Gu Ding froze for a moment when the old man exposed his identity, then nodded readily in admission.
"Clan Elder, I am indeed a participant in the Path of the King trial. However, I came here without hostile intentions. I merely wish to learn about this forest."
As he spoke, Gu Ding studied the Clan Elder once more. Yet the old man still seemed like an ordinary person with no cultivation whatsoever.
"Ask whatever you wish. I will tell you everything I know to the best of my ability." The old man smiled and nodded.
"What exactly is going on with this forest? Are all the trees and vines Plant Spirits that devour Blood Food and flesh?" Gu Ding asked the question he most wanted answered.
"This forest is strange because there is a demon tree at its center. Legend has it that the tree was an Ancient Tree Seed from the Purgatory Eleventh Layer, planted here by some great expert. More than a hundred epochs have passed since then. It is said that the demon tree was born with talent comparable to a Saint-level human prodigy. After devouring endless flesh and blood throughout all these years on the Path of the King, it has long since evolved to the Saint King Level. If not for this world's rules restricting it, it would likely have become a monarch long ago."
"So powerful..." Even Gu Ding found it somewhat unbelievable. But he also knew that if it were a Saint-level human prodigy, the chances of becoming a Seven-Star Lord after cultivating for over a hundred epochs would be high. With Saint King Level talent, becoming a monarch after a hundred epochs would be entirely normal; it might even surpass monarchs.
"According to the information I have obtained, this demon tree is