Chapter 208: Skylark Gazes at the Sky, Golden Core Ambition

"Junior sister?"

Wei Tu paused at her words.

Thanks to Kou Hongying, he was acquainted with quite a few cultivators from Mirror Water Pavilion. But all of them had direct ways to contact him, there was no need to go through Kou Hongying.

"Which fellow cultivator is it?" Wei Tu asked casually.

"Chu Qin, Junior Sister Chu. She just broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm seven years ago."

Kou Hongying replied.

Chu Qin?

Hearing that name, Wei Tu immediately remembered.

Chu Qin was the daughter of Chu Huan.

Back when he was stationed at Cicada Cry Cliff, Chu Huan died during his first mission. Since he had known Chu Huan, he sent a letter reporting her death to her daughter, Chu Qin, who was still in Mirror Water Pavilion. He even paid from his own pocket to return Chu Huan’s belongings to Chu Qin.

"Since she’s the daughter of an old acquaintance, I should meet her." Wei Tu thought.

Back then, Chu Huan had tried to gain favor with him at Cicada Cry Cliff, just to ensure someone in his network would look after Chu Qin.

Now that Chu Huan was gone, the bond they built still remained.

...

That night.

Kou Hongying brought Chu Qin to the cave residence in Baishi Lake Marketplace to meet Wei Tu.

"Fellow cultivator Chu." Sitting at the stone table in the front courtyard, Wei Tu saw a green-robed girl who resembled Chu Huan walking toward him. He rose and greeted her with a cupped-fist salute.

But compared to Chu Huan’s plain looks, Chu Qin’s appearance was more refined and elegant, her delicate features framed by a cool, distant aura between her brows.

"Senior Wei was once close to my mother, just call me Xiao Qin." Chu Qin returned his salute respectfully, lowering her status by one generation.

In the cultivation world, unless related by blood or sect, seniority was based on cultivation.

With this, Chu Qin acknowledged Wei Tu as her elder, closing the gap between them.

"Xiao Qin?" Wei Tu’s expression turned odd. He wasn’t used to calling a female cultivator of the same realm by such a nickname.

Although he was nearly one hundred seventy years old now, and in the mortal world would be considered an ancestor, in the cultivation world, he was still young, part of the younger generation.

"Twenty years ago, my mother died in battle at the front lines. Thanks to Senior Wei’s help, I was able to see her belongings again."

After greeting Wei Tu, a trace of sorrow crossed Chu Qin’s face as she expressed her gratitude.

"It was a small matter."

Wei Tu waved his hand, signaling her not to worry about it.

"Back then, Senior Wei wrote in the death notice, advising me not to let hatred cloud my heart."

"I have always remembered this warning."

"Now that I’ve reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, I finally have the strength to seek revenge on the demonic cultivator who killed my mother. Senior Wei, do you know... the name of the one who killed her?"

Chu Qin finally brought up her purpose.

A mother’s death could not go unavenged.

When she received that death notice, she had wanted to rush to the front lines for revenge, but lacking strength, she had buried the hatred deep in her heart.

"The one who killed fellow cultivator Chu?" Wei Tu thought for a moment, took out a blank jade slip, and inscribed two names of demonic cultivators on it, then handed it to Chu Qin.

Foundation Establishment cultivators were the backbone of all major forces, not nameless figures.

The demonic cultivators who killed Chu Huan would have taken her body to claim rewards.

After Chu Huan died, Wei Tu had visited the demonic cultivator territories a few times and casually inquired about the names of those who killed her.

But since Chu Huan wasn’t very close to him, he didn’t risk himself for her revenge.

"Senior Wei’s great kindness, I will repay it someday." Chu Qin clutched the jade slip tightly, her almond eyes slightly red as she spoke solemnly.

Wei Tu smiled faintly, not taking it to heart.

Although they were both Foundation Establishment cultivators now, Chu Qin was only at early Foundation Establishment, while he was near the peak, preparing to form a Golden Core.

The gap in their cultivation meant that, at a normal pace, Chu Qin would need a hundred or two hundred years to reach his current level.

But his cultivation wouldn’t stand still.

It was unlikely she would ever be able to help him in the future.

That much was easy to foresee.

However.

What Chu Qin said next greatly surprised Wei Tu.

After finishing the serious matter, Chu Qin didn’t bid farewell. Instead, her eyes filled with determination, her teeth clenched slightly, and she bowed deeply to Wei Tu, saying:

"If Senior Wei doesn’t mind, I am willing to acknowledge you as my foster father and serve at your command..."

Just helping her retrieve her mother’s belongings wasn’t enough for her to make such a decision.

In the years since she reached Foundation Establishment, Chu Qin had inadvertently learned that Kou Hongying secretly helped a friend "exchange" sect cultivation-enhancing pills.

With today’s encounter in mind.

Chu Qin naturally realized that Kou Hongying’s “friend” was Wei Tu.

A second-rank superior-grade talisman master, suspected to be at the late Foundation Establishment Realm, and a Golden Core disciple...

These two aspects of strength, combined with that background, and the bond of past favors, pushed Chu Qin to make up her mind today—to recognize Wei Tu as her foster father and cling to this strong backer.

After all, without outside help, the Foundation Establishment Realm was almost certainly her ceiling.

Of course, meeting Wei Tu and expressing her gratitude, Chu Qin was sincere about that.

Before today, Chu Qin hadn’t known that Wei Tu’s cultivation was suspected to be at the late Foundation Establishment Realm.

Call me foster father?

Wei Tu raised his head and glanced meaningfully at Chu Qin.

At that moment, Chu Qin, still in deep bow, was just a step away from him, her delicate face clearly visible before him.

Even her breath could be felt distinctly.

"I already have a daughter."

Wei Tu shook his head and declined.

Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he used his cultivation to gently lift the bowing Chu Qin.

Hearing this, Chu Qin’s cheeks turned slightly red, a bit embarrassed.

She had thought that by acknowledging Wei Tu as her foster father, she would gain a support. She hadn’t expected Wei Tu to refuse.

After all, she was at least a sect Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Even if she was “useless,” having a sect Foundation Establishment foster daughter was still something that would enhance one’s reputation.

"It was rude of me." Chu Qin blushed and apologized.

Wei Tu had helped her. Though he rejected her offer of becoming closer, she wouldn’t bear a grudge against him for that.

Wei Tu, seeing Chu Qin remain composed even after being refused, nodded quietly.

From this, her character wasn’t bad.

As for the earlier forwardness,

it was normal.

Everyone wanted to rely on a powerful elder.

He was no exception.

"I’m not refusing to take you as a foster daughter because you’re unworthy, but because I’ve never taken in a foster daughter." Wei Tu thought for a moment and added, giving her an explanation.

In the cultivation world, taking in foster children wasn’t a common custom. If they found a suitable junior, they usually took them as disciples.

So, this reason was fitting and reasonable.

Chu Qin heard this, and the awkwardness on her face gradually faded. She gave Wei Tu a grateful look and took her leave.

After Chu Qin left.

Kou Hongying glanced at Chu Qin’s thin figure in the distance and suddenly thought of herself.

Back then, she was just like Chu Qin, preparing for Foundation Establishment, when her father Kou Liang died while out, leaving her alone and helpless.

But unlike Chu Qin.

She had elders she could rely on and made it through the hardest times.

"Uncle Fu might have his reasons." Kou Hongying thought silently. She still hoped that the brotherhood of the Four Righteous Brothers would end well.

Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on Novᴇl_Fire(.)net

During the last reunion, she mentioned how Fu Zhizhou had abandoned his wife and child, and though she scolded Fu Zhizhou, her words had mainly been to comfort Wei Tu.

...

After Chu Qin left, Wei Tu didn’t stay any longer in Baishi Lake Marketplace. He stood up, bid farewell to Kou Hongying, and returned to Red River Mountain.

But just as he planned to cultivate in seclusion at Cloudsmoke Residence, refining his pills, Gao Chen came knocking.

"Does Junior Brother Wei find Cloudsmoke Residence to be comfortable enough?" Gao Chen stepped into the hall, smiling.

As soon as the words fell.

Wei Tu understood right away: Gao Chen had come to reclaim Cloudsmoke Residence.

Nine years ago, when he first arrived at Red River Mountain Marketplace, Gao Chen, trying to win him over, had temporarily lent him Cloudsmoke Residence.

But times had changed.

True Lord Che had made it clear that senior disciples were not allowed to form factions by pulling in juniors, so Gao Chen’s efforts to win him over had failed.

Now, lending out Cloudsmoke Residence had become a losing deal.

The fact that Gao Chen waited until today to reclaim it,

showed that he was still fairly decent.

"Cloudsmoke Residence has been good to stay in. If Senior Brother Gao is willing, could I stay a few more years?"

"I’ll pay rent at market rates."

Wei Tu stated.

He had lived in Cloudsmoke Residence for a long time, and moving would be troublesome.

So switching from free lodging to market rent was acceptable to him.

"Junior Brother Wei is an honest man. But Cloudsmoke Residence, just a few days ago... I’ve already given it to someone else as a favor."

Gao Chen sat in the grand chair, his expression calm, speaking slowly.

To Gao Chen, Wei Tu was quite irritating. Master Che had ordered them not to form factions, and Wei Tu had truly stopped associating with him.

Reclaiming Cloudsmoke Residence now was not only about cutting losses, but also about knocking Wei Tu down a notch, setting an example for other juniors.

Wei Tu was unaware of Gao Chen’s real thoughts.

Cloudsmoke Residence had always belonged to Gao Chen. Now that Gao Chen had given it to someone else without informing him, using it to curry favor, it was perfectly reasonable.

There was no need for him to argue over such a matter.

It was just a residence, after all.

"In that case, I’ll move out now, no need to trouble Senior Brother Gao." Wei Tu cupped his hands and said.

"What?" Gao Chen was surprised at how straightforward Wei Tu’s answer was. This wasn’t the outcome he expected at all.

Gao Chen had thought Wei Tu was a muddled man, which was why he stopped dealing with him. But unexpectedly, Wei Tu was clear-headed, could distinguish right from wrong, and didn’t resent him for this “provocation.”

It was like punching cotton—completely powerless.

"Good, then." Gao Chen had no more temper left, replying flatly.

When Wei Tu first moved into Cloudsmoke Residence, since it was just a rented place, he avoided suspicion and only used the cultivation chamber, never touching the other rooms.

So when Wei Tu moved out, he was quick about it. After tidying up briefly, he left Cloudsmoke Residence.

Watching Wei Tu leave so cleanly, Gao Chen, standing inside Cloudsmoke Residence, furrowed his brows deeply, feeling an uneasy premonition.

Acting without hesitation, even if it seemed like a simple habit, to Gao Chen, a seasoned elite of the rogue cultivators, it revealed a deeper layer of Wei Tu’s character.

—Plan first, then act.

Such a person wouldn’t waste time.

"The cultivation world isn’t the mundane world. No matter how scheming, without talent, you still can’t turn the heavens."

Thinking of this, Gao Chen shook his head, and the frown slowly eased.

In his eyes.

Temperament only set a cultivator’s lower limit. It didn’t decide the upper limit.

No matter how cunning Wei Tu was, in front of him, he was still just a “mid Foundation Establishment” junior, not comparable to himself, a False Core True Master.

"In the cultivation world, strength is still what matters most." Gao Chen, not wanting to think further, waved his sleeve and closed the door of Cloudsmoke Residence.

...

Red River Mountain Marketplace gathered more than half of Zheng Kingdom’s rogue cultivators.

Here, finding a quasi-third-rank residence like Cloudsmoke Residence wasn’t easy.

But Wei Tu was True Lord Che’s disciple.

After reporting to the Loose Immortal Alliance officially, he quickly got help from them and was arranged to rent a quasi-third-rank residence with spiritual energy nearly the same as Cloudsmoke Residence.

"Cloud Lark Residence." Wei Tu gave the new place a new name.

This new name was also an old one.

Back then, when Wei Tu left the “shantytown” of Danqiu Mountain, the residence he moved into was called “Cloud Lark Courtyard.”

"A cloud lark too dreams of soaring through the nine heavens."

Wei Tu raised his head to look at the sky. Under the vastness above, a surge of ambition to reach the Golden Core Realm rose in his heart.

After writing letters to friends and family, informing them of his move to Cloud Lark Courtyard, Wei Tu hung a wooden sign with the words “In Seclusion” at the door, then dived into the secluded chamber to begin closed-door cultivation.

Now.

Pills and body refining treasures were all prepared.

What he lacked now was time to push through his Qi and body refining cultivation.

...

In the cultivation chamber, after nourishing his Qi for a few days, Wei Tu took out a “White Dew Pill,” swallowed it, and started refining it.

Several months later.

Wei Tu’s spiritual energy had improved by a large margin.

To ensure his spiritual energy was pure.

Wei Tu didn’t rush to take more pills. Instead, he used “Yuan Gravity Law Seal” to refine the “pill toxins” from his body bit by bit.

Time passed slowly.

Seven years later.

All four pills that enhanced late Foundation Establishment spiritual energy were consumed, and Wei Tu’s cultivation had reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

"My spiritual energy can’t advance anymore."

"If I refine it any further, the spiritual energy lake in my dantian will begin to ‘crystallize’."

Wei Tu looked inward at his dantian. Seeing the thick spiritual energy inside, he thought.

"Now, I’ll continue cultivating the ‘Hundred Veins Blood Tempering Art’."

"Push through in one go and raise my body refinement to the peak of the late second rank."

Wei Tu took out the amber-like “Jade Marrow Gold” from the seven-foot jade box and applied it all over his skin.

Though body refinement and Qi cultivation weren’t directly related, they still influenced each other.

Now that Wei Tu had reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm, cultivating body refining techniques would be smoother and easier than before.

Qi techniques often included body refining benefits, though not as pronounced as dedicated body refining techniques.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator’s body was far stronger than that of a Qi Refinement cultivator.

After applying the “Jade Marrow Gold” to his body, within a quarter of an hour, Wei Tu felt needle-like pain shooting from every pore and bone, almost unbearable.