Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.
AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?
Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.
Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.
Panting,Iasked,
Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.
Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.
Halftheeffort...?
Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.
“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”
Inodded.
Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.
So,Icalledforth“me.”
Hecalmlyexpined:
“Oh?”
“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”
Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.
Hetinued:
“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”
Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”
“You’retooi
Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.
“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.
But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.
“Tch.”
Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.
Thestepedhishaly.
Thestewardsaid,
Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.
Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.
Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.
ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.
Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.
Themountaiobesappingmystrength.
“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”
Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:
Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”
“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”
Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”
“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”
tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”
Breathless,Irecimedtrol.
“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”
“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”
Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.
ThispceistheAsuraRealm.
Timepassed.
TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”
“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.
Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:
“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.