Cultivation starts from devouring the Dao fruits

"Fang Daoist friend, please come into the mansion for a talk!"

A stream of smoke rose up, extending all the way to Zhao Yu's cave mansion.

"I apologize for the intrusion!"

With a faint smile, Fang Shuanglan maneuvered her magic artifact, landing in front of Zhao Yu's cave mansion. Carrying a waft of fragrance, she strode into the mansion.

After Tuoba Xue and Wei Xinlan served the Spiritual Tea, they stood beside the two.

Zhao Yu said, "Fang Daoist friend, may I know the purpose of your visit this time?"

With a charming smile, Fang Shuanglan said, "Zhao Daoist friend, I came here for that Second-Order Medium Grade Spirit Vein in your hands. You alone cannot develop two Spirit Veins, so how about you gift that Spirit Vein to me and let me develop it?"

Zhao Yu said, "Thirty thousand Spirit Stones! Just thirty thousand Spirit Stones, and that Second-Order Medium Grade Spirit Vein is yours!"

In the Four Northern Barren Countries, let alone thirty thousand Spirit Stones, even three hundred thousand Spirit Stones would not be enough to buy a Second-Order Medium Grade Spirit Vein.

After all, a Second-Order Medium Grade Spirit Vein usually covers an area of about a hundred square kilometers, rich in Spiritual Energy, with many places suitable for developing Spirit Fields and planting various types of Spiritual Medicine. If managed properly, it can earn a lot of Spirit Stones each year.

With a light laugh, Fang Shuanglan said, "I have just progressed to Foundation Establishment, and currently, I don't have that many Spirit Stones. Could you perhaps let me develop the Spirit Vein first, and I will return the Spirit Stones to you in the future?"

Zhao Yu said, "No!"

Flicking her hair with a jade hand, Fang Shuanglan smiled seductively and said, "How about this? I am willing to offer myself in marriage and become Daoist companions with you. That way, you might consider gifting that Spirit Vein to me, right?"

Zhao Yu calmly said, "Since Fang Daoist friend cannot produce the Spirit Stones, then there's nothing more to discuss."

"Sigh, forget it! Here are thirty thousand Spirit Stones! Truly a man who does not appreciate favors!"

With a look of resentment, Fang Shuanglan glanced at Zhao Yu, then waved her jade hand, and a storage bag fell into Zhao Yu's hands.

After Zhao Yu meticulously counted them, he nodded slightly and drafted a document to transfer the Spirit Vein to Fang Shuanglan.

Upon receiving the document, Fang Shuanglan maneuvered her magic artifact, turning into a beam of Escape Light as she departed.

A month later, in addition to the Spirit Vein he sold to Fang Shuanglan, Zhao Yu also saw the remaining three ownerless Spirit Veins being sold by Xiahou Zhenyu and Cui Qing to three other Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Although those Spirit Veins were excellent, without manpower to develop them, they were worthless.

Inside the Canglong Mountain Range, filled with peril, it was crucial to have more Foundation Establishment Cultivators to share the burden.

A month later, a beam of Escape Light flew from afar and materialized in front of Zhao Yu's cave mansion, revealing Xiahou Mingde.

Tuoba Xue came out to greet him, smiling faintly, "Xiahou Daoist friend, please follow me!"

"What a stunning beauty! And she is still a Qi Refinement Cultivator. Foundation ancestors are indeed enviable!"

Xiahou Mingde gazed at Tuoba Xue intensely, a trace of envy rising in his heart, but he dared not show any disrespect and followed her into the cave mansion.

Upon seeing Zhao Yu sitting on the cushion, Xiahou Mingde stepped forward and greeted, "I pay my respects to Uncle-Master Zhao!"

Zhao Yu nodded slightly, "Sit!"

"Thank you, Uncle-Master!"

Xiahou Mingde also settled down on a meditation cushion.

Tuoba Xue and Wei Xinlan, the two women, served tea to the two men and then stood by Zhao Yu's side.

Xiahou Mingde handed Zhao Yu an invitation, "Uncle Master Zhao, Master plans to marry Fang Shuanglan as his Dao companion in a month. This is the invitation he asked me to personally deliver to you!"

Zhao Yu pondered, "Fang Shuanglan, this woman really has remarkable methods, to have won over Senior Brother Xiahou in such a short time!"

Xiahou Zhenyu was not an ascetic monk, he often frequented the Green House. He had more than ten concubines and over a hundred beautiful maids. It was astonishing that he was willingly entering into a Daoist union with Fang Shuanglan, which spoke volumes about her capabilities.

Zhao Yu accepted the invitation, agreed to attend, and Xiahou Mingde then left directly.

A month later, inside a luxurious cave mansion at Xi Quan Ridge.

Xiahou Mingde and seven other Foundation Establishment Cultivators sat at a jade table, while the other cultivators attending the wedding banquet were seated at wooden tables around them, keeping their distance from the group of seven.

With Xiahou Mingde's introductions, Zhao Yu also got to know the other three unfamiliar Foundation Establishment Cultivators. These three were the white-haired old man Tai Kunlin, the short-statured old man with gray hair and two large tumors on his forehead Kong Feng, and the middle-aged cultivator with an ordinary stature, handsome appearance, and short hair, Tong Shouren.

Xiahou Mingde's face glowed with happiness as he raised his cup and drained it in one gulp, "It is my honor that you have come to attend my wedding! I drink first as a gesture of respect!"

Fang Shuanglan was dressed in gorgeous attire and heavy makeup, looking even more stunning, with a smiling gaze fixed on Xiahou Mingde.

Tai Kunlin smiled and said, "It truly makes me envious, Brother Xiahou, that you have found such a Dao companion as Lady Fang!"

Fang Shuanglan, dignified and graceful, smiled gently, "It is my honor to become Dao companions with Xiahou!"

Xiahou Mingde laughed heartily, "Hahaha, it is also my honor to become Dao companions with Shuanglan!"

In the Northern Wilderness, Foundation Establishment Cultivators were few, and female Foundation Establishment Cultivators were even rarer.

Although Dan Ling Sect had more female Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they too had very high standards.

Xiahou Mingde, though a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator who was considered a great cultivator by others and ostensibly the highest in cultivation among the seven present, was nonetheless deemed quite ordinary among the female cultivators of Dan Ling Sect.

That was precisely why, after meeting Fang Shuanglan, Xiahou Mingde was utterly captivated by her and decided within a month to marry her.

Fang Shuanglan cheerfully suggested, "In three months' time, when the minor beast tide arrives and demon beasts attack, how about we form a joint Demon Hunting Team to face the beast tide?"

Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly fell silent.

Every autumn and winter, demon beasts would surge out of the depths of Canglong Mountain to find food for the winter, including some Second-Order Demon Beasts.

The seven Foundation Establishment present were naturally unwilling to divide their forces to form a joint Demon Hunting Team, especially since the leader of this team would naturally be Xiahou Zhenyu, who had the highest cultivation level.

Xiahou Zhenyu laughed heartily and raised his cup, draining it in one gulp, "Today is a joyous occasion, let's not talk about such discouraging matters! Come on, let's drink!"

The atmosphere instantly became lively again.

After the banquet, the cultivators returned to their respective Spiritual Lands to make various preparations.

Zhao Yu continued to have the White Ghost Emperor hunt demon beasts around his Spiritual Land, reducing their numbers, and also used the power of consuming Dao Fruits to refine the souls of those demon beasts, serving as nourishment for the evolution of his talent.

Additionally, Zhao Yu recruited cultivators within his Spiritual Land and formed a Demon Hunting Team made up of cultivators, as well as a team consisting of commoners. The team of commoners was mainly responsible for evacuating people, guiding them through various evasion drills, and also conducting some combat training.