Born as an ant, I was summoned to ascend to immortality.

Chapter 30 Opportunity Taken by One's Own

Amidst the swirling mist, these ancient demon remains lay or stood, each with a unique posture.

Some of them have been petrified, while others are still clearly discernible, with wisps of spiritual energy escaping from the remains, turning into a faint mist.

Zhou Li couldn't help but think, "How many years of accumulation must this have taken!"

While there are ancient demon remains elsewhere, the fact that dozens of ancient demons are found intact here is probably unique to the entire Eastern Continent, except perhaps in the Demon Suppression Realm.

That essence deep within our bones and blood is being wasted in vain; isn't that a terrible waste?

"Since we're already here, why don't we..."

Looking around to make sure no one was watching, Zhou Li's true form quietly flew out from his sleeve.

Under the cover of his body, Zhou Li arrived at the best-preserved skeleton.

It was a huge spiral turtle, with a bird's head and a snake's tail, covered in ice crystals, and looked quite dazzling.

The black iron-like outer shell had already petrified and cracked. With a thought from Zhou Li, his main body burrowed straight into the body of the spinning tortoise.

He found a place with the densest spiritual energy, opened his mandibles, and gently took a bite. Instantly, a surge of powerful energy flowed into the ant's body.

One bite is worth half a month of his arduous training!

Moreover, the impurities in these ancient demon remains have long since disappeared over the endless years, and what remains to this day is the purest and most essential blood and qi power.

"What a stroke of luck!"

Suppressing his excitement, Zhou Li withdrew from the tortoise skeleton and quietly ran to the next set of remains.

He didn't take too much; he only took a small bite from each skeleton. These skeletons had been lying here for countless millennia, and with only a tiny bit of flesh missing, no one could tell.

Thus, while pretending to comprehend the cultivation technique in the Stele Forest, Zhou Li ordered the ants to forage for food everywhere.

Before long, the ant-like creature appeared before a giant ape with a white body and arms, wielding a huge log.

This white ape was about three zhang tall, with unusually long arms that almost reached the ground. However, it was injured by some kind of fierce technique, and its left arm was severed at the root, exposing the white bone.

As the ant's body was bitten, another surge of violent blood and energy rushed in, even more intense than the previous swirling tortoise!

Zhou Li felt his meridians and blood surging, with faint signs of a breakthrough. He quickly calmed his mind and guided this power to circulate throughout his body.

Zhou Li now doesn't know what realm this ant body is at. In terms of blood and qi, it is comparable to the Great Completion Realm of Qi Refining, and can easily pierce through the physical bodies of Ji Qingshan and Yuwen Zhao. However, in terms of spiritual power, it is not as good as the two of them, and it seems that it is not following the ordinary path of Qi Refining.

At that moment, a commotion arose not far away, and someone had awakened the Enlightenment Stele again.

Zhou Li glanced at it and then looked away. He knew that he had an hour less than others, and if he followed the steps to comprehend the cultivation technique, he might not be able to surpass them.

Since that's the case, why not eat something to nourish your body first? Even if you only manage to comprehend one Yellow-rank technique in the end, it won't be a wasted trip.

Time passed by, bit by bit.

Just then, the faint sound of thunder could be heard in the sky.

Everyone looked up in surprise and saw a towering cliff reaching into the clouds slowly lighting up on the mountain peak deep in the forest of steles.

The cliff is about the height of three or four stone tablets, yet it pierces straight into the sky. Just by looking at it with the naked eye, its imposing presence makes one want to back away.

"This is... Fellow Daoist Jiang!"

Everyone saw a beam of golden light, about ten feet wide, shoot straight into the sky above Jiang Xing's head, illuminating the entire forest of steles.

It turns out that the cliff is actually an enlightenment stele recording a level-one martial art. Judging from its dazzling sharpness, it must be a sword technique.

Someone offered a compliment: "To be able to comprehend a level-one cultivation technique, Senior Brother Jiang is indeed a role model for us all."

It is said that the difference between the first and second levels of this cultivation method is like heaven and earth. Previously, everyone was at the same level and their abilities were similar. Perhaps in a few years, Jiang Xing will be able to surpass others.

At this moment, on the hillside, the second-generation disciples who were observing the examination were discussing among themselves. Chu Chengyun stepped forward and bowed to the leader, Xuanhong Zhenren.

"Master, this person is named Jiang Xing. He is a promising talent that I have nurtured. It is his good fortune that he has been able to comprehend the sect's 'Flying Light Divine Technique'. He has already achieved a second-class grade in the previous two rounds of tests. In this round, he has comprehended an Earth-rank technique and has been rated as a third-class grade. I intend to take him into our Lingtai Peak and teach him carefully."

Upon hearing this, Master Xuanhong raised his hand and gestured to Chu Chengyun, saying, "Disciple, there's no need for such formalities. Since it's your arrangement, you may accept me as your disciple. In previous years, I would have been the top performer in this third-tier ranking."

"But this time, there's an extra Zhou Li in the exam." Master Xuanhong smiled slightly. "Whether the champion will be from our Lingtai Peak is still unknown."

Upon hearing this, Chu Chengyun frowned and said, "Master, Zhou Li has a spirit pet hidden in his sleeve, which is secretly feeding on the remains of an ancient demon while he is walking. Should we intervene to stop it?"

It turns out that Zhou Li thought he had done something clever, but in fact, he had already been seen through by the immortals.

A smile appeared on Xuanhong Zhenren's face: "Disciple, you're too attached to appearances."

"The third trial is an opportunity bestowed upon the younger generation by the sect. How much one obtains depends entirely on one's own fate. The Demon Suppression Realm has stood here for tens of thousands of years, and there are countless ancient demon remains. Even if a small ant were to devour it freely, how many mouthfuls could it possibly swallow? This young man, on the other hand, is meticulous in his thinking and acts with restraint, taking only a tiny fraction from each remains. This self-control is even more intriguing."

Upon hearing this, Chu Chengyun bowed and withdrew, saying no more.

…………

Zhou Li continued to wander through the stele forest, his ant-like body now quite full.

There were goats with four horns on their heads, and red leopards with five tails on their buttocks... He couldn't remember exactly how many he had eaten.

Looking at the sky, there was still half an hour left before the big exam ended.

"It's about time to get down to business."

Unbeknownst to him, Zhou Li had arrived deep within the Forest of Steles.

From afar, Xia Mingduo could be seen pacing back and forth in front of a bird-shaped remains, tears welling in her eyes, on the verge of crying.

Only when we got closer could we see the appearance of the remains.

It was an elegant crane, standing alone with only one leg, its body surrounded by rising blue flames that scorched the air.

Zhou Li found it quite familiar. After a moment of contemplation, he vaguely remembered that it seemed to be a kind of divine bird that he had seen in ancient books in his previous life.

He thought for a moment, then stepped forward.

Xia Mingduo looked up and saw it was him. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, and she bowed slightly: "Young Master Zhou."

Zhou Li looked at the remains of the large bird and said, "Miss Xia has a good eye. This is a Bifang bird. It is said to be transformed from the essence of fire and is proficient in the way of fire. The true meaning of the techniques contained in its remains is mostly related to the way of fire."

Xia Mingduo's eyes lit up: "Young Master Zhou actually recognizes this bird. You are indeed very knowledgeable."

"To be honest, young master, I've been meditating here for almost an hour, and I've almost grasped the essence. I'm only one step away, but it's like trying to see a fire through a fog; I just can't seem to grasp it..."

Seeing the messy footprints around him, Zhou Li realized that there were quite a few seekers of the Dao who had been attracted by the rich fire element power, but none of them had been able to awaken the Enlightenment Stele. This showed that it was not just Xia Mingduo's problem; probably everyone who came here to seek enlightenment was stuck at the last step.

Zhou Li thought to himself, "Everyone has been trying to understand for a long time but still can't figure it out. I'm afraid it's not because they lack understanding, but because they haven't found the right direction."