Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Hetinued:

“You’retooi

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Thestewardsaid,

“Tch.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Thestepedhishaly.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Halftheeffort...?

Timepassed.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Oh?”

Inodded.

Panting,Iasked,

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.