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