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