Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

True Monarch Che didn’t want his new disciples to get too involved with the older ones.

’There were four new disciples in total. Since I rejected Mu Die... she had no choice but to rely on Master Qingmei.’

They waited for half a day.

True Monarch Che arrived late.

He swept his gaze over everyone’s positions and expressions, roughly guessing the changes that had occurred among his new disciples over the past five years.

Wei Tu noticed a hint of disappointment in True Monarch Che’s eyes when the man looked at him.

However, this was what Wei Tu had expected, so he wasn’t surprised.

’Five years ago, although True Monarch Che didn’t explicitly tell me to take care of Mu Die, his private words to her clearly implied that she should rely on me, the eldest senior brother.’

’Now, Mu Die is hovering around Master Qingmei instead. That alone shows how distant we’ve become. You can see the whole picture from a single detail.’

True Monarch Che wasn’t a fool; he understood that Wei Tu, a disciple who had joined with his own skills already developed, felt little sense of belonging.

But Wei Tu had his own agenda.

’Even before becoming True Monarch Che’s disciple, I had decided to remain on the fringes and avoid attracting attention. I would not become a core figure among his disciples.’

’Just like older disciples such as Gao Chen.’

’My Cultivation is already at the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment, and I have a complete Core Formation Opportunity...’

’A master like True Monarch Che offers me very limited benefits.’

’The only two resources I need are a stable environment for my Cultivation and a Tier Three Spirit Vein for Condensing my Golden Core.’

’I can obtain both of these by remaining a peripheral figure. I don’t need to be part of the core group.’

’On the contrary, while becoming a core member has its advantages, it would also increase the risk of exposing my true Cultivation level.’

’I know what it means to expose my Cultivation level too early.’

’As a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator, I don’t have the strength to protect the various "Opportunities" I’ve acquired.’

...

Fortunately, True Monarch Che never had high expectations for Independent Cultivators like Wei Tu, who had joined his tutelage with pre-existing skills.

Although his eyes showed disappointment when he saw Mu Die keeping her distance from Wei Tu, he was inwardly unconcerned.

After all, Wei Tu and the others had only been his disciples for five years. How could they be expected to help each other like Sect Cultivators?

In other words, Wei Tu’s cold treatment of Mu Die was normal and perfectly in line with how Independent Cultivators behaved.

"Today, I will give a lecture. I won’t speak of profound techniques, only some small tricks for combat."

"After I finish, I will answer any questions you have about your Cultivation..."

True Monarch Che sat cross-legged on a cattail hassock. He glanced calmly at Wei Tu and the other new disciples, then spoke slowly.

"Thank you, Master."

Wei Tu and the others rose and bowed.

After the formalities were over, True Monarch Che wasted no time, getting straight to the point and beginning his lecture.

The combat experience of a Golden Core True Monarch was a precious commodity to all the Cultivators present.

Wei Tu listened patiently.

This time, True Monarch Che spoke about how to make one’s Magical Power last longer than an enemy’s in combat.

True Monarch Che shared a little trick.

Before a battle, one could use Talismanic Magic to seal a portion of Magical Power into a commonly used Magical Artifact, then release it during the fight.

"The Talisman Dao is about more than just drawing Talismans," True Monarch Che said with a smile, stroking his beard.

After speaking, True Monarch Che inscribed this Talismanic Magic into a Jade Scroll, split it into four copies, and used his Magical Power to send them to Wei Tu and the other three.

’Sealing Spirit Talisman!’ Wei Tu thought as he accepted the Jade Scroll, silently reciting the name of the technique.

The Sealing Spirit Talisman was different from other Talismans. It didn’t require Talisman Paper; one only needed to sketch the Talisman in their palm and then activate it.

Sealing Magical Power within a Magical Artifact was just one use of the "Sealing Spirit Talisman."

It was the first time Wei Tu had seen such a miraculous Talisman. While shocked, he also found himself secretly looking forward to the Talisman Dao of the Golden Core Realm and beyond.

After teaching the "Sealing Spirit Talisman," True Monarch Che’s lecture came to an end.

Next, it was time for Wei Tu and the others to ask questions about their Cultivation for True Monarch Che to answer.

As the eldest disciple, Wei Tu was the first to step forward with a question.

"I chose True Monarch Bao’s Lifebound Cultivation Method, the Divine Wood Origin Technique, from the Ten Thousand Books Pavilion. However... I am a bit short on funds and can’t afford the ’Wood Essence Pill’..."

"I was wondering if there is another way to accelerate the Cultivation of the Divine Wood Origin Technique."

"The Divine Wood Origin Technique?" True Monarch Che looked surprised when he heard the name.

After thinking carefully for a moment, True Monarch Che said, "I have not dabbled in this technique, but I do know of some Spiritual Objects that True Monarch Bao once acquired..."

"You can start by looking into these Spiritual Objects."

True Monarch Che took out a blank Jade Scroll, imprinted it with his Guardian Map Divine Sense, and handed it to Wei Tu.

"Thank you, Master." Wei Tu accepted the Jade Scroll, expressed his thanks, and stepped aside.

’Besides the Divine Wood Origin Technique, I had other questions about my Cultivation, but it wouldn’t be wise to ask True Monarch Che about them.’

Afterward, Hua Xianlong, Mu Die, and Master Qingmei stepped forward one by one to ask their questions.

Like Wei Tu before them.

The three all asked their questions using Guardian Map Divine Sense transmissions, not speaking aloud.

Once an enemy knew your foundations, even a Golden Core True Monarch could be killed in an ambush. They certainly weren’t going to be careless.

...

After the lecture ended.

Wei Tu left True Monarch Che’s residence.

However, he didn’t return to Yunyan Residence. Instead, he headed straight out of the Red River Mountain Marketplace.

As early as last year, the Tao Family of Hann Mountain had sent Wei Tu a letter stating that the smuggling route to Kang Country was open. They had asked him to travel to Hann Mountain as soon as possible to discuss the details.

Smuggling himself into Kang Country was another one of his backup plans.

Of course, he would not be careless about this.

Therefore, after listening to True Monarch Che’s lecture, Wei Tu immediately rushed to Hann Mountain without stopping, afraid of being late.

After all, smuggling routes were time-sensitive. If he arrived too late, the cultivator guarding Chishui Pass might no longer be "Nie Wenjing."

Wei Tu wasn’t worried about the Tao Family of Hann Mountain playing any tricks on him. Times had changed; he was no longer some unknown Independent Cultivator.

However—

When he was halfway there.

Wei Tu suddenly saw a burst of rosy light shoot out from the distance.

It was evening, and the burst of light was incredibly dazzling, illuminating half the sky.

At the same time, the roar of Magical Artifacts clashing in battle echoed from that direction.

’Cultivators fighting?’ Wei Tu raised an eyebrow. He used his Concealing Breath Skill and hid far away, waiting for the battle to end.

At the same time, Wei Tu released several Seven-Colored Illusion Moths to scout ahead.

Based on the Magical Power fluctuations coming from the distance, he could tell that the Cultivators on both sides were no higher than the Golden Core Realm.

A quarter of an hour later, with the help of the Seven-Colored Illusion Moths, Wei Tu’s Guardian Map Divine Sense reached the battlefield ahead.

There, above a valley, two groups of Cultivators were locked in a standoff.

There were more than ten people in total.

One group all wore black robes, with Demonic Qi billowing from their bodies. The Magical Artifacts they wielded were mostly Demonic Magical Artifacts.

The other group was different, dressed in the style of the Righteous Dao.

"Sun Yu?" Just as Wei Tu was about to leave, he suddenly realized he actually knew the leader of the Righteous Cultivators.