Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Hetinued:

Panting,Iasked,

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Timepassed.

Inodded.

“You’retooi

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Thestepedhishaly.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Oh?”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Halftheeffort...?

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Hecalmlyexpined:

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Thestewardsaid,

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Tch.”