I am a late bloomer in the world of cultivating immortals

“If you had broken through a little earlier, before the other fellow Daoists left the Spirit Realm, the one who came to the Great Ascension stage of the Feathered Dragon Clan this time would not have been me, but your master, Zi Chi Jun.”

Upon hearing this, the disheveled old man smiled calmly again and replied with a light tone that was subtly pointed.

"Master?" Upon hearing this, Wei Tu's heart stirred, realizing that, as he had expected, his master had come with good intentions.

After Jiao Changyi went to the Spirit Realm with Ancestor Tianhe, his becoming a disciple of Zi Chijun was, according to common sense, null and void.

Furthermore, this is also the crime of deceiving the immortals that he, a 'junior of the Fusion Realm,' committed back then!

Now, this disheveled old man, in his capacity as the Great Ascension Dragon Lord of the Feathered Dragon Clan, has personally admitted that he is still a disciple of the Purple Dragon Lord, which can be considered a way of wiping the 'grudge' clean.

After all, he is no longer a junior in the Integration Realm, but a Mahayana Immortal like Zi Chi Jun. The so-called 'crime of deceiving an immortal' can be easily reduced to a minor matter and then forgotten.

And this is the norm in the cultivation world.

When the enmity is not deep and the parties are not mortal enemies, and when the weaker party has reached a sufficiently high level of status and strength, everything is open to discussion and the possibility of rekindling friendship.

There are no permanent enemies, and no permanent friends; this is simply the case.

However—just as Wei Tu was about to consider speaking and replying, the old man with disheveled hair suddenly paused and said, "But."

Of course, this was within Wei Tu's expectations.

Small clans and minor sects might be able to "make an exception" for him, a Mahayana immortal of the same level, but the Feathered Dragon Clan, a powerful clan with a "Tribulation Transcending Immortal" within its ranks... no matter how friendly they are, they can't just leave without any conditions.

Let him fool around like this and get through the ordeal.

"However, Fellow Daoist Wei must truly be one of us, and not... one of those ancient demons who have possessed our bodies... Otherwise, even if Zi Chi Jun is difficult to sever, I will not show any mercy for our previous master-disciple bond."

The old man with disheveled hair narrowed his eyes slightly, his kind expression still present, but at this moment his aura suddenly intensified, and he pressed closer and closer to Wei Tu.

In an instant, the world changed color, and within the entire 'turtle belly space', the sound of a violent dragon roar could be faintly heard, as if if Wei Tu resisted even slightly, it would crush him.

"Mid-stage Mahayana? True Dragon Domain?"

Wei Tu's expression hardened slightly, and he began to understand the level of this powerful clan leader.

However, he was not afraid of this scene at all. After snorting, he flicked his sleeve.

A 'Great Ascension Pressure' that was inferior in strength but exceptionally solid also emerged from his body, stubbornly resisting the True Dragon Pressure that was a level higher than his.

Immediately afterwards, he slightly stepped forward with his toes, and a five-colored radiance instantly emerged from his body. After landing in the void, it immediately merged with his Mahayana aura, inch by inch resisting the old man's 'True Dragon Domain'.

In the blink of an eye.

The two then began to clash.

In comparison, Wei Tu's 'Five Elements Domain' is actually quite comparable.

As this scene unfolded, a hint of surprise appeared in the old man's eyes. He seemed not to have expected that Wei Tu would not only not 'yield' because of his words, but would instead suddenly react and dare to challenge him.

Moreover, he truly possesses this 'real skill'!
“Indeed, how could a cultivator who can attain Mahayana enlightenment in just a few thousand years be an ordinary person…” the disheveled old man thought to himself.

Thinking of this, he immediately stopped hesitating and, with a surge of magical power, prepared to use all his strength to completely subdue Wei Tu.

but--

Right now.

Wei Tu suddenly withdrew his magic power, raised his hand to tear through the void, and escaped the coverage of his 'True Dragon Domain'.

At the same time, after landing outside the 'turtle belly space', it suddenly looked apologetic and bowed to him from afar, as if it wanted to give up directly.

"I hope you will forgive me for my offense just now. However, I am itching to test my skills against you, senior."

"As for whether I am an ancient demon... I have my own evidence to prove it, and I hope that Lord Dragon will believe me."

A series of voices followed closely behind, reaching the ears of the disheveled old man who was still standing there, about to start a fight.

Upon hearing this, the disheveled old man glanced deeply at Wei Tu, who had already escaped from this 'void' and arrived in the outside world, and then snorted coldly before retrieving his scattered 'True Dragon Domain'.

With his knowledge, it was not difficult for him to discern Wei Tu's 'true intention' from these words: that his attack on him was not to make an enemy of him, but to demonstrate his own value and show that he was not someone to be trifled with.

Although his motive was not complicated, he never expected that he would not be able to do anything to Wei Tu in a short period of time.

Just now, that brief exchange seemed ordinary, but the fact that Wei Tu was able to tear through the void and escape right under his nose was enough to prove that he was no ordinary newly promoted Mahayana cultivator.

If an ordinary cultivator dared to make such a joke to him, given his temperament, he would not show much mercy... But a Mahayana immortal of the same generation, especially one who is of the same clan as Zi Chi Jun and has a promising future, would not allow him to act recklessly.

also--

Wei Tu's apology was already quite humble, referring to himself as a junior. If he were to nitpick over it, he would inevitably appear petty.

"As long as Fellow Daoist Wei proves that he is not an 'Ancient Demon,' the matter just now can be wiped clean... On the contrary, I must apologize for my coercion of Fellow Daoist."

The old man with disheveled hair took a deep breath, his expression softened again, and he spoke these words earnestly.

He wasn't lying when he said that.

It's true that they coerced Wei Tu, and it's also true that they tried to win him over.

Once it's proven that Wei Tu isn't an ancient demon, he will naturally apologize for his previous actions.

However... he never expected that Wei Tu's newly advanced Mahayana strength had exceeded his expectations, causing his wishful thinking of using this matter to subdue Wei Tu to fall through, and instead he found himself in this 'awkward situation'.

Fortunately, Wei Tu knew his limits and didn't put either of them in an awkward position.

“Ancient demons and spiritual cultivators are mortal enemies, irreconcilable. If I, Wei, am truly an ancient demon… then what the Dragon Lord did this time is not only not wrong, but also beneficial to the cultivators of my spiritual realm.”

Wei Tu nodded slightly in agreement.

As he spoke, he patted the storage bag at his waist, took out an exceptionally burly 'body' that exuded demonic energy, and threw it towards the disheveled old man in the distance.

"This is... the body of an ancient demon at the peak of the Demon Lord realm?" Upon seeing this, the old man with disheveled hair raised an eyebrow, not understanding the meaning behind Wei Tu's actions.

But soon, after he heard Wei Tu recite the secret formulas of the cultivation technique through divine sense, his tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed.

"The Blood Demon Parasitic Evil Technique of the Mist Demon Clan? So that's how it is. I never imagined you would have such an opportunity... to obtain that old ghost Pei's clan's secret technique..."

The old man with disheveled hair gradually seemed to realize something, and a smile returned to his face.

How could he, as the Dragon Lord of the Overlord Clan, not have studied such exquisite secret techniques? It was only because of the Mist Ghost Clan and other powerful clans that he did not widely pass them on to the younger generation of the Feathered Dragon Clan, but only used them privately.

Now, after hearing Wei Tu's reasonable explanation and seeing the traces of the 'Blood Ghost Soul Split' spell cast inside An Liangcai's demonic body, they would naturally believe it.

Moreover, the possibility of an ancient demon possessing a body and cultivating to the Mahayana realm is extremely slim... This is only because Wei Tu's advancement speed is too fast, forcing him to be cautious.

Wei Tu, who witnessed this scene

He then secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Although he was not an ancient demon, as a body cultivator, he had also forcibly cultivated the 'Dark Laws' that only ancient demons could master.

It was precisely this special rule that allowed him to thrive among the ancient demons, making it difficult for anyone to suspect him.

This is not an effect that can be achieved simply by using the "Vampire Parasite Evil Technique".

Fortunately, the Dragon Lord of the Feathered Dragon Clan did not know much about him, at most he knew some of his past in the Purple Palace Realm... Otherwise, this evidence alone would probably not be enough to dispel the cultivator's suspicions about him.

“Since Fellow Daoist Wei is neither an ancient demon nor a spiritual cultivator… then, it’s time for us to settle the old score with that ‘Prince Qing’.” But at this moment, the old man with disheveled hair suddenly changed his tone and said this with a half-smile.

Clearly, when Wei Tu publicly admitted that he was the 'demon cultivator' who abducted Xue Qiongyu that day, the old man with disheveled hair had already identified Wei Tu as the 'ancient demon' who broke into the 'Dragon Refining Ancient Palace', impersonated 'A Tong', and killed Prince Qing.

The reason is simple: the time was similar, the cultivation level was similar, and the methods used to escape using the [Boundary-Severing Stone] were also similar...

There is no other possibility that it is Wei Tu.

However, upon hearing this, Wei Tu showed no panic. He simply cupped his hands and asked the Dragon Lord of the Feathered Dragon Clan how to handle the matter.

If the disheveled old man truly intended to punish him.

It's likely that he attacked him right from the start, making it impossible for him to reminisce, which suggests that the bond between "Purple Dragon Lord" and his master-disciple relationship remains unbroken...

After clarifying that he was not an ancient demon, there are likely two reasons why he brought up the old matter again:

Firstly, it can be used as a negotiating or coercive tactic to force the fulfillment of certain conditions.

Secondly, try to dispel his concerns and eliminate any misunderstandings between you.

in short.

The most dangerous thing to do is to keep this matter hidden. If the Dragon Lord of the Feathered Dragon Clan brings it up in public, it will only be a bargaining chip, not a threat.

"The Ancient Dragon Refining Palace is a relic of the True Dragon Clan, not unique to my Feathered Dragon Clan. It is only because my Feathered Dragon Clan is a dominant clan that no one dares to covet it."

"You were able to kill Prince Qing and infiltrate the Dragon Refining Ancient Palace. That is your ability and your good fortune."

"But correspondingly, no one can object to my Feathered Dragon Clan avenging my people and slaying you, my sworn enemy..."

"However, compared to Prince Qing, who comes from a minor branch of the family, you are closer to me and Lord Zichi... Fellow Daoist Wei, you should understand this, right?"

The old man with disheveled hair smiled faintly.

The meaning is already quite clear.

It is true that avenging one's own clan is a major matter for the clan, but "protecting one's own relatives" is also within the bounds of human nature.

"Please enlighten me, Lord Dragon."

Upon hearing this, Wei Tu's eyes flashed, and he instantly understood what was going on, but he still pretended not to know and said this.

The death of Prince Qing.

It was indeed a bargaining chip that the Feathered Dragon Clan could use to negotiate with him.

There is nothing wrong with that.

But... the fact that he easily escaped from the old man with disheveled hair during the fight just now is enough to prove that the threat he was talking about didn't seem to be much to him.

At least, it's not enough to force him to join the 'Feathered Dragon Clan'.

Upon hearing this, the long-haired elder, who was the Dragon Lord of the Feathered Dragon Clan, immediately understood Wei Tu's plan. His smile froze slightly, and he gave Wei Tu another deep look.

At his age, he had seen countless extraordinary talents.

There are cultivators like Wei Tu who possess extraordinary beauty and achieve immortality in ten thousand years; for example, Zi Chi Jun and Feng Qing of the Ghost Phoenix Clan belong to this category.

But... it's quite rare to find a prodigy as shrewd and calculating as Wei Tu.

He was not like a cultivator who devoted himself to ascetic practice and was not yet ten thousand years old; rather, he resembled an "old cultivator" like him who had been in charge of a clan's power and had long been involved in politics.

"This cultivator is too shrewd. Back then, Ying'er supported him, regarded him as a confidant, and traveled with him... She was lucky to escape unscathed," the disheveled old man thought to himself.

"But that makes sense. If this cultivator weren't so shrewd, how could he have escaped the pursuit of the Qilin Fire God Clan, returned safely to the Spirit Realm, and attained the Great Ascension Dao here... The Great Ascension Dao of a humble family is ultimately different from that of a powerful clan..." Thinking of this, the disheveled old man gradually felt relieved and no longer took it to heart.

Being shrewd is a bad thing when you are your enemy, but if you turn an enemy into a friend, it can be considered a stroke of luck for your side.

He could see this in Xue Qiongyu as well.

That female cultivator had not been implanted with any soul control techniques by Wei Tu. In a sense, apart from submitting to Wei Tu, she was also a free person.

A glimpse through a tube—even if a cultivator like Wei Tu is wicked, he can't be that truly wicked.

"Very well, I will speak frankly."

After a moment's thought, the disheveled old man was too lazy to engage in any more witty banter with a shrewd cultivator like Wei Tu.

He stated his purpose frankly, and what benefits he could offer Wei Tu in the event of achieving it.

"The Great Princess is my only offspring, and the position of the next Dragon King is of paramount importance to her... If successful, Ying'er can use the sacred artifact within the clan to break through to the Great Ascension Realm..."

"And the key to determining whether one gains or loses the Dragon Lord's position, Ying'er must have told you back then. It's nothing more than the support of the Mahayana cultivators and Nascent Soul cultivators within the Feathered Dragon Clan..."

"While Prince Yin is slightly inferior to Ying'er in these aspects, Ying'er still has little chance of winning."

"but--"

"With you in my life, everything will be different."

"You are a cultivator recruited by Ying'er, and you have attained the Mahayana realm here. With your support... and with my assistance, the next Dragon Lord's position will surely belong to Ying'er!"

"This is my ulterior motive for meeting you and inviting you to join the Feathered Dragon Clan."

"Once Ying'er successfully obtains the Dragon Lord's position, not only will your affair with the Feathered Dragon Clan be wiped clean, but you will also become an offering to our clan and enjoy our clan's protection..."

"At that time, all of our clan's heritage will be opened to Fellow Daoist Wei, and even our clan's sacred land... that treasure land that is beneficial to Mahayana cultivation, will allow Fellow Daoist Wei to cultivate for a thousand years free of charge."

The disheveled old man's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he spoke, each word distinct and deliberate. (End of Chapter)