Cultivation starts from devouring the Dao fruits

Zhao Yu was uninterested in dealing with the nonsensical talk, and directly asked, "Fellow Daoists, what brings you both here?"

Meng Yibai's eyes flickered with a hint of seriousness as he replied, "Pill Master Zhao! I have discovered a cave mansion of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from a thousand years ago. I am here to invite you to explore the cave mansion with us."

Zhao Yu decisively refused, "I am not going! I don't lack Spirit Stones!"

Meng Yibai tried to persuade him, "Pill Master Zhao, the formation of that Foundation Establishment Cultivator's cave mansion is on the verge of collapse. There's likely not much danger inside.

And although you don't lack Spirit Stones, it's possible that inside the cave mansion there could be Foundation Establishment Techniques, top-grade magical instruments, or thousand-year-old Spiritual Medicines in the Spirit Fields. There might even be Foundation Establishment Pills, which isn't impossible!"

Zhao Yu smiled and said, "I have already obtained the Foundation Establishment Technique from the Ling family! As for top-grade magical instruments, I can buy one myself once I have saved enough Spirit Stones. Regarding Foundation Establishment Pills, their medicinal properties would most likely have dissipated over a thousand years.

Unless the pill was preserved using a powerful spell or a top-grade magical instrument, there's only a slim chance it would remain intact, which is highly unlikely."

"Although I will not join you in exploring that Foundation Establishment Cultivator's cave mansion, I am willing to buy whatever you find inside. As long as you sell to me, I guarantee you enough Spirit Stones and will keep your secret!"

Xi Mi Dan felt envious and said, "Old Meng! I told you! With Pill Master Zhao's temperament, he wouldn't risk joining us. He's too rich in Spirit Stones!"

If Xi Mi Dan had the skill to refine Superior Yellow Spirit Pills himself, he wouldn't be keen on exploring Foundation Establishment Cultivator's cave mansions either. Nobody knows what's inside those cave mansions; if there are residual Foundation Establishment beasts, the exploring cultivators are essentially walking into a death trap.

"Then I shall take my leave!"

Meng Yibai, speechless, shook his head slightly and left with Xi Mi Dan.

Zhao Yu continued to stay in his cave mansion and began refining Red Heart Pills, a high-grade first-level Spirit Pill.

The Red Heart Pill is a high-grade first-level Spirit Pill, its primary ingredient being the century-old Red Heart Grass. A single Red Heart Grass costs over a hundred Spirit Stones, and the most troublesome part is that the Dan Ling Sect is also purchasing this herb in large quantities.

Although the Ling family employed their channels to help Zhao Yu acquire Red Heart Grass, he could not refine Red Heart Pills every day.

Half a month later, Zhao Yu smoothly advanced the Alchemy skill of refining Red Heart Pills to a proficient level and also elevated his Alchemy to high-grade first level.

Another month later, in the Quiet Room.

"Low-grade Wood Spirit Root (100/100)."

At the thought, a powerful warm current erupted within him, nourishing his physical body and soul, allowing him to undergo another transformation.

"Mid-grade Wood Spirit Root (0/1000)."

It took two hours for Zhao Yu to complete the transformation, causing more impurities to appear on his body. He immediately left the Quiet Room, bathed and changed clothes, then resumed his cultivation of the Earth Elemental Skill.

"My cultivation speed has increased by ten percent!"

After completing a cultivation session, Zhao Yu took out a mirror and examined his appearance, noticing he seemed to be only in his mid-to-late twenties, appearing even more youthful and handsome.

In the days that followed, Zhao Yu alternated between cultivating the improved Vajra Dragon Elephant Art and ingesting Superior Red Jade Pills to practice the Earth Elemental Skill. His Cultivation Level began to advance rapidly under the dual effects of consuming Dao Fruits and Superior Red Jade Pills.

Li Xianjiao, under Zhao Yu's arrangement, also took Superior Yellow Spirit Pills to enhance his Cultivation Level, which progressed significantly.

Three months later, in the Quiet Room.

After swallowing a Superior Red Jade Pill, Zhao Yu operated the Earth Elemental Skill and easily made a breakthrough, advancing to the Sixth Level of Qi Refining.

"Divine Sense: Tenth Level of Qi Refining (0/100)."

"Cultivation Level: Earth Elemental Skill Sixth Level (0/100). Sixth Level of Qi Refining!"

Zhao Yu's lips slightly curled up, his eyes filled with confidence, "I've finally advanced to the Sixth Level of Qi Refining! Foundation Establishment is just around the corner!"

Zhao Yu rose from the Quiet Room and entered the dining room. Glancing at Li Xianjiao, who was cooking, his bit of smugness vanished, "She has also advanced to the Fifth Level of Qi Refining! The Heavenly Spirit Root truly lives up to its name!"

Ten days later.

"Pill Master Zhao, it's Meng Yibai! Are you at home?"

A voice as robust as a bull's roared outside Zhao Yu's cave mansion. He got up to open the door and saw the faces of Meng Yibai, full of pride, and Xi Midan, brimming with smiles.

"Fellow Daoists, please come in and let's have a chat!"

Zhao Yu smiled slightly and led the two inside.

"Pill Master Zhao, you really missed out by not joining us this time. That Foundation Establishment Cultivator's cave mansion posed no danger at all. The four of us easily broke the remaining formation and each made a huge discovery. Look, what is this?"

Meng Yibai beamed, pulling a jade box with a Seal Spirit Talisman stuck on it from his bosom and opening it to reveal a ginseng inside.

Zhao Yu's eyes lit up, "This is a thousand-year ginseng! Truly a splendid treasure! Meng, do you want to sell it? If you sell it to other shops, they'll offer up to six hundred Spirit Stones. But if you sell it to me, I'll pay a thousand Spirit Stones!"

The market price for a thousand-year ginseng is around a thousand Spirit Stones, but such ginseng is extremely rare and generally only appears in auctions.

Most thousand-year Spiritual Medicines are either wild or grown in secret realms or medicinal fields left by previous cultivators. Besides, only powerful forces like the Great Sects could afford to spend a long time cultivating thousand-year Spiritual Medicines.

Meng Yibai also showed a satisfied smile, "As expected of Pill Master Zhao, so straightforward! I'll sell it to you!"

Without proper channels, that thousand-year Spiritual Medicine might not fetch a good price, but could instead potentially lead to fatal trouble.

Zhao Yu took out ten medium-grade Spirit Stones and handed them to Meng Yibai, then took the thousand-year ginseng, stuffed it into his mouth, and began chewing vigorously. As the Dao Fruit technique activated, he instantly refined the medicinal power of the ginseng.

A plus sign appeared again after his Wood Spirit Root entry.

Meng Yibai, incredulous, exclaimed, "Pill Master Zhao! What are you doing?"

Xi Midan also looked shocked.

Zhao Yu smiled and said, "I have a secret technique in my cultivation! Consuming thousand-year Spiritual Medicines can enhance my Martial Cultivation! And now that I've swallowed the thousand-year Spiritual Medicine, no one else will covet it. Meng, do you have any other thousand-year Spiritual Medicines?"

Meng Yibai replied, "I don't have any more thousand-year Spiritual Medicines!"

"I have a thousand-year Lingzhi here! A thousand Spirit Stones, take it!"

Xi Midan also produced a jade box and handed it over to Zhao Yu.

"What a treasure!"

After inspecting the goods, Zhao Yu took out ten medium-grade Spirit Stones and handed them to Xi Midan, then swallowed the thousand-year Lingzhi in one gulp.

Zhao Yu smiled and asked, "Got anything else good? Relics of Fierce Ghosts, Secret Technique and Cultivation Methods of the Foundation Establishment Stage, unusual Talismans, rare pill recipes, Formation inheritances, Artifact Refining secrets—as long as it's valuable, I'm willing to pay a fair price to buy it."