Cultivation starts from devouring the Dao fruits

Killing people for their treasures could yield enormous gains, which is why bandit cultivators like Meng Yibai kept emerging.

Those three jade slips were all Meng Yibai\'s, and they each contained a different top-tier secret technique. One of them detailed a Breath Concealing Secret Technique that could even shield against the Divine Sense scanning of a cultivator of a higher Great Realm.

One of the jade slips recorded a top-tier Body Refining Technique called the Golden Sha Beast God Body, which was an eight-level technique. As long as one cultivated it to the Seventh Level, they could match a Golden Core Early Stage cultivator in combat prowess.

Upon seeing this technique, Zhao Yu first felt joy, but after reading it carefully, a hint of disappointment crossed his eyes.

The Golden Sha Beast God Body, even though it could be cultivated by mortals without a Spirit Root, did not extend one\'s lifespan. Moreover, to cultivate the Golden Sha Beast God Body, one first had to ingest a Golden Sha Body Refinement Pill refined from a Second-Order Metal Attribute Demon Beast\'s inner core.

After initially cultivating the Golden Sha Beast God Body, one needed to consume a large amount of Metal Attribute Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, as well as Spirit Pills of various grades of Golden Sha to cultivate swiftly.

Meng Yibai had cultivated the Golden Sha Beast God Body because he had ingested ancient Spirit Pills preserved by ancient cultivators using secret techniques.

One reason Meng Yibai targeted Zhao Yu and Xi Mi Dan was so that Zhao Yu could refine the Golden Sha Spirit Pill for him. If Zhao Yu refused to refine pills for him, he could also just kill Zhao Yu and use Spirit Stones to buy Metal Attribute Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to enhance his Physical Cultivation Level.

Zhao Yu felt very regretful. "The Golden Sha Beast God Body is a top-tier Body Refinement Secret Technique! Unfortunately, a Second-Order Metal Attribute Demon Beast\'s inner core is too rare. I won\'t be able to cultivate it in the short term."

The third jade slip was the Primordial Technique, which was Meng Yibai\'s own cultivation technique. It was neutral and balanced, suitable for any cultivator regardless of their Spirit Root, and had no other special characteristics. This technique recorded in the jade slip could be cultivated up to the late stages of Foundation Establishment.

A month later, at the foot of Jiu Chen Mountain Market.

Li Xianjiao looked at Zhao Yu, who was sitting by his side, and asked curiously, "Uncle, since you want to know what\'s going on inside, why not directly go in instead of waiting outside?"

Zhao Yu was sitting on a blanket and glanced towards the entrance of Jiu Chen Mountain Market, then said with a wave of his hand, "Although I\'m ninety percent certain that it was the Ling family who won the battle, what if the Ling family had lost? It\'s better to be cautious! If we don\'t meet anyone, then we\'ll just treat it as a leisurely outing!

If you travel alone in the future, you must also be careful. Tea!"

Li Xianjiao chuckled softly, offered Zhao Yu a cup of Spiritual Tea, then poured herself another cup of Spiritual Tea and enjoyed the cakes and pastries as well.

Zhao Yu activated Cleansing Talisman and Bug Repellent Talisman, ensuring that the area around them was free of poisonous insects and the air was fresh. Otherwise, various poisonous ants and mosquitoes in the mountains would be unbearable.

Li Xianjiao also greatly enjoyed this kind of relaxed and leisurely lifestyle.

As a cultivator came down the mountain path, Zhao Yu saw him and called out, "Fellow Daoist Wen, please wait a moment!"

Wen Caibai approached and said, "Pill Master Zhao! What can I do for you?"

Zhao Yu gave a slight smile, handed a Spirit Stone to Wen Caibai, and said, "I would like to know what happened on the night one month ago and the current situation at Jiu Chen Mountain Market!"

Wen Caibai\'s eyes sparkled, and he relayed in great detail everything he knew to Zhao Yu.

One month ago, five Qi Refining Great Perfection Cultivators with their followers had surrounded and attacked the Ling family\'s headquarters at Jiu Chen Mountain. The Ling family was at a disadvantage at the beginning, but once they activated the Second-Order Low-grade Red Flame Formation, they burned all five Qi Refining Great Perfection Cultivators to death.

The cultivators who followed the five Qi Refining Great Perfection Cultivators in attacking the Ling family also perished in the Red Flame Formation and at the hands of the Ling family.

In that chaotic night, many cultivators died, but once the Red Flame Formation was deployed, all the bandit cultivators went into hiding.

As the Red Fire Array vanished, many cultivators fled from the Nine Sinks Mountain Market, for many among them had committed robbery on that chaotic night.

In the Nine Sinks Mountain Market, there used to be three great Pill Masters including Zhao Yu, but after that night of chaos, two of them had died. Now, the market found itself without a Pill Master.

The market quickly became desolate, the number of cultivators dwindled to less than a third of what it had been.

After releasing Wen Caibai, Zhao Yu waited a while longer. After questioning three passing cultivators, he confirmed that Wen Caibai had not lied, and then he entered the Nine Sinks Mountain Market with Li Xianjiao.

By that time, the Nine Sinks Mountain Market had lost much of its prosperity, many Spirit Fields had been deserted, numerous medicinal gardens had been plundered, and there were much fewer cultivators within the market.

After returning to his cave mansion with Li Xianjiao, Zhao Yu went alone to the Ling Family\'s headquarters at Nine Sinks Mountain.

Ling Feihao of the Ling Family at Nine Sinks Mountain scoffed upon seeing Zhao Yu, "Oh! Isn\'t this our great Pill Master Zhao? You\'ve finally deigned to return!"

Zhao Yu responded openly and honestly, "Zhao is not adept at conflict! On that day, I could only protect myself with great difficulty! I truly feel ashamed!"

Although Zhao Yu was a guest elder of the Ling Family, he had earned them a substantial amount of Spirit Stones. He owed nothing to the Ling Family, and the two parties simply had a mutually beneficial cooperative relationship. Naturally, he was not about to risk his life for the Ling Family.

"Pill Master Zhao, long time no see!"

A whiff of fragrance drifted over as Ling Qianxue, with a smiling face, approached.

Zhao Yu laughed lightly, "Miss Ling, it\'s been a long time, you\'ve become even more beautiful."

Ling Qianxue waved her hand, signaling Ling Feihao to back down.

Ling Qianxue asked, "Pill Master Zhao, can you refine the Red Heart Pill?"

Zhao Yu answered, "Zhao is currently learning to refine the Red Heart Pill! However, the success rate is not high. If the Ling Family wishes for me to supply them with Red Heart Pills every month, then all the materials required for refining should be provided by the Ling Family."

Ling Qianxue frowned slightly and asked, "What is the success rate?"

Zhao Yu replied, "Only one in ten."

In reality, Zhao Yu\'s success rate in refining the Red Heart Pill was already over sixty percent, and his Divine Sense at the Foundation Establishment Stage also provided him with significant aid in alchemy.

Ling Qianxue decisively said, "Our Ling Family will provide all the materials needed. Please do your best to refine the Red Heart Pill!"

"Alright!"

Zhao Yu had a vague guess about the Ling Family\'s intentions.

It was likely that the Ling Family too had lost a significant number of powerful cultivators at the late Qi Refinement stage or even at the Qi Refining Great Perfection Stage during the chaos that engulfed the Nine Sinks Mountain Market. They were in urgent need of Red Heart Pills to nurture cultivators at the late Qi Refinement stage or even at the Qi Refining Great Perfection Stage.

If the founder at the Foundation Establishment stage was still present, the Ling Family could nurture their clan cultivators methodically, following the most efficient use of resources. But, with the founder absent, the Ling Family had to draw upon the clan\'s foundation and do whatever it takes to foster a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

In order to bring forth a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it was essential to first foster several Qi Refining Great Perfection Cultivators, so as to maintain control over the benefits of the two key spiritual lands: the Nine Sinks Mountain Market and the Spirit Lotus Lake.