But even so, Wei Tu didn't rush to summon the second Chilong from the Firecloud Shield using the lamp oil from the Tianxing Lamp.
After all, the Tianxing Lamp's oil wasn't like his own mana—once consumed, it couldn't be quickly replenished and required time to build up again.
The blood-paste oil he had now had taken years to accumulate.
Just then, as Wei Tu was about to use a technique to recall the Chilong back into the Firecloud Shield, an enormous spiritual energy vortex suddenly rose from the cave residence next door—Cao Mi's seclusion chamber.
"She's started condensing the Nascent Soul spirit body."
Wei Tu looked up and instantly recognized what stage of breakthrough she had reached.
"Now's when my job as her protector really begins."
His expression turned serious. With a flick of his sleeve, his Nascent Soul pressure surged outward, spreading past Moon Condensation Palace.
Under the weight of this pressure, the spiritual senses of other cultivators that had been drawn by the vortex scattered instantly like a receding tide.
…
The spiritual vortex generated by Cao Mi's breakthrough far exceeded the one that formed when Wei Yan formed her Golden Core.
From the moment the vortex emerged, nearly all the surrounding spiritual energy around Moon Condensation Palace and Mirror Water Pavilion was drawn in like rivers into the sea.
Mirror Water Pavilion, being a vassal sect that owed a great debt to Moon Condensation Palace, couldn't possibly allow people like Shen Yunqiu to stir up trouble during Cao Mi's breakthrough, not the way they did during Wei Yan's.
So Wei Tu's real vigilance now wasn't directed inward, but toward cultivators outside Moon Condensation Palace and Mirror Water Pavilion.
"Strange. Why is it Wei Tu protecting Cao Mi's Dao and not Ancestor Luo?"
The Nascent Soul elders from other sects who had come to investigate were stunned when they discovered this.
Wei Tu hadn't shown himself, but with their level of cultivation, it wasn't hard for them to distinguish between his aura and that of Ancestor Luo—both were well-known Nascent Soul elders of the Kang Kingdom.
In that instant, they all formed their own guesses about what might have happened to Ancestor Luo.
But they didn't act on those suspicions. No one dared move without proof.
Because right now, Moon Condensation Palace had Wei Tu guarding the breakthrough.
And Wei Tu wasn't a lone rogue cultivator. Behind him stood the powerful Ying Ding Tribe—a major clan.
And behind that clan were three Divine Masters backing him.
That kind of deterrence was far more intimidating than Ancestor Luo helping out alone.
…
At the same time, in Mirror Water Pavilion, just a mountain away from Moon Condensation Palace, Ning Xuefeng sensed all of this and frowned slightly, puzzled.
She had two questions.
First, when had Cao Mi and Wei Tu become so close?
Second, and more importantly—what had happened to Ancestor Luo?
If Cao Mi weren't absolutely sure something had gone wrong with him, she wouldn't have taken the risk of inviting an outsider like Wei Tu into the sect to guard her Dao.
Just the question of Ancestor Luo's survival alone wasn't enough to worry her too much.
But what troubled her more was that Mirror Water Pavilion's own elder, Master Hongjing, had left alongside Luo, and hadn't been heard from since.
If it hadn't been for Cao Mi's situation, Ning Xuefeng wouldn't have been this concerned about Hongjing's safety. After all, it was rare for Nascent Soul elders to encounter real danger.
But now, she couldn't be so sure.
She had to prepare for the worst.
"Let's hope the elder's safe," she murmured.
Mirror Water Pavilion wasn't like Moon Condensation Palace.
If Master Hongjing had truly fallen, it would be hard for their sect to nurture another Nascent Soul elder to protect them anytime soon.
But not long after, Ning Xuefeng realized her concern might've been unnecessary.
Shortly after the phenomenon of Nascent Soul formation appeared at Moon Condensation Palace—about a year later—Master Hongjing, who had been "missing" for so long, finally returned to the sect.
Only—
Ning Xuefeng immediately noticed something was off.
Compared to when he'd left, his aura was unstable, and his expression would occasionally flash with pain, as if he'd suffered some kind of deep, unresolved internal injury.
"Elder, are you seriously hurt?" she asked, alarmed, hurrying forward to help.
"It's fine. Just a minor injury."
Master Hongjing waved a hand, using mana to gently push Ning Xuefeng back, keeping her from assisting him.
Then, as if sensing something, he glanced outside, let out a soft hmm, and asked, "Who is it forming a Nascent Soul in Moon Condensation Palace now?"
"That girl, Cao Mi?"
Before Ning Xuefeng could reply, he answered himself.
"Yes, Elder. The one breaking through is Cao Mi, current Palace Master of Moon Condensation Palace," she said, bowing slightly.
"Cao Mi's breaking through, and Wei Tu is personally guarding her? Hah, looks like the two of them are pretty close now."
Master Hongjing chuckled lightly.
But to Ning Xuefeng, that laugh had a strange chill to it.
She instantly understood—he was criticizing her, the Pavilion Master, for not doing enough.
Mirror Water Pavilion had once had the advantage in dealing with Wei Tu, but now Moon Condensation Palace had taken the lead, forming a deep partnership.
"It was Shen Yunqiu…" Ning Xuefeng quickly defended herself.
She didn't want to take the blame for this.
If Shen Yunqiu hadn't interfered with Wei Yan's breakthrough back then—or sabotaged it later—Mirror Water Pavilion's relationship with Wei Tu wouldn't be so strained.
And she had already done all she could to mediate.
Without her efforts, Wei Tu might've already treated Mirror Water Pavilion as an enemy.
"I know." Master Hongjing waved a hand, signaling her not to say more.
Seeing this, Ning Xuefeng could only fall silent, swallowing back the words she had just been about to say in defense.
But soon, she shifted the topic, asking the question she was most concerned about.
"Elder, what exactly is Ancestor Luo's current situation?" she asked in a low voice.
A few years ago, she had personally witnessed Master Hongjing and Ancestor Luo leaving the sect together.
Now that Master Hongjing had returned with severe injuries and "delayed her return," it likely meant that something had gone wrong with Ancestor Luo too.
"Senior Sister Luo…"
Master Hongjing was silent for a moment and didn't answer Ning Xuefeng's question directly.
"This… is hard to say. When the time is right, I'll tell you," she said. "For now, I'm heading to Moon Condensation Palace."
With that, Master Hongjing didn't wait for a response. She turned into a streak of red light and flew toward Moon Condensation Palace.
…
Not long after, Wei Tu, who was guarding the region around Moon Condensation Palace and protecting Cao Mi's Dao, sensed Master Hongjing's arrival just outside the sect.
At the same moment, Fairy Shuang, acting as interim palace master, detected her presence through Moon Condensation Palace's fourth-grade defensive formation.
"Senior Uncle Wei, should we allow Master Hongjing to enter?" Fairy Shuang stepped into the cave residence, bowed, and asked Wei Tu for his opinion.
She had some experience managing internal matters of the palace, but when it came to external affairs, she didn't dare act alone.
Besides, Master Hongjing's cultivation was strong enough to threaten the safety of Cao Mi's seclusion.
So regardless of Master Hongjing's intentions—whether hostile or friendly—this had to be handled carefully. She had to ask the protector first.
"No need to let her in," Wei Tu decided.
"If Master Hongjing comes with goodwill, she wouldn't care about formalities like whether she gets invited in or not. A person with sense would even avoid suspicion, knowing this is a delicate time."
He explained patiently.
"Senior Uncle Wei is wise and decisive," Fairy Shuang praised, her eyes lighting up slightly. Inwardly, she thought her master had truly chosen the right person.
Refusing to let Master Hongjing enter might seem like a small thing, but if she were petty, this could easily create an unnecessary grudge.
But the fact that Wei Tu was willing to take that risk now showed he truly had a noble character. He was genuinely here to protect Cao Mi, not just going through the motions.
After their brief talk, Wei Tu didn't stay in the cave either. He and Fairy Shuang went together to the front gates of Moon Condensation Palace to meet Master Hongjing.
They had valid reasons not to let her inside.
But if they didn't at least come to greet her personally, it would look like they were disrespecting a Nascent Soul elder.
"Daoist Friend Hongjing."
"Daoist Friend Wei."
Moments later, Wei Tu and Master Hongjing exchanged greetings from opposite sides of the palace's formation barrier.
"I wonder, Daoist Friend Hongjing… what brings you to Moon Condensation Palace this time?"
"I'm currently acting as protector for Daoist Friend Cao, so I can't let you in. I hope you won't take offense," Wei Tu said with a polite smile, getting straight to the point.
At a sensitive time like this, it was hard to believe that Master Hongjing had just come for a friendly visit or casual chat.
Also, Ancestor Luo's "delayed return" was clearly connected to her.
Wei Tu didn't say it outright, but he was sure Master Hongjing understood what he was hinting at.
'Blocked at the door?'
Hearing those words, Master Hongjing paused in surprise and felt a surge of anger. After all, she was a dignified Nascent Soul cultivator—who would dare bar her entrance?
But making a scene over this wasn't worth it either.
So even though she was annoyed, her face didn't show any change in expression.
"I came to Moon Condensation Palace to discuss some matters concerning Daoist Luo with Palace Master Cao. But since she's currently in seclusion…"
Master Hongjing sighed, then answered Wei Tu's question.
"Daoist Luo?" Wei Tu raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued.
But then, Master Hongjing suddenly stopped mid-sentence, not continuing further.
After a short pause, she said, "The matter is too complicated to explain in just a few words. How about this—why don't you come to Xianfeng Palace? We can talk in more detail there."
"It's a bit undignified for someone like me, a Nascent Soul elder, to be left standing at the palace gate," she added with a bitter smile.
Her reasoning seemed perfectly reasonable.
Wei Tu didn't find anything too suspicious about it.
After all, it did look odd to leave a Nascent Soul elder lingering at the entrance.
And right now, Moon Condensation Palace had already drawn the attention of every major faction in the Kang Kingdom.
But when he heard the name "Xianfeng Palace," Wei Tu shook his head and declined.
Xianfeng Palace was a side hall of Moon Condensation Palace and lay outside the main protective formation.
Last time, he had held a banquet there to host Yu Gongshou and the others.
So if he now went to Xianfeng Palace to discuss things with Master Hongjing, it would mean temporarily leaving the protection of the main formation…
A diversion?
Wei Tu didn't really believe she had such intentions, but as the protector, he had to prepare for the worst.
Also, with his current identity, it wasn't appropriate for him to get involved in Moon Condensation Palace's internal affairs.
Even though he understood that, in the eyes of outsiders like Master Hongjing, his role meant he was already very close to Cao Mi… learning a few secrets wouldn't matter too much.
Still, if suspicion could be avoided, it should be.
Besides, there was only about 1 or 2 years left before Cao Mi would finish her seclusion. He could hear the full story then—it wouldn't make any difference.
With that thought, Wei Tu explained his concerns to Master Hongjing openly.
"I'd ask you, Daoist Friend Hongjing, to return to Mirror Water Pavilion for now. Once Daoist Friend Cao emerges, I'll visit together with her."
He looked sincere as he spoke.
Hearing this, Master Hongjing knew there was no room to argue further. She gave a small nod, returned his bow, and left the gates of Moon Condensation Palace.
Time passed.
In the blink of an eye, another year went by.
That day, the skies above Moon Condensation Palace suddenly turned turbulent. Violent winds kicked up, black clouds gathered, and streaks of blue tribulation lightning rumbled through the heavens, striking downward in waves.
Two moon-disc treasures rose up from Cao Mi's cave residence and soared into the sky to meet the lightning.
These moon-discs were tough and durable. Even after taking several strikes from the tribulation lightning, they didn't show the slightest sign of weakening.
"Fourth-grade, low-tier magic tools?" Wei Tu raised an eyebrow. 'So this is the kind of foundation a ten-thousand-year-old sect like Moon Condensation Palace has. Not bad at all.'
After attending the Flying Immortal Alliance's secret trade gathering in Abyssal Marsh Immortal City, his knowledge and perspective had grown a lot.
He now understood that many Nascent Soul rogue cultivators mostly used third-grade tools rather than the fourth-grade ones their realm should allow.
In other words, just based on this alone, Cao Mi, who came from a prestigious sect, was already ahead of most Nascent Soul rogue cultivators after breaking through.
'With these fourth-grade tools, her tribulation will be no problem.'
Wei Tu made a mental note.
The power of a Nascent Soul tribulation varied from person to person.
Cao Mi had always cultivated in peace and never committed any cruel or evil deeds.
So her tribulation would be on the lighter side—nowhere near the brutal storms demonic cultivators faced.
Even without those moon-disc treasures, her odds of surviving the tribulation weren't low.
Sure enough, just as Wei Tu had expected, within three days, Cao Mi had safely passed the Nascent Soul tribulation. It looked even easier and more effortless than when he had gone through his own.
Three months later, she stabilized her cultivation and emerged from seclusion.
"This time, I really troubled you, Brother Wei, for acting as my protector," Cao Mi personally came to his cave and bowed gracefully, her expression filled with gratitude.
Even though nothing major had happened while Wei Tu was guarding her, she knew that if he hadn't been there, trouble might've come knocking the very first day her Nascent Soul phenomenon began.
Wei Tu had just done what any good strategist would—achieve success without making it obvious.
After all, no other faction would be happy seeing another Nascent Soul elder added to Moon Condensation Palace's ranks.
Also, regardless of whether he gave it his all, just staying in the sect for three years was a huge commitment.
And during that time, he received almost no compensation at all.
All she could offer in return was a personal favor owed to him.
Of course, it wasn't that she didn't want to pay him—when she was still in the Golden Core stage, aside from the tribulation tools and her core opportunity to form a Nascent Soul, she didn't have anything else valuable enough. Giving him lesser items would've just seemed insulting.
In comparison, the favor she now owed him was much more meaningful.
"Brother Wei?"
When she addressed him in such an affectionate tone, Wei Tu's smile deepened a little.
Whether or not her words were sincere didn't matter. The fact that she said them at all was already a good sign.
After what they'd just been through together, the two of them could be considered to share a fairly close relationship.
Whether that relationship deepened further in the future would depend on whether she'd be willing to lend a hand when he was in trouble.
Only through adversity could true friendship be tested.
But clearly, from now on, if he needed small favors, she wouldn't refuse him.
"Back then, you helped the Wei family quite a bit. What I did this time was just returning the favor," Wei Tu replied with a faint smile.
"Don't mix two different matters together like that, Brother Wei."
Cao Mi gently shook her head, her tone serious.
After a pause, she looked up, gave him a proper bow, and said, "If you don't mind, you can just call me 'Junior Sister' from now on. There's no need to keep calling me Daoist Friend—it sounds too distant."
—Even though she was older than him, strength came first in their world. Wei Tu had entered the Nascent Soul realm before her, so by convention, he should be the senior between them.
Wei Tu didn't hesitate to accept.
The entire reason he had come to help protect her during her tribulation was to forge a connection with this newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivator.
Moments later, he changed the way he addressed her, calling her "Junior Sister Cao."
Just then, Fairy Shuang informed her master about Master Hongjing's unexpected visit a year ago.
"Brother Wei really is a responsible person," Cao Mi said after hearing the details. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Wei Tu with a different expression than before.
Years ago, when they had schemed together to steal the true spirit essence from Shen Yunqiu, she had said she'd marry Wei Tu and become his Dao companion after forming her Nascent Soul.
Wei Tu had turned her down, and the matter was left hanging.
But now, she thought that maybe the time had come to revisit that old promise.
After all, both she and Wei Tu were new Nascent Soul cultivators—he was talented, and she was graceful. A good match on paper.
More importantly, after all that had happened, the resistance she once felt toward him was gone.
"Years ago, Ancestor Luo and Master Hongjing left together to explore the Desolate Nether Death Sea. Now only Master Hongjing returned."
"No matter how I look at it, I should go talk to her and ask clearly what happened."
Cao Mi paused in thought and spoke.
"But… I just broke through. My spiritual power is still weak. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you again, Brother Wei, to come along with me," she added with a hint of apology.
Unlike Wei Tu, she didn't use any spirit-bound item for her breakthrough. So her control over her spiritual power was nowhere near as smooth.
Right now, she was at her weakest.
So she didn't feel safe going to see Master Hongjing alone.
"Even if you hadn't asked, I'd still want to go. I'm interested in the place they explored," Wei Tu replied with a small smile.
Sometimes, danger brought opportunity.
If Ancestor Luo had gotten a "Nascent Soul Transformation Pill" from that place, maybe Wei Tu could find something even more valuable.