Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Panting,Iasked,

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Timepassed.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Thestewardsaid,

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Tch.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Hecalmlyexpined:

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“You’retooi

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Thestepedhishaly.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Hetinued:

“Oh?”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Halftheeffort...?

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Inodded.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.