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*It describes a protagonist who starts with almost nothing (a weak body, no resources) and must consume materials, monsters, or enemy techniques to evolve and gain power.
When Wu Liang awoke, it was already the fourth day.
The consequence of consuming the power of the Taotie bloodline was that he was now completely weak, feeling as if his vital organs had been severely depleted.
"I'm so powerful! A Third Rank cultivator defeating a Seventh Rank! Who else could do it but me?! I'm asking you, who else?!"
Although he wasn't as powerful now, he had been incredibly powerful four days ago!
Ling Qingxue held some Vitality Pills to his lips.
"Eat some pills to replenish your vital energy. Even though you devoured a large number of hybrids, most of their energy was used to maintain your bloodline divine skill. Otherwise, you might have already broken through to the Third Level mid-stage."
The bloodline divine skill severely depleted the bloodline power and internal energy. Wu Liang only maintained it for less than two minutes, but the energy consumed was enormous.
If it weren't for the energy of those hybrids, he would have been completely drained.
Wu Liang chewed and swallowed the Vitality Pills like candy. Instantly, a surge of energy flowed into his muscles, warming his body.
"Little Xuexue, are there so many restrictions on using bloodline divine skills?"
Ling Qingxue nodded slightly. "Bloodline divine skills are powerful, but they also have significant limitations. First, there's the consumption; second, there's the exploitation of bloodline power. They can't be used unless absolutely necessary. However, you are a Taotie. If you can break through to the Fourth Rank, you can recover your bloodline power in about ten days. Other divine beasts would need more than a month!"
The Taotie devoured everything. As long as it continued to devour, it could generate bloodline power and strengthen itself!
Starting with just a mouth, becoming a god depended entirely on eating*!
This was the exceptional innate talent of the great beast Taotie. If 'Taotie Feast' was the Taotie's ultimate move, then the power of devouring is where its foundation lay.
Wu Liang glanced at his System panel.
[Host: Wu Liang]
[Beast: Ruins Mountain Beast (Next Form: Ruins Abyss Beast. Evolution Points required: 30000)]
[Rank: Third Level early-stage]
[Talent: Devouring All Things (100%)]
[Bloodline: Advanced Level one-star]
[Attack: 6100]
[Defense: 6400]
[Speed: 5480]
[Spiritual Power: 2600]
[Evolution Points: 8888]
[Skills: Gluttonous Feast (Bloodline Divine Skill), Gluttonous Stomach Lv15, Greed Lv15, Damage Reduction Lv15, Size Control Lv10, Supernatural Smell Lv10, Devouring Mark Lv10]
[Special Traits: Scarlet Sun Pattern, Black Flame Phoenix Wings, Fiery Dragon Claw]
......
Devouring the half-beasts did not significantly increase his attribute values; instead, it only provided a small boost.
During the activation of his bloodline divine skill 'Gluttonous Feast', his devouring ability increased almost exponentially. The undigested half-beast corpses in his 'Gluttonous Stomach' instantly transformed into nutrients to sustain the bloodline divine skill.
Although he had lost some of his attribute value, his evolution points were preserved!
A full four eights!
"System, you're quite considerate, actually giving me such an auspicious number," Wu Liang laughed.
[Don't accuse the System. The System is absolutely fair, mostly operating according to the rules. Cheating is impossible!]
"Hehe, I understand. Cheating has to be done secretly, like stealing someone's girl~"
In those two hours alone, he earned at least five thousand evolution points, faster than going to a low-level secret place!
Not only that, but the lion's share was Chen Xiao!
At the last moment, Wu Liang, with superhuman willpower, managed to devour Chen Xiao before collapsing.
Firstly, he was afraid Chen Xiao wasn't quite dead; secondly, he was craving his body.
Even after a major battle, a Seventh Rank martial artist would have unimaginable residual energy—far more than the Black Flame Phoenix skeleton he had consumed.
Moreover, a Seventh Rank martial artist would possess a vast amount of evolution points, possibly exceeding ten thousand.
"Unfortunately, my level is too low. Digesting Chen Xiao's corpse will take nearly fifty days—that's way too long!"
The two were separated by more than four levels, and Chen Xiao was a living Seventh Rank martial artist, so the digestion difficulty was far greater than that of the Black Flame Phoenix skeleton!
Unless he used evolution points to upgrade his 'Gluttonous Stomach' and speed things up, he could only wait.
"With the evolution points provided by Chen Xiao, I have a real chance to evolve. I'll save them for later. I can level up my skills anytime. I can finish them before the martial arts exam. First place in the martial arts exam is definitely mine!"
Having defeated a Seventh Rank opponent, Wu Liang was brimming with confidence.
He would crush that Thunder Flood Dragon in a week!
Wu Liang, resting on the bed, noticed the Nanchuan Token on the table with his sharp eyes.
"Another Nanchuan Token, and a silver-grade one at that! Is it a reward for me?" Wu Liang asked expectantly.
Ling Qingxue smiled slightly and nodded.
"It was indeed a reward for killing Chen Xiao, but I can't let you exchange it this time. Only I can use it."
"Why? I contributed the most this time!"
Ling Qingxue looked helpless.
"I know, it's not that I don't want to give it to you. If I could, I'd like to exchange another beast skeleton with divine bloodline for you to devour, but you've already consumed Chen Xiao.
The energy Chen Xiao possessed before his death has a high chance of pushing your level to the Third Level peak, or even the Fourth Level early-stage.
However, we have a Heavenly Mandate Contract, meaning our levels cannot differ by more than one major level. If I can't break through before you finish digesting Chen Xiao's corpse, all that energy will be wasted."
Ling Qingxue was currently only at the Second Rank late-stage. If Wu Liang finished digesting Chen Xiao, his level would only break through to the Third Level late-stage at most, and the excess energy would be wasted.
Therefore, Ling Qingxue planned to exchange this Nanchuan Token for resources that could help her break through quickly.
She needed to reach at least the Second Rank peak before Wu Liang finished digesting, so as to waste less energy.
This situation had truly proven her initial worries true.
She really became the one holding him back...
An Empress reborn, only to be carried away by her magical beast—it would be best if no one else knew it.
As for Wu Liang's leveling-up speed, it meant he'd definitely break through to the Third Level peak before the martial arts exam!
The Third Level peak! No one had ever reached that level in the past martial arts exams. He might actually win first place!
"I hope I'm not the one who loses the bet I made back then?" Ling Qingxue murmured.
She thought her script would have a slow start, followed by a powerful surge, culminating in godhood!
But how come the power was coming so early...?
Ling Qingxue led Wu Liang towards the Spirit Gathering Room. People they encountered along the way greeted them respectfully, a testament to their achievements that day.
Not only that, but a fierce competition had swept through Lingtian Middle School.
Many students were training like they were on steroids, pushing themselves to the limit.
Shen Congwu smiled and handed Ling Qingxue a wooden box.
"What's this?" Ling Qingxue asked, puzzled.
"Director Lin and the governor just delivered this. It's full of spiritual herbs, specially for your Gluttonous Beast to consume so it can fully recover before its battle with Xuan Tianwen's Thunder Flood Dragon."
Ling Qingxue chuckled. "Does the governor hope I win so we can trend on social media again?"