Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Timepassed.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Halftheeffort...?

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Hetinued:

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Panting,Iasked,

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Thestepedhishaly.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Inodded.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Thestewardsaid,

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Tch.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Oh?”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“You’retooi

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.