Panting,Iasked,

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

So,Icalledforth“me.”

“Oh?”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Thestewardsaid,

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Halftheeffort...?

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Thestepedhishaly.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Hetinued:

“Tch.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Timepassed.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Inodded.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“You’retooi

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”