Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

Under the might of the Jade Seal Talisman Treasure, the defensive magical artifacts and magical power shields summoned by the two Jia Family juniors proved as fragile as paper, shattering completely within a few breaths.

Master Qin and the other Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Zhao Family, Zhao Shuyuan, did not waste this opening. They immediately delivered the killing blows, slaying the two Jia Family juniors in an instant.

The entire battle was over in less than two breaths.

"Save me..." Lying in a pool of blood with her life ebbing away, Huang Caiyu looked up at Wei Tu in the crowd. A glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes as she begged in a weak voice.

But... Wei Tu averted his gaze.

He knew full well that Huang Caiyu was the sacrifice needed to activate the Teleportation Array. If he saved her, their group wouldn’t be able to travel to the Nanhua Sect’s Remnant Land at all.

Furthermore, her cultivation foundation was already destroyed. Even if he saved her now, she would just be a cripple with little of her lifespan remaining.

Not only would she be no help, she would actively slow them down.

Beyond these points, six months ago he had stood by and watched Guu Xuan brutally murder her ex-husband, Zheng Xian. That incident had already sown the seeds of enmity between them.

For all these reasons, both practical and personal, Wei Tu was not about to make the foolish mistake of saving Huang Caiyu.

After uttering her plea for help, Huang Caiyu didn’t last much longer before she fell unconscious.

"Huang Caiyu was killed by Si Qing. Once we’re back in the outside world, I will help you testify to that, Fellow Daoist Wei," Zhao Pengzong said with a chuckle, retrieving his Talisman Treasure. His eyes glinted as he took in the scene.

For a Tributor to watch a member of their patron family die without offering aid was a major taboo among clans.

Regardless of Wei Tu’s reasons or whether circumstances even permitted him to act—if the Hee Mountain Huang Family ever found out, they would undoubtedly hold it against him.

It was inevitable.

"Just as Uncle said, Huang Caiyu was killed by Si Qing. By the time Fellow Daoist Wei arrived... Huang Caiyu was already dead," Zhao Qingluo chimed in, stepping forward from the group.

"Fellow Daoist Wei, please rest assured. We cultivators of the Qiyue Zhao Family... are not the type to betray our allies."

’Why is Qingluo protecting an outsider...’ Zhao Pengzong was inwardly frustrated. He had been planning to use this situation to get some leverage over Wei Tu.

But with her saying that, if his Qiyue Zhao Family were to betray him later, they’d look like treacherous villains.

’Could it be...’ Zhao Pengzong studied Zhao Qingluo and Wei Tu, a new suspicion dawning on him.

’This is a good thing.’

Zhao Pengzong smiled to himself.

The Huang Family had suffered a major blow, and Huang Caiyu’s death was now a wedge between Wei Tu and his patrons. Wei Tu’s next move was suddenly very interesting to the Qiyue Zhao Family.

If Wei Tu joined the Zhao Family, they would all be on the same side. This little incident would mean nothing.

’Zhao Qingluo... could she know what happened that day? Is that why she’s defending Uncle Wei?’

Kou Hongying, watching from the side, wondered as her almond-shaped eyes darted between them.

That was the only thing that would make Zhao Qingluo stick up for him. After all, he had saved her life.

’But... if Uncle Wei and Zhao Qingluo get together, I wonder if he’ll still treat me the same...’

Kou Hongying sighed to herself.

If Wei Tu were to remarry, his relationship with Weii Fei and Fu Zhizhou would remain unchanged, but things would not necessarily be the same with her, his "niece."

After all, propriety demanded a certain distance between men and women.

Although she was called Wei Tu’s niece, the actual age difference between them was only a little over twenty years.

Even if they both strictly observed proprieties, aware of their different stations and sharing only the trust forged in the Yee Society alliance... outsiders wouldn’t necessarily see it that way.

It was akin to the old saying about how trouble and gossip always gather at a widow’s door.

...

After a wait of about ten minutes, the Ancient Bronze Mirror on the array platform once again bloomed with five-colored light. The faint yellow curtain of light it projected flared brilliantly.

"The Teleportation Array’s cooldown must be over. Everyone, I shall go first." Zhao Pengzong was the first to step into the array.

After one person teleported, the faint yellow light from the Ancient Bronze Mirror dimmed slightly, but there was still enough power left to transport one more.

Though nothing was said, the Qiyue Zhao Family cultivators and Wei Tu’s party of three shared a silent understanding.

Master Qin and Zhao Shuyuan, the only two remaining Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, didn’t move. Instead, they signaled with a glance for the other cultivators to enter the Teleportation Array.

Taking the cue, Kou Hongying followed right behind Zhao Pengzong and entered the Teleportation Array.

Then came the second wave.

It was Wei Tu and Zhao Qingluo’s turn to enter.

Upon stepping into the Teleportation Array, Wei Tu was once again hit by the same dizzying, world-spinning sensation he had felt when entering the Yunze Secret Realm.

After steadying his mind for a few breaths, the scene from the Ancient Bronze Mirror materialized before Wei Tu’s eyes.

An ancient, magnificent Stone Hall lay sprawled across the wilderness like a slumbering, primordial beast.

Wei Tu glanced at Zhao Qingluo, who had appeared at the entrance of the Stone Hall with him. He didn’t speak, instead releasing his Guardian Map Divine Sense to scan the area outside the hall.

He scanned for a moment and discovered that an endless forest stretched for miles beyond the Stone Hall. Within a radius of about a thousand feet around the hall, however, there was a transparent, light-blue dome, like an inverted jade bowl, covering the entire magnificent structure.

This light-blue dome had to be a barrier designed to block divine sense; when his Guardian Map Divine Sense touched it, he felt a searing jolt.

Next, Wei Tu discovered a No-Fly Array in the vicinity of the Stone Hall. At this moment, he, a full-fledged Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, was no different from someone in the Qi Cultivation Realm. He could only use his Magical Power to levitate briefly, but he couldn’t remain airborne for long.

After a moment of thought, Wei Tu opened his Spirit Beast Bag and released the Sky-Splitting Carving.