“I’mready.Let’sbeginthefinaltrial.”

Trainforoneday,thenyoumayleave.”

Sofar,I’veohalf-dead.

Notimetowaste.Iimmediatelyleaptandbeganclimbing.

Isteppedforwardandbowedrespectfully.

TwoyearshereequalsonedayintheYangRealm.”

“Ieanytime?etheschedule?”

“Master,thisdiscipleTianyasyou.”

ButIdidn’tdwellonit.Irested.Afteraboutanhour,Ifeltrecoveredenoughandstoodup.

AmIsupposedtoclimbthat?

Fromthismomenton,youareofficiallythediscipleoftheDivineLord.”

tions.You’vepassed.Restfornow.Thefinaltrialwillbegininhalfanhour.”

Suddenly,themountaioshake.Atreetoppledtowardme.

Breathless,Irecimedtrol.

Igaveaweaknodandcolpsedontheground.

“You’retooi

Hecalmlyexpined:

Idon’tknowhowlongI’dbeenclimbing,butexhaustionstartedsettingin.

Thestewardsaid,

“Bytheway...whatisaLife-BoundTeique?”

Heonlymuttered,“ain.”Butdespitehispint,hebeganclimbingwithfulleffort.

“Sinceyouarenowmydisciple,therearethingsImustcrify.

“Itmeansateiquethatisfatedtomatchyouperfectly.Trainingityieldsresultswithhalftheeffort.”

Hetinued:

So,Icalledforth“me.”

Bytheday—thoughtimewasstraheskyneverdarkened,evenwithoutasun,andtherewasnosenseofnightorday.

Inodded.

“Today,YoungMaster,youshallmeetyourmaster—theAsuraDivineLord.”

“Halfanhourremaining.Interferencewillnowbegin.”

Thesteward’svoiceechoedagain:

Islowedslightly,curiouswhetherthisso-calledinterferencecouldaffect“me.”

“Tch.”

Halftheeffort...?

Inoddedandfollowedthepathhejured.

Then,fromfarbelow,Iheardthestewardcallout:

Withanannoyedclickofthetongue,“I”spriraightupward.

Thestepedhishaly.

Inunderfiveminutes,myqiwasnearlydrained—butthesummitwaswithinreach.

Themountaiobesappingmystrength.

“Youmustreachthesummitwithinhalfanhour.Succeed,arialisplete.”

Panting,Iasked,

Timepassed.

“gratutions,YoungMaster.Youhavepletedallthreeentrytrials.

Sothat’swhyonlyanhourhadpassedierworld.

Heallowedmeafulldaytorestandreplenishmyqi.

“YoumustetotheAsuraRealmonceperweek.

But...twoyearswithoutseeingmyfamily?That’lltakegettio.

Thegroundtrembled.Atmountainrosebeforeme.Injustafewbreaths,thesummitwashiddenbyclouds.

ThispceistheAsuraRealm.

“Oh?”

Returningtothepcewhereitallbegan,IfoundtheAsuraDivineLordalreadywaiting.