Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

"Wei Tu has only been with our Huang Family for a little over twenty years. His background is traceable and his history is clean. He shouldn't be the traitor." Huang Xinglie pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

A few years ago, after Wei Tu broke through to the Middle-Stage Foundation Establishment and revealed his talent for the Talisman Dao, Huang Xinglie, as the Golden Core Ancestor, had begun to learn more about him and even conducted an investigation.

From Wei Tu's birth, to serving as a Military Officer in the Zheng Country Court, to his Cultivation on Danqiu Mountain...

Nothing in Wei Tu's past was suspicious.

Otherwise, when Wei Tu entered the Yunze Secret Realm this time, he wouldn't have lent him the Golden Silk Armor as a gesture to win him over.

The Golden Silk Armor was a Tier Two Upper-Grade Defensive Magic Artifact, after all—a rarity even in the Hee Mountain Huang Family.

"However, this suspicion about Wei Tu does exist, and we can't let our guard down. We'll just have to keep a close eye on him from now on." Huang Xinglie did not deny Clan Leader Huang Changshun's judgment.

The matter of a traitor allowed no carelessness. Even a single point of suspicion was enough to place someone on the list of suspects and guard against them strictly.

"Ancestor, you are wise. I also believe the chances of Wei Tu being the traitor are low," Clan Leader Huang Changshun flattered him.

Then, Huang Changshun continued, "I believe that among the four Tributors in the clan, besides Wei Tu, the probability that Array Master Si Qing is the traitor is significant. Before this... the clan had already conducted several investigations into Si Qing..."

Huang Changshun knew that judging Wei Tu to be the traitor based solely on the illogical "Spirit Contract" was not only unfair but also risked making a mountain out of a molehill.

He had only mentioned Wei Tu regarding the traitor to serve as a pretext for bringing up Si Qing.

Compared to Wei Tu, who was an unaffiliated official, Si Qing was different. She was a Tributor personally brought into the Hee Mountain Huang Family by the Second Ancestor, and her status was considerable.

When it came to the traitor, mentioning Si Qing from the start would have inevitably raised suspicions about the Second Ancestor, creating the risk of dividing the Hee Mountain Huang Family.

But by discussing Wei Tu first, then bringing up Si Qing, who was also a Tributor, it seemed much more reasonable.

'Si Qing?' Huang Xinglie's heart stirred. He instantly recalled the beautiful, low-key Female Cultivator on the back of the Cloud Crowned Crane.

"After we leave the Yunze Secret Realm, place this woman under strict watch. If necessary, capture her and bring her to me for Soul-Searching and Soul-Seizing."

Huang Xinglie's gaze was profound as he spoke.

'As for Juzhi...'

"I'll watch him myself!"

Huang Xinglie said in a deep voice.

...

'When it came to suspicious individuals, the Second Ancestor, Huang Juzhi, was the biggest one in their Hee Mountain Huang Family. His talent during the Qi Refining Realm hadn't been outstanding, but after reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, his progress had been explosive. In just two short centuries, he successfully achieved Core Formation, becoming the second Golden Core Ancestor after him.'

'Even though they were both Golden Core Ancestors, and his own seniority and strength surpassed Huang Juzhi's, for the sake of the family's Inheritance, he couldn't very well interrogate Huang Juzhi about the reasons for his successful Golden Core Formation.'

...

Much like the Hee Mountain Huang Family's current predicament, upon hearing of the Demon Dao's invasion, the Ancestors of the major Golden Core Families all wore worried expressions, pondering how to solve their shortage of Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

But in contrast to the grim situation of the Golden Core Families,

The Golden Core True Monarchs of the Three Immortal Sects were far more composed. Some of them even smiled with a hint of mockery in their eyes upon seeing this.

After all, as True Monarchs of an Immortal Sect, they had known about the impending invasion of the Five Demonic Sects for over a decade.

They were extremely well-prepared.

As for the Ancestors of these Golden Core Families, they were of the Same Realm of Cultivation as the True Monarchs. Although the difference wasn't apparent on a normal day, at a critical moment like this, the disparity in their status was truly revealed.

The invasion of the Five Demonic Sects was indeed a thorny issue for the Three Immortal Sects, but it was more of a nuisance than a disaster that could topple them.

The same couldn't be said for the Golden Core Families, however.

Many Golden Core Families in the history of the Zheng Country had been annihilated during the Battle of Righteous and Demons.

...

「Yunze Secret Realm, Dragon Bone Forest.」

Wei Tu had no idea that the Five Demonic Sects had already sounded the horn for their invasion, nor that the Hee Mountain Huang Family suspected him of being a traitor.

At this moment, he was facing his first battle since entering the Yunze Secret Realm.

His opponents were none other than the two Qingzhu Mountain Cultivators who had previously confronted the Female Cultivator Guan.

The origin of this confrontation traced back several days to when Wei Tu had bluffed his way, using the Mirage Puppet and the Sky-Splitting Carving, to snatch the two Dragon Bone Flowers.

Wei Tu wasn't the only Cultivator with a Spirit Beast. The square-faced man leading the two Qingzhu Mountain Cultivators possessed an Exotic Insect called the Seven-Colored Illusion Moth.

This Seven-Colored Illusion Moth was unlike ordinary Spirit Beasts. It was scentless, aura-less, and possessed an innate Illusion Skill, making it difficult for ordinary Cultivators to detect.

Several days ago, during the confrontation with the Female Cultivator Guan, the square-faced man had silently released the Seven-Colored Illusion Moth, preparing to launch a sneak attack on her.

However, due to Wei Tu's unexpected intervention, the square-faced man's plan failed. After fleeing, he had unintentionally left the Seven-Colored Illusion Moth behind.

And the Seven-Colored Illusion Moth happened to have spotted the Mirage Puppet on the Sky-Splitting Carving's back.

Therefore, after Wei Tu took the Dragon Bone Flowers, these two Qingzhu Mountain Cultivators used the Seven-Colored Illusion Moth to follow his trail all the way here.

'One careless mistake.'

Wei Tu lamented inwardly.

He had been cautious the entire way, making sure to conceal his breath and hide his presence, but he'd unexpectedly been tracked by the Seven-Colored Illusion Moth anyway. He had walked right into a trap, entering the ambush circle set by these two Qingzhu Mountain Cultivators.

—The Xiangluo Nose could sense Demon Qi, but its effectiveness was much less pronounced against Human Race Cultivators who were focused on Concealing their Breath.

And although the Sky-Splitting Carving was leading the way and scouting for enemies, it was still outmatched when facing Cultivators who had already set an ambush and were prepared for it.