Spirit Realm

On the boundless continent of Shensummer, the myriad phenomena of creation are but commonplace. Since ancient times, savage beasts tormented the good and honest folk, but now humanity must strive to rise above. There was a youth, scarcely thirteen, laboring at the docks, hauling sacks and carrying bricks. Toil at the docks was harsh beyond words, leaving him each day gasping for breath from exhaustion. A year slipped by in the blink of an eye, and the youth encountered a great calamity. The foreman invited the workers to a meal, only for assassins to block the doors. In a desperate bid to save the young lady, the youth fell victim to the assassin’s venomous blade. He lost consciousness in a daze, and when he awoke, all was over. Two years vanished in a flash, and the boy grew into fifteen, taller and more handsome than before. On his way home, he met an old friend, who detained him to recount that fateful day. A great sect was recruiting new disciples, and their base was right at the docks. Unable to refuse his friend’s urging, the youth reluctantly agreed to go—never expecting disaster to strike. He suffered bitter humiliation at the hands of others, and in a moment of indignant fury, set a three-year wager to defend his pride. Thus, he took a master and embarked upon the path of strength, all for that duel three years hence. With high spirits, he set out across the continent, only to face hardship at every turn. Meager meals and nights exposed to the elements could be endured, but nothing was harder than loneliness. The wager was a torment, homesickness even more so; he endured it all, gritting his teeth, stubborn to the core. Time hurried quietly by, and before he knew it, the three years were gone. Having honed his skills, the youth climbed the mountain to fulfill his promise. After a fierce battle, he emerged victorious—yet little did he know, his journey was far from over… (P.S.: New book uploaded! Dear readers, please click, recommend, and add to your collections—a single turn of the key unlocks the door to my motivation to keep writing!)