“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

Timepassed.

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Inodded.

So,Icalledforth“me.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

Thestepedhishaly.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

Thestewardsaid,

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.

Hetinued:

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

Halftheeffort...?

Panting,Iasked,

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“Oh?”

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

Hecalmlyexpined:

“You’retooi

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

“Tch.”

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”