Wei Yan’s successful Foundation Establishment was undoubtedly good news, but Wei Tu couldn’t help but feel a tinge of concern. “Yan’er was too reckless with this breakthrough. She didn’t notify me beforehand and attempted it on her own.”

After the initial joy faded, Wei Tu found himself worried about the risk she had taken.

Before heading into Cloud Ze Secret Realm, he had given both Wei Yan and Wei Xiuwen a high-grade Demon-Taming Talisman to aid them in their Foundation Establishment. However, that was merely a precaution—a contingency plan in case he didn’t return from the secret realm.

He had never expected Wei Yan to use it so soon.

Wei Yan had always been a steady and cautious person, never one to take unnecessary risks. If anything, he had assumed she would wait until her “Double Jia Age” arrived twenty years later. If she failed to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill by then, only then would she attempt a breakthrough.

Had she waited just a bit longer—until his return from Cloud Ze Secret Realm—this breakthrough wouldn’t have been so dangerous.

Inside the secret realm, he had not only acquired seven Golden Core treasures but also three Foundation Establishment treasures.

Foundation Establishment treasures were rare in Cloud Ze Secret Realm, and the three he obtained were only thanks to killing a rogue cultivator from Tai Xuan Sect after parting ways with Qin Zhenren.

With these treasures, he could exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill.

With such a pill protecting her meridians, even if Wei Yan had failed her breakthrough, she wouldn’t have died.

“But now that Yan’er has succeeded on her own, that Foundation Establishment Pill can be saved for Xiuwen.” Wei Tu contemplated.

His original plan was to first give the pill to Wei Yan, then search for another Foundation Establishment treasure to exchange for a second pill for Wei Xiuwen.

But now, with Wei Yan’s successful breakthrough, there was no need to search for another treasure.

The one he already had was enough.

“Xiuwen doesn’t have any heirs. The three Foundation Establishment treasures… the extra one is useless to me.” Wei Tu mused.

Now, he had two possible choices for handling the spare Foundation Establishment treasure:

1. Sell it, along with some of the more questionable treasures he had acquired, through auctions across Zheng Kingdom to obtain more cultivation resources.

2. Sell it at a friendship price to Wei Fei.

“This isn’t even a choice.” Wei Tu shook his head, recalling the time Wei Fei had tried to gift him Blood Food Pellets.

The Five Yuan Spirit Body manual that Wei Fei had shared with him might have been out of curiosity, wanting to study cultivation techniques together.

But the Little Eclipse Sun Technique and Blood Food Pellets—that was true goodwill from a sworn brother.

Years ago, he had even extended a helping hand to Kou Liang, whom he wasn’t particularly close to. For Wei Fei, how could he not offer assistance when he had the ability to?

Selling the Foundation Establishment treasure at a low price to Wei Fei might cost him some spirit stones, but a few hundred spirit stones didn’t mean anything to him anymore.

Back then, when Wei Fei had sought spirit stones for his breakthrough, he had refused because Wei Fei had not been diligent enough. It was clear that Wei Fei only started reaching out when it was too late—hoping to rely on him or Kou Hongying.

Naturally, Wei Tu wasn’t pleased with that attitude.

However, that misunderstanding had long been cleared up.

Wei Fei never actually intended to borrow a large amount of spirit stones. He had simply fumbled his words, which led both Wei Tu and Kou Hongying to misunderstand.

“If I sell this treasure to him at a friendship price… then with his own savings, he might be able to afford another Foundation Establishment treasure later. He could try again in this lifetime.” Wei Tu pondered.

In his priorities, his own family came first. If he had a Foundation Establishment Pill, it would go to Wei Yan and Wei Xiuwen first—not Wei Fei.

However, he also wished for their Brotherhood Alliance to stay together.

Since he still had the ability to help, and since Wei Fei had helped him in the past, it was only natural for him to return the favor.

With that decision made, Wei Tu picked up his brush and wrote a letter to Wei Fei, asking whether he wanted to take this opportunity for one last attempt at Foundation Establishment or if he preferred to focus on nurturing a successor, like Kou Liang had done.

A few months later.

Wei Tu had fully recovered from his injuries. His mana was restored, and his cultivation had even improved slightly.

At the same time, he received Wei Fei’s response.

Wei Fei had agreed to buy the Foundation Establishment treasure for 2,500 spirit stones and asked Wei Tu to reserve it for him until he could gather the funds.

A single Foundation Establishment treasure normally sold for 3,000 to 4,000 spirit stones.

Wei Fei’s offer was lower, but since this was meant as a friendship price, the exact amount wasn’t important.

“The real question is… how long will it take for him to gather 2,500 spirit stones?” Wei Tu sighed.

Wei Fei had neither a specialized skill nor the recklessness of Fu Zhizhou, who risked his life in the Demon Wolf Mountain Range for quick money.

For Wei Fei, accumulating that amount would take years.

The spiritual inheritance of the Witch Immortal Master had already been exhausted when Wei Fei failed his first attempt at Foundation Establishment.

Just as Wei Tu was reflecting on this, he stepped out of his courtyard.

Immediately, Huang Chengfu hurried over, bowed, and reported:

“Granduncle, the Clan Leader came looking for you a few days ago. Since you were in seclusion, he asked me to tell you to visit him at the Clan Affairs Hall once you emerged.”

Wei Tu frowned. “The Clan Leader is looking for me?” He wasn’t sure what Huang Changshun wanted.

“Could it be that the frontlines are in crisis again? Have the Three Great Immortal Sects assigned another mission to the Huang Clan, demanding Foundation Establishment cultivators?”

His expression darkened.

A few months ago, when he returned to Hengshan Town, he had learned of the betrayal of Second Elder Huang Juzhi. That was when he had already considered leaving the Huang Clan and seeking another family to serve as a guest elder.

After all, he was a guest cultivator, not a diehard loyalist. There was no reason for him to stay aboard a sinking ship.

However, out of gratitude for the resources the Huang Clan had provided, and considering that even if he left, he wouldn’t be able to avoid the ongoing war between righteous and demonic cultivators, he had decided to hold off on leaving for now.

But if the Huang Clan intended to treat him as they did Master Xia, sending him to the battlefield to die in exchange for another clan member’s survival, then—

Leaving the Huang Clan would no longer be an option, but a necessity.

It would have to happen immediately.

Half a day later.

Wei Tu arrived at the Clan Affairs Hall.

Huang Changshun greeted him warmly. “Master Wei, please, take a seat at the head table.”

His enthusiasm caught Wei Tu off guard, but as he swept his gaze across the handful of Foundation Establishment cultivators present, he immediately understood why.

The losses from Cloud Ze Secret Realm had been devastating. Seven Huang Clan Foundation Establishment cultivators had died.

Second Elder Huang Juzhi had betrayed the clan, taking two more Foundation Establishment cultivators with him.

Now, from a once-thriving group of twelve, only three Foundation Establishment cultivators remained.

The situation was beyond dire.

Without Huang Xinglie, their Golden Core patriarch, the Huang Clan would have devolved into a mere mid-tier Foundation Establishment family.

And among the three remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators, only Huang Changshun was in the late stage. The other two were early-stage cultivators.

In other words—

With his current strength, Wei Tu was already one of the top three strongest combatants in the Huang Clan.

Given that, how could Huang Changshun not be warm and welcoming toward him?

Huang Changshun sighed. “The losses we suffered in Cloud Ze Secret Realm were heavy. Not only did Huang Changkong and the others perish, but Master Yu Kui also fell.”

“Now, our only guest elders are Master Xia and yourself.”

He paused, then looked directly at Wei Tu. “You’ve seen our clan’s current weakness… but great rewards bring great warriors. We’re willing to raise your compensation if you can fully support us and help us through this crisis!”

Hearing this, Wei Tu’s tense expression eased slightly.

However, he remained wary.

The Huang Clan’s Foundation Establishment cultivators were nearly wiped out. Their middle-tier strength had been crippled.

There was no way they would sacrifice their own clansmen first while letting a guest elder like him sit back and enjoy the benefits.

No such thing as a free lunch.

Huang Changshun then shifted the conversation. “Huang Changkong once mentioned his desire to arrange a marriage between you and Huang Caiyu. Unfortunately, she also perished in the secret realm…”

“That said, my fifth daughter recently reached Foundation Establishment. She is still young, under a hundred years old, and has yet to be betrothed. Master Wei, would you consider joining our family through marriage? This would also fulfill Huang Changkong’s wish.”

Wei Tu immediately understood.

Huang Changshun used Huang Changkong’s past intentions as a pretext for bringing up marriage.

From a practical standpoint, Wei Tu was currently the strongest guest elder in the clan. If they wanted to keep him from leaving, a marriage alliance was the best way to bind him to the Huang family.

In the past, Wei Tu had no objection to marriage.

If, when he first joined the Huang Clan, Huang Changkong had proposed this union, he probably would have agreed on the spot.

But now?

The Huang Clan was on the verge of collapse.

If he married into the clan at this critical moment, he would be dragged even deeper into their conflicts. He would have no way out.

He didn’t need to think too hard to realize that countless people were now eyeing the Huang Clan’s wealth.

As a guest elder, he wouldn’t attract too much hostility from outsiders.

But as a son-in-law, that would be a different story altogether.

Additionally, after his time in Cloud Ze Secret Realm, he had accumulated many secrets. This was not the time to take in a stranger as his closest companion.

Wei Tu hesitated for a moment before responding tactfully. “This is too sudden. I was not prepared for such a proposal. I hope the Clan Leader can give me some time to consider.”

Unless the Huang Clan could offer him enough benefits, there was no way he was getting involved in this sinking ship.

But what could they possibly offer?

His Golden Core opportunity was already secured.

Aside from that, the Huang Clan had nothing valuable enough to tempt him.

The only possible incentive would be a promise not to send him to the frontlines.

But Wei Tu knew that was impossible.

When push came to shove, whether he was a guest elder or a son-in-law wouldn’t make much difference.

He could already see it—the Huang Clan wasn’t looking to give him a comfortable life.

They wanted to tie him down.

By offering him a marriage alliance, they were making sure he couldn’t leave—so that when the time came, he would bear the burden of their survival.

Seeing that Wei Tu refused, Huang Changshun’s smile quickly faded. His earlier enthusiasm disappeared, replaced by a cold and indifferent demeanor.

Wei Tu had technically said he would consider it, but Huang Changshun wasn’t fooled. It was clearly just an excuse to refuse without outright rejecting him.

Since that was the case, Huang Changshun saw no point in keeping up the act.

Right now, what the Huang Clan needed was not empty pleasantries—it was reliable people.

“Master Wei, as the Huang Clan’s guest elder, I trust you are aware that the frontlines are in crisis. Our clan urgently needs a batch of second-grade talismans. During this period, I hope you can produce them as soon as possible.”

As he spoke, he took out a jade slip and handed it to Wei Tu.

The jade slip contained a detailed list of the talismans the Huang Clan needed.

Wei Tu took the jade slip, glanced at its contents, and his mood immediately soured.

Of course, he didn’t let his dissatisfaction show on his face. He kept his expression calm, but inside, he was already feeling a surge of irritation.

This order was for a whopping three hundred talismans—but the price they were offering was just barely above cost.

By all rights, as a guest elder, he was indeed expected to help the clan craft talismans during wartime.

But that didn’t mean he was supposed to work for free.

There was a huge difference between a fair price and being exploited.

Guest elders and the main clan were not master and servant. Their relationship was closer to an alliance—the clan provided resources and a place to cultivate, while the guest elders produced items or services that strengthened the clan.

It was meant to be mutually beneficial.

After all, the clan’s stipend for guest elders was minimal—it barely covered daily expenses. Most guest elders had to rely on their own skills to earn spirit stones for cultivation.

In other words—

The Huang Clan was merely offering a marketplace for guest elders to sell their goods. In exchange, the elders gained access to certain family resources.

But now?

Huang Changshun was clearly expecting him to work at cost, draining him of every last bit of usefulness before he left.

It was not surprising, but it was a low move.

“No wonder Huang Caiyu had the nerve to challenge me and Master Xia twenty years ago at the exchange meeting,” Wei Tu thought to himself.

“Her arrogance clearly came from her father.”

From Wei Tu’s perspective, what the Huang Clan truly needed right now wasn’t money—but combat power.

Huang Xinglie, the Golden Core ancestor, handled things differently.

When Wei Tu returned from Cloud Ze Secret Realm, Huang Xinglie didn’t demand a share of his Golden Core-grade spiritual items. That was a smart move—it left a positive impression and built goodwill.

But Huang Changshun was the exact opposite.

After Wei Tu rejected the marriage proposal, not only did Huang Changshun’s attitude turn cold, but now he was trying to squeeze as much work out of him as possible.

At this moment, Wei Tu had already made up his mind.

“Once I finish these three hundred talismans, I’m leaving the Huang Clan.”

This would be the last thing he did for them.

After that, his debt to them would be repaid—and he would walk away, free and clear.

Wei Tu clasped his hands toward Huang Changshun and spoke calmly. “I have been a guest elder of the Huang Clan for some time now. I have received the clan’s hospitality, yet contributed little in return. Once I finish crafting these talismans, I would like to formally resign and leave Yunhe Mountain. I ask the Clan Leader to grant permission.”

It was not uncommon for guest elders to resign in Golden Core families, though it was mostly elderly cultivators who retired after decades of service.

A young cultivator like Wei Tu resigning early? That was rare.

As soon as the words left his mouth, the entire Clan Affairs Hall fell silent.

The tension in the air was palpable.

The remaining Huang Clan cultivators all turned to look at him, their gazes filled with hostility.

After all, the Huang Clan was in a time of crisis—and Wei Tu’s resignation was not just abandoning them, but practically kicking them while they were down.

Huang Changshun had already anticipated this outcome.

From the moment Wei Tu refused to marry into the clan, Huang Changshun knew this was coming.

If Wei Tu had truly intended to stay, he would not have refused the marriage alliance.

Marriage was the proof of loyalty that Huang Changshun had offered him.

But Wei Tu didn’t take the bait.

“Fine.” Huang Changshun nodded. “As long as you complete the talismans in this jade slip, the Huang Clan will formally send you off.”

“Thank you, Clan Leader.”

Wei Tu’s tone was noticeably distant.

He wasn’t worried about the Huang Clan causing trouble for him.

Back when he left Cloud Ze Secret Realm, he had brought back the remains of Huang Changkong and Huang Wenqing, which was a great merit to the Huang Clan.

Now that he was leaving—

If the Huang Clan tried to stop him, their reputation in Zheng Kingdom’s cultivation world would be ruined.

Furthermore, he was not just some ordinary rogue cultivator.

His connections were significant.

Qin Zhenren was on the verge of forming her Golden Core.

Kou Hongying was a seed disciple of Mirror Water Pavilion.

His sworn brother, Fu Zhizhou, was a guest elder of the Qiyue Zhao Clan.

With these connections, the Huang Clan wouldn’t dare move against him openly.

And as for secret revenge?

Wei Tu didn’t believe that the Huang Clan would waste resources sending Huang Xinglie, their only Golden Core cultivator, to assassinate him over something so petty.

Right now, the Huang Clan was already on the brink of collapse.

They had bigger problems to worry about.

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep