Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Halftheeffort...?

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

“Oh?”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Timepassed.

“You’retooi

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Thestepedhishaly.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Hetinued:

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Thestewardsaid,

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Tch.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Inodded.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Panting,Iasked,

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”