“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Thestewardsaid,

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“You’retooi

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Timepassed.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Panting,Iasked,

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“Tch.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Halftheeffort...?

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Hetinued:

“Oh?”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Inodded.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Thestepedhishaly.