Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“You’retooi

“Tch.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Panting,Iasked,

Halftheeffort...?

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Thestepedhishaly.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thestewardsaid,

Hetinued:

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Timepassed.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Oh?”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Inodded.