“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Tch.”

“Oh?”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Halftheeffort...?

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Thestewardsaid,

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“You’retooi

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Timepassed.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Panting,Iasked,

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Inodded.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Hetinued:

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Thestepedhishaly.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”