Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Panting,Iasked,

Hecalmlyexpined:

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Timepassed.

Halftheeffort...?

Inodded.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Tch.”

“Oh?”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Thestepedhishaly.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“You’retooi

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Thestewardsaid,

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Hetinued:

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.