TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Thestewardsaid,

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thestepedhishaly.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“Oh?”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Inodded.

Panting,Iasked,

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Tch.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Halftheeffort...?

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Hetinued:

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“You’retooi

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Timepassed.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.