Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Thestewardsaid,

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“Oh?”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“You’retooi

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Thestepedhishaly.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Hetinued:

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Tch.”

Timepassed.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Inodded.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Panting,Iasked,

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Halftheeffort...?