Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“Tch.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Hecalmlyexpined:

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Halftheeffort...?

Hetinued:

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Thestewardsaid,

Thestepedhishaly.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Inodded.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Panting,Iasked,

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Timepassed.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“You’retooi

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Oh?”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.