Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Both sides were mutually beneficial.

Other than the Outer Dao sword slaves who helped the crooked tree collect food, there was also a special Outer Dao sword slave cultivating cross-legged under the tree.

Different from the twisted and disgusting appearance of the other Outer Dao sword slaves, this person looked much more normal.

If one ignored the blood-red blades on his arms, the person was not much different from an ordinary human.

Other than his appearance, the biggest difference between this Outer Dao sword slave and the other sword slaves was his aura.

Other Outer Dao sword slaves were like crazy beasts, making people feel disgusted at first glance.

However, the temperament of this Outer Dao sword slave was very calm, which made him stand out from the surrounding Outer Dao sword slaves.

This was the “master” that the Outer Dao sword slaves had been talking about, the Outer Dao Sword Master of this place.

Behind him was the special plant of the Scarlet Forest, the contaminated Enlightenment Tree.

[The contaminated Enlightenment Tree]

[Grade: Level 9 Nascent Soul Stage]

[Skill: Outer Dao • Enlightenment Fruit, Evergreen Power]

[Outer Dao Sword Master, Shen Qing]

[Cultivation: Level 1 Apotheosis Stage]

[Skill: Outer Path • Heavenly Lone Star Sword, Outer Dao Sword Bone, Six Harmonies Sword Intent, Outer Path • Shangqing Spiritual Sword Technique…]

Shen Qing, who had been cultivating, seemed to have sensed something at this moment. He suddenly raised his head and looked up.

In the sky, a cultivator suddenly appeared right above the blood lake.

Shen Qing looked at him and slowly stood up.

“I can’t even remember how many cultivators I’ve met from the same sect. May 1 ask how I should address you?”

Lu Yuan looked at the Outer Dao Sword Master who had stood up and calmly replied, “Spirit Sword Sect, Bai Dafei.”

“Bai Dafei…”

The Outer Dao Sword Master muttered the fake name Lu Yuan threw out as he slowly flew into the air.

Before long, Shen Qing arrived right opposite Lu Yuan.

“Fellow Daoist Bai, you must be the one who kept hunting my sword slaves today, right? You are quite capable, killing sword slaves like nothing even though you are only at the Nascent Soul Stage. Back when 1 was at the Nascent Soul stage, 1 did not have such capabilities. It’s been five hundred years since I fused with the Dao. 1 wonder how many of my fellow peers are still alive.”

“Are you a cultivator of the Spirit Sword Sect?”

Shen Qing nodded in response to Lu Yuan’s question, and a smile appeared on his pale face.

“It used to be.”

As he spoke, Shen Qing raised his right hand.

“I was five years old when 1 reached the Qi Cultivation Stage, fifteen years old when I reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, thirty years old when I reached the Golden Core Stage, and three hundred and twenty years old when 1 reached the Nascent Soul Stage. I originally thought that I could rely on my talent to reach the Apotheosis Stage within a thousand years, but I soon discovered that the path of cultivation became increasingly difficult as 1 progressed. 1 wasted a thousand years but still couldn’t find the path to the Apotheosis Stage.”

“Although most Apotheosis Stage cultivators have a lifespan of two to three thousand years, most can’t live that long. Living for a thousand and five hundred to two thousand years is the limit of an Apotheosis Stage cultivator. When I sensed that my end was near, I chose a special method of the sect to reach the Apotheosis Stage… Merging Dao with my body, which is what you’re seeing right now.”

“But there’s one thing I haven’t figured out yet. 1 clearly didn’t inform the inner sect about my awakening, so how did you find me? Moreover, based on your identity as a Dao Protector, your strength… It’s a little weak..”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com