“Oh?”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Panting,Iasked,

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Thestepedhishaly.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Tch.”

“You’retooi

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Hetinued:

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Halftheeffort...?

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Thestewardsaid,

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Timepassed.

Inodded.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”