Degrade from Nobility to a Humble Slave

Paved with ordinary limestone slabs and decorated with neatly trimmed verdant grass on both sides, it looked like any other road in the empire. The road turned and twisted, stretching away as far as the eye could see.

Participants who had registered for the initial exam seemed pretty confident and relaxed as they stood in line. Refining had strengthened their body, so for them, running was child's play. Most of them were quite sure that they would breeze through the exam.

The white-bearded old man gave a signal, and the exam began.

All candidates broke into a run. Just then something strange happened. The lead runners stumbled and sank to the ground, making a perfect pratfall.

Only a few people reacted quickly enough to recover their balance. They pulled themselves together and carried on running forward.

This incident gave the others an indication that there was something unusual about this road. They were more careful where they set foot on the road. Although no one else fell, since the candidates were being careful, their speed reduced. It looked as if they were carrying a thousand pounds of weight.

After the first few batches set off on the road, it was Zen's turn.

He approached the edge of the square and stepped out slowly. Instantly he felt an invisible pressure. As he tried to lift his foot, he found that his legs felt leaden.

It was an odd feeling.

on to the road, the pressure encased him completely. Every inch of his skin felt weighed down. Even his eardrums throbbed!

road seemed normal, the air

to control his breathing. With enough food

wasn't sure how long he would last. Since he had lit up two dragon scales and his body had been refined, Zen

mustered every ounce of strength, tightened every muscle against the pressure,

the participants had adjusted to the pressure almost instantly. They continued to run at a brisk pace

participants were

of strength after only three hundred feet. As their bodies gave up, they fell on the road. They were so exhausted that even raising their

continued to run, they were panting and staggering. The effort to maintain their pace against the invisible pressure was clearly visible. It appeared as though they would drop

for seven or eight miles, Zen noticed that some participants began to drop back as time wore on, and the crowd gradually thinned into a

tune up his body as this was the only way to stay in

"Zen!"

waved to him. It was Nory, the boy he had met the day before. His attire was more suitable to the challenge today as compared with yesterday.

Zen replied

gasped. "Impressive! Even though you are running under such high pressure, you look as if you are sauntering