So,Icalledforth“me.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Halftheeffort...?

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Timepassed.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Panting,Iasked,

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Hetinued:

Hecalmlyexpined:

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“You’retooi

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Oh?”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Inodded.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Thestewardsaid,

“Tch.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Thestepedhishaly.