He noticed some strange lines on the ancient tree's trunk, like some kind of rune. The spiritual energy around the trunk was also much denser than elsewhere; breathing it into his lungs made his whole body feel comfortable.
"King of the Forest?" Lin Taichu was shocked. He had never heard of a plant becoming a king and protecting an entire stretch of land.
The old man nodded. "It's very powerful. It can absorb the demonic energy in the desert and transform it into spiritual energy. It can also withstand sandstorms and powerful magical beasts. Without it, the desert would have swallowed us long ago."
Lin Taichu understood. No wonder there was such a vast oasis deep in the desert, with people able to survive here. It was all because of this King of the Forest. Looking at the ancient tree, his heart filled with reverence.
"I didn't mean to disturb you," Lin Taichu hurriedly said. "If it's inconvenient for me to stay here, I'll leave right away."
The old man smiled. "No need. You killed the demon bear and helped us. If you don't mind, you can stay here a few more days. The King of the Forest's spiritual energy is highly beneficial to cultivators. You can cultivate here and improve your strength."
Lin Taichu was delighted. He had been looking for a place rich in spiritual energy to cultivate, yet he had unexpectedly found such a wonderful opportunity here. "Thank you, Chief."
The old man nodded and said to the youth beside him, "Amu, take him to the hut over there and prepare some food and water for him."
The youth agreed and led Lin Taichu toward a small hut not far away.
The hut was tiny, containing only a bed and a table, but it was very clean.