Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

The Jia and Zhao families had been at war for years. It was understandable that the Hee Mountain Huang Family would stay out of the conflict, refusing to take a side. But then, due to an agreement with True Monarch Wan Hai, Huang Xinglie allowed Jia Family Cultivators to enter the Yunze Secret Realm. This act undoubtedly caused great offense to the Qiyue Zhao Family.

After that, the "Three Races Agreement" established by the Huang Family was an even greater blunder!

Under the Three Races Agreement, the Huang Family treated the Jia and Zhao families equally, stipulating that the number of cultivators and their Cultivation levels for entering the Yunze Secret Realm must be the same for both.

However, from an ally’s perspective, treating them the same as their sworn enemy was anything but fair.

How could the Qiyue Zhao Family possibly continue to treat the Hee Mountain Huang Family as a true ally?

They had forsaken righteousness for small profit.

This was cut from the same cloth as Huang Changshun forcing Wei Tu to leave the Hee Mountain Huang Family.

The events of the Secret Realm trip also proved this point beyond a doubt.

The Zhao Family Cultivators were more concerned with their own gains and losses inside the Stone Hall and had no intention of saving the Huang Family Cultivators.

Now, Wei Tu was writing a letter to Zhao Qingluo to ask her a question—would the Qiyue Zhao Family fulfill their duty as an ally to the Hee Mountain Huang Family and expose the connection between the Shuyun Alliance and the Chisong Jia Family?

He wasn’t asking because he was planning to make a move against Alchemist Shu or the Hee Mountain Huang Family.

Being a Tribulation Cultivator was not so easy.

The slightest misstep could lead to death.

He was inquiring about this development to prepare for any unexpected events and be ready for any contingency.

After all, the Hee Mountain Huang Family was one of the Seven Golden Core Families of the Zheng Country. Any turmoil within the Huang Family would create a butterfly effect, impacting the entire Cultivation Realm of Zheng, and even the Three Immortal Sects.

...

Huang Chengfu, the messenger, had just left.

Moments later, Gongg Suzhen, a Foundation Establishment Master from Jingshui Pavilion, arrived at the Wei Mansion.

Gongg Suzhen brought Wei Tu two Ice Crystal Pills and one Golden Yuan Pill.

After they settled the payment in Spirit Stones, refunding the excess and covering the shortfall...

Gongg Suzhen nodded in satisfaction. With a flip of her hand, a Jade Scroll appeared in her palm.

"I visited several friendly sect elders and inquired about the Body Refining Techniques they possessed."

"Fellow Daoist Wei, you may take a look."

"If you find a suitable Body Refining Technique, I will then go and negotiate an exchange with the elder."

As she spoke, Gongg Suzhen handed the Jade Scroll to Wei Tu.

"Thank you, Fairy Gongg," Wei Tu said, accepting the Jade Scroll.

Just from looking at the Body Refining Techniques listed in the Jade Scroll, Wei Tu could tell that the foundation of an Immortal Sect like Jingshui Pavilion was vastly superior to that of the Qiyue Zhao Family.

This time, Gongg Suzhen hadn’t approached many sect elders—only about twenty or so.

But the variety and Level of the Body Refining Techniques they possessed surpassed those of the Qiyue Zhao Family by more than just a single measure.

One was the collection amassed by the members of an entire sect.

The other was the collection of a thousand-year-old Golden Core Family.

The difference was clear at a glance.

The Jade Scroll listed a total of five Tier Two Body Refining Techniques and two Tier Three Body Refining Techniques.

Wei Tu skimmed past the Body Refining Techniques with major flaws or high requirements, fixing his sights on a Tier Three Body Refining Technique called the >.

"This technique must have been obtained after a cultivator from your esteemed sect killed a Demon Cultivator, correct?" Wei Tu said, setting down the Jade Scroll and tapping lightly on the tea table.

Although the > was a Demonic Cultivation Method for Body Refining, from what he could see, its flaws were far fewer than most Tier Two Body Refining Techniques.

Demonic Cultivation Methods were not all designed for quick, short-sighted gains. Many of them, in terms of cultivation time and the stability of one’s foundation, were even superior to ordinary Righteous Cultivation Methods.

"I was also surprised when I saw the >. However, according to that sect elder, as long as one’s Main Cultivation Technique is not a Demonic Cultivation Method, supplementing it with a few Demonic Divine Techniques is not a major issue within the Immortal Sect."

"Among all the Body Refining Techniques, this > can be considered top-tier, and it has few flaws. That is why I included it in this Jade Scroll for Fellow Daoist Wei to consider," Gongg Suzhen replied with a slight smile.

As a Righteous Immortal Gate, Jingshui Pavilion naturally possessed Tier Three Body Refining Techniques comparable to the >. However, no one would be bold enough to trade those techniques to an Independent Cultivator like Wei Tu.

">..." Wei Tu murmured, a trace of hesitation on his face.

Of all the Body Refining Techniques in the Jade Scroll, this was the only Tier Three Cultivation Technique that caught his eye. The others, while each having their own merits, were not significantly different from the Zhao Family’s >.

Furthermore, he possessed the inheritance for the >, and activating this Demonic Divine Technique required Magical Power of a yin-cold nature.

While other types of Magical Power could be used, the effect would inevitably be greatly diminished.

Therefore, to him, the > was not some useless trifle but a Body Refining Technique of great utility.

"Regarding the >, I heard from that sect elder that it originates from the Demon Dao’s Desolate Mountain Sect. Although the Desolate Mountain Sect is not one of the Five Demonic Sects, in terms of strength, it is considered a famous Great Sect within the Demon Dao."

"The Desolate Mountain Sect is the only Sect among both the Righteous and Demonic Dao that has a Nascent Soul Body Cultivator."

Seeing Wei Tu’s interest, Gongg Suzhen revealed the origin of the >.

’The only Sect with a Nascent Soul Body Cultivator?’ The words struck a chord with Wei Tu.

The existence of a Nascent Soul Body Cultivator meant that the Body Refining Technique of the Desolate Mountain Sect had a clear path forward, unlike other techniques where the path ended halfway.

On this point alone, purchasing the > was now a must.

"What price is the elder from your esteemed sect asking for this Body Refining Technique? If it’s too expensive, I’m afraid I won’t be able to accept. After all... although this technique is Tier Three, it is still just a Demonic Cultivation Method..." Wei Tu said with a troubled expression, beginning to haggle with Gongg Suzhen.

Gongg Suzhen knew that Wei Tu had extensive connections and that Body Refining Techniques were not exceptionally rare, so she offered a low price during the negotiation.

The two of them negotiated for a moment.

In the end, Wei Tu purchased the > for one thousand three hundred Spirit Stones, a price only slightly higher than that of a Tier Two Technique.

"In three days, I will deliver the complete > to you, Fellow Daoist." After accepting the Spirit Stones, Gongg Suzhen took her leave.

...

「Two months later.」

「Xiaya Ridge.」

Inside the Cave Mansion of the Xiaya Mei Family.

Wei Tu sat cross-legged and took out two Jade Scrolls from his Storage Bag.

One of the Jade Scrolls was pale red; it was the >. The other was dark black; it was the >.

After Gongg Suzhen had left, Wei Tu sent a second reply to Zhao Qingluo, revealing his intention to purchase the >.

However, unexpectedly, Zhao Qingluo did not ask for any Spirit Stones for the Tier Two Body Refining Technique. Instead, she gave it to Wei Tu for free.

Her reason was to thank him for the kindness of gifting her those few Talismans as she was stepping onto the Teleportation Array to leave the Stone Hall.

To this, Wei Tu did not refuse. It would have been impolite to do so, so he accepted the Body Refining Technique directly.

After all, inside the Stone Hall, besides the favor of gifting the Talismans, he had also lent her a helping hand once—or rather... he had saved her life.

In light of these two favors, it was not excessive for him to accept the Body Refining Technique from Zhao Qingluo.

’Zhao Qingluo gave me a Zhao Family technique directly this time, without taking any Spirit Stones. It seems... her status in the Zhao Family has improved considerably.’

’I just wonder if she’ll be cultivated as the Zhao Family’s next Golden Core candidate.’

Wei Tu mused.

After the trip to the Secret Realm, the Zhao Family had lost five Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Like the Hee Mountain Huang Family, their Primordial Qi had been greatly damaged.

Previously, Zhao Qingluo would have had a hard time ranking high due to seniority, but now, she was considered one of the most prominent Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Qiyue Zhao Family.

Her only competitor for Condensing a Golden Core was now her father, Zhao Tinghai.

And on this matter, as long as the Zhao Family’s Golden Core Ancestor, Zhao Jiangwu, wasn’t senile, he would absolutely grant the opportunity for Golden Core Formation to Zhao Qingluo, not to a Foundation Establishment Elder like Zhao Tinghai whose potential was already exhausted.

In fact, the Yunze Secret Realm was also a form of trial that the major influences used to test their own cultivators.

Cultivators who managed to emerge from the Secret Realm were often given preferential treatment and carefully nurtured by their respective powers.

This time, the death rate of the Secret Realm expedition was exceptionally high. The fact that Zhao Qingluo could walk out, despite relying heavily on Wei Tu’s help, was also inseparable from her own strength and good fortune.

Besides, having connections was also a form of strength.