Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

"Hundred Veins Blood Refining Spell (84/100): Practice once every five days. Completion in 150 years."

Seeing the writing on his Golden Purple Destiny Chart, Wei Tu slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air. ’With a few more decades of hard work, my Body Refining Cultivation will reach its peak as well.’

Aided by these two Body Refining Treasures, he had taken a crucial step, breaking through from Middle-Stage Tier Two to Late-Stage Tier Two in his Body Refining Cultivation.

From now on, he could rely on the slow and steady progress of the Ninefold Golden Lock Spell to gradually advance his cultivation, with no need to purchase any more Body Refining Treasures.

However, Wei Tu didn’t particularly want to wait for those decades to pass.

He was wealthy enough to purchase other Body Refining Treasures.

Then, Wei Tu stood up and reached out his hand. A Talisman bearing the Jingshui Pavilion’s insignia flew into his grasp.

Three years ago, on his way to the Jiuyun Commerce Association to purchase Body Refining Treasures, he had also sent a message to Kou Hongying. He had asked her to help him contact her fellow disciples at Jingshui Pavilion about acquiring elixirs that improve one’s cultivation and Body Refining Treasures.

It wasn’t long before Kou Hongying sent a reply.

Kou Hongying told Wei Tu that Body Refining Treasures were controlled Spiritual Objects within Jingshui Pavilion, and no Immortal Sect Cultivators dared to exchange for them and then sell them to the outside world.

Of course, elixirs for improving Foundation Establishment Cultivation were also now considered "controlled Spiritual Objects."

However, Jingshui Pavilion was a long-established Immortal Sect with a good reputation for its elixirs. The demand in the outside world was high, so quite a few Immortal Sect Cultivators were willing to risk selling them.

After all, there was safety in numbers.

...

「Several days later.」

Wei Tu arrived at Bai Shihu Marketplace and purchased two White Dew Pills and two Phoenix Blood Pills from one of Kou Hongying’s senior sister disciples.

Both types of elixirs were specifically for advancing one’s Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation.

"Uncle Wei, please rest assured. I watched her exchange for these four elixirs in the Pill Room myself," Kou Hongying added via a private voice transmission. "I never touched them, so there won’t be any mistakes."

Kou Hongying knew that Wei Tu was still shaken by the incident where Shenn Yunqiu had tried to poison her master with an Immortal Transformation Pill.

Hearing this, Wei Tu silently breathed a sigh of relief, nodded, and accepted the elixirs.

"Hongying, I have another favor to ask. It’s about some Body Refining Secret Medicine..."

After Kou Hongying’s senior sister disciple left, Wei Tu chose his words carefully and began to speak.

He had already purchased two portions of Body Refining Secret Medicine from the Jiuyun Commerce Association. Going back to buy more himself would be far too conspicuous.

Therefore, Wei Tu wanted to ask Kou Hongying to go to the Jiuyun Commerce Association, or other similar associations, and purchase Body Refining Treasures on his behalf.

As a veteran of the Cultivation Realm, Wei Tu knew well that some commerce associations that appeared to be rivals were, in fact, secretly under the same ownership.

If he purchased Body Refining Treasures in large quantities, he might attract the attention of certain interested parties, especially since Body Refining Treasures were now considered "controlled items" by the major commerce associations.

"It’s no trouble at all." Kou Hongying smiled slightly and agreed.

"Avoid using Talismans for the trade," Wei Tu cautioned, handing a Spirit Stone Bag to Kou Hongying.

"Eight thousand Spirit Stones? So many?" Kou Hongying was shocked when she saw the amount of Spirit Stones in the bag.

In her mind, Wei Tu had always had the image of a simple, good-natured man.

While it was reasonable for a Tier Two Talisman Master to possess eight thousand Spirit Stones... when she factored in what Wei Tu had just spent on elixirs, it became far less so...

Moreover, it was obvious that Wei Tu’s total wealth was more than just these eight thousand Spirit Stones.

However, Kou Hongying didn’t question Wei Tu about the unknown origin of his "huge sum of Spirit Stones," just as she hadn’t asked why he needed elixirs for the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment... She nodded silently, disguised herself as the "Jade Demoness," and left Bai Shihu Marketplace.

Wei Tu remained in Kou Hongying’s Cave Mansion at Bai Shihu Marketplace, awaiting her news.

「A few days later.」

Kou Hongying hurried back.

"Success. I managed to acquire a portion of ’Jade Marrow Gold’ for you, Uncle Wei." Kou Hongying beamed, handing a seven-foot-long jade box and a Spirit Stone Bag to Wei Tu.

Jade Marrow Gold was a Body Refining Treasure a grade higher than Earth Dragon Flesh.

"There are still four thousand two hundred Spirit Stones left?"

As Wei Tu counted the remaining Spirit Stones in the bag, he gained a new appreciation for the influence Kou Hongying wielded as a Golden Core Disciple of an Immortal Sect.

He recalled that when he had approached the Jiuyun Commerce Association to buy a Body Refining Treasure, they had insisted on a trade using Tier Two Upper-Grade Talismans, not Spirit Stones.

"The Jade Marrow Gold is one of the Yunlai Commerce Association’s treasures." Kou Hongying paused, then explained, "The Yunlai Commerce Association is my junior sister disciple’s family business... She did me a favor."

"I see."

Realization dawned on Wei Tu.

’Aside from having stronger foundations and superior Cultivation Techniques, the personal networks of Immortal Sect Cultivators are also something most Independent Cultivators could never hope to match.’

Kou Hongying suddenly looked at Wei Tu as if she’d just remembered something. "Oh, right, Uncle Wei. A junior sister disciple from my sect wants to meet you. I left in such a hurry a few days ago that I forgot all about it."

...

P.S. We’re just over a hundred votes away from a thousand monthly tickets. If you have any, please vote. Thank you!