In the cultivation world, numbers don't determine the victor. Realm is the key to winning.
Right now, the Cangkun Alliance was a minor power within the Ying Ding Tribe. But given enough time, it could grow into a major force.
After some thought, Wei Tu still decided to join the Cangkun Alliance.
After all, Great Mage Qu Bei had already invited Yuan Jie and Fairy Baohua. If he refused now, he'd be offending both sides.
Besides, he didn't believe the goals of the Cangkun Alliance were inherently dangerous.
At the very least, the older generation of the Ying Ding Tribe's leadership and these younger members of the alliance weren't necessarily at odds yet.
…
Yuan Jie was the deputy leader of the Cangkun Alliance.
Fairy Baohua was the third elder.
After agreeing, Wei Tu was appointed as an elder too, just like Fairy Baohua.
Since he was the fifth Golden Core cultivator to join, he became the fifth elder of the alliance.
"Fifth Elder?" When Wei Tu heard this, he was a bit surprised at the strength of the Cangkun Alliance.
Back in the Zheng Kingdom, sects like Mirror Water Pavilion had just over a dozen Golden Core cultivators.
Now, within the Ying Ding Tribe, just this one Cangkun Alliance already had nearly half that number—how could he not be shocked?
"It's just… compared to the number of Golden Core cultivators, the Ying Ding Tribe only has three Divine Masters on the surface…"
Wei Tu paused to think and realized why the Ying Ding Tribe was so eager to change its current state.
Among the Kang people, the lines between mortals and cultivators were often blurred, so there were lots of priests and mages, resulting in a large number of Golden Core cultivators different from the sects of the Immortal Dao. But the rate at which Nascent Soul cultivators emerged was much lower than in the Immortal Dao sects.
To put it simply, for Immortal Dao sects, one out of ten Golden Core cultivators might have a shot at reaching the Nascent Soul stage.
For the Kang people, it might take twenty or thirty Golden Core cultivators to produce just one Nascent Soul cultivator.
That was clearly a waste of resources.
If the Ying Ding Tribe could cultivate Nascent Soul cultivators as efficiently as Immortal Dao sects, then the tribe would grow rapidly and possibly dominate the entire Kang Kingdom.
"It's difficult… but we'll see."
Wei Tu looked forward to what the Cangkun Alliance might achieve.
He wasn't from the Kang Kingdom, so what happened to the "Two Mountains and One Palace" didn't concern him much.
On the contrary, if the Ying Ding Tribe grew stronger, he might gain enough resources here to reach the Nascent Soul stage himself.
Joining the Cangkun Alliance not only got him the title of Fifth Elder—
He also earned an additional one year of soaking time during the Sacred Spring Conference.
Plus access to more resources and priority treatment.
This alone made his rights as a High Priest on par with a court-appointed Great Mage.
A few years ago, Yuan Xian had tried to recruit him with this exact same perk—an extra year at the Sacred Spring Conference.
Of course, within the alliance, Wei Tu was also expected to contribute his skills in talisman crafting and alchemy.
Every ten years, he had to produce a certain number of pills and talismans.
Those within quota would be sold at a low price.
Anything beyond that could be sold at full market rate.
This was standard practice for most factions when hiring alchemists and talisman masters, and Wei Tu was long used to it.
Thanks to his unique skillset in the Dao of Talismans, he could complete his quota without much delay.
As for alchemy, the alliance hiring him actually provided a good way for him to gain experience and a stable outlet to sell his pills.
…
After collecting some talisman and alchemy materials stored by the Cangkun Alliance in Immortal City of Hujie, Wei Tu packed up and headed back to the Fen Shan Tribe.
"You still haven't left?" When he reached the fifth floor of the Pagoda Tower, Wei Tu saw a graceful figure standing by the window, looking out.
He frowned slightly.
The figure was none other than his junior sister, Su Bing'er.
It had been over half a year since he'd left the Fen Shan Tribe, and since the Wind-Cleaving Eagle had completed its breakthrough.
Even if she was injured, she should've recovered by now.
"Little sister was worried about the dangers on the road, so I didn't dare set out rashly. Also… before leaving, I had to thank Senior Brother Wei. I couldn't just leave without a word."
Su Bing'er turned to face him, her expression apologetic. She spoke softly.
"Did I… bother you, Senior Brother Wei?"
Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. Her voice trembled.
Wei Tu was caught off guard when he heard that.
Wei Tu's tone was completely different from that cold and aloof Qingmei cultivator she'd met at the beginning.
"If Junior Sister Su is worried about the dangers on the road, it just so happens my eagle has broken through to the third rank. I'll have it escort you to Golden Long Valley."
Wei Tu didn't respond to her earlier words. He had no interest in guessing a woman's thoughts. Maybe Su Bing'er was being foolish again—who could say?
He patted his spirit beast pouch and summoned the resting Wind-Cleaving Eagle, then spoke calmly.
Coincidentally, sending the Wind-Cleaving Eagle with Su Bing'er to Golden Long Valley would help it become familiar with the route.
He wouldn't need to make a separate trip in the future.
"This…" Su Bing'er stared in a daze at the dark green eagle, its wings spanning over ten feet wide.
She had deliberately shown a softer, more vulnerable side of herself to Wei Tu. She didn't expect that in return, all she'd get was a ride on the eagle.
Wei Tu, her senior brother, wasn't even going to accompany her?
But Su Bing'er didn't know that Wei Tu had long harbored caution toward Qi Chengchu. The last time he asked her to deliver magic tools was precisely for that reason.
There was no way he would show up in Golden Long Valley in person.
"Th-thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother," Su Bing'er said through gritted teeth. She had no choice but to agree. Now that she was on display, if she refused, wouldn't that prove she had ulterior motives?
Moments later.
The Wind-Cleaving Eagle spread its wings and soared off, carrying Su Bing'er toward Golden Long Valley, a thousand miles away.
In a flash.
The eagle rose high into the sky and vanished from sight.
The broad, dark green back of the eagle was tough and rigid. It made Su Bing'er's rear ache slightly.
"Is it that I'm not forward enough? Or just not likable? Or does Senior Brother Wei have something against me?" Su Bing'er bit her lip, her mood sinking.
Because of injuries to her spiritual body, she had spent many years in a child's form. She had only recently grown into a young woman. She thought she might finally find a little romance, but as it turned out—she had feelings, but he was indifferent.
"Forget it. Just forget it."
"Better to focus on the path of cultivation."
Su Bing'er twisted her robe hem, forcing herself to push aside those messy thoughts.
She guessed that perhaps she was nearing her Core Formation, and inner demons were disturbing her state of mind.
That was probably why she was acting like this.
A few days later.
The Wind-Cleaving Eagle arrived at Golden Long Valley.
The surge of powerful beast aura drew out several Golden Core True Lords from the valley to investigate.
"Bing'er?" Che Gongwei saw Su Bing'er on the eagle's back and froze for a moment, his expression puzzled.
"Whose spirit beast is this?"
He seemed to have a guess and asked.
"It's Senior Brother Wei's Wind-Cleaving Eagle," Su Bing'er leapt down from the eagle's back and replied.
"What? Wei Tu's Wind-Cleaving Eagle?"
"That's really Wei Tu's spirit beast?"
Her words stirred an uproar.
Hearing that, all the Golden Core cultivators from the Rogue Cultivator Alliance were visibly shocked, disbelief written across their faces.
After all, a third-rank spirit beast was usually the mark of a Nascent Soul cultivator—or a peak Golden Core one.
Wei Tu was only in early Golden Core. How could he possibly possess a third-rank Wind-Cleaving Eagle?
"Wei Tu?" Inside the Golden Long Valley, in a mansion with the signboard reading "Qi Residence," a young cultivator with a beautiful jade ornament on his forehead, like a refined nobleman, lifted his gaze.
He looked past layer upon layer of buildings, gazing out toward the Wind-Cleaving Eagle beyond the valley.
"Interesting. It's only been a few years, and even his spirit beast has reached Core Formation. Looks like his fortune in the Yunze Secret Realm was anything but ordinary."
Qi Chengchu's face showed a smile.
"More than extraordinary. The Heavenly Maiden Sect has been hunting him like mad in the Zheng Kingdom," a woman wearing a fox mask suddenly appeared inside the hall. She wore a flowing pink-and-white dress and had an elegant, celestial presence.
But when she spoke, it was with a deep, masculine voice—one filled with age and weariness.
"That's just speculation. They've never confirmed it," Qi Chengchu shook his head.
He knew what the fox-faced woman was referring to.
But without certainty, he wouldn't act lightly.
"Why are you here today?"
Qi Chengchu narrowed his eyes and looked at the fox-faced woman, his voice growing cold.
"My junior brother is dead!" The fox-faced woman's voice suddenly shifted back into a delicate female tone, soft and coquettish.
"He's dead. What's that got to do with me?"
Qi Chengchu's tone was irritated.
"But he died trying to capture her." The fox-faced woman pointed toward Su Bing'er in the sky.
At those words, Qi Chengchu's face darkened.
"I gave you intel once. You failed on your own. It has nothing to do with me," he said coldly.