Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Inodded.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“You’retooi

Hetinued:

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Panting,Iasked,

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Tch.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Thestepedhishaly.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Thestewardsaid,

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Timepassed.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Oh?”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Halftheeffort...?

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.