Years had passed.
Yet, Wei Tu's cultivation had barely advanced?
"I switched cultivation techniques over the past few years while also focusing on Talisman Dao… It set my cultivation progress back a bit," Wei Tu explained helplessly.
Under normal circumstances, practicing Lesser Spring and Autumn Art would allow a cultivator to fully transition techniques in three to four years.
However, due to his Late Bloomer destiny, his Geomagnetic Wood Spirit Seed had undergone an unexpected transformation, which further delayed his cultivation progress.
Based on his estimations, once he fully transformed into a Geomagnetic Spirit Body, his aptitude should rival a mid-grade spirit root.
For the sake of future cultivation, Wei Tu was willing to spend these fifteen years laying a solid foundation.
Rushing forward doesn't mean lasting progress.
Building strength over time is the true path to success.
"What a shame," Zhao Qingluo sighed after hearing his explanation. "With your talent in Talisman Dao, you would have been qualified to join the Qiyue Zhao Clan as a son-in-law…"
"But your cultivation is far too weak."
Her expression remained indifferent, and her gaze toward Wei Tu became noticeably distant, as if she were regretfully observing a missed opportunity.
—In her mind, a true Talisman Dao genius wouldn't have sacrificed cultivation time to refine their craft.
Since Wei Tu wasn't exceptional enough, there was no longer a need to recruit him.
Hearing this, Wei Tu was momentarily speechless.
So Zhao Qingluo asked about my cultivation because she was considering bringing me into the Zhao Clan as a son-in-law?
"How arrogant and self-important can she get?"
He couldn't help but scoff internally.
For most wandering cultivators, joining a prestigious immortal family as a son-in-law was indeed an opportunity to rise overnight.
But that didn't apply to him—someone who was already a skilled Talisman Master with a growing reputation.
Wei Tu couldn't help but wonder—was Zhao Qingluo so accustomed to being revered that she mistook his cautious politeness for an eagerness to cling to the Zhao Clan?
Fortunately, after making her disinterested remark, Zhao Qingluo returned to the main purpose of her visit—purchasing talismans.
She didn't dwell on the matter further, sparing Wei Tu from prolonged awkwardness.
Once their transaction was complete, Wei Tu took the opportunity to introduce Tong Peipei as a First Rank Talisman Master.
"Someone new?" Zhao Qingluo raised a brow in mild surprise. Her last memory of a Talisman seller at Yunque Street was from four years ago, when Alchemist Wang had tried pushing basic-grade pills onto her.
Hearing this, Wei Tu's thoughts stirred.
After some deliberation, he decided to inform Zhao Qingluo that Alchemist Wang had died after leaving Yunque Street.
"Lady Qingluo."
"I believe someone is trying to frame you for Wang's death."
He cupped his hands and spoke with a serious tone.
Times had changed.
Circumstances were different now.
Back then, when Liu Yun had confronted him about Wang's injuries, he had chosen to stay silent—he hadn't even sent a message to Zhao Qingluo afterward.
There was only one reason for that:
He had no power.
Speaking up would have brought him nothing but trouble—or worse, gotten him killed.
But now?
Things were different.
First, he had Helian Xiong, a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator and a skilled mercenary, backing him up against Ge Wen.
He no longer feared Ge Wen.
Second, his status had changed—he was now on the verge of becoming a First Rank Mid-Grade Talisman Master.
Otherwise, Zhao Qingluo wouldn't have even considered recruiting him into the Zhao Clan.
Third, since Zhao Qingluo herself brought up the topic, mentioning it now wouldn't make it seem like he was deliberately trying to implicate the Zhao Clan.
—Especially since Ge Wen was already a known enemy.
If given a chance to undermine him further, why wouldn't Wei Tu take it?
"Right after I punished Wang, he suddenly ended up dead? I don't need you to tell me someone is trying to frame me," Zhao Qingluo sneered coldly.
She narrowed her eyes at him.
"It looks like you already know who's behind it…"
"Speak plainly."
She glanced at Wei Tu and commanded in an icy voice.
"Ge Wen."
Wei Tu responded gravely.
"The old man with no hope of reaching Foundation Establishment?" Zhao Qingluo's brow twitched as she recalled Ge Wen's reputation.
During her last trip to Danqiu Mountain, she had purchased a batch of pills, artifacts, and talismans.
Among the alchemists supplying pills, Ge Wen had been one of them.
So, she wasn't unfamiliar with his name.
"I see."
Zhao Qingluo's eyes gleamed with cold malice, and she gave a slight nod.
While she wouldn't blindly believe Wei Tu's claims, she also doubted he would lie about something like this.
…
After Zhao Qingluo left, Tong Peipei looked visibly worried.
She hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Daoist Wei… Ge Wen is still a First Rank Mid-Grade Alchemist with considerable status…"
Having lived in the same courtyard for four years, and now having Wei Tu introduce her to Zhao Qingluo, Tong Peipei had started seeing him as someone worth befriending.
Even if they weren't close friends, she at least saw him as a trustworthy ally.
Because of that, when she sensed the looming danger, she felt compelled to warn him.
"Daoist Tong may not know this… but Ge Wen and I have been mortal enemies for a long time."
Wei Tu carefully chose his words, explaining to Tong Peipei how he and Ge Wen had first crossed paths and how their feud had developed over time.
"You should have told me sooner!"
Tong Peipei exclaimed in frustration.
When she had decided to move into Yunque Street, part of the reason had been the affordability of the courtyard.
But the other reason?
She had assumed Wei Tu was someone who avoided unnecessary conflicts.
Yet, to her shock, he had already made an enemy of Ge Wen before she even moved in.
Wei Tu didn't refute Tong Peipei's words, nor did he explain that it was Helian Xiong's impulsive actions that brought his conflict with Ge Wen into the open.
After all, four years ago, his relationship with Tong Peipei wasn't this friendly.
There was no reason to warn her in advance.
"Does Daoist Tong have any higher-grade earth or wood-attribute talismans?" Wei Tu changed the subject.
Now that he had the ability to advance to a First Rank Mid-Grade Talisman Master, he had no intention of staying at the low rank any longer.
"I do, but…"
Hearing this, Tong Peipei's previous frustration vanished, and she grinned mischievously as she glanced at the spirit stone pouch in Wei Tu's hand.
Just now, she had watched his transaction with Zhao Qingluo.
That pouch contained over a hundred spirit stones from Zhao Qingluo.
"If Daoist Tong's talisman crafting techniques are truly valuable, I won't let you suffer a loss," Wei Tu said seriously.
Soon, the negotiation was settled.
Tong Peipei sold him a First Rank High-Grade wood-attribute talisman formula and three First Rank Mid-Grade earth and wood-attribute talisman formulas for a total of eighty-nine spirit stones.
This time, Tong Peipei didn't try to pull any tricks. Among the mid-grade talismans she sold him, one was a support-type talisman, rather than just offensive or defensive ones.
After the transaction was complete, Wei Tu visited the gatehouse to retrieve some letters.
At this time every year, Wei Yan and Wei Xiuwen would send him a letter.
As usual, Wei Tu opened Wei Yan's letter first.
After reading it, his face slowly lit up with a smile.
"In just six years, she managed to craft the basic talisman 'Water Heart Talisman'? Yan'er's talent in talisman crafting isn't particularly outstanding, but it's not bad either."
"Once she becomes a First Rank Talisman Master, she'll have a chance to reach Foundation Establishment within her lifetime."
Wei Tu felt genuinely relieved.
In his opinion, although Wei Yan's talent wasn't extraordinary, she wasn't much weaker than Tong Peipei.
And if Tong Peipei continued to cultivate steadily, reaching Qi Refinement Ninth Level before the age of forty wouldn't be difficult for her.
With some luck, if she obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill, she could even become a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
"I wonder what Xiuwen wrote about this time…"
Putting Wei Yan's letter away, Wei Tu glanced at Wei Xiuwen's letter, his expression slightly uneasy.
Wei Xiuwen possessed a gold spirit root, making his aptitude slightly better than Wei Yan's water-wood spirit roots.
Unfortunately, Wei Xiuwen was a bit reckless and undisciplined.
According to Wei Yan, ever since entering Baishi Lake Marketplace, he had frequently mingled with low-level cultivators and flirted with female cultivators in the streets.
Wei Tu had previously written letters to admonish him, but Wei Xiuwen hadn't changed his ways.
With a sigh, Wei Tu opened the letter.
"This kid… really isn't ordinary."
After reading it, Wei Tu couldn't help but be surprised, his impression of Wei Xiuwen completely shifting.
According to the letter, Wei Xiuwen was getting married—he was forming a Daoist partnership.
His Dao companion wasn't just any ordinary person.
She was Mei Zhen, the daughter of the pavilion master of Baishi Lake Marketplace's 'Hundred Weapons Pavilion'.
Wei Tu had some vague memories of Hundred Weapons Pavilion.
Although he didn't know much about it, he was aware that it was one of the oldest artifact shops in Baishi Lake Marketplace.
Anyone who could open a shop in a major marketplace was either powerful or well-connected.
Take himself, for example—despite being a First Rank Talisman Master, he still couldn't afford to open a talisman shop.
All these years, he had only been taking private commissions.
"Could it be that this kid was deliberately socializing with those low-level cultivators just to get close to the daughter of Hundred Weapons Pavilion's master?"
Wei Tu pondered.
"A person's nature is evident from an early age."
When Wei Xiuwen first entered the cultivation world, he was already in his twenties.
Wei Tu refused to believe that his personality had changed so drastically in just a few years.
There was only one explanation—Wei Xiuwen had deliberately acted that way to seize an opportunity to rise.
At that moment, Wei Tu recalled an old letter where Wei Xiuwen had commented on Li Xingye's political failures.
Back then, Wei Xiuwen had said that Li Xingye's mistake wasn't serving a rebel king—it was failing to act carefully.
At the time, Wei Tu had thought Wei Xiuwen would end up like Li Xingye.
But now?
His opinion had changed.
"A son does not necessarily take after his father."
Wei Tu sighed in realization.
His own approach to life was steady and methodical.
He preferred to lay a solid foundation, because even if he didn't rise far, he wouldn't fall hard.
But people like Wei Xiuwen and Li Xingye were different.
They were risk-takers.
They gambled on opportunities, taking huge risks for the chance to change their fate.
Neither path was right or wrong.
Both depended on timing and destiny.
Without his Late Bloomer destiny, Wei Tu's current strategy would never have allowed him to reach Foundation Establishment.
He would have simply become another nameless corpse on the path of cultivation.
With these thoughts in mind, Wei Tu wrote a reply to Wei Xiuwen.
His response contained only one sentence:
"Treat life like a gamble—once may bring fortune, but never bet twice."
"I hope Xiuwen understands this lesson."
Wei Tu shook his head.
Putting down his brush, he carefully stored both letters in his wooden case.
The cultivation world was unlike the mortal world.
Life was unpredictable.
If his children perished along their path, these letters would at least serve as memories of them.