Timepassed.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Thestewardsaid,

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Hetinued:

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Panting,Iasked,

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Tch.”

Halftheeffort...?

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“You’retooi

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Oh?”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Inodded.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Thestepedhishaly.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.