The time was roughly more than thirty years ago, around the time when the Feng family rose to power, or even earlier.

Back then, Erbai Dao had not yet achieved his feat of defeating the top experts from the three major families at that year's Qingling Tournament, sharing the stage with Ruo Tinghan, Bai Qiling, and Lei Jing, and becoming famous throughout the world.

Erbaidao comes from a small city in Hebei, China. His parents are independent cultivators who take on small tasks to solve problems with minor demons in the community. Under their influence, Erbaidao has also learned some spiritual arts.

But his talent was clearly much higher than that of ordinary people. When he was in junior high school, his ability had already surpassed that of his parents.

He had already reached the sixth rank before he was even an adult.

Seeing his exceptional talent, his father always wanted to send him to the family. In the world of spiritual masters, rogue cultivators could only gain access to more resources by joining a family.

There, one can better realize the potential of the two hundred dollars' worth of talent.

The top choice is naturally the starter three!

Two hundred dollars is young and impetuous; if he's going to go, he wants to go to the best.

At that time, the Bai family was widely recognized as the strongest of the three major families.

So he decided to participate in the Bai family's recruitment examination for independent cultivators.

However, upon arriving at the location as instructed by the Spirit Master Network, they were told that the Bai family had stopped recruiting rogue cultivators.

Then I went to the Lei family, which only accepts rogue cultivators and spirit weapon masters.

Before going to the Ruo family, he also passed by a small family and went in to ask them something.

Do you recruit independent cultivators?

"A rogue cultivator? Ha, do you think just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can get into my Wang family? Do you have a recommender?"

Two hundred dollars: ? ? ?

Do I still need a referrer?

No... then how did you get in? Are you all native family members?

This is what the environment was like for spiritual practitioners more than 30 years ago.

After making some inquiries, Erbaidao learned that each family had limited resources, and they didn't even have enough for themselves, so how could they possibly give them to independent cultivators?

While the family's top management certainly wants to recruit more talent, their subordinates are unwilling to share the pie with others.

This hierarchical structure makes it extremely difficult for independent cultivators to enter a clan for cultivation; without connections, it's virtually impossible to get in.

Upon hearing this, Erbaidao was so angry that he didn't even bother going to the Ruo family anymore. He went straight home and declared that he would never join any family again and would remain a rogue cultivator for the rest of his life.

After hearing this, his father gave him a letter a few days later, instructing him to report to the Lin family in the area.

The Lin family is one of the hundred spiritual masters in China and has a great influence in the local area. Erbaidao wondered how his father had connections with the Lin family, but his father was unwilling to say more.

Although Erbai Dao said he was unwilling, he still longed for a proper reputation. So he went, and with a letter of recommendation and his own strength, he easily obtained the status of an outer disciple.

He can be considered a proper family spiritual master.

As one might expect, he was not well-liked. Even among outer disciples, there was an order of arrival, and everyone had some kind of background. With his personality, Two Hundred Blades couldn't get along anywhere and was always ostracized.

Forget about resources, sometimes even food gets pranked, but thankfully, my monthly salary is paid on time.

Spiritual practitioners earn extremely high salaries, after all, it's a high-risk profession.

At first, Erbai Dao didn't care about being ostracized by his own kind. All he wanted to do was slay demons and repay his parents' kindness in raising him. That was all.

Do not compete or fight, do not dwell on the past or forget the present.

However, facing exclusion from one's own clan over time can inevitably lead to feelings of frustration.

One day, he went on a mission to a certain place. After it was over, his other companions went back without saying goodbye.

Two Hundred Blades sat somewhat forlornly by the roadside, looking at the crowd on the street. He couldn't help but smile bitterly. He had been slaying demons and monsters since childhood, and the demon race was his mortal enemy. He never expected that even after joining a spiritual master family, he would not be welcomed by the spiritual masters. Among these ordinary people, his clothes and aura made him stand out as an anomaly.

In this vast world, it seems there's nowhere that can accommodate me.

Thinking about it, he simply lay down on a park bench and let out a long sigh.

What's the use of that Lin family's high-end mattress? It doesn't seem as comfortable as this park bench.

The more I thought about it, the more upset I felt. I missed the days when I used to fight monsters with my father.

Although conditions weren't as good as they are now, life was still quite free and happy back then.

Why is it that as conditions improve, I've become more depressed...?

A gentle breeze blew by, bringing with it a strange fragrance, like the scent of flowers. Two Hundred Knives unconsciously took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"Could you take a picture for me?"

A pleasant voice rang out, and Erbaidao opened his eyes. Before him stood a graceful woman with delicate skin, as beautiful as a lotus emerging from water, possessing a pure yet luxurious beauty.

Even the young Erbaidao's eyes lit up at the sight.

The woman possessed no spiritual energy and was not a cultivator; her beauty was purely natural.

Seeing that Erbaidao was looking at her silently, the woman smiled and said:

"Did I disturb you? I'm sorry..."

"Oh, it's nothing."

As he spoke, Two Hundred Dollars took the camera from the woman's hand. The woman stood under the tree, smiling and tilting her head slightly, a very natural pose, yet she was unbelievably beautiful.

"alright."

The woman politely said thank you, then glanced at it and exclaimed with delight:

Wow, these photos are great! Thank you!

Two Hundred Dollars nodded and said politely.

But after the girl finished taking the photos, she didn't leave immediately. Instead, she looked at the chair he was sitting in, smiled, and asked:

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