Afterhoursofeffort,Ifinallygatheredmyfirststrandofqi.ToreachEarlyQiRefi,I’dneedhundredsmorestrandstransformedintotrueenergy.
“I”exhaledlightly.
Slowly,Iclimbedforward—handsagrippinghard.Ireachedthefrontandaimedatitsbackside.
Butitwasfaster.
MyfirstmissionwastofightaTyrannosaurusRex.AsIacceptedthechalleheserybehmyfeetgedfromasquareroomtoarockywilderness.
ThenIcharged.
Asthefirstraysunlightshhthewindow,afaintvortexhadformedinmydantian—proofoftrueqi’sbirth.
“IamtheAsuraDeity.Yoursonpleasesme.
“ThisistheAsuraRealm.Youmustpletethreeentrytrialsbeforeyouqualifytobemydisciple.”
Witharoar,Idrovethebrantoitsrear,creatingasmallhole.
Today,forthesakeofmygtalent,FatherbroughtmetotheAsuraTempletoprayforhelp.Wekbeforethegod’sstatue,andhesincerelyprayed:
Fagabeastwhoseteethalonewerergerthanmybody,Ifeltfear—evenwithmyEarlyFoundatioablishmentcultivatioecouldendme.
“EarlyQiRefi...Ifinallydidit.”
Fiveyearsflewby.I’myearsold,havingbarelyreachedtheEarlyFoundatioablishmentstage.Thepathwasn’tsmooth.Everybottleneckrequiredmetogritmyteethandperseverethroughtlessdaysandnights.Thougheldersinmyfamilycoulduidance,breakthroughsultimatelydependedonmyownpersistendexperimentation.
Withageure,thegodtransportedmetenewpce.
Iopenedmyeyesandsmiledfaintly.
Withinthreemicaughtuptome.Isighed.
Ithreunchatitsstomach...andbouncedoff.
Weonceagainfacedoffinstillhealowgrowndstruckthebeast’sleg—ablowtwiceasstrongasbefore.Itslegwentnumbinstantly.
Boy...ewithme.”
Then“I”gotserious.
“GRUUUHHH!!”
Hisvoicesoundedagain.
“GreatAsuraGod,I,yourhumblebelieverTianlong,begyoutohelpmysonTianyan.Granthimsuccessohofcultivation.Ihope...youwouldaccepthimasyourdisciple.”
“Soweak...”
Injustthreeminutes,Idefeatedtheferociousbeastwithease.
Icrashedtotheground.Itstailswepttowardme,butIjumpedandgrabbedanearbybranch,leapingontoitstail.Thebeastthrashedleftandright,butIgtightly,refusingtoletgo.
ienergy!”Myheartleapt.Iheldmybreath,carefullyguidingthefaintqitowardmydantian.
Thebeasthowledinpainasbloodtrickleddown.Iturnedandran—Thirty-SixStratagems:runningisthebestpn.
Atfirst,weremaiill—herattag.
“HYAAAH!”
Themomenthefinishedspeaking,agoldenlightdesdedbeforeus.Acalm,emotionlessvoiceechoedfromwithin.
Inoddeddumbly.Heledmetoatrainingchamberpreparedjustforme.Therewasevenapersonalstewardtocook,servetea,aasks—butIhadtopletethethreetrialsfirst.
AfterswitgfromQiRefiManualtotheFoundatioablishmentManual,qibecameevenhardertotrol.Eachadvafeltliketemperingmyselfthroughpain.
“Lookslike...I’tkeeppyingaround.”
Itstaggered.Ileaptagain—thistimereagtwelvemeters—strikingitsshortfrontlimbuntilitfractured.
Thebeastroaredandrushedtowardme.Ileapedintotheair.AcultivatoratPeakQiRefijumpfivemeters,PeakFoundatioablishmey-fivemeters.AsanEarlyStageFoundatioablishmentcultivator,Icouldjumpaboutseveers—justenoughtoreachitsbelly.