“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Inodded.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Tch.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Halftheeffort...?

Panting,Iasked,

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Hetinued:

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Thestewardsaid,

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“You’retooi

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Thestepedhishaly.

“Oh?”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Timepassed.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.