Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Tch.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Panting,Iasked,

“You’retooi

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Halftheeffort...?

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Timepassed.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Oh?”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Thestewardsaid,

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Hetinued:

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Inodded.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Thestepedhishaly.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.