AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“You’retooi

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Inodded.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Oh?”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Hetinued:

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Tch.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Halftheeffort...?

Timepassed.

Thestewardsaid,

Panting,Iasked,

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Thestepedhishaly.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.