Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Thestewardsaid,

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Thestepedhishaly.

Halftheeffort...?

Hecalmlyexpined:

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Inodded.

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Tch.”

Hetinued:

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“Oh?”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Panting,Iasked,

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Timepassed.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“You’retooi

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.