirit Contract and saw that it was a simple Life and Death Spirit Contract with no overly harsh conditions. She gave a slight nod, wrote her name on it, and dripped a drop of blood from her fingertip into the contract.

Clan Leader Huang Changshun took back the Spirit Contract with a satisfied nod. His gaze then shifted to Wei Tu at his side as he asked, "Since Master Qin has agreed, what about you, Talisman Master Wei? Are you willing to join the expedition to the Yunze Secret Realm?"

"I’ll go."

Wei Tu answered without hesitation.

At the last Foundation Establishment conference, Clan Leader Huang Changshun had given him five years to consider.

Now, barely a month had passed, far from the five-year deadline.

But Wei Tu was worried that any delay might bring unexpected complications.

’Once the Hee Mountain Huang Family learns of the Demon Dao’s invasion, it’s uncertain whether they’ll still be so generous as to give a spot to a Tributor like me.’

"Clan Leader, is there a Life and Death Spirit Contract for Tributors?" Wei Tu asked.

’A verbal agreement is too risky. If the Hee Mountain Huang Family decides to go back on their word, there will be nothing I can do.’

’But with a signed Spirit Contract—with everything down in black and white—the price the Hee Mountain Huang Family would have to pay to break the agreement would be far greater than the life of a single Foundation Establishment Tributor.’

Although Clan Leader Huang Changshun didn’t understand why Wei Tu wanted to sign a Spirit Contract, providing one wasn’t a major issue for him. With a flip of his palm, he handed Wei Tu a Spirit Contract identical to Master Qin’s.

After signing the Spirit Contract, Wei Tu felt a sense of relief. By entering the Yunze Secret Realm, he could avoid becoming cannon fodder in the coming Great War of Righteous and Demons.

Next, Kou Hongying also asked Clan Leader Huang Changshun for a Spirit Contract and signed her name.

After paying the Spirit Stones, Master Qin and her disciple left the Clan Affairs Hall with Wei Tu.

At this point, Wei Tu mentioned to Master Qin that Yu Kui Master was interested in joining their team.

Previously, with Fu Zhizhou on the team, they had no worries about close-quarters combat.

But now, because of the Three Races Agreement, it was difficult for Fu Zhizhou to enter the Yunze Secret Realm, so their team needed to find a replacement Cultivator.

Yu Kui Master’s Puppets could perfectly fill Fu Zhizhou’s spot, and might even be more effective.

The only issue was that Yu Kui Master was a stranger, and in terms of trust, he fell far short of Fu Zhizhou.

"Let’s go meet him first," Master Qin decided after a moment of thought.

’A Puppet Master’s role in exploring a Secret Realm is far greater than that of an ordinary Cultivator.’

The three of them arrived at the Sacrificial Hall.

Soon, Yu Kui Master emerged from the Array in his small courtyard and welcomed Wei Tu and the others inside.

"A Puppet Master’s role in the Yunze Secret Realm is indeed exceptional. But if Yu Kui Master’s Puppets are merely Tier Two Lower Grade... that would be a pity."

Master Qin made her attitude clear.

Yu Kui Master could join their group, but he had to prove his capabilities. Otherwise, they would rather do without his help.

Master Qin’s thoughts aligned perfectly with Wei Tu’s. ’If Yu Kui Master’s strength is limited, there’s no need to bring a "burden" along.’

’After all, Tier Two Puppets can be bought with Spirit Stones; they aren’t rare items.’

Yu Kui Master invited Master Qin to the outer courtyard. Then, he slapped his Storage Bag and released a Giant Ape Puppet and a Swordsman Puppet.

"Please, test them, Fairy Qin," he said.

Master Qin nodded. She casually summoned a Magic Sword and sent a pale blue blade of light slashing toward the Giant Ape Puppet.

The Giant Ape Puppet raised its arm to block.

A moment later, a Sword Mark over three inches deep appeared on the Giant Ape Puppet’s dark arm.

A pleased expression appeared on Yu Kui Master’s face. He cupped his hands and said, "Fairy Qin, surely I am qualified to join the team now?"

"Not yet." Master Qin shook her head. "That last move was only an attack at the level of the Early-Stage Foundation Establishment. Your Giant Ape Puppet must be able to withstand a full-power strike from me."

With that, Master Qin held nothing back. The pale blue blade of light she unleashed from her Magic Sword was several times faster than before, and its power was on another level entirely.

BOOM!

The Giant Ape Puppet, which had been so resilient just a moment ago, was reduced to a pile of broken components scattered across the courtyard.

"A pity, Fellow Daoist Yu." Master Qin gave Yu Kui Master a respectful bow, then gave Kou Hongying a meaningful look and led her out of the small courtyard.

"Fellow Daoist Yu, my apologies."

Wei Tu sighed, offered Yu Kui Master a cupped-fist salute, and said consolingly.

"My strength was insufficient. There was nothing to be done." Yu Kui Master shook his head as he watched them leave, gaining a sober understanding of his own capabilities for the first time.

’If I advance to the Middle-Stage Foundation Establishment, perhaps the Puppets I refine could withstand an attack from a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator... ’

Watching Wei Tu’s departing figure, Yu Kui Master’s face showed his unwillingness to accept the outcome. But he soon sighed and stopped thinking about breaking through his Cultivation.

He had broken through to Foundation Establishment at the age of one hundred and fifty; his potential had long been exhausted.

Without another eighty to a hundred years, there was simply no hope of him breaking through to the Middle-Stage Foundation Establishment.

...

After seeing Master Qin and her disciple off,

Wei Tu clutched the "Jade Marrow Pill" and entered Seclusion.

’There are still over ten years until the Yunze Secret Realm opens. I have to break through to the Middle-Stage Foundation Establishment before then.’