Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

"Their hearts were pierced—a single, fatal blow. This technique Si Qing used to kill two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Huang Family strongly resembles the 'Life-Bending Hand,' a Martial Technique of the Celestial Maiden Sect, one of the Five Demonic Sects."

Master Qin walked over. After examining the bodies of Huang Changkong and Huang Wenqing, her expression grew grave as she spoke in a somber voice.

Although killing wasn't forbidden in the Yunze Secret Realm, it was rare for cultivators to attack members of their own faction, let alone a Tributor like Si Qing turning on her patrons.

Many of the Magical Artifacts and treasures carried by cultivators entering the Yunze Secret Realm contained hidden "marking objects" placed by Golden Core Ancestors.

If cultivators from different factions killed each other, then once outside the Yunze Secret Realm, the Golden Core Ancestors generally wouldn't intervene or seek retribution, even if they detected their marked items. This held true as long as the victim wasn't a particularly important figure.

—This was because robbing and killing within the Secret Realm was tacitly approved by the leadership of the major powers, making it one of the unwritten rules of the Yunze Secret Realm.

There were only so many Core Formation Spiritual Objects to go around, not nearly enough to be divided equally among all the factions. This method was the only way for a faction to secure a larger share for itself.

But—

All of this was based on one premise.

You could not attack cultivators from your own faction.

The "marking objects" left by the Golden Core Ancestors were primarily intended to prevent such incidents from occurring.

As a Tributor for the Hee Mountain Huang Family, Si Qing had robbed and killed two of their Foundation Establishment cultivators. If Huang Xinglie learned of this, he would never let Si Qing escape with her life.

Therefore, the moment she saw Si Qing kill the two Huang Family Foundation Establishment cultivators, Master Qin had become suspicious of her identity.

Aside from Demon Cultivators, few Righteous Cultivators would be so audacious.

Now, after seeing the technique Si Qing used to kill Huang Changkong and Huang Wenqing, Master Qin was certain that Si Qing was a Demon Cultivator.

Seeing the confused expressions on Wei Tu and her disciple Kou Hongying's faces, Master Qin pondered for a moment, then explained, "The Celestial Maiden Sect is similar to Jingshui Pavilion—both are female cultivation sects. The difference is that Jingshui Pavilion is of the Righteous Dao, while the Celestial Maiden Sect is of the Demon Dao."

"Cultivators of the Celestial Maiden Sect may all appear to be delicate women, but that is not the case. Their sect's Cultivation Technique not only preserves their beauty but also has the effect of Body Refining."

"Therefore, most cultivators from the Celestial Maiden Sect have achieved Spirit and Martial Unity."

"If it weren't for her Spirit and Martial Unity, it wouldn't have been so easy for Si Qing to take down those two Huang Family Foundation Establishment cultivators..."

'A cultivator from the Celestial Maiden Sect?'

'Spirit and Martial Unity?'

'The Life-Bending Hand?'

A glint flashed in Wei Tu's eyes as he committed the characteristics of Si Qing's Cultivation Technique to memory.

He had witnessed Si Qing robbing and killing the Huang Family's Foundation Establishment cultivators. If nothing unexpected happened, he, Master Qin, and Kou Hongying had now become thorns in her side that she needed to remove.

Si Qing would find it difficult to leave the Yunze Secret Realm without eliminating the three of them.

Unless...

she could find another way out of the Yunze Secret Realm, bypassing the Golden Core Ancestors waiting outside.

Next, Wei Tu carved coffins out of wood, placed the bodies of Huang Changkong and Huang Wenqing inside, and then carefully stored them in his Storage Bag.

These two bodies were evidence of Si Qing's crime against the Huang Family cultivators; they couldn't just be hastily buried or abandoned.

Furthermore, Huang Changkong was the "Guide" who had brought him into the Hee Mountain Huang Family, and their relationship had been quite good.

For this reason alone,

he couldn't let Huang Changkong's body be left exposed in the wilderness.

...

「After dealing with the bodies.」

Wei Tu's group of three continued toward the location of the Yellow Essence Grass.

Just as Master Qin had expected, because the Yellow Essence Grass was in a remote location, not many cultivators had their eyes on this Core Formation Spiritual Object. There was only one cultivator from the Supreme Profound Sect and two from the Xuefeng Zheng Family.

Of these three cultivators, aside from the Zheng Family's young master "Zheng Xian," whom Wei Tu recognized, the other two were at the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment.

At this moment, these two groups were guarding a choke point leading to the Yellow Essence Grass. They were waiting for an opportunity to eliminate the guardian Demon Beast, while also blocking other cultivators who might try to steal the treasure.

Any solo cultivators who saw two Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators here would abandon any thought of stealing the treasure. They could only turn back and seek other opportunities in the Yunze Secret Realm.

However, the situation was reversed after Wei Tu's group of three arrived.

Wei Tu's small team had become the strongest faction present.

"I am Guu Xuan. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Qin." The Supreme Profound Sect cultivator, dressed in a Daoist Robe, frowned slightly upon seeing Master Qin's arrival but took the initiative to greet her.

This time, the cultivators from Jingshui Pavilion and the Supreme Profound Sect had traveled together, so the members of both factions recognized one another.

"Daoist Guu." Master Qin returned the courtesy.

"From what I have observed, there are five stalks of Yellow Essence Grass here in total, which is enough for our three factions to divide."

"I have a proposal. Our three factions should join forces to kill the guardian Spirit Beast watching over the Yellow Essence Grass—the Flying Fox Demon Spider."

"Afterward, how about we divide the five stalks of Yellow Essence Grass based on the contributions made by each party?"

A smile played on Guu Xuan's lips. He flicked his duster and gave Master Qin a formal Daoist bow as he spoke.

As a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator, this proposal was a surefire win for him.

Even if he contributed less, he would still be able to obtain one stalk of Yellow Essence Grass.

No one would stubbornly insist on splitting hairs over contribution levels and risk offending a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator like him.

Hearing this, Master Qin was tempted and was about to agree. But just as she was about to speak, she suddenly thought of Wei Tu. She turned her gaze to him and asked, "Fellow Daoist Wei, what do you think of this plan?"

Logically, she was the leader of their three-person team and didn't need to ask for Wei Tu's opinion.

However, out of consideration for the Talismans Wei Tu had given her earlier, she felt she should consider his opinion and not act arbitrarily.

Seeing this unfold.