I am a Late Bloomer in the Immortal World

Inside the gift box, there was a first-rank upper-grade Spirit Apricot—a mourning gift from Fu Lin.

In his letter, Fu Lin expressed his condolences for Xinghua's passing.

He wrote that Xinghua had treated him well in the past, often caring for him like a mother.

At the end of the letter, he added—

"Aunt Xinghua has passed, yet I remain far away and unable to return. I hope Third Uncle will not blame me for this."

Wei Tu sighed as he finished reading the letter.

"Foolish child…"

Despite repeatedly warning his children and Fu Lin to distance themselves from each other, this was only to avoid unnecessary conflicts.

It was never because Wei Tu truly disliked Fu Lin.

On the contrary—

Wei Tu had always admired him.

Among the second generation of their four brothers, Fu Lin was undoubtedly the most capable.

Unfortunately, he only had a low-grade spiritual root, making the path of cultivation a harsh struggle.

Most people struggle to seek the Dao alone.

Yet, Fu Lin had not only pursued his own path, but had also raised his younger siblings with great care.

That alone set him apart from most cultivators.

"Your mother often wished to matchmake Fu Lin and your sister."

"This Spirit Apricot… even though Fu Lin didn't specify who it was for, I believe it would suit your sister best."

Wei Tu looked at Wei Xiuwen, waiting for his opinion.

Although Fu Lin's letter expressed deep sorrow, Wei Tu knew the truth.

Xinghua had treated Fu Lin no differently from the other younger generation—she had simply fulfilled her duty as an elder.

Fu Lin's gift was likely motivated by two things—

First, he had once received help from Wei Tu, and this was his way of repaying that kindness.

Second, his longstanding affection for Wei Yan.

Now that her mother had passed, it was only natural for Fu Lin to send a significant offering.

Wei Xiuwen nodded without hesitation.

"I have no objections."

He knew better than anyone how Fu Lin had long harbored feelings for his sister.

As such, he had no intention of keeping the Spirit Apricot for himself.

Wei Tu observed Wei Xiuwen's reaction carefully.

Seeing that his son showed no trace of resentment, he felt a wave of relief.

Of all the things he was most proud of regarding his children—

It was their character.

A first-rank upper-grade Spirit Apricot was a valuable treasure for a Qi Refinement Realm cultivator.

Yet, Wei Xiuwen had no greed or hesitation in giving it up.

That was rare.

"One more thing."

"You both need to remember—"

"The ten spirit stones I once lent Fu Lin were actually on behalf of your Uncle Fu Zhizhou."

"When you see Fu Lin again, you must explain this to him in person."

Wei Tu's expression turned serious.

Back at Kou Liang's funeral, Wei Tu had assumed that Fu Zhizhou had already reconciled with his son.

He thought Fu Lin must have learned the truth about those ten spirit stones.

But now—

After reading Fu Lin's letter, he realized Fu Zhizhou had never told him the truth.

Still, Wei Tu wasn't surprised.

Both father and son had the same stubborn nature.

The fact that they never fully talked things out was almost expected.

"Yes, Father."

Wei Yan and Wei Xiuwen both nodded.

After that, Wei Tu gave Wei Yan strict guidance on how to use the Spirit Apricot.

"When breaking through from mid to late-stage Qi Refinement, you should avoid relying on breakthrough pills or spiritual fruits."

"This will strengthen your foundation."

"Only after reaching Qi Refinement Seventh Layer, should you consume the Spirit Apricot to help push through to Qi Refinement Eighth Layer."

His tone was firm, making sure his daughter understood.

Building a stable foundation before advancing was a well-known principle in the cultivation world.

However, few cultivators actually followed it.

After all, not everyone would encounter a bottleneck like Fu Zhizhou, where excessive pill consumption led to seven wasted years at Qi Refinement Realm.

Most cultivators believed they could gamble on their luck, thinking that pill toxins and unstable foundations wouldn't affect them.

But Wei Tu had seen it all.

"A moment's patience is not truly slow."

"Only those who build a solid foundation can truly soar later on."

He passed his hard-earned wisdom onto his children.

Wei Yan and Wei Xiuwen listened carefully, nodding with deep understanding.

Unlike other cultivators, they had personally witnessed their father's cultivation journey.

They had seen how Wei Tu and Fu Zhizhou progressed over the decades.

Now—

Wei Tu had already reached Foundation Establishment.

Meanwhile, Fu Zhizhou remained stuck at Qi Refinement.

The difference was clear as day.

The remaining months of mourning passed swiftly.

During this time, several old friends—including Wei Fei and Kou Hongying—came to Xinghua's grave to pay their respects.

This time—

Wei Fei was no longer as composed as he had been during Kou Liang's funeral.

He met with Wei Tu inside the thatched hut.

At first, his expression was dull and listless.

Then—

All of a sudden, he broke into uncontrollable sobs.

Tears streamed down his face, and he wailed in anguish.

Wei Tu knew exactly why Wei Fei was crying.

It wasn't because he had any deep emotional connection with Xinghua.

Rather—

He was mourning for himself.

Like Xinghua, Wei Fei was three years older than Wei Tu.

This meant he had just reached a hundred years old—

Half the lifespan of a Qi Refinement cultivator.

Xinghua had passed peacefully at one hundred years old, a long and fulfilling life in the mortal world.

But Wei Fei…

Was still only at Qi Refinement Eighth Layer.

Among cultivators, reaching two full cycles of sixty years (120 years) was considered a critical milestone.

Beyond that point, even with a Foundation Establishment Pill, the chances of success diminished drastically.

Right now, Wei Fei was beginning to realize—

If he wanted to have any hope of breaking through, he needed to maximize every possible advantage.

He had to be extremely careful with his resources, training, and opportunities.

Otherwise—

He would never escape the limits of Qi Refinement Realm.

Wei Fei had only two options left if he wanted to break through—

1. Within twenty years, he had to reach Qi Refinement Completion.

2. He had to obtain a Condensing Foundation Pill to attempt Foundation Establishment.

Both requirements weren't excessive, but the challenge lay in achieving both at the same time.

"Third Brother, I regret it so much…"

"I regret not making the same choice as you and Fourth Brother, settling in Danqiu Mountain and focusing solely on cultivation."

Wei Fei's tears streamed down uncontrollably.

If he had followed Wei Tu and Fu Zhizhou's path, he could have saved himself ten years of wasted time.

With those extra ten years, he might have already fulfilled both conditions by now.

But back then, he had feared hardship, had avoided the tough road, and instead chose the easy life of the mortal world.

He had indulged in worldly pleasures, wasting away his time.

Now, looking back—

He realized that he had destroyed his own path to immortality with his own hands.

Hearing Wei Fei's lament, Wei Tu could only sigh.

Ten years ago, at Kou Hongying's Foundation Establishment celebration, he had already foreseen this outcome.

Wei Fei had never invested in his future.

He had never worked hard enough in cultivation.

It was inevitable that he would end up in this predicament.

Looking back over the past hundred years, Wei Fei was actually the one among their four sworn brothers—aside from himself—who had the best opportunities for cultivation.

He had received:

1. Two Immortal Cultivation Techniques.

2. Blood Food Pellets.

3. Favor from a Shamanic Immortal Master, who granted him a legacy.

4. The profits from the Qi Pouch crafting method.

These four strokes of fortune had lifted him from a mortal existence into the cultivation world and helped him reach Qi Refinement Eighth Layer.

But ultimately, they were merely minor strokes of luck, far from being enough to change his fate completely.

Wei Fei thought he had grasped multiple great opportunities, but in truth—

He had squandered every single one.

Meanwhile, the others, including Wei Tu, had no such blessings—

Yet they had still seized their own chances, rising steadily through effort.

Now, Wei Fei had been left behind.

"Second Brother, this is the Demonic Soul Foundation Establishment Method I obtained from Helian Xiong."

"The required Refined Demon Taming Talismans and Monster Souls, I can provide for you."

"But the rest… you'll have to handle yourself."

Once Wei Fei had finished crying, Wei Tu deliberated for a moment, then took out a jade slip and handed it to him.

Over the years, Wei Fei had placed unwavering trust in him.

Wei Tu had never forgotten that.

However, his ability to help was limited.

Achieving Foundation Establishment had already drained most of his resources.

Even if he had the means, he wouldn't spoon-feed Wei Fei everything.

He would only help as he had once helped Kou Liang.

He would give him a crucial push at the right moment—

But whether Wei Fei succeeded depended on himself.

"Demonic Soul Foundation Establishment?"

Wei Fei was momentarily stunned.

He pressed the jade slip against his forehead, scanning its contents.

As soon as he finished—

His earlier hopelessness vanished, replaced by a surge of excitement.

The Demonic Soul Foundation Establishment Method could increase the chances of breaking through by 20%.

It wasn't as good as a Foundation Establishment Pill,

But it was superior to the Condensing Foundation Pill.

With this method, even if he failed to obtain a Condensing Foundation Pill within the next twenty years—

He wouldn't be left completely without hope.

And since Wei Tu had agreed to provide the crucial talismans and monster souls—

It was almost as if he had just handed him a free Condensing Foundation Pill.

"Second Brother, you're already a hundred years old. There's less than twenty years before you reach one hundred and twenty."

"In these twenty years, you must not slack off in cultivation."

"I can help you now, but I can't carry you forever."

"The Demonic Soul Foundation Establishment Method is a substitute for the Condensing Foundation Pill."

"But for safety, it's still best to have one on hand when the time comes."

Wei Tu noticed that Wei Fei's attitude was already shifting back to his usual careless nature.

His brows furrowed slightly, and he gave a stern reminder.

"Third Brother, don't worry!"

"In these twenty years, I'll definitely focus on my cultivation."

"I won't let you down!"

Wei Fei patted his chest confidently, making a bold promise.

"Then what about Yao Daoyou?"

Wei Tu raised an eyebrow.

For the past few decades—

Every time Wei Fei visited him, he never failed to make a trip to Yao Daoyou's residence.

Was he really here to see Wei Tu?

Or was he just using the trip as an excuse for pleasure, stopping by Wei Tu's place as an afterthought?

"Three years… no, five years!"

"I swear, for the next five years, I won't go looking for Yao Daoyou!"

Wei Fei gritted his teeth, making another vow.

Hearing this, Wei Tu fell into thought for a moment, then gave a final piece of advice.

"A cultivator's Yang Essence is crucial for Foundation Establishment."

"Although you're no longer a virgin, maintaining a stable foundation for the next twenty years will still increase your chances of breaking through."

"Fine! I'll listen to you!"

"For the next twenty years, I'll abstain completely!"

Wei Fei declared immediately.

At first, he hadn't taken Wei Tu's words seriously.

He thought abstaining from women wouldn't really make a difference.

What was a tiny bit of extra success rate compared to his own enjoyment of life?

But when he saw the faint disappointment in Wei Tu's expression,

He hesitated—

And suddenly, he couldn't bear to let Wei Tu down.

So he firmly swore to follow his advice.

Not long after Wei Fei left, another visitor arrived.

Kou Hongying descended from the sky, landing gracefully in front of Wei Tu's thatched hut.

She stood beside the grave, dressed simply yet elegantly.

Her long black hair swayed gently in the breeze, her snow-white complexion untouched by cosmetics, exuding an aura of pure, ethereal beauty.