ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Halftheeffort...?

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Panting,Iasked,

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Oh?”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Inodded.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Timepassed.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Hetinued:

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“You’retooi

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Tch.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Thestewardsaid,