A year later.
The Golden Moon Cliff Exchange Gathering was underway.
Wei Tu set up his stall, waiting for customers who had pre-ordered talismans from the previous gathering.
This time, he wasn't the only craftsman setting up a booth at the Offering Hall Pavilion. In addition to himself and Yu Kui, there was now also Xia Qi.
It was apparent that Xia Qi had given up on pursuing Huang Caiyu during this exchange.
Wei Tu wasn't sure whether Xia Qi's change of heart had anything to do with him.
All he knew was that two years ago, Xia Qi had married a Qi Refinement female cultivator from the Huang family.
At that time, Xia Qi had even sent him a wedding invitation, asking him to attend the ceremony.
However, Wei Tu politely declined, citing his seclusion as an excuse.
He had no interest in spending money on a gift for a near-stranger.
—Giving a cheap gift would have been even more awkward.
Later, Wei Tu heard from Yu Kui that not a single Offering Hall craftsman had attended Xia Qi's "Hundred Refinements Workshop" wedding.
Only a few Huang family cultivators showed up out of obligation.
This had left Xia Qi utterly humiliated, becoming the subject of ridicule among fellow cultivators.
From then on, he became a laughingstock for having terrible social connections.
"Master Wei, Fellow Daoist Wei, you had your eye on my Qingyang Furnace last time, didn't you? This time, I'll give you a discount... No, let's say thirty percent off—how about that?"
Xia Qi finished setting up his booth and saw that Yu Kui and Wei Tu were chatting while completely ignoring him.
He gritted his teeth, put on a forced smile, and shamelessly walked over, trying to sell his Qingyang Furnace.
He even offered an immediate discount on this First-Grade High-Rank alchemy furnace.
This was the complete opposite of how things had been eight years ago.
Back then, Xia Qi had flatly refused to negotiate a lower price with Wei Tu.
But now?
He was the one making offers.
One does not slap a smiling face.
Wei Tu paused his conversation with Yu Kui, glanced at the Qingyang Furnace, and shook his head.
"Fellow Daoist Xia, I already purchased a furnace at the last exchange gathering. I have no use for the Qingyang Furnace anymore. You should find another buyer."
Hearing this, Xia Qi's face turned stiff with embarrassment, and he quickly stuffed the furnace back into his storage bag.
However, now that he had failed to use the furnace as a conversation starter, he had no idea how to mend relations with Wei Tu and Yu Kui.
"Haha! Old Xia, I heard you have a First-Grade Mid-Rank flying boat in your possession. Why don't you lower the price and sell it to me or Fellow Daoist Wei?"
Yu Kui grinned mischievously, seizing the opportunity.
He was an old fox and could tell that Xia Qi wanted to be accepted back into their Offering Hall circle.
Forcing Xia Qi to sell the flying boat at a discount not only gave Xia Qi a way to save face, but also allowed them to benefit from his predicament.
"A flying boat?" Xia Qi's brow twitched.
His first instinct was to refuse outright, but when he remembered the disapproving look from his father-in-law, he gritted his teeth and reluctantly took out a palm-sized yellow flying boat.
"This is the Huangyan Boat. At full speed, it can rival a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator's flight speed. For normal travel, it's about as fast as an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator..."
"I previously priced it at 1,500 spirit stones, but I'll lower it to 1,200 spirit stones for the two of you."
Xia Qi made a painful concession.
"1,200 spirit stones?"
Wei Tu hesitated slightly.
A flying boat had numerous uses—it could be used for travel, pursuit, or escape, making it an extremely valuable asset.
Using a flying boat consumed spirit stones and a small amount of Qi, but overall, it was very cost-effective.
The only issue was the price.
Wei Tu shook his head.
Unfortunately, he had too many talismans stocked up and didn't have excess spirit stones to spend.
"You can trade talismans or puppets instead!"
Xia Qi quickly added.
It wasn't that he hadn't thought of bartering before.
However, he was a reclusive blacksmith, rarely venturing out of Cloud Crane Mountain. He had no practical use for puppets or combat talismans.
This was why, in the past, he never accepted bartering deals.
But now things were different.
His father-in-law had specifically instructed him to rebuild relationships with Wei Tu and Yu Kui, so that he could acquire cheaper talismans and puppets for the family.
Although Xia Qi wasn't sure what kind of "trouble" his father-in-law was anticipating, he knew one thing:
His father-in-law was a high-ranking figure in the Huang family.
Second only to the Golden Core cultivators, his status ranked among the top five powerholders in the family.
This was not someone he could afford to ignore.
The three of them haggled.
In the end—
Yu Kui withdrew from the deal, giving Wei Tu the priority to buy the Huangyan Boat.
Wei Tu paid 500 spirit stones and exchanged three Second-Grade talismans for the First-Grade Mid-Rank flying boat.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Wei, on acquiring a flying boat."
Yu Kui clasped his hands in congratulations.
At the same time, he secretly transmitted a message to Wei Tu, explaining that he already owned a flying boat.
He had intentionally pushed Xia Qi to sell it cheaply so that Wei Tu could benefit from the deal.
"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Yu."
Wei Tu arched his brow, making a mental note to be more cautious when dealing with Yu Kui in the future.
After this transaction—
Xia Qi successfully reintegrated into the Offering Hall circle.
At least on the surface, neither Wei Tu nor Yu Kui showed any signs of hostility toward him.
Two or three days later.
Customers who had pre-ordered talismans from Wei Tu at the last exchange meeting gradually arrived, making their final payments and claiming their orders.
"This time, the Fang family's talisman order is more than double what they ordered last time?"
"And the other families have also increased their purchases. Could it be that... a war is brewing in the Zheng Kingdom's cultivation world?"
Wei Tu noticed this unusual trend and couldn't shake a sense of unease.
A single leaf can foretell autumn.
Even though the Huang family's vassal clans had lacked a Second-Grade talisman master after their old craftsman passed away, that still didn't explain the sudden surge in orders.
—After all, talismans had a limited shelf life.
Over time, they would gradually lose their effectiveness.
If storage weren't an issue, every Golden Core family would hoard talismans like crazy.
Wei Tu knew about the war between the Chisong Jia Clan and the Qiyue Zhao Clan, but he doubted it was severe enough to affect the Huang family's talisman business this significantly.
"Maybe Xia Qi knows something?"
Wei Tu's gaze fell on Xia Qi, who was tending to his stall nearby.
He didn't believe that Xia Qi was seeking reconciliation just to rejoin the ranks of the Offering Hall and avoid ridicule.
"I'm a talisman master. Even if war breaks out, the Huang family of Heshan wouldn't send me into battle unless they were truly desperate..."
"No rush."
Wei Tu shook his head.
He wasn't well-acquainted with Xia Qi—there was even some lingering resentment between them. If he rashly inquired, Xia Qi might not reveal such a sensitive matter.
Besides, exposing Xia Qi's true intentions would be embarrassing for him. Wei Tu wasn't socially clumsy enough to make such a blunder.
"Daoist Li, why have you bought so many more talismans than last time?"
Wei Tu turned to one of his customers, probing for information.
"I don't know," the Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Li shook his head. "I just heard that talismans in the surrounding marketplaces were completely bought out a few days ago, so I followed the trend and stocked up."
Later, Wei Tu asked several more people.
Their answers were all similar—they were buying talismans because others were buying them first.
However—
A few days later, Zhao Qingluo arrived, making Wei Tu's eyes light up.
Compared to the other Foundation Establishment cultivators, Zhao Qingluo's status was far superior. If anyone knew the real reason behind this sudden rush for talismans, it would be her.
"Mass purchases of talismans?" Zhao Qingluo raised her eyebrows in mild surprise. She pondered for a moment before shaking her head.
"If it's about that matter… then perhaps it's related to the sudden demand for talismans."
Half a day later, Zhao Qingluo returned to Wei Tu's stall and shared her speculation.
"When I was young, I once overheard my father mention that the Huang family of Heshan controls a secret realm called the 'Cloud Ze Secret Realm'."
"The Cloud Ze Secret Realm exists in a separate dimension and opens once every two hundred years. Only cultivators below the Golden Core Realm are permitted to enter..."
"By my calculations, it should be opening soon."
"Inside the secret realm, there are numerous rare spiritual resources not found in the outside world."
"Many of the materials used by the Huang family to refine Foundation Establishment Pills come from this realm."
"Some of the treasures within are even valuable to Golden Core cultivators."
Zhao Qingluo spoke calmly.
"A secret realm?"
Wei Tu's heart trembled slightly. He was no longer an ignorant newcomer to the cultivation world—he understood the significance of a secret realm.
These isolated worlds were rich in spiritual energy and contained countless precious materials.
Many cultivators who rose to prominence had done so because of fortuitous encounters within secret realms.
"Although the Huang family of Heshan is powerful, they are not strong enough to monopolize the Cloud Ze Secret Realm. Whenever it opens, they invite allied forces and cultivators from the Three Great Immortal Sects to explore it together."
"Since you are an offering member of the Huang family, you should be among those invited."
Zhao Qingluo added.
Hearing this, Wei Tu finally understood why cultivators like Li and the others knew nothing about the Cloud Ze Secret Realm.
Because—
Their families were only vassals of the Huang family, not true allies.
The only allies of the Huang family were the other two Golden Core families—the Qiyue Zhao Clan and the Xuefeng Zheng Clan.
"However, some Foundation Establishment cultivators from subordinate families must have obtained entry quotas, which led to people like Li following suit and purchasing talismans."
Wei Tu mused to himself.
Cultivators were not much different from mortals in some ways.
If he himself were not a talisman master but just another Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator, upon seeing talismans being rapidly bought up, he too might have blindly followed the trend, thinking it wise to prepare in advance.
Because—
If war truly broke out, by then, it would be too late to purchase talismans.
Wei Tu continued his inquiries about the exact opening date of the Cloud Ze Secret Realm.
"The Huang family of Heshan uses formations to access the realm's spatial node, so the precise timing is uncertain."
"But based on my estimation, it should be within the next ten years."
Zhao Qingluo thought for a moment before replying.
Having received an answer, Wei Tu expressed his gratitude to Zhao Qingluo and offered her a small discount on her talisman order.
Seeing this, Zhao Qingluo smiled slightly and graciously accepted his gesture.
—From observing Wei Tu, she seemed to have gained some insight into the art of dealing with people.
After the exchange conference ended—
Wei Tu temporarily set aside his personal cultivation and focused all his efforts on producing talismans for sale.
However—
Just a few months later, the Huang family of Heshan issued an invitation to a Foundation Establishment Assembly, abruptly interrupting his plans.
The Foundation Establishment Assembly was a meeting that gathered all Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Huang family.
Wei Tu suspected that this assembly would likely include official details regarding the Cloud Ze Secret Realm.
Stepping out of Talisman Heart Residence, Wei Tu made his way toward the Clan Affairs Hall to attend the meeting.
Just as he left the courtyard—
He saw Si Qing emerging from the adjacent residence, gracefully lifting her skirt as she stepped forward.
Wei Tu halted and greeted her politely.
"Array Master Si."
Unlike Yu Kui and Xia Qi, Si Qing had always been reclusive.
In the eleven years since she had joined the Huang family, Wei Tu had only encountered her twice.
"Talisman Master Wei."
Si Qing stopped in her tracks, her bright, beautiful eyes sweeping over Wei Tu. A soft smile appeared on her flawless face, and she returned the greeting with a slight bow.
"Talisman Master Wei must have also received the clan's invitation to the Foundation Establishment Assembly. Why don't we go together?"
Si Qing offered.
Wei Tu was briefly surprised but nodded in agreement.
—With a woman as beautiful as Si Qing, Wei Tu usually avoided traveling with her to prevent drawing unnecessary attention.
Together, the two headed toward the Huang family's Clan Affairs Hall.
By the time they arrived—
Most of the Huang family's Foundation Establishment cultivators had already gathered.
Half a day later—
The Foundation Establishment Assembly officially began.
As expected—
The topic of discussion was none other than the Cloud Ze Secret Realm.
However—
The details revealed during the meeting contained several unexpected differences from what Wei Tu had learned earlier.
"One hundred and seventy years ago, True Monarch Wanhai from Qingzhu Mountain approached our ancestor and exchanged a piece of Purple Thunderwood for six entry slots into the Cloud Ze Secret Realm."
"However, decades ago, during the war between the Jia and Zhao families, Qingzhu Mountain explicitly sided with the Chisong Jia Clan."
"Now that the Cloud Ze Secret Realm is about to open again, our ancestor predicts that Qingzhu Mountain will act against the Foundation Establishment cultivators inside the secret realm. They might even allow Chisong Jia Clan cultivators to join in as well..."
The Huang family patriarch, Huang Changshun, swept his gaze across the gathered Foundation Establishment cultivators, his voice deep and serious.
As his words fell—
The room fell silent.
The Foundation Establishment cultivators exchanged uneasy glances.
Even Wei Tu felt a tinge of uncertainty.
Previously, he had viewed the Cloud Ze Secret Realm as an opportunity—after all, those entering the secret realm were all allies of the Huang family. He hadn't expected much internal conflict.
But with Chisong Jia Clan thrown into the mix, everything had changed.
The dangers inside the Cloud Ze Secret Realm had suddenly escalated.
"Therefore, for the sake of safety, our ancestor has decided to reduce the number of Huang family members entering the Cloud Ze Secret Realm from fifteen to seven."
"As for the remaining eight slots..."
"This patriarch intends to sell some and allocate others to our esteemed offering members."
At this point, Huang Changshun turned to look at Wei Tu, Yu Kui, Si Qing, and Xia Qi, his gaze filled with inquiry.
Seeing that none of the four offering members responded immediately, Huang Changshun stroked his beard and smiled faintly.
"The teleportation into the Cloud Ze Secret Realm is random. It's not as dangerous as you might think. It's just that, for the sake of our clan's lineage, we cannot afford to take risks."
"Besides, the Chisong Jia Clan won't send all their elites into the secret realm—at most, they'll dispatch one or two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators."
"And True Monarch Wanhai has his own disciples and lineage. He wouldn't simply hand all the entry slots to the Chisong Jia Clan."
Hearing this, the expressions of Wei Tu and the other offering members softened slightly.
"May I ask the patriarch—what is the price of an entry slot into the Cloud Ze Secret Realm?"
Wei Tu pondered for a moment. Instead of giving an immediate answer, he posed a question.
This time, the Cloud Ze Secret Realm was indeed more dangerous than before.
But if navigated carefully, the potential rewards could also surpass those of previous expeditions.
Danger always coexists with opportunity.
One must maintain a bold yet cautious heart when treading such a precarious path.
Before making a decision, Wei Tu needed to gather intelligence and weigh the risks properly.
"Each slot costs two thousand spirit stones."
Huang Changshun gave the price.
Compared to the cost one hundred and seventy years ago, this was much lower.
However—
Times had changed.
In past expeditions, few had perished.
But this time, there was no guarantee of survival.
"Patriarch, may I have three years to decide? After three years, I will give you my answer."
Wei Tu cupped his hands respectfully.
He intended to discuss this matter with Kou Hongying and Fu Zhizhou before making a final decision.
Although two thousand spirit stones was a hefty sum, compared to the opportunities within the Cloud Ze Secret Realm, it was hardly excessive.
"Very well."
Huang Changshun gave Wei Tu a deep look before nodding.
He added, "Talisman Master Wei, these slots will only be available for sale five years from now. If you wish to secure a spot for your companions, you should make your decision within that time."
"Yu Kui, Si Qing, Xia Qi—what about the three of you?"
Huang Changshun then turned to the other three offering members.
After a moment—
Xia Qi was the first to decline, expressing no interest in entering the Cloud Ze Secret Realm.
Yu Kui and Si Qing hesitated, then followed Wei Tu's lead and requested three years before making their decision.
Leaving the Clan Affairs Hall, Yu Kui caught up to Wei Tu and subtly hinted at forming a team.
"Talisman Master Wei, you specialize in talismans and carry plenty of them, while I am a puppet master with numerous puppets for protection..."
"If we join forces, we'd make a rather formidable team inside the Cloud Ze Secret Realm."
Yu Kui chuckled.
—Although the teleportation into the Cloud Ze Secret Realm was random, cultivators could regroup inside using talismanic messages.
"You make a valid point, Daoist Yu. However, I am not the only one entering the Cloud Ze Secret Realm. I must first consult with my companions to see if they agree to let you join us."
Wei Tu shook his head slightly, his tone steady.
"Then I shall wait for your good news, Talisman Master Wei."
Yu Kui laughed heartily and cupped his hands in farewell before returning to his courtyard in the Offering Hall.
He, too, had wanted to form a group—but unfortunately, by the time he had reached Foundation Establishment, all his old friends had perished.
Now, he was alone.
Returning to Talisman Heart Residence, Wei Tu wasted no time.
He immediately penned letters and sent them to the Qiyue Zhao Clan and Mirror Water Pavilion, informing Fu Zhizhou and Kou Hongying about the matter.
Half a year later—
Tiansheng Tower, Nanhang City.
After four years apart, the three finally reunited.
"Fourth Brother, Kou Hongying."
"What do you two think?"
"Will you join this expedition to the Cloud Ze Secret Realm, or will you pass?"
Wei Tu asked.
"The Cloud Ze Secret Realm will have late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators. It's too dangerous…"
Fu Zhizhou was the first to shake his head.
"If we were all at mid-stage Foundation Establishment, entering would be fine. But as mere early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, it's too risky."
Wei Tu nodded, agreeing with his reasoning.
"I feel the same way. That's why I didn't immediately refuse Huang Changshun—I wanted to discuss it with Kou Hongying first…"
Wei Tu turned to Kou Hongying, his expression serious.
"What do you think, Kou Hongying?"
"Do you have any fellow sect members you trust? If we find someone strong enough to lead us, we could join them. If not, we could use my connection with the Huang family to sell this information and gain a favor."
Kou Hongying hesitated for a moment.
She pondered deeply before murmuring, "My master might be interested. She is a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator and is currently searching for an opportunity to form her Golden Core…"