Cultivation starts from devouring the Dao fruits

Several days later, as soon as the Golden Core ceremony of the Loose Cultivator Shiyang concluded, Zhao Yu declined the invitation from other Foundation Establishment Cultivators to hunt demonic beasts in the Canglong Mountain Range and returned to Little Dan Ridge with Wu Zixin.

Upon returning to Little Dan Ridge, Zhao Yu summoned all the key figures of the area.

Zhao Yu said, "This is my new consort, Wu Zixin!"

"Greetings, Madam!"

Tuoba Xue, along with other beautiful maidens and many high-ranking members of Little Dan Ridge, respectfully performed a grand salutation toward Wu Zixin.

"As a Direct Disciple of the Golden Core Ancestor, it's no wonder she could become the master's consort as soon as she arrived—it really makes people envious and jealous!"

Tuoba Xue, while watching Wu Zixin interact with everyone, gritted her teeth and felt a twinge of envy and jealousy, then glanced at Wei Xinlan, who was visibly delighted, and thought, "Only a naive person like Xinlan would genuinely rejoice her arrival. It's also for this reason that the master dotes on her so much."

Zhao Yu waved his hand, and everyone left. Only Shangguan Lingxiu, Wu Zixin, and he remained in that room.

"Sister Zixin, greetings to Sister."

Wu Zixin performed a salute to Shangguan Lingxiu, admiring her beauty that could overthrow states and kingdoms, and thought to herself, "She indeed possesses beauty that could overthrow states and kingdoms, comparable to Nangong Shiyao. No wonder Zhao Yu cherishes her so much."

Shangguan Lingxiu smiled gracefully and said, "Sister Zixin, from now on, we are one family. As you spend more time here, you will realize that our husband, despite being a bit lecherous, is truly a wonderful person!"

Zhao Yu gave an awkward smile, choosing to ignore Shangguan Lingxiu's slight tease.

Wu Zixin slightly nodded and said, "Indeed, our husband is a good man!"

The Loose Cultivator Shiyang had also conducted a thorough investigation on Zhao Yu, and Wu Zixin knew beforehand who her future husband truly was.

Wu Zixin said, "My lord, I wish to participate in the management of Little Dan Ridge. Please grant me this opportunity."

Zhao Yu smiled and said, "That's wonderful! Zixin, the management of our Spiritual Land will indeed benefit from your dedicated attention."

Being originally from Shiyang Merchant City, Wu Zixin not only possessed a Supreme-Grade Spirit Root but also had exceptional managerial talent, managing numerous businesses within Shiyang Merchant City. She was shrewd, capable and known for her integrity, which was highly regarded by Loose Cultivator Shiyang. Naturally, Zhao Yu was willing to let her partake in the management of the Spiritual Land.

Zhao Yu currently owned several pieces of Spiritual Land, each encompassing tens of thousands of square kilometers. If managed diligently, these lands could earn a substantial amount of Spirit Stones annually; if neglected, they could even operate at a loss.

It was common for a mortal emperor's palace to the minutia of purchasing a single egg, reflected in loose management like buying an egg for a single Spirit Sand in Little Dan Ridge if not carefully managed.

Shangguan Lingxiu and Tuoba Xue often dealt with paperwork in the study, striving to manage the Spiritual Land efficiently. Without their diligent supervision, Zhao Yu would need to spend a great deal of time on this task himself.

For this reason, many Sects' Golden Core Ancestors would become Supreme Elders, entrusting the Sect Leader position to their trusted disciples. Of course, there were also some Golden Core Ancestors with strong control desires who chose to act as Sect Leaders themselves, holding all the powers within the Sect.

Zhao Yu then had Shangguan Lingxiu and Tuoba Xue hand over some of their responsibilities to Wu Zixin, allowing them to ease their workload and spend more time cultivating.

Wu Zixin quickly integrated into Little Dan Ridge, exceptionally completing various tasks and relishing the challenges.

Zhao Yu immediately realized that he had acquired a precious management talent, and confidently delegated more responsibilities into Wu Zixin's hands.

In the cave cultivating Soul-Nurturing Wood.

"I've spent all my Spirit Stones just to enhance your quality! White Ghost Emperor, I hope you won't disappoint me!"

After arranging the numerous Second-Order Fierce Ghost Relics he had purchased, Zhao Yu began to absorb the Yin energy within, using the 'Swallowing Dao Fruit' method to refine and enhance the quality of the White Ghost Emperor.

One month later, inside a cave.

The White Ghost Emperor suddenly roared to the heavens, opened its mouth to inhale continuously, absorbing the Yin energy and ghostly energy within the cave. Mysterious and unfathomable Ghost Patterns faintly appeared on its skin, and a terrifying aura pervaded its being.

"White Ghost Emperor: Quality Middle-Grade (0/10000)."

"Cultivation Level: Third Order Low-Grade (10/3000)."

Zhao Yu's lips slightly curled upward, revealing a hint of a smile, "After the White Ghost Emperor's promotion to Middle-Grade Spirit Ghost, I feel a bit safer!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

After the quality improvement of the White Ghost Emperor, though its Cultivation Level hadn't increased, its combat power, evolutionary potential, and evolution speed had all surged tremendously.

Zhao Yu took the White Ghost Emperor to a secluded training ground within Little Dan Ridge for some tests, and was delighted to find that the White Ghost Emperor had overall strengthened more than twofold.

Looking at the fierce and terrifying White Ghost Emperor, Zhao Yu grew fonder and wondered secretly, "I wonder who would be stronger in a fight now between the White Ghost Emperor and a Golden Core ancestor? But before I advance to the Golden Core stage, I really don't want to fight with Golden Core experts!"

"It's time to meet Xian Jiao now, if I don't go see her now, she's probably going to be angry!"

Zhao Yu's lips slightly curled up as he flew towards the direction of Dan Ling Sect.

"Dao friend Zhao, please wait!"

A calm voice came from ahead, and an Escape Light flew towards him, blocking Zhao Yu, revealing a figure. A man, eight feet tall, with short hair, a handsome and scholarly appearance, and dressed in a black Taoist robe, appeared before Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu asked, "Who might this Dao friend be?"

The middle-aged man smiled slightly and said, "I am Zhen Hongchang, the owner of White Cloud Estate, and I have come to ask Dao friend Zhao to visit White Cloud Estate to assist me in refining a batch of pills. Once the task is accomplished, I will surely not disappoint you."

Zhao Yu responded, "If you want Alchemy to be done, prepare the reward and make a reservation at Little Dan Ridge! Apart from Little Dan Ridge, I won't go anywhere else!"

"I'm afraid you don't have much choice in this matter! Don't refuse the sake and have to drink punishment instead!"

Zhen Hongchang's gaze turned cold, his expression hardened, and a terrifying aura of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Level spread from his body.

Zhao Yu frowned slightly and said, "Sect Leader Zhen, are you really going to make a move? I am an elder of Dan Ling Sect! If you attack me, Dan Ling Sect will not stand idly by. Even though you're one of the Five Great Loose Cultivators of the Northern Desolation, you cannot withstand the wrath of a Supreme Elder from my sect!"

"As long as it is done cleanly, who will know it was me?"

Zhen Hongchang's eyes flashed a hint of mockery. He spread his five fingers and suddenly produced a Top-Grade Spiritual Weapon Level silver spirit rope. The silver rope, as if alive, transformed into a streak of silver, and in an instant, it appeared before Zhao Yu and coiled towards him.

The speed of the silver spirit rope was incredibly fast, and Zhao Yu almost hadn't reacted when it appeared right in front of him.

Just as the silver spirit rope was about to bind Zhao Yu, a white claw shrouded in pitch-black ghostly qi, grabbed the silver rope in its grasp.