Chapter 573: News of Ancestor Luo’s Death, Return to the Great Cang Cultivation World

Before long.

Led by Lüqiu Qingfeng, Wei Tu and the Second Mountain Lord arrived at a secluded courtyard deep within the restricted grounds, where they met Lüqiu Renwang.

This strongest figure of the Lüqiu clan didn’t appear much different from an ordinary elder. He wore an ancient robe, his hair streaked with white, his eyes bright and sharp, exuding an aura of dignity without anger.

At that moment, he sat inside a small pavilion, holding a teacup and sipping the fragrant brew in slow, steady mouthfuls.

“Grandfather.” Lüqiu Qingfeng landed from the sky with a smile and stepped forward, her tone intimate as she greeted him.

Lüqiu Renwang wasn’t her blood grandfather but was separated by several generations—closer to a great-grandfather.

Even so, to show closeness, juniors like her all called him “Grandfather.”

In front of the monarch, Lüqiu Qingfeng dared to stand as an equal, but before Lüqiu Renwang, she could only play the role of a junior.

There was no other reason but strength.

Lüqiu Renwang’s power was overwhelming, only half a step away from Divine Transformation. It wouldn’t be wrong to say he was already half in that realm. His strength was far beyond what a newly advanced late-stage Nascent Soul like her could compare to.

Her respect was born of awe.

“Qingfeng, you’re here.” Lüqiu Renwang smiled kindly, pointed to the stone stool beside the tea table, and gestured for her to sit.

“These two are?”

His eyes swept over Wei Tu and the Second Mountain Lord, pausing on Wei Tu for half a breath. His expression grew more serious as he asked.

Like Lüqiu Yeming, Lüqiu Renwang never once suspected Wei Tu as Lüqiu Jinyuan’s killer. In his estimation, the assassin must have been at least late-stage Nascent Soul or above. It was impossible for someone only mid-stage.

He only thought Wei Tu was a rare genius—so young, yet already at mid-stage Nascent Soul—and couldn’t help but feel appreciative.

“Mountain Lord Wei is a rogue cultivator from Yunyang Island. He and I hit it off at first sight, so he’s decided to join our Lüqiu clan…”

Lüqiu Qingfeng smiled gently as she spoke.

But in secret, she sent Lüqiu Renwang a voice transmission, telling the “truth”—that Wei Tu came seeking better opportunities and the cultivation resources of the Lüqiu clan.

“It can’t be just that…”

Lüqiu Renwang narrowed his eyes slightly.

He sensed an unusual closeness between Wei Tu and Lüqiu Qingfeng. Even though they tried to hide it, his seasoned eyes still caught a trace.

“This boy’s talent is good, but he’s still a bit beneath you. Don’t let yourself be blinded by romance and forget your true identity. Everything must put the nation first.”

“Still, if you can keep your heart steady, treating him as a plaything and not a Dao companion, it’s fine.”

With the experience of someone who had lived long, Lüqiu Renwang gave his reminder to the younger generation.

In the royal clan, matters between men and women were never taboo.

As he finished, Lüqiu Qingfeng’s smile stiffened slightly.

The good news was, just as she expected, Lüqiu Renwang hadn’t seen through Wei Tu as the real killer of Lüqiu Jinyuan.

The bad news was, he had mistaken Wei Tu for her admirer, thinking his joining the Lüqiu clan carried selfish motives.

But she didn’t refute it. Instead, she went along with his words.

After all, only she and Lüqiu Renwang knew this. It wouldn’t affect her reputation.

“Granddaughter understands. I will be careful about this matter.”

She nodded and replied.

…

After meeting Lüqiu Renwang, Lüqiu Qingfeng led Wei Tu and the Second Mountain Lord to settle at the Lüqiu clan’s Guest Hall, where they signed the necessary spiritual contracts.

The process was no different from any other major power’s recruitment of guest cultivators, nothing worth mentioning.

“So many strong ones… I really fall short.”

After staying for a while, the Second Mountain Lord, who lived beside Wei Tu, sighed with a self-deprecating face.

There weren’t many in the Guest Hall, only five. Three were mid-stage Nascent Soul, two were early-stage Nascent Soul.

By realm, the Second Mountain Lord should’ve been in the middle, not so disheartened.

Wei Tu asked him why.

“Each of them has mastered at least one fourth-rank immortal art. None of them are ordinary.”

The Second Mountain Lord explained.

Hearing this, Wei Tu understood. He was simply unused to the environment.

The Second Mountain Lord’s strength wasn’t low, but in the Guest Hall, cultivators didn’t rely on fighting for survival. They earned resources through various immortal arts, both within the Lüqiu clan and across the Donghua Demon Kingdom.

In the short term, the Second Mountain Lord could endure.

But as time passed, watching the others bring in more and more commissions while he was left with only his stipend, how could he not feel unsettled?

Wei Tu, on the other hand, fit in seamlessly.

His alchemy skills, while not yet at the level of Master Le the alchemist in the Guest Hall, already allowed him to take commissions with generous rewards.

These commissions didn’t bring him great wealth yet, but they were invaluable for building his experience toward fourth-rank alchemy.

Beyond that, the Lüqiu clan controlled several fourth-rank talisman crafting methods. With those, as a fourth-rank talisman master, the range of talismans he could draw expanded greatly.

It quickly filled the gaps in his foundation caused by his rapid cultivation advancement.

“Five Elder Mountain currently lacks a mid-stage Nascent Soul expert. Fellow Daoist, returning there might be better…”

After some thought, Wei Tu suggested.

Joining the Lüqiu clan had been an opportunity for the Second Mountain Lord, but since he couldn’t make use of it, it might be wiser to return to Five Elder Mountain and live out his days in peace.

“No, no.”

The Second Mountain Lord shook his head firmly.

Though his gains here weren’t as much as the others, they were still far better than what he had back at Five Elder Mountain.

To put it simply—

If he returned, it was just waiting for death. But in the Guest Hall, he still had a chance, however slim, to break through to late-stage Nascent Soul, extend his life, and grow stronger.

Hearing those words, Wei Tu finally understood the Second Mountain Lord’s thoughts.

The carrot hanging in front of the donkey—though it couldn’t be reached, its scent was still enticing.

He didn’t try persuading further. Instead, he took a jade slip from his sleeve and handed it to the Second Mountain Lord.

“This contains some of my insights on talisman dao. If Fellow Daoist doesn’t mind, you may have it. If questions arise, you can come to me.”

Wei Tu spoke after a pause.

A Nascent Soul cultivator like the Second Mountain Lord, with a long lifespan, would inevitably accumulate some skill in immortal arts.

Right now, the Second Mountain Lord was a third-rank mid-grade talisman master and a second-rank high-grade alchemist.

Though his skills were far behind the other cultivators of the Guest Hall, they were still better than starting from nothing.

Wei Tu thought to himself—while the Second Mountain Lord had little chance of ever becoming a grandmaster talisman master, with his guidance, at least he could secure a livelihood in the Guest Hall.

“Many thanks for Fellow Daoist Wei’s help.”

Seeing the talisman dao insights, the Second Mountain Lord lit up with joy. He quickly cupped his hands in gratitude.

He had come only to vent to an old friend, never expecting to gain anything from Wei Tu.

As far as he knew, Wei Tu’s expertise lay only in alchemy, and that was beyond fourth-rank.

Alchemy, however, demanded great talent. For someone like him with shallow talent, it was out of reach.

That made this gift of talisman dao insights an unexpected blessing.

“A small matter. We’re both in the Guest Hall. Helping each other is only right.”

Wei Tu smiled faintly, stood, and returned the courtesy.

For those close to him, he never hesitated to share knowledge.

With the Late Bloomer destiny in hand, his growth in talisman dao would always outpace that of this “disciple.”

…

The days passed calmly.

Wei Tu burned through the vast reserves of spirit crystals left from the battle, raising his cultivation. At the same time, using the Lüqiu clan’s Guest Hall as a channel, he absorbed resources like a sponge, advancing his alchemy and talisman dao.

Meanwhile, the matter he entrusted Lüqiu Qingfeng with—rescuing Luo Mingzhen—was beginning.

“This woman… doesn’t look like Ancestor Luo?”

Wei Tu carefully examined the portrait on the jade slip, comparing it with the face of Ancestor Luo he had seen at the Nascent Soul Ceremony.

After a while, his brow furrowed.

If his guess was right, then several years ago, Xue Hongmian’s two speculations were true.

The “Ancestor Luo” in the first speculation was the real Ancestor Luo.

Inside Ruyi Tower, she had already been used as a furnace cauldron, drained to death by several Nascent Soul cultivators.

“Luo Mingzhen” was just another unfortunate woman kidnapped and sold by Ruyi Tower.

Without Lüqiu Qingfeng’s detailed intelligence earlier, he had mistaken Luo Mingzhen as the missing Ancestor Luo.

“From Ancestor Luo’s disappearance to now, it’s been over 160 years… her death is the normal outcome.”

Wei Tu sighed lightly.

This was the cruelty of the cultivation world.

If he and Cao Mi had possessed their current realms when they first entered the overseas world, they might have saved Ancestor Luo.

But time didn’t wait.

Only after over 100 years of cultivation did they reach this strength—far too late for rescue.

At least, Wei Tu felt some relief.

The one who died was only an outsider to him, not kin. His grief was shallow.

After sighing, Wei Tu didn’t delay. He immediately sent a talisman message to Lüqiu Qingfeng, telling her to halt the rescue of “Luo Mingzhen.”

Helping when convenient was one thing.

But if a heavy price had to be paid, he had to weigh its worth.

And rescuing Luo Mingzhen was exactly such a matter.

The price was too high, far beyond the worth of an ordinary Nascent Soul woman.

Once they moved, they risked offending both the Yin Ghost Sect and Ruyi Tower—two major Nascent Soul powers.

Since she wasn’t Ancestor Luo, Wei Tu wouldn’t be merciful enough to save a stranger.

There were too many pitiful people in this world.

It was impossible to save them all.

…

After notifying Lüqiu Qingfeng, Wei Tu requested six months’ leave from the Guest Hall, left Yuanjun Island, and headed toward Yunyang Island where Five Elder Mountain lay.

When he and the Second Mountain Lord became guest cultivators of the Lüqiu clan, he had already handed authority over Five Elder Mountain to Cao Mi.

Now, Ancestor Luo’s confirmed death didn’t matter much to him as an outsider, but to Cao Mi—who saw Ancestor Luo as her teacher—it was devastating.

Such news couldn’t be told in a letter.

This time, Cao Mi didn’t remain composed or understanding. She cried bitterly, her face a mask of tears.

Over a century ago, when she first learned of Ancestor Luo’s disappearance, she didn’t cry. Disappearance didn’t mean death—there was still hope.

Years later, when she heard Ancestor Luo might have been sold to the Yin Ghost Sect, becoming a concubine of a Nascent Soul elder, she didn’t cry. As long as life remained, humiliation could fade with time.

But now, no matter how strong she was, she couldn’t deny the truth—her master Ancestor Luo was dead, tortured to death by Ruyi Tower.

“This hatred, I, Cao Mi, will avenge!”

After a moment, she stopped weeping. Wiping the tears from her snow-white face, she bit down hard and spoke each word with steel.

In her heart, she swore to make Ruyi Tower and the cultivators who disgraced Ancestor Luo pay in blood.

Standing nearby, Wei Tu heard the chilling hatred and killing intent in her vow.

Wei Tu let out a quiet sigh, feeling her pain as his own.

Over two hundred years ago, when he first learned of Master Che Gongwei’s death, he and Cao Mi had shared the same state of mind. Both had wanted to personally slay their enemy so their teacher could rest in peace beneath the Nine Springs.

Now, Cao Mi’s hatred was perhaps even deeper than his own. Che Gongwei’s death had been painless, but Ancestor Luo… she had been drained to death by Nascent Soul cultivators, forced into suffering until the end.

“Wei Dao-brother, take me to the Zunwang Palace Secret Realm. I… want to become stronger.”

At that moment, as Wei Tu was still lost in thought, he heard Cao Mi’s firm words at his side.

He was stunned. Looking at her—biting her lip, eyes full of determination—his face showed a trace of surprise.

Now, the opening of the Zunwang Palace Secret Realm was less than twenty years away.

More than a decade ago, after eliminating Lüqiu Jinyuan, Wei Tu had told Cao Mi about the secret realm and asked if she wished to accompany him to seek opportunities within.

After all, her cultivation in the Three-Flame Fire Controlling Art and her mastery of the Yin-Yang Demon Corpses would be invaluable support in his battles against strong foes.

But back then, Wei Tu hadn’t pressed her to agree.

The danger was too great.

Among those entering the secret realm, his own realm barely placed him in the middle ranks. As for Cao Mi, only at early Nascent Soul, the risk was even greater.

She hadn’t refused directly, but said she’d think about it—a gentle way of saying no.

It was normal to refuse when something was beyond one’s strength. Just like he himself had chosen not to risk saving “Luo Mingzhen.” Their friendship hadn’t been affected.

But now… Cao Mi had agreed.

Wei Tu knew this was her thirst for revenge outweighing her reason.

Still, he didn’t try to talk her out of it. He slowly nodded and accepted her decision.

For one, he truly needed her help.

With another ally, his chances inside the secret realm would improve.

For another, Cao Mi was no ordinary woman—she was a Nascent Soul elder, the long-time Palace Master of Condensing Moon Palace.

She knew what she was doing.

If she had chosen to join him, she must have already weighed the gains and losses.

After all, while some in the cultivation world rose through stable cultivation, nine out of ten from humble origins had to fight, had to seize, had to take risks.

If she cultivated step by step, cautiously, Wei Tu doubted she would ever gain the power to avenge Ancestor Luo.

To have her revenge, she had to take risks and grasp opportunities.

…

After consoling Cao Mi, Wei Tu returned to Yuanjun Island to prepare for the secret realm.

Leaving aside enough spirit crystals for his breakthrough, he went to the Guest Hall’s Alchemist Le Dan to purchase several fourth-rank healing pills.

He also bought beast hides, inks, and other materials for crafting fourth-rank talismans in bulk.

—With his status as a Lüqiu clan guest elder, the previous restrictions of quotas and real-name registration were no longer an issue.

After finishing these preparations, Wei Tu personally visited Lüqiu Qingfeng’s cave dwelling to request leave.

The position of guest elder had many advantages in peacetime, but one flaw—lack of freedom.

Still, one of the terms Lüqiu Qingfeng had promised when recruiting him was “freedom to come and go.”

So he wasn’t worried.

This visit was only a formality, not true subordination.

“Exploring a secret ruin?”

Lüqiu Qingfeng frowned slightly, repeating his reason for leave.

The Guixu Sea was named so because of the countless ruins scattered across its seas, each like a miniature secret realm.

But for one to draw the attention of a Nascent Soul cultivator like Wei Tu… in the Red Algae Sea, she had never heard of such a ruin.

“It’s in another sea region.”

Wei Tu added calmly.

Hearing that, Lüqiu Qingfeng’s frown eased. She nodded slightly in agreement.

“However… Fellow Daoist Wei, you must remember to return in time. At the next Pilgrimage into the Inner Ruins, your name is on our Lüqiu clan’s list. This is not only the Monarch’s special favor to you—it is also recognition of my status as heir.”

“Fellow Daoist Wei, you must not be absent.”

She paused to remind him seriously.

In the cultivation world, the strong devoured the weak. Behind every power, there was some greater backing.

The Lüqiu clan was no exception.

Their dominance in the Red Algae Sea rested on the support and protection of a Divine Transformation Venerable.

Thus, entering the Inner Ruins to offer reverence to such a figure had naturally become one of the clan’s highest priorities.

Wei Tu’s absence wouldn’t completely shake her heir position, but it would leave a weakness. She hoped to avoid that if possible.

“The Inner Ruins Pilgrimage?”

Wei Tu raised his brow in surprise.

He hadn’t expected to hear of it so soon from her mouth.

Over twenty years ago, when he killed the Fireburn Sect’s ancestor, he had learned of this pilgrimage from the man’s soul—a secret of the upper echelons of the overseas world.

But wary of hidden consequences, he had never used the Ascension Token to attend, never sought audience with the Divine Transformation backer.

Now, though… perhaps he could agree.