Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

He practiced Body Refining to increase his combat strength as quickly as possible, adding to his protective measures to deal with the volatile situation in the Zheng Country.

An Early-Stage Tier Two Body Refining Cultivation couldn’t help him much in a fight.

After all, his own cultivation had already reached the Middle-Stage Foundation Establishment Realm.

’Still, Earth Dragon Flesh isn’t the only Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure capable of improving my Body Refining Cultivation...’ Wei Tu stroked his chin, recalling the Jiuyun Commerce Association he had encountered on Danqiu Mountain.

He remembered that in another year or two, it would be time for the Jiuyun Commerce Association’s underground auction, an event held once every twenty years.

His gains from the last underground auction had been substantial.

He had obtained the crafting method for the Ice Flood Dragon Sword, a type of Talisman Sword, as well as news about the Iron Magnetic Spirit Wood.

Both of these items had been a great help to his cultivation path.

This time, attending the underground auction would allow him to sell off some of the ill-gotten gains he’d acquired from killing for treasure in the Yunze Secret Realm. He could also use the auction to obtain Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures similar to Earth Dragon Flesh, or at least find news about them.

However, just as Wei Tu was pondering which of his ill-gotten goods would be suitable to sell without attracting the Jiuyun Commerce Association’s attention, a Talisman fell before him.

’Xiuwen achieved Foundation Establishment?’

Wei Tu took the Talisman, and a smile spread across his face as he read its contents.

Three years ago, while he was staying on the Xiaya Mei Family’s Spiritual Land, Wei Xiuwen had also taken the opportunity to enter Seclusion there, attempting to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Now, three years later, Wei Xiuwen had finally succeeded, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

After reading the Talisman’s message, Wei Tu flicked his wide sleeve, opened the door to his Cultivation Room, and stepped out.

The two Mei Family Cultivators standing guard outside saw Wei Tu emerge from his Seclusion, and they both bowed low with great respect. "Elder Wei."

Times had changed.

Things were very different now compared to several decades ago.

Back then, after Wei Xiuwen married Mei Zhen and joined her family, he had suffered no small amount of humiliation from the direct lineage of the Xiaya Mei Family.

But with the passage of time, things were different.

The Wei Family now boasted three Foundation Establishment cultivators. Their power and prestige were no less than what the Xiaya Mei Family had possessed at the peak of their history.

Three years ago, when Wei Tu had come to stay with the Xiaya Mei Family, Clan Leader Mei Yuanfeng had been utterly reverent toward him. He didn’t behave like they were family by marriage, but more like a subordinate pleading for a favor.

Acknowledging the scene with a slight nod, Wei Tu summoned his Escape Light and flew toward the Mei Family’s Clan Affairs Hall.

"My good in-law." The moment Wei Tu’s feet touched the ground, Mei Yuanfeng, who had been waiting inside the hall, eagerly rushed out to greet him.

"With Xiuwen’s successful Foundation Establishment this time, both of your children... have now become Foundation Establishment Masters."

"Such a thing is a rare sight, even among Golden Core Families and Immortal Sects."

Mei Yuanfeng led Wei Tu to a seat inside the hall, picked up a pot, poured him a cup of Spirit Tea, and said with a smile.

"It was just luck. When I came out of the Secret Realm and learned that Yann’er had reached Foundation Establishment, I was shocked myself. I couldn’t believe it."

Wei Tu said humbly, waving his hand dismissively.

’Three Foundation Establishment cultivators in one family was a rare occurrence in the Zheng Country’s Cultivation Realm, but it wasn’t completely unheard of. If one were to count, there were actually quite a few such cases.’

’For example, Clan Leader Huang Changshun of the Hee Mountain Huang Family, along with his two daughters, also counted as three Foundation Establishment cultivators in one family.’

’After all, for powerful families or factions, Foundation Establishment Pills were not that difficult to obtain.’

"Yann’er’s success could be attributed to luck, but for you and Xiuwen to both reach Foundation Establishment... that’s more than just luck," Mei Yuanfeng remarked, a trace of envy in his eyes as he sighed emotionally.

He said this not because he thought Wei Tu and Wei Xiuwen had relied on some other stroke of fortune for their breakthroughs, but because he was acknowledging Wei Tu’s strength.

Of the Wei Family’s three Foundation Establishment cultivators, aside from Wei Yan’s breakthrough which had a hint of luck, the successes of Wei Tu and Wei Xiuwen both had clear, traceable reasons.

Wei Tu broke through to Foundation Establishment thanks to the returns on his investment in Kou Hongying, a Foundation Establishment cultivator from an Immortal Sect.

And Wei Xiuwen’s breakthrough was thanks to the gains his father, Wei Tu, had made in the Yunze Secret Realm.

These were two successes that were hard to be jealous of, even if one wanted to be.

The two chatted for a moment.

A moment later, Wei Xiuwen and Mei Zhen walked in through the doorway. The two of them bowed to Wei Tu and Mei Yuanfeng respectively, then stood in the center of the hall.

"There is one thing I would like to ask for Father’s approval." After standing for a moment, Wei Xiuwen hesitated, his lips moving silently, before he finally summoned his courage, looked at Wei Tu, and spoke these words.

Wei Tu had noticed that Wei Xiuwen had something on his mind the moment he entered the hall, so he wasn’t surprised by this.

"Although my breakthrough to Foundation Establishment this time relied on... the Foundation Establishment Pill that Father gave me, my cultivation needs over the years have been heavily supported by the Mei Family..."

"Therefore, I have decided that I wish to remain with the Mei Family and protect them..."

"Please forgive me for being unfilial, Father!"

Wei Xiuwen said, clenching his jaw.

’His father, Wei Tu, had only one son: him.’

’When he was in the Qi Refining Realm and his path was difficult, there was nothing to be said about him marrying into the Xiaya Mei Family.’

’But now, Wei Tu was a man of some standing in the Zheng Country’s Cultivation Realm. How could he tolerate his son continuing to be a live-in son-in-law for the Mei Family?’

’This wasn’t a matter of his father being ungrateful.’

’Rather, the debt of gratitude he owed the Mei Family could be fully repaid with Spirit Stones; there was no need for him to remain a live-in son-in-law at the Xiaya Mei Family for the rest of his life.’

"I’ll agree to it."

To the surprise of Wei Xiuwen and the Mei Family cultivators, Wei Tu’s answer was swift and without hesitation, and its content was far from what they had expected.

’He agreed?’ Mei Yuanfeng was astonished.

’If he were in Wei Tu’s shoes, he would never tolerate his only son remaining a live-in son-in-law.’

"Back then, when you married Mei Zhen, a Family Cultivator, I thought you were deliberately doing so to seize an opportunity to turn your fortunes around..."

"Now, it seems I was wrong."

Wei Tu shook his head.

’People grow.’

’Decades ago, when Wei Xiuwen married Mei Zhen, a Family Cultivator, he had believed his son’s motives were not pure.’

’However, Wei Xiuwen was his son, and the matter was beneficial to his cultivation path, so he hadn’t interfered.’

’He had only offered Wei Xiuwen a single warning: "You can take a gamble on your life once, but never twice."’

Seventy to eighty years had passed.

’The Wei Xiuwen of today had learned the meaning of a single word: responsibility. He was willing to bear the consequences of the foolish decision he had made out of youthful recklessness.’

’That was why today, after breaking through to Foundation Establishment, he had confessed his desire to remain with the Xiaya Mei Family and protect their cultivators.’

’In Wei Tu’s eyes, this was a matter for celebration. At least his son wasn’t like Li Xingye from all those years ago—a man who shirked his responsibilities and brought disaster upon his entire clan.’

’One had to understand that for a Foundation Establishment Master, the title of "live-in son-in-law" was not a respectable one.’

’He would be mocked by his peers.’

"I help you because you are your mother’s son, and you are my son. That’s all," Wei Tu added.

’He believed that helping one’s children with the expectation of a return on that investment was not true familial love.’

’The relationship between them would be merely that of an investor and an investment.’

’From this point of view, Wei Tu respected Wei Xiuwen’s choice.’

’Just as he had respected Wei Xiuwen’s choice to marry into another family for the sake of his cultivation all those years ago.’

—’One’s motives could be impure, but one’s actions must never be wicked or contemptible.’

"Thank you for your understanding, Father." Hearing this, Wei Xiuwen was instantly overcome with emotion. Tears streamed down his face as he knelt on the ground and bowed deeply to Wei Tu.

’He knew how incredibly fortunate he was to have a father like Wei Tu.’

’At the beginning of his cultivation path, his father had helped him, saving him from Fu Lin’s fate.’

’After helping him achieve Foundation Establishment, his father not only didn’t interfere in his life but actually respected his choices.’

"Father... Xiuwen and I will have a child soon. Our firstborn will take the surname Wei, and our second will take the surname Mei."

Seeing Wei Xiuwen kneel, Mei Zhen, who was beside him, also knelt down and made her promise.

’She knew that Wei Xiuwen had been bothered by her refusal to have children all these years.’

—’When Wei Xiuwen’s birth mother died, her greatest wish was to see three generations of his family living together.’

"That is for you to decide. I will not interfere," Wei Tu said, shaking his head.

’He helped Wei Xiuwen because Wei Xiuwen was his son, and they shared a bond of kinship.’

’As for future Wei descendants, he didn’t have the excess energy to help them.’

’Since he wouldn’t be helping future generations, it didn’t matter to him whose surname they took.’

’After all, he was not a Mortal, but a long-lived being with a lifespan of several hundred years.’