I am a late bloomer in the world of cultivating immortals

As far as he knew, the Dragon Transformation Ceremony emphasized the word "dragon transformation," and it was a grand event in which some dragon descendants would refine rare and precious materials and various spiritual objects to increase the concentration of their bloodline.

Its fame was so great that even the human race of the Spirit Realm, the southernmost part of the Wind and Fire Continent, had heard of it.

This is because it is a rare way to raise one's own spiritual level through external means.

Even without considering the bloodline's elevation to the legendary "True Dragon," merely evolving into the "Flood Dragon," a common sight in the cultivation world, is already a powerful bloodline that countless cultivators dream of, second only to the True Spirit Bloodline.

However, he hadn't expected that the Dark Serpent Clan, a small, impoverished tribe in the remote Xiayang Mountains, would possess the strength to host the "Dragon Transformation Conference." Even though this conference was jointly organized with the Crimson Dragon Clan and the Wood Lizard Clan.

“The dragon bloodlines cultivated by the Dragon Transformation Conference often have the potential to advance to the Integration Realm… The Dark Serpent Clan may have Integration Realm experts still alive.” Wei Tu took a deep breath, his heart filled with more caution.

In the spirit realm, the strength of a race is judged primarily by its strongest member; the race's level is determined by the realm of its strongest individual.

The realm of Transcending Tribulation Immortals is monopolized by three dominant clans, namely the Feathered Dragon Clan, the Ghost Phoenix Clan, and the Divine Armor Clan.

Among the Mahayana cultivators below, the Ten Spirit Clan is in a league of its own.

Although the ancestor of the Mist Ghost Clan broke through to the Mahayana realm, due to the Mist Ghost Clan's many years of limit in the Spirit Realm, they were only at the Integration stage, and therefore were not included in the "Ten Spirit Clans" recognized by all races in the Spirit Realm.

However, its strength is at the level of the Ten Spirit Clan.

It's easier to divide it down from there.

Those who reach the Integration Realm, such as the Snow Infant Clan, are considered medium-sized clans, capable of dominating a region. Those who do not reach the Integration Realm are insignificant clans ignored by the cultivators of the Spirit Realm, not worth mentioning.

"As far as I know, the Dragon Transformation Ceremony involves the refining of rare and precious materials within the clan... so it is generally strictly forbidden for outsiders to participate, even if they are also snake people."

Wei Tu said coldly.

At this point, he also snorted coldly and released a trace of his own oppressive aura.

Under the impact of the oppressive force.

The Lord of the Blazing Sun Territory was struck as if by a heavy blow, staggering back several steps, his face turning deathly pale.

"This senior is not a Nascent Soul cultivator, but a Void Refinement cultivator?" The Lord of the Blazing Sun Territory exclaimed inwardly, never expecting that his clansmen would bring back such a powerful figure whose realm far surpassed his own.

"I hope you will understand, senior. I have no intention of scheming against you. Rather, it is extremely beneficial for our clan to have you participate in the Dragon Transformation Conference..."

Lord Lieyang gave a wry smile and explained the reason.

Unlike other dragon-born clans that hold their own "Dragon Transformation Conference," the Dark Serpent Clan, being a small clan, can only join forces with the neighboring Crimson Dragon Clan and Wood Lizard Clan to hold the costly "Dragon Transformation Conference." To ensure that all clan members can fully "transform into dragons," they can only determine the winner through a "battle of magic," thereby deciding the allocation of resources.

Initially, the three races maintained harmony and progressed together. However, as time passed, and after the first race resorted to underhanded tactics and sought outside assistance, the relationship between the three races deteriorated, leading to vicious competition.

The battle of wits between external aids is an indispensable part of almost every Dragon Transformation Conference for the three races.

After all, having something to eat is better than having nothing to eat.

Meat should be thoroughly cooked, cooked in your own pot; that's better than anything else.

However, although the beginning was malicious, the outcome was good. It was a case of unintentionally doing something good.

Each time an "outside ally" is sought, after gaining benefits at the Dragon Transformation Conference of the three races, it indirectly forges a positive relationship with the three races, becoming a link in their vast network of connections...

These external aids were also the pride of various dragon-blooded clans, with extremely promising growth potential. Over time, the Dark Serpent Clan, Crimson Dragon Clan, and Wood Lizard Clan also grew stronger and became renowned powerful clans among the nearby dragon-blooded clans.

Having tasted success, the Dark Serpent Clan, Crimson Dragon Clan, and Wood Lizard Clan not only do not reject bringing in outside help to fight, but also regard it as a "tradition" for them to make friends with surrounding clans, and have gradually carried it forward.

However, this will inevitably lead to the arrival of increasingly stronger external allies, and if other races are even a step too late in their efforts, they will face defeat at the Dragon Transformation Tournament...

This is why the Lord of the Blazing Sun Territory was immediately impressed upon seeing Wei Tu and made this suggestion.

Simply put, Weitu is a completely new face in the Xiayang Mountains!

Moreover, it is also incredibly powerful!

"It's just a pity that you've already reached the Void Refinement Realm, exceeding the limit of ten thousand years. It's difficult for my Dark Serpent Clan to have any external assistance..."

Lord of the Blazing Sun Territory shook his head, a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

"A limit of ten thousand years?" Upon hearing this, Wei Tu's face immediately showed a strange expression.

When did the age of a Void Refinement cultivator have to exceed ten thousand years?
He's only about three thousand years old now.

There are still seven thousand years to go before we live to the fullest!
But he quickly came to terms with it.

He was born into the "Human Race," one of the Ten Spirit Races, and was considered a rare genius even within the Human Race of the Spirit Realm.

In terms of normal cultivation time, reaching the Refinement of Emptiness realm in ten thousand years is already considered a rare and exceptional cultivation genius among small clans, with many opportunities appearing only once every ten thousand years.

The transition from the Nascent Soul stage to the Void Refinement stage involves comprehending the "Laws of Heaven and Earth," which is a major hurdle for smaller clans!
"Fellow Daoist Qiu Ming need not worry about that. I am confident that I am still old enough to participate in the Dragon Transformation Assembly..." Wei Tu replied with a faint smile.

"Could it be that you are not yet ten thousand years old, fellow Daoist?" Upon hearing this, the Lord of the Blazing Sun Territory was first taken aback, and then his face became excited.

With a Void Refinement expert under ten thousand years old as an external aid, the Dark Serpent Clan, while not guaranteed victory and first place in this Dragon Transformation Tournament, will definitely have a significant advantage in the combat.

"I'm still a hundred years away from being ten thousand years old." Wei Tu nodded slightly, exaggerating his age to avoid attracting the attention of the local powerful natives.

Even within the Feathered Dragon Clan, a person at the mid-stage of the Void Refinement realm, three thousand years old, could be considered a prodigy, let alone the dragon descendants who are subordinate to the Feathered Dragon Clan...

—Although these dragon-descended races are numerous, young Void Refinement cultivators of his age are extremely rare.

Once leaked, it will be easy for people to discover that he is a fraud and that he "does not exist."

"This junior will immediately send a message to the clan elders to designate you as an external aid to our clan... At that time, regardless of whether you win the Dragon Transformation Tournament or not, with this great achievement, it will not be difficult to use the Dark Serpent Clan's ultra-long-distance teleportation array to the outside world."

Lord Lieyang patted his chest and made a guarantee.

After speaking, the Lord of the Blazing Sun Territory did not say anything more, but quickly invited Wei Tu into his cave and gave up his own cultivation cave for Wei Tu to use.

During this time, the Lord of the Blazing Sun Territory also kept the rather charming snake-woman who had led Wei Tu behind, making her serve as his maid.

Ideally, there would be a fleeting, casual affair as well.

These words were spoken by the Lord of the Blazing Sun Territory to the snake-woman cultivator. The woman showed no displeasure, but instead readily agreed with great excitement.

A cultivator at the Void Refinement stage is a treasure trove from head to toe.

For her, Wei Tu's meager Yang energy was a miraculous elixir that would help her break through her cultivation level.

Unfortunately, Wei Tu, who overheard these words, was not moved at all. After the Lord of Lieyang Territory left, he flicked his sleeves, closed his "seclusion room," and had no further contact with this beautiful snake-woman cultivator.

After all, he wasn't a real snake-man, so why would he be interested in a snake-man female cultivator who hadn't yet transformed into a human and still had a snake tail?

……

After the Lord of the Blazing Sun Territory transformed into a beam of light and traveled to the clan's territory to report on the relevant matters.

Inside the secluded cultivation room, Wei Tu's eyes flashed slightly. He patted the spirit beast pouch at his waist, summoned the Sky-Splitting Eagle, and with a cry from the eagle, flew away from Lieyang Territory using the "Sky-Splitting Escape."

Half an hour later, he returned to his secluded room, and a look of relief appeared on his face.

He understood the principle that "one-sided listening leads to ignorance."

Just now, I used spatial teleportation to leave the Blazing Sun Territory, my purpose being to find out whether the Blazing Sun Territory Lord's words were true or false.

Using the "Soul-Summoning Technique," a hypnotic art no less powerful than the Soul-Searching Technique, he easily obtained relevant information from the lords near the Blazing Sun Territory.

Lord Lieyang had not lied to him. In every Dragon Transformation Tournament, the Dark Serpent Clan would go to great lengths to obtain powerful external assistance to help them achieve victory.

"I wonder if I, a cultivator without dragon blood, will be able to gain anything from the Dragon Transformation Pool..." Wei Tu's eyes flickered as he pondered to himself.

The Dragon Transformation Pool is a reward given by the Dark Serpent Clan, Crimson Flood Dragon Clan, and Wood Lizard Clan to the winning cultivators after the Dragon Transformation Tournament. It contains rare and precious materials that the three clans have collected over the years and that are beneficial to purifying the bloodline of dragon-descended cultivators.

It is also of great benefit to dragon-born cultivators at the Refinement of Emptiness level.

Throughout history, many cultivators at the Void Refinement stage have used this method to break through their cultivation realms.

"If it's useless, it doesn't matter. The main purpose of participating in the Three Races' Dragon Transformation Assembly is to use the Dark Serpent Clan's ultra-long-distance teleportation array to leave this place..."

Wei Tu shook his head, suppressing this distracting thought, and with a flick of his wrist, took out a drop of "Demon Ancestor's Holy Blood" and began to patiently comprehend the dark laws within it.

At the early stage of the sixth level of body refinement, after repeatedly consuming the essence of his true spirit and immortal bones, he had already gained some understanding of the laws of darkness.

Decades ago, after breaking through to the mid-stage of the sixth level of Body Refinement, he naturally gained a deeper understanding of the dark laws within the body by relying on the "Sacred Blood of the Demon Ancestor"...

It was only because he needed to refine the escape technique "Seven Wonders Demon Body" at that time and escape from the Lesser Spirit Realm that he did not immediately try to comprehend this legendary supreme law that only ancient demons could master.

"In terms of realm, although I haven't reached the late stage of Void Refinement yet, with the dual cultivation of Dharma and body... I should have met the requirements of Dharma power and physical body for completely mastering the laws..." Wei Tu's eyes burned with ambition, intending to master the Dark Laws and achieve "half-step Integration" before breaking through to the late stage of Void Refinement.

Currently, there is still about a hundred years until the opening of Dinghai Immortal Ruins.

He plans to use the Holy Spirit Stone to completely master the "Rule Domain" of the Dark Laws within the next hundred years.

Back then, Da Yuanshuang successfully broke through to the "half-step fusion" stage in the Lesser Spirit Realm and mastered the "rule domain" in just sixty years.

Da Yuan Shuang is acceptable.

That doesn't make sense, he can't do it!
This was not arrogance on his part, but rather confidence. With the natural advantage that the Golden Purple Destiny granted him in comprehending the laws, he was in no way inferior to Da Yuanshuang in his progress in comprehending the laws.

The only variable is that the "Dark Laws" are not something that ordinary cultivators can easily master.

However, since he had already grasped the "first" aspect of this law during his time at the "Crow Tower," it is not difficult for him to reach the "second" and "third" aspects, as well as the final perfect accomplishment.

"Dark Dharma Intent (34/100): After a hundred times of contemplation, you will surely gain something."

Wei Tu immersed his consciousness in his mind, checking his progress in comprehending the laws of darkness while consuming the essence of his True Spirit Immortal Bone to extract "fragments of rules" from the "Sacred Blood of the Demon Ancestor" and comprehend the "laws of darkness" contained within them.

……

half a month later.

The Lord of Lieyang Territory, having left the territory, then returned to Lieyang Territory.

At this moment, an old woman who looked similar to him but appeared much older appeared beside him.

The old woman had jet-black lips and wore many bone rings adorned with various gemstones on her hands, giving her a somewhat sinister air.

“Grandmother, once you see Senior Fu, you’ll know that what I said is true. To be honest, I was also shocked when I learned that he was less than ten thousand years old. There are very few Void Refinement cultivators who look as young as him…” The Lord of the Blazing Sun Territory said respectfully as he led the way.

"If what you say is true, this child is indeed a cultivator who is not yet ten thousand years old. That 'White Rhinoceros Pill' that you have been coveting for so long, your grandmother obtained it for you after returning to the clan..."

The old woman fiddled with a strand of long hair that hung down from her shoulder, resembling a thin snake, and said with a smile.

"Thank you, Grandmother." Upon hearing this, the Lord of the Blazing Sun Territory was overjoyed and immediately expressed his gratitude.

The two had been talking for a short while when the territory of the Blazing Sun Territory became clearly visible in the distance.

"That cultivator is indeed quite capable." The old woman looked towards the cave where Wei Tu was, and couldn't help but let out a soft exclamation, her eyes narrowing slightly at that moment.

Whether Wei Tu's strength is profound or not, she has not yet met him and cannot ascertain the truth.

But... one can know autumn is coming from seeing just one leaf.

The defensive formations and restrictions that Wei Tu set up outside the cave were beyond the reach of ordinary Void Refinement cultivators—his wealth, familiarity with and control over formations were unmatched by any non-Void Refinement cultivator.

"Now, let's see if this child is lying about his age."

The old woman grabbed the shoulder of the Lord of the Blazing Sun Territory, took a step forward, and with a slight sway, arrived at the entrance of Wei Tu's cave.

"I, Fu, greet you, fellow Daoist." At the same moment, Wei Tu, sensing the old woman's arrival, did not put on airs and took the initiative to walk out of the cave gate to greet her.

According to his blood energy perception, this old woman was only at the late stage of the Void Refinement realm. However, due to the pure bloodline of the Dark Serpent Clan, he sensed a magical aura within her that was no less than that of a "peak Void Refinement" level cultivator.

Of course, with his current strength, even if this old woman was at the peak of the Void Refinement stage, he would not feel any fear or apprehension.

However, in the old woman's eyes, Wei Tu's calm and composed demeanor was not so simple.

"There's no need for so much formality among peers."

The old woman was very easygoing, chatting with Wei Tu with a smile, and in her conversation, she began to probe Wei Tu's background, as well as his specific cultivation level and age.

Upon learning that these words were the same as those relayed by his grandson, the Lord of the Blazing Sun Territory, he nodded secretly, then flipped his hand and took out a strange magical artifact that resembled a snake bone.

"This device is called the 'Bone Serpent Bell,' and it has the effect of detecting a cultivator's age... When a cultivator reaches a thousand years of age, the serpent will hiss once."

"I hope Fellow Daoist Fu will not blame me for being suspicious."

"For the safety of our clan at the Dragon Transformation Assembly, please, Fellow Daoist Fu, step forward and have your age checked..." (End of Chapter)