Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“You’retooi

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Panting,Iasked,

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Thestewardsaid,

“Tch.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Inodded.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Oh?”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Hetinued:

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Thestepedhishaly.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Halftheeffort...?

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Timepassed.