Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

The letter also mentioned one other thing: Master Qin’s Golden Core celebration.

Master Qin hadn’t invited many Foundation Establishment Independent Cultivators to this Golden Core celebration—only a few—and Wei Tu was one of them.

’We went through life and death together during those three years in the Secret Realm.’ Wei Tu wasn’t surprised to see the invitation tucked inside the letter.

You can know some people for years, yet they remain strangers.

Others, you can meet for a moment, yet they become your closest confidants.

His relationship with Master Qin was far from that of confidants, but by facing life and death together in the Yunze Secret Realm, they had built a certain foundation of trust.

Furthermore, even before the trip to the Secret Realm, he and Master Qin had engaged in large-scale Elixir transactions, a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Now that Master Qin had achieved the Golden Core realm, he might not care for their old camaraderie. But the Elixir trade was a different story. Master Qin still needed to profit from him, an Independent Cultivator, so it was unlikely he would be treated with contempt.

’Sucking up to the powerful and stepping on the weak, relationships growing cold—it all begins when you’re no longer useful to someone.’

Wei Tu reflected that as a Tier Two Upper-Grade Talisman Master, he was still quite useful to Master Qin.

Just because he had reached the Golden Core realm didn’t mean his wealth, Magical Artifacts, and other resources had instantly caught up to that level.

He still needed to earn Spirit Stones at the Foundation Establishment Level.

’The Golden Core celebration is on the sixth of next month, about a month from now,’ Wei Tu thought, glancing at the date on the invitation.

Then, he thought of something else.

Three years ago, Fu Lin had written to say he would either send another letter or meet with them within the next three years.

But now, more than three years had passed, and there was still no word from Fu Lin.

’Maybe he was just delayed by something,’ Wei Tu tried to think positively.

The Battle of Righteous and Demons was hard on the sects of the Righteous Dao, but the various Demonic Sects were suffering just as much. Every day, Demon Cultivators perished, their bodies and Daos obliterated.

Wei Tu could only hope that Fu Lin, a wanderer far from home, was safe.

...

After leaving his Cave Mansion, Wei Tu thought for a moment before heading to Wei Yan’s Cave Mansion. He gave her three of the Seven-Colored Illusion Moths he had raised to maturity using Immortal Spirit Dew.

—The amount of Snow Spirit Water he had given Wei Yan was limited; it wouldn’t have been enough for her to raise the Seven-Colored Illusion Moths to maturity within two years.

Just then, Wei Tu noticed Wei Yan seemed distracted and a little crestfallen.

He instantly understood. She, too, was worried about Fu Lin’s situation.

After all, it wasn’t in Fu Lin’s nature to break a promise.

His failure to appear meant there was a small chance he was simply delayed, but a much larger chance that he was trapped in a perilous situation, or even... that he had perished.

"There’s a limit to what a person can do," Wei Tu said comfortingly. "It’s not just Fu Lin. Even I, your father, no matter how cautious or meticulous I am, no matter how much I plan for every possibility... I could still fall on the path of cultivation..."

Back in their mortal days, Fu Lin and Wei Yan were childhood sweethearts who had grown up together.

Later, even though Wei Yan declared she would never marry, her relationship with Fu Lin wasn’t affected.

The Upper-Grade Spiritual Almond that Fu Lin gave at Xinghua’s funeral was the best proof of this.

Then, Fu Lin had risked danger to deliver two secret letters concerning the Demon Dao.

Wei Tu knew why he had delivered the letters. While it had something to do with him and the descendants of the Fu Family, Wei Yan was undoubtedly a major reason.

"Father, I understand." Wei Yan took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears, once again burying that sliver of emotion deep within her heart.

Seeing Wei Yan’s composure, a hint of admiration showed in Wei Tu’s eyes.

’To be able to prevent matters of the heart from affecting her Cultivation... with that mental fortitude alone, Wei Yan is already ahead of many Cultivators of her generation.’

...

After leaving Wei Yan’s Cave Mansion, Wei Tu made a trip to a nearby Marketplace. He found the Jiuyun Commerce Association and purchased a Foundation Condensation Pill and some Talisman Materials.

The Foundation Condensation Pill was the payment he had promised Qir Feng.

Two and a half years had now passed, and with the three-year mark approaching, it was time to give Qir Feng her due.

As for the Talisman Materials, Wei Tu planned to use the next month to create more Wood Thunder Talismans. Firstly, to build up his own reserves, and secondly, to present them to Master Qin as a congratulatory gift.

Just like he had done at the Xuanhou Qir Family, giving away a Tier Two Upper-Grade Talisman was a way to announce to the world that he, Wei Tu, had reached the Level of a Tier Two Upper-Grade Talisman Master.

It would solidify his reputation as a genius of the Talisman Dao.

’Friendship without value is fleeting. Even the best relationships will fade and grow distant if one party has nothing to offer.’

「In the blink of an eye, a month passed.」

Through his efforts, Wei Tu finally managed to create six finished Wood Thunder Talismans.

’My Magical Power at the Middle-Stage Foundation Establishment is still a bit strained for creating Wood Thunder Talismans. Once I reach the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment, it should be much easier.’ A smile appeared on Wei Tu’s face as he looked at the stack of Talismans on his desk.

With a flick of his sleeve, he swept the Talismans into his Storage Bag. He then prepared to leave the Xiaya Mei Family and head to Jingshui Pavilion for the Golden Core celebration.

However, just as he reached the Mei Clan Gate, he spotted a familiar figure standing some distance away. The man’s face was weathered, and his expression was hesitant.

"Second Brother?" Wei Tu said, surprised. He strode forward to greet him.

"Second Brother, how long have you been here? Why didn’t you come inside and get me?" Wei Tu asked hurriedly.

Even as he asked, Wei Tu had already guessed why Weii Fei would come all the way to the Xiaya Mei Family’s gate but not enter.

After Weii Fei failed to reach Foundation Establishment, as a Qi Cultivator, a natural rift had formed between him and the rest of them, who were Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

This rift had only grown wider with the passage of time.

And so, after more than twenty years, Weii Fei stood at the entrance to the Xiaya Mei Family, not daring to go inside and find him. He was afraid of exposing his "weaker side" to the man who was once his brother.