Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

Within the Beast Taming Sect, she was practically royalty, adored by all. Countless male cultivators showered her with affection, gifting her elixirs, talismans, and other Cultivation Resources to win her favor.

In her eyes, Wei Tu’s special attention was no different from that of those other male cultivators, so Nanzi subconsciously filed him away as just another one of her pursuers.

Thinking this, Nanzi decided she might as well take advantage of the situation. She tucked a stray strand of dark hair from her forehead, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"A few days ago, my master sent a private message saying that a Thunder Horned Rabbit is hiding in Xinghua Village. This rabbit is a Demon Beast left behind after the beast tide in the Yaolang Mountain Range. It’s at Middle-Stage Tier Two, with a Profound Tier Upper Grade bloodline..."

"If I can get this Thunder Horned Rabbit to submit, it will be a great boon to my future cultivation path."

"If Fellow Daoist Wei has the time, I was wondering if you would be willing to make this trip with me?"

Nanzi performed a graceful salute, her posture elegant and dignified.

She was out here all alone, and the only backer she could call upon was True Monarch Che, a True Monarch from the Loose Immortal Alliance who was acquainted with her master.

But obviously, a man of True Monarch Che’s status wouldn’t bother with her trivial affairs, like going to Xinghua Village to help her make a Demon Beast submit.

At most, he would just send one of his disciples to accompany her.

And Wei Tu happened to be True Monarch Che’s disciple.

Therefore, rather than asking True Monarch Che and forcing her master, Lady Hongzhi, to owe him a favor, she thought it better to directly ask Wei Tu for help—the pursuer she saw right in front of her.

Hearing this, Wei Tu thought to himself, ’Nanzi really has some nerve. We’ve barely gotten acquainted, and she’s already trying to order me around to do her heavy lifting.’

A Demon Beast was not so easy to make submit.

Making a Demon Beast submit is several times more difficult than killing a Demon Beast of the same realm.

Moreover, the Demon Beast Nanzi wanted to capture was a Middle-Stage Tier Two Thunder Horned Rabbit.

The cultivation of this Thunder Horned Rabbit was the same level as his own, at least on the surface.

"Xinghua Village is far. A round trip would take several months at the very least. Not long ago, I received a Talisman from True Monarch Bao. I have to go to True Monarch Bao’s Mansion... to study a Cultivation Technique..." Wei Tu said, a troubled look on his face as he took out True Monarch Bao’s Talisman to decline her request.

With his strength, helping Nanzi make a Thunder Horned Rabbit submit wouldn’t be a big deal.

It was just that his goal was to get on good terms with Nanzi, a Celestial Pride from the Beast Taming Sect, not to become her servant.

Knowing when to say no was important.

It established that he and Nanzi were equals in their interactions.

Fortunately, Wei Tu had received Bao Siyan’s Talisman a month ago, giving him a perfect excuse to refuse Nanzi directly.

The Talisman’s message was genuine.

Nanzi couldn’t very well force Wei Tu to accompany her to Xinghua Village.

She raised a delicate eyebrow, her thoughts turning to another suitable candidate among True Monarch Che’s disciples.

"Fellow Daoist Wei, are you familiar with Hua Xianlong? What is his character like?" Nanzi inquired.

Among True Monarch Che’s disciples, besides Wei Tu, Hua Xianlong had also tried to curry favor with her.

But compared to Wei Tu’s "steadfast" demeanor, Hua Xianlong dressed like a young master from a wealthy family and seemed far more frivolous.

"I became a disciple only recently and have only met Junior Brother Hua on a single occasion."

Wei Tu shook his head, not wanting to bad-mouth Hua Xianlong in front of Nanzi.

He wouldn’t pass judgment without knowing the full story.

He had not yet verified whether it was true that Hua Xianlong had bullied their junior sister, Mu Die.

Previously, he had only heard Mu Die’s side of the story.

’Fine, Hua Xianlong it is, then,’ Nanzi thought, wrinkling her delicate nose.

...

Nanzi took her leave.

Yunyan Residence returned to its usual quiet.

After feeding a Nourishing Mushroom Pill to the Sky-Splitting Carving, whose Primordial Qi had been severely depleted, Wei Tu patiently waited for the three-month period to end so he could visit Bao Siyan’s mansion to inquire about the Divine Wood Origin Technique.

「One month later.」

Having recovered its Primordial Qi, the Sky-Splitting Carving appeared before Wei Tu, flapped its wings, and began soaring around Yunyan Residence, searching for any trace of Nanzi.

But after a long and fruitless search, the Sky-Splitting Carving couldn’t find a single sign of her.

"You troublesome beast. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise for you." Wei Tu called the Sky-Splitting Carving over. After inspecting its body, a slight smile touched his lips.

Back at Chaning Cliff, the Sky-Splitting Carving’s cultivation had been on the verge of breaking through to Late-Stage Tier Two, thanks to the boost from the Immortal Spirit Dew.

But then, between Wei Tu taking out the Pitch-Black Finger Bone and Nanzi’s month-long breeding attempts... under this successive torment, the Sky-Splitting Carving’s cultivation didn’t advance but actually regressed, falling from the Peak of Middle-Stage Tier Two to the Great Success level of Middle-Stage Tier Two.

A regression in cultivation would be seen as a bad thing in the eyes of an ordinary cultivator.

In Wei Tu’s eyes, however, it was not.

With the Immortal Spirit Dew, the cultivation the Sky-Splitting Carving had lost could be quickly replenished. In fact, the loss of cultivation had instead helped solidify its foundation.

This would be of great benefit for its future breakthroughs.

’Just like the Sky-Splitting Carving, switching to a Tier Three Cultivation Technique will solidify my foundation, but I will also lose some of my cultivation.’

’And it’s impossible for me to use the Immortal Spirit Dew.’

Wei Tu held the Jade Scroll, a worried expression crossing his face as he looked over the contents of the Divine Wood Origin Technique.

His original plan had been to grab the Tier Three Cultivation Technique from the Ten Thousand Books Pavilion first, just in case some future upheaval in the Loose Immortal Alliance meant his chance to get it would be lost forever.

He hadn’t expected that just after obtaining the Tier Three Cultivation Technique, the Divine Wood Origin Technique, Bao Siyan would send him a Talisman telling him to visit her Cave Mansion in three months to receive instruction on it.

So, the dilemma facing Wei Tu now was whether or not to switch his Cultivation Technique.

’If the Divine Wood Origin Technique doesn’t provide much help for Core Formation and doesn’t significantly strengthen my foundation... then I won’t switch for now.’

Wei Tu made up his mind. He would decide after he had received instruction from Bao Siyan.

—Although the copy of the Divine Wood Origin Technique in the Ten Thousand Books Pavilion was a complete manual for the technique, it was not the full edition. It contained only the Breathing Technique, with all the Secret Skills and Divine Techniques removed.

When Wei Tu first obtained the Divine Wood Origin Technique, he had been puzzled by this arrangement.

But after returning to Yunyan Residence and thinking it over, he gradually came to understand.

Teach the apprentice everything, and the master starves.

Most masters only pass on their ultimate techniques to their disciples when they are on their deathbeds.

It was the same for Immortal Cultivation Techniques.

If he, a virtual stranger to Bao Siyan, had obtained the complete version of the Divine Wood Origin Technique from the Ten Thousand Books Pavilion... that Golden Core True Monarch would probably have sleepless days and nights.

「In the blink of an eye.」

The three-month deadline arrived.

Knowing that Bao Siyan was a person who valued cleanliness, Wei Tu first bathed and changed his clothes. Only after ensuring his attire was immaculate did he depart from Yunyan Residence, flying toward Bao Siyan’s mansion on the peak of Red River Mountain.

When Wei Tu arrived at the mansion’s entrance, a maid stepped forward to guide him to the Yangxin Pavilion, the place where Bao Siyan often meditated and engaged in her cultivation.

"No need for formalities. Sit," said Bao Siyan from behind a beaded curtain, studying Wei Tu for a moment.

She saw that Wei Tu’s appearance was ordinary, not particularly handsome or imposing, but his aura possessed an indescribable steadiness. She couldn’t help but nod in approval.

A young female cultivator might prefer a handsome face.

Bao Siyan, however, understood that handsome men were often frivolous and rarely steadfast in their actions.

"Thank you, True Monarch Bao." Wei Tu cupped his fists in a salute and sat down.

"Wei Tu, you are from Zheng Country? How did you come to be a disciple under Fellow Daoist Che?"

Bao Siyan asked casually.

As a Golden Core True Monarch of the Loose Immortal Alliance, she had already learned about Wei Tu’s background and connections months ago.

Asking now was merely a test of his reaction, a way to deduce his personality and character from his words and actions.

Wei Tu didn’t find this strange and answered each question fluently and without hesitation.

By the time Wei Tu finished speaking, Bao Siyan had gained a general understanding of him.

She paused for a moment before getting to the main topic. "The Divine Wood Origin Technique is my core cultivation method. The fact that you chose it in the Ten Thousand Books Pavilion means we share a certain fate."

"Although the Loose Immortal Alliance has no strict sectarian divisions, anyone who learns my Cultivation Technique is considered my student. Do you understand this?"

Had anyone else chosen the Divine Wood Origin Technique, she would have simply gone through the motions and would never have allowed them to take her as a master.

It was only because Wei Tu’s talent as a Talisman Master had truly intrigued her that she had even considered making him her student.

Wei Tu was taken aback by her words.

He didn’t understand why Bao Siyan had suddenly said such a thing. ’Doesn’t "no strict sectarian divisions" mean that you can consult other Golden Core True Monarchs in the Loose Immortal Alliance without having to formally become their disciple?’

"I have already taken True Monarch Che as my master. To take True Monarch Bao as a master as well would be improper..."

Wei Tu refused tactfully.

He didn’t understand what game Bao Siyan was playing, so refusing was the safest response.

—Besides, he wasn’t in any hurry to switch his Cultivation Technique.

Abandoning one’s master to join another was not looked upon favorably.

"Wei Tu, you’ve misunderstood."

Bao Siyan shook her head with a smile. "When I say you are my student, I mean you may call me Master. It doesn’t require you to formally transfer your discipleship to me."

She had, in fact, entertained the thought of having Wei Tu switch masters, but if he had actually done so, she would have immediately crossed him off her list of potential candidates.

Wei Tu was stunned.

His eyes flickered as he realized Bao Siyan’s previous words must have been a test.

’But why test me?’ Wei Tu’s brow furrowed slightly, and he grew a bit more wary of Bao Siyan.

"Master Bao."

Suppressing the questions in his heart, Wei Tu stood and gave Bao Siyan a formal bow.

It was only then that Wei Tu got a clear look at Bao Siyan, who was sitting behind the beaded curtain.

What puzzled him, however, was why Bao Siyan was wearing a veiled hat indoors.

"You may rise." Bao Siyan inclined her head slightly, indicating that he need not stand on ceremony.

After that, Bao Siyan stopped testing Wei Tu and began to act as his master, instructing him on the Divine Wood Origin Technique.

"The Divine Wood Origin Technique is rumored to come from a Nascent Soul influence in the Great Yan Cultivation World. It is a technique that can be used for cultivation all the way to the Divinity Transformation Realm."

"However, I am only at the Golden Core realm, so I have no opportunity to travel to the Great Yan Cultivation World."

Bao Siyan said with a sigh.

’Great Yan Cultivation World?’

Wei Tu silently committed those four words to memory.

His current Divine Wood Origin Technique was only a Tier Three Cultivation Technique. If he didn’t want to switch to a different technique in the future, he would inevitably have to find the subsequent parts of this one.

After explaining the origins of the Divine Wood Origin Technique, Bao Siyan moved on to its advantages and disadvantages, which was what Wei Tu was most concerned about.

"The Divine Wood Origin Technique allows you to cultivate a ’Spirit Seed’ within your body. The level this Spirit Seed can reach can even exceed the normal limits of the technique..."

"Besides that advantage,"

"the Divine Wood Origin Technique also has three great Secret Skills. The first is the Concealing Breath Skill, which allows you to transform into a ’divine wood’ to escape an enemy’s divine sense. The second is a Life-Extending Technique. When you reach the end of your natural lifespan, you can use the ’Spirit Seed’ you’ve cultivated to extend your life."

"As for the final Secret Skill, it requires finding a Tier Four Spirit Wood. That skill... is best not mentioned."