“You’retooi

Halftheeffort...?

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Inodded.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Oh?”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Hetinued:

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Thestewardsaid,

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Thestepedhishaly.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Timepassed.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Panting,Iasked,

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Tch.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”