Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Inodded.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“You’retooi

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Timepassed.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Tch.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Thestewardsaid,

Halftheeffort...?

“Oh?”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Thestepedhishaly.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Panting,Iasked,

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Hetinued: