Panting,Iasked,

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Timepassed.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Tch.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“You’retooi

Hetinued:

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Thestepedhishaly.

Halftheeffort...?

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Oh?”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Inodded.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Thestewardsaid,

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”