The deaths of the Huang family cultivators had little to do with Wei Tu, but the fact that he was the sole surviving member of the Hengshan Huang family's retinue made him stand out uncomfortably.
As soon as the spatial passage closed, the Golden Core elders of the various factions ordered the returning cultivators to open their storage pouches, inspecting the treasures, spirit herbs, and artifacts they had acquired.
According to the established rules, cultivators who entered Cloud Ze Secret Realm were required to turn over 30% of their spoils to their respective factions. Additionally, their factions had priority in selecting one spirit item from their gains.
However, when it came to Foundation Establishment treasures, most factions were relatively lenient and typically only claimed one or two of them, leaving the rest to the cultivators themselves.
At this moment, Qin Zhenren and Kou Hongying flew over to the Hengshan Huang family's encampment.
Unlike the other cultivators who had entered under their sects' banners, Qin Zhenren and her disciple had purchased their entry slots from the Huang family at a steep cost of 2,000 spirit stones each.
Thus, rather than reporting to Mirror Water Pavilion, they were obligated to turn over their share of spoils to the Huang family instead.
Seeing Qin Zhenren and Kou Hongying arrive, Wei Tu took the opportunity to retrieve the corpses of Huang Changkong and Huang Wenqing, carefully placing them in spirit coffins before bowing deeply to Huang Xinglie.
Then, without hesitation, he reported a shocking revelation—Si Qing was a member of the Heavenly Maiden Sect, a demonic cultivator.
"What?! It was Si Qing?!"
Huang Xinglie's expression contorted in shock, his face instantly clouding with sorrow.
The moment those words left Wei Tu's mouth, Huang Xinglie's complexion flushed a deep shade of crimson, his body trembling violently. A sharp gasp escaped his lips before he vomited a mouthful of blood.
Scarlet droplets splattered through the air.
Staggering backward several paces, he clutched his chest, his breathing ragged.
The impact of the truth struck him hard.
Two years ago, he and Huang Changshun had already suspected an internal traitor—and Si Qing was their primary suspect.
But suspicion was one thing. Confirming that the betrayal was real was another.
It wasn't just that Si Qing was a traitor.
What was truly terrifying was that their Second Elder, Huang Ju, the very Golden Core patriarch who had personally brought Si Qing into Cloud Crane Mountain, might also be a demonic cultivator.
Now, with seven Foundation Establishment disciples slain, the Hengshan Huang family was left critically wounded.
On top of that, if Huang Ju was truly a demonic cultivator, then at a time when righteous and demonic factions were at war, the implications were far more disastrous than just a few deaths.
In a dazed state, Huang Xinglie felt as if he could already see the downfall of the Hengshan Huang family.
"Patriarch!" Several Huang family cultivators rushed forward, their faces filled with anxiety as they supported the staggering elder.
"I'm fine."
Huang Xinglie shook his head and circulated his Golden Core energy. The deathly pallor that had overtaken his face gradually faded, replaced with a forced hint of vitality.
Then, his eyes turned sharp, sweeping across the returning cultivators.
"Open your storage pouches."
His gaze landed on Wei Tu, Qin Zhenren, Kou Hongying, as well as several other cultivators from various sects who had bought their entry slots from the Huang family.
Apart from Qin Zhenren and her disciple, there were three more cultivators from various sects who had been fortunate—or rather, powerful—enough to survive.
Unlike the family-trained cultivators, the disciples of major sects had significantly higher survival rates.
Wei Tu unsealed his storage pouch, spilling its contents onto the ground.
Among the items lay Purple Cloud Fruit, Earth Dragon Flesh, and Dragon Bone Flower, all of which he had gathered from Dragon Bone Forest.
For Foundation Establishment treasures, he displayed two key items: the Huangyuan Grass, which he had obtained from slaying the Flying Fox Demon Spider, and a Crimson Flame Fruit he had acquired later.
However—
There were noticeable absences.
Two extremely valuable Foundation Establishment treasures he had taken from Si Qing were missing.
Also missing was the Heaven-Mending Bowl, a rare spirit artifact.
Wei Tu had stored these away in a separate storage pouch, carefully concealing them within his transparent cloth bag.
Even though he had done nothing immoral or illegal, the sheer value of these items was enough to tempt even Golden Core cultivators.
If Huang Xinglie discovered them, it was highly unlikely he would simply let Wei Tu keep them.
At best, he would claim them for the Huang family.
At worst... Wei Tu might not leave here alive.
As this thought lingered, a cold sweat formed at the back of Wei Tu's neck.
At that moment, Huang Xinglie's Golden Core realm divine sense brushed over him, scanning every inch of his body, seeking any hidden storage pouches.
A tense silence stretched on for what felt like an eternity.
And then—the pressure vanished.
"That was close."
As Huang Xinglie withdrew his divine sense, his expression unchanged, Wei Tu finally exhaled in relief.
He had successfully passed the first hurdle.
Huang Xinglie's Golden Core divine sense swept over Wei Tu, scanning every inch of his body, but he found nothing suspicious. After a few moments, he retracted his sense, his expression remaining unchanged.
Wei Tu finally exhaled in relief.
The transparent cloth pouch from Si Qing was effective. Although it couldn't completely block his own Geomagnetic Yuan Light, it seemed to have concealed itself perfectly from a Golden Core cultivator's divine sense.
"Well, that makes sense. Si Qing carried this item while infiltrating the Hengshan Huang family, and even Huang Xinglie never noticed. There's no reason he should suddenly discover it on me," Wei Tu reassured himself.
As a demonic cultivator from the Heavenly Maiden Sect, Si Qing likely had this pouch to prevent righteous cultivators from prying into her secrets.
If this item were incapable of deceiving a Golden Core cultivator, then carrying it into Cloud Crane Mountain in the first place would have been meaningless.
"You were thoughtful enough to bring back Huang Changkong and Huang Wenqing's remains." Huang Xinglie let out a sigh, a flicker of appreciation flashing in his gaze. "I won't take your Foundation Establishment treasures."
He waved his sleeve, collecting 30% of the other spirit herbs and artifacts on the ground.
Under normal circumstances, the Hengshan Huang family wouldn't be so lenient when it came to Foundation Establishment treasures. However, today was different.
Bringing back the bodies of Huang family cultivators was a great merit.
And more importantly—revealing that Si Qing was a demonic cultivator was an even greater contribution.
Such merit couldn't go unrewarded.
Additionally, after suffering such a severe loss, the Hengshan Huang family's strength had plummeted. Now was the time to win over their allies, especially Wei Tu, a powerful guest cultivator. It would be foolish to alienate him over something trivial.
Besides—they had accumulated plenty of Foundation Establishment treasures over the years. One missing item from Wei Tu wouldn't make a difference.
However—Huang Xinglie was not so generous to the other cultivators.
He mercilessly took the maximum amount from the remaining cultivators, including their Foundation Establishment treasures.
Once the tribute was paid, Qin Zhenren and Kou Hongying bowed toward Wei Tu before leaving for Mirror Water Pavilion's flying boat.
"That Qin Zhenren…" Huang Xinglie watched her departing figure, his tone carrying a hint of admiration. "She'll be forming her Golden Core soon."
Moments earlier, when he saw six Foundation Establishment treasures in her possession, he had briefly considered taking two.
However, after some thought, he decided it wasn't worth the risk of offending a soon-to-be Golden Core cultivator.
Instead, he only took one, ensuring that Qin Zhenren still had just enough to exchange for a Mortal Shedding Pill.
Very soon, the area outside Cloud Ze Secret Realm dispersed.
One by one, the factions departed.
Wei Tu boarded Huang Xinglie's Cloud Crowned Crane, returning to Cloud Crane Mountain.
However—upon arrival, he noticed that Cloud Crane Mountain seemed eerily empty. Compared to before, there was a noticeable decline in its liveliness.
"Granduncle," Huang Chengfu greeted him in the courtyard. "Just a few days ago, Second Elder betrayed the family and fled Cloud Crane Mountain with a number of our clan members. Two of our Foundation Establishment cultivators also left with him."
"They say they're going to the demonic cultivator territories to rebuild the clan."
Hearing this, Wei Tu's expression shifted slightly. "Second Elder betrayed the clan?"
"Seems like he was connected to Si Qing all along."
Wei Tu had suspected it before.
When he first joined Hengshan Huang family, he found it strange that they hired Si Qing as a guest array master—after all, the Huang family was famous for their own formation techniques.
Why would they need an outsider?
Now, it all made sense.
Si Qing's position in the Huang family had everything to do with the Second Elder.
"Doesn't concern me."
Wei Tu shook his head.
He stepped into Talisman Heart Residence, preparing to enter seclusion to refine his gains.
However, just as he reached the courtyard, he noticed a sealed letter waiting at his door.
"Yan'er's letter?" Wei Tu's brows raised in surprise.
Breaking the seal, he quickly skimmed through its contents.
A rare smile surfaced on his lips.
The letter was brief, containing only one important message:
Wei Yan had successfully reached Foundation Establishment.
"I, Wei Tu, finally have a successor."
Placing the letter down, Wei Tu sighed with emotion.
One family in decline—one family on the rise.
The thousand-year-old Hengshan Huang family was falling into decay.
Meanwhile, his own Wei family—a clan that had emerged from ordinary mortal roots—was slowly but surely flourishing.
With Wei Yan's Foundation Establishment, and the treasures he had obtained, his family had a real chance at becoming a Golden Core clan.
After all—the treasures he had taken from the secret realm weren't just two.
Not even three.
He had a total of seven Foundation Establishment treasures.