Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Oh?”

Inodded.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Hetinued:

“Tch.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Thestewardsaid,

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Timepassed.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Thestepedhishaly.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“You’retooi

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Panting,Iasked,

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Halftheeffort...?

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.