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

Chapter 80 Destruction and Reconstruction

Inside the courtyard, no fewer than a hundred people had gathered, all holding their breath and focusing their attention on the main hall, waiting for the young man who had caused the Kui drum to sound three times.

Despite the sudden attention, Zhou Li remained completely calm. He could handle any situation, whether it was meeting the head of the Situ family or the emperor who had long resided in the high halls of the court.

Yangyang took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and solemnly said to Zhou Li, "Senior Brother Zhou, Grandpa and Father are surely waiting in the main hall. These three courses of tea are both a courtesy and a test, and they are not so easy to accept. If you feel uncomfortable, you can decline them, and no one will say anything to you."

Zhou Li turned his head slightly to meet her worried gaze, smiled calmly, and though he didn't say anything, his composure inexplicably put her at ease.

Yangyang might not understand, but Zhou Li knew that today's preferential treatment was not only for him personally, but also for the Situ family. If he did not perform well today, he should no longer have any dealings with Yangyang.

"Let's go."

Surrounded by many eyes, Zhou Li straightened his robes, walked through the courtyard, and headed towards the tall main hall.

Upon entering the main hall, the light suddenly dimmed, and there were already many clansmen who had come to observe the ceremony inside.

At the head of the table, an elderly man in a wide robe sat upright. His face was kind and he had the air of a superior, but his eyes were slightly closed.

Yangyang led Zhou Li through the solemn crowd to this person.

"Grandpa, Senior Brother Zhou is here."

Yang Yang's tone was warm, clearly indicating that the old man liked her very much. This man was none other than Situ Wentian, the head of the Situ family.

"Junior Zhou Li greets Patriarch Situ." Zhou Li stood in the hall and respectfully performed the salute, with Liu Zhaohan silently following behind him.

Situ Wentian's closed eyelids twitched slightly, and a gentle smile appeared on his face.

"Young friend Zhou, there's no need for such formalities." His voice was calm and soothing. "Although I am blind, my mind is clear. Young friend, your aura is restrained and your spiritual light is pure. No wonder Yangyang speaks so highly of you. Ziyun Peak has gained a fine seedling."

Zhou Li was taken aback upon hearing this and instinctively looked into Situ Wentian's eyes. Beneath those half-drooping eyelids were a pair of grayish-white, empty pupils. It was not a disguise; he was indeed blind.

Because he possessed the Heavenly Thunder Eyes, he had relied on these wise eyes many times in his life. Without them, Zhou Li dared not imagine how difficult the path of cultivation would be. He couldn't help but feel a sense of respect for the old man.

"Master, you flatter me. I am but a junior with meager skills and do not deserve such high praise."

But then a deep voice came from the side: "Kid, I heard you fought Fang Lan and even broke through his protective aura with a single sword strike?"

The speaker was a middle-aged man, sitting to the left of Situ Wentian. He was tall and strong, with a square jaw and thick eyebrows. His tiger-like eyes were fixed on Zhou Li, exuding an invisible pressure.

Seeing Yangyang standing quietly behind this person, Zhou Li guessed that this was Yangyang's father, Situ Qian, and thus performed a junior's greeting:

"Zhou Li greets you, senior. The outcome of a magical duel is sometimes a matter of chance, but this time I simply cannot unleash that sword strike."

Then Situ Qian laughed heartily: "No need to be modest. Fang Lan has also drunk these three teas. It's just a pity that she failed on the second one. You'll know who is better after a try."

"Dad~!" Yangyang pouted unhappily from the side.

"Qian'er, calm down." Situ Wentian stroked his beard and took over the conversation. "Young friend, it is your first time visiting our home, and you have already made great contributions to our small realm. The Situ family cannot be impolite. I have specially opened this Kui Niu Drum and set up this ancient ceremony of 'Three Courses of Tea' inherited from our ancestors to express my gratitude."

He gestured for everyone to offer Zhou Li a seat, and said to him solemnly, "These three teas are not ordinary drinks. They are made using an ancient method passed down through my Situ family, containing hidden divine secrets. They are both a sign of respect and a test of the drinker's foundation, character, and affinity with the Dao. One may gain immense benefits, or one may be harmed."

He smiled slightly, a hint of anticipation in his eyes: "Young friend Zhou, I formally inquire whether you are willing to accept the Situ family's gift of three teas?"

In an instant, all sound fell silent inside and outside the hall, and everyone's eyes were focused on the young man in black robes in the hall.

Yangyang stared nervously at Zhou Li, her hands unconsciously clenching.

Zhou Li took a slight breath, met everyone's gaze, and responded loudly:

"It is an honor for Zhou Li to be so highly regarded by the Situ family head. I will accept these three courses of tea."

"Good!" With a command from Situ Wentian, an elder master of ceremonies walked into the main hall with a solemn expression, carrying a tray in both hands.

On the tray was a black jade cup with a constricted rim, the tea inside was dark brown, and even before you got close, a bitter and cold aura emanated from it.

"The first tea is called Cleansing Meridian Tea." The elder's voice echoed in the hall. "This cup is made from the bitter and cold marrow deep within the Yin Meridians, and supplemented with nine kinds of spiritual materials with fiery nature to harmonize Yin and Yang. Its nature is like a raging torrent, eroding the meridians and burning the bones."

His gaze was fixed on Zhou Li: "Those who drink this cup must use themselves as a dike to withstand its erosion and tempering. Those whose foundation is unstable will have their meridians like rotten wood, collapsing in an instant; those whose will is weak will have their souls like duckweed, sinking in a moment."

"If one can hold fast to the spiritual platform, one can break through and rebuild, clearing the meridians and expanding the channels."

The elder carefully presented the black jade cup to Zhou Li: "Please—!"

Zhou Li remained calm, steadily took the jade cup, and drank it all in one gulp without hesitation under everyone's gaze.

The tea soup enters the mouth.

First, an intense bitterness swept over my whole body, then a spicy sensation exploded in my mouth, like a fiery snake darting into my meridians, rampaging wildly.

The next moment, Zhou Li felt as if his meridians were frozen by the cold air and then melted by the magma. The two different sensations of ice and fire kept repeating in his body.

The violent power of the tea, while destroying the structure of the meridians, also used the vitality contained in the tea to bind and heal them. This torrent of destruction and rebirth washed over Zhou Li's meridians again and again.

The intense discomfort turned his face deathly pale, his body trembled uncontrollably, and his robes were soaked with cold sweat.

But a smile appeared on Zhou Li's lips. He had experienced the pain in the meridians of this human body many times before and was already able to take it all in stride.

Besides, as long as he could focus his mind, he could shield himself from the pain of this human body, so it was really not a challenge at all. He was just a little disappointed that, in front of everyone, he couldn't let the ant body also have a taste.

After a full incense stick's time, Zhou Li's trembling began to subside, his face regained its color, and his breathing gradually became steady.

Faintly, one could hear the gurgling sound of spiritual energy flowing within his body, like a rushing, vast stream.

Although Zhou Li's meridians were tough, they were still somewhat narrow for his Five Elements Spiritual Body to absorb spiritual energy at such a fast pace.

Now, thanks to the effects of the Meridian Cleansing Tea, my meridians have widened by nearly 20%, and the flow of spiritual energy is smooth and unimpeded, thus making up for this deficiency.

Zhou Li steadily placed the teacup back on the tray and slowly uttered two words:

"Excellent tea!"