“Oh?”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Halftheeffort...?

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Inodded.

Thestewardsaid,

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Thestepedhishaly.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Timepassed.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Panting,Iasked,

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Tch.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“You’retooi

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Hetinued:

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.