Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Halftheeffort...?

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Thestewardsaid,

“Oh?”

Inodded.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Hetinued:

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Timepassed.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Thestepedhishaly.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“You’retooi

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Panting,Iasked,

“Tch.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.