Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

The layout of this Underground Auction was quite different from the one at Canglong Mountain; it was a cut above.

The end of the hollowed-out underground passage didn’t lead to the main auction hall but to a stone door.

A guard pushed open the stone door, revealing a Tier Three Teleportation Array inside.

The design of this Teleportation Array was different from the one Wei Tu had seen in the Secret Realm’s Stone Hall. It consisted of a dark black Array Platform that projected a cyan screen of light, which faintly revealed a glimpse of another space.

’The Jiuyun Commerce Association has a Tier Three Array Master? No wonder Old Monster Jia didn’t put up the slightest resistance after the association "escorted" him out for causing a scene at the last auction,’ Wei Tu mused.

He guessed that the Jiuyun Commerce Association’s main reason for setting up a Tier Three Teleportation Array at this Underground Auction was to deter any would-be troublemakers.

It was a clear message to all the Foundation Establishment Independent Cultivators: the Jiuyun Commerce Association was backed by the protection of a Golden Core True Monarch.

After all, in the current Cultivation Realm of Zheng Country, Tribulation Cultivators were becoming increasingly common among the Independent Cultivators.

In the Cultivation Realm’s hierarchy, among those of the Same Realm, Immortal Sect Cultivators held the highest status, followed by Family Cultivators, with the destitute Independent Cultivators at the very bottom.

However, times had changed. The fact that Independent Cultivators had nothing also meant they had no attachments. If one person ate, the whole family was fed.

—Once order broke down, these Independent Cultivators became the greatest source of chaos.

They didn’t dare to openly resist the oppression from the Immortal Sects, but they certainly had the guts to secretly kill Immortal Sect Disciples and Family Cultivators.

When a middle-aged man with the air of a Confucian scholar saw Wei Tu step out of the Teleportation Array, he walked up and greeted him.

"Fellow Daoist Hong, it is our honor to have you at the Jiuyun Commerce Association’s Underground Auction," the middle-aged scholar said with a smile.

"Not at all, not at all," Wei Tu replied politely. Hong Wen was the alias he was using for this auction.

He didn’t expect the alias to fool the Jiuyun Commerce Association, only the other Cultivators attending.

Then, the middle-aged scholar’s smile vanished. He beckoned behind him, and a young, beautiful Qi Cultivation Female Practitioner approached.

"Miss Qir, this is Elder Hong. You will be taking care of him during the auction. Remember not to offend him, or else your Qir Family..." The middle-aged scholar’s expression turned cold as he verbally threatened the beautiful Female Cultivator.

"The Qir Family?" Wei Tu asked in surprise. "You don’t mean the Xuanhou Qir Family?"

It was already difficult for Independent Cultivators to support their own Cultivation. If this Miss Qir were an Independent Cultivator, the middle-aged scholar would have threatened her directly, not by using the two words "Qir Family."

And among the Foundation Establishment Families in Zheng Country, the only one with the surname Qir was the Xuanhou Qir Family.

Unlike the Hee Mountain Huang Family, which was named after the Cloud Crane Mountain region, the name "Xuanhou" referred to the family’s Late-Stage Tier Two Profound Frost Monkey.

The Profound Frost Monkey had a long lifespan of nearly a thousand years and was the Xuanhou Qir Family’s Clan Guardian Spirit Beast.

"Fellow Daoist Hong has a keen eye. Miss Qir is indeed a member of the Xuanhou Qir Family. In fact, she is the youngest daughter of the current Clan Leader..."

"However... a few years ago, the Xuanhou Qir Family’s Profound Frost Monkey and its Foundation Establishment Cultivator fell on the Righteous Demon Battlefield..."

As he said this, a faint smile appeared on the middle-aged scholar’s face, as if to remind Wei Tu that "Miss Qir" was once of high status, making her a fine piece of merchandise.

Upon hearing this, a look of understanding dawned on Wei Tu’s face.

In the years of the Battle of Righteous and Demons, quite a few Foundation Establishment Families, like the Xuanhou Qir Family, had fallen into decline after their Foundation Establishment Cultivators perished.

Having lost the protection of a Foundation Establishment Master, many Family Cultivators were now worse off than even Same Realm Independent Cultivators.

Acting as if this were perfectly normal, Wei Tu reached out, wrapped an arm around the beautiful woman’s slender waist, and led her to a rosewood chair in the corner.

Just moments ago, while talking with the middle-aged scholar, Wei Tu had already noticed that most of the Male Cultivators present had a beautiful Female Cultivator like "Miss Qir" accompanying them.

—If he were to act like a gentleman now and push away Miss Qir, a mere Qi Cultivation Female Practitioner, it would actually seem quite abnormal at this Underground Auction.

Besides, back in the mortal world, while he hadn’t frequented brothels like his second brother Weii Fei, as a Military Officer, he had seen such scenes several times and wasn’t about to be flustered by it.

"I am Qir Feng." Her delicate body stiffened slightly as she slowly sat down on Wei Tu’s lap. After a moment’s hesitation, her lovely lips parted, and she stated her name.

’Being forced to serve Wei Tu this time is a disgrace,’ she thought, ’but if I play my cards right, this might be my chance to get back on my feet.’

At this thought, Qir Feng’s face flushed slightly. Recalling the images from a Secret Play Map, she took Wei Tu’s hand and guided it inside her robes.

A soft, jade-like fullness met his grasp. Wei Tu, who had been surveying the other Cultivators, froze. He subconsciously squeezed a few times.

Half a breath later, when he felt the firm bud at the center, Wei Tu finally realized what he was doing.

He glanced in Kou Hongying’s direction. Seeing that she hadn’t noticed his actions, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He still felt rather uncomfortable acting this way in front of his niece. If Kou Hongying weren’t here, such a trivial matter wouldn’t even be worth mentioning.

Fortunately, Chai Ping’s appearance on the auction stage drew everyone’s attention, relieving Wei Tu’s awkwardness.

Qir Feng, who was still thinking about how to please Wei Tu, felt his slightly cold hand quickly withdraw from her robes. She grew anxious, not understanding why he had reacted so strongly.

’Could it be that this Elder Hong isn’t interested in women?’ Qir Feng worried.

The Underground Auction was her only chance to meet an unfamiliar Foundation Establishment Cultivator. If she missed this Opportunity, it would be difficult to ever turn her life around.

Wei Tu paid no mind to Qir Feng’s thoughts.

His gaze, like that of all the other Cultivators, was now fixed on the items on the auction stage.

Chai Ping had a commanding stage presence. With just a few simple words, she built up the auction’s atmosphere and sold the first item for a high price.

...

Every item was appealing, but Wei Tu was not the man he used to be. Ordinary Spiritual Objects could hardly catch his eye. After all, his combat style for the Foundation Establishment Stage had already begun to take shape, and he had no need for new techniques.

Item after item was fiercely contested by the Cultivators below the stage.

"The next item up for auction is a Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure that enhances Body Refining Cultivation—Earth Dragon Flesh."

"This is a Spiritual Object native to the Dragon Bone Forest in the Yunze Secret Realm. It can greatly enhance a Cultivator’s Qi and Blood."

Chai Ping unveiled a red cloth, revealing a jade box filled to the brim with bloody chunks of meat.

As her voice fell, Wei Tu’s eyes lit up. He immediately raised his paddle and began competing with the other Cultivators for this Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure from the Yunze Secret Realm.

He had originally come to the Underground Auction to see if there were any other Body Refining Treasures.

He never expected that the Earth Dragon Flesh he had consumed before would appear here.

Although the effects would be greatly diminished since he was taking it again, winning this item should make it easy for his Body Refining Cultivation to reach the Middle-Stage Tier Two.

The price for the box of Earth Dragon Flesh quickly soared to 1,600 Spirit Stones.

"Two thousand one hundred Spirit Stones." Wei Tu gritted his teeth and raised the bid by 500 Spirit Stones, making his determination to win it clear.

A single box of Earth Dragon Flesh had limited effects. He didn’t believe the Cultivators bidding against him were also at a "Critical Point" in their Body Cultivator Realm.

The Cultivators bidding against him were mostly Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators, who were likely buying the Earth Dragon Flesh in preparation for breaking through to the Core Formation realm.

—If their Qi and Blood were insufficient or began to decay during Core Formation, consuming Earth Dragon Flesh could alleviate the problem.

However, Earth Dragon Flesh wasn’t the only Treasure that could replenish Qi and Blood; there were other substitutes.

Therefore, when these Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators saw Wei Tu raise the bid so drastically, they thought it over and lowered their paddles, choosing to remain silent.

"Congratulations to this Fellow Daoist for winning the Earth Dragon Flesh," Chai Ping announced with a pleased expression as she brought down her gavel.

The final price for the box of Earth Dragon Flesh was considerably higher than she had anticipated.

Wei Tu, however, didn’t mind.

As a Tier Two Middle-Grade Talisman Master, he had plenty of ways to earn money. A difference of a few hundred Spirit Stones was well within what he could afford; it wasn’t enough to make him feel the pinch.

Exchanging Spirit Stones for an increase in strength was, to him, well worth it.

Next, Chai Ping took other precious items from her Storage Bag.

However, these items held little appeal for Wei Tu. He gave them a cursory glance before looking away, waiting for the final Treasure of the Underground Auction.

...

「Half a day later.」

All the items had been sold; not a single one failed to find a buyer.

It was almost time for the final Treasure to be revealed.

"I’m sure you have all noticed, Fellow Daoists, that the quality of the items in this auction is... a Level higher than the last..."

"Some items that would have been a final Treasure in previous auctions were merely regular items tonight."

Chai Ping smiled faintly.

Hearing this, the Cultivators in the audience nodded silently, agreeing with her words.

From what they had seen, the quality of this Underground Auction was indeed a step above previous ones. The two hundred Spirit Stones they had spent on the invitation had not been wasted.

"I won’t keep you in suspense any longer."

"The first of our finale Treasures is a Magical Treasure from True Monarch Leng Feng of the Blood God Sect—the Blood Slaughter Banner!"

"This banner was damaged by Queyue True Monarch and is now an Incomplete Treasure. But as I’m sure you all know, the power of an Incomplete Treasure is far greater than that of a Talisman Treasure."

"Some Golden Core True Monarchs might go their entire lives without saving up enough Spiritual Materials to refine a single Magical Treasure."

As Chai Ping spoke, a white-haired old man appeared on the stage, holding a lacquered wooden tray. He wore an expression of trepidation as he looked at the red cloth covering the tray in his hands.

The red cloth was lifted.

A bloody, murderous aura immediately descended upon the entire hall, silencing the Foundation Establishment Cultivators. The eyes of some Cultivators with weaker mental fortitude even turned red as their Magical Power fluctuated erratically.

These Cultivators included Qir Feng, who was in Wei Tu’s arms.

After a moment’s thought, Wei Tu placed a hand on Qir Feng’s smooth back, helping her resist the oppressive might emanating from the Golden Core-level Magical Treasure.