After two long hours of sitting in the quiet embrace of the forest, waiting for the medicine to finish, Kai finally felt a shift within himself. The throbbing pain in his shoulder, intensified by the medicine, had dulled to a manageable ache, and he sensed that he was healed enough to start moving again. While he wasn’t completely restored—he could still feel the remnants of his injury lingering—he was ready to take the next step in his journey. The forest around him was eerily still, the mist hanging low and heavy, as if holding its breath in anticipation.

  He knew it would still take several days for him to fully heal. The wound on his shoulder would require time to mend, and he wouldn’t regain full use of his left arm until then. Kai estimated that with his natural healing abilities, enhanced by his cultivation, he might be looking at a recovery period of about a week or two. Although he was relatively weak compared to many other cultivators, he took solace in the fact that his body healed more efficiently than that of an ordinary mortal. It was a small advantage, but one he clung to as he prepared to move forward.

  As he rose to his feet, he tested his left arm cautiously, wincing slightly as he moved it. The discomfort would serve as a reminder of the battle he had endured for the next little while. He stretched his limbs, feeling the stiffness in his muscles, and took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead.

  Once he got to his feet, Kai took a moment to survey the other spirit beasts around him. Aside from a few bruises, both Igni and Yinying appeared to be perfectly fine, their vibrant energy undiminished by the recent battle. However, Snow was a different story. The Ice-Clawed Wolf seemed to be favoring his back legs, moving with a noticeable limp that suggested he had sustained an injury.

  Concerned, Kai knelt beside Snow and gently touched the wolf's hind legs. Snow let out a soft whine but remained still, allowing Kai to examine him. The wolf’s fur was matted with dried blood, and Kai could feel the tension in his muscles as he probed the area. Thankfully, the damage wasn’t severe—no broken bones or deep gashes—just a strained muscle or perhaps a bruised joint. With a few days of rest, Snow would be back to his usual spirited self, bounding through the forest with his characteristic agility. For now, however, it was clear that he wouldn’t be sprinting at full speed. That was perfectly fine; with his own injury still healing, Kai knew he wouldn’t be moving too quickly either.

  He offered Snow a reassuring pat on the head. “We’ll take it easy for a bit, buddy,” he said, his voice steady and comforting. Together, they would recover, and soon enough, they’d be ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

  After confirming that everyone was okay, Kai turned his attention to the remains of the monstrous snake they had defeated. As he approached the carcass, he marveled at its sheer size. The creature was large enough to swallow him whole, its white scales glistening in the diffused sunlight like polished ivory. The beauty of its form was juxtaposed with an ominous aura, a reminder of the danger it had posed.

  As he examined the corpse more closely, something peculiar caught Kai's eye. Near the spot where the snake's head had been violently ripped off, a small lump of flesh protruded from its massive body. Intrigued, he bent down for a closer look, his curiosity intensifying. Gently shifting the enormous form of the giant snake, he soon realized what the strange growth was.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  It was the beginning of an arm—a human arm. The snake was in the early stages of a transformation, sprouting limbs that resembled those of a person.

  “It was a demonic beast, alright,” Kai muttered under his breath, a chill running down his spine.

  The realization struck him with a mix of fascination and dread. This demonic snake was undergoing a transformation that would eventually grant it a humanoid form. In this metamorphosis, it would evolve into a half-snake, half-human-like creature, gaining strength comparable to cultivators in the Foundation Establishment stage. Along with this newfound power, it would also acquire a level of intelligence akin to that of humans, enabling it to speak and strategize.

  However, the creature's demonic nature would render it cruel and malevolent, driven by instincts that sought chaos and destruction.

  “I’m not entirely surprised,” Kai said, his voice steady but laced with concern. “People have been going missing in this area for quite some time. There have even been reports of cultivators disappearing. It must have been feasting on them, slowly succumbing to its demonic nature. And, it seems to have an uncanny ability to traverse and hide within the mist. It managed to find and track me despite the thick fog surrounding us. No wonder senior cultivators have struggled to locate it.”

  He paused, the implications of his thoughts weighing heavily on him. “If it can sense someone in the mist, it could easily evade a strong cultivator. Then, when a weaker one shows up, it could launch a surprise attack. How terrifying. I can only hope there aren’t more of these creatures lurking around.”

  As the words left his mouth, a shiver ran down Kai’s spine. There was no concrete evidence that this demonic snake was the only one in the area. The misty forest covered a vast expanse, and it was entirely possible that other creatures like this one—or even fully transformed demonic beasts—were hidden within its depths.

  “Um, let’s see about getting out of here,” Kai stuttered, urgency creeping into his tone. He felt a growing sense of unease, the forest’s oppressive atmosphere closing in around him.

  Kai stood up, preparing to leave, but a pang of regret tugged at him as he glanced back at the demonic snake’s corpse. Its remains would be worth a considerable sum to a skilled alchemist, who could transform it into valuable cultivation resources. The extra money would certainly help him on his journey north. However, he quickly dismissed the thought; he simply didn’t have the space in his storage ring to accommodate such a large creature. Reluctantly, he turned away, knowing he had to leave it behind.

  Then, a memory flickered in his mind about demonic beasts. A spark of inspiration ignited within him, and he began to hack away at the snake’s corpse with his sword. The three spirit beasts watched him with puzzled expressions, their heads tilting in confusion as they tried to understand his sudden change in focus.

  After a few moments of careful searching, Kai finally found what he was looking for. Embedded in the flesh near the heart was a striking red gem, pulsating with a faint glow. It was a blood core—an invaluable treasure that only formed within demonic beasts. This core would be far easier to carry than the entire snake, and its worth would far exceed that of the rest of the creature.

  With a steady hand, he extracted the blood core from the carcass, feeling its warmth as he held it in his palm. Satisfied, he placed the gem into his storage ring, knowing it would serve him well in the future.

  As he turned to leave the area, he cast one last glance at the demonic serpent, now just a lifeless reminder of the danger he had faced. With Igni, Yinying, and Snow following closely behind, he set off, their senses heightened as they scanned the surroundings for any potential threats. The forest felt alive with uncertainty, but together, they would navigate its depths, ready to confront whatever challenges lay ahead. The mist swirled around them, as they continued forward.

  Patreon. If you want to read up to 36 chapters early you can head over there.