I am a late bloomer in the world of cultivating immortals

Having conceived this idea, Wei Tu naturally wouldn't linger in the cave any longer, thus delaying his breakthrough.

He flew to Xue Qiongyu's room, spent a brief moment cuddling with her, gave her some instructions, and then with a flick of his sleeve, put her into the Qiankun bag at his waist.

Immediately afterwards, he soared into the air, his escape light flashing, and headed straight for the far west of the "Earth Spirit Kingdom".

The westernmost part of the "Earth Spirit Kingdom" is the most chaotic place within its borders.

Similarly, it is also the most suitable place for ambitious people like Wei Tu to take advantage of the chaos and make their mark.

Therefore, in his search for the "secret space," he returned to this familiar place, as if relying on a familiar path, and started his search from here.

Secret realms are indispensable in any prosperous cultivation world.

However, "secret spaces" that are completely separated from the outside world and are not semi-spaces are extremely rare.

……

Half a month later.

After disguising himself, Wei Tu once again approached the manager of the "Hidden God Pavilion" and asked him to inquire which force in the far west possessed a "spatial secret realm" independent of the outside world and was willing to sell or lease it.

"Fellow Daoist's request... is a bit strange."

The manager of the Hidden God Pavilion frowned. He had seen all sorts of people, but this was the first time he had ever seen someone like Wei Tu make such a request.

"Spatial Secret Realms" are equivalent to spiritual lands, falling under the broader category of spiritual lands. In the past, cultivators and sects would specifically seek out the "Hidden God Pavilion" to purchase relevant "spatial secret realms" for the purpose of training disciples and building cave dwellings…

However, for these kinds of "secret spaces," buyers might only be picky about the amount of spiritual energy within the space, but they would never care whether the space is independent of the outside world or completely "separated" from it.

Wei Tu had already come up with a reason for this.

He smiled slightly and said, "I have an ancient pill formula that I obtained by chance. However, the rules of heaven and earth today are vastly different from those of ancient times... Therefore, I have repeatedly made mistakes in the refining of this pill. That's why I came up with this clumsy method to increase the chances of success."

"This kind of secluded space, independent of the outside world, although it cannot completely isolate itself from the rules of heaven and earth... is undoubtedly minimally affected by them..."

Upon hearing this, a look of understanding appeared on the Hidden God Pavilion's face, and they nodded secretly.

The rules of the universe are not immutable.

Although this change is slow, it adds up to a significant change over the years.

Just as Wei Tu said, the "ancient elixir formula" is made by following the ancient alchemy steps one by one. Even if every step is done perfectly, the resulting elixir will still be a waste.

Therefore, most of the elixirs and formulas available today have been continuously improved by alchemists, which is why they continue to shine in the cultivation world.

However, some ancient alchemical formulas are difficult to improve. Or rather, the "conditions" required to improve these formulas are too demanding... In that case, like Wei Tu, finding an alchemy environment similar to that of ancient times becomes a good option.

They, the "Hidden God Pavilion," had never encountered a customer like Wei Tu. But they had heard a thing or two about this rumor.

"However... finding a secret realm that meets your needs is not something that can be done in a short time. After all, the 'secret' of a secret realm is largely due to the fact that it is a treasure trove that many forces do not reveal to the outside world..."

"Especially these secret realms that are completely independent of the outside world are considered by some forces as a place to save their lives when their power is declining, and they will not reveal a single detail to outsiders..."

The manager of the Hidden God Pavilion looked troubled and shook his head.

Upon hearing this, Wei Tu was not in a hurry. He narrowed his eyes slightly, took out a spirit crystal bag from his sleeve, and slowly placed it on the octagonal table in the private room.

At first, the manager of the Hidden God Pavilion didn't think much of it, but when he saw that there were twenty mid-grade spirit crystals in the spirit crystal bag, he immediately became excited and his breathing became much heavier.

Twenty mid-grade spirit crystals is no small amount.

It's almost equivalent to a low-grade sixth-tier spiritual treasure!

But—just as the Hidden God Pavilion manager was about to eagerly take the spirit crystal bag away.

At this moment, Wei Tu suddenly turned stern and released the pressure of his Void Refinement Grandmaster status.

"Peak of the mid-stage of the Void Refinement Realm..." The manager of the Hidden God Pavilion turned pale and took several steps back in fright.

He was only at the Nascent Soul stage, and it was only through his identity as the manager of the Hidden God Pavilion that he could converse with a Void Refinement expert like Wei Tu.

Once all his grievances are resolved, all he has left to do is apologize.

Moreover, unlike ordinary Void Refinement cultivators, those at the "peak of the mid-stage of Void Refinement" are considered powerful within the Void Refinement realm. After all, they are only one step away from the late-stage of Void Refinement.

This kind of "major overhaul" is something he can't afford to offend!

“I can give you this amount of spirit crystals. But on the condition that you help me get this matter settled…” Wei Tu raised his eyelids and said calmly.

Revealing his current level might attract attention, but his strength is now vastly different from what it used to be.

Within the six kingdoms of Zezhong, apart from the few "Fusion Stage Great Powers" and the "Ancient Demons" hiding behind the scenes, he feared no other cultivators.

If the manager of the Hidden God Pavilion harbors even the slightest "malice" towards him, he can use his powerful strength to nip it in the bud!
Upon hearing this, the manager of the Hidden God Pavilion became much more alert. His eyes darted around as he tentatively asked, "This amount of spirit crystals is merely a bridging fee for this junior... it does not include the cost of renting the secret realm?"

"It's natural."

Wei Tu's expression softened slightly, and he smiled faintly.

If you want a horse to run, you can't stop feeding it.

Although the intermediary fee for twenty mid-grade spirit crystals is expensive, there is a reason for it. Without paying such a huge price, it would be difficult to get the manager of the Hidden God Pavilion to do his best.

Secondly, for him, twenty mid-grade spirit crystals are no longer a significant amount. There's no need to be stingy with them.

"This is my talisman. If there is any news, I will immediately inform Senior Fu..." The manager of the Hidden God Pavilion suppressed his excitement and handed Wei Tu a talisman for communication, then respectfully saw Wei Tu out of the Hidden God Pavilion.

After Wei Tu's escape light moved far away from the Hidden God Pavilion...

The smile on the Hidden God Pavilion manager's face vanished instantly. With a slight glint in his eyes, he flew to the "Intelligence Pavilion" inside the pavilion and began searching for information related to Wei Tu.

"No?"

"As if someone appeared out of nowhere?"

Half a day later, the manager of the Hidden God Pavilion frowned and paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, his heart filled with doubt.

Although the Hidden God Pavilion's intelligence network has not yet reached the entire "Minor Spirit Realm," it still knows a little about the well-known figures of the "Six Kingdoms of the Marsh"...

The Hidden God Pavilion might have "missed" a newly promoted Void Refinement cultivator, but it was absolutely impossible for them not to have any information about a cultivator at the peak of the mid-stage Void Refinement realm.

Therefore—based on this judgment, there is a high probability that the Hidden God Pavilion manager suspects Wei Tu because he is "fabricating an identity" and deliberately deceiving him with a false identity.

After the identity was revealed to be fake...

The benefits of twenty spirit crystals immediately became a "hot potato" in his hands.

—I want to eat it, but I'm afraid of burning my hands!
"However, what I earn is merely a bridge-building fee. Even if it's harmful, it's only to others... Besides, as long as I find a powerful enough 'seller,' I doubt that cultivator would dare to cause trouble..."

The manager of the Hidden God Pavilion's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he made up his mind.

……

Five days later.

Wei Tu, who was staying in a nearby market, received a talisman from the manager of Yin Shen Ge.

The letter stated that he had already found a relevant force willing to rent the "Secret Space Realm" for him.

"So fast?" Wei Tu raised an eyebrow. Having dealt with the manager of the Hidden God Pavilion quite a bit, he knew that this cultivator was skilled in networking, but he never thought that he could complete this matter in just a few days.

After a moment's thought, he first flew to the market town where the Hidden God Pavilion was located in his new appearance. After observing for half a day and finding no danger, he then revealed his "true appearance" and entered the Hidden God Pavilion.

now.

Inside the private room sat the "seller," who was none other than the Fairy Miaoshu of the Red Fragrance Pavilion, whom Wei Tu had met a hundred years ago.

To this day, this woman's cultivation level has broken through from "Peak of Nascent Soul" to "Early Stage of Void Refinement".

However, this was to be expected. After all, her "patron," Mr. Jingkong, was a half-step Nascent Soul cultivator. With just a little guidance and the valuable asset she possessed—the Red Fragrance Pavilion—breaking through to the Void Refinement stage would be much easier for her than for ordinary cultivators.

Just now, it was because he saw this woman while spying that Wei Tu lowered his guard a bit.

Although "secret realms" independent of the outside world are rare, with this woman's "connections" and "Mr. Jingkong's" power, finding one should not be difficult.

"Master Fu..."

When Fairy Miaoshu saw Wei Tu enter the private room, a smile immediately appeared on her rosy face, and she stood up to greet him.

A sixth-level alchemist who is capable of refining "ancient elixir formulas" is a distinguished guest wherever they go.

After advancing to the Void Refinement stage, she also needs a stable source of sixth-tier pills—Wei Tu is currently still under observation due to his unknown identity, but that doesn't stop her from befriending him first.

"I heard from the shopkeeper that the alchemy requires a secret space independent of the outside world... Although I don't have such a space on me, I can obtain the right to use it from Mr. Jingkong..."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Fairy Miaoshu got straight to the point, revealing her bargaining chips and trump cards to Wei Tu.

"Mr. Jingkong..."

"The fairy is actually related to Mr. Jingkong..."

Upon hearing this, Wei Tu's face also showed a timely expression of surprise.

Within the Lesser Spirit Realm, the number of Nascent Soul stage experts is not large, less than two palms' worth. As for the "half-step Nascent Soul" level below the Nascent Soul stage... while there are more of them, perhaps twenty or thirty, if they were scattered across each of the "Six Kingdoms of Zezhong," they would instantly become extremely rare.

In other words, Mr. Jingkong was practically a powerful figure in the "Earth Spirit Kingdom," second only to the emperor.

If he remained calm after learning that Fairy Miaoshu was related to "Mr. Jingkong," it would seem abnormal.

Seeing the astonished look on Wei Tu's face, Fairy Miao Shu felt secretly pleased. She had endured hardship and toil in front of Mr. Jing Kong, all for the sake of this honor in front of others.

"Hmm... I am merely a concubine of Mr. Jingkong. I am nothing special."

Fairy Miaoshu smiled faintly, waved her hand, and indicated that Wei Tu did not need to worry about it too much.

"Let's talk business first..."

Fairy Miaoshu got down to business and asked Wei Tu what price he was willing to pay to rent this "secret space".

“I don’t need spirit crystals.”

"But if it's a sixth-grade spirit pill... I might consider it." Fairy Miao Shu pursed her red lips, her meaning clear: she wanted to deeply bind herself to Wei Tu, a sixth-grade alchemist.

Wei Tu was persuaded to exchange the benefits of elixirs for the right to use the "Secret Space Realm".

The words fell.

Wei Tu frowned at first, then his expression gradually softened as if he had thought of something.

"Fu's exclusive right to sell pills is not something he can give up. Selling some, or using pills to offset the cost of using the space secret realm, is something we can consider."

He said calmly.

"Master Fu is too kind. How could I possibly hope for an exclusive right to sell your pills? I merely wish to obtain the right of first refusal to purchase pills from you..."

"As for the use of that spatial secret realm, Master Fu only needs to use three newly refined sixth-order spirit pills as payment."

Fairy Miaoshu gave a reproachful sound, speaking naturally.

Upon hearing this, Wei Tu raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself that it was no wonder this woman had not fallen out of favor in the past hundred years. Even the arrogant "Mr. Jingkong," who killed a person every three days, had been "completely subdued" by this woman.

The "trap" mentioned in this woman's words alone reveals a lot about it.

On the surface, it was an attempt to curry favor with him.

But in reality, they intended to use this to "test" his alchemy skills and verify whether what he said was true or false.

If he fails to refine the pill, then the story of refining the "ancient elixir" in the "secret space" will naturally be false.

Therefore, this transaction could not be discussed.

If he succeeds in refining the elixir...

Three sixth-grade spirit pills, plus the "potential value" of a sixth-grade alchemist's priority purchase right for pills, are definitely enough for this woman to make a fortune.

Of course, this applies to Fairy Miaoshu.

No one else would have the power to trade Mr. Jingkong's "Secret Space" for personal gain.

"It's just alchemy, what's so difficult about that?"

Wei Tu smiled slightly, flipped his hand, and took out his alchemy furnace. In front of Fairy Miao Shu and the Pavilion Master of Yin Shen Pavilion, he began to spew out infant fire and refine pills.

When he approached the Hidden God Pavilion manager under the guise of alchemy to rent or buy the "Secret Space Realm," he had already anticipated this scene.

Or perhaps, this scene was something he deliberately orchestrated.

After all, he really was a sixth-level alchemist, a genuine sixth-level alchemist.

"So you're going to refine pills in public like this?"

"No preparation is needed beforehand?"

Fairy Miaoshu and the manager of the Hidden God Pavilion exchanged a glance and secretly gasped. They both saw the shock at what they were seeing in each other's eyes.

They had seen alchemists display their skills before.

But those were all low-level pills that were refined, not precious, and that I knew by heart.

To dare to display his skills while refining "sixth-tier pills" suggests either that Wei Tu is arrogant or that he genuinely has considerable confidence in his alchemy abilities. (End of Chapter)