“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Panting,Iasked,

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Thestepedhishaly.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Thestewardsaid,

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Oh?”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“You’retooi

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Inodded.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“Tch.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Timepassed.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Halftheeffort...?

Hetinued:

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”