Chapter 184: Great Opportunity

Intense battles unfolded repeatedly throughout the dense forest, a terrifying spectacle.

The demonic cultivators acted ruthlessly, employing an endless stream of schemes and plots. Everyone poured their heart and soul into the trials, freely unleashing their talents and true nature.

Monk Wine-and-Meat, Saber Demon Gu Zha, and Yan Fei were, without a doubt, the top contenders. Yet, beyond these three, many others who typically kept a low profile surprised everyone with their performances in this trial.

Meng Jingzhou and Mang Gu's performances were particularly striking. Several opponents had already fallen to them, either pierced by an iron fist or crushed by a mighty hammer.

Their reputations quickly grew, and an increasing number of participants became aware of these two formidable individuals, preferring to avoid any confrontation.

Both their fists and hammers were stained with blood, and they exuded a chilling, murderous aura. Their bloodshot eyes immediately marked them as ruthless killers who had completely lost themselves in the frenzy of battle.

Mang Gu's ancient barbarian bloodline was further stimulated. In ancient times, constant warfare meant the ancient barbarians, as one of the most powerful races, were frequently conquering foes. What flowed in the very essence of the ancient barbarians was a spirit of bloody combat and unyielding determination... as well as Huang Doudou's mind control.

"I've never heard of these two before; where did they suddenly appear from?" someone exclaimed. "Judging by their strength, they're comparable to Monk Wine-and-Meat. Look, even Monk Wine-and-Meat seems unwilling to confront them and has been operating in other areas!"

"They must have acquired a powerful legacy from somewhere," another person speculated, "or perhaps they are secret talents cultivated by the elders!"

"The only question is who among the two is superior." Both inside and outside the arena, discussions about Meng Jingzhou and Mang Gu were rampant.

Meng Jingzhou's iron fist proved invincible; he shattered a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator with a single punch, an opponent who was quite well-known.

He was currently in the mid-stage Foundation Establishment realm. As a disciple of the Dao-Seeking Sect and a direct descendant of the Meng family, he was virtually invincible among those of the same cultivation level, especially when outside the sect.

The 'Words of the Sage' echoed around Mang Gu as he relentlessly crushed one opponent after another without blinking. The bizarre dissonance made him appear utterly deranged.

Finally, the two met. Their eyes gleamed with defiance, neither willing to yield to the other.

Mang Gu raised his mighty hammer and demanded, "State your name!"

"Meng Jingzhou!" came the reply. "And who are you?"

"Mang Gu."

Both were individuals of few words. Without further preamble, they immediately clashed.

These two were both paragons of the Foundation Establishment stage, the absolute top contenders. Once they clashed, the battle was earth-shattering; trees were caught in the powerful aftermath, snapping in half and crumbling to dust.

Other participants observed from a distance, hoping the two would fight until both were gravely wounded, enabling them to reap the benefits.

The number of marks held by these two was exceptionally high; whoever managed to kill them would acquire all their accumulated marks.

This was a fortune that tempted everyone!

Monk Wine-and-Meat and Saber Demon Gu Zha observed from the shadows, secretly astonished.

"The threat these two pose is no less than Yan Fei's!"

"They are impressively powerful," one muttered, "but still inferior to me. I still have trump cards I haven't revealed; I've already seen through these two."

"I hadn't anticipated encountering such formidable adversaries this time, beyond Yan Fei and Monk Wine-and-Meat. Truly a land of hidden dragons and crouching tigers!"

"Excellent," another thought. "My demonic saber is parched. The blood of those lesser cultivators won't satisfy it, but the blood of these two peerless geniuses is precisely what my demonic saber craves!"

"Hahaha, what an exhilarating fight!" Meng Jingzhou burst into laughter. "It's been a long time since I've encountered an opponent worthy of my full attention!"

Mang Gu was equally exhilarated, his ancient barbarian blood boiling and burning within him.

As the two continued their battle, another ancient tree toppled. Once the massive trunk shattered, a Bodhi tree appeared before their eyes.

Three small, doll-like figures swayed in the wind on the Bodhi tree. The Bodhi tree itself was known for its calming and spiritual properties, making this scene appear utterly sacred.

Meng Jingzhou was greatly surprised: "It's a Bodhi Ginseng Fruit Tree!?"

"Ginseng Fruit?" Mang Gu was equally astonished.

With such a sacred treasure before them, both tacitly agreed to a ceasefire.

"Is this the legendary Ginseng Fruit Tree?" Mang Gu asked, half-believing, half-doubting.

Meng Jingzhou nodded. "There's no mistake," he affirmed. "Look at these three plump, white, doll-like figures growing on the tree. Aren't these precisely the legendary Ginseng Fruits?"

Mang Gu then asked, "But how can Ginseng Fruits grow on a Bodhi tree?"

Meng Jingzhou gave him a knowing look. "This is something you wouldn't know," he explained. "Why are Ginseng Fruits so rare, with not a single Ginseng Fruit tree found anywhere in the world? It's precisely because there has never been an actual Ginseng Fruit tree!"

"Ginseng Fruits are products born in harmony with the rhythms of heaven and earth," he continued. "They only appear on other trees. When a tree gathers enough essence from the world, Ginseng Fruits naturally sprout from it."

"Among all trees, the Bodhi tree is the most divine and mysterious, surrounded by numerous legends. It is the most suitable tree for Ginseng Fruits to grow upon!"

Mang Gu had an epiphany, realizing a layer of meaning he had never considered before.

With such a profound opportunity presented by the Ginseng Fruits, there was no need for them to continue fighting. Even if they each took one, there would still be a spare.

Initially, many onlookers didn't recognize the Ginseng Fruits, but after Meng Jingzhou's logical and detailed explanation, they became convinced that these were indeed the legendary fruits.

They then recalled the Sect Master's words, that a great opportunity lay hidden within this dense forest.

Could he have been referring to these three Ginseng Fruits?

"Charge!"

The onlookers, previously hidden in the shadows, swarmed forward, determined to seize a Ginseng Fruit!

Saber Demon Gu Zha threw out hair-thin needles. Meng Jingzhou and Mang Gu detected the hidden weapons and leaped backward, evading the assault.

This sudden distance between the two and the Ginseng Fruits created an opportune moment for the other participants.

Even with formidable competitors like Meng Jingzhou and Monk Wine-and-Meat, they knew they had to seize this chance.

Once they obtained a Ginseng Fruit, their path of cultivation would become smooth and unimpeded.

It was worth risking their lives!

Saber Demon Gu Zha was the first to snatch one. He didn't hesitate; he plucked it and ran.

"Is this the Ginseng Fruit? It feels like flesh; no wonder it's called Ginseng Fruit!" he muttered.

He couldn't bite through it.

"Does this mean the Ginseng Fruit has a flesh-like texture, but becomes incredibly hard when one tries to eat it?" he wondered.

Just as he was considering how to consume the Ginseng Fruit, his expression suddenly changed drastically.

"Oh no, it's poisoned!"

He wore an expression of utter disbelief: the surface of the Ginseng Fruit was covered in potent poison!

"Who would do this?" he thought in dismay. "This is a Ginseng Fruit! This way of poisoning it is a complete waste of a heavenly treasure!"

At that moment, the Ginseng Fruit spoke: "Didn't anyone tell you not to eat wild fruits found by the roadside?"

As Saber Demon Gu Zha's face twisted in regret and impending death, the Ginseng Fruit began to move.

The three-inch-tall Lu Yang stretched, finally able to move after pretending to be a Ginseng Fruit for so long.

This was a new skill he had comprehended while being "tormented" by his senior brothers and sisters from the Dao-Seeking Sect: first, the 'Inch Transformation' to become small, then 'Earth Contraction' to shrink distance, followed by activating the 'Tree Cultivation Art'.

This allowed three small Lu Yangs to grow on the Bodhi tree. Then, with Meng Jingzhou and Mang Gu, his "accomplices," spreading the fabricated story, he transformed into the legendary Ginseng Fruits.

And as a bonus, he coated his body with a layer of potent poison.

He reasoned that anyone strong enough to snatch a Ginseng Fruit would surely have considerable cultivation, guaranteeing that one dose of poison would be lethal every time.

"And these are demonic cultivators?" Lu Yang muttered, shaking his head in disdain. "So easily fooled." With that, he killed Gu Zha.

"The demonic cultivators of this generation are truly lacking," he mused. "The three of us from the righteous path can easily trick them into circles."