Foundation Establishment resources typically cost around 3,000 to 4,000 spirit stones on the market. However, such items were rarely available for sale and were incredibly difficult to obtain.
Of course—
That applied to scattered cultivators and Qi Refinement cultivators like them.
If Kou Hongying successfully reached Foundation Establishment, then as a sect-affiliated Foundation Establishment cultivator, acquiring a Foundation Establishment resource within twenty years wouldn't be too difficult.
"For any missing portion, I am willing to make up the difference with spirit stones. I won't let Fairy Kou suffer a loss."
Wei Tu added.
At first glance, this deal seemed like a bargain—
He was investing 1,500 spirit stones but receiving a Foundation Establishment resource worth at least 3,000 spirit stones, effectively doubling his profits.
But in reality—
He was still at a disadvantage.
There was always the risk that during Kou Hongying's Foundation Establishment attempt, she might fail, perish, or even go back on her word.
If anything went wrong, it meant that his investment would be completely wasted.
By offering to cover the price difference upfront, he was minimizing the chances of Kou Hongying reneging after she succeeded.
Spirit stones were easy to earn.
Foundation Establishment resources were not.
The latter required not only wealth but also status and influence.
"Father was right… Uncle Wei values loyalty, but before he acts, he also ensures clear boundaries and defines everyone's interests… He talks terms first, then follows through."
Hearing Wei Tu's words, Kou Hongying's slightly tense expression relaxed into a faint smile.
When she heard Wei Tu address her as 'Fairy Kou', her heart skipped a beat—
She had thought he was preparing to cut ties with her.
"Uncle Wei speaks wisely. Such an important matter should indeed be secured with a spirit contract."
Kou Hongying nodded with a smile.
Rather than rejecting Wei Tu's practical approach, she fully agreed and even respected him more for it.
Friendship built on pure sentiment never lasted long.
Especially not in the treacherous world of cultivation.
"This is the spirit contract—I have been carrying it with me since before attending this gathering."
As she spoke, Kou Hongying retrieved a sheet of azure vine paper from her belongings and placed it on the table.
Then, she channeled her spiritual energy and wrote the contract terms onto the paper.
After she finished—
Kou Hongying bit the tip of her finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the contract.
Seeing this, Wei Tu didn't hesitate.
With a flick of his fingers, the spirit contract floated into his palm.
He carefully examined the contents.
Noticing that Kou Hongying had not included the clause about him covering the price difference, his brows subtly lifted.
This small gesture made him trust her character a little more.
— Spirit contracts were unique to the cultivation world.
— At the Qi Refinement stage, no one had the ability to forge or manipulate them.
Just like Kou Hongying, after reading the contract thoroughly, Wei Tu pressed a drop of his own blood onto the azure vine paper.
Once the contract was complete—
The paper flashed with spiritual light and automatically split into two copies, with one portion falling into each of their hands.
"In that case, I am also willing to help Kou Hongying this time."
Fu Zhizhou took the opportunity to speak up.
"Good."
Kou Hongying nodded, retrieving another sheet of azure vine paper and drafting a second spirit contract with Fu Zhizhou.
However—
The terms were much less generous.
Unlike Wei Tu, Fu Zhizhou was not promised a Foundation Establishment resource.
Instead—
Kou Hongying only offered him a Condensed Foundation Pill as compensation.
The Condensed Foundation Pill was one of the essential elixirs that Qi Refinement Perfection cultivators needed when attempting to break into Foundation Establishment.
Though it was not as rare or valuable as a Foundation Establishment Pill, it was still highly sought-after among scattered cultivators.
Once Fu Zhizhou signed the spirit contract—
Kou Hongying swept her gaze toward Wei Fei.
Seeing that he was still unmoved, she merely shook her head inwardly, thinking that Wei Fei would never achieve anything great.
…
As the five of them stepped out of the private room, two figures immediately approached.
Standing outside the door, Wei Yan and Wei Xiuwen stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Wei Tu.
"Father."
Hearing the familiar greeting, Fu Zhizhou pursed his lips and let out a small sigh.
His eldest son, Fu Lin, was not here.
— Ten spirit stones should have been enough to send Fu Lin on the path of cultivation.
"Father, since you've come to Baishi Lake Marketplace, why not stay for a while? In six months, Xiaomei and I will be getting married."
On the way back, Wei Xiuwen glanced at his father's back, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke.
"Also—"
"I have a surprise for you and mother…"
He added.
"A surprise?"
Wei Tu raised an eyebrow.
From the day Wei Xiuwen was born, he had never received a gift from him.
His eldest daughter, Wei Yan, had at least sewn him a few sets of clothes and shoes over the years.
"You'll know six months from now."
"This time, stay a little longer and spend more time with mother—she's getting old."
Wei Xiuwen said softly.
Wei Tu understood that life was rarely perfect. Since he had chosen the path of cultivation, no matter how much he cared for his family, he could never be fully present in the mortal world.
His neglect of Xinghua was inevitable.
He couldn't be blamed for it.
After all, ever since he had entered the cultivation world, he himself had rarely returned home unless it was for something truly important.
"You really take after your mother." Hearing Wei Xiuwen's words, Wei Tu smiled faintly. He reached out, ruffled his son's hair, and chuckled.
The last few times he had returned to the mortal world, he had barely found his footing before being forced to leave again—always hurrying back to the cultivation world, always striving for a future beyond mortality.
But now—
Foundation Establishment was within reach.
Taking a small break for half a year, staying by Xinghua's side, and witnessing his children's marriage—that didn't seem so bad.
"Yan'er, do you have someone in mind?"
With that thought, Wei Tu turned his gaze toward his eldest daughter, a serene young woman in a yellow dress, and asked curiously.
Wei Yan was four years older than Wei Xiuwen.
Had she been an ordinary mortal woman, she would have already been married by now.
Though he never pressured her to find a partner, as a father, he still wanted to know about her thoughts on marriage.
"No."
Wei Yan answered simply, her response short and direct.
"Fu Lin pursued my sister once, but she rejected him."
Wei Xiuwen added with a smirk.
"Fu Lin?"
Hearing this name, Wei Tu immediately recalled the young man from ten years ago—the eldest son of the Fu family who had once knelt before him, borrowing ten spirit stones to begin his cultivation journey.
"How is he now?"
Wei Tu asked.
In Fu Lin, he had seen the same determination for the path of cultivation as Fu Zhizhou.
In that sense—
Fu Lin took after his father.
"Fu Lin entered Baishi Lake Marketplace and, like Uncle Fu, became a blade-for-hire."
"But oddly enough, Hongying doesn't like him. Before we came to Nanhang City, she even went out of her way to avoid him."
"She said Fu Lin is too ruthless with himself—someone difficult to deal with."
Wei Xiuwen, knowing that his father was asking about Fu Lin, shared everything he knew.
"'Difficult to deal with'?"
Wei Tu's mind turned.
From what he understood, Kou Hongying was not the type to follow power or abandon people easily.
Even when she saw Fu Zhizhou's injuries, she had immediately offered help.
"Listen to your sister Hongying."
"In the future, keep your distance from Fu Lin."
After a brief moment of thought, Wei Tu stopped walking, glanced at his son and daughter, and seriously advised them.
Though he didn't know why Kou Hongying disliked Fu Lin, he trusted her judgment.
From both of their gatherings, it was clear that Kou Hongying's character, ability, and foresight were beyond reproach.
"Yes, Father."
Wei Yan and Wei Xiuwen nodded in agreement.
…
A short walk later—
The three of them arrived at the Wei residence in Nanhang City.
Inside the house, Xinghua, her hair streaked with white, was embroidering clothes.
Hearing familiar footsteps outside, she instinctively turned her head and softly called out—
"Wei Ge'er?"
A brief silence followed.
Then she shook her head and laughed lightly.
"I must be getting old and hard of hearing."
"Wei Ge'er chose the path of immortality—why would he come home today of all days?"
She muttered to herself, then suddenly paused.
"No… it's been ten years."
"Today is June 13th. Wei Ge'er should have come to Nanhang City today…"
She slowly realized the truth.
"You're still playing tricks on me at this age…"
Shaking her head, she glanced behind her, pretending not to care, and continued stitching the fabric in her hands.
At that moment—
Wei Tu finally revealed his presence.
Wei Yan and Wei Xiuwen, standing beside him, followed his lead and also stepped forward.
"There's already a tailor in the house. You don't need to keep sewing—you'll overwork yourself."
Wei Tu looked at the finely-stitched summer robe in Xinghua's hands and couldn't help but advise her.
—Though he had used spiritual energy to nourish her body, overworking herself would still inevitably shorten her lifespan.
"It's not for you."
"I'm sewing for my precious grandson."
Xinghua huffed softly.
"My grandson?"
Wei Tu raised a brow, glancing around the house.
The robe in Xinghua's hands was clearly for a thirteen-year-old boy.
As far as he knew—
Neither Wei Yan nor Wei Xiuwen had children before marriage.
That left only one possibility—
During his ten years away, Xinghua had adopted a foster grandson.
"Mother is sewing for Xiuwen's future son…"
"She makes three outfits per year. This one is the thirty-seventh."
Wei Yan whispered.
"Mother is afraid that she won't live long enough to see three generations under one roof—to meet Xiuwen's son."
She added softly.
Hearing this, her heart ached.
It was because of her mother's loneliness that she had decided never to marry, choosing instead to pursue cultivation.
The path of mortals and immortals—
Were ultimately two different worlds.
Wei Tu remained silent.
He sat beside the bed, eyes flickering, then reached for the tobacco pipe on the table.
Lighting it, he took a deep inhale, then exhaled slowly.
The first time he had entered Danqiu Mountain, Hu Yao had once told him—
There was a special talisman called the Ice Profound Soul-Sealing Talisman.
A talisman that could prevent the pain of watching loved ones die.
The Ice Profound Soul-Sealing Talisman—a so-called immortal talisman that could freeze a mortal for a hundred years without harming their soul or body.
Upon release, their soul would remain intact.
But—
After spending twenty years as a talisman master, struggling through the cultivation world, Wei Tu had long realized that the Ice Profound Soul-Sealing Talisman was nothing more than a beautiful fantasy.
The talisman could indeed freeze a mortal for a hundred years, preserving their soul from harm.
However—
After a hundred years, if the Plastic Soul Pill was not used to restore the frozen mortal's body and soul, they would rapidly age the moment they were freed—ultimately meeting death.
There was no escaping time's grasp.
And the Plastic Soul Pill was a second-tier elixir, something that even Foundation Establishment cultivators struggled to obtain.
To freeze Xinghua for a hundred years over an uncertain possibility…
At this moment, Wei Tu still couldn't bring himself to make that decision.
The pain of parting through death—both mortals and cultivators would inevitably experience it.
Ninety-nine out of a hundred accepted it.
Only a few chose to defy it.
Wei Tu didn't know which one he would become.
"There's still half a year left. After Xiuwen's wedding, I'll discuss it with her… see if she's willing."
Wei Tu set down his pipe, sighing softly.
Though one hundred spirit stones was still a considerable amount, it was no longer something he couldn't afford.
Years ago—
When he had severed his ties with the mortal world, Xinghua had spent her own money to help him leave.
Now that he had stepped onto the path of cultivation, how could he possibly withhold this small sum from her?
…
Time passed swiftly.
In the blink of an eye—
Half a year had gone by.
That day, Wei Xiuwen arrived at the Wei residence with his future Dao companion.
"Father."
Mei Zhen, who had a sweet tongue, immediately addressed Wei Tu as "Father" before she had even married into the family.
"Good daughter-in-law."
Wei Tu did not hold back his kindness. After responding with a smile, he reached into his sleeve and pulled out two talismans, handing them to Mei Zhen as a first-meeting gift.
These two talismans were—
One low-grade "Demonic Wood Talisman."
One fine-quality "Rock Shield Talisman."
Seeing that Wei Tu was so generous, Mei Zhen's eyes lit up with excitement. Her impression of Wei Tu instantly improved.
She had always assumed that, given Wei Xiuwen's usual frugality, the Wei family must have been poor.
Yet now, to her surprise, Wei Tu was actually a talisman master—and a wealthy one at that.
"Go pay respects to your mother."
Wei Tu gestured toward Xinghua's room in the main hall.
Wei Xiuwen nodded and pulled Mei Zhen, who seemed reluctant to leave, towards the other side of the corridor.
"Choosing a wife means choosing someone virtuous."
"I wonder what Mei Zhen's temperament is like…"
Wei Tu glanced at Mei Zhen's departing figure, his brows slightly furrowed as he pondered.
He had no concerns about her average appearance—as a father-in-law, that was not something he cared about.
What he did care about was her character.
But in such a short time, he couldn't truly discern what kind of person she was.
"Forget it. Each generation has its own fate."
"It's not my place to interfere too much in my son's affairs."
Wei Tu shook his head.
He decided that after attending the wedding, he would leave Baishi Lake and return to Danqiu Mountain.
…
That night.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A knock at the door.
"Father, half a year ago, I told you I had a surprise for you and Mother."
Wei Xiuwen stood outside the door, grinning from ear to ear.
"What surprise?"
Wei Tu raised a brow.
At that moment, he suddenly recalled what Wei Xiuwen had mentioned half a year ago.
Back then, his son had promised to bring him and Xinghua a surprise.
At the time—
Wei Tu had brushed it off as mere playful talk.
After all—
He had heard countless playful words from Wei Xiuwen since childhood.
But now—
Half a year later, Wei Xiuwen was actually bringing it up again.
"Father, this is my gift to you and Mother."
Wei Xiuwen stepped inside, closed the doors and windows, then retrieved a small talisman box from his robes, handing it to Wei Tu.
"Quick, open it!"
Wei Xiuwen urged with excitement.
"Ice… Ice Profound Soul-Sealing Talisman?"
The moment Wei Tu opened the box, his gaze hardened.
He had not expected that Wei Xiuwen would have the same thoughts as him—wanting to use the Ice Profound Soul-Sealing Talisman to preserve a glimmer of hope.
"This talisman… costs a hundred spirit stones."
"Where did you get the money?"
Wei Tu's brows furrowed.
He casually placed the talisman box on the tea table beside him and narrowed his eyes at Wei Xiuwen.
Under normal circumstances—
With Wei Xiuwen's abilities, it was impossible for him to have saved up a hundred spirit stones in just ten short years.
A possibility arose in Wei Tu's mind—
Had his son taken the wrong path and become a robber cultivator?
"I borrowed some private savings from Mei Zhen…"
"And… my sister also gave me some spirit stones…"
Wei Xiuwen explained.
After he finished, he suddenly fell to his knees, bowing deeply before Wei Tu.
"Mother loved me deeply. I cannot bear to see her die in a hundred years."
"If Father was willing to support me and my sister, helping us step onto the path of cultivation—"
"Then why are you unwilling to help Mother?"
"If Father won't take responsibility—"
"Then I will."
His eyes were bloodshot, his face streaked with tears.