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