Darkness greeted Su Zhenghao when he opened his eyes. He sat up, stretching the stiffness from his limbs. Nothing felt different; his body was unchanged. Reaching under his bed, he drew out the stone bowl. His breath caught. There, on the surface of the bead, a tenth cloud had finally materialized.
A thrill shot through him. Snatching the bead, he hurried from the house, returning moments later with a bowl of fresh spring water. He dropped the
10