Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

After Zheng Country became the primary battlefield.

Kou Hongying knew her chances of survival in the Hongyan Mountain Marketplace would be greatly reduced.

Given the future intensity of the war, it would be difficult for a lone Foundation Establishment Master like her to survive.

"I hope Master achieves Core Formation soon." Kou Hongying’s expression was full of hope.

Once Master Qin succeeded in his Core Formation, the dangers she currently faced would vanish without a trace.

A Golden Core True Monarch, even one from a humble background with no power or influence, was still considered part of the Jingshui Pavilion’s high level.

They had the power to interfere in the Sect’s affairs.

’Master Qin...’ Hearing Kou Hongying’s words, Wei Tu also let out a soft sigh, secretly hoping for Master Qin’s success.

’In a quagmire like Zheng Country, the protection of a Golden Core True Monarch would offer a certain degree of security. My actions wouldn’t be so constrained either.’

After concluding their serious discussion.

Wei Tu led Qir Feng from the room and went to another private suite to rest.

As before, after the Underground Auction, they were uncertain whether Tribulation Cultivators might try to intercept them. Therefore, staying in Changzhou City for a while would significantly reduce that risk.

...

They entered the suite.

Qir Feng hid in a corner, trembling. She occasionally looked up at Wei Tu, who was washing up and undressing in the inner room, her eyes holding a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

She understood the difference between true physical intimacy and merely holding the title of a Concubine.

However, this was her first time experiencing such a thing. All the boldness she had displayed at the Underground Auction was gone. She could only wait for Wei Tu to come to her, not daring to make the first move.

The inner and outer rooms were separated only by a curtain.

Thus, it wasn’t difficult for Qir Feng, sitting on a stool in the outer room, to see Wei Tu’s actions clearly.

’He’s just changing his Disguise?’ After waiting a moment, Qir Feng, who had mentally prepared herself, felt her anticipation turn to disappointment when she saw that Wei Tu was only changing his clothes.

’Maybe it’s because Elder Kou is here,’ Qir Feng mused. ’Elder Wei feels it would be inappropriate to touch me because of his status...’

A moment ago, when she heard how Kou Hongying addressed Wei Tu, she had realized that "Hong Wen" was merely his alias.

’He’s not bad looking.’

At this moment, Wei Tu pushed aside the curtain and walked towards Qir Feng.

When Qir Feng saw Wei Tu’s true face, a flicker of joy surged within her, and she nearly let it show.

Frankly, among all the Cultivators she had ever seen, Wei Tu’s appearance wasn’t particularly outstanding. He was even a bit plain.

But compared to the dark-skinned, brutish appearance of "Hong Wen," his current look was a vast improvement.

So, seeing that Wei Tu’s appearance was so much better than expected, how could she, who had resigned herself to being a Concubine, not be pleasantly surprised?

"Miss Qir, allow me to introduce myself..." Wei Tu walked to Qir Feng’s side and explained his true identity to her.

’Revealing my identity is the foundation for building mutual trust. If she doesn’t know who I am, Qir Feng won’t be completely honest with me.’

"The genius Talisman Master, the Hundred-Year-Old Foundation Establishment?" Qir Feng asked in surprise.

Before the Xuanhou Qir Family’s decline, she was already well-acquainted with Wei Tu’s famous name within her family.

A Hundred-Year-Old Foundation Establishment was a prodigy typically only found within the Three Immortal Sects or the Seven Golden Core Families.

On that achievement alone, Wei Tu’s name was known among all the major Foundation Establishment Families. This was to say nothing of his later display of exceptional skill in the Talisman Dao, with which he made a name for himself at the Hee Mountain Huang Family’s Golden Moon Cliff conference.

The Xuanhou Qir Family happened to be on good terms with a vassal family of the Hee Mountain Huang Family, and it was from them that they had learned of Wei Tu’s reputation among Talisman Masters.

Qir Feng thought for a moment but couldn’t recall any negative rumors about Wei Tu.

She understood why Wei Tu was revealing his identity now. After a moment’s hesitation, she continued with the Qir Family "secret" that she hadn’t finished explaining at the auction.

"At the auction, I already told Elder Hong... I mean, Elder Wei. Five years ago, my father and our Ancestor were conscripted to fight on the Righteous Demon Battlefield..."

"Before he left, my father told me that a Secret Treasure was hidden in the family’s Forbidden Land. This treasure is the foundation of our Qir Family. He said that if he died in battle, I should immediately enter the Forbidden Land and retrieve it."

"But, my father miscalculated one thing. By the time I heard the news of his death, my second uncle had already seized control of the family. I had no chance to get near the family’s Forbidden Land..."

A sorrowful look crossed Qir Feng’s face.

"Is that everything you know, Miss Qir?" Wei Tu’s tone was a little cold.

After all, at the auction, Qir Feng had sworn to him that her family’s Secret Treasure could help him advance his cultivation.

And yet, here they were.

Qir Feng couldn’t even explain what the Secret Treasure actually was.

Of course, Wei Tu didn’t think Qir Feng was lying. ’She probably just doesn’t know its specific function.’

"Please forgive me, Elder Wei. I truly don’t know what it is. After all, before my father left, he didn’t think that he... would die at the same time as our Ancestor."

Qir Feng replied.

"However, this Secret Treasure does indeed have the effect of advancing cultivation."

"Every time the Ancestor entered the Forbidden Land and came out, his cultivation would increase significantly."

Qir Feng thought for a moment and added.

"His cultivation advanced every single time he came out?" Wei Tu raised an eyebrow, a hint of anticipation for the Qir Family’s Secret Treasure growing within him.

"What I promised you at the auction still stands." After thinking for a moment, Wei Tu glanced at the uneasy Qir Feng and offered a comforting word.

Qir Feng’s words just now had reminded him of his own farewell with his daughter, Wei Yan, before he left for the Yunze Secret Realm.

’Loving parents always make long-term plans for their children.’

The only difference was...

He had come out of the Yunze Secret Realm alive.

...while Qir Feng’s father had died on the Righteous Demon Battlefield alongside her Ancestor.

For that reason, Wei Tu felt no desire to make things difficult for Qir Feng.

"It is late. I wish to serve you, Elder Wei..." Qir Feng blew out the candle, then knelt between Wei Tu’s legs and began to undo his robes.

In response to this.

Wei Tu did not resist.

He was a man who acted methodically and kept his feet on the ground, never one for flights of fancy.

By the same token, he chose to appreciate the scenery along the Immortal Dao step by step, rather than focusing solely on the destination—immortality itself.

Of course.

That said, Wei Tu wouldn’t linger too long on the roadside distractions either, lest he invite unnecessary trouble.

Other than Wei Yan and her brother, he had no desire for more children who would drain his Heart Power.

The night was hazy, the moon high and bright.

A light rain began to fall, pattering against the roof. The cold wind rustled the treetops, creating a sound like the music of a flute.

Just then, Kou Hongying, in the room next door, activated a Sound Insulation Array around her suite.

...

「Over ten days later.」

After resting and recuperating in Changzhou City, Wei Tu, Kou Hongying, and Qir Feng set out for Celestial Frost Ridge, the home of the Xuanhou Qir Family.

However, compared to the easy harmony of their previous travels, the atmosphere on this journey was somewhat somber.

Kou Hongying saw that Qir Feng’s hair was coiled in a bun at the back of her head, a style vastly different from that of an unmarried girl, and naturally understood everything that had happened that night.

She had anticipated this, but it put her in an awkward position—she no longer knew how to address Qir Feng.

Previously, she had called Qir Feng "Junior." It would be completely wrong to now call her "Aunty," so Kou Hongying could only pretend she hadn’t noticed.

After all, Qir Feng was only Wei Tu’s Concubine.