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.