“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“You’retooi

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Halftheeffort...?

Thestewardsaid,

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Tch.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Oh?”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Panting,Iasked,

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Timepassed.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Hetinued:

Inodded.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Thestepedhishaly.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.