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...?