So,Icalledforth“me.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Inodded.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Tch.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Hetinued:

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“You’retooi

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thestewardsaid,

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Timepassed.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Halftheeffort...?

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Oh?”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Panting,Iasked,

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”