Even before Wei Tu pledged his support, Yuan Jie already had the upper hand against the Right Virtuous King's estate.
So, Wei Tu's arrival wasn't quite delivering charcoal in a snowstorm—just the icing on the cake.
But unlike the others, Wei Tu's value to a faction was far more substantial.
Most ordinary Golden Core cultivators couldn't compare.
With Wei Tu joining him, the High Priests and Grand Mages supporting Yuan Jie would place even more trust in him. After all, a third-rank alchemist could offer tangible benefits to their cultivation.
That alone could greatly boost a faction's confidence and cohesion.
So when Yuan Jie received Wei Tu's warning, his joy far outweighed the shock of learning that the Right Virtuous King's estate might be preparing for battle.
"Strictly speaking, your shop just opened, and there's history between you and the estate. So it's understandable that you couldn't turn down the princess's request to buy talismans..."
Yuan Jie spoke first, easing any concerns Wei Tu might have. He made it clear that he didn't mind Wei Tu selling a large batch of third-rank talismans to Yuan Ying, even if it meant strengthening the enemy.
One sentence—no blame laid.
That was also one of Wei Tu's main goals for this visit.
While Wei Tu had clearly chosen to side with Yuan Jie, his status didn't allow him to fight at the front lines just for Yuan Jie's throne.
Informing him about the talisman sale was mostly to avoid future misunderstandings between them.
"The fact that you came to inform me tonight—I'm already deeply grateful," Yuan Jie said with a gentle smile, a smile that made the cultivators around feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.
Wei Tu was slightly taken aback.
Compared to decades ago, Yuan Jie now had far more composure. He wasn't just the idealist who once wanted to revive the Ying Ding Tribe—now he had a more grounded, realistic side.
'Only this version of Yuan Jie could truly gain the backing of the Divine Masters,' Wei Tu thought.
The Cangkun Alliance aimed to eliminate the barbarian customs and reform the tribe.
Just that ambition wasn't enough to earn the support of the Divine Masters of Ying Ding Tribe, let alone push Yuan Jie to replace the current Right Virtuous King.
But Yuan Jie had more than ambition. He had skill, talent, and strength.
With that combination, it was no wonder the Divine Masters had come out to support him.
…
With absolute strength on their side,
The Right Virtuous King's estate didn't discover Wei Tu had tipped Yuan Jie off.
More than three months passed, and as the Golden Tent election drew near, everything stayed calm on the surface.
During that time,
Wei Tu received a reply from Kou Hongying.
In her letter, she was relieved that Wei Tu had survived the crisis. She said once things settled in Ying Ding Tribe, she would find a chance to send Wei Yan and his sister back there.
Clearly, Kou Hongying had also noticed the waves and danger stirred up within the three tribes following Wei Tu's abduction.
Near the end of the letter,
She said she couldn't help with the demonic script Wei Tu had found.
She'd searched through piles of texts in Mirror Water Pavilion and found no records or origins of the writing.
Wei Tu wasn't surprised.
The three border kingdoms used to be demon path territory until they were taken by the righteous path about ten thousand years ago.
Mirror Water Pavilion had only become part of Zheng Kingdom's immortal sects at that point.
In other words, it wasn't "old" enough.
Compared to the Stone Demon Sect, Mirror Water Pavilion was like a toddler just learning to walk.
So it wasn't strange that Kou Hongying had found nothing.
'Same goes for other sects in the three border kingdoms,' Wei Tu thought, putting the letter away. 'They probably don't have records of the script either. The only hope lies in the major sects of the four inland kingdoms.'
Among those sects, only Zhao Qingluo of Sacred Cliff Mountain in the Xiao Kingdom was someone he could trust like Kou Hongying.
So Wei Tu planned to ask Zhao Qingluo for help when he eventually visited the Xiao Kingdom.
Of course, he would also make other preparations along the way. He'd gather as many ancient texts as possible and try to decipher the demonic script himself.
"Another letter?"
Wei Tu swept his divine sense across the cave and noticed another letter had appeared in the gate box. He was surprised.
He waved his hand and used his magic to pull the letter into his palm.
"Beastmaster Sect, Nan Zi?"
Opening it, he saw the sect's mark on the envelope and froze.
He didn't recall having such a deep connection with Nan Zi that would justify her sending a cross-country letter from Chu Kingdom.
A family letter is worth a thousand gold.
A cross-border letter cost at least one thousand spirit stones. If sent by express delivery, the price was even higher.
Over twenty years ago, Wei Tu had heard that the Beastmaster Sect had relocated to Chu Kingdom.
"Let's see what she wrote."
He was curious. What could Nan Zi, a casual acquaintance, possibly say in a letter this expensive?
"Wind-Cleaving Eagle… Qiu Buchen…"
After reading it, Wei Tu was left speechless. Nan Zi had simply written about old trivial matters, nothing important.
At the end, she just asked when Wei Tu would bring Qiu Huaisu to Shengyang Mountain in Chu Kingdom to visit Qiu Buchen, her relative.
After all, the siblings had been separated for nearly sixty years due to the war.
"Nan Zi actually has some sense of teacherly duty, to go this far for her disciple."
Wei Tu was a little surprised.
He still remembered back in the Zheng Kingdom, when Nan Zi and Hua Xianlong had gone to Peach Blossom Hollow to capture a Thunderhorn Rabbit. Hua Xianlong had gotten injured, and Nan Zi hadn't compensated him at all afterward.
Even if Hua Xianlong exaggerated, Nan Zi's cold attitude was something Wei Tu, as Hua Xianlong's senior brother, saw very clearly.
"Once they reach the Golden Core Realm, the siblings will naturally reunite. No need to rush it."
Wei Tu shook his head.
Traveling across nations was expensive, time-consuming, and exhausting. He was merely the Immortal Sponsor for Qiu Huaisu and her brother. He didn't need to go that far.
Besides, for the next twenty years, his time was fully booked. He had no spare moments to go to the Chu Kingdom.
Still, he wrote a letter about it and sent it to Kou Hongying and the Qiu master-disciple pair.
…
Only four days remained until the Golden Tent Election.
Wei Tu was staying in the temporary residence within the shop, waiting for the commissioned cultivators to pick up their pills.
"Senior Wei, that troublemaker Lou Sanhua from a few months back has returned."
Tao Fangde's slightly hurried voice came from outside the door.
During the shop's opening day, Lou Sanhua had stirred up trouble. But with many Golden Core cultivators present, she had to leave resentfully. Now, however, Wei Tu was the only Golden Core cultivator on the premises.
If Lou Sanhua caused trouble now, Wei Tu alone wouldn't be able to handle it.
Lou Sanhua always had two mid-stage Golden Core protectors by her side.
"Lou Sanhua?"
Wei Tu immediately sensed the timing was off.
The store had been open for months. Lou Sanhua hadn't caused trouble during that time, but now she showed up right before the Golden Tent Election? That couldn't be a coincidence.
"Tell her I'm not here."
Wei Tu had no interest in arguing with Lou Sanhua. There was nothing in it for him.
Besides, without knowing the full reason for her arrival, letting her lead him around by the nose was definitely a bad idea.
"Understood, Senior Wei."
Tao Fangde accepted the order and headed down to the first-floor reception hall.
After Tao Fangde left, Wei Tu thought for a moment, then took out a talisman message and sent it.
…
Just like before, Lou Sanhua entered wearing a short skirt, flanked by two mid-stage Golden Core old women, walking in with an arrogant air.
"Where's Alchemist Wei?"
"I brought herbs for a pill I want him to make."
Her tone was unfriendly.
"Lou Fairy, Senior Wei isn't here today…" Tao Fangde approached, trying to decline politely.
But Lou Sanhua was ready. She cut him off directly.
"The pill I want refined is the 'Blood-Cleaving Pill'. Alchemist Wei has accepted commissions for this pill before, and his success rate was quite good. What, is Alchemist Wei all name and no skill, and too afraid to refine it now?"
She pressed him aggressively.
This time, she had brought the ingredients for the Blood-Cleaving Pill and had even tampered with a few of the herbs. She didn't believe Wei Tu could succeed in refining it with such damaged materials.
Once he failed...
She'd have the perfect excuse to provoke him.
Then she could use her clan's secret treasure to injure Wei Tu and destroy his foundation for ascension.
If they didn't get rid of Wei Tu, the She Ri Tribe and Feng Wu Tribe would never sleep soundly again.
"Senior Wei is currently in seclusion and not in the shop. Please leave your name and request, and I'll notify you once he is available."
Tao Fangde wasn't intimidated by Lou Sanhua or her guards. He smiled calmly and answered without fear.
"You little punk, are you brushing me off?"
Lou Sanhua snorted coldly and released her Golden Core pressure.
The pressure descended like a mountain, instantly making the nearby customers break into cold sweat, their hearts trembling, nearly collapsing under the weight.
The onlookers immediately looked toward Tao Fangde.
After all, they were just caught in the crossfire and were already this weak.
Tao Fangde, who was directly targeted, was surely worse off.
But to everyone's surprise—
A golden talisman shield suddenly flared up around Tao Fangde, blocking Lou Sanhua's crushing pressure.
"A third-rank defensive talisman?" Lou Sanhua's expression changed slightly. She hadn't expected Wei Tu to be so generous, letting a mere Foundation Establishment shopkeeper carry a third-rank defensive talisman.
This kind of shield couldn't be broken just by pressure alone—she'd have to strike directly.
Using pressure could still be explained away as a moment of anger.
But actually attacking a shopkeeper? That would be undeniable aggression.
She'd have no excuse, and the accusation of provocation would stick.
"Go!" one of the old women behind Lou Sanhua signaled with her eyes to a plain-clothed old man watching from the crowd.
The man nodded slightly, and suddenly his aura spiked to Golden Core level. With a loud shout, he charged straight toward Tao Fangde.
"Damn Wei Clan's Talisman and Pill Shop! Selling fake pills ruined my cultivation path…"
The old man's face turned blood-red, and gray light burst from his hands. He slammed several blows onto the golden talisman shield around Tao Fangde.