The Five Yuan Spirit Body manual could help external martial artists awaken Qi perception and step into the Qi Perception Realm?
Hearing this, Kou Liang and Wei Fei exchanged glances. The frustration of failing to grasp immortal cultivation instantly faded, replaced by excitement.
At this moment—
Among the four brothers, Wei Tu and Fu Zhizhou, the youngest among them, had already entered the Qi Perception Realm, generating internal energy within their meridians. They were now warriors who combined internal and external cultivation.
Only the two elder brothers remained stuck outside this threshold, unable to break through. As the older ones, they couldn't help but feel discouraged, as if they had fallen behind Wei Tu and Fu Zhizhou.
But now, this sense of disparity was beginning to fade. Because they, too, had a chance to step into the Qi Perception Realm.
Even if the chance was slim, even if the hope was uncertain, it was still far better than before—when they had no hope at all.
Furthermore, once they entered the Qi Perception Realm, their martial prowess would increase. Following Wei Tu's precedent, they could participate in the county-level preliminary examination and be granted an Eighth-rank Military Commandant position.
For them, this was an opportunity to rise to greatness in a single step.
"This proves one thing…"
"You two must not neglect your cultivation in the immortal technique."
"Even if we fail to become true immortals, once we reach the Xiantian Realm, our lifespan will extend to two hundred years."
After finishing his analysis, Fu Zhizhou paused and looked at Kou Liang and Wei Fei, urging them seriously.
Five years of training had yielded no progress in immortal cultivation… Before sensing Qi, he had even considered tearing up the cultivation manual and abandoning this futile pursuit.
He could only imagine—
If even he, with his strong-willed nature, had reached this level of frustration, then Wei Tu, Kou Liang, and Wei Fei must have felt the same.
They had all reached the brink of despair.
This was precisely why, the moment he made a breakthrough, he immediately sent a messenger to summon Wei Tu and the others to Xuanhe Tower.
"As for Third Brother…"
After advising Kou Liang and Wei Fei, Fu Zhizhou turned to look at Wei Tu. For a moment, he hesitated, unsure of what to say.
He could persuade Kou Liang and Wei Fei to train in immortal cultivation because they still had to awaken their Qi perception. But Wei Tu was different—he had already sensed Qi years ago and had been ahead of him in martial cultivation for six years.
For Wei Tu, training in immortal cultivation—
It seemed… unnecessary.
"I seek immortality. A little time spent here and there means nothing to me."
Seeing Fu Zhizhou's uncertain expression, Wei Tu, who had worked alongside him for years, immediately understood what he was thinking. He shook his head with a faint smile and responded.
—With the Late Bloomer destiny, he was destined to reach the Xiantian Realm. By then, he would have at least one hundred and fifty years of lifespan to pursue immortality. He had no reason to lose his ambition over temporary setbacks.
"That's good to hear."
Fu Zhizhou let out a relieved smile.
Only now did he recall—despite Wei Tu's normally serious demeanor and his reluctance to engage in idle chatter, he had never once sought comfort in alcohol or pleasure houses.
Clearly, he was not burdened by any frustrations.
Thinking of pleasure houses, Fu Zhizhou glanced at Wei Fei and sighed.
Over the past five years, he and Kou Liang had married, settled down, and started families.
But Wei Fei—
Had not.
Even when Wei Tu urged him, Wei Fei refused, saying he didn't want to experience the pain of watching his wife and children grow old and die while he remained youthful from cultivating immortal techniques.
Without a family to keep him grounded, and living alone in Qingmu County, Wei Fei gradually developed a habit of frequenting pleasure houses. His body had begun to show the toll of excessive indulgence.
"Second Brother is still a man of discipline. Now that he has a chance to enter the Qi Perception Realm, he should be able to restrain himself and return to training."
Fu Zhizhou thought to himself.
The banquet at Xuanhe Tower had ended.
By now, it was already afternoon.
Seeing that the table full of food had barely been touched, Wei Tu didn't want it to go to waste. He asked the innkeeper to pack it up and carried the food box home.
The moment he stepped into the courtyard—
Through the doors and windows, he could hear Xinghua softly singing a nursery rhyme, accompanied by the babbling of their daughter.
Five years had passed.
Back in the twenty-eighth year of Qing'an, four years ago—
After seven years of marriage, Wei Tu and Xinghua finally had their first child.
A boy.
But unfortunately, he was frail and weak. He didn't survive past his first month and passed away.
After more than a year of recovery, Xinghua conceived again.
This time, she gave birth to a girl.
When she safely passed her first year, as per tradition, Xinghua gave her a childhood name—Yanyan.
"You're back?"
Inside the house, hearing the familiar footsteps, Xinghua stopped rocking the cradle, got up to greet him, and handed Wei Tu a hot towel to wipe his face.
"Mm." Wei Tu gave a simple response, taking the towel and wiping away the sweat from his body.
After eleven years of marriage, the initial passion between them had long faded. What remained was a bond that was hard to sever, more like family than mere husband and wife.
A single action, a simple glance, and they could understand each other without words.
"A few days ago, Xiao Fang came by again. She wants to arrange a betrothal for the children."
That evening, as she wiped Wei Tu's back, Xinghua hesitated for a moment before sharing the private affairs between her and her in-laws.
"A betrothal?"
Wei Tu frowned slightly, deep in thought.
Xiao Fang was the concubine that Dan Yan Gong had taken seven or eight years ago under the arrangement of Madam Dan Min.
However—
Xiao Fang had been fortunate. Not long after entering the Dan Family Stronghold, she gave birth to a son.
At first, this child was highly favored by Dan Wu Ju and his wife, as they saw him as an heir to continue the family's lineage.
But two years later, Dan Yan Gong's legitimate wife also gave birth to a son.
The age-old struggle between legitimate and illegitimate sons began.
Dan Wu Ju and his wife were pragmatic. Before long, their affection shifted toward their legitimate grandson, ignoring Xiao Fang's son.
"I don't mind forming a marriage alliance with the Dan family, but... Xiao Fang's son? I won't agree to that."
Before Wei Tu could respond, Xinghua snorted coldly, her voice filled with displeasure.
Times had changed.
With Wei Tu now holding the title of Eighth-rank Military Commandant, the standing of their household had risen.
If not for the existing connection between Wei Tu and Dan Wu Ju, the Dan family would be the ones marrying up if they wanted to wed into Wei Tu's household.
Yet now, an illegitimate son of the Dan family had come forward with a proposal for their daughter?
Naturally, Xinghua was unwilling.
"I suspect this was Madam Dan Min's doing—she deliberately sent Xiao Fang over. Her real intention is likely to arrange a betrothal between Yanyan and her own son."
"Her son is five, Yanyan is three. Their ages match perfectly..."
Wei Tu shook his head slightly, uncovering the hidden scheme behind it all.
"Then, Wei Ge'er, what do you think? Should we agree to this betrothal with Xianshou?"
Xinghua quickly asked.
Xianshou—that was the name of Dan Yan Gong's second son.
When he was born, it happened to be Dan Wu Ju's seventieth birthday.
So, as a gesture of respect, Dan Yan Gong named his son Xianshou, meaning "offering longevity" as a birthday tribute to his father.
"If it were anyone else, I could refuse. But if it's the Dan family making the proposal, even if I don't agree... I can't outright reject it."
Wei Tu sighed.
With the memories of his past life, he naturally wished for his daughter to marry freely, to pursue her own happiness.
But unfortunately—
The customs of this world would not allow it.
If an ordinary family came asking for his daughter's hand, he could decline.
But if it was the Dan family making the request—
He couldn't refuse outright.