Grant Benson didn’t even know that food needed to be prepared before it could be eaten. He devoured the poor little snake raw, fur and blood and all! When he bit into the spot seven inches down, he found something he couldn’t chew through. Spitting it out, he saw it was a small red orb. Grant Benson was a discerning person—at a glance, he knew this was a demon core, something only a beast could form after a thousand years of cultivation! Grant Benson was puzzled; this little snake didn’t seem to have such power, otherwise it wouldn’t have been caught so easily by his current self. But regardless, Grant Benson knew that after his recent misfortune, he’d now stumbled into great luck. Swallowing this demon core would surely boost his power greatly. Though not as strong as before, at least he wouldn’t be bullied. Having spent so long in the demonic path, his first thought was always self-preservation.

Grant Benson wolfed down the snake, swallowing it whole—skin, bones, and all—in no time, even licking the snake’s blood clean from his hands, still feeling unsatisfied. Half full, but already much better off, Grant Benson lay down, ready for a good sleep and to continue climbing tomorrow.

As for the little snake, it was actually a snake demon that had cultivated for a thousand years. That night, it had come out to bathe in the moonlight and refine its demon core, hoping to increase its power. Unexpectedly, just as the core was released from its belly and before it could spit it out, someone grabbed its throat. With the core stuck inside, it was helpless. And so, this thousand-year-old demon was easily eaten by the now “weak as a kitten” Grant Benson. But Grant Benson didn’t get off easy either. Why? Because this snake was a Menghua Snake, which had no other abilities except to induce sleep. Its demon core, refined over a thousand years, was a concentrated toxin—eating it would plunge one into a sleep from which it was nearly impossible to awaken.

For cultivators with strong willpower, this kind of snake was almost harmless, and no one ever remembered them. Menghua Snakes that had cultivated for over a thousand years were even rarer, and few knew the true effects of their demon cores. Grant Benson certainly didn’t.

Sleeping soundly, Grant Benson had no idea that what he’d eaten wasn’t some treasure to boost his power, but a death sentence that would keep him in an endless dream. Not long after he fell asleep, a gentle breeze drifted by, and someone appeared at his side. This person was none other than the head of the Wuwei Sword Sect, Nolan Clark.

This Menghua Snake had been sheltering under Misty Rain Peak for quite some time, and how could Nolan Clark not know? But the Wuwei Sword Sect had always been open-minded toward other creatures. Misty Rain Peak was solid and gathered the spiritual energy of heaven and earth; beasts who cultivated here could avoid the tribulation of heavenly lightning. Since the Menghua Snake was here, they never drove it away. The snake, understanding the rules, never crossed the clouds to approach the sect’s territory, so the sword sect and the snake coexisted peacefully. Tonight, Nolan Clark had divined that the Menghua Snake would face a great calamity and came to check, hoping to help. But he was still a step too late—the Menghua Snake had been eaten by Grant Benson!

He gently nudged Grant Benson, but Grant Benson was fast asleep and didn’t respond. Nolan Clark quickly guessed what had happened. He picked up the sleeping Grant Benson, mounted his flying sword, and returned to the Wuwei Sword Sect.

He first went to find his martial uncle, Earl Benson Colin Foster. This was the first time he’d encountered a situation like Grant Benson’s and didn’t know what to do, so he wanted his uncle’s advice. The “old immortal” Colin Foster, as Grant Benson called him, was already meditating. This carefree swordsman sat on a meditation cushion, holding his immortal sword, eyes half-closed—in the world of cultivators, this was how one rested. From outside the door, Nolan Clark respectfully called, “Martial uncle, I have something to ask.” The door opened without a breeze, and Colin Foster yawned and stretched lazily, asking, “What is it? Why come so late?”

Nolan Clark said, “Martial uncle, the Menghua Snake on the mountainside met its calamity today.” Colin Foster was a bit surprised: “How come I didn’t sense anything?” Nolan Clark replied, “It was a human calamity.” To become immortal, whether human, beast, or ghost, one must endure the three tribulations of heaven, earth, and man. The human tribulation is the lowest level; only after passing it can one face the earth tribulation, and finally the heavenly tribulation.

Chapter 004: The Ancestral Golden Core

Colin Foster nodded sadly. “Sigh, beasts are born with shortcomings. Even after a thousand years of cultivation, they can’t withstand a single human tribulation. How pitiful…” Nolan Clark said, “Today I divined that the snake would face this calamity, so I went to check, planning to help it out. After all, we’ve been neighbors for so long. But I was still too late.” Colin Foster agreed, “You did the right thing. This is an act of kindness and virtue, which will greatly help your future ascension. Your Tai Xi Divination has improved again, and you can now foresee calamities.” Nolan Clark shook his head modestly, “Not quite, I still didn’t get the timing right.” Colin Foster smiled, “Although Tai Xi Divination is a supreme art, talent is crucial. Of three generations, only you have been chosen by this art. You must work hard!”