tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Oh?”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Thestepedhishaly.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Timepassed.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Tch.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Inodded.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Hetinued:

Halftheeffort...?

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Thestewardsaid,

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Panting,Iasked,

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“You’retooi

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”