I am a Late Bloomer in the Immortal World Chapter 99: Sect Mission, To Help or Not to Help

Blood Food Pellet—this was the pill Fu Zhizhou had consud when he broke through the Xiantian Realm years ago.

At the ti, he had yet to embark on the path of cultivation, his knowledge was shallow, and he had no idea that the pill was of demonic origins before ingesting it.

"If it was only one Blood Food Pellet, then… had Uncle Fu spent more ti consolidating his foundation during the Qi Refinent Mid-Level, the pill’s side effects could have been greatly reduced."

Kou Hongying let out a soft sigh.

In her eyes, Fu Zhizhou had always been too eager for quick success, whether before reaching Xiantian, or after entering the cultivation world.

This thod of cultivation allowed rapid progress, but it also left hidden dangers—once reaching a certain bottleneck, one could beco stagnant for years.

Now that Fu Zhizhou was stuck at Qi Refinent Sixth Level, unable to break through to Seventh Level even with a Breakthrough Pill, it was evident that the roots of the issue lay in his past choices.

Every cause has its effect.

As this thought crossed her mind, Kou Hongying instinctively glanced at Wei Tu, thinking,

"Uncle Wei is different… he builds his foundation step by step."

After their last gathering, she had even written a letter to suggest a better cultivation thod for Fu Zhizhou.

But ten years had passed…

And now, upon eting again, she realized only Wei Tu had followed her advice and switched to Lesser Spring and Autumn Art.

Two completely different choices.

Kou Hongying was certain.

Right now, Fu Zhizhou's cultivation level may be higher than Wei Tu’s, but in ten or twenty years, he would fall far behind.

After a brief mont of thought, Kou Hongying spoke up with a suggestion,

"There are herbalists in Mirror Water Pavilion. I can consult them to help Uncle Fu expel the lingering side effects of the Blood Food Pellet."

Herbalists were different from alchemists—they specialized in dical properties, focusing on healing, balancing the body's energies, and treating complex ailnts in the cultivation world.

Issues like pill toxicity due to excessive pill consumption, leading to bottlenecks in cultivation advancent, were among the common ailnts they treated.

This was a difficult condition that ordinary elixirs could not resolve.

The cheapest and most effective solution was to seek a herbalist’s prescription tailored to the problem.

"Thank you, Hongying."

Hearing this, Fu Zhizhou felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders and clasped his hands in gratitude.

Finally—

Among the five mbers of Righteous Society—

It was Kou Hongying’s turn to share her cultivation progress and insights.

With a small smile, she said,

"At the beginning of this year, I successfully advanced to Qi Refinent Seventh Level, surpassing my three uncles by a full step."

Qi Refinent Seventh Level?

Upon hearing this, even Wei Tu, who had expected Kou Hongying’s progress, couldn’t help but feel sowhat astonished.

After all, both he and Fu Zhizhou had reached Qi Refinent Fourth Level years before Kou Hongying.

Even Fu Zhizhou, who had been rushing his cultivation, had barely reached Sixth Level.

Yet Kou Hongying had gone from Mid-Level to Late-Level in such a short ti, crossing three small realms—how was this even possible?

"This… is what it ans to have a Middle-Grade Spirit Root and be a sect disciple."

Wei Tu sighed internally.

Unlike them, Kou Hongying had no special techniques, no rare encounters, yet due to her inborn spirit root and sect backing, she was far ahead.

Or perhaps—

Joining Mirror Water Pavilion was her greatest opportunity.

An opportunity far greater than anything the rest of them had gained in these ten years.

"Congratulations, Hongying."

After a brief silence, Wei Tu, Wei Fei, and Fu Zhizhou cupped their hands in congratulations.

At that mont, the three of them fully realized that bringing Kou Hongying into Righteous Society ten years ago had been a wise decision.

After they finished sharing their insights, Kou Hongying paused for a mont, glanced at the three n, then spoke with sincerity,

"I have an unreasonable request."

"It concerns my Foundation Establishnt breakthrough… I wonder if my three uncles would be willing to assist ?"

As soon as she finished speaking—

The atmosphere in the private room fell silent.

A mont later—

"Hongying, if you need help, just say it directly."

Wei Tu broke the silence, taking the initiative to respond.

Among the four brothers, he was the central figure.

It was he who had first agreed to let Kou Hongying join Righteous Society, bringing her into their cultivation alliance.

Thus, it was his responsibility to respond first.

"If there’s sothing, Hongying, just say it outright—no need to hesitate."

Wei Fei smiled.

He still rembered that when Kou Hongying first joined, she had made a promise—

Before requesting help, she would always clarify the risks and rewards and would never take advantage of the three n.

"Speak freely, Hongying."

Fu Zhizhou nodded firmly, agreeing.

He still needed Kou Hongying’s connections to cure his pill toxicity, so he wouldn’t refuse her request at this ti.

Seeing that all three had agreed, Kou Hongying took a deep breath and said,

"I’ve reached Qi Refinent Seventh Level, and soon, I will be facing Foundation Establishnt."

"Unlike rogue cultivators, we Mirror Water Pavilion disciples have a more reliable path to obtaining a Foundation Establishnt Pill—we only need to complete sect missions and accumulate enough contribution points to exchange for one."

"By my own efforts, it would take forty years to acquire the Foundation Establishnt Pill. But if… my three uncles help , this ti could be cut in half."

Her voice was calm.

Upon hearing this—

The expressions of Wei Tu, Wei Fei, and Fu Zhizhou shifted subtly.

For an average cultivator, planning for Foundation Establishnt at Qi Refinent Seventh Level was nothing short of wishful thinking. But for Kou Hongying, a sect disciple, it was rely a case of preparing ahead of ti.

If things progressed as expected—

In twenty years, Kou Hongying would either be on the verge of reaching Qi Refinent Perfection or would have only just broken through.

At that point, beginning preparations for Foundation Establishnt ant that, if successful, she would waste no ti at all in her cultivation journey.

This way, once she beca a Foundation Establishnt cultivator, her potential would greatly increase, putting her ahead of her peers.

But—

The problem was—

Helping her would inevitably impact their own cultivation progress.

Twenty years.

This was no small amount of ti.

Even if their role was minimal, spending twenty years assisting her would turn this "small favor" into a major sacrifice.

"Once I reach Foundation Establishnt, I will also assist my three uncles in their own Foundation Establishnt endeavors."

Kou Hongying solemnly promised.

Hearing this, the three n felt slightly relieved.

If Kou Hongying could keep her word, then in twenty years, having a sect-affiliated Foundation Establishnt cultivator aiding them would greatly reduce their own difficulties in breaking through.

That much was certain.

"Kou Hongying, since you brought up sect missions, that ans you've already selected the tasks from Mirror Water Pavilion."

"Show them to us first. After reviewing them, we'll decide whether or not to agree."

Wei Tu's voice was calm but firm.

Twenty years was roughly one-tenth of his lifespan.

At sixty years old, he had sixty more years until he reached the two-cycle limit for attempting Foundation Establishnt.

These next twenty years were far more precious than an ordinary twenty years.

If the sect missions were too demanding, he would have no choice but to refuse.

Cultivation alliances were ford for mutual survival, not for one person to exploit the others.

Cooperation had to be mutually beneficial.

This was clearly stated in their alliance agreent.

"Please review them, uncles."

Kou Hongying did not hesitate. She imdiately took out three jade slips from her sleeve and handed them to the three n.

Wei Tu accepted the jade slip and scanned its contents.

His expression softened slightly, and he gave a subtle nod.

Inside the jade slip, Kou Hongying had listed more than a dozen missions, but she had only assigned two to Wei Tu.

And both tasks were the sa—

They required him to draw talismans.

The first task: one hundred Qi Refinent First-Level Low-Grade Earthquake Talismans.

The second task: fifty Qi Refinent First-Level Mid-Grade Illusion Wood Talismans.

"If Uncle Wei agrees to take on these missions, I am willing to gift him the talisman crafting techniques for both."

Seeing that Wei Tu seed interested, Kou Hongying quickly added this extra incentive.

"This matter…"

Wei Tu fell into deep thought and did not imdiately agree.

One hundred low-grade talismans and fifty mid-grade talismans had a combined market value of at least 1,500 spirit stones.

Even considering only material costs—excluding labor—he would have to invest at least 400–500 spirit stones.

In other words—

For the sake of Kou Hongying's Foundation Establishnt, he would be donating 400–500 spirit stones and sacrificing several years of cultivation ti.

Even though Wei Tu considered himself loyal and reliable, such a huge sacrifice still made him hesitate.

"I refuse."

At this mont, Wei Fei was the first to speak.

He placed the jade slip on the table, crossed his arms, and spoke bluntly:

"I'm here for freedom. If it's a minor task, I don’t mind helping. But sothing that takes this much ti? I won’t do it."

Unlike Wei Tu and Fu Zhizhou, Wei Fei had no hopes of reaching Foundation Establishnt.

To him, Kou Hongying's promise was empty words—completely useless.

"If Uncle Wei Fei is unwilling, I won’t insist."

Kou Hongying smiled politely and withdrew his jade slip without any sign of disappointnt.

It seed she had anticipated his refusal.

"What about you, Third Brother?"

After Wei Fei rejected the offer, Fu Zhizhou turned to Wei Tu for his opinion.

Unlike Wei Fei, Fu Zhizhou needed Mirror Water Pavilion’s herbalists to heal his pill toxicity.

This ant he couldn't afford to reject Kou Hongying outright.

Nearby, Kou Liang also looked nervous.

He understood that in Kou Hongying’s jade slips, the most difficult missions had been assigned to Wei Tu—

If Wei Tu refused, Kou Hongying’s entire plan would collapse.

Moreover, if Wei Tu refused, then Fu Zhizhou, who was still undecided, would likely follow Wei Tu's lead and also decline.

If that happened—

Kou Hongying would be left completely on her own.

She would have no choice but to take the ordinary route for Foundation Establishnt, progressing at the sa slow pace as any other sect disciple.

"If I am to agree, I will need one condition from Kou Hongying."

After a long pause, Wei Tu finally spoke solemnly.

The cultivation world was different from the mortal realm—cultivators were naturally selfish.

Moreover—

Kou Hongying was not Kou Liang.

His trust in her was limited.

Helping her was one thing, but what if she refused to repay the favor afterward?

If, after Foundation Establishnt, she decided that helping them reach Foundation Establishnt was too troubleso and rely returned his investnt in spirit stones, he would have no recourse.

"Uncle Wei, please speak freely."

Kou Hongying straightened her posture, her expression serious.

"I need a written contract—a spirit contract, to be exact."

"The contract must state that once Kou Hongying reaches Foundation Establishnt, she must, within twenty years, repay Wei Tu with one Foundation Establishnt resource."

Wei Tu spoke firmly.