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.