Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

“Oh?”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

“You’retooi

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Timepassed.

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Inodded.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Panting,Iasked,

Thestepedhishaly.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Hetinued:

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Halftheeffort...?

Hecalmlyexpined:

Thestewardsaid,

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

“Tch.”