Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Halftheeffort...?

“Tch.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Inodded.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Thestewardsaid,

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Hetinued:

“Oh?”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Panting,Iasked,

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Timepassed.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“You’retooi

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Thestepedhishaly.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”