AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Timepassed.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“You’retooi

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Inodded.

Halftheeffort...?

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Hetinued:

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Thestewardsaid,

“Oh?”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Panting,Iasked,

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Tch.”

Thestepedhishaly.