“You’retooi
Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.
“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.
ThispceistheAsuraRealm.
“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.
Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:
Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.
Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.
Breathless,Irecimedtrol.
Hecalmlyexpined:
Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.
Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.
Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”
ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.
“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”
“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.
“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”
Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.
Hetinued:
Themountaiobesappingmystrength.
Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.
“Oh?”
So,Icalledforth“me.”
Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.
Halftheeffort...?
“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”
Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.
“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”
“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”
But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.
AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?
Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.
Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.
Timepassed.
Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:
“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”
Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.
“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”
Thestewardsaid,
“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”
Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.
TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”
Thestepedhishaly.
Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”
Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.
Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.
Panting,Iasked,
Inodded.
“Tch.”
tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”
Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”