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