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