Timepassed.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Oh?”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Thestewardsaid,

Thestepedhishaly.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Hetinued:

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“You’retooi

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Inodded.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Panting,Iasked,

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Tch.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Halftheeffort...?