Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

Finally.

It was also a matter of good timing for Zhao Qingluo.

For the Family Cultivators, the Battle of Righteous and Demons was as much an opportunity as it was a danger.

A Golden Core Family like the Qiyue Zhao Family certainly had the resources to nurture more Foundation Establishment Cultivators, or even another Golden Core Ancestor.

However, for the sake of the family’s long-term prosperity, the Golden Core Family had not chosen to exhaust its resources.

Now, during the Battle of Righteous and Demons, the slightest misstep could lead to a Golden Core Family’s destruction.

For the family’s sake, spending their foundational resources to cultivate more Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Golden Core True Monarchs was now their best option.

And Zhao Qingluo was the one within the Qiyue Zhao Family who was likely to be chosen as that "Golden Core candidate."

...

The thought that he had unintentionally befriended a potential Golden Core True Monarch brought a faint smile to Wei Tu’s face.

He was all too aware of the importance of connections.

His ability to leave the Hee Mountain Huang Family unharmed and later hide in the mortal domain of Nanhang City to trade with Gong Suzhen was all thanks to his network.

As for cultivating in seclusion with the Xiaya Mei Family, that was thanks to his son Wei Xiuwen’s connections.

’Consuming Earth Dragon Flesh can increase a Cultivator’s Qi and Blood. It’s a Body Refining Treasure.’

’This Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure will have the greatest effect on my Cultivation of the Hundred Veins Blood Forging Technique. For the Demon Slayer True Skill... the effect probably won’t be too significant...’

After a moment of thought, Wei Tu opened the jade box containing the Earth Dragon Flesh and began to practice this Body Refining Technique according to the energy circulation path of the Hundred Veins Blood Forging Technique.

He planned to study the Demon Slayer True Skill after he reached Great Success in the Hundred Veins Blood Forging Technique.

The order of Body Refining was very important.

Although the Hundred Veins Blood Forging Technique was mediocre, its strength lay in its stability, and it could also increase the chances of Core Formation.

After thinking this through, Wei Tu flicked his wide sleeve, drew a piece of Earth Dragon Flesh from the jade box with his power, and swallowed it. Then, he enveloped the Body Refining Treasure with his Magical Power and slowly began the Refinement of its Medicinal Power.

A short while later, Wei Tu’s skin gradually turned red, like a boiled prawn. At the same time, his Qi and Blood began to surge like a great river, emitting a strange sound—RUSH, RUSH!

This strange sound was a sign that Wei Tu’s Qi and Blood were boiling to their peak.

Wei Tu used Introspection and saw that as his Qi and Blood circulated through his hundred veins, a faint crimson glow covered his entire body.

Although the Hundred Veins Blood Refining Spell was more geared toward forging a Body Cultivator’s "Qi and Blood," his Physique would also be strengthened in the process.

He took out a Calm Heart Talisman and stuck it on himself. ’This pain is agonizing,’ he thought, ’but it’s nothing compared to the suffering I endured when Refining Qi into Marrow back in the day.’

He came from a background as an External Martial Artist, and the physical torment he suffered when he cultivated the Bone Marrow Cultivation Scripture was in no way less than cultivating this Body Refining Technique today.

「Three days later.」

Wei Tu’s skin returned to normal. He gasped for a few breaths, his forehead instantly covered in fine beads of sweat.

Recalling the cultivation insights Fu Zhizhou had given him, Wei Tu stopped circulating the Hundred Veins Blood Refining Spell. ’I’ll cultivate again in a while. Body Cultivation, just like Magic Cultivation, relies on steady, continuous accumulation. Success doesn’t happen overnight.’

’I’ve achieved the initial stage with this technique. I wonder if it’s been recorded on the Golden Purple Destiny Chart?’

Wei Tu’s consciousness sank into his mind to observe the writing on the Golden Purple Destiny Chart.

A short while later, among the various inscriptions, he found the five words "Hundred Veins Blood Refining Spell."

「Hundred Veins Blood Refining Spell (2/100): Practice once every five days, achieve completion in one hundred and fifty years.」

’Practice once every five days? Is this the optimal training frequency the Golden Purple Destiny Chart has determined based on my physical condition?’ Wei Tu pondered.

The Golden Purple Destiny Chart could, based on his physical condition and Spirit Root Level, display on the Destiny Golden Seal the time required to perfect each Cultivation Technique, as well as the "frequency" of each practice session.

However, this required time did not include external factors.

’When the Hundred Veins Blood Forging Technique is perfected, my strength will be equivalent to a Peak of Foundation Establishment Cultivator,’ Wei Tu deduced. ’One hundred and fifty years of Cultivation... It seems my Spirit Root aptitude has improved a little recently.’

The progress of a Body Refining Technique was also closely related to one’s Spirit Root aptitude.

He had no foundation in Body Refining Techniques, yet he could reach the "Peak of Foundation Establishment" for a Body Cultivator in one hundred and fifty years.

Conversely, it should not take him as long as one hundred and fifty years to reach the Peak of Foundation Establishment Realm as a Magic Cultivator.

Next, Wei Tu didn’t remain idle. He took out the Ice Crystal Pill he had obtained from his trade with Gong Suzhen, swallowed it, and began the Refinement of its Medicinal Power.

...

「Three years passed in the blink of an eye.」

After the Refinement of two boxes of Earth Dragon Flesh, Wei Tu’s Hundred Veins Blood Refining Spell quickly approached Minor Success, and he condensed his first Blood Pill.

After condensing the Blood Pill, his Body Refining Cultivation reached Early-Stage Tier Two, the equivalent of Early-Stage Foundation Establishment.

’I still have two boxes of Earth Dragon Flesh left. These two boxes alone are only enough to push my Body Refining Cultivation to the Peak of Early-Stage Tier Two. It will still be difficult to condense a second Blood Pill.’ Gazing at the small amount of Earth Dragon Flesh remaining in his hand, Wei Tu’s expression gradually grew solemn.

The effects of the Earth Dragon Flesh were even better than he had anticipated.

However, the progress of his Body Refining Cultivation relied almost entirely on the Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure that was the Earth Dragon Flesh; the proportion from painstaking Cultivation was too small...

Therefore, even with the help of four boxes of "Earth Dragon Flesh," his Body Refining Cultivation could, at most, only advance to the Peak of Early-Stage Tier Two.

Of course, if he had more time—another twenty or thirty years—Wei Tu reckoned that breaking through to Middle-Stage Tier Two in his Body Refining Cultivation wouldn’t be a problem.

’But... what I lack right now is time.’ Wei Tu sighed inwardly and shook his head.