Cultivation starts from devouring the Dao fruits

Three months later, a terrifying aura of the Foundation Establishment Rank rose up from the practice room.

"Foundation Establishment was a success? He actually succeeded in Foundation Establishment!"

Manager Fang sensed the aura of Foundation Establishment rising from the practice room, his face slightly changing as a hint of jealousy and envy shown in his eyes.

Manager Fang was also an Inner Sect Disciple of the Danling Sect, and in his youth, he had also used a Foundation Establishment Pill to try to achieve the Foundation Establishment Realm but had failed.

Before Zhao Yu's Foundation Establishment, Manager Fang, this Inner Sect Disciple of Danling Sect, still had the qualifications to look down on him, a Loose Cultivator. However, after Foundation Establishment, even as an Inner Sect Disciple, Manager Fang had to treat him with great respect and could not afford any disrespect.

Zhao Yu walked out of the practice room with a smile on his face.

Upon seeing Zhao Yu, Manager Fang stood up and took the initiative to greet him, "I have seen Senior Zhao, congratulations on your successful Foundation Establishment, a long life is hopeful!"

"Thank you for your kind words!"

Zhao Yu noticed that Manager Fang, previously slightly arrogant, had become extremely respectful, and felt slightly emotional about the strict hierarchy in the Cultivation World.

In the Cultivation World, apart from the closest relationships like parent-child or master-disciple, a cultivator of a significantly lower rank must address the other as a senior and maintain respect. This was an accepted etiquette in the Cultivation World.

"Congratulations, uncle, on advancing to Foundation Establishment. Do you want to celebrate?"

As soon as Zhao Yu returned to his cave mansion, Li Xianjiao came forward to greet him, smiling mischievously. She had followed Zhao Yu for many years and was very familiar with his habits.

Zhao Yu flicked Li Xianjiao's forehead, not too pleased, "Celebrate, with whom should we celebrate?"

Li Xianjiao giggled, "Hey, you could find someone~!"

"Go, get back to your cultivation!"

Zhao Yu couldn't help but take another glance at Li Xianjiao's already very attractive body, flicking her forehead again and quietly shifting his gaze.

The once scrawny little girl had grown into a stunningly beautiful young woman with well-defined features, and Zhao Yu hardly dared to look too much for fear of losing control.

"I'm not a child anymore!"

Li Xianjiao gave Zhao Yu a glare and returned to the Quiet Room to cultivate.

News of Zhao Yu's advancement to Foundation Establishment soon spread throughout the Hu Ling Mountain Market, causing quite a stir. After all, it was extremely rare for Loose Cultivators to succeed in Foundation Establishment.

"Zhao Yu actually advanced to Foundation Establishment! I really didn't expect it, he actually managed to succeed!"

Miao Caiyan, upon hearing the news, a trace of disbelief flashed in her eyes. She had been in the Hu Ling Mountain Market for fifteen years, and in all that time, not a single Loose Cultivator had succeeded in Foundation Establishment. She only heard news of Loose Cultivators failing at Foundation Establishment, directly perishing as a result.

Many cultivators in the Hu Ling Mountain Market came forward to visit Zhao Yu, bringing congratulatory gifts.

Many forces even offered him the position of leader in hopes of having him join them.

After the battle of the Five Sects, many Foundation Establishment cultivators of Cang Country had died on the battlefield, almost all Foundation Establishment cultivators from the five major Foundation Establishment families, including those from Mushi Country and other major forces, had perished innumerably, so a new Foundation Establishment cultivator joining could gain immense benefits.

Zhao Yu outright rejected joining any forces and quietly waited.

One month later, a sound transmission talisman entered Zhao Yu's cave mansion.

"Zhao Fellow, I am Xiahou Zhenyu from the Dan Ling Sect, here to pay a visit!"

He had finally arrived!

Zhao Yu's eyes lit up as he deactivated the formation covering his cave mansion and went out to greet his guest.

"Xiahou Zhenyu congratulates Fellow on your successful Foundation Establishment, this humble gift is not much, but please accept it with a smile!"

A tall, handsome young cultivator with short hair and at the Fourth Rank of Foundation Establishment approached with a warm smile. This young Foundation Establishment Cultivator was the Dan Ling Sect Foundation Establishment Elder in charge of the Tiger Spirit Mountain Market.

Zhao Yu smiled and said, "I was just fortunate with my Foundation Establishment! Fellow Xiahou, please come in!"

The two entered the cave mansion and sat down, after which Li Xianjiao served them Spiritual Tea and then left.

Xiahou Zhenyu said, "Fellow Zhao, would you be interested in joining our Dan Ling Sect and becoming a Guest Elder?"

Zhao Yu asked, "What benefits and restrictions would there be if I were to join the Dan Ling Sect?"

Xiahou Zhenyu replied, "Should Fellow Zhao agree to become a Guest Elder, you may choose a technique that leads directly to Foundation Establishment Completion. Each year, you will receive a thousand sect contribution points and a thousand Spirit Stones.

With sufficient sect contributions accumulated, you can exchange them for various cultivation resources and even Golden Core Techniques within the sect!"

"As for restrictions? Every Foundation Establishment Cultivator must complete a sect mission every ten years. Since you would be joining our Dan Ling Sect, you must abide by our rules, not betray the sect, and refrain from acts that might harm the sect's interests. Additionally, in the event of a war, you must respond to the sect's call to arms!"

Zhao Yu was very pleased with this, as the Dan Ling Sect had not required him to submit his lifeblood or leave a Soul Lamp, which were restrictions he had read about in the Wang family's archives regarding some top Demon Path Great Sects outside the northern wilderness, intended to prevent defections by using various means to curse or severely injure the defector should they betray the sect.

Although the Dan Ling Sect was one of the four major sects of the north wilderness, it was still just a Golden Core Sect and might not possess such methods.

Zhao Yu said, "I am willing to join the Dan Ling Sect as a Guest Elder!"

Xiahou Zhenyu handed over a token to Zhao Yu, "This is the Guest Elder token! Inject a strand of Mana, and I will go to the Dan Ling Sect to handle some procedures. Then you will officially become a Guest Elder of our Dan Ling Sect!"

This one month was enough time for the Dan Ling Sect to thoroughly investigate Zhao Yu's background. Since Zhao Yu had chosen to reach Foundation Establishment within the Tiger Spirit Mountain Market, an area within the influence of the Dan Ling Sect, and had declined many other powers' offers, he obviously wanted to join the Dan Ling Sect.

After the battle with the Five Sects, many Foundation Establishment cultivators died, and the sect was equally in need of replenishing its ranks, hence they sent Xiahou Zhenyu to recruit Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu injected his Mana into the token and handed it to Xiahou Zhenyu.

Xiahou Zhenyu said, "Five days from now, I will take you back to the Dan Ling Sect."

Zhao Yu replied, "Very well, Fellow Xiahou!"

The Danxia Mountain Range is where the headquarters of the Dan Ling Sect is located, encompassing a thousand miles of spiritual lands, including the only Third Order high-grade Spirit Vein in Mushi Country.

"This is our Dan Ling Sect's main peak, Lingxia Peak! The Sect Master and the Supreme Elder reside on this peak. Besides Lingxia Peak, our Dan Ling Sect also possesses seventy-six peaks, each situated within the Danxia Mountain Range, with the spiritual energy density of each peak at least at Second Order high-grade and up to Third Order mid-grade."

"Originally, all the peaks above Third Order already had owners, but due to the great war, many peaks are now vacant, including some Third Order peaks. Your timing couldn't be more perfect!"

Xiahou Zhenyu walked with Zhao Yu through Lingxia Peak, introducing him to the details of the Dan Ling Sect.