Chapter 124: Three Hundred Years of Cultivation

After inviting Wei Tu into the main hall and having him seated, Huang Peng excused himself under the pretense of an errand. He then pulled Huang Chengfu aside and stepped outside. In the corridor, Huang Peng paced a few steps before gritting his teeth and pulling out two spirit stones, stuffing them into Huang Chengfu’s hands. "Chengfu, these are two spirit stones. Go to Shengfu Tavern and order a fine meal. Also, buy a jug of their finest spirit wine…" "Make sure it’s their signature Bamboo Leaf Green." He lowered his voice, giving specific instructions. Feeling the weight of two spirit stones in his palm, Huang Chengfu did not question his father’s sudden generosity. Instead, he clenched his lips and nodded firmly. He understood—whether or not he could rise to greatness in the future all depended on this very day. Hosting a banquet to seek favors was an unspoken rule. And these two spirit stones represented almost all of their family’s savings. Spending them on this meal was the highest show of sincerity they could offer. "When the tavern worker pours the wine, keep a close eye. Don’t let them dilute it." "Make sure your granduncle enjoys his drink without any unpleasantness." Just as Huang Chengfu was about to step out the door and run toward the tavern, Huang Peng grabbed his arm once more, carefully reminding him. The conversation outside did not escape Wei Tu’s spiritual sense. Taking a sip of tea, he glanced at Huang Fang, who sat beside him with a somewhat nervous expression, and shook his head. Huang Fang was the young girl in the cotton dress who had followed Huang Peng and Huang Chengfu earlier. Unlike her older brother, she was still very young—only nineteen years old, as her bone age suggested. She was Huang Peng’s late-born daughter. It wasn’t uncommon in the cultivation world for a man to have children in his old age. "Granduncle, let me refill your tea." Seeing that Wei Tu’s cup was empty, Huang Fang hesitated briefly but then stood up and spoke, recalling her father’s earlier instructions. Though she was addressing him as her granduncle, she was well aware of what the title of a Foundation Establishment cultivator truly meant in Yunhe Mountain. A Foundation Establishment cultivator here was a figure of high authority, standing just below a Golden Core patriarch, yet above thousands of people. "Alright." Wei Tu nodded and did not refuse her offer. At this moment, Huang Peng re-entered the hall and resumed his seat. The two of them engaged in small talk, reminiscing about past events from their days in the mortal world. Half an hour later, the dishes from Shengfu Tavern were brought in and arranged on the table. After several rounds of food and drinks, Huang Peng finally revealed his true request. "Uncle, now that you've come to Yunhe Mountain alone, you must be in need of a servant to tend to your courtyard. Chengfu may not be the smartest or most articulate, but he is diligent and reliable…" "I hope you will take him in." "If he fails to meet your expectations, you may dismiss or even discipline him however you see fit. I will hold no resentment." Not all servants were the same. There was an old saying: "A minor official in the prime minister’s household still holds rank." The servant of a Foundation Establishment cultivator naturally held a higher status than an ordinary late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator. Moreover, Wei Tu was his granduncle—if he truly took in Huang Chengfu, it was unlikely that he would treat him as just an ordinary servant. Even a bit of casual guidance from Wei Tu would secure Huang Chengfu’s future, relieving Huang Peng of all worries. Besides, Huang Peng had done his research—he had already asked around and confirmed that Wei Tu was the new Tier-2 Talisman Master recruited by the Heshan Huang Clan. "A servant?" Wei Tu murmured, placing his chopsticks on the table, and did not immediately respond. At this moment, he couldn’t help but admire Huang Peng’s cleverness. There was a limit to how much one could push a situation. If Huang Peng had asked Wei Tu to take Huang Chengfu as a disciple, he wouldn’t have hesitated to flatly refuse. After all, a disciple is like a half-son, someone who would inherit the master’s skills and legacy. Wei Tu had just reached Foundation Establishment and had no time to take on a disciple, let alone one with mediocre talent. But a servant was different. As a relative, Wei Tu would naturally feel obligated to help in some capacity. Moreover, Huang Peng had a point. Now that Wei Tu had settled in the Heshan Huang Clan, he did require a trusted cultivator to assist with daily matters. And in this regard, Huang Chengfu was the most suitable choice. "Chengfu is a simple and honest child…" After a brief pause, Wei Tu finally spoke, expressing his willingness to accept Huang Chengfu as a servant. There was a hierarchy in relationships—not all connections were equally close. Now that his second aunt Wei Hong had passed, his ties with the Huang family had naturally grown distant. By delaying his response, Wei Tu subtly reminded Huang Peng that while he was willing to help today, he should be mindful of making future requests. This approach was the same as when he had once asked his second aunt for a longevity cultivation technique. It wasn’t out of pettiness or revenge—it was simply the way the world worked. When one rose in status, the number of people seeking favors naturally increased. If he agreed to every request, he would never have any peace. This was simply human nature. Of course, if one day, the positions of the Huang and Wei families reversed, it might be his own descendants seeking aid from the future generations of the Huang family… But that possibility was highly unlikely. Hearing Wei Tu's response, Huang Peng let out a sigh of relief. He swiftly kicked Huang Chengfu’s leg, reminding him. "Hurry! Call your granduncle ‘Master’!" However, unexpectedly, Huang Chengfu did not follow Huang Peng’s orders. Instead, he remained kneeling on the ground, hesitating before looking up at Wei Tu cautiously. "Granduncle, my aptitude is limited. Becoming your servant… may not be the best fit. My younger sister is still young… She is more meticulous and capable of caring for others…" "Could she take my place as your servant instead?" "You brat!" Hearing this, Huang Peng's expression darkened immediately. He swung his hand in a full arc and slapped Huang Chengfu hard across the face. After the slap, Huang Peng wanted to continue, but realizing Wei Tu was still present, he forcefully suppressed his anger, glaring at Huang Chengfu fiercely. "Chengfu was only joking, I hope Granduncle won’t take offense." He forced a smile. Huang Fang was his own daughter. If she could follow Wei Tu, she would certainly have a brighter future than Huang Chengfu. But a daughter could never compare to a son—Huang Chengfu was the true pillar of the Huang family. However, as he spoke, a trace of hope flickered in Huang Peng’s eyes—hoping that Wei Tu would take into account past family ties and accept one more person. Wei Tu remained expressionless, watching everything unfold coldly. Earlier, when Huang Fang first heard that only Huang Chengfu would follow him as a servant, the disappointment and frustration on her face had not escaped his notice. But— What did that have to do with him? If he were merely taking in Huang family members as garden servants, then whether it was one or two didn’t matter. But taking in Huang Chengfu was different—this was akin to accepting an unofficial disciple without formally acknowledging him as one. Taking on another person? He simply didn’t have the time. He had no intention of nurturing the entire Huang family in cultivation. Thus, though he felt a slight stir of sympathy for the Huang siblings, it was not enough to change his decision. "You fool! Apologize to your granduncle at once!" Seeing that Wei Tu had no intention of accepting Huang Fang, Huang Peng cursed at Huang Chengfu and simultaneously shot a secret glance at Huang Fang, signaling her. Biting her lip, holding back tears, Huang Fang whispered, "Granduncle, I still wish to stay home to care for my father… Let my brother take the position." Seeing his sister give in, Huang Chengfu lowered his head and fell silent, resigned to his fate. "Come find me at the Offering Hall in five days." Wei Tu stood up, retrieved a pass token, and placed it on the table. Then, he glanced at Huang Fang, who was silently weeping. After a brief moment of thought, he reached into his sleeve and pulled out a jade slip, setting it in front of her. He did not take her in, not because he lacked sympathy, but simply because he didn’t have the time. However, he was not so stingy as to withhold a small token of generosity. After all, knowledge and teachings were not difficult to replicate. After Wei Tu left, Huang Fang clutched the jade slip tightly in her hands, then carefully pressed it to her forehead. "Basic Talisman Arts…" "Tranquility Talisman…" She murmured to herself. Though Wei Tu had only left her with one basic talisman method, she still saw a sliver of hope for her own cultivation path. "Sigh…" Beside her, Huang Peng exhaled deeply, letting out a sigh of regret. Today was supposed to be a day of good fortune, yet it had created an irreparable rift between him and his daughter. A rift that would likely never be mended. But he had no choice. Because there was only one opportunity for a connection to the cultivation world. And being a practical man, Huang Peng was fully aware that asking for too much would only risk rejection. Leaving the Huang residence, Wei Tu returned to the Offering Hall. He summoned Huang Yuer, the hall’s steward, and gave instructions regarding Huang Chengfu before heading to his cultivation chamber within Talisman Heart Residence to begin seclusion. A month later. Wei Tu completed his cultivation method transition—advancing from the Qi Refinement chapter of Lesser Spring and Autumn Art to its Foundation Establishment chapter. "Three hundred years of cultivation…" "Only then can I catch a glimpse of the Golden Core realm." After days of meditation, Wei Tu saw new text appear within his Golden Purple Destiny. Lesser Spring and Autumn Art (1/100): Meditate for five hours daily, and in three hundred years, Foundation Establishment will be perfected. This time, unlike in the Qi Refinement realm, the phrase had changed to “Meditate for five hours daily.” "Five hours a day for three hundred years… That’s the requirement to reach peak Foundation Establishment." "It seems my middle-grade spiritual root has finally taken effect." Wei Tu contemplated. A cultivator with low-grade spiritual roots could typically only reach Foundation Establishment at best. Beyond that, unless they consumed vast amounts of pills or obtained some extraordinary opportunity, they would never reach the pinnacle of the Foundation Establishment stage, much less Golden Core. But he was different. When he broke through to Foundation Establishment, the second Foundation Establishment Pill he consumed had purified his body, allowing his spiritual root to evolve into a middle-grade spiritual root. Time flew by. Two years passed. During this time, Wei Tu left Yunhe Mountain only once. He returned to Danqiu Mountain, retrieved the Wind-Cleaving Eagle that had been left behind at Luoxue Courtyard, and stored it in a newly purchased spirit beast pouch, bringing it back to Talisman Heart Residence. The Wind-Cleaving Eagle was a Mysterious-grade bloodline spirit beast, equivalent to a middle-grade spiritual root cultivator in terms of potential. Moreover, it was a rare flying-type beast. Wei Tu would never neglect its growth. As for feeding the Wind-Cleaving Eagle, Wei Tu assigned the task to Huang Chengfu, choosing not to involve himself in such mundane matters. Previous Chapter || Next Chapte