“Tch.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Timepassed.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Hetinued:

“You’retooi

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Oh?”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Halftheeffort...?

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Panting,Iasked,

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Thestewardsaid,

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Inodded.

Thestepedhishaly.