Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.
“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”
Panting,Iasked,
“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”
But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.
Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:
Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.
Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”
Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.
“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”
tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”
Inodded.
“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”
Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:
Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”
Halftheeffort...?
Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”
“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”
“Oh?”
“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.
Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.
Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.
Themountaiobesappingmystrength.
Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.
Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.
Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.
Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.
Hecalmlyexpined:
Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.
Thestewardsaid,
Thestepedhishaly.
Timepassed.
So,Icalledforth“me.”
Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.
“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”
“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”
Breathless,Irecimedtrol.
“Tch.”
“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”
Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.
ThispceistheAsuraRealm.
“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.
Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.
TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”
Hetinued:
“You’retooi
Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.
Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.
AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?
“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.
ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.