When Ti Ya the High Priest heard Wei Tu's question, he didn't panic or get angry.
His tone was calm as he explained, "High Priest Wei only saw Wei Xian'er's poor aptitude in cultivating the Immortal Path, but did not notice that in the cultivation of the Spiritual Path, her innate bone structure is of superior quality…"
"Every priest chosen by the temple is a child of destiny on the path of spiritual cultivation."
Immortal Path? Spiritual Path?
Wei Tu was momentarily stunned.
He actually knew the difference between the Immortal Path and the Spiritual Path, but he had never imagined that Wei Xian'er might possess talent in the latter.
That's because the so-called Spiritual Path was essentially a branch of the Immortal Path.
It's just that the people of the Kāng Jū Kingdom had named this branch of the Immortal Path as the "Spiritual Path."
Even the techniques practiced within it were called "spiritual arts" by the Kāng Jū people.
The Spiritual Path also followed Qi Refinement cultivation, but compared to orthodox Immortal cultivation, it incorporated elements of the Kāng Jū people's ancient secret Gu techniques and five-element escape techniques, forming a distinct system.
However, that didn't mean the Spiritual Path didn't value spiritual root aptitude.
It's just that, compared to the Immortal Path, the requirements on spiritual root qualifications were looser.
Back in the Zheng Kingdom, Wei Tu had already heard that the Kāng Jū people had developed a kind of insect called the "Spirit Host Gu," which could alleviate the problem of poor spiritual root aptitude.
But since this Gu insect was expensive to produce and had the drawback of consuming lifespan, it never became widespread.
"The temple's selection… children of destiny…" Wei Tu's attention shifted to the latter part of Ti Ya the High Priest's statement.
It wasn't hard for him to guess that this part was the real reason Ti Ya was willing to take Wei Xian'er as a disciple.
Wei Tu had a strong feeling that what Ti Ya called a "child of destiny" was likely connected to what Bai Zhi had mentioned earlier—"inheriting teachings from a dream."
Mourning God was a Venerable Master in the Nascent Soul Realm.
Even in death, with his level of mastery, altering a cultivator's "aptitude" wouldn't be a difficult feat.
"This matter, though I can make the decision, still needs to be discussed with Wei Xian'er in detail."
Wei Tu agreed halfway, without giving a final answer.
Given Wei Xian'er's current spiritual root aptitude—
If she continued on the Immortal Path, unless she encountered some heaven-defying opportunity to change her fate, at best she'd reach the Foundation Establishment stage.
But if she became Ti Ya the High Priest's disciple—
That would be an entirely different path.
There was a real chance of reaching the Golden Core Realm.
After all, if Wei Xian'er's potential had truly been limited to just Foundation Establishment, Ti Ya the High Priest likely wouldn't have shown such interest in accepting her as a disciple.
As for whether Ti Ya might harm Wei Xian'er…
Wei Tu judged the chance to be quite low.
First, before his arrival, given Ti Ya's status, he could have easily forced Wei Xian'er to agree—there would have been no need to seek her consent.
Second, after he arrived, Ti Ya knew Wei Xian'er now had the protection of a peer-level cultivator like himself, and yet still chose to speak openly and frankly.
Very few people plot harm against others in such an upfront and direct way.
Third, anything related to the temple or this so-called "child of destiny"—Wei Tu could investigate after the fact.
There was no reason for Ti Ya the High Priest to lie about something like this.
"Very well."
Ti Ya the High Priest gave a small nod.
A faint look of appreciation appeared in his expression toward Wei Tu.
The words of a Golden Core elder, to a Qi Refinement junior, were no less than a golden decree—usually unquestionable and unchangeable.
Yet Wei Tu, uncommonly, did not act overbearing like many of his peers. Instead, he chose to respect the opinion of a Qi Refinement junior and discuss it with her.
From this small gesture, one could tell—
Such a person's character would never stray too far from integrity.
…
After bidding farewell to Ti Ya the High Priest—
Under the guidance of Tao Fangde, Wei Tu went to the main hall beside Flowing Cloud Lake to meet the chieftain of the Zha Ma Tribe, Hei Gu.
Unlike the approachable demeanor of Ti Ya the High Priest, Chieftain Hei Gu had an overbearing and domineering presence.
However, since Wei Tu was a True Lord in the Golden Core Realm, Chieftain Hei Gu did not dare to show too much disrespect. His attitude toward Wei Tu could be considered courteous.
"Ti Ya the High Priest likely has no interest in the Tao family's wealth. In that case, the person coveting the Tao family's fortune in the Zha Ma Tribe is most likely this Chieftain Hei Gu."
Wei Tu silently speculated in his heart.
The Tao clansmen who were part of the Zha Ma Tribe only carried a small portion of the wealth of the Hanshan Tao Clan. The majority of it would still be in the possession of Golden Core ancestor Tao Chongzhou.
Therefore, the Tao family's assets probably weren't enough to stir up greed in Ti Ya the High Priest.
But to Chieftain Hei Gu—
This level of wealth was more than enough to make him want a huge payday.
—Decades ago, the Hanshan Tao Clan had cooperated with Chieftain Hei Gu to migrate their clan members to the Zha Ma Tribe.
"Senior Wei, has Senior Tao arrived in the Kāng Kingdom yet? Has he come to the Zha Ma Tribe?"
On the main seat, after respectfully offering wine to Wei Tu, Chieftain Hei Gu's eyes shifted slightly as he asked with a veiled tone.
Although he was a registered disciple of High Priest Gu Chan from the Ying Ding Tribe, and had also become the chieftain of a tribe, backed by powerful supporters… he was still afraid of retaliation from a Golden Core True Lord.
"Fellow Daoist Tao was delayed by some matters. He'll be arriving in the Kāng Kingdom in a few years," Wei Tu said with a faint smile, helping the Tao family conceal the truth.
"A few years?"
Chieftain Hei Gu raised his eyebrows slightly and thought to himself: it seems this Wei Tu and Tao Chongzhou don't have such a close relationship.
If they were truly close, given the current dire situation in the Zheng Kingdom, he didn't believe Tao Chongzhou wouldn't travel with Wei Tu.
That they hadn't arrived in the Kāng Kingdom together—
Proved their relationship wasn't that deep.
"Brother Fangde, now that Senior Wei has just arrived in the Kāng Kingdom and has yet to establish himself, our tribe's 'Flowing Cloud Lake' may be a third-rank spiritual land, but it's already… barely enough to supply our tribe's own cultivation."
"It would be hard to accommodate another high priest."
"I happen to have some connections within the royal court. I could help Senior Wei find a suitable spiritual land."
"However, the spirit stones needed to make arrangements with the court mages…"
Chieftain Hei Gu took a few bites of spirit beast meat, then glanced over at Tao Fangde, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth.
"This Hei Gu… truly cunning!" Tao Fangde instantly sensed something was off upon hearing these words.
Hei Gu was trying to ally with Wei Tu to split the Tao family's wealth.
He had seen through the fact that the relationship between the Tao family and Wei Tu was nothing more than a casual connection.
Very cleverly, he was attempting to turn Wei Tu from a threat into an ally, dissolving the Tao family's protection under Wei Tu—and cornering the Tao family in the process.
At this moment, he had only two options.
Both were risky.
If he refused to hand over spirit stones to help Wei Tu "smooth things over" with the court, he'd be effectively cutting off ties between the Tao family and this Golden Core True Lord.
—If they weren't even willing to offer spirit stones, how could they claim to have a good relationship with True Lord Wei?
That would offend Wei Tu.
After all, Wei Tu had just broken through to the Golden Core Realm. He surely wasn't flush with resources yet—it was precisely the time he needed support from family and friends.
However—
If they did offer spirit stones, and Hei Gu grew greedy, or if Wei Tu secretly encouraged it, then the Tao family might really be slowly devoured by both of them.
"We can only bet on True Lord Wei's character." Tao Fangde gritted his teeth, calculating the Tao family's assets as he prepared to go along with Hei Gu's plan and give Wei Tu a hand.
Between two evils, choose the lesser.
The second option didn't offend Wei Tu.
And if Wei Tu turned out to be upright, this small favor today might end up being remembered by this Golden Core True Lord.
But just as Tao Fangde hesitated and was about to speak—
Wei Tu spoke first.
"There's no need to trouble Chieftain with searching for spiritual lands. I've already discussed it with the High Priest—I'll be renting the spiritual land of the Fen Shan Tribe—'Yan Fen Mountain.'"
Wei Tu's tone was calm and firm, clearly rejecting the offer.
Not to mention, he had already intended to rent Yan Fen Mountain, a third-rank spiritual land. He had no intention of seeking another through Chieftain Hei Gu.
Even if that hadn't been the case, he wouldn't accept a donation of spirit stones from the Tao family.
There was no need to disgrace himself over a few spirit stones.
After all, as a "craftsman," earning spirit stones wasn't that hard for him.
Hei Gu had underestimated him—
And underestimated his wealth.
"So that's how it is? It seems I've overstepped. I hope Senior Wei won't take offense," Hei Gu said with an awkward smile. He poured and downed three cups of wine as a gesture of apology, brushing the matter aside.
…
A quarter of an hour later.
The grand banquet in the main hall came to an end.
"Thank you, Senior Wei, for shielding our Tao family. I'm truly grateful." After leaving Flowing Cloud Lake, Tao Fangde, following behind Wei Tu, showed a face full of gratitude and offered his thanks.
If Wei Tu hadn't spoken up—
He and the Tao family would've had a hard time recovering from the jab Hei Gu delivered with his words.
"It was a small matter," Wei Tu shook his head and smiled. "My household has received the Tao family's care over these years in the Zha Ma Tribe. It's only right that I look after the Tao family in the future."
Hearing this, Tao Fangde's face showed even more admiration.
In the cultivation world, deceit and betrayal were all too common. Someone like Wei Tu, who knew to repay kindness and had a clear bottom line, was rare indeed.
Back when he first heard of Wei Tu, he had looked down on him for "betraying" the Huang family, thinking him disloyal and unfilial.
But now, it seemed that was nothing but a biased stereotype he had in his head about rogue cultivators—he had truly misjudged.
"Even so, Senior Wei only recently advanced to Golden Core… surely resources are tight. Our Tao family still has some spirit stones that we can lend to Senior Wei for temporary use."
Tao Fangde understood etiquette well. He knew that giving and receiving went both ways. After a moment of thought, he offered those words.
Offering spirit stones at this moment—
First, it would reduce Hei Gu's desire to covet the Tao family's wealth.
Second, it would strengthen the Tao family's ties with Wei Tu.
Before Ancestor Tao Chongzhou arrived, the Tao family would surely benefit from having Wei Tu's protection.
"No need. I have some assets," Wei Tu smiled faintly and politely declined.
"Some assets?"
Hearing that, Tao Fangde froze for a moment.
He remembered that when Wei Tu had worked with the Tao family to develop smuggling routes, he had said the exact same thing.
But times were different now.
The wealth that had seemed impressive when Wei Tu was still at the Foundation Establishment stage—
Now that he was at the Golden Core Realm, it seemed a bit lacking.