Cultivation starts from devouring the Dao fruits

Zhao Yu had just walked a hundred meters towards the direction of the Spirit Mountain when suddenly a buzzing sound arose, and a vast swarm of pitch-black ants flew out from above the Spirit Mountain, blotting out the sky and swooping down on Zhao Yu.

"Black Iron Demonic Ants!"

Upon seeing the nearly sky-obscuring black ant swarm, a trace of solemnity flashed across Zhao Yu's eyes.

Each of the Black Iron Demonic Ants was the size of a fist, covered in a layer of pitch-black carapace, with sharp and pointed mouthparts, specialized in breaking through various Spirit Light protective shields and defense barriers.

Even though a single Black Iron Demonic Ant could be easily killed by a Qi Cultivation practitioner on the second or third level, these ants typically moved in the tens of thousands, like a mobile natural disaster, and even a Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, if not fleeing in time, would eventually be overwhelmed and devoured completely after running out of mana.

Zhao Yu gave a light shout, "Take action!"

The White Ghost Emperor leaped out from Zhao Yu's shadow, activated the Illusory Ghost Eyes, and a vast expanse of pitch-black Ghost Fog rose up, rolling towards the dark ant swarm formed by the Black Iron Demonic Ants.

The Black Iron Demonic Ants ensnared by the Ghost Fog lost their minds and started to frenziedly bite each other, falling down like raindrops.

In a short while, the ground was covered with the corpses of Black Iron Demonic Ants.

The Illusory Ghost Eyes of the White Ghost Emperor, having advanced to Third Order, became even more terrifying, proving to be the nemesis of swarms like the Black Iron Demonic Ants. Of course, aside from it, the flames of the Fire Crow also had a restraining effect on the ant swarms.

"A Solidifying Gold Fruit grows every hundred years! There are five Solidifying Gold Fruits here, which means it has been five hundred years since anyone has been able to pick a Solidifying Gold Fruit."

With a thoughtful expression, Zhao Yu came up to the Solidifying Gold Fruit tree, first picked off the five Solidifying Gold Fruits, reached out to grab at the tree itself, exhibited the Minor Supernatural Power of the Earth Vein Gathering Spirit Technique, gathered the surrounding Earth Qi, locked it in place, and then carefully dug out the Solidifying Gold Fruit tree.

A slight smile crossed the corners of Zhao Yu's mouth, revealing a hint of contentment: "With this Solidifying Gold Fruit tree, plus the nourishment of a Third Order Spirit Vein, every hundred years I can obtain a Solidifying Gold Fruit. This is a foundation for a Golden Core power to pass down through generations!"

A Solidifying Gold Fruit, if cultivated properly, can grow into a Solidifying Gold Fruit tree within a Third Order Spirit Vein in a thousand years. However, even the Golden Core ancestors only live for six hundred years, and most cultivators who obtain a Solidifying Gold Fruit would use it as an ingredient to refine the Golden Core Pill, instead of cultivating and planting it.

Besides, cultivating a Solidifying Gold Fruit tree also requires a lot of knowledge about Spirit Plants. If not cared for properly, the Solidifying Gold Fruit tree could wither and fail to bear fruit.

Zhao Yu, possessing the Minor Supernatural Power of the Earth Vein Gathering Spirit Technique, can gather Earth Qi and simulate the suitable environment for the growth of the Solidifying Gold Fruit tree, thus capable of planting this type of Spirit Plant.

"Eh, a Solidifying Gold Fruit tree!!"

Just as Zhao Yu had sealed the state of the Solidifying Gold Fruit tree with a Seal Spirit Talisman, an excited voice came from the sky.

A streak of Escape Light descended from the heavens, and a tall and burly young man dressed in the black robe of the Cang Ling Jue, with handsome features, landed in front of Zhao Yu.

The young man smiled warmly and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhao, I am Wang Xuanling from the Cang Ling Sect. May I inquire if you would be willing to part with that Solidifying Gold Fruit tree? If Fellow Daoist is willing to let go of the tree, my Cang Ling Sect will certainly not treat you unfairly!"

Zhao Yu replied, "So, it is Fellow Daoist Wang Xuanling from the Northern Desolate's Ten Great Prowess! You must also understand that the Solidifying Gold Fruit tree is a treasure of foundational heritage for a sect to pass down through generations, how could I possibly give it to you?"

"In that case, prepare to die!"

The smile on Wang Xuanling's face vanished instantly, mana agitated throughout his body, erupting with the fearsome aura of a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Level, as he directly brought out a Top-Grade Spiritual Weapon Level Fire Crow Mirror.

The Fire Crow Mirror suddenly revealed a series of crimson flames, from which nine sizable Fire Crows, each about three meters long, flew out and pounced towards Zhao Yu.

Each of the nine Fire Crows possessed the power comparable to a full-strength strike from a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator. Combined, they could deliver a strike that even an ordinary Cultivator at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment Stage would find difficult to withstand.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, stop! I am a close friend of Su Bingyun, the fairy of your Cang Ling Sect!"

Zhao Yu's face suddenly turned pale he hastily summoned the Mysterious Turtle Shield, which burst forth with dazzling Spiritual Light. The phantom of a mysterious turtle formed a barrier in front of him.

The nine Fire Crows smashed into the phantom turtle's barrier, transforming into a terrifying sea of fire that engulfed Zhao Yu.

Wang Xuanling sneered, "Bingyun has been bewitched by you, a beast! Once I kill you, she will return to her senses and willingly become my Dao companion!"

Su Bingyun possessed the talent of an Earth Spirit Root and was also blessed with stunning beauty, making her a Golden Core Seed of the Cang Ling Sect. Many in the sect admired her, and Wang Xuanling was one of them!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Wang Xuanling had always wanted to get rid of Zhao Yu, but as an elder of the Dan Ling Sect, any overt action from Wang Xuanling might lead to investigation and retribution from the Golden Core ancestors.

Inside this Sky-reaching White Tower, it was quite common for killings to occur. If Zhao Yu died here, the Fairy of Luminous Colors wouldn't be able to find any traces or avenge him.

"Alas! For Bingyun's sake, I really didn't want to kill you. Why did you have to court death?"

A sigh echoed from within the flames as a pitch-black ghostly aura rose from within them, sweeping across the sea of fire.

Immense swathes of pitch-black ghostly aura turned to smoke under the burning flames, extinguishing the fire that the nine Fire Crows had turned into.

Within that smoke, the face of the White Ghost Emperor contorted menacingly, lunging straight for Wang Xuanling.

"A Third-order Evil Ghost!! You're a True Disciple of the Ghostly Shade Sect!"

Wang Xuanling's face instantly blanched, and he quickly produced an Evil-Suppressing Talisman. A sweep of Evil-suppressing Pure Light attacked the White Ghost Emperor while he performed the Cang Ling Space Escape Technique, trying to flee into the sky.

The Evil-suppressing Pure Light brushed over the White Ghost Emperor, causing plumes of black smoke to rise. It grinned ferociously, then disappeared with a bizarre flicker.

Wang Xuanling was horrified, his mind racing with thoughts, "Damn it!! Zhao Yu is actually a True Disciple of the Ghostly Shade Sect! He must have disguised himself as an elder of the Dan Ling Sect for some ulterior motive. As long as I can leave this place alive and expose his true face, the Fairy of Luminous Colors will surely take action personally to clean house!"

Suddenly, Wang Xuanling felt a sharp pain in his chest – a ghastly claw, shrouded in pitch-black ghostly aura, had pierced through his heart. His eyes instantly lost their sparkle, and he plummeted from the sky.

"The Ten Great Warriors of the Northern Wilderness are indeed strong. Unfortunately, you chose the wrong opponent!"

Zhao Yu approached Wang Xuanling's corpse, reached out to collect Wang Xuanling's storage bag and the supreme grade spiritual weapon level Fire Crow Mirror.

"This Fire Crow Mirror has the potential to be promoted to a magical treasure! What a pity I do not cultivate the Cang Ling Jue and can't refine it into a magical treasure. However, Wang Xuanling must have the Sect-defending Technique of the Cang Ling Sect on him!"

With a slight curve of his lips, Zhao Yu commanded the White Ghost Emperor to devour Wang Xuanling's soul in one gulp.