“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Thestewardsaid,

Inodded.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“You’retooi

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Hetinued:

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Thestepedhishaly.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Panting,Iasked,

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Timepassed.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Tch.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Halftheeffort...?

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Oh?”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.