Cultivation starts from devouring the Dao fruits

The Peony Fairy said calmly, "Master has instructed me to meet Zhao Yu at the Qianming Building in seven days. I understand her intention—she wants me and Zhao Yu to become Dao companions."

"The Grandmaster is really too biased! Master, you advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage at twenty-two and have established countless merits for the sect. Now, you are one of the Ten Great Cultivators of the Northern Desolation and practice the 'Mystic True Scripture of the Primordial Dao,' a top-tier heritage. You are the future Golden Core Seed!"

"Zhao Yu is merely a Loose Cultivator who only advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage at the age of forty-six. Moreover, this man is greedy for beauty and frequents the Hundred Flowers Building in the Market at Black Mountain, often frolicking with the enchantresses of the Thousand Mysteries Sect.

After that, he got entangled with Family Head Ling Qianxue of the esteemed Ling family from Cang Country and Su Bingyun, a true disciple of the Cang Ling Sect. This man is not a worthy match. To cater to my junior aunt, the Grandmaster is pushing Master into the fire pit, which is simply too much!"

A great beauty with an oval face spoke resentfully.

"Lingdie, hold your tongue. Do not speak ill of my master!"

Although the Peony Fairy scolded her, there was not a hint of blame in her tone.

Fang Lingdie replied softly, "Yes! Lingdie knows her mistake."

A petite and pretty beauty with a melon-seed face chuckled, "Master, although the third junior sister has been somewhat presumptuous, she speaks the truth. Although we must not defy our master's orders, the Grandmaster's intention is to break my junior aunt's attachment.

How about letting junior sister Lingxiu marry Uncle Zhao as a concubine to reveal his greedy and lustful nature, naturally severing her attachment?"

A mix of odd glances suddenly fell upon Shangguan Lingxiu, some clearly taking pleasure in her misfortune.

Shangguan Lingxiu was extremely beautiful, and even among the throngs of beauties in the Dan Ling Sect, she stood out, attracting numerous admirers within the sect.

The Peony Fairy's other six disciples were all great beauties as well, but in comparison to Shangguan Lingxiu, they fell short. Several of them had crushes on men who fancied Shangguan Lingxiu. Thus, the six of them did not harbor much fondness for her.

The Peony Fairy asked slowly, "Lingxiu, what are your thoughts?"

Shangguan Lingxiu sighed silently to herself, understanding that her master had already made a decision, just not expressed it openly. If the Peony Fairy had disagreed with the suggestion, she would have firmly refused it by now.

Shangguan Lingxiu said, "Lingxiu will follow Master's orders! If Master wishes me to marry, I will marry!"

The Peony Fairy said indifferently, "In seven days, you will come with me to the Qianming Building."

Shangguan Lingxiu replied, "Yes, Master!" Your next journey awaits at empire

Seven days later, inside a Market of the Danxia Mountain Range, the Qianming Building.

Zhao Yu arrived at the building a quarter of an hour early and opened a private room on the fifth floor to wait.

At the appointed time, the doors of the private room swung open and the Peony Fairy, accompanied by Shangguan Lingxiu carrying a whiff of fragrant breeze, entered.

Zhao Yu stood up and greeted with a clasped fist, "Greetings, Senior Sister!"

The Peony Fairy nodded slightly.

Shangguan Lingxiu gave a respectful curtsy, "Shangguan Lingxiu greets Uncle Zhao!"

Zhao Yu nodded slightly in return.

The host and guest sat down separately, and Shangguan Lingxiu stood by obediently.

The Peony Fairy spoke frankly, "Junior Brother, Master seeks to matchmake us, wishing for us to become Dao companions. I am currently devoted to the Dao and have no interest in romance. Lingxiu is my disciple, and I would like her to marry you, to serve as your concubine, and to bring an end to this matter."

Zhao Yu said, "Let's do as Senior Sister proposes."

Zhao Yu was also very clear about the Peony Fairy's intentions.

However, the methods of the Peony Fairy were already quite tempered. If it had been one of the Demon Path Great Sects beyond the Northern Desolation, those Demon Path experts, faced with such a situation, would likely slay Zhao Yu nine times out of ten.

Some Demon Path Great Sects even go so far as to slaughter the entire families of talented disciples they recruit, euphemistically calling it "cutting off worldly ties."

However, Colorful Spirit Fairy was ultimately a Golden Core powerhouse, one of the five great Golden Core elders of the northern wilderness. Zhao Yu naturally did not want to go against a Golden Core elder before he had grown stronger.

Fairy Peony said, "Lingxiu, from now on, you shall follow Zhao Yu closely. Do you understand?"

Shangguan Lingxiu replied, "Yes, Master!"

Having finished her instructions in just a few words, Fairy Peony stood up and left the Qianming Building straight away.

Zhao Yu took Shangguan Lingxiu with him and, using a flower basket magic artifact, flew back to Dan Yan Peak.

"I entrust you with the management of the mundanities of this peak!"

With a wave of his hand, Zhao Yu presented Shangguan Lingxiu with a prohibition token, which allowed her to enter and leave most areas within Dan Yan Peak except for the most core regions.

Shangguan Lingxiu obediently responded, "Yes!"

Having given the token, Zhao Yu went to the summit of Dan Yan Peak and began to practice the Soaring Cloud Technique, using his mana. He chanted the curse scripts and activated his mana, causing thick fog to rise around him, condense into a cloud beneath his feet, and then, the cloud collapsed and dissipated.

"Magic talent is really too ordinary; cultivating a spell of the same level is extremely challenging!"

Zhao Yu looked at the collapsing cloud beneath his feet and couldn't help but feel speechless. Seven days ago, he had spent his sect contribution to exchange for the Soaring Cloud Technique and the Air Evasion Technique from the Scripture Pavilion. Yet, after practicing continuously for seven days, even the purportedly simplest Soaring Cloud Technique still eluded his mastery.

Zhao Yu had already advanced to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and he could relatively display spells from the Qi Refinement Realm, but he still found it difficult to succeed in cultivating spells of the same level.

When Zhao Yu was in the Qi Refinement Realm, he scarcely practiced magic, precisely because his talent for magic was poor and could not compare to his physical combat strength.

Zhao Yu continued to use his mana, attempting the Soaring Cloud Technique.

After failing twice more, a cloud appeared beneath Zhao Yu's feet, lifting him gently into the air.

"Magic—Soaring Cloud Technique: Beginner (1/100)."

Zhao Yu controlled the cloud to rise about thirty feet off the ground and flew steadily for over three hundred feet before landing smoothly.

"I'll wait to cultivate other spells until my magic talent evolves outstandingly; however, the Soaring Cloud Technique must certainly be mastered well."

Zhao Yu enjoyed the joy of flying through the sky for the first time with his own magical power, a slight smile appeared on his lips, revealing a touch of amusement.

The news that Shangguan Lingxiu had married down to become Zhao Yu's concubine spread quickly within the Dan Ling Sect, and many male cultivators of the Dan Ling Sect were extremely envious of Zhao Yu. However, with the will of a Golden Core elder behind this matter, even those admirers of Shangguan Lingxiu kept silent, nursing their heartache privately.

Ten days later, an escape light approached the front of Dan Yan Peak.

"Junior Brother Zhao, it's me, Xiahou Zhenyu!"

The doors of the cave mansion opened, and Zhao Yu came out from inside, saying, "Senior Brother Xiahou, please come in and we'll talk."

The two entered the cave mansion.

There sat Shangguan Lingxiu, in her simple yet elegant teal clothing, naturally beautiful without any need for make-up, serving Spiritual Tea and sitting beside Zhao Yu.

Xiahou Zhenyu sighed, "Junior Brother Zhao, you are truly fortunate to be able to marry Shangguan Lingxiu! I am very envious of you indeed!!"

Zhao Yu said, "Senior Brother Xiahou, what brings you here this time?"

Xiahou Zhenyu spoke with a grave face, "Junior Brother Zhao, the Five Great Sects have decided to join forces in exploring the Canglong Mountain Range. The official order has been issued. The sect commands that three months from now, you will accompany the exploration team as a guard to the Market of Xiaoyuan Mountain."