I am a late bloomer in the world of cultivating immortals

"I'm just one step away from Mahayana..."

Several months later, after the 'Nascent Soul' had completed its transformation, Wei Tu looked at the jade box containing the 'Nine Aperture Immortal Embryo' with a gleam in his eyes, and a sense of excitement gradually rose in his heart.

This one step difference, if it were any other cultivator undergoing a major transformation, might be an insurmountable chasm that would be difficult to cross in a lifetime.

However, for him, this step was not insurmountable.

Nine-Aperture Immortal Embryo, Divine Phoenix Pill, Ascension Technique, Primordial Demon Body...

He has already accumulated all the necessary opportunities to reach this Mahayana realm!
"However, before breaking through to Mahayana, one must also overcome the final tribulation that will sever one's life."

Wei Tu's expression was solemn. After taking a deep breath, he continued to calm his mind and, using the remaining medicinal power of the 'Earth Mother Divine Medicine' in his body, turned his attention to cultivating the Body Refinement Realm.

The Six Life-Severing Blades progress from weak to strong. Initially, they only cut off the lifespan of a Jiazi or a Baijia, but towards the end... such a life-threatening tribulation is something that ordinary cultivators cannot withstand.

He vividly remembered the arduous ordeal he had endured in the Heavenly Demon Realm during the 'Ten Thousand Armor Tribulation'.

Fortunately, these calamities only cut off an equal amount of life essence, not actual lifespan. Otherwise, even if he were a body cultivator, he would have had difficulty bearing such a huge deficit.

According to his current estimate, in order to safely pass through this final 'Ten Thousand Armor Life Tribulation', his body refinement level would need to be raised to at least the 'late stage of the seventh rank'.

And this period of time is destined to be quite long.

However, for him, this time also served as a way to solidify his newly attained spiritual cultivation realm.

"Ancient serpent remains! I'll use this to break through to the Body Refinement Realm!"

Half a month later.

When the medicinal power of the Earth Mother Divine Medicine in his body was almost fully refined, Wei Tu did not cherish the treasure. He grabbed it with his hand and immediately took out the half of the 'Ancient Serpent Remains' obtained from Yu Linzi from his storage magic artifact, and tightly applied it to his body.

Soon, streams of mysterious and extraordinary power slowly seeped out from the yellowish jade-colored snake molt, penetrating Wei Tu's body and limbs.

What's even more surprising is...

These powers also seemed to have a significant effect on Wei Tu's spiritual cultivation, causing the nascent soul within him, which contained 'immortal energy,' to have its eyes gleam with divine light and to experience a slight tremor as it attempted to break through to the Mahayana realm.

However, this is normal.

After all, the 'Ancient Serpent's Remains' was originally Yu Linzi's 'treasure' for breaking through to the Mahayana realm, and it had unparalleled uses for cultivators like Yu Linzi who had serpent blood.

However, in Wei Tu's hands, this half of the 'ancient snake molt' was quite ordinary among the 'great opportunities' he possessed, and could hardly be of great use... It could only be used as a treasure for body tempering and cultivation.

Of course, this doesn't mean that Wei Tu was wasting his talents.

He is not of snake blood, so he will have difficulty fully enjoying the benefits of this treasure for advancing to the Mahayana realm. Therefore, rather than letting it be 'redundant' when breaking through to the Mahayana realm, it is better to make up for his shortcomings in body refinement at this moment and make him catch up with the spiritual cultivation realm as much as possible.

—The significant improvement in his body refinement realm will greatly benefit his breakthrough to the Mahayana realm.

……

Various 'body-refining treasures' are available to assist.

This time, Wei Tu's breakthrough in body refinement was not too difficult. In less than sixty years, he successfully broke through two realms and entered the peak of the mid-stage of the seventh rank.

Upon reaching this level, Wei Tu did not hesitate for a moment. After completely stabilizing his cultivation, he immediately swallowed nearly half of the 'Earth Mother Divine Medicine'. With the powerful medicinal properties of this divine medicine, he directly broke through the huge barrier in front of him.

pain! pain! pain!
Along with the powerful medicinal properties of this divine medicine came a tremendous impact on his physical body. The surging blood and qi constantly assaulted his limbs, bones, and meridians, almost like being slowly sliced ​​apart, brutally 'scraping' every inch of his flesh.

Even his 'True Spirit Immortal Bone,' which was equivalent to a Nascent Soul cultivator, nearly shattered at this moment.

Fortunately, all of this is under control.

Under the control of his vast divine consciousness, the surging medicinal power of these divine herbs, after its initial rampage, was quickly tamed by him...

However, body tempering is essentially a process of constant cycles of destruction and recovery.

Wei Tu endured just as much suffering during this time.

However, all of this is bearable in the face of the immense temptation of breaking through to a higher realm.

Several months later, just as the effects of the medicine in Wei Tu's body were about to 'quiet down,' a loud rumbling sound, like muffled thunder, suddenly rang out from within his body.

The sound grew louder and louder, gradually resounding throughout the entire 'Dragon-Trapping Tower' and spreading even further into the 'Turtle Belly Space'.

"This is..." Xue Qiongyu, who was refining the 'Mystic Turtle Soul Spirit', looked up in astonishment.

Just from this sound of qi and blood, she felt an immense sense of oppression, as if she would be 'disintegrated' if it exerted even the slightest force.

“We are both at the same Integration Realm…” Xue Qiongyu felt a bitter taste in her mouth, and a strange sense of powerlessness filled her heart.

However, she soon saw that the 'Mystic Turtle Soul Spirit' in her hand seemed to show fear and submission because of the 'Tiger and Leopard Thunder Sound,' and as the 'Soul Control Seal' she had placed gradually took shape, a hint of joy immediately appeared on her face.

"Oh, and the younger generation too."

Suddenly, Xue Qiongyu seemed to realize something, and quickly appeared in the cave next to her, using her magic to block the 'blood thunder sound' for the adjacent cave.

Even someone of her level would find it difficult to withstand the pressure of that aura, let alone that junior.

"Thank you very much for your help, Master's wife."

At the same moment, a pair of young girls, each around ten years old and as beautiful as Xue Qiongyu, emerged from the adjacent cave. Their fair cheeks patted their small but rather full breasts, and after catching their breath, they quickly curtsied and thanked Xue Qiongyu.

"No need for thanks. Since your master has entrusted you to me to take care of you... I will certainly not mistreat you..." Xue Qiongyu waved her hand, indicating that Ruan Shui'er in front of her did not need to pay too much attention.

However, at this point, she couldn't help but furrow her brows slightly and reminded him, "But there's no need to mention the matter of your master's wife. I am merely my husband's concubine and cannot be called your master's wife."

Even if she were a concubine, she would readily accept it if her disciple addressed her as "Master's Wife".

But at this moment... she has not yet met Wei Tu's true Daoist partner, and it is difficult to know what her true nature is like.

If she were to greatly offend that person because of these few terms of address, it would be a mistake on her part.

She had no choice but to be cautious about this.

After all, in the cultivation world, so-called 'concubines' are not much different from furnaces and cauldrons, and are simply incomparable to 'Daoist partners'.

"This..." Upon hearing this, Ruan Shui'er hesitated for a moment, then readily agreed and prepared to change her way of addressing Xue Qiongyu.

However, after a moment's hesitation, she couldn't think of a way to please Xue Qiongyu without causing her to harbor resentment.

"You may call me Aunt for now," Xue Qiongyu suggested after a moment's thought.

"Aunt Xue..."

Upon hearing this, Ruan Shui'er immediately felt a little strange. After all, "aunt" was a term used to address the concubine of one's biological father. Although one's master could be considered half a father to one's disciple, there was still a difference between "junior" and "children".

But after hearing this, she didn't dare to refute Xue Qiongyu on this matter. After a moment's thought, she suppressed all her distracting thoughts and addressed Xue Qiongyu with the respectful title.

“Not only does Aunt Xue not dare to acknowledge the title of ‘Master’s Wife,’ but even I consider myself to be Senior Brother Kou’s disciple by choice…” After exchanging pleasantries with Xue Qiongyu, Ruan Shui’er returned to her cave and looked up at the ‘Dragon-Trapping Tower’ in the distance, and couldn’t help but sigh softly.

This fear stemmed not from Wei Tu's indifference, but from the vast difference in strength, which made them extremely cautious.

The common saying "serving a ruler is like serving a tiger" is even more terrifying at this moment.

Because Wei Tu, who is far inside the 'Dragon-Trapping Tower', is a 'Great Ascension Immortal' who will far surpass them in terms of life level in the future!
……

Although Wei Tu's vast divine sense could perceive the commotion outside, he was completely oblivious to it as he was currently immersed in cultivation.

As the 'True Spirit Immortal Bone' within his body gradually heals.

That familiar feeling of breakthrough gradually surfaced in his mind.

"I've finally reached the late stage of the seventh level of Body Refinement!"

He clenched his fists, sensing a power within them far greater than that of the mid-stage of the seventh level of Body Refinement, and felt extremely excited.

The plan remains unchanged.

Now that he has reached the late stage of the seventh level of body refinement, his breakthrough to the 'Great Ascension' stage can be considered as 'the last mile is the halfway point'.

"Ten thousand armored warriors, slay them!"

Two months later, after his realm had been completely stabilized, Wei Tu wasted no time and immediately began to try to overcome the final tribulation of the 'Six Tribulations of Life Severance'—the Tribulation of Ten Thousand Armor Life.

If he successfully overcomes this tribulation, not only will he enter the second realm of the four realms of life cultivation—the 'Hidden Life Realm', but it will also bring considerable benefits to his subsequent Mahayana realm.

After all, his destiny of "achieving great things late in life" is also closely related to the four realms of destiny cultivation.

Each breakthrough he makes will greatly enhance his cultivation potential thanks to the 'life force' provided by his Golden Purple Destiny.

Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core...

All of this progress has been aided by the auspicious destiny of those born under the sign of the Golden Purple Star.

Otherwise, with his mortal abilities, he would probably have exhausted most of his potential by the time he reached the Foundation Establishment stage.

While I pondered this.

At that moment, the 'life-threatening aura' emanating from Wei Tu swiftly descended upon his physical body.

In the next instant, Wei Tu, whose body had been radiant and full of vitality just moments before, withered and became like a dead body, except for the 'True Spirit Immortal Bone' in his chest, which still retained some vitality.

However, at this moment, his 'True Spirit Immortal Bone' also began to throb, beating like a heart, and the spiritual light on its surface grew stronger and stronger.

In an instant, a massive amount of life essence poured out from the 'True Spirit Immortal Bone'.

However, it seems that because this 'Ten Thousand Armor Life Tribulation' was too terrifying, these enormous 'life essences', which were enough to revive the dead and heal the bones, were immediately absorbed and disappeared without a trace after coming into contact with Wei Tu's already decaying and withered 'corpse'.

It was like adding fuel to the fire; it was completely futile.

"Fortunately, there is still this pill." Seeing this, Wei Tu did not panic. His eyes flickered slightly, and before the 'life-threatening energy' invaded the 'true spirit immortal bone', he moved his divine sense and uttered the word 'rise'.

The next moment, a jade-colored pill emitting a strange fragrance flew out from his 'True Spirit Immortal Bone' and, like sweet rain, penetrated deep into his body.

At that moment, Wei Tu's body, which had just resembled a withered corpse, suddenly experienced a resurgence of vitality, with flesh growing back, white hair turning black, and the dried-up blood and qi beginning to flow again in the meridians of his limbs.

And this was precisely the "Nine Fragrance Pill" that he had previously refined in the "Rebirth Realm".

As a holy medicine for healing, it not only has the effect of bringing the dead back to life and restoring flesh and bones, but it can also resist the suppression of 'laws' from the Mahayana level.

And precisely, the "calamity energy" of this "life-severing calamity" also belongs to the laws of heaven and earth.

However, at this moment he was indeed like a 'last gasp before death'. If he could not resolve the enormous amount of life essence consumed by these 'life-severing calamities', even with the suppression of the 'Nine Fragrance Pill', he would lose all his physical essence and die here.

"Earth Mother's Divine Medicine!" Wei Tu dared not delay and quickly took out the remaining half of the 'Earth Mother's Divine Medicine' and swallowed it to slow down the huge loss of life essence in his body.

Then, at this moment, he began to frantically absorb the piles of pills and spirit crystals placed around him, like a whale gulping down water.

It lasted for about half a day.

The power of the Nine Fragrance Pill was finally exhausted at this moment.

Wei Tu's physical body withered again.

However, this time, thanks to the nourishing effects of the 'Earth Mother's Divine Medicine,' his physical body, which had only withered for a moment, immediately became 'as handsome as jade' again.

However, at this very moment, the long-brewing heavenly tribulation, which was nearly at the Mahayana level and was brought about by the 'Ten Thousand Armor Life Tribulation', was also poised to erupt.

But Wei Tu remained calm and composed. After a slight flicker in his eyes, he took out a black jade tablet-shaped object from his sleeve and used his magic to suspend it above his head.

This dark-colored jade was the 'Avoiding Calamity Immortal Jade' that he obtained from the woodcutter.

It is a rare treasure capable of withstanding the tribulations of a Mahayana immortal.

It is more than enough to withstand the 'heavenly tribulation' brought about by this fatal calamity.

Boom! Boom! Boom!
The next moment, dark purple tribulation lightning surged forth, almost frantically bombarding Wei Tu's body, as if trying to completely annihilate him under the heavenly tribulation, leaving him no way out.

And this is precisely the terrifying nature of the sixth life-severing tribulation.

There is no life in death; only by suppressing it with force can one have any hope of breaking through and successfully transcending the tribulation.

After all, the word "hidden fate" in "hidden fate realm" means that his connection with heaven and earth is completely severed, and from then on there will be no more causal connection or destiny trajectory between him and heaven and earth.

How could Heaven and Earth not be angered by this?
Therefore, at this moment he only dared to rely on the 'Tribulation-Avoiding Immortal Jade' to overcome the tribulation, instead of using these terrifying heavenly tribulations to refine his body as he had done before. (End of this chapter)