I am a late bloomer in the world of cultivating immortals

"This time, the Dragon Emperor Space, the core of the Dragon Refining Ancient Palace, has been opened... My uncle knows that person. Back in Dingyuan Immortal City, he escaped right under our noses using the [Boundary Severing Stone]..."

Upon hearing this, Zou Yueshan's emotions immediately calmed down. Her gaze turned slightly cold as she recounted the "important events" that had occurred nine years ago in the Refining Dragon Ancient Palace.

The most precious treasures within the "Dragon Emperor Space"...

A possible clone of the Demon Ancestor...

They are not to be underestimated by the Ghost Phoenix Clan.

"That junior?" Upon hearing this, Elder Heisha's expression also darkened slightly. In a sense, he was also a defeated opponent of Lou Boyang.

"This matter must be reported to the Mahayana practitioners within the clan as soon as possible."

Taking a deep breath, Elder Black Fiend unhesitatingly took out a puppet-shaped magical artifact, about the size of a palm and resembling a crow, and with one hand forming a hand seal, he infused it with more than a dozen magical incantations.

The next moment, the crow puppet cawed a few times, raised its right claw, and slashed forward, causing the space in front of it to ripple and tear apart like water.

Immediately afterwards, the raven puppet nodded human-like to Elder Black Fiend, flapped its wings, transformed into a streak of black light, and disappeared into the spatial rift in front of it.

This crow puppet, named "Swift Cloud Crow," is the most advanced communication artifact in their Ghost Phoenix clan.

It is based on a seventh-grade mid-level puppet body, and a wisp of the "divided soul" of a Mahayana immortal is stored inside.

In any location in the spirit world, as long as this "Swift Cloud Crow" is activated and used to transmit messages, within five days, the Mahayana cultivators whose souls are bound to this crow will receive the message.

Clearly, in his view, what happened at Dinghai Immortal Ruins was a matter of great importance that could alarm even a Mahayana Immortal of the Ghost Phoenix Clan, and could only be resolved by a powerful expert at the Mahayana Immortal level.

……

at the same time.

In the Divine Wilderness, within the immortal city where the Feathered Dragon Clan resides.

The Great Princess Qian Ying'er, who was "squeezed out" of Dinghai Immortal Ruins, immediately sent a talisman to her "father"—the Great Ascension Dragon Lord of the Feather Dragon Clan—the moment she stepped into the Divine Wilderness, just like Elder Heisha, informing him of the major "change" in the Immortal Ruins!
Among the twelve immortal ruins of the Divine Wilderness, the Dinghai Immortal Ruins is not ranked high, but rather among the last few. However, the "Dragon Refining Ancient Palace" within it holds immense significance for the Feathered Dragon Clan...

In the hearts of the Feathered Dragon Clan, the Dinghai Immortal Ruins are among the top five immortal ruins.

Naturally, they would not tolerate the treasures within the "Dragon Emperor Space" falling into the hands of foreign races.

"As expected, Prince Qing is dead." After sending the talisman, Qian Ying'er glanced around at the surrounding cultivators and sighed softly when she saw that Prince Qing was not among them.

"Fuxin, how did you meet that A-Tong?"

After expressing her feelings, Qian Ying'er immediately looked sternly at Princess Fuxin, who was panting heavily and looked weak in the crowd.

"A-Tong?" Upon hearing this, Princess Fuxin was slightly taken aback.

She was trapped in the "Dragon Refining Cave" for nine years. Tormented by the laws of the cave, she had long forgotten "A Tong," who had always been by her side in the underwater palace.

Unexpectedly, just as they escaped danger, the Great Princess questioned them about the matter.

"Little sister... little sister..."

Princess Fuxin broke out in a cold sweat. From the keen eyes of those around her, she could vaguely sense that this matter was no ordinary one, and if she answered incorrectly, the consequences would likely be extremely serious.

"That Atong was an imposter from another cultivator... Are you aware of this?" Qian Ying'er continued to press.

Princess Fuxin's ineffective examination of Wei Tu was a major reason why she initially trusted him so readily.

"Do you know that he killed Prince Qing?"

Qian Ying'er said coldly.

"What? He killed Prince Qing?" Princess Fuxin was startled upon hearing this.

Not only was she shocked by this, but she was also quite domineering in the underwater palace, constantly "enslaving" the fake A-Tong and even seizing the share of ancient spiritual treasures that A-Tong was entitled to in the underwater palace.

If that fake Atong had suddenly made a move then, wouldn't she have died a violent death like Prince Qing?

Just as this thought suddenly arose.

At that moment, Prince Qing's biological father, Marquis Panjianglong, also arrived in front of the group of princes and princesses. His face was cold, and with a flick of his sleeve, he took out Prince Qing's "remains".

"I hope the Great Princess will give me an explanation for this matter."

Instantly, the atmosphere around them became much more tense.

The cultivators didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

Although Panjiang Longhou's questioning was somewhat excessive, no one dared to raise any objections amidst the grief of losing their son.

"I have already informed my father of this matter. From today onwards, a warrant will be issued for the arrest of... Lou Boyang throughout the entire Spirit Realm."

Qian Ying'er was silent for a moment before answering.

Despite having doubts about whether Atong was "Lou Boyang" based on Princess Yuan's previous suggestion, at this critical juncture, regardless of whether he was Lou Boyang or not, he could only be Lou Boyang.

With this specific objective, we can quell the rage of Panjiang Longhou!

……

The two powerful clans had issued a worldwide warrant for the arrest of "Lou Boyang," but Wei Tu, far away in the "Little Spirit Realm," was unaware of this.

Through these ten years of healing and recuperation.

His injuries not only healed completely, but also, thanks to the effect of that eighth-tier primordial spirit bone, he made even greater progress.

"With this original spiritual bone, I might be able to try my best to break through to the seventh level of body refinement within three hundred years..."

Wei Tu's eyes gleamed as he played with a huge bone fragment in his hand, about the size of a millstone and with a pale silver surface.

This item was the most precious treasure he had seized from Prince Qing after killing him—the primordial spirit bone left behind by an eighth-order dragon descendant cultivator after his death.

Over the past ten years, through his continuous absorption of energy, the spirituality of this treasure has only slightly diminished, decreasing by about 10%.

This demonstrates just how powerful the spirituality and medicinal properties contained within this "Original Spirit Bone" are.

Of course, logically speaking, the "original spirit bone" of this eighth-order dragon descendant alone is not enough for a sixth-order late-stage body refiner to break through to the seventh-order body refinement realm within three hundred years.

—Seventh-level body refinement requires not only “body refinement” but also meeting other stringent requirements.

For example, the most important principle to grasp!
However, Wei Tu was different from ordinary body cultivators.

Decades ago, he had already comprehended the "Dark Laws" and achieved the "Half-Step Integration" feat.

All he lacks is an improvement in his level of understanding.

For him, this realm could be the "fusion" realm of immortality, or the "seventh-order body refinement" realm of body cultivation!
There is not much difference between the two.

All of these require successfully comprehending the laws of heaven and earth as a prerequisite for a breakthrough.

"Of course, one cannot neglect the Immortal Path realm either..."

Wei Tu narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking to himself.

A cultivator's physical body has its limits. Before breaking through to the Integration Stage or the Seventh Stage of Body Refinement, one can comprehend at most one law of heaven and earth. Forcibly comprehending other laws can easily lead to conflicts between the laws within the body, resulting in the body exploding and death.

Before the breakthrough, the laws that one has successfully sensed will be engraved into one's bloodline and foundation at the moment of breakthrough, becoming the "innate laws" that the cultivator has mastered!
This "innate law" will not only be easier to comprehend than other laws in the future, but it will also consume less magical power when using supernatural abilities.

In other words, whether a certain law sensed by a cultivator is an "innate law" is immediately clear to a cultivator at a high level.

From this point of view—

If he wants to completely abandon the dangerous identity of "A Tong" and walk the spirit world openly as a Nascent Soul cultivator and a seventh-order body refiner, he must reach the seventh-order level in both the path of immortality and the path of body refinement, and comprehend new laws.

This new rule is used to mislead the world.

As long as he doesn't say it, no one will know that his physical body has reached the "seventh level" and that he has comprehended two innate laws.

And precisely because he possessed the "Divine Ape Grass," he was only one step away from successfully refining the "Five Essence Pill."

The Five Elements Law contained in the Five Essence Pill can serve as a "good medicine" to conceal his identity after he advances to the Integration Realm!
"First advance to the seventh level of Body Refinement, then break through to the Immortal Fusion stage..."

Wei Tu's gaze was firm; he intended to strictly adhere to this strategy in his cultivation for the next few hundred years.

……

"A talisman?"

He then devoted himself to cultivation for several more years.

That day, Wei Tu suddenly sensed that a letter had appeared at the door of his secluded room, delivered by Xue Qiongyu using her magic.

He raised an eyebrow, raised his hand and grabbed the talisman directly into his palm.

The envelope held a subtle fragrance.

Upon opening the envelope, there were quite a few sheets of paper inside, about five or six, containing roughly 1,300 to 1,400 words.

But the content is very concise.

She was grateful to Wei Tu for giving her healing pills and asked him to stay in the cave temporarily.

"What is Xue Qiongyu trying to say?" Wei Tu frowned, unable to guess Xue Qiongyu's intention in writing this letter.

After this woman became his "concubine," living in his cave and using the healing pills he gave her, it was only natural that she should do so, and there was no need for such lengthy expressions of gratitude.

Suddenly, Wei Tu thought of something and his gaze fell on the words "temporary stay".

Only guests would say they are staying temporarily.

How could a concubine use the term "temporary stay" to describe herself?
"The difference between a guest and a concubine is..." In an instant, Wei Tu suddenly realized that Xue Qiongyu was urging him.

He kept the woman out of the room and focused on his cultivation, which naturally increased her anxiety.

However, as a concubine and a virgin who had not yet married, this woman would not speak to him directly on this matter, but could only remind him indirectly with these words.

"The same person, she's still just as arrogant with Pei Hong, but with me, she has to lower herself..."

Wei Tu shook his head secretly, filled with emotion.

Decades ago, at Xue Qiongyu's breakthrough ceremony, he personally witnessed this woman's shining moment, when she was blessed and flattered by a group of Nascent Soul Venerables.

Although Pei An, the combined powerhouse of the Mist Ghost clan, showed a submissive attitude, he also resisted with a certain degree of strength, and was not just a yes-man who would only flatter.

The "duality" this woman displays today is not due to a change in her personality, but rather because his power has left her with only one path: "obedience."

"Snow Fairy and I are old friends. There is no need to express gratitude for such a small matter."

Wei Tu pondered for a moment, then amplified his voice with magic and spoke loudly within the cave.

"Imprisoning you, fellow Daoist, was Wei Tu's fault in order to protect himself. It was not something I did intentionally, nor was it to humiliate Fairy Xue..." Wei Tu shook his head and said frankly.

From beginning to end, he never had any intention of taking this woman into his harem or humiliating her.

Everything stems from the desire for self-preservation.

Abducting this woman is one thing, forcing her to choose between two options is another.

This is considered "selfish," but under the moral system of the cultivation world where the strong are respected, he has already been very benevolent.

As for later taking her in as a "concubine"...

This constitutes a transaction.

If Xue Qiongyu is unwilling and harbors resentment in this transaction, he would rather she "break off the engagement" than leave himself with a potential problem.

Of course, in a sense, this is also a process of "taming" this woman.

The words fell.

Xue Qiongyu, who was anxiously waiting in the "secondary room" of the cave, was first slightly stunned, and then a faint bitter smile appeared on her face.

"Fellow Daoist Wei is kind-hearted." She could easily understand that Wei Tu's words were meant to help her let go of her worries.

There's no need to feel anxious about your situation!
Wei Tu's meaning was very clear—even if she didn't have the status of a "concubine," based on their past relationship, he would treat her like a guest and do his best to "take care" of her while she was imprisoned.

The act of "asking to be a concubine" and sending a letter at this moment, requesting Wei Tu to have his way with her, are all efforts she has made to alleviate her "unease".

In Wei Tu's view, all of this was unnecessary.

“His personality is truly different from Pei Hong’s…” Xue Qiongyu sighed softly.

Pei Hong is a man of refined manners with an air of "dominance." He outwardly respects her, but in private, he sees her as a controllable vessel.

Wei Tu, despite having the upper hand, was still willing to give her a certain degree of respect.

This respect is genuine and without pretense.

In a word.

If she approves of the deal, then their relationship is one of mutual benefit.

She used her beauty to please men, hoping to reciprocate with resources and a anticipated rise in status.

If she disagrees, she can terminate the contract in time, and Wei Tu will not blame her for it.

……

"Able to serve as a concubine to her husband."

"I am willing too."

At this moment, Xue Qiongyu's words already carried a hint of willingness.

She even felt a sense of absurdity, secretly feeling that this made her more fortunate and happy than becoming Pei Hong's wife.

"I'd rather be a concubine of the strong than a wife of the weak!"

She pursed her thin lips, trying to convince herself of the state of the world.

"I'm sorry to have wronged Fairy Xue..." Upon hearing this, Wei Tu, who was meditating in his secluded cultivation room, couldn't help but sigh softly, flew out of the room, and came to Xue Qiongyu's side.

He reached out slightly, and Xue Qiongyu hesitated for a moment before turning away with a slightly coy expression. She twisted her slender waist and obediently threw herself into his arms, her pink cheeks pressed tightly against his chest.

"This humble servant...will undress my husband."

Xue Qiongyu's slender hand trembled slightly as it landed on Wei Tu's waist, untying the jade belt from his waist.
As a concubine, one should know far more about how to serve one's master than a romantic partner.

Although it was her first time, as Pei Hong's pre-selected "furnace," she was already well-versed in the matters of dual cultivation between men and women.

Moreover—she also possessed the Ruyi Pavilion Secret Manual, a gift from Wei Tu decades ago. (End of Chapter)