“It’s just a shame this treasure is missing its artifact spirit.”

Wei Tu showed a trace of regret on his face.

Spiritual treasures, aside from possessing their unique divine abilities, typically also housed an artifact spirit.

Only a spiritual treasure with an artifact spirit could be considered complete.

The reason he had struggled to channel the Heaven-Mending Bowl with his own power wasn’t just because the treasure’s rank was too high, but also because it lacked an artifact spirit.

Simply put, if the Heaven-Mending Bowl still had its artifact spirit, he could have worked together with it to activate the treasure with minimal effort—difficulty level one.

But without the artifact spirit, using his own power to activate it meant the difficulty was three, four, or even multiplied tenfold, reaching ten.

“Chong Ming Old Man…”

Wei Tu softly muttered these four words under his breath.

This Chong Ming Old Man was suspected by the Heavenly Maiden Sect’s higher-ups to be the former artifact spirit of the Heaven-Mending Bowl who had transformed into a Nascent Soul rogue cultivator.

—An artifact spirit, much like a cultivator’s divine soul, could escape from the spiritual treasure and seize the body of a cultivator, embarking on the path of immortal cultivation.

Chong Ming Old Man was a notorious Nascent Soul rogue cultivator in the demonic path.

Even the Heavenly Maiden Sect didn’t dare to provoke him easily.

“If I want to restore this spiritual treasure, the best way would be to refine a new artifact spirit and implant it into the Heaven-Mending Bowl.”

Wei Tu thought to himself.

The Heavenly Maiden Sect’s original plan had been to locate the Heaven-Mending Bowl in the Cloud Ze Secret Realm, then forge a new artifact spirit to restore the treasure.

But unfortunately for them, he had stepped in, seizing the opportunity and taking the incomplete treasure for himself.

…

After meditating for a while and recovering some of his divine sense, Wei Tu turned to the sealed Bai Zhi’s Golden Core in front of him.

A cruel glint flashed across his face as his right palm began to glow with thick green light, ready to strike and utterly destroy her divine soul in the next moment.

“Fellow Daoist Wei, please wait! We can discuss this.”

Bai Zhi’s expression changed to panic as she hurriedly cried out.

“If Fellow Daoist Bai refuses to cooperate, there’s no reason for me to spare you.”

Wei Tu’s voice was cold and indifferent.

“I… I am willing to sign a soul contract and become your servant,” Bai Zhi pleaded.

She didn’t fear torture, but she did fear death.

After so many years of cultivation, she had finally achieved the Golden Core stage and didn’t want to die so easily.

“A soul contract?”

Wei Tu stroked his chin, showing some interest.

High-level cultivators could force lower-level cultivators to sign a soul contract, but between cultivators of the same rank, it could only be done if the other party agreed willingly.

Once the soul contract was signed, Bai Zhi’s life and death would be entirely in his hands, under his complete control.

Wei Tu fully understood why Bai Zhi had changed her attitude so quickly.

Previously, without the Tomb Shadow and Venomous Vessel Secret Art, he couldn’t effectively soul-search Bai Zhi.

She had assumed she could rely on the secrecy of the Heaven-Mending Bowl to manipulate him into signing an equal soul oath, gaining her freedom.

But now, everything had changed.

With a high-grade soul-searching technique, none of her secrets were beyond his reach.

He had already obtained the critical information he needed about the Heaven-Mending Bowl.

She had no more leverage.

Now, surrendering and becoming his servant was the only way to survive.

“Here is my soul contract.”

Before Wei Tu could even respond, Bai Zhi used the last of her remaining divine soul power to form a piece of dark-colored spiritual paper and handed it over to him.

Seeing this, Wei Tu thought for a moment before taking the soul contract and officially establishing the master-servant relationship.

Though she had already lost her greatest value after revealing the Heaven-Mending Bowl’s secret, Bai Zhi’s worth didn’t end there.

The Heavenly Maiden Sect’s cultivation methods, demonic path techniques, and the insights of a Golden Core cultivator—all of these were resources he could still exploit.

Soul-searching alone wouldn’t be enough.

First, while Bai Zhi couldn’t resist him physically, she could still choose to destroy her own divine soul.

Second, soul-searching Bai Zhi would be extremely taxing on him, not something to be taken lightly.

“Greetings, Master.”

Bai Zhi quickly adapted to her new status.

After seeing Wei Tu accept her soul contract, she immediately addressed him accordingly.

Though becoming his servant was humiliating, Bai Zhi had her own plans.

She believed Wei Tu’s potential went far beyond the Golden Core stage.

He might one day reach the Nascent Soul stage, or even the Divine Transformation stage.

Serving under a powerful Nascent Soul ancestor wouldn’t necessarily be disgraceful.

In fact, she might one day, like the artifact spirit Chong Ming Old Man, find a way to regain her freedom by seizing another body and returning to the path of cultivation.

If Wei Tu failed to advance—

dying alongside him wouldn’t be much of a loss either.

After completing the soul search on Bai Zhi, Wei Tu had nothing else to do in the Southern Desolate Wastes. He went back to pick up the siblings from the Qiu family, who were waiting several li away, and prepared to head toward Zheng Kingdom.

"Didn’t expect you to have the mood to gather cultivation seedlings. Is it to cultivate that little girl? I happen to have a dual cultivation technique from the Hehuan Sect..."

Not long after the Huangyan Boat set off, Bai Zhi’s voice sounded in Wei Tu’s mind.

Since the soul contract was signed, Bai Zhi’s life and death were under Wei Tu’s control, and even her thoughts could be faintly sensed by him.

Because of this, Wei Tu didn’t bother to keep Bai Zhi’s Golden Core sealed in a bottle anymore and instead carried it in his sleeve.

Who would have thought that as soon as Bai Zhi saw Qiu Huaisu, she started chirping non-stop, already thinking of wicked ideas.

"Dual cultivation technique?" Wei Tu’s eyes flashed coldly. "I’m not some demonic cultivator who preys on female cultivators. Bai Daoist, you’d best watch your words."

Though the dual cultivation techniques of the Hehuan Sect could indeed increase cultivation through harvesting yin and supplementing yang, the resulting cultivation was always impure.

It was taking shortcuts.

Not to mention Wei Tu had no such intention, even if he did, he wouldn’t practice something like that.

"What a pity," Bai Zhi sighed a few times and said, "That Qiu Huaisu is still young and has excellent talent. If she starts cultivating as a furnace from an early age, after two or three hundred years when she reaches late Foundation Establishment, the pure yin essence in her body could help you break through a small realm in the Golden Core stage."

Wei Tu didn’t respond.

Two or three hundred years later, he might not even still be in the Golden Core stage.

Seeing that Wei Tu wasn’t interested, Bai Zhi didn’t speak again and fell silent.

On the side, Qiu Huaisu noticed Wei Tu glancing at her a few times and lowered her head slightly, her cheeks flushing faintly.

After months of traveling together, she had developed a certain admiration for Wei Tu.

It wasn’t romantic love, but more like a weak person admiring a powerful figure.

As someone who had walked this path himself, Wei Tu understood very well and didn’t think anything improper.

After more than ten days, the Huangyan Boat approached the border of Zheng Kingdom and began to slow down.

"Huh? A Tian Nv Sect disciple is calling for help?" Bai Zhi’s surprised voice rang in Wei Tu’s ears again.

"A Tian Nv Sect disciple?"

Wei Tu raised an eyebrow when he heard that.

He silently activated the Know Heaven Crossing technique, extending his divine sense to scan the surrounding area.

—Big sects like the Tian Nv Sect generally provided their disciples with special means of communication. Not only could they send distress signals across great distances, but they were also very accurate.

While his sensing range was wider than Bai Zhi’s, he was still a bit inferior in detecting Tian Nv Sect’s special communications.

"In the northeast, more than twenty li away," Bai Zhi reported without a hint of guilt for betraying her former sect.

With Bai Zhi’s direction, it became much easier for Wei Tu to lock onto the target with Know Heaven Crossing.

"Ni Shihuang?"

Wei Tu spotted a refined white-robed female cultivator flying above the wasteland.

However, contrary to Bai Zhi’s words, Ni Shihuang wasn’t injured, nor was she being chased.

"No pursuers?" Bai Zhi was surprised. She explained, "Ni Shihuang must’ve come here to investigate my disappearance. I was supposed to be on duty when I entered the Tai Xu Realm, so technically, I’m guilty of abandoning my post..."

"For now, we avoid them."

With the Qiu siblings as extra burdens, Wei Tu didn’t want to stir up unnecessary trouble.

He steered the Huangyan Boat in the opposite direction from Ni Shihuang and eventually entered the borders of Zheng Kingdom by taking a detour.

As for where the Qiu siblings should go, Wei Tu had already given it some thought back when he was at the Qiu household.

With their talent, it wouldn’t be difficult for them to join any of the three great sects in Zheng Kingdom or the two remaining great sects of the fallen Jing Kingdom.

After entering Zheng Kingdom, Wei Tu discussed this with the siblings.

He said, "I have connections in both Mirror Water Pavilion and Tai Xuan Sect here in Zheng Kingdom. It would be better if you two joined those sects separately."

The three great sects of Zheng Kingdom were Mirror Water Pavilion, Tai Xuan Sect, and Qingzhu Mountain.

He didn’t have any connections in Qingzhu Mountain, but he had acquaintances in both Mirror Water Pavilion and Tai Xuan Sect.

Especially in Mirror Water Pavilion, where he knew the most people.

So if the siblings wanted a bright future, it would be best for Qiu Huaisu to join Mirror Water Pavilion and Qiu Buchen to join Tai Xuan Sect.

—While Mirror Water Pavilion did accept male disciples, they were not the main focus. Male cultivators with the same level of talent generally had better opportunities in Tai Xuan Sect or Qingzhu Mountain.

"What about the old sects of Jing Kingdom?" Qiu Buchen asked softly.

He had heard Wei Tu mention that the two surviving sects of Jing Kingdom, the Beastmaster Sect and Sky City, had taken refuge in Zheng Kingdom.

"Jing Kingdom’s old sects?" Wei Tu pondered for a moment.

He wasn’t familiar with Sky City, but as for Beastmaster Sect… his master Che Gongwei had close ties with Elder Hong Zhi from Beastmaster Sect.

He also had personal connections with two Foundation Establishment cultivators there, Zuo Kui and Nan Zi.

Zuo Kui, like him, had once served as a guardian at Cicada Cry Cliff.

"Beastmaster Sect is also a good choice for you," Wei Tu said, looking at Qiu Buchen.

Beastmaster Sect had fled to Zheng Kingdom, and over the past century, it had struggled to replenish its ranks with fresh blood.

Qiu Buchen, being a native of Jing Kingdom and possessing a top-grade spiritual root, might actually have better opportunities in Beastmaster Sect than in Tai Xuan Sect.

As for Tai Xuan Sect, Wei Tu only had a single acquaintance there—Guan Zhenying.

The fellow disciple who used to accompany Guan Zhenying, Shen Changfeng, had fallen decades ago on the border battlefield.

"I choose Beastmaster Sect," Qiu Buchen quickly made his decision, considering the regional connection and opting for the sect of Jing Kingdom’s old cultivators.

"Sister, why don’t you come with me and join Beastmaster Sect too?" Qiu Buchen tugged at his sister Qiu Huaisu’s sleeve.

In this foreign land, the only one he could depend on was his sister Qiu Huaisu.

But this time, Qiu Huaisu, for once, shook her head and refused.

Qiu Huaisu gently shook her head, "I’ll listen to Immortal Wei and join Mirror Water Pavilion."

"Buchen, it’s time for you to grow up." Qiu Huaisu reached out and gently patted Qiu Buchen’s head, giving him a small smile.

"Yes, Sister." Qiu Buchen nodded sullenly. To him, it felt less like he needed to grow up and more like his sister had already grown up.

As for the siblings’ choices, Wei Tu didn’t interfere too much. He simply explained the pros and cons, leaving the decision to them.

Seeing that they had made their respective choices, Wei Tu didn’t hesitate any longer and steered the Huangyan Boat toward Mirror Water Pavilion and Beastmaster Sect.

Mirror Water Pavilion was closer.

So, Wei Tu first brought the Qiu siblings to Baishi Lake Marketplace, where Mirror Water Pavilion was located.

"It feels so unfamiliar after so many years," Wei Tu sighed as he looked around at the familiar scenery of Baishi Lake Marketplace.

Years ago, when he parted ways with Kou Hongying, he had thought he’d never set foot in Zheng Kingdom again. Who would have thought that years later, he’d return because of the Qiu siblings?

Wei Tu still had a way to contact Kou Hongying, so he sent a talisman message and waited for her reply.

While waiting outside Mirror Water Pavilion’s gate, many cultivators passed by.

Thanks to the previous Golden Core celebration of Qin Yuling, most of the Pavilion’s cultivators recognized Wei Tu. Many stopped and greeted him respectfully.

"True Lord Wei?" From the crowd, Gong Shuzhen appeared with a look of joy and greeted Wei Tu with a formal bow.

"True Lord Wei, why wait outside? You should come in and wait with me," Gong Shuzhen said with a smile.

The last time she had seen Wei Tu, he was still a Foundation Establishment cultivator seeking pills and techniques.

Who would’ve thought that in just a few decades, Wei Tu had already become a Golden Core True Lord?

He was now someone worth keeping ties with.

Of course, Gong Shuzhen didn’t know that Wei Tu had secretly visited Mirror Water Pavilion a few years ago. It was just that his movements had been discreet, and no one noticed.

"Alright." Wei Tu hesitated briefly, then nodded in agreement.

After all, it was indeed improper for a dignified Golden Core cultivator to stand waiting outside the sect gate.

Inside Mirror Water Pavilion, Gong Shuzhen led Wei Tu to Jinyu Tower, Qin Yuling’s personal cultivation area.

"Daoist Wei." Receiving Gong Shuzhen’s message, Qin Yuling personally came out to greet Wei Tu.

The moment she saw Wei Tu, her expression changed slightly.

The change was brief, but keen-eyed Wei Tu caught it.

"Qin Yuling’s memory has returned?" Wei Tu raised an eyebrow, pondering silently.

Back at her Golden Core celebration decades ago, Qin Yuling’s "amnesia" had given him quite a scare.

Afterward, before he achieved Golden Core himself, he had always avoided Mirror Water Pavilion out of fear that Qin Yuling would regain her memory and question him about the "secret" of Cloud Ze Secret Realm.

"But things are different now. With my current Golden Core cultivation, she might not even be my match in combat," Wei Tu thought confidently.

With the Nascent Soul Talisman and a fourth-grade defensive talisman on him, he could even protect himself against Gui Luo, the Demon Lord, let alone Qin Yuling, who was merely an early Golden Core cultivator.

Now, he had the right and the strength to keep his secrets.

"Please, Daoist Wei," Qin Yuling extended her hand and invited Wei Tu into her cultivation area.

Once inside, everyone took their seats.

Not long after, having heard the news, Kou Hongying also arrived at Jinyu Tower.

"So you’re here about taking a disciple? It just so happens that I’m missing one myself..."

Upon learning Wei Tu’s purpose, Kou Hongying immediately expressed her intent to take a disciple.

While being a sect cultivator had many benefits, there was one downside—it wasn’t as carefree as being a rogue cultivator.

According to sect regulations, every newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivator in Mirror Water Pavilion was required to take on at least one disciple within a set period to pass on techniques and teachings.

Failure to do so would result in penalties.

Now, it had been over one hundred years since Kou Hongying had achieved Foundation Establishment.

She had long been troubled by the fact that she hadn’t found a suitable disciple to fulfill this requirement.