Being a Late Bloomer in the Cultivation World

She had wanted Wei Tu to be her adoptive father so she would have more support. It had never occurred to her that he would refuse.

After all, she was an Immortal Sect Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

’Even if I’m "useless," having an Immortal Sect Foundation Establishment goddaughter would still be a matter of considerable prestige,’ she thought.

"I was being impudent, Elder." Chu Qin apologized, her face flushing red.

Wei Tu had shown her great kindness. Although he had refused her attempt to forge a closer bond, she wasn’t so petty as to hold a grudge over it.

Standing to the side, Wei Tu noted that Chu Qin’s expression remained composed despite his rejection and gave a subtle, internal nod of approval.

This alone suggested that Chu Qin was of good character.

As for her earlier forwardness,

that was perfectly normal.

Anyone would want to latch onto a powerful elder for support.

He was no exception.

"I am not accepting you as my goddaughter, Miss Chu, not because there is anything wrong with you, but because I have never taken a goddaughter before," Wei Tu explained after a moment’s thought.

In the Cultivation Realm, the practice of taking godsons or goddaughters wasn’t common. When a suitable junior was found, they were usually taken as a disciple.

Thus, his excuse was perfectly reasonable.

Upon hearing this, the awkwardness on Chu Qin’s face gradually faded. She gave Wei Tu a grateful look and announced her departure.

After Chu Qin left,

Kou Hongying watched Chu Qin’s slender figure retreat and was inexplicably reminded of herself.

Years ago, just like Chu Qin, her father, Kou Liang, had died while away from home as she was preparing for her Foundation Establishment, leaving her alone and helpless.

The only difference was...

she had an elder to rely on, which got her through that most difficult time.

’Maybe Uncle Fu had his reasons,’ Kou Hongying thought silently. She wanted the relationship between the four sworn brothers of the Yee Society to start and end on good terms.

At the last Yee Society reunion, she had spoken of how Fu Zhizhou abandoned his wife and child. Though she was scolding Fu Zhizhou, her words were meant more to console Wei Tu.

...

After Chu Qin left, Wei Tu didn’t linger in the Bai Shihu Marketplace either. He stood, bid farewell to Kou Hongying, and returned to Red River Mountain.

However, just as Wei Tu was planning to enter arduous Cultivation in Yunyan Residence to begin the Refinement of his Elixirs, Gao Chen showed up at his door.

"I wonder, Junior Brother Wei, has your stay in this Separate Mansion of Yunyan Residence been satisfactory?" Gao Chen said with a chuckle as he walked into the living room.

The moment he spoke,

Wei Tu understood instantly. ’Gao Chen is here to take back the Yunyan Residence Cave Mansion.’

Nine years ago, when he first arrived at Red River Mountain Marketplace, Gao Chen had lent him this Separate Mansion of Yunyan Residence as a temporary residence in an attempt to win him over.

But times had changed.

Once True Monarch Che declared that he would not allow senior disciples to recruit new ones and form factions under him, Gao Chen’s attempts to recruit him became a waste of effort.

Therefore, letting him live in Yunyan Residence had become a complete losing deal for Gao Chen.

For him to only be coming to reclaim the property today...

’Gao Chen is being quite decent about it.’

"Yunyan Residence has been quite a nice place to live, Junior Brother finds. If Senior Brother Gao would permit it, could you allow me to stay for a few more years?"

"As for the rent, I’ll pay the market rate," Wei Tu offered.

He had lived in Yunyan Residence for a long time, and moving again would be a hassle.

Therefore, he was perfectly willing to switch from free lodging to a market-rate lease.

"Junior Brother Wei is a trustworthy man. It’s just that... a few days ago, I already gave Yunyan Residence to someone else as a favor."

Gao Chen said slowly, his expression relaxed as he sat in the grand armchair.

In Gao Chen’s eyes, Wei Tu was quite detestable. When their master, True Monarch Che, forbade forming factions, Wei Tu had actually taken it to heart and stopped associating with him.

This time, besides cutting his losses, he also wanted to use the retrieval of Yunyan Residence to make Wei Tu lose face and teach the other junior brothers a lesson.

Wei Tu was unaware of Gao Chen’s thoughts.

Yunyan Residence was Gao Chen’s Separate Mansion to begin with. It was perfectly reasonable for Gao Chen to give it away as a favor without informing him first.

There was no need for him to get caught up in this matter.

’It’s just one Cave Mansion,’ he thought.

"Since that’s the case, I will move out immediately and not trouble Senior Brother Gao any further," Wei Tu said, cupping his hands in a salute.

"What?" Gao Chen was taken aback by Wei Tu’s crisp reply. This was completely different from the outcome he had anticipated.

Gao Chen had assumed Wei Tu was a fool for not contacting him, but to his surprise, Wei Tu wasn’t a fool at all. He understood the situation perfectly and didn’t fall for the "provocation" or "hold a grudge."

His punch had landed on cotton, completely devoid of force.

"Good," Gao Chen replied dryly, his irritation deflated.

When he first moved into Yunyan Residence, Wei Tu had been cautious since it was borrowed. To avoid any potential trouble, he had only used the Cultivation Room and had not entered any other part of the residence.

As a result, his departure from Yunyan Residence was swift. After a bit of tidying up, he was gone.

Watching Wei Tu’s clean and decisive exit, Gao Chen, who stood inside Yunyan Residence, frowned deeply, a bad feeling rising in his heart.

Such decisive action, though a simple habit, allowed Gao Chen—an elite among Independent Cultivators—to glimpse the leopard through the tube, seeing a deeper aspect of Wei Tu’s character.

He was someone who planned first, then acted.

Only such a person could act without hesitation.

’The Cultivation Realm is not the mortal world. No matter how cunning you are, it’s hard to shake the heavens without the requisite talent.’

At this thought, Gao Chen shook his head, and his tightly furrowed brow gradually relaxed.

In his opinion,

temperament could only determine a Cultivator’s lower limit, not their upper limit.

No matter how calculating Wei Tu was, he was still just a "Middle-Stage Foundation Establishment" Junior. He was no match for a Fake Pill True Monarch like him.

’In the Cultivation Realm, strength is what truly matters.’ With an "out of sight, out of mind" attitude, Gao Chen flicked his wide sleeve and shut the gates of Yunyan Residence.

...

The Red River Mountain Marketplace was a gathering place for the majority of the Independent Cultivators in the Zheng Country.

Finding a Quasi-Tier Three Cave Mansion comparable to Yunyan Residence here was no easy task.

But Wei Tu was a disciple of True Monarch Che.

After Wei Tu officially registered with the Loose Immortal Alliance, they quickly arranged for him to lease a Quasi-Tier Three Cave Mansion with Spiritual Qi levels similar to Yunyan Residence.

"Lark Residence." Wei Tu gave the new Cave Mansion a new name.

This new name was also an old one.

Years ago, after leaving the "Shantytown" of Danqiu Mountain, the first Cave Mansion Wei Tu moved into was named "Lark Street Courtyard."

’Even a lark can aspire to soar through the nine heavens.’

Wei Tu looked up at the sky. Beneath its vast expanse, a heroic ambition to charge into the Golden Core Realm surged within him.

Next, after writing letters to his friends and family informing them of his move to "Lark Courtyard," Wei Tu hung a wooden sign with the word "Seclusion" on his gate and plunged into his Seclusion Chamber to begin.

Now,

he had both Elixirs and a Body Refining Treasure ready.

The only thing he lacked was the time needed to advance his Qi Cultivation and Body Refining Cultivation.

...

After several days of regulating his Magical Power in the Cultivation Room, Wei Tu took out a White Dew Pill, swallowed it, and began its Refinement.

「Several months later.」

Wei Tu’s Magical Power aura had increased significantly.

To ensure the purity of his Magical Power,

Wei Tu didn’t rush to take another Elixir. Instead, he used the "Primordial Forbidden" technique to refine the "Pill Poison" from his body, inch by inch.

Time passed slowly.

「Seven years later.」

Wei Tu had consumed all four Elixirs meant to enhance Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Magical Power, and his Cultivation had, as a result, reached the Peak of Foundation Establishment.

’My Magical Power can’t advance another inch.’

’If I try to condense my Magical Power any further, the Magical Power Lake in my Dantian will show signs of crystallizing.’

Wei Tu thought to himself after performing Introspection on his Dantian and seeing the thick, true liquid of his Magical Power within.

’Now, it’s time to cultivate the Hundred Veins Blood Refining Spell.’

’I’ll do it in one go and bring my Body Refining Cultivation to the Late-Stage Tier Two Peak as well.’

Wei Tu took out the amber-like Jade Marrow Gold from the seven-foot jade box and smeared it onto his skin.

Although Body Refining Cultivation and the Qi Cultivation Realm were separate paths, they did, in fact, influence one another.

Now that Wei Tu’s Realm had reached the Peak of Foundation Establishment, cultivating a Body Refining Technique would be easier and smoother than before.

Most Qi Cultivation Techniques also had some body-strengthening effects; they just weren’t as pronounced as those of a dedicated Body Refining Technique.

The Physical Body of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was far more formidable than that of a Qi Cultivator.

A quarter of an hour after applying the Jade Marrow Gold, Wei Tu felt a needle-like pain emanate from his limbs and bones, an agony so intense it made him wish for death.