ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“You’retooi

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Hetinued:

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Halftheeffort...?

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Inodded.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Oh?”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Thestepedhishaly.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Timepassed.

Thestewardsaid,

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Tch.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Panting,Iasked,

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.