So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Thestewardsaid,

Panting,Iasked,

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Halftheeffort...?

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Hetinued:

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Inodded.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Oh?”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“You’retooi

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Timepassed.

“Tch.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Thestepedhishaly.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”