Cultivation starts from devouring the Dao fruits

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After exterminating the monster that the red mansion had transformed into, Zhao Yu and his group eliminated dozens of low-level demon beasts before they finally arrived within the second-order superior spiritual land.

Upon reaching this second-order superior spiritual land, they could no longer employ the brute force method of slash-and-burn, as it would kill the spiritual medicines growing in the land and damage the environment of the spiritual land.

Zhao Yu announced that the newly reclaimed farmland would be rent-free for the first three years, with the rent increasing by ten percent each year thereafter until it was on par with the rent in the small Yuan Mountain Market. The people who opened up the farmland had the right of first refusal to renew their lease.

The mortals, under the leadership of various cultivation families, started to cultivate the land in different parts of this second-order superior spiritual land.

This piece of second-order superior spiritual land was two hundred square miles in size, enough to establish a small country, and there were only thirty thousand humans who arrived there. With such an abundance of land for the scarce population, there was currently no need to fight over territory.

Zhao Yu directly went to the heart of the second-order superior spiritual land and set up a basic Gathering Yuan Grand Formation to gather the surrounding spiritual energy. He then used a spell to carve out a spacious, albeit somewhat crude, cave mansion.

Zhao Yu directly released the White Ghost Emperor, allowing it to hunt demon beasts freely within the spiritual land. He himself patrolled the land, preparing to set up a second-order inferior Spirit Wood Grand Formation.

There were quite a few second-order spiritual plants growing within this second-order superior spiritual land, and using those as the core, a powerful Spirit Wood Grand Formation could be established.

Zhao Yu had been studying formations over the years, and the two he studied most deeply were the Spirit Wood Grand Formation and the Wang family's second-order superior Thousand Trees Formation Array.

The two grand formations were of the same lineage; both essentially used the second-order spiritual plants that grew on the spirit veins as their core, manipulating the earth pulse spiritual power through the formation to attack enemies and defend.

The Wang family's inheritance had fallen into the hands of Zhao Yu, which included research notes on the two grand formations from generations of Wang family Array Masters.

Zhao Yu's talent for formations was already quite exceptional. Coupled with the strength of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he had thoroughly studied both formations. He quickly began to arrange the Spirit Wood Grand Formation within that spiritual land.

Half a month later, a streak of Escape Light flew in from afar.

As soon as the Escape Light entered the spiritual land, the Spiritual Light from a spirit wood shone and transformed into a giant wood serpent that wrapped around the incoming Escape Light.

Multitudes of Spiritual Light flashed, and a terrifying suction force emanated from within the spiritual land, enveloping the Escape Light above.

A young cultivator at the Sixth Level of Qi Refinement standing on a disc-shaped Magic Artifact shouted, "Uncle-Master Zhao, I am Xiahou Mingde, Xiahou Zhenyu is my master!"

The giant wood serpent quickly receded and reverted to ordinary second-order spirit wood.

A trail of smoky path rose up, leading directly to Zhao Yu's cave mansion.

Xiahou Mingde pondered inwardly, "Uncle-Master Zhao has already set up the grand formation; it's truly extraordinary!"

Following the smoky trail, Xiahou Mingde arrived within Zhao Yu's cave mansion.

Xiahou Mingde said, "Uncle-Master Zhao, I have come by order to inform you that Zhang Yu and Qian Li have both perished. They both encountered monsters resembling red mansions and were killed by them. My master sent me to remind you to be wary of those monsters."

After an extensive conversation with Xiahou Mingde, Zhao Yu learned that after the deaths of Zhang Yu and Qian Li, their families and the remaining cultivation clans chose to pledge allegiance to Xiahou Zhenyu.

Exploring the Canglong Mountain range, a place rampant with demon beasts and evil spirits, is fraught with grave dangers. This is the very reason why the Five Great Sects are so willing to grant the rights to the spiritual land to those who embark on such ventures. If it weren't for the promise of substantial benefits, no cultivator would risk coming to the Canglong Mountain range.

The cultivation families that came to develop the Canglong Mountain range had no other choice, as all the spiritual lands within the four nations already had owners. New cultivation families wishing to own a piece of spiritual land for their clan could only take the risk to come here to Canglong Mountain range for their venture.

Xiahou Mingde quickly took his leave.

The next day, inside Zhao Yu's cave mansion.

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Tuoba Ying said with a face full of respect, "Senior Zhao Yu, this is my daughter Tuoba Xue. My Tuoba family is willing to offer her to serve the senior, and we hope the senior will kindly accept!"

Standing next to Tuoba Ying was a great beauty with long legs, a tall figure, skin like creamy jade, full breasts, a wasp waist, pert buttocks, delicate facial features, stunningly beautiful, and possessed a sharp and capable air. She had the cultivation level of the Qi Refining fifth level.

Zhao Yu couldn't help but take an extra glance at Tuoba Xue. Only slightly inferior to Ling Qianxue before her Foundation Establishment, Tuoba Xue was an exceedingly rare beauty.

Wei Hongchou's brows furrowed slightly, and he thought to himself, "Tuoba Xue is the only daughter of Tuoba Ying. He can really bear to part with her!"

Standing by Wei Hongchou's side was a youthful beauty, slender and petite, with full breasts, small cherry lips, delicate features, and an innocent demeanor, possessing the cultivation level of Qi Refining first level.

Wei Hongchou, with the same respectful demeanor, said, "Senior Zhao Yu, this is my foster daughter Wei Xinlan. My Wei family is willing to offer her to serve the senior, and we hope the senior will kindly accept."

Zhao Yu said indifferently, "I do happen to need two servant girls. Are you two willing to stay?"

Tuoba Xue performed a curtsey and said, "Master, Tuoba Xue is willing!"

Wei Xinlan hesitated for a moment before saying, "This humble girl is willing!"

Zhao Yu nodded slightly and allowed the two family heads to leave. Then he chatted with Tuoba Xue and Wei Xinlan for a while.

Tuoba Xue was sharp and capable, very clever, and carried the grace of a lady from a prominent family, possessing a mid-grade Wood Spirit Root. Wei Xinlan, on the other hand, was somewhat shy and unconfident, meek in nature and without much autonomy. She only possessed a low-grade Water Spirit Root.

Zhao Yu instructed Tuoba Xue to mentor Wei Xinlan, then left the Spiritual Land for the Market at Xiao Yuan Mountain and brought Shangguan Lingxiu over.

Zhao Yu said, "Lingxiu, these two are the servant girls I have recently taken in! From now on, they will be under your management."

"We've met the madam!"

The two women, Tuoba Xue, performed a courtesy towards Shangguan Lingxiu.

Upon seeing Shangguan Lingxiu, Tuoba Xue thought to herself, "What a beautiful person! No wonder the master only took us as servant girls. His concubine is such a beauty!"

"What pretty servant girls! I must not lose to them."

Seeing Tuoba Xue and Wei Xinlan stirred a slight sense of crisis in Shangguan Lingxiu as well.

Zhao Yu said, "You two may leave now."

"Yes!"

The two women, Tuoba Xue, left.

Zhao Yu said, "Lingxiu, you will manage the inner affairs. I plan to hand over some of the external matters to Tuoba Xue and some to you. Pay more attention and learn."

Shangguan Lingxiu smiled sweetly and replied, "Yes, My Lord Husband! Your concubine will learn well."

The next day, Zhao Yu began to recruit servants and followers, started a medicinal herb garden to cultivate spiritual medicines, and hired craftsmen to build his cave mansion into a majestic and splendid residence.

A month later, an escape light flew from afar, and upon entering Zhao Yu's Spiritual Land, it revealed its form.

A Foundation Establishment Cultivator, a great beauty at the first level, wearing a goose-yellow palace outfit, with a tall and flowing figure, skin white and smooth like milk, and every movement exuding an enchanting charm, stood upon a spiritual artifact silk scarf and called out, "Fang Shuanglan seeks an audience with Zhao Daoist Friend!"