“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Tch.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Thestewardsaid,

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Hetinued:

“Oh?”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Timepassed.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Panting,Iasked,

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“You’retooi

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Thestepedhishaly.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Halftheeffort...?

Inodded.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.