Panting,Iasked,

“Oh?”

Thestewardsaid,

Halftheeffort...?

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Tch.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Timepassed.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“You’retooi

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Hetinued:

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Thestepedhishaly.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Inodded.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

So,Icalledforth“me.”