Panting,Iasked,

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Inodded.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Thestewardsaid,

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Tch.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Oh?”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“You’retooi

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Hetinued:

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Halftheeffort...?

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Timepassed.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?