Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Tch.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Inodded.

“You’retooi

Hetinued:

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Halftheeffort...?

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Timepassed.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Panting,Iasked,

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Thestewardsaid,

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Oh?”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.