Chapter 612: Talisman Success, the Conspiracy Revealed

In the Jishan Sect, Wei Tu had no idea about the upheaval happening with the Wei Clan in the Great Cang cultivation world. But even if he knew, he wouldn’t be too surprised or panicked.

First, he never placed hope in that so-called gentleman’s agreement with Ding Lezheng.

Second, among his kin in the Ying Ding Tribe, the two he truly cared about—Wei Xiuwen and Wei Changshou—had already been prepared for death when they chose to stay behind.

The former had stayed to shoulder the duty of the Right Virtuous King of the Ying Ding Tribe.

The latter had stayed to protect his only son.

So even if he learned of their deaths, he would only grieve and quietly prepare revenge.

That ending had been set the moment he led the Wei Clan in migration. Wei Xiuwen and Wei Changshou’s decision to remain was almost the same as becoming deathsworn.

Half a year later.

Jishan Sect, Linglong Peak.

Inside his closed-door chamber, a golden light flashed. On the Talisman Heart Tablet in front of Wei Tu, a faint golden cauldron-shaped talisman solidified.

"The first-tier Golden Cauldron Talisman… finally succeeded today."

Wei Tu was satisfied.

The Golden Cauldron Talisman was one of the harder fourth-tier high-grade talismans. By his estimate, an ordinary fourth-tier talisman master would need decades to barely succeed in crafting one.

He had only spent half a year.

Of course, that was thanks to both his Golden Purple Destiny and the Talisman Heart Tablet.

The Golden Purple Destiny needed no explanation.

As for the Talisman Heart Tablet, this treasure of the talisman path was like having endless talisman paper, giving him immense room for trial and error.

The only pity was its low grade. At present, it could carry at most one fourth-tier talisman, making it hard to show its worth in Nascent Soul-level battles.

It could only serve as a tool for daily talisman refinement.

"After some more practice, I’ll raise the success rate of crafting the Golden Cauldron Talisman to over 80%."

Calm and steady, Wei Tu dispersed the talisman from the Talisman Heart Tablet and picked up his brush again to continue practicing.

Time flew.

Two more years passed.

That day, Sect Master Zhu’s scheme against Feng Han was finalized.

Using the charge of embezzlement at the Rock Quarry Mine, he sent Hall Master Luo and the Law Enforcement Hall cultivators to investigate.

Wei Tu, as an Elder of Offering, together with Zhuang Shou, the hall master of the Finance Hall, was assigned as supervisory staff to oversee Hall Master Luo and the Law Enforcement Hall during the case.

This arrangement was flawless and looked entirely reasonable.

The Jishan Sect’s upper echelon all knew that Wei Tu and Hall Master Luo were close. But without at least one "old acquaintance" among the supervisors, law enforcement would face obstruction at every turn.

The bait was set.

To Feng Han, who had been scheming for this, it was the perfect chance to get rid of Hall Master Luo.

After all, in secret, Wei Tu was already counted as his man.

"On the way to the Rock Quarry Mine, we’ll pass by Three Serpent Island. In the nearby waters, I’ve already laid a heaven-and-earth net. Elder Wei only needs to lure Hall Master Luo into the trap… As for the spirit pill I promised, I won’t go back on my word."

Feng Han once again invited Wei Tu for a private meeting to finalize the details of the assassination.

"But what if Hall Master Feng kills me afterward to keep it secret?"

Wei Tu didn’t immediately agree. Instead, he raised this concern first.

"Hall Master Feng should know well enough, your reputation in and out of the sect isn’t exactly shining these days."

His tone was heavy.

Though Feng Han denied abducting Luo Mingzhen, in the eyes of an old fox like Wei Tu, the pot had already been dumped on his head.

This was Wei Tu’s reasonable suspicion. His meaning was simple—if he was to take the risk of being silenced, then Feng Han either had to pay more or provide some guarantee of safety.

"Elder Wei can fight evenly with Yin Mozi. Your strength isn’t something an ordinary mid-Nascent Soul cultivator can match."

Feng Han frowned, offering this as a defense.

How easy was it to kill a late Nascent Soul cultivator?

To ambush and kill Hall Master Luo, two things were required: first, Wei Tu luring Luo into the trap, and second, preparing enough power to slay him.

If either step failed, Luo could escape and ruin the entire plan.

To kill Wei Tu afterward… that would only be harder.

So barring accidents, he wouldn’t silence Wei Tu, who was already in the same boat as him.

But looking at it from Wei Tu’s perspective, Feng Han also understood the doubt. With the scandal on him, his credibility wasn’t what it once was.

For Wei Tu not to worry would have been stranger.

"Once we reach Three Serpent Island, I’ll hand Elder Wei the breakthrough spirit pill in advance."

After some thought, Feng Han compromised.

With the breakthrough spirit pill in hand, Wei Tu could leave the waters around Three Serpent Island early, cutting down the dangerous waiting time between Hall Master Luo’s death and receiving the pill.

"Not enough!"

Wei Tu shook his head and let out a cold laugh. "Hall Master Feng, I’m risking my head for this deal. Do you really think I’d settle for just one breakthrough spirit pill?"

"This is far from enough!"

A last-minute price hike?

Feng Han immediately understood Wei Tu’s meaning.

Still, he wasn’t surprised. Only someone greedy and profit-driven would join his side in the first place. So while his disgust toward Wei Tu deepened, he had no choice but to nod and agree.

The matter had reached the point of no return—there was no room for him to step back.

"Before Hall Master Luo dies at Three Serpent Island, besides the promised breakthrough spirit pill, I’ll prepare another of equal value!"

Feng Han gritted his teeth as he spoke.

By now he had already decided—once Hall Master Luo was eliminated, he would find another chance to kill Wei Tu as well. Only then could he remove this looming threat.

Otherwise, he could already picture it: Wei Tu constantly using this matter to blackmail him, leaving him restless and fearful day after day.

After leaving Feng Han, Wei Tu returned to Linglong Peak. From his storage pouch, he pulled out the 10 sets of talisman paper and spirit ink Feng Han had given him for crafting Golden Cauldron Talismans.

Thanks to years of practice with the Talisman Heart Tablet, his success rate for drawing the first-tier Golden Cauldron Talisman had risen to over 60%. It was lower than the 80% he had aimed for, but still usable.

More than five completed Golden Cauldron Talismans would be enough for one all-out fight against a cultivator of the same realm.

Steeling his focus, Wei Tu picked up his talisman brush and began to draw with smooth precision.

As azure spiritual power flowed from the brush tip, complicated runes took shape on the talisman paper.

When the final stroke fell, dozens of rune-lines tangled together and condensed into the form of a tiny golden cauldron.

"It’s done!"

First attempt successful. Wei Tu’s eyes brightened.

Without stopping, he moved on to craft the other nine Golden Cauldron Talismans.

Unfortunately, luck didn’t favor him this time. Out of nine, only six succeeded. The rest collapsed into fragments as uncontrolled talisman energy shattered them apart.

"Other talismans need to be prepared too."

He stored away the seven Golden Cauldron Talismans and with a sweep of his sleeve drew out another stack of talisman paper.

This set was mid-grade fourth-tier, made from the hides of the two sea beast demons he had slain.

Though mid-grade fourth-tier talismans didn’t threaten late Nascent Soul cultivators much, numbers could make up for power.

Half a month passed quickly.

By the time of departure, Wei Tu’s storage pouch was packed with talismans of every kind.

"So this is Elder Wei? Truly impressive in bearing."

"No wonder Sect Master favors him."

At the mountain gate of the Jishan Sect, Zhuang Shou, hall master of the Finance Hall, arrived late. After exchanging a few words with his colleague Hall Master Luo, his eyes landed on Wei Tu and he spoke with admiration.

The words made Wei Tu’s brow lift slightly as he stood calmly among the group.

He couldn’t tell whether Zhuang Shou was speaking casually, or if this was another gesture of goodwill from Sect Master Zhu’s faction.

Everyone in the sect knew Zhuang Shou was a staunch loyalist of Sect Master Zhu.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been chosen to supervise law enforcement at the Rock Quarry Mine publicly, while secretly also handling the task of eliminating Feng Han, the sect’s unstable element.

"Hall Master Zhuang flatters me."

Wei Tu didn’t linger on the topic of "being favored by the sect master." He cupped his hands politely, thanked him, and dropped the matter.

Even though he was competing to become one of Sect Master Zhu’s trusted aides, being a "confidant" did not mean becoming a dog.

At their level, the relationship leaned more toward alliance than servitude.

Too much flattery would only cheapen him.

Better to keep it measured.

Seeing Wei Tu’s calm and neither-humble-nor-arrogant manner, Zhuang Shou’s eyes flickered with surprise. From the intelligence he had, Wei Tu’s past actions with the Lüqiu Clan and in the Jishan Sect made him seem like a scheming, self-serving man.

From a loose cultivator wandering the outer seas, he had risen to an elder of the Jishan Sect.

Now, he almost seemed… pure?

‘The greatest traitors resemble the most loyal.’

The old saying crossed Zhuang Shou’s mind with a trace of mockery.

Still, on the surface, Zhuang Shou showed no contempt. Instead, he was affable, making conversation with Wei Tu and asking about Feng Han’s plot in detail.

Hall master, elder of offering—these were only surface titles.

In the Jishan Sect, true power depended on how close one was to Sect Master Zhu or Venerable Hanyue.

Even as a die-hard loyalist, being a loyalist wasn’t the same as being a confidant.

It would be foolish to offend Wei Tu, who might soon become one of the sect master’s most trusted, just out of contempt.

The three of them talked easily as they walked.

With Wei Tu, their hidden spy, they already knew the full scope of Feng Han’s plan. None of them believed he could overturn the situation.

And to be extra cautious, Zhuang Shou even carried a manifested dharma body of Venerable Hanyue, in case of accidents.

Soon, Wei Tu, Zhuang Shou, Hall Master Luo, and the Law Enforcement Hall cultivators left the Jishan Sect, setting out on the road toward the Rock Quarry Mine.