Arnold's background

Vather and Arnold slowly went back into the forest as Vather led him to his home on the tree while explaining his reason for being in the forest in the first place.As they both jump on the tree branch,

"So what are you even doing here in the first layer anyway" Vather asked as according to Arnold he wasn't from the first layer.

"Oh about that it's because of we death bloods cultivation.We grew strong by killing and then absorbing the blood of the people we killed,the stronger the better.But when we try to absorb the blood,we first lose all our cultivation,the mystical energy which we usually call origin blood energy is then absorbed into us strengthening our body to unbelievable level,and also improving our cultivation.I was planning to raise my cultivation again and thought of a better place where I can properly do that making the 1st layer the best option as I doubt there could be anyone who will even be able to enter into the death blood absorption domain,but you were quite the anomaly." he said as he looked strangely at Vather wondering how someone so young was even able to enter into his domain in the first place.

"And what layer of cultivation will you be when you completely absorb all the energy in that pillar."Vather asked as he stared at the man.

"I was formerly at the peak of the divine assimilation stage and preparing to enter the domain creation stage" the man replied as he stared at the stars in the sky.

"Don't think you destroying the pillar was bad,it was the best you could have done as assuming you didn't destroy that pillar then I will only continue to draw it's energy into me and you will later run out of energy, which will only lead to your defeat and the light technique wouldn't have worked either as the other consciousness in me will be at it strongest,you came at the right time when it's influence on me was weak and you were able to cut off it's connectiom.But I can still regain my cultivation easily as I've gone through it before, I just need to keep absorbing the energy in all types of bloods even beast bloods will do if the beast themselves are strong enough."He said as he diverted his attention away from Vather and back into the sky.

"What layer did you come from?" Vather asked as he thought maybe he can acquire some information about his clan from the man.

"I'm from the second layer, the peaceful stream clan.Asking about that won't do much as we are just a small clan making a living from farming,but the death bloods,they are known across all the layers and not just limited to the 2nd heavens,they are everywhere and they are always hiding as they are multitude of worlds enemy." Arnold said hate in his voice when he thought about them,and stll find it hard to even think he was one of them before.

"I hate to say this,but there's a high probability they already knew I've been freed and I don't think they'll be the one to ignore that.Even after years of working with them I've never come across nor even seen a second death blood before so I have no information about them at all but I don't think that might make them leave me alone which can only mean one thing"Arnold said a grave expression on his face as he looked at Vather but was surprised as the young man before him was oddly calm.

"They are already coming for you,"Vather replied in an unbothered tone.

"But how long do you think it will take to descend from a higher layer into a lower one"

"I don't really know,but for me to come to this place,it took me three years of gathering the resources and another three years to come here."Arnold said his voice uncertain.

"Then don't worry about the death bloods anymore they would no longer be a threat two years from now".Vather said with a blank expression.

"From now on,do not mention the death blood to me anymore,let me focus on what really matter, their case will be properly resolved when they're are finally here as panicking won't do anything"he said which elicited a nod from Arnold.

"So will you teach me how you improved your scythe cultivation to such levels."he asked as his own spear cultivation has been stucked at the adept level since all this while.

"I've noticed your spear arts,you have an incredible comprehension of it even more than my own scythe but there's something your spear art is lacking, it's lacking an intent.Your spear cultivation right now is like you creating a paper from a rough bark of a tree,but while you have created a beautiful and smooth beautiful sheet of paper,your paper is blank.With a blank piece of paper, your work is pretty much useless as it's all just blank.But it can't be said to be entirely useless as you finally have something you can write on,so right now all you need to do is write on the paper, meaning find your own intent".

"Mine was formed by my other self as it was purely created with the intent to kill,so it's simple and direct,to kill,there's nothing fancy about it.Usually you find your own intent by looking at others intent then finding your own path.Your intent is who you are,what you want most,I can't give you your intent but while you will be able to understand from rubbing on mine, I won't advice for going for mine as it solely belongs to me and we are completely different beings of different race each of different desires. You will understand what I mean well by a good spar,but it's already late now what do you think of tomorrow morning, huh"

"I guess that's a great idea,then tomorrow it is"Vather replied as he at least knew where his next focus is right now.

"So can you tell me more about the devirs." he asked as he heard Vather mention it to him before but didn't dwell on it much.

"The devir are another race that invade our world,they are fighting to colonize it due to its resources and they seem more like the death bloods also as they increase their cultivation the more human they devour"Vather said as he quickly gave a brief information about the devirs to Arnold which elicited a nod from him.

"Then I think my chance has come.I want to help in the war"he said as he looked at Vather with determination in his eyes.

"I'm sure the military aren't the one to give up on a free helping hand but I'm afraid the decision is not for me to make but I knew someone who can help with that."Vather replied as he thought of the old man with locked hands in the dojo.

"Since how long as it been that I've noticed the star were this beautiful"Arnold muttered to himself as he stared at the beautiful stars in the sky each glowing a beautiful white light.

Vather stood up from where he was sitting as he jumped on a branch higher than the one he his and laid down on it.

A drop of tear trickle down Arnold's eye as he thought of his family."You have given me a second chance at life,Vather,one which I'm forever grateful for" he muttered as he slowly fell into a deep sleep,the first peaceful sleep he ever had since hundreds of years ago.

A smile lit up on Vather's face as he thought of his meeting with Arnold.He would say it was a lie if he didn't want to kill him as excluding that he was one of the hated death bloods,the system rewards of 500Exp and opening the shop on his system was incredibly tempting as that was an incredible opportunity to grow stronger,but after seeing the man's red blood eyes slowly turned back to green,he couldn't do that no matter how much reason he gave himself as he clearly saw the man has been rid of that consciousness, killing him after that will only make him doubt himself and affect his own life.But it seems sparing Arnold's life wasn't completely hopeless as he got himself a new bloodline,one at the same layer as his own True Astral light bloodline and also a reliable comrade as he had almost zero reason to turn against him,while also being a good helper in the war to come.