Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

More than sixty years ago, when Wei Tu slew the Blood Elder Demon, the Sky-Splitting Carving's cultivation had already reached the Late-Stage of Tier One.

Then, after a dozen or so years, its cultivation broke through to the Tier One Peak. It was just one step away from Breaking the Realm and becoming a Tier Two Demon Beast.

However, advancing to a Tier Two Demon Beast was difficult.

Without the aid of Elixirs, even with a Profound Level bloodline equivalent to a human's Middle-Grade Spirit Root, it would be difficult for the Sky-Splitting Carving to achieve its "Foundation Establishment."

Thus, the Sky-Splitting Carving's advancement was delayed again and again, right up until this day.

Of course.

If Wei Tu had wished, it wouldn't have been impossible for the Sky-Splitting Carving to advance to a Tier Two Demon Beast several years, or even over a decade, earlier.

Wei Tu had obtained the Golden Ganoderma Pill two years ago, but he had prevented the Sky-Splitting Carving from breaking through so it could also enter the Yunze Secret Realm.

'Bringing a Tier Two Demon Beast into the Yunze Secret Realm would mean having to buy an extra slot from the Hee Mountain Huang Family.'

'Such a waste of money.'

'He would never do something like that.'

...

「Several days later.」

Inside a cave on Cloud-Rubbing Cliff.

The surrounding nature's spiritual energy began to churn, surging madly into the cave.

The nearby Demon Beasts sensed the disturbance and charged one after another toward Wei Tu's location.

"Mere Tier One Demon Beasts dare to approach?" Wei Tu's face filled with contempt. He stepped out of his Cave Mansion, channeled his Magical Power into the Ice Flood Dragon Sword, and cut down several of the beasts.

Seeing their kin so easily slain by Wei Tu, the gathered Demon Beasts showed a flicker of fear in their eyes. They halted nearby, hesitating to press the attack.

But then—

Suddenly, a piercing cry of an eagle echoed from within the cave.

Upon hearing the cry, the pack of beasts trembled, their faces contorting in fear.

Immediately after, a Sky-Splitting Carving flew out of the cave. It was a size larger than before, its entire body radiating a brilliant golden light. Its sharp talons locked onto the head of a rhinoceros Demon Beast, snatching it into the air before slamming it back down onto the ground.

A quarter of an hour later.

The dozens of Tier One Demon Beasts that had been circling the cave were all dead, their ends tragic.

After devouring the Flesh and Blood of the Low-Tier Demon Beasts, the Sky-Splitting Carving turned its pale red eyes to Wei Tu. It looked eager, as if it wanted to test its strength against him.

Under Wei Tu's care, it was often either starving or stuffed.

It had long held a grudge against him for this.

However—

Just then, the oppressive aura of a High-Tier Demon Beast suddenly descended upon it.

The Sky-Splitting Carving's eyes filled with horror. It tucked its wings under its belly and began to tremble uncontrollably.

It could sense that this pressure belonged to an Earth-Tier Demon Beast at the very least—a creature of the Core Formation Realm.

'So the tales of Demon Beasts betraying their masters are true after all.' Wei Tu's eyes narrowed as he walked to the Sky-Splitting Carving's side, a cold sneer forming inwardly.

Spirit Pets were, by nature, Demon Beasts tamed by Human Race Cultivators, their wild instincts never fully extinguished.

His Sky-Splitting Carving's history was even more complicated. It was an adult Demon Beast he had seized from the Blood Elder Demon; who knew how many masters it had served before him.

With a flick of his sleeve, Wei Tu pressed his Geomagnetic Primordial Light down upon the Sky-Splitting Carving. He then reached out with his right hand, clamped it on the carving's head, and extracted a sliver of its Divine Soul.

After Refining this sliver of Divine Soul back into the Beast Taming Token, Wei Tu finally withdrew his Geomagnetic Primordial Light and released the Sky-Splitting Carving.

After this ordeal, the Sky-Splitting Carving's defiant gaze was gone, replaced by one of complete submission and awe.

'Good thing you didn't know about this when I was Refining the Mirage Puppet, you Beast.' Wei Tu walked over to a nearby thicket and retrieved the Swordsman Puppet he had obtained from Yu Kui Master, returning it to his Storage Bag.

Just a moment ago, it was his modified Swordsman Puppet that had emitted the aura of a High-Tier Demon Beast, causing the Sky-Splitting Carving to tremble and not dare to move.

SKRAWK! SKRAWK! The Sky-Splitting Carving, in a complete reversal of its earlier attitude, rubbed against Wei Tu's robes, trying to convey that its actions had been unintentional.

But Wei Tu wasn't falling for its act. He pried the Sky-Splitting Carving's wings off his leg and began directing it to scout the surrounding area.

The records mentioned some areas in the outer region where Spirit Grass grew, but these herbs were clearly of little use to a Foundation Establishment cultivator like him.

Now.

He had two options.

First, he could use the Shuangming Jade to sense Master Qin's location and meet up with him and Kou Hongying.

Second, he could head to the closest Inner Spiritual Land, the Dragon Bone Forest.

'These two options aren't mutually exclusive. I'll head to the Dragon Bone Forest first and use the Shuangming Jade to sense Master Qin's location along the way.'

'Master Qin is probably also hurrying toward one of the seven Spiritual Lands.'

Wei Tu mused for a moment.

Three years might seem like a long time, but it wasn't necessarily so within the Yunze Secret Realm.

Recuperating from injuries and recovering Magical Power after a fight could easily take several months.

Therefore.

It was best not to waste too much time.

Once the Sky-Splitting Carving had scouted the surrounding area and confirmed the path ahead was clear, Wei Tu flew at a low altitude, steadily making his way toward the Dragon Bone Forest.

The Dragon Bone Forest spanned several dozen miles.

Upon reaching the Dragon Bone Forest, Wei Tu landed on a towering, ancient tree. His divine sense swept out, and his face lit up with joy as he spotted several purple, Dragon Scale-like fruits growing on a small tree nearby.

'My luck is pretty good. I just entered the Dragon Bone Forest and I've already found Purple Cloud Fruit.'

According to the Jade Scroll.

The Dragon Bone Forest contained three primary Spiritual Objects of great value: the Purple Cloud Fruit, the Dragon Bone Flower, and Earth Dragon Flesh.

Although the Purple Cloud Fruit was only a Tier One Spirit Fruit, like the Silver Simurgh Fruit Wei Tu had consumed back in the Qi Refining Realm, its medicinal properties were gentle. It could be used to increase one's Magical Power during the Qi Refining Realm.

'It's a shame the Purple Cloud Fruit only grows in special regions like the Dragon Bone Forest. It can't be transplanted and cultivated.'