Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

In fact, if Wei Tu didn't have the backing of the Loose Immortal Alliance, the Hann Mountain Tao Family would have surely killed him to keep their secrets the moment he asked for a piece of their smuggling operation. They would never have even considered letting him get involved.

But unfortunately for them, Wei Tu now had connections.

Therefore, Tao Shisheng's implication was clear—if Wei Tu wanted to be part of the smuggling route to Kang Country, he had to contribute something of value.

This was the prerequisite for any cooperation.

The Hann Mountain Tao Family feared the Loose Immortal Alliance, but fear was one thing; it wasn't enough to make them debase themselves just because of the Alliance's name.

"I am quite wealthy and willing to lend the Tao Family a hand," Wei Tu stated without much hesitation.

To be miserly in the face of great endeavors, yet risk one's life over petty matters—these are not the actions of a wise man.

It would take him twenty to thirty years at the soonest, or perhaps fifty to sixty years at the latest, for his cultivation to reach the Peak of Foundation Establishment and begin preparing for Core Formation. What might happen to the political situation in Zheng Country during that time was completely unknown.

Waiting until disaster struck to think of an escape route would be far too late.

Wealth that couldn't be converted into personal strength was merely fleeting. Wei Tu understood this point very clearly.

"Fellow Daoist Wei is a straightforward man. I admire that." Seeing how readily Wei Tu agreed, a trace of admiration appeared in the depths of Tao Shisheng's eyes.

Just moments ago during their negotiation, he had thought Wei Tu was trying to sponge off the Hann Mountain Tao Family, hoping to get them to help him smuggle his way out without paying any price.

But unexpectedly, Wei Tu wasn't some bootlicker begging for scraps. Instead, he intended to cooperate with the Hann Mountain Tao Family to jointly open up this smuggling route to Kang Country.

From this gesture alone, Tao Shisheng could tell that Wei Tu was a man of substance.

...

「Half a month later.」

Wei Tu left the Hann Mountain Tao Family's residence alone.

Compared to when he arrived, Wei Tu left with seven thousand fewer Spirit Stones and a number of Tier Two Talismans.

These missing Spirit Stones and Talismans were Wei Tu's initial investment in the Hann Mountain Tao Family's plan to open the smuggling route to Kang Country.

Seven thousand Spirit Stones. It sounded like a large sum.

However, that was only from an individual's perspective. For a major influence, while seven thousand Spirit Stones wasn't an amount to be scoffed at, it was still quite limited.

The Hann Mountain Tao Family had agreed to let Wei Tu join them. First, to prevent their smuggling operation from being exposed. Second, out of gratitude for the help Wei Tu had provided. And third, the number of people Wei Tu had arranged to smuggle was small—fewer than five. For this number, Wei Tu's investment made the deal profitable for the Hann Mountain Tao Family.

After leaving the Hann Mountain Tao Family, Wei Tu thought for a moment, then first made a trip to the Bai Shihu Marketplace to deliver a letter to Kou Hongying. Afterward, he headed straight for the Qiyue Zhao Family to see Fu Zhizhou and Weii Fei.

Ten years ago, on his way to Chaning Cliff, Wei Tu had visited the Qiyue Zhao Family.

Unfortunately, at that time, Fu Zhizhou, like Wei Tu, had also received a Recruitment Order from the Immortal Sect and was sent to garrison Green Water Bay on the front lines.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, ten years had passed.

Fu Zhizhou had been fortunate enough to survive his time at Green Water Bay and return. He had escaped his tribulation and was now a free man.

Of course, Fu Zhizhou's luck was inseparable from the shorter duration of his service. He had only been stationed there for five years, half as long as Wei Tu.

...

「Half a month later.」

Qiyue Mountain, the home of the Qiyue Zhao Family.

Wei Tu stood at the entrance to Qiyue Mountain and sent several Talismans to Zhao Qingluo in succession. But even after waiting a long time, he did not see her come out to greet him.

"Fellow Daoist Wei, Qingluo is currently in seclusion for her cultivation. If you have business with us, you can speak directly to me..." Zhao Tinghai said as he flew out from Qiyue Mountain, giving Wei Tu a respectful bow.

"Clan Leader Zhao." Wei Tu quickly returned the bow upon seeing Zhao Tinghai.

Wei Tu noticed that Zhao Tinghai was holding the very Talismans he had just sent.

"I was just looking for Princess Qingluo to catch up on old times."

Wei Tu offered a casual excuse.

He had come to the Qiyue Zhao Family this time not only to see Fu Zhizhou and Weii Fei, but also to return the Small Shifting Talisman that Zhao Qingluo had given him.

After all, the Small Shifting Talisman was far too valuable.

He now had the one given to him by True Monarch Che, so it didn't feel right to keep Zhao Qingluo's as well.

'This Small Shifting Talisman is one of Zhao Qingluo's life-saving treasures. If she were to meet with some misfortune because I took it, I would regret it for the rest of my life.'

However, he could hardly tell Zhao Qingluo's own father that he was still holding onto the life-saving treasure the Zhao Family had given to their Celestial Pride.

"There's no need to catch up."

Zhao Tinghai stood tall amidst the clouds, looking down on Wei Tu with an indifferent tone. "Ten years ago, after you left, Qingluo went into life-or-death seclusion to begin Solidifying her Pill. Two years ago, the anomaly signaling her Core Formation already appeared. Before long, she will be a Golden Core True Monarch."

"From now on, the two of you are nothing more than strangers."

Over thirty years ago, before the Yunze Secret Realm opened, he had considered matchmaking Wei Tu and Zhao Qingluo. He had hoped to use a marriage alliance to recruit the talented Talisman Master into the Qiyue Zhao Family.

Over ten years ago, when Wei Tu left the Qiyue Zhao Family, he had asked Zhao Qingluo to see him off. Besides wanting her to resolve her inner conflict and calmly pass the Divine Sense Barrier, he had also entertained the thought of matchmaking them again.

But now, times had changed.

Soon, Zhao Qingluo would be the Golden Core Ancestor of their Qiyue Zhao Family, while Wei Tu was merely a Middle-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. The Golden Core Realm was a distant dream for him, visible but forever out of reach.

He might never reach the Golden Core Realm in his entire lifetime.

The difference in their status was too great.

He could no longer tacitly approve of any relationship between Wei Tu and Zhao Qingluo.

As the Clan Leader, he knew what a great disaster it would be for the Zhao Family if their new Golden Core Ancestor became entangled in personal affections.

"'Strangers?'" Wei Tu was stunned for a moment upon hearing this.

He never thought that he, of all people, would one day receive the classic protagonist treatment from a novel.

Unlike the protagonists in those novels, however, Wei Tu felt no resentment. There was only a sense of lament for the impermanence of the world, and also... a sense of relief.

After all, he had no romantic feelings for Zhao Qingluo, only... a certain amount of guilt.

Back then, he had rejected Zhao Qingluo's good intentions in the Stone Hall. Now, for the Zhao Family to "reject" him in turn was only fair.

"Princess Qingluo... began Solidifying her Pill ten years ago?" Wei Tu said with delayed surprise, the fact finally sinking in.

Ten years ago, although Zhao Qingluo's cultivation had already reached the Peak of Foundation Establishment, he had assumed she would still spend several years stabilizing her realm before attempting Core Formation.

He never imagined she would go directly into seclusion for Core Formation right after he left.

Fortunately, although her attempt at Core Formation seemed a bit rushed, the result was good. The anomaly had already appeared, and it wouldn't be long before she broke through to the Golden Core Realm.

Seeing the look of concern on Wei Tu's face, Zhao Tinghai's mood improved slightly. He even felt a pang of shame, since he hadn't asked Zhao Qingluo before driving Wei Tu away. His words were driven purely by his own selfish desires.

"If, one day... Fellow Daoist Wei successfully Solidifies his Pill, then this matter..." Zhao Tinghai chose his words carefully, speaking euphemistically.

But halfway through his sentence, Zhao Tinghai gave a self-deprecating laugh and didn't bring it up again.

For Independent Cultivators, Core Formation was as difficult as ascending to Heaven.

He was essentially setting a nearly impossible goal for Wei Tu.

Even in the unlikely event that Wei Tu did succeed in Solidifying his Pill and reached the Golden Core Realm, would the Wei Tu of that time... still be the same as the Wei Tu of today?

Core Formation was a massive turning point.

The difference in status it created was far greater than the gap between Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment.

Wei Tu already had few feelings for Zhao Qingluo. Once he achieved Core Formation himself, why would he "bring humiliation upon himself" by trying to mend his relationship with the Zhao Family?

The very thought was preposterous.

Wei Tu didn't know what was going through Zhao Tinghai's mind.

He didn't think Zhao Tinghai's decision to make him a "stranger" in Zhao Qingluo's life was unreasonable.

He had a daughter of his own.

If, in the future, Fu Lin were to abandon Fairy Leng and then try to get back together with Wei Yan, he, as her father, would also find it intolerable.

Putting himself in the other man's shoes, he didn't think Zhao Tinghai was being unfair.

Zhao Tinghai was simply using his own methods to protect his daughter, Zhao Qingluo.