Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Thestewardsaid,

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Halftheeffort...?

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Panting,Iasked,

Hetinued:

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Thestepedhishaly.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Tch.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Oh?”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Inodded.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Timepassed.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“You’retooi