Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

Wei Tu did not disapprove of Wei Xiuwen's choice.

A person faces many choices in their life. It is easy to choose the path of survival, but far harder to choose a path that leads to one's demise.

Fleeing to Kang Country offered a much brighter future than hiding out to secretly protect the Mei Family.

All along, Wei Tu had worried that Wei Xiuwen would become the next Li Xingye, abandoning his family for the sake of his own future and causing them all to perish.

—And now, the Mei Family had become Wei Xiuwen's other family.

Now, Wei Tu no longer had this worry.

...

After receiving Wei Xiuwen's definitive answer, Wei Tu did not linger in Cuiping Valley. He took the Tao siblings and headed straight for Hann Mountain.

In the past, Wei Tu would never have had the courage to march so openly into an enemy's stronghold, especially since that stronghold was the ancestral home of a Golden Core Power.

But things were different now. He was a Disciple of a Golden Core True Monarch and an important member of the Loose Immortal Alliance.

With the backing of a Quasi-Nascent Soul Influence,

the Tao Family of Hann Mountain should fear him, not the other way around.

「Seven days later.」

The Tao Family of Hann Mountain, in the Southern Border of Zheng Country.

Upon learning that his son and daughter had returned safely, Tao Family Elder Tao Shisheng came out to greet them. He had also prepared a banquet to host Wei Tu, a rather famous Tier Two Talisman Master in the Independent Cultivator Realm.

During their conversation, Wei Tu casually mentioned his status in the Loose Immortal Alliance.

Upon hearing that Wei Tu was a Golden Core Disciple, the shift in Tao Shisheng and his wife's attitude was palpable. The subtle arrogance of a Family Cultivator gave way to humility.

"This is a superior Spirit Wine brewed by my mother. Please, enjoy it, Elder Wei." Tao Ya emerged from her room, a faint blush on her cheeks. Poised and graceful, she lifted a pot and filled Wei Tu's cup.

On their journey, though the siblings had been quite fearful of Wei Tu, worrying he might rob and murder them, this lingering "unease" completely vanished once he delivered them safely back to Hann Mountain.

In its place was a sense of gratitude toward Wei Tu.

After all, Wei Tu was not an old friend of the Tao Family of Hann Mountain; they were lucky that he had been willing to lend a hand on the road.

"Thank you, Miss Tao."

Wei Tu offered his thanks, then raised the cup, concealing it with his sleeve. He used a spell to drain the contents without a single drop touching his lips.

Although the chances of the Tao Family of Hann Mountain poisoning him were slim to none, he couldn't afford to be careless. It was always best to take precautions.

In a word: better safe than sorry.

None of the Tao Family Cultivators present noticed Wei Tu's subtle action. After all, his Cultivation was among the highest of anyone in attendance.

Once the banquet was well underway,

Wei Tu's lips barely moved as he sent a voice transmission to Tao Shisheng at the head of the table, ready to discuss business.

"When I rescued your son and daughter, I spoke with Shang Ming. I learned from him that your wife's third-eldest brother is Nie Wenjing, the Defending Cultivator of Chishui Pass."

"Is this true?"

Wei Tu asked, his expression turning serious.

With these words, Wei Tu saved face for the Tao siblings, attributing the family secret they had revealed to save their lives to Shang Ming instead.

"And what do you mean by this, Fellow Daoist Wei?" Tao Shisheng was stunned for a moment. He quickly recovered, however, and did not lose his composure.

While their connection to Nie Wenjing was a secret, it wasn't a fatal one for the Tao Family of Hann Mountain.

Besides, any discerning person could see that by personally escorting the Tao siblings back to Hann Mountain, Wei Tu was showing goodwill toward the Tao Family, not threatening them like a Tribulation Cultivator such as Shang Ming.

Given that, there was no reason for him to be nervous.

Furthermore, families like the Tao Family of Hann Mountain, with old ties to Defending Cultivators in a Foreign Country, were far from the only ones in Zheng Country.

The smaller the circle, the more interconnected its members become.

"My children have now reached the Foundation Establishment Realm. But because the Cultivation Realm of Zheng Country is in turmoil, I have not publicized this matter..."

Wei Tu said meaningfully.

"What? Both of Fellow Daoist Wei's children have reached Foundation Establishment?" Tao Shisheng was astonished to hear this.

As far as he knew, Wei Tu's only children were Wei Yan and Wei Xiuwen. And now, both of them had reached Foundation Establishment?

A father and two children, all at the Foundation Establishment Realm.

This was not only a celebrated tale in the Cultivation Realm, but also irrefutable proof of Wei Tu's "power" at the Foundation Establishment Realm.

An ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator would not have the resources to raise two of their descendants to Foundation Establishment.

Wei Yan and her brother might have decent aptitude, but there were plenty of people in the Cultivation Realm with better talent. Most of them, however, fell at the hurdle of Foundation Establishment, becoming nothing more than bleached bones.

Therefore, Tao Shisheng could easily guess that the success of Wei Yan and her brother in reaching Foundation Establishment was inextricably linked to their father, Wei Tu.

"Zheng Country is in turmoil. In the past few decades, countless factions have been annihilated... I have been to Jing Country before. Of the Golden Core Families from back then, you'd be hard-pressed to find a single one today."

Wei Tu reiterated his point, speaking more plainly this time.

From the moment he learned from Tao Ya why Shang Ming was hunting them, Wei Tu understood that his interests and those of the Tao Family of Hann Mountain were aligned.

The only question was whether the Tao Family of Hann Mountain would bring an outsider like him along when they fled Zheng Country.

With this statement, Tao Shisheng understood Wei Tu's intent. A thoughtful look appeared in his eyes as he said, "Fellow Daoist Wei, you saved my children's lives. By all rights, I should agree to your request..."

"It's just... to open an escape route to Kang Country, my third brother-in-law, Nie Wenjing, is far from enough. He is but one critical link in the chain."

As he said this, a helpless look crossed Tao Shisheng's face, as if this decision was an incredibly difficult one for him.