Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Tch.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Thestewardsaid,

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“You’retooi

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Panting,Iasked,

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Timepassed.

“Oh?”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Thestepedhishaly.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Halftheeffort...?

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Hetinued:

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Inodded.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.