Cultivation starts from devouring the Dao fruits

"We're almost there! Once we reach that place, those people will definitely not dare to lay a hand on me!"

Clad in a filthy cloak, Xiao Xixi bit her silver teeth and looked toward Wolf Ridge not far away, a glint of light flashing in her eyes.

"Miss Xiao, where do you think you're going? Ah, I know, you want to go to Wolf Ridge to find Zhao Yu! Too bad, you're one step short!"

A frivolous voice rose, as a middle-aged cultivator who was six feet tall, with black short hair, a weather-beaten face, and possessed the cultivation level of the sixth level of Qi Refining, emerged from the nearby woods, staring intently at Xiao Xixi's chest and smiling grimly.

A young cultivator dressed in green, with the cultivation level of the fifth level of Qi Refining, also came out from the side, a fierce smile on his face, "Isn't this our Miss Xiao? So high and mighty, looking down on Loose Cultivators! In a moment, the collapse of your arrogant face will certainly be interesting!!"

Xiao Xixi shouted fiercely, "Get out of my way!! I'm the best friend of Ling Qianxue, the Dao Companion of Senior Zhao Yu. If you dare to strike me, she will definitely not let you off! Senior Zhao Yu won't just sit by and do nothing either! Think about the fate of the Three Villains of Lin Mountain and Saint Golden Lion!"

The expressions of those two cultivators changed slightly. The Three Villains of Lin Mountain, Saint Golden Lion—each one was a big shot they couldn't afford to provoke. If Zhao Yu could easily take down these four cultivators, he was naturally even more fearsome.

The middle-aged cultivator sneered, "Senior Zhao Yu is certainly strong! But the Loose Cultivator from Yunling is a true Foundation Establishment Cultivator! How could Senior Zhao Yu possibly conflict with the Loose Cultivator from Yunling just for a woman like you?"

Xiao Xixi's heart sank slightly. She had no acquaintance with Zhao Yu; although she was Ling Qianxue's good friend, Ling Qianxue had many good friends because of her wide connections and might not be willing to stand up for her.

"What do you plan to do with this concubine's friend?"

A voice as clear as a silver bell rang out, as Ling Qianxue, dressed in a white palace costume and stunningly beautiful, flew over from Wolf Ridge on a Brocade Handkerchief Magical Tool.

Xiao Xixi exclaimed with surprise, "Sister Qian Xue! These two men want to kill me!!"

The middle-aged cultivator bowed his hands in salute, "Family Head Ling, we two are subordinates of Senior Yunling, the Loose Cultivator! Senior Yunling married Miss Xiao Xuerou of the Xiao family a few days ago! We were ordered by Senior Yunling to take Miss Xiao Xixi back home. Please make it convenient for Family Head Ling."

Ling Qianxue's brows slightly furrowed as she looked at Xiao Xixi.

Kneeling on the ground, Xiao Xixi sobbed without tears, "Sister Qian Xue, Yunling married Xiao Xuerou from a branch of the Xiao family, all to snatch everything from my Xiao family. He has now usurped my Yuefeng Xiao family. Please sister, stand up for me and help me take back the Xiao family!"

A cold light flashed in Ling Qianxue's eyes as she brought out a Supreme Grade magical sword of a top-grade magical artifact level, striking out like lightning, penetrating the heart of the middle-aged cultivator with a single blow.

"Family Head Ling, what are you doing..."

The other young cultivator screamed in terror, but in the next moment, his head was severed by the magic sword, leaving his headless body to fall to the ground.

In the North Desolate, aside from areas such as the Canglong Mountain Range that were not explored by humans, all top-quality Spiritual Lands of the first tier and above basically had their owners.

Newly emerged Foundation Establishment Cultivators either had to join one of the Great Sects or else join Shiyang City or the large Foundation Establishment families as an offering, finding it very difficult to create a new Foundation Establishment family.

To establish a Foundation Establishment family, besides needing Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the key was having a top-quality Spiritual Land that could be passed down through generations.

Some newly emerged Foundation Establishment Cultivators, unable to establish Foundation Establishment families openly, resorted to crooked paths.

For example, marrying a female from a branch of a Foundation Establishment family that had lost the protection of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and then legitimately usurping the nest like a cuckoo, taking over that Foundation Establishment family.

Once the Foundation Establishment Cultivator occupied that family, with certain methods, after a few generations, that Foundation Establishment family's bloodline and surname would be completely replaced.

Ling Qianxue said, "Xixi, I do not have the authority to decide on this matter. However, I can take you to meet Zhao Yu."

Xiao Xixi said with a grateful expression, "Thank you, Sister Qianxue!"

The two of them flew into the inner reaches of Canglong Mountain aboard the Brocade Handkerchief Magical Tool, and within a boat on a lake, they found Zhao Yu.

Xiao Xixi detailed everything that had happened to Zhao Yu, then knelt on the ground and pleaded, "Elder Zhao, I beg you to preside over justice! As long as you can help our Xiao family get through this catastrophe, we will definitely repay your great kindness and virtue! Please!"

Zhao Yu indifferently said, "It is already very late, you should go down and rest."

A hint of disappointment flashed through Xiao Xixi's eyes as she said, "Yes, Elder Zhao!"

A beautiful maid stepped forward and took Xiao Xixi away.

Ling Qianxue's brows lifted slightly as she said, "Brother Yu, are you not planning to intervene in this matter?"

Zhao Yu smiled faintly and said, "I have no relations with the Xiao family. How could I possibly become hostile with another Foundation Establishment Cultivator because of her single request? I am willing to shelter her, and that is already out of consideration for you."

Ling Qianxue sighed softly and snuggled into Zhao Yu's embrace, saying no more. Having been together for a long time, she understood that her man was someone who focused on cultivation, was extremely cautious, and was unwilling to offend others easily.

If it were not for her taking the initiative to give herself to him, Zhao Yu would have probably left the Ling family long ago to cultivate in another secure place.

Several days later, an Escape Light flew from afar and stopped outside Canglong Mountain.

A middle-aged man of average stature, with short black hair and a handsome face, looked at Canglong Mountain, shrouded in dense fog, and called out, "Where is Zhao Yu, the Master of Canglong Mountain?"

An intimidating pressure of a second layer Foundation Establishment burst forth from the middle-aged man.

"That's a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!"

"How did the Mountain Master offend that Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator?"

". . . ."

Many cultivators within Canglong Mountain sensed the terrifying pressure emanating from that Foundation Establishment Cultivator and could not help but have a slight change in their expression.

The fog enveloping Canglong Mountain parted, and Zhao Yu, standing on a flower basket Magic Artifact, flew to the edge of the Spirit Wood Grand Formation and said, "Who might this fellow daoist be?"

Yun Ling, the Lofty Loose Cultivator, said with an imposing tone, "I am Yun Ling, the Family Head of the Xiao family of Yue Maple. Zhao Yu, I ask you, did you shelter Xiao Xixi, the defector of our Xiao family, five days ago?"

Zhao Yu smiled faintly and said, "Xiao Xixi is indeed a guest at Canglong Mountain. She is a good friend of Zhao's! I believe there may be some misunderstanding between you, Loose Cultivator Yun Ling. How about we let this matter pass as a favor to Zhao?"

Yun Ling, the Loose Cultivator, sneered, "Give you face? What are you? Zhao Yu, you are nothing but a valet hiding behind Su Xianzi! Without Su Xianzi, you would be nothing! I give you two choices, first, you step out of the range of the Canglong Mountain Grand Formation, and we engage in Magical Combat. If you can best me in a single move, this matter will be dropped!"