Chapter 71: Abandoning Kou Liang (Please collect and follow)
The Xiantian Realm.
Even flying flowers and plucked leaves could be used to injure others.
Wei Tu was now confident that with his martial arts strength, even if he lacked the ability to take a general's head from amidst ten thousand soldiers, defeating a thousand men single-handedly would be an effortless task.
Wei Tu did not believe that Xiantian martial artists who had practiced longer than him, or those from the immortal families, would be weaker than him or possess fewer methods.
"It is still unclear whether the immortals of Danqiu Mountain are righteous or evil. If they happen to be demonic practitioners, rushing to their door would be seeking death."
"The most appropriate course of action is to first find a Xiantian martial artist from the government and make some inquiries."
Wei Tu's thoughts raced.
While pondering, Wei Tu opened the *Introduction to Talisman Dao*. Following the immortal talismans recorded within, he circulated his Xiantian True Qi to drive the spiritual energy and began to draw talismans.
The *Introduction to Talisman Dao* was a fragmented text; only three types of immortal talismans were recorded.
They were: the "Water Flow Talisman," the "Earth Spike Talisman," and the "Mind Calming Talisman."
The "Water Flow Talisman" required water-attribute spiritual power to draw. Wei Tu did not possess this, so he shifted his gaze to the "Earth Spike Talisman" and the "Mind Calming Talisman."
The "Earth Spike Talisman" aligned with his attribute, as it required earth-attribute spiritual power.
As for the "Mind Calming Talisman," it could be drawn using spiritual power of any attribute.
A short while later.
Following the pattern of the "Earth Spike Talisman," Wei Tu drew an identical immortal talisman.
In the few years since obtaining the *Introduction to Talisman Dao*, he had long since memorized the depictions of the three talismans in his heart and had practiced them countless times.
However.
To Wei Tu's surprise.
The moment the talisman was completed, amidst a flicker of spiritual light, the talisman paper abruptly spontaneously combusted without any wind.
Seeing this.
Wei Tu was not discouraged and continued to draw "Earth Spike Talismans."
But the result was unexpected.
For nearly half a month.
He had drawn nearly seventy "Earth Spike Talismans," but all of them, like the first piece of paper, spontaneously combusted. Not a single one succeeded.
"Is it a problem with the materials—the talisman paper, the cinnabar, the brush—or is it a problem with my technique?"
Wei Tu rubbed his chin, beginning to contemplate the reason for the failure of the immortal talismans.
He guessed that the most likely reason for the failure was that the talisman paper could not withstand the pressure of the spiritual power, leading to spontaneous combustion.
When practicing immortal cultivation techniques and drawing spiritual energy into his body, he had also felt the domineering nature of spiritual energy. Without Xiantian True Qi protecting his body, he feared his meridians would have been directly ravaged by the spiritual power, turning him into a cripple.
One must remember that he had achieved the Xiantian realm through external tempering methods; the meridians in his body had long been forged accordingly.
The logic was the same.
Ordinary martial artists could not withstand spiritual energy, and ordinary talisman paper naturally struggled to bear it as well.
There was also a reason why he was certain that his drawing technique did not have any major issues.
Wei Tu immersed his consciousness and looked at the "Late Bloomer" destiny that was radiating golden light in his mind.
At this moment.
A new line of text had appeared on the "Late Bloomer" destiny.
[Earth Spike Talisman (32/100): Five practices a day, completed in seven years.]
"32% progress is the stage of minor success. At this level, I should be able to draw one or two talismans..."
"Since not a single one succeeded in half a month, it can only be attributed to the materials."
Wei Tu shook his head.
...
A few days later.
The group gathered once again at Xuanhe Pavilion.
Just as Wei Tu intended to announce that he had broken through to the Xiantian realm, Fu Zhizhou spoke first, revealing that he had broken through to the Xiantian realm himself.
Surprised, Wei Tu suppressed the words in his throat and waited for Fu Zhizhou's explanation.
Previously, although he thought Fu Zhizhou might break through to the Xiantian realm before him, that thought was from nine years ago.
Four months ago, he and Fu Zhizhou had exchanged martial arts insights.
Fu Zhizhou had admitted that his martial True Qi was still accumulating and would take at least another year or two to finish; only then would he have the chance to nurture "Xiantian True Qi."
In just four months.
Fu Zhizhou hadn't even finished accumulating his martial True Qi; how could he possibly break through to Xiantian?
Under Wei Tu's gaze.
Fu Zhizhou explained, "To break through to Xiantian, I asked Second Brother for a Blood-Food Pill. By relying on that Blood-Food Pill, I was able to break through to the Xiantian realm..."
"Blood-Food Pill?" Hearing this, Wei Tu's brow furrowed slightly, though he didn't know what to say.
Everyone has their own choices.
The drawbacks of the "Blood-Food Pill" that he worried about might not mean much to Fu Zhizhou.
After all, Fu Zhizhou was not like him; if his luck were poor, he might not reach the Xiantian realm in a few years, or perhaps not in his entire life.
Looking at it this way, Fu Zhizhou asking Wei Fei for a "Blood-Food Pill" to break through was actually a good thing for him.
Compared to extending one's lifespan for a lifetime and the immortal opportunities he might encounter in the future, some potential side effects of the "Blood-Food Pill" were negligible.
"Congratulations, Fourth Brother."
After suppressing the stray thoughts in his mind, Wei Tu smiled and cupped his hands to congratulate Fu Zhizhou.
As Wei Tu finished speaking, Kou Liang and Wei Fei also reacted and offered their congratulations one by one.
"When I borrowed the Blood-Food Pill, I promised Second Brother that after breaking through to the Xiantian realm, if the opportunity arose, I would do my utmost to help Second Brother break through to the Xiantian realm as well..."
"I must inform you, my sworn brothers, of this matter."
"Otherwise..."
"It would be bad if a rift developed between us because of this in the future."
Fu Zhizhou continued.
Hearing this.
Wei Tu was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected that Fu Zhizhou would make such a promise when asking Wei Fei for the Blood-Food Pill.
However, after the surprise, Wei Tu couldn't help but shift his gaze toward Kou Liang and Wei Fei.
Fu Zhizhou knew his martial realm; saying "a rift would develop" was certainly not directed at him... but rather at the eldest brother, Kou Liang, who had "fallen furthest behind" and was the "least contributing" among the four...
Among the four.
The second, Wei Fei, had contributed two immortal cultivation techniques, giving them the chance to pursue the immortal path.
And he, having the highest martial realm, frequently shared his cultivation insights, shortening everyone's training time.
The suggestion to share the immortal techniques had also come from him.
The fourth, Fu Zhizhou, had the best background and aptitude, providing them with networking help. The fact that the three of them were granted eighth-rank martial official positions in the prefectural city was inseparable from the Fu family's connections.
Only the eldest brother, Kou Liang.
He had no immortal affinity, no connections, and no martial bones.
His help to the three of them was negligible.
He was a true "poor scholar" attempting immortal cultivation.
...
Under Wei Tu's gaze.
Kou Liang's expression darkened slightly, and he lowered his head for a while, unknown what he was thinking.
Wei Fei was different. Although he was suppressing his emotions, the joy emanating from the bottom of his heart was obvious to anyone.
After all, having a Xiantian realm martial artist help him would greatly increase his probability of breaking through to the Xiantian realm.
Seeing this.
Wei Tu hesitated, unsure if he should try to save this alliance that was potentially drifting toward collapse.
Three people contributing.
One person freeloading.
Such an alliance would certainly struggle to go far.
But soon, he thought of Fu Zhizhou's actions in the past—after Fu Zhizhou became an eighth-rank official and led them by a great margin, he did not abandon them. Instead, he provided them with intelligence, allowing them to practice their martial arts in secret and prepare armor to deal with the coming war.
It was a fact that Eldest Brother Kou Liang was freeloading from the three of them, but this was also a matter of helplessness... not a result of his true nature.
If he abandoned Kou Liang today, then tomorrow, who else in the four-man alliance should be abandoned?
(End of Chapter)