Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Timepassed.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Inodded.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Tch.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Panting,Iasked,

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Oh?”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Hetinued:

Thestepedhishaly.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Halftheeffort...?

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“You’retooi

Thestewardsaid,