I am a late bloomer in the world of cultivating immortals

However, what this middle-aged beauty did not know was that not long after her consciousness left, Ruan Shui'er, who was talking with Wei Tu, quickly changed from her previous composure to appear quite uneasy.

He seemed rather unremarkable.

At this moment, Wei Tu finally put aside his suspicions about this woman and truly treated her as an 'equal,' offering her some guidance in their conversations.

Of course, Wei Tu's display of his knowledge was more related to his scheming than simply to instruct Ruan Shui'er.

In the cultivation world, it is not wrong for cultivators to be aloof.

However, if one remains isolated within the Feather Saint Sect and the Deer Mountain Dojo without achieving anything, then one becomes a thorn in the side of everyone and a worthless person in the eyes of the sect elders.

Now, under the guise of communication, Wei Tu is instructing Ruan Shui'er, which is his way of showing off his talent.

—To become a twin star in the future Lushan Dojo, comparable to Ruan Shui'er.

In this way, he will not only receive protection from the Feather Saint Sect in the future, but also avoid arousing too much suspicion when his cultivation level breaks through rapidly.

……

After the apprenticeship ceremony concluded.

Wei Tu did not stay in Ruan Shui'er's cave for long. After returning to his own cave, he immediately hung up a "Seclusion" sign at the entrance, making it seem as if he was going into seclusion to cultivate.

Meanwhile, in secret, just a few days later, Wei Tu once again flew away from the Deer Mountain Dojo and arrived at the Liu Clan Immortal City.

However, this time when Wei Tu came to Liu Clan Immortal City, he did not rush to contact the people of the 'Nine Serpents Liu Clan' family. Instead, he rented a cave dwelling with decent spiritual energy in the city and stayed there temporarily.

Half a month later, as the 'Five Clans Auction' approached, he emerged from his rented cave dwelling and once again headed to the stone pavilion in the black market that the 'Nine Serpents Liu Clan' used to receive Nascent Soul stage experts.

However, as soon as he stepped into the attic, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and glance at the second floor of the attic with great interest.

Inside this pavilion, Ruan Shui'er, whom he had parted ways with half a month ago, was sitting on the second floor with the middle-aged beauty, chatting and laughing with the pavilion's manager, the woman in the purple dress.

The two looked somewhat tired and travel-worn, as if they had just arrived here after leaving the Lushan Dojo.

After all, ten thousand miles is quite a distance for a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Wei Tu's fascination stemmed not only from the arrival of the middle-aged beauty and Ruan Shui'er, but also from the way the purple-skirted beauty and the middle-aged beauty addressed each other.

These two are the closest sisters, not just relatives within the 'Nine Serpents Willow Clan'.

The younger-looking, alluring woman in the purple dress was actually the older sister of the middle-aged woman.

At this moment, the beautiful woman in the purple dress, noticing Wei Tu's arrival, immediately stood up with a solemn expression, apologized to Ruan Shui'er and the middle-aged woman who had come from afar, and hurriedly went downstairs.

Seeing this, Ruan Shui'er was immediately puzzled. After all, according to Aunt Liu's introduction, this beautiful woman in purple was the black market manager of the 'Nine Serpents Liu Clan'. Under normal circumstances, no one would make her turn pale and leave the banquet.

"...It must be a Nascent Soul cultivator arriving." The middle-aged woman, who knew what the woman in the purple dress was doing, immediately looked at the exit on the second floor of the pavilion with awe and said in a low voice.

"This pavilion, within the 'Nine Serpents Willow Clan,' is called the 'Ascending Immortal Pavilion,' meaning that the cultivators seen within are those closest to the Immortal Realm... namely, those powerful beings at the Integration Stage..." The middle-aged woman then began to explain the origin and name of the pavilion.

Although Ruan Shui'er's teacher was the head of the Liu clan, given his level of understanding, it was impossible for him to teach Ruan Shui'er at any time.

Therefore, as a fellow cultivator, she effectively became Ruan Shui'er's 'mentor' in the early stages of her immortal journey.

The purpose of this trip to attend the 'Five Clans Auction' was also to broaden Ruan Shui'er's horizons. Therefore, she was qualified to explain to Ruan Shui'er any doubts she encountered on the way.

But no sooner had he said that than...

The middle-aged woman sensed Ruan Shui'er's subconscious divine sense extending towards the first floor of the attic.

This scene instantly changed her expression, and she quickly used her magic to block Ruan Shui'er's consciousness within the room.

The next moment, realizing the foolish thing she had done, Ruan Shui'er immediately showed a look of lingering fear, patted her bulging chest, and thanked the middle-aged beauty.

"It's not your fault. Everyone is curious about cultivators at that level. After all, cultivators at that level are already within reach of the Immortal Realm. They are the true powerhouses at the pinnacle among us cultivators... It would be strange if we weren't curious about them."

The middle-aged woman patted Ruan Shui'er's head, comforting the young girl she regarded as a junior in the family.

"However, Shui'er, you must remember that at any moment you must remind yourself never to do anything so outrageous, otherwise even the slightest disrespect could cost us our lives..." The middle-aged beauty patiently taught Ruan Shui'er the wisdom of survival for low-level cultivators.

"A Nascent Soul cultivator..." Upon hearing this, Ruan Shui'er nodded seriously.

But at this moment, her eyes were also unconsciously drawn to the first floor of the attic.

Although the wall separating them wasn't far, it only made her, at the Foundation Establishment stage, feel envious and a sense of unattainability towards the scenery on the other side.

Unaware that the powerful cultivator in the purple dress who was talking with the woman in the purple dress on the first floor of the pavilion was the same male fellow cultivator he had invited to his cave half a month ago.

……

"I have successfully completed the task. All the spiritual herbs that you entrusted to me, Senior, have been collected by my Nine Serpents Liu Clan."

At the same moment that the middle-aged beauty was instructing Ruan Shui'er, the purple-skirted beauty who had arrived on the first floor of the attic also greeted Wei Tu, who was walking into the attic, with a smile on her face.

Upon hearing this, Wei Tu's calm expression immediately softened with a hint of joy.

He took the elixir bag from the woman in the purple dress, examined the elixir inside, and, seeing that it was indeed genuine, did not hesitate to take out a jade box full of spirit crystals from his sleeve and throw it directly to the woman.

After the money and goods were exchanged, Wei Tu prepared to leave.

This time, the spiritual herbs he collected from the Nine-Snake Liu Clan were only those needed for refining healing pills; they did not yet include the auxiliary ingredients for the 'Yinzhi Pill'...

However, there is still a long way to go.

He doesn't intend to ask this clan for too much help with the elixir right now, lest his true nature be exposed.

But at that moment, the beautiful woman in the purple dress called out to Wei Tu first.

"Senior, please wait, I have something else to say."

"What is it?" Upon hearing this, Wei Tu frowned slightly, his face revealing a hint of displeasure.

In black market transactions, it's a big no-no for shopkeepers to ask too many questions.

“It was wrong of me to call out to you so abruptly, senior. However… my Nine Serpents Liu Clan has always enjoyed making friends with capable people. If your alchemist friend is willing to befriend my Nine Serpents Liu Clan… perhaps my clan could share some alchemy business with him…” The beautiful woman in the purple dress finished speaking very quickly, as if she had prepared this in advance, rather than acting on impulse.

"Willing to share the business?" Upon hearing this, Wei Tu frowned once again.

Although his words were sincere, he could hardly know whether the Nine-Snake Liu Clan's intentions were good or evil.

"Is it because of these spiritual herbs that you guessed the healing pills I refined this time are of a high grade and quite difficult to make?" At the same time, Wei Tu also secretly weighed the bag of spiritual herbs in his hand, a thoughtful look flashing between his brows.

Although he had taken some precautions to prevent being spied on when he commissioned the 'Nine Serpents Liu Clan' to collect spiritual herbs, there was a certain chance that these tricks would be seen through by a high-level alchemist.

At the very least, it is not difficult to know that the elixir he is about to refine is of a high grade.

"Senior, rest assured, the Nine Serpents Liu Clan is not so bold as to offend a seventh-level alchemist at will... This action is more for business considerations..." As if to dispel Wei Tu's concerns, the beautiful woman in the purple dress bowed again and said this.

Upon hearing this, Wei Tu's brows immediately relaxed a little.

He was overthinking it!

A family like the 'Nine Serpents Willow Clan', under normal circumstances, would be unlikely to offend an ordinary cultivator at the Integration Realm, let alone a seventh-rank alchemist of a higher status.

However, even though he understood this somewhat, Wei Tu did not accept the invitation from the 'Nine Serpents Willow Clan' at this moment.

"I will convey your kindness to my friend. If he agrees, I will come back here to contact you again..." Wei Tu said indifferently, denying that he was a seventh-level alchemist.

The woman in the purple dress seemed unsurprised. She bowed slightly, apologized, and then watched Wei Tu leave the stone pavilion.

same moment.

As soon as Wei Tu left the stone pavilion, he immediately spread out his vast divine sense to sense the surrounding movements.

Seeing that there were no surveillance cameras around him, he suddenly felt relieved and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"However, we can't be careless. Who knows if this 'temptation' of sharing business... is just a ploy by the Nine Serpents Liu Clan's ancestor to lure me in..."

"It's impossible for the Nine Serpents Liu Clan to offend a seventh-level alchemist, but if it's Madam Wanmiao or the Seven Treasures Demon Ancestor secretly wanted by them, that would be a completely different story!"

Wei Tu sneered, not believing that the absence of Nascent Soul cultivators around him meant he was completely safe and without danger.

If his concerns are true.

So, the Nine Serpents Liu Clan's actions were a 'test' of him... firstly, to verify his identity and prevent him from causing unnecessary trouble for the family, and secondly, to prevent this dangerous person from 'taking desperate measures' and threatening the Nine Serpents Liu Clan.

Moreover, his concern was not unfounded.

Because seventh-level alchemists are not a large number in any realm; they are usually a handful of people, making it extremely difficult for someone to impersonate another.

"It's not appropriate for me to attend this Five Clans Auction in this capacity," Wei Tu thought to himself as he fled from Liu Clan Immortal City, his eyes flashing.

In short, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Sometimes, avoiding risk is unnecessary. But if you accidentally stumble upon it, then you've escaped by sheer luck.

However, changing his identity to go there was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but a decision he had made long ago.

Even without the Nine Serpents Liu Clan incident, he would have done his best to isolate himself from any connection with his identity as a 'Seventh-Rank Alchemist'.

……

the other side.

Inside a luxurious cave dwelling in Liu Clan Immortal City.

An old woman with gray hair and a face covered in snake scales was patiently listening to the beautiful woman in a purple dress in the mirror report the specific details of the meeting with Wei Tu.

After listening, a thoughtful look flashed in her cloudy eyes.

"The Integration Realm, a seventh-tier alchemist... I wonder if this unfamiliar cultivator is Wei Tu? Or... is this just my overthinking? This cultivator came to the Nine Serpents Willow Clan merely to collect spiritual herbs on the orders of other seventh-tier alchemists, since there are indeed some rare ones among those herbs..."

The old woman, her face covered in snake scales, muttered to herself.

"If this kind of probing is indeed the person the Ancient Demoness has wanted, it will probably alert her..."

"However, my Nine Serpents Liu Clan is a small family and business. If we really keep a close eye on this cultivator and misjudge the intelligence, the slightest mistake could lead to our downfall... For now, the safest way is to use this method to keep this cultivator in check and lure him into the trap."

"Moreover, the interval between these two repairs is so short that it's far from enough for my Nine Serpents Liu Clan to report and communicate..." The old woman with snake scales on her face sighed inwardly.

She wanted to seize this opportunity, but was also worried that it might be too hot to handle.

Simply put, with her discerning eye, it wasn't difficult for her to see how troublesome the person the ancient demon goddess was after.

He managed to escape from this woman's clutches...

Therefore, it is not impossible to overthrow and annihilate the entire Nine Serpents Liu Clan.

"If this cultivator attends the Five Clans Auction, it will be my best opportunity to observe him up close... If he doesn't attend, then it's almost certainly true."

"At that time..." Thinking of this, a hint of hesitation flashed across the old woman's face, which was covered with snake scales, and she dared not continue to imagine it.

Because she realized that no matter how she thought about it, this path was a dead end for her.

The incident alerted Wei Tu, and the failure to report it immediately... This is probably a sin for that ancient demon goddess.

If the ancient demon goddess fails to capture Wei Tu but wastes time in the 'Black Cloud Minor World', then... if she takes her anger out on the Nine Serpents Liu Clan, even with her abilities, it would be extremely difficult to stop her.

"Enough, enough. Even gods fight. The Nine Serpents Liu Clan's small business can't withstand this kind of turmoil."

"Besides, what kind of opportunity could that ancient demon goddess possibly bestow upon me? Could she possibly grant me ascension to immortality?"

"The opportunity bestowed by this demon can at most bring blessings to the clan, allowing a few more Nascent Soul cultivators to emerge... but the disaster will be borne by me, the ancestor..."

Upon realizing this, the old woman with snake scales on her face sighed, and her expression immediately became more relaxed.

With the current strength of the Nine Serpents Liu Clan, as long as they continue to develop steadily, they will remain a major clan within the 'Black Cloud Minor Realm' for the next ten thousand or even tens of thousands of years. There is no need for them to take such a risky step.

"Now, I just need to patiently wait for the body my grandson will offer me. After this reincarnation... and after cultivating that law again, I will be able to achieve perfect cultivation and have a chance to reach the late stage of the Integration Realm or the half-step Mahayana Realm..." (End of Chapter)