Cultivation starts from devouring the Dao fruits

Zhao Yu said, "I hope you can come with me!"

"Brother Yu, you're wholeheartedly pursuing the Dao. But I can't let go of the Ling family! As the legitimate daughter of the Changyang Ling family, I was born to enjoy the glory and wealth that others can't, and can easily obtain countless cultivation resources from the Ling family, making numerous good friends."

"Now the only hope of the entire Ling family rests on me. If I leave the Ling family at this time, the Changyang Ling family won't be able to preserve the legacy that has been fought for over generations, and I would let down the upbringing the Ling family has given me."

"I'm sorry, Brother Yu, I can't go with you to Mushi Country."

Ling Qian Xue's complexion changed several times, and she finally let out a deep sigh, holding Zhao Yu's hand tightly with great reluctance.

Ling Qian Xue possessed a Superior Grade Spirit Root, and if she chose to enter the Cang Spirit Sect, the sect would be very happy to accept her. But she always stayed with the Ling family, so that she could advance to Foundation Establishment in the future and continue the lineage of the Changyang Ling family.

"This is a Copper Zombie with the combat power of Foundation Establishment level, to protect you!" Read latest stories on empire

Zhao Yu took out a pitch-black coffin and handed over the techniques for manipulating the Copper Zombie and the Corpse Controlling Bell to Ling Qian Xue.

Ling Qian Xue managed to squeeze out a smile, "Thank you, Brother Yu."

Zhao Yu said, "You have also reached the Great Circle of Qi Refining. If you want to establish your foundation now, I can also act as your protector."

In recent years, Ling Qian Xue had also taken many Superior Grade Elixirs refined by Zhao Yu, and her cultivation level had soared, also reaching the Great Circle of Qi Refining.

Determination flashed in Ling Qian Xue's beautiful eyes as she said, "I wish to establish my foundation, and I hope you, Brother Yu, will protect me!"

"Here, this is for you!"

Zhao Yu smiled slightly and handed over five Top-Quality Foundation Establishment Pills to Ling Qian Xue.

Ling Qian Xue's eyes lit up, and she excitedly said, "Foundation Establishment Pills! You can refine Foundation Establishment Pills now?"

In the Northern Desolation, the Pill Masters capable of refining Foundation Establishment Pills could be counted on one hand, and they were all the top Pill Masters. Each and every one of them had an extremely prestigious status.

The Northern Desolation's four great sects firmly grasped control of the region by mastering the Foundation Establishment Pills. Foundation Establishment Cultivators emerged one after another from the four great sects, while it was extremely difficult for Loose Cultivators to achieve Foundation Establishment, due to the Foundation Establishment Pills.

A Pill Master capable of refining Foundation Establishment Pills was also highly respected among Foundation Establishment Cultivators, having an exalted status.

After all, many Foundation Establishment Cultivators, despite not needing Foundation Establishment Pills for themselves, had friends, family, and disciples who did need them, so naturally, they would not easily offend a Pill Master capable of refining Foundation Establishment Pills.

Zhao Yu said, "These Foundation Establishment Pills were obtained from those plundering cultivators."

"Let's just leave it at that!"

Ling Qian Xue smiled sweetly, holding the five Top-Quality Foundation Establishment Pills in her hand. With six Top-Quality Foundation Establishment Pills to assist her, she would definitely be able to ascend to Foundation Establishment.

Three months later, a powerful aura at the Foundation Establishment Level emanated from the Quiet Room in the Mountain Wolf Ridge, and an hour later, Ling Qian Xue, dressed in a white palace costume, looking even more beautiful and possessing an ethereal temperament, walked out from the secret chamber.

Zhao Yu smiled slightly and approached her, saying, "Qian Xue, congratulations on your successful Foundation Establishment! Also, you've become even more beautiful than before!"

"Thank you, Brother Yu. I only used one out of the six Foundation Establishment Pills to succeed!"

Ling Qian Xue smiled sweetly and handed the five Top-Quality Foundation Establishment Pills back to Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu said, "The rest of the Foundation Establishment Pills are for you! With these, the Ling family can give rise to a few more Foundation Establishment cultivators in the future, and your responsibility can be lightened somewhat."

"Brother Yu, you're so kind!"

Ling Qian Xue's alluring eyes drew Zhao Yu's hands toward her.

One night of spring breeze, and Ling Qian Xue was passionate as fire.

The next day, news of Ling Qianxue's advancement to Foundation Establishment quickly spread throughout Cang Country, causing quite a stir.

Cang Country originally had five great Foundation Establishment families, with the Wang family not having collapsed, the rest of the four families almost entirely fell during the battles of the Five Sects.

Ling Qianxue's Foundation Establishment meant that the Ling family could still firmly control the Market and Spirit Lotus Lake, two vital Spiritual Lands, allowing the Ling family to continue maintaining its status as a Foundation Establishment family.

Seven days later, atop Wolf Ridge Mountain.

Su Bingyun looked at Zhao Yu and slowly said, "Zhao Yu, do you really plan to leave Cang Country? With my recommendation, you could join Cang Ling Sect!"

Cang Ling Sect was the dominant Golden Core Sect and the power that most Loose Cultivators aspired to join in Cang Country.

However, aside from Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Qi Refinement cultivators, even those at the Great Circle of Qi Refining, might not be able to join Cang Ling Sect.

Cang Ling Sect preferred to recruit young cultivators with Spirit Roots and cultivate them from the beginning, as the loyalty of such cultivators to the sect naturally tended to be much higher than that of Loose Cultivators.

Zhao Yu said, "My mind is made up!"

Su Bingyun took a deep look at Zhao Yu and said no more.

After handing over Wolf Ridge Mountain to Su Bingyun, Zhao Yu took Li Xianjiao and floated away.

Mushi Country's Tiger Spirit Mountain Market.

"Number forty-three, Zixin Alley!"

After arriving at Tiger Spirit Mountain Market, Zhao Yu found the manager from Dan Ling Sect in the Market, and rented a cave mansion in the Market Center District of Tiger Spirit Mountain for three years.

No sooner had Zhao Yu and Li Xianjiao arrived at their newly rented cave mansion when the door of the neighboring mansion opened, and out walked a Qi Refinement Seventh Level female cultivator. She had a graceful figure, tied her hair in a single ponytail, had a cool temperament, and was very beautiful.

Zhao Yu gave a slight smile, clasped his hands together, and greeted her, "Fellow Daoist, I am Zhao Yu, a Pill Master. She is Li Xianjiao, my younger sister! We've just rented this cave mansion, and from now on, we will be neighbors."

The Qi Refinement female cultivator said, "Fellow Daoist Zhao, I am Miao Caiyan, a Talisman Master."

Zhao Yu quickly got to know his neighbors. To the left of his mansion lived the somewhat aloof Miao Caiyan, and to the right was a Qi Refinement Ninth Level cultivator named Chai Lang.

Two months passed in the blink of an eye.

Zhao Yu found the manager of the practice room in Tiger Spirit Mountain Market and said, "I want to rent a Grade A Practice Room!"

The manager looked at Zhao Yu and realizing that he was at the Great Circle of Qi Refining immediately said, "A Grade A Practice Room? One Spirit Stone per day! How many days do you want to rent it for?"

Every market had practice rooms, and those rooms were equipped with Gathering Yuan Grand Formations that concentrated the Spiritual Energy from the Spirit Veins, significantly enhancing the level of Spiritual Energy inside the practice rooms.

Those cultivators who wanted to break through the bottleneck of Qi Refinement and advance to Foundation Establishment would go to the practice rooms in the market to make their breakthrough.

Zhao Yu took out two hundred Spirit Stones and handed them over, "I'll rent it for two hundred days!"

The manager curiously asked, "Fellow Daoist, how old are you this year?"

Zhao Yu answered, "I am forty-six this year."

The manager handed a token to Zhao Yu, saying, "I wish you success in your Foundation Establishment!"

"Thank you for your kind words."

Zhao Yu gave a slight smile and headed towards a Grade A Practice Room.

The manager looked at Zhao Yu with some sympathy, "Forty-six years old! That age is somewhat delicate. Although he can't compare to the sect geniuses who establish their foundations around thirty, he's much stronger than ordinary Loose Cultivators. His attempt at Foundation Establishment will probably fail, though!

After all, out of ten Loose Cultivators who attempt Foundation Establishment, nine die!"