Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Thestewardsaid,

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Tch.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Inodded.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Halftheeffort...?

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Panting,Iasked,

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Timepassed.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“Oh?”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“You’retooi

Thestepedhishaly.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Hetinued:

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”