“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Thestewardsaid,

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Thestepedhishaly.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Tch.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Halftheeffort...?

“You’retooi

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Oh?”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Panting,Iasked,

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Hetinued:

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Timepassed.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Inodded.