AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Inodded.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Hetinued:

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Oh?”

Panting,Iasked,

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Timepassed.

“Tch.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Halftheeffort...?

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“You’retooi

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Thestewardsaid,

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Thestepedhishaly.