Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Oh?”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Hecalmlyexpined:

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Tch.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Timepassed.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Thestewardsaid,

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Panting,Iasked,

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“You’retooi

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Inodded.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Hetinued:

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Halftheeffort...?

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.