Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Oh?”

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Thestepedhishaly.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Tch.”

Panting,Iasked,

Halftheeffort...?

Timepassed.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Inodded.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“You’retooi

Hetinued:

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Thestewardsaid,

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”