AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Inodded.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Hetinued:

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Hecalmlyexpined:

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Thestewardsaid,

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Panting,Iasked,

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Timepassed.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“You’retooi

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Oh?”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Thestepedhishaly.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Tch.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Halftheeffort...?

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”