Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Panting,Iasked,

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Halftheeffort...?

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

Inodded.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

“Oh?”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Hetinued:

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“You’retooi

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Tch.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Thestepedhishaly.

Thestewardsaid,

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

Timepassed.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.