TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Inodded.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Hetinued:

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“Oh?”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Tch.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Panting,Iasked,

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Timepassed.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Thestewardsaid,

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Halftheeffort...?

“You’retooi

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.