Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

The chances of returning alive were slim to none.

"Dad, when you're at Chaning Cliff, if you hear that we're in trouble back home, don't rush back. Xiuwen and I will take care of ourselves."

Wei Yan's voice was filled with sorrow as she choked back tears.

When ordinary Independent Cultivators faced a Death Tribulation, they stood no chance of survival.

But Wei Tu, a Tier Two Upper-Grade Talisman Master with a valuable skill, was different. If he were to surrender to the Demon Cultivators, there was a high probability he could save his own life.

Thus, while Wei Yan's words on the surface seemed to be telling Wei Tu not to worry about his family, her true meaning was that if surrendering to the Demon Cultivators would save his life, he shouldn't hesitate because of them—he should just surrender.

Hearing this, the cultivators from the Mei Family standing nearby paled. After all, if Wei Tu surrendered, it would implicate their Mei Family as well.

However, they quickly realized they had neither the standing nor the justification to interfere in this matter, so they could only hold their tongues and say no more.

Seeing this, Wei Xiuwen also made his stance clear. "I already relied heavily on your help for my Foundation Establishment, Dad. If your life is endangered because of us, I... I would have no face to continue living in this world."

Normally, Wei Xiuwen would be inclined to side with the Mei Family, but when it came to his father's life or death, he naturally knew where his loyalties lay.

"I understand." Hearing this, Wei Tu nodded, a hint of sadness also appearing in his eyes.

If he truly found himself in such a situation, he wasn't sure what choice he would make.

Surrendering to the Demon Cultivators could indeed save his life, but the price would be far too high.

Not only would Wei Yan and her brother lose their lives, but his freedom would also be forfeit from that day forward.

'If I really have to surrender, I can't let the outside world know,' Wei Tu thought to himself.

Although Demon Cultivators were inhumanly cruel, he didn't have much of a psychological barrier against defecting to the Demon Dao. It was all for the sake of survival.

Compared to the Demon Dao, he, an Independent Cultivator, had actually suffered more oppression at the hands of the Immortal Sects.

...

The Recruitment Order required Wei Tu to report to the front lines at Chaning Cliff within two months.

To avoid being punished for being late, after Sun Yu and the others left, Wei Tu packed a few belongings and piloted his Huang Yanzhou toward Chaning Cliff.

The Recruitment Order was not just a Mission Token issued to cultivators by the Immortal Sects; it was also a battlefield Spirit Contract signed between the sect and the cultivator.

This was no simple Spirit Contract like the ones Wei Tu had encountered during the Qi Cultivation Stage. Its binding power was extremely strong.

If Wei Tu were to breach the contract by failing to arrive at the designated post within the specified time, or by leaving during his term of service, the Magical Power Seal within the Recruitment Order would immediately cause a backlash in his own Magical Power and transmit his real-time location to the Immortal Sect.

Therefore, Wei Tu now had only two paths he could take.

One: Dutifully go to Chaning Cliff and stand guard. After the ten-year period was up, or after completing three major meritorious deeds, he could seek out the Immortal Sect to have the Recruitment Order lifted.

Two: Disregard his family and friends, defect directly to the Demon Dao, and use their power to remove the Recruitment Order.

But it was obvious that the second path would be anything but easy.

Just because the Immortal Sects weren't good people didn't mean the Demon Cultivators were.

A cultivator like him, who defected to the Demon Dao, would most likely be forced to sign a Spirit Contract similar to the Recruitment Order. Moreover, the Demon Dao's Spirit Contract would undoubtedly be even harsher than that of the Righteous Dao.

Of course, Wei Tu had a third option.

That was to break through the Foundation Establishment Realm within these ten years, successfully Condensing a Golden Core and becoming a Golden Core True Monarch.

The Recruitment Order in his hand only targeted Foundation Establishment cultivators. For a Golden Core True Monarch, it was practically useless.

...

On the way to Chaning Cliff, Wei Tu gave it some thought and decided to make a trip to the Qiyue Zhao Family.

Limited by his own strength and status, he knew little about the Defending Cultivators stationed near Chaning Cliff or the influence of the Demon Cultivators there.

But the Qiyue Zhao Family was different. They were a leading Golden Core Family with a semi-dependent relationship with the Three Immortal Sects. The intelligence they possessed was certainly far greater than his.

Secondly, Wei Tu also wanted to visit Fu Zhizhou and Weii Fei.

It had been over twenty years since he had last seen Fu Zhizhou, before they parted ways for the Secret Realm expedition.

And Weii Fei had just recently achieved Foundation Establishment. It was only right that he should go and congratulate him.

「Over ten days later.」

Wei Tu arrived at Qiyue Mountain.

"It's been years. Princess Qingluo, has your cultivation already reached the Peak of Foundation Establishment?" Wei Tu asked in surprise upon seeing Zhao Qingluo emerge from the clan's territory to greet him.

One must remember that during the Secret Realm expedition over twenty years ago, Zhao Qingluo's cultivation was only at the Middle-Stage Foundation Establishment.

"It is all thanks to the Ancestor's favor," Zhao Qingluo replied. Dressed in a white gown and standing on the mist-shrouded Qiyue Mountain, she looked like an ethereal Fairy.

She stared at Wei Tu for a few moments before averting her gaze.

Hearing this, Wei Tu had a sudden realization. When he had corresponded with Zhao Qingluo by letter over a decade ago, he had predicted that she might be chosen by her family to become a "Golden Core Seed."

Otherwise, with her previous status alone, she wouldn't have had the means to gift him the Hundred Veins Blood Refining Spell for free.

And with the full backing of her family's resources, it was not at all difficult to understand how Zhao Qingluo's cultivation had soared to the Peak of Foundation Establishment in just twenty short years.

"Last time, I must thank you, Princess Qingluo, for gifting me that Body Refining Technique."

Wei Tu said gratefully as he recalled the matter.

"Fellow Daoist Wei has saved me several times. A single Hundred Veins Blood Refining Spell is nothing in comparison," Zhao Qingluo said with a gentle smile, giving Wei Tu a slight bow.

Seeing this version of Zhao Qingluo, Wei Tu was taken aback for a moment. She was so different from the Zhao Qingluo he had first met in the small courtyard on Lark Street a hundred years ago.