I am a late bloomer in the world of cultivating immortals

However, Wei Tu did not waste too much time on matters concerning the Flame Spirit King.

After organizing the intelligence and clearing his mind, he did not hesitate at all. Following the route taken by Flame Spirit King and Heavenly Crane Ancestor, he sped away to leave this 'dead zone' as quickly as possible.

With Ancestor Tianhe, a half-step Mahayana cultivator, personally overseeing things, the Ancient Demon's revenge shouldn't come too quickly. But... if they really run into trouble, they'll regret it.

At that time, even if he disguised himself as the 'Body Refining Demon Lord' again, it would be difficult for him to get away with it and escape the pursuit of the native forces of the Purple Chen Realm.

The path out of this place's 'Critical Abyss' is as chaotic as the 'Underwater Abyss' in the spirit world.

Fortunately, Tianhe Ancestor, as an ally, would still need Wei Tu's help in the future, so he deliberately left a very obvious aura along the way to make it easier for Wei Tu to identify him.

Following the signs and scents along the way, it took Wei Tu about two or three days to successfully escape from this boundless 'underground abyss'.

And the aura of the Heavenly Crane Ancestor ended there.

The surrounding ground was just as it had always been, with the mountain breeze blowing and the grass and trees looking brand new, as if two powerful beings at the fusion stage had never passed by.

Wei Tu, who had just landed there, frowned slightly and pondered for a while before taking out a map of the Zi Chen Realm and quickly flying towards the location marked with the words 'Sheng Yuan City'.

At this point, he had two 'places to go'.

Firstly, according to the original plan, they would leave the Zichen Realm and return to the Tianyuan Holy City in the Shimoyuan Realm.

Next, they inquired with Gong Shulan about the ascension site connected to the 'spatial rift' on Golden Flame Island, and then searched for Fu Zhizhou and Luqiu Qingfeng...

Secondly, he went to Shengyuan City as agreed with Ancestor Tianhe.

Now, his choice of this second 'place' is not out of a willingness to keep his promise.

—As agreed by blood, once he arrived in the Purple Palace Realm, he would tell Ancestor Tianhe about the safe passage to leave the Purple Palace Realm and return to the Spirit Realm.

But now that he has not met with Ancestor Tianhe, the binding force of this oath is no longer relevant.

At this moment—his flight towards 'Sacred Origin City' was not actually to 'Sacred Origin City', but rather to cultivate for a period of time in a place near 'Sacred Origin City'.

After refining the 'Crimson Demon Golden Marrow', we'll observe how the situation develops and then decide on our next 'direction'...

"After all—a great opportunity is not so easily given up. The fact that the Flame Spirit King is not simple further proves that his ambition to go to the Ancient Demon Realm is... quite significant!"

Wei Tu's eyes flickered, and the same 'ambition' as that of the Heavenly Crane Ancestor rose in his heart.

Under normal circumstances, he would never have considered such a thing.

It's not that we're afraid, but rather that it's unnecessary to take such a big risk.

However, the situation is quite different now.

The Heavenly Crane Ancestor and the Flame Spirit King were truly evenly matched, locked in a fierce battle...

Regardless of who wins, he, the 'fisherman,' might be able to try and get a share of the spoils.

……

Two months later.

Wei Tu temporarily settled in a small market town near 'Shengyuan City'.

He disguised himself as an ancient demon and secretly inquired about the events that had occurred near the 'Abyss of the Realm'.

Or rather—he didn't need to inquire about it anymore; the wanted posters for 'Flame Spirit King' and 'Heavenly Crane Ancestor' that had been posted in Shengyuan City were already circulating widely throughout the city.

The ancient demon responsible for hunting down the two was none other than the legendary "Nether Eagle Demon Ancestor," one of the "One God and Two Ancestors."

Unfortunately, to this day, there has been no news of the two being captured or brought to justice.

However, Wei Tu was still quite confident that Flame Spirit King and Heavenly Crane Ancestor could escape the pursuit of the Nether Eagle Demon Ancestor.

As one of the "Eight Fiends," even though his strength was far inferior to his elder brother who was at the Mahayana realm, Ancestor Tianhe, being a "half-step Mahayana" who had spent a long time with Mahayana immortals and called them brothers, definitely had a certain understanding of the strength of Mahayana cultivators and was not some reckless person.

At this time, even the Dark Eagle Demon Ancestor had not succeeded in hunting down the Flame Spirit King and the Heavenly Crane Ancestor. As long as the two did not make any major mistakes in the future, the matter of hunting them down would remain an unsolved mystery.

"I wonder who will emerge victorious in their fierce battle..."

"Did Ancestor Tianhe obtain that secret from King Yanling...?"

Wei Tu shook his head, flicked his sleeves, and returned to his rented cave dwelling in the market to begin his secluded cultivation.

"The remaining seven hundred mid-grade spirit crystals are enough for me to refine the 'Crimson Ghost Golden Marrow'."

Inside the secluded cultivation room, Wei Tu poured out the few spirit crystals he had left from his storage artifact and piled them behind him.

Then, he took out the 'Crimson Demon Golden Marrow' that he had won at the Flying Cloud Grand Gathering.

There is only one small bottle of this 'Red Demon Golden Marrow'.

After Wei Tu opened the bottle, a fragrant aroma instantly filled the entire room.

Its consistency is as thick as honey, as red as gold. As you carefully pour out a drop and swallow it—

Instantly, an extremely pure medicinal power exploded in Wei Tu's chest and abdomen.

Faintly, one could also see a crimson demon emerging from this drop of spiritual liquid, seemingly merging with it, yet also pouncing on it, before falling into Wei Tu's 'True Spirit Immortal Bone'.

As the medicinal properties are refined.

Two or three days later, Wei Tu felt that his body refinement realm, which had not been broken through for a long time, was finally starting to stir.

"Continue!" Wei Tu was overjoyed and swallowed another drop of 'Crimson Ghost Golden Marrow' spiritual liquid, refining it into his body.

One year.

Two years...

As time passed, with the ample supply of spiritual crystals and energy, as well as the 'Crimson Ghost Golden Marrow', Wei Tu's blood and essence became more refined day by day, showing remarkable progress.

And before long, thirty years had passed.

When the bottle of 'Crimson Ghost Golden Marrow' was almost empty, Wei Tu's body refinement realm, just as he had imagined, finally reached the 'peak' level of the early stage of the seventh rank.

Of course, during this period, in addition to refining the medicinal power of the 'Crimson Ghost Golden Marrow', Wei Tu also practiced some of the dragon clan secret techniques recorded in the "Forging Dao Immortal Source Scripture" in his spare time.

This scripture was originally a tradition within the Feathered Dragon Clan, but by a twist of fate, it was passed down to the Stone Demon Sect in the human realm.

After becoming Zi Chi Jun's disciple, it was no problem for him to obtain the later part of this technique, as well as the corresponding dragon clan body-refining secrets.

However, compared to these dragon clan body-refining secrets, Wei Tu valued even more the "Giant Strength Golden Body" technique he had obtained in the Void Refining Realm...

This Mahayana secret technique is a supreme method of overwhelming others with force. At the same time, it is most suitable for close combat.

Mastering this technique to a high level is far more powerful than learning any other miscellaneous arts!

"However, if I want to increase my combat power more quickly, I need to focus more on the 'Five Strange Corpses' and the Bloodwinged Mo..."

Wei Tu glanced at his corpse-raising bag and spirit beast bag, and thought to himself.

Of the five extraordinary corpses obtained from the Purple-Faced Hermit, apart from the 'Toad Water Yin Corpse,' the other four corpses are only one step away from advancing to the 'Seventh-Order Refined Corpse' level.

The same applies to the Bloodwinged Beast.

Back in the 'Primordial Demon Source Realm', he was already close to breaking through to the Integration Realm.

Now, all that's needed is a little more practice before attempting to break through to the next level.

Therefore, as time goes by, even if he does nothing, his strength will improve in a short period of time.

"If we wait a few more years and there is still no concrete news about the Flame Spirit King or the Heavenly Crane Ancestor... then we should set off for the Primordial Demon Source Realm first... prioritizing the Bloodwing Mo's breakthrough."

Wei Tu suppressed his thoughts and pondered.

Within the Purple Palace Realm, there are many spiritual lands suitable for breakthroughs, but few high-level spiritual lands allow one to break through without disturbing the ancient demons.

In contrast, in the 'Heavenly Abyss Holy City' of the Primordial Demon Source Realm, no one would make a fuss about a mere fusion spirit pet breaking through.

Although the opportunity to practice Mahayana Buddhism is important...

If something is hoped for but not obtained, and there is no definite news, it is best to withdraw as soon as possible.

……

After refining the remaining 'Crimson Demon Golden Marrow'.

In the following days, besides consolidating his cultivation level, Wei Tu went to the surrounding markets and immortal cities to inquire about the recent situation of Flame Spirit King and Heavenly Crane Ancestor.

Just as he had predicted.

Decades have passed, and the 'Dark Eagle Demon Ancestor' who was responsible for hunting down the two has still come up empty-handed.

News of these two individuals, like a stone dropped into a lake, caused only a brief ripple before fading into obscurity.

"The Twelve Dong Families of the Purple Palace Realm..."

But while he was inquiring about this information, a piece of news also reached Wei Tu's ears and became known to him.

This news isn't exactly breaking news; it's a 'minor event' that happens every few decades within the Zi Chen Realm.

— They plundered the spiritual practices of the twelve Dong families and enslaved them.

Previously, the 'Lin Tianqi' that Wei Tu saw at the Kui Dou Chamber of Commerce was actually a spirit slave that the Kui Dou Chamber of Commerce had purchased in the Zi Chen Realm, obtained by the local ancient demons from plundering the twelve Dong families.

In that very battle, the Lin family of the twelve Dong families was wiped out within the Zichen Realm, leaving only eleven Dong families.

Now, the Jiao family, one of the remaining eleven Dong families, has become the next target of the ancient demons who run the spirit slave business.

"There's a slight problem..."

Wei Tu frowned, and with a flash of light, he summoned the 'Shengtian Demon Ship' borrowed from the Kui Dou Merchant Guild and sailed towards the gathering place of these ancient demons mentioned in the intelligence.

If it weren't for his experience in the 'Dark Dragon Domain', he would never have bothered with this matter.

After all, apart from the 'Primordial Demon Origin Realm', the 'Five Minor Realms', including the Zichen Realm, were all places conquered by ancient demons.

The number of spirit slaves they plundered and slaughtered was well over one hundred million.

It's not something a minor repairman like him should be concerned with.

We don't have the ability to manage it!
Secondly, even if he has such good intentions, it is not certain that the spiritual practitioners he saves will appreciate his kindness. Compared to the cruelty of the ancient demons, spiritual practitioners are also more deceitful and accustomed to betrayal.

However, after accepting some "gifts" from He Sanyao and Zi Chijun, he would inevitably feel guilty if he ignored them.

I have no ability, that's all.

But ignoring it will become a 'knot in your heart'!
Thanks to the speed of the 'Victorious Demon Ship'.

Five days later.

Wei Tu successfully arrived at the slave market, which was temporarily set up outside the Jiao family's residence for the trade of spirit slaves.

This is an aerial market formed by connecting more than a dozen spirit ships in parallel.

It covers an area of ​​approximately tens of thousands of feet.

Besides the ancient demons disguised as merchants and wandering around, everywhere you look you see spirit slaves who have been marked with slavery and follow you like spirit pets.

However, the number of spirit slaves sold in the market was surprisingly scarce.

Only a wealthy and beautifully dressed young couple remained at one of the stalls.

These two individuals are being auctioned off by a group of vendors who are pointing and gesturing at them.

“We’re too late.” Wei Tu frowned, his divine sense sweeping over the distant Jiao family’s territory, which was now a ruin and in ruins, hidden deep within the secret realm.

He hesitated for a moment, shook his head secretly, and then walked away from the crowd, seemingly not intending to bid for the two Jiao family cultivators with these ancient demons and then redeem them.

The reason is not complicated.

He came here to help the Jiao family, but he never intended to take any great risks to help them... If there was an opportunity, he would help them a little without going against his conscience, but he would never do anything that would cost him his life.

Coincidentally, the bidding prices of these two Jiao family cultivators were unusually high...

At this moment, it had already reached a staggering three hundred mid-grade magic crystals!

And it continues to rise.

Among them, the two combined demon lords also revealed their determination to obtain these two individuals.

If it were just a matter of high price, he might hesitate for a moment and then try to buy them back... but it would be far too much to offend two powerful Demon Lords at the Fusion Realm just for the sake of these two.

"This brother and sister are only at the Nascent Soul stage, and they don't seem to have anything special about them. Why would they attract two great demon lords to bid against them?"

In the distance, Wei Tu, who had returned to the Shengtian Demon Ship, frowned as he watched the slave auction in the distance.

But also at this moment.

A voice unexpectedly reached him.

"Fellow Daoist, are you perhaps Demon Lord Kou?"

"I hope that Demon Lord Kou will have some pity on these juniors of the Jiao family and bid on the two of them. If you succeed, I will reward you handsomely."

"Demon Lord Kou?" Upon hearing this, Wei Tu's gaze sharpened, and he stared intently at the burly man in the crowd who exuded demonic energy and wore a mask.

"I, Kou, rarely appear in the Purple Palace Realm. How did you learn my name and recognize me?"

"Furthermore, fellow Daoist is quite interesting, daring to reveal in front of me that you are a spiritual cultivator..."

While Wei Tu was filled with great surprise and doubt, his eyes flashed with a cold light, and he sneered.

"It's because of that Lin family cultivator. Back then, Demon Lord Kou released him... which is enough to show that Demon Lord Kou didn't harbor much hatred towards us spiritual cultivators..."

"As for recognizing Demon Lord Kou, it's because of the Victory Demon Ship of the Kui Dou Merchant Guild."

The burly man who heard this was not surprised by Wei Tu's words. After pausing for a moment, he explained directly.

"It's not necessarily true that Demon Lord Kou harbors much kindness towards us spiritual cultivators. But Demon Lord Kou's actions... are enough to prove that Demon Lord Kou is an ancient demon with whom we, the Twelve Dong Families, can cooperate and form alliances..."

"There is no need to be surprised by this matter, Lord Kou. The ancient demons who cooperate with us are far more than just Lord Kou... and they can also gain far more benefits from us than they can from the spirit slave trade."

"The reason we are seeking out Demon Lord Kou is because the Jiao family's affair happened suddenly, and we were unprepared. We had to call upon our cooperating Demon Lord for help... Therefore, we can only ask Demon Lord Kou, who is currently the most suitable, to bid on our behalf."

The burly man continued to add.

“More than one person?” Wei Tu was taken aback upon hearing this.

The reason is simple: the ancient demons and spiritual cultivators cooperating is almost unimaginable in the Zi Chen Realm.

But soon, as if he had thought of something, a look of sudden realization flashed in his eyes.

Ancient demons can seek out spiritual cultivators for cooperation and induce them to become 'spiritual traitors'. Similarly, spiritual cultivators can also use benefits to induce some ancient demons to 'fall'.

Moreover, the ancient demons are not as close as outsiders imagine. They are not much different from spiritual cultivators. They also form factions and suppress dissent.

Furthermore, the fact that the Twelve Dong families have been able to survive in the Zichen Realm for so many years is certainly not as simple as Lin Tianqi previously thought, that they were merely "raised" by the ancient demons...

After all, under one powerful force, one can avoid exhausting the resources, but with multiple forces... without some ability, one will inevitably be devoured by the ambitious among them.

They must have mastered certain survival skills.

That's how they managed to survive.

The words of this burly man indirectly prove this point.

"But why are these two Jiao family cultivators being targeted by so many ancient demons? And why are the bidding prices even higher than some seventh-grade spirit pills?"

Wei Tu narrowed his eyes and asked the question that he was most curious about at the moment.

Keep in mind, several hundred mid-grade magic crystals are more than enough to buy a Void Refinement Spirit Slave! (End of Chapter)