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?