Chapter 1

In Oakhaven, Eldoria.

Evening found Gilmore Reed leaving a flower shop, a bouquet of fresh roses in hand. It was his girlfriend's birthday.

The flower shop was 0.31 to 0.37 miles from Oakhaven University, where he and his girlfriend studied. He headed toward the university.

However, after a few steps, he tripped and nearly fell. Simultaneously, an old man cried out, "Ouch! That hurts!"

Gilmore realized he'd stepped on the man's foot. The old man had white hair and a beard, and wore messy, dirty clothes—clearly unwashed for days. A stainless steel bowl sat before him.

The old man groaned, rubbing his foot, which was clad in a cloth shoe.

Embarrassed, Gilmore profusely apologized and pulled out his wallet. It contained only a few twenty-dollar bills. He took one and placed it in the bowl. He then turned to leave.

"Don't go," the old man said.

Gilmore stopped, his heart skipping a beat. He feared the old man would extort more money. He and his family were poor.

"Sir, is… is there anything else?" Gilmore asked, his voice trembling.

"Young man, I am the 198th-generation disciple of Zenith on Ravenhurst Mountain. I've wandered the world for many years and, now old, wish to return." The old man looked up at Gilmore. "Just forty more dollars for travel expenses."

Gilmore breathed a sigh of relief. Forty dollars was manageable; forty thousand would have necessitated calling the police. Though poor, he felt obligated to compensate the man for stepping on his foot, perhaps even for medicine.

He quickly took another twenty dollars from his wallet and placed it in the bowl. "Sir, here you are."

He wanted to leave quickly, but a bony hand grasped his wrist—the old man's.

Gilmore's expression changed. "What's wrong?"

"Young man, you've been kind. I have nothing to repay you with but this elixir from Ravenhurst Mountain." The old man pressed a small wooden box into Gilmore's hand. "Taking it will grant immunity to all diseases. The elixir's mana will strengthen your body, making you unconquerable. After the mana flows through your mana points, you'll see things others cannot. All the world's secrets will be revealed to you."

Gilmore's mouth twitched. This old man's a charlatan! he thought. He claims to have an elixir from Ravenhurst Mountain and that I'll become unconquerable. Why not claim to be Zenith's founder? And seeing things others can't? Why not claim immortality? He's clearly delusional.

"Young man, you don't believe me, do you?" Seeing Gilmore's skepticism, the old man said earnestly, "You may not know it, but something is about to happen to you."

Gilmore remained unconvinced. "What will happen?"

The old man glanced at Gilmore, stating confidently, "You'll be cuckolded."

Gilmore stared, replying angrily, "How… how dare you curse me? You're so mean!"

The old man had implied Gilmore's girlfriend would cheat on him. How could Gilmore not be angry?

The old man smiled. "I'm not cursing you. Your girlfriend will break up with you, but don't be sad. You'll soon meet another woman. Whether she brings good or bad luck is up to you."

Gilmore scoffed. "You're joking, sir. My girlfriend and I are doing great. Why would we break up? And another woman? Nonsense!"

The old man offered no further explanation. He released Gilmore's wrist and waved his hand.

"Hurry to your girlfriend. Otherwise, she'll leave with a rich man."

"I'll be right back!" Gilmore huffed, rushing to Oakhaven University to see Tiffany Hubbard and prove their strong relationship. How dare he say I'll be cuckolded? Just wait and see! he thought.

(The "+65%%" and "1/3," "2/3," "64" and website information are extraneous and have been removed.)