"So that's the reason."
Kou Hongying's face lit up with realization.
She knew quite a bit about Tao Wenzhi and Tao Ping'er. After all, both women came from the Hanshan Tao Clan and had recently married into the Wei family—one to Wei Xiuwen and the other to Wei Changshou. It was hard not to know them.
And because of that, she understood just how tightly Tao Fangde was tied to the Wei clan.
"If the Hanshan Tao Clan earned Uncle Wei's trust and support, I guess it all comes back to this Manager Tao."
Kou Hongying spoke with a trace of admiration.
Now, Wei Tu was a famed grand alchemist of the Kang Kingdom, while Tao Fangde was merely a Foundation Establishment True Person nearing the end of his lifespan. The difference between them was as vast as the heavens and the abyss.
Yet even at the end of Tao Fangde's life, Wei Tu came out of seclusion to see him one last time—and had even promised to help the Tao Clan nurture a Golden Core True Lord. That said a lot about how much he valued Tao Fangde.
In Kou Hongying's view, the strong ties between the Wei and Tao families weren't just due to sentiment. Tao Fangde's own capabilities played a part.
He had handled things well—and his actions had blessed his Hanshan Tao Clan descendants.
…
Half a month later.
Not long after Kou Hongying left, Tao Wenzhi and Tao Ping'er arrived at Ying Ding tribe to see Tao Fangde for the last time.
Though they weren't direct descendants, both women were core clan members of the Hanshan Tao Clan. They were within five degrees of kinship—basically third-degree relatives—so their relationship to Tao Fangde wasn't distant.
This visit also gave Wei Tu a chance to meet Tao Wenzhi, his new daughter-in-law.
Several years ago, during the dao companion ceremony of Wei Xiuwen and Tao Wenzhi, Wei Tu had been absent due to his cultivation. He'd sent Su Bing'er in his place.
So this was actually the first time he'd met his daughter-in-law in person.
"She looks just like her… too much like her."
The moment he saw Tao Wenzhi, Wei Tu was momentarily dazed. He almost thought Mei Zhen had come back to life.
There was no other reason—Tao Wenzhi and Mei Zhen looked like they'd been carved from the same mold.
"No wonder Xiuwen wanted to marry her."
In that instant, Wei Tu understood why his son had agreed to the marriage.
If he were in Wei Xiuwen's shoes, seeing a female cultivator who looked so much like his deceased wife… he probably wouldn't have resisted either.
"But in the end, she's still not Mei Zhen."
When Tao Wenzhi offered him tea and addressed him as "Father," Wei Tu snapped out of his memories. He shook his head and sighed quietly.
Looks could be copied, but what was inside could never be faked.
Mei Zhen, Wei Xiuwen's late wife, had already passed on—buried in that cemetery at the Zha Ma Tribe alongside his concubine Qi Feng.
"No need for all the ceremony. You may rise."
Wei Tu reached out, took the greeting tea from Tao Wenzhi, sipped a bit, and set it down on the nearby table with a faint smile.
At first, he'd considered putting a bit of pressure on her. With his experience, how could he not see through the Hanshan Tao Clan's repeated marriages into the Wei family?
But after seeing her face, he dropped the idea.
He trusted Wei Xiuwen's judgment.
After all, before coming to the Kang Kingdom, Wei Xiuwen had already been the clan leader of the Mei Clan of Xiaya Cliff.
A man like him wouldn't be easily manipulated by Tao Wenzhi or lose his independence.
Tao Wenzhi was likely just Mei Zhen's substitute—a passing figure in Wei Xiuwen's life.
Wife in name, but in truth no different than a concubine.
After the meeting, Wei Tu didn't say much more to his new daughter-in-law. He exchanged a few pleasantries, then waved her off.
Similarly, he also met Tao Ping'er, his granddaughter-in-law, and had a brief conversation with her.
"Now it just depends on which of the two gains Tao Fangde's favor and gets the spot."
On the fourth floor of the pill shop, a flicker of golden light passed through Wei Tu's eyes as he glanced toward the rear courtyard on the first floor.
The rear courtyard of the Wei Clan Pill and Talisman Hall was where the talisman masters, alchemists, and apprentices rested.
Right now, one of those rooms had become the final place where Tao Fangde would stay before passing.
He had only a few days left.
Of course—
Whether Tao Wenzhi or Tao Ping'er got the Tao Clan's "Golden Core spot" didn't really concern Wei Tu much. He wasn't worried or eager.
Whether they succeeded or not didn't affect him either way.
After all, that "Golden Core spot" in Tao Fangde's hands had come from him in the first place.
Still, the outcome would influence the long-term relationship between the Wei and Tao families.
And that general direction was something he had to manage carefully. No room for sloppiness.
Wei Clan Pill and Talisman Hall.
First floor, rear courtyard.
In the small courtyard space stood a dense crowd of Tao clan cultivators—more than thirty people.
These Tao cultivators ranged from old to young. Over half of them were in the Foundation Establishment stage. The rest were at least in the late stage of Qi Refinement.
At this moment, all of them were silently, cautiously watching the elderly man seated cross-legged on the bed inside the room. His face was sallow, his hair thin and white, and his skin like withered bark.
This plain-robed old man was none other than Tao Fangde—whose life was hanging by a thread.
Sensing the collective attention, Tao Fangde slowly opened his clouded eyes, which had been half-shut in what seemed like sleep. He looked outside.
"It's already midday?"
He raised his head toward the blinding sunlight, gave a slight cough, and smiled.
"Yes, Elder, it's midday now."
Nearby, Tao Zhongjing—who was quite close to Tao Fangde and also a second-rank alchemist—walked forward and spoke softly.
"And also, Wenzhi and little Ping'er… they made it back to see you."
Tao Zhongjing added.
Hearing that, Tao Fangde showed a hint of surprise. "They both came back?"
Daughters who marry out are like water thrown away.
Besides, he wasn't directly related to either woman. There was no real need for them to come see him on his deathbed.
As he spoke, Tao Fangde used his weak divine sense to scan outward and soon spotted Tao Wenzhi and Tao Ping'er.
The moment he saw them, everything became clear. He glanced toward the fourth floor of the shop and a trace of self-mockery surfaced on his face.
Back when Wei Tu returned the remains of the Tao Clan's ancestor Tao Chongzhou, he and the other elders had discussed and launched the "Wife Clan Plan" to cling to Wei Tu.
They were determined to marry Tao clan women into the Wei family—whatever the cost.
Now, most of that plan had succeeded.
Wei Xiuwen and Wei Changshou had both married Tao women and held proper dao companion ceremonies.
But now… the backlash had come.
After all, the Wei family patriarch, Wei Tu, wasn't someone you could fool easily.
He had clawed his way up from the ranks of rogue cultivators to earn his fame as a Golden Core True Lord—not some minor figure.
And frankly, the Tao clan had gone too far.
A single marriage, Wei Tu might have tolerated.
But two in a row…
No one would just ignore that.
Tao Fangde clearly understood the purpose of Tao Wenzhi and Tao Ping'er coming to "mourn" him now.
—They were eyeing the "Golden Core slot" in his hands.
And most likely, this was under Wei Tu's influence.
"Risen by the wife clan, ruined by the wife clan."
Tao Fangde let out a soft sigh.
He knew Wei Tu didn't care about the slot itself. What he cared about was whether Tao Wenzhi and Tao Ping'er would fully cut ties with the Hanshan Tao Clan.
The Tao family couldn't have it all.
If they truly wanted to become the Wei family's in-laws in name and fact, tightly bound together, then he had to use the Golden Core slot on either Tao Wenzhi or Tao Ping'er—cementing the bond by blood and name.
Otherwise…
The Wei and Tao families would just remain ordinary relatives by marriage. Not close, not distant.
After all, once neglected by the Wei family, would Tao Wenzhi or Tao Ping'er still side with the Tao clan? Wouldn't they drift away?
Even so,
Tao Fangde didn't blame Wei Tu.
In the end, he was the one who tried to play the Wei family first. Even if it wasn't done with bad intent, it was still manipulation.
Old master Wei Tu had seen through it all—just never said it out loud.
And on top of that, he had acted generously, granting a Golden Core slot that should never have been theirs.
If not for that slot, Tao Fangde wouldn't be stuck in this dilemma now.
Besides, the "Golden Core slot"—and more broadly, the future direction of the Hanshan Tao Clan—was still in his hands. No one was forcing him.
It all depended on the choice he made.
"Zhongjing, do you want to become Golden Core?"
Tao Fangde turned his head slightly and looked at Tao Zhongjing, who had been attending to him. He asked in a quiet voice.
Though his voice wasn't loud, everyone present was a cultivator. Not a single word escaped their ears.
Tao Wenzhi and Tao Ping'er, both aware of the situation, suddenly felt their hearts clench.
They were terrified Tao Zhongjing would nod and agree.
It wasn't hard to hear that Tao Fangde was hinting at giving the Golden Core slot to Tao Zhongjing.
And why not? Among all the Tao clan cultivators, only Tao Zhongjing had the best talent. Plus, he was already a second-rank alchemist—his future prospects far better than the others.
"Golden Core? Of course I want it."
Tao Zhongjing replied honestly.
The moment the words left his mouth—
Tao Wenzhi and Tao Ping'er felt cold inside, thinking they'd lost their chance.
But just as quickly, Tao Fangde spoke again, and hope rekindled in their hearts.
"Want to become Golden Core? Heh, that's a good goal. But you still need to reach second-rank top grade and be able to refine a Bi Yan Pill first."
"Maybe then… you'll have a shot at Golden Core."
Tao Fangde said with a teasing smile.
Tao Zhongjing didn't understand what he meant. He just assumed this elder—who had always been so well-respected—was starting to speak nonsense as his soul neared collapse.
Tao Fangde didn't bother to explain. He waved his hand to dismiss him, then called out for Tao Wenzhi and Tao Ping'er to come in.
"Wenzhi, Ping'er, the two of you are now Wei-senior's daughter-in-law and granddaughter-in-law."
"Marrying into the Wei family has brought honor to our Tao clan."
Tao Fangde spoke gently.
Hearing that, Tao Wenzhi and Tao Ping'er didn't know how to respond. They could only stay silent.
"Wenzhi, your talent is average. You were only able to establish your foundation because you look like Mei Zhen, so the clan decided to invest in you. Now, though I have the Golden Core slot promised by Senior Wei, it's not of much use to you."
Tao Fangde's voice was firm.
The meaning was clear—he wanted Tao Wenzhi to give up competing for the Golden Core slot on her own.
Tao Fangde knew very well that the "Golden Core slot" Wei Tu gave would at most come with a few Bi Yan Pills. Definitely not something like a Mortal Shedding Pill.
And if it was just Bi Yan Pills, even if Tao Wenzhi got the slot, her chances of forming a Golden Core were still slim.
"Elder, I…"
As soon as she heard that, Tao Wenzhi's face turned pale. She looked deeply unsettled.
What he said wasn't wrong. The logic made sense. But being denied the path to advancement purely because of her talent—it was a bitter pill to swallow for anyone.
"You don't need to say more."
"Compared to you, Ping'er is a better fit for the Golden Core slot."
Tao Fangde said firmly.
Hearing this, Tao Wenzhi had nothing left to say. But anyone could see the unwillingness written all over her face.
On the other side, Tao Ping'er, who had just been gifted such a huge opportunity, felt joyful at first. But when she saw the look on Tao Wenzhi's face, something shifted inside her. A subtle distance formed between her and the clan.
Because today, Tao Fangde could abandon Tao Wenzhi over talent. Tomorrow, they could abandon her for some other reason.
"The Wei family… is my true home now."
That thought rang clearly in Tao Ping'er's heart.
After that, Tao Fangde took out the iron letter Wei Tu had given him and handed it to Tao Ping'er. Then he flicked his sleeve, signaling the two to leave.
"Thank you, Elder, for this honor!"
Tao Ping'er held the iron document with both hands, smiling as she bowed to Tao Fangde. Then, together with Tao Wenzhi, she left the small room.
But just as they turned around and stepped past the threshold, they heard Tao Zhongjing cry out behind them: "The elder has passed!"
In that moment, whether it was the joyful Tao Ping'er or the downcast Tao Wenzhi, both were overwhelmed with emotion.
"Elder Fangde!"
Outside the room, the rest of the Tao clan cultivators dropped to their knees, robes sweeping the floor as cries of grief filled the courtyard.
Even though Tao Fangde hadn't given them the greatest fortune before his death, everyone had seen all he'd done for the clan over the years—and they remembered it.
This elder, who had always been fair and selfless, had long earned their deep respect.
"Refine pills yourself…"
At that same moment, Tao Zhongjing—kneeling and weeping—suddenly understood what Tao Fangde's last words had meant.
He wanted him to rely on himself. To strengthen the clan through his own efforts. Not to take shortcuts like he had.
"Elder, I understand now. From today on, I'll lead the Tao clan to walk its own path, restore the Hanshan Tao Clan, and live up to your expectations!"
Tao Zhongjing knocked his forehead heavily against the floor.
He didn't think Tao Fangde had made the wrong choice. If he hadn't launched the wife clan plan and tied the Tao clan to the Wei family, the Hanshan Tao Clan might not even exist anymore—it could've vanished like so many other side branches.
It was just that now, having come this far, the clan's ship needed to change direction.
In fact, if Tao Fangde and the other elders hadn't built such a solid foundation and created a strong external environment for the clan, they wouldn't even have this chance to stand on their own.
…
On the fourth floor, Wei Tu had clearly heard Tao Fangde's final words.
"Giving up the Golden Core slot to Tao Ping'er… Fangde, you really think highly of me."
Wei Tu shook his head.
Before, he'd thought Tao Fangde would give the slot to Tao Zhongjing—to restore the Hanshan Tao Clan's standing as a Golden Core clan.
He hadn't expected it was just a feint.
In the end, it was just as he originally suspected—Tao Fangde gave the slot to either Tao Wenzhi or Tao Ping'er.
It was clear he didn't want the Tao and Wei families to grow distant.
"But I wonder… did you hope for the Tao clan to keep clinging to the Wei family? Or did you want them to truly stand on their own in the future…"
Wei Tu let out a sigh. At that moment, he finally understood the real meaning behind what Tao Fangde had said to Tao Zhongjing.
"Fine then. I'll help you this once. Consider it my parting gift as a friend."
Wei Tu thought silently.
Then he turned his hand and summoned a talisman letter. He flicked it down toward the courtyard below.
Under the control of his magic, the talisman glided into the small room and landed right in front of Tao Zhongjing.
"Senior Wei's spiritual aura?"
Seeing the talisman letter, Tao Zhongjing jumped in surprise. He quickly stood up, bowed three times toward it, then reached out with both hands and respectfully accepted it.
"A registered disciple?"
Reading the contents, Tao Zhongjing's heart leapt with joy. He apologized to the nearby elders and immediately flew out of the courtyard, heading straight to Wei Tu's temporary residence on the fourth floor.
"Zhongjing greets Senior Wei."
Standing at the doorway, talisman in hand, Tao Zhongjing bowed deeply.
As he spoke, the door opened, revealing the green-robed cultivator sitting inside.
"Tao Zhongjing, back when you followed Brother Fangde to the Wei Clan's Pill and Talisman Hall, you became one of the seated alchemists. At that time, Brother Fangde hoped I'd guide some of your Tao clan members."
"But due to various reasons, I wasn't able to stay long in the Pill Hall, and that guidance never happened."
"Now that Brother Fangde has passed, I'll honor his memory and accept you as a registered disciple. I'll teach you some pill refinement knowledge—are you willing?"
Wei Tu gave Tao Zhongjing a careful look as he asked.
He trusted Tao Fangde's judgment. If Fangde could entrust the clan to this man with his dying breath, then Tao Zhongjing's character likely had no major flaws.
Earlier, Wei Tu had seen for himself that even after losing the Golden Core spot, Tao Zhongjing bore no resentment—only continued loyalty toward Tao Fangde.
That kind of sincerity was rare.
Besides, Wei Tu genuinely needed a new "manager" to run the Pill Hall.
It wasn't just a money-maker—it was also a symbol of his foothold in Ying Ding tribe.
Letting it fall apart wasn't an option.
Taking Tao Zhongjing as a disciple was a clean way to resolve the issue.
A disciple should do the work. He couldn't do everything himself.
"I'm willing!" Tao Zhongjing responded without hesitation. He dropped to his knees and knocked his head on the ground several times.
He knew what a rare chance this was. In alchemy, the difference between having a master and not having one was night and day.
And this also aligned with the Tao clan's path of independence. It was better than relying on marriage alliances.
"Here's a jade slip with insights from when I advanced to a second-rank high-grade alchemist. Study it carefully. Once you reach the Golden Core stage, I'll pass you third-rank pill refinement knowledge."
Wei Tu nodded and pulled a green jade slip from his sleeve, passing it to Tao Zhongjing with a surge of spiritual power.
"Thank you, Master."
Tao Zhongjing took the slip and bowed gratefully.
"Also, from now on, the Wei Clan's Pill and Talisman Hall is your responsibility. Follow the customs from Brother Fangde's time. If anything needs changing, notify me in advance."
Wei Tu added.
Tao Zhongjing had no objections at all. He even felt honored—this was a show of Wei Tu's trust and respect.
After all, the Pill and Talisman Hall was a major enterprise in Hujie Immortal City.
...
After taking care of all matters following Tao Fangde's death, Wei Tu returned to Yunque Residence to begin another round of secluded cultivation.
This time, he didn't rush to increase his spiritual cultivation. Instead, he focused on consuming the "true spirit flesh" he had gotten from Cao Mi to enhance his physical body.
Just like during the Foundation Establishment stage, the condition of one's body affected their chance of forming a Nascent Soul.
Even though he already had multiple opportunities aligned and his chances were decent, no cultivator would slack off before such a critical breakthrough.
After all, it was a matter of life and death.
Besides, with Shen Yunqiu gone, he no longer felt pressure to rush into the breakthrough.
At the moment, there was no immediate danger.
Wei Tu opened the brocade box and took out a warm piece of silver-colored flesh. He tore off a small portion and swallowed it raw.
"So this is true spirit flesh?"
The moment it entered his stomach, he felt waves of surging spiritual power erupting, battering his organs nonstop.
Keep in mind, this flesh had already lost much of its spiritual essence over the past 10,000 years since the death of the Yueying Xuefeng.
"Definitely worthy of being the descendant of a true spirit rivaling Nascent Soul cultivators. Its spiritual nature is extraordinary."
Wei Tu was overjoyed and began using the Forged Dao Immortal Source Scripture to refine the spiritual power within the flesh.
Soon, under the refinement of the scripture, drops of milky white spiritual liquid began condensing deep in his marrow.
Wei Tu's body cultivation started rising steadily.
Unfortunately, there was only so much true spirit flesh. After half a year of refinement, he'd used it all up.
"If I had about two more boxes, I could probably push my physical cultivation to the peak of third-rank."
Wei Tu regretted this.
"But there's no rush. Once I reach the Nascent Soul realm, I'll pay Cao Mi another visit at Condensed Moon Palace and trade for two more boxes."
In the Golden Core stage, that would've been hard to accomplish. But once he stepped into the Nascent Soul realm, it would be a different story.
If that didn't work, he'd find another solution.
With that thought, Wei Tu switched to cultivating the Divine Wood Origin Technique, slowly accumulating spiritual power.
In cultivation, time passed unnoticed.
In a flash, another 20 years went by.
During those 20 years, the world remained mostly calm. The conflict between Gujian Mountain and Dijiang Mountain had ended, and nothing else significant occurred.
As for who killed Shen Yunqiu…
For some unknown reason, after a few years of investigation, Mirror Water Pavilion hit some kind of obstacle and had to quietly drop the matter as if it had never happened.
And now, 20 years later, the time for Wei Tu to form his Nascent Soul was finally drawing near.