Timepassed.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

“Tch.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Thestewardsaid,

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Inodded.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Oh?”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Panting,Iasked,

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Halftheeffort...?

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Thestepedhishaly.

Hetinued:

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“You’retooi